Robin van Persie steps onto the pitch at Abbey Stadium on Friday before Manchester United and Cambridge United drew 0-0 in the FA Cup. Julian Finney / Getty Images / January 23, 2015
Robin van Persie steps onto the pitch at Abbey Stadium on Friday before Manchester United and Cambridge United drew 0-0 in the FA Cup. Julian Finney / Getty Images / January 23, 2015
Robin van Persie steps onto the pitch at Abbey Stadium on Friday before Manchester United and Cambridge United drew 0-0 in the FA Cup. Julian Finney / Getty Images / January 23, 2015
Robin van Persie steps onto the pitch at Abbey Stadium on Friday before Manchester United and Cambridge United drew 0-0 in the FA Cup. Julian Finney / Getty Images / January 23, 2015

‘I have scored eight goals, I am not happy with that’ says Manchester United’s Robin van Persie


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Robin van Persie admits he doesn't know if he will be offered a new contract when his current deal expires with Manchester United.

Van Persie scored 30 goals and won the Premier League title in his first season with United following his move from Arsenal, but last season he struggled for fitness and form.

And this term he has found the net just eight times during another disappointing campaign.

The 31-year-old’s United contract expires in 2016 and, asked on Monday if he would like to extend his stay at Old Trafford, the Netherlands striker said: “It is not up to me. For the moment I am staying here for 18 months.

“That is it really. I can’t look into the future. I don’t know what is going to happen after that. We shall have to wait and see.”

Van Persie was candid about his own poor form and conceded that his teammates are struggling as well.

United’s 0-0 FA Cup draw with fourth-tier Cambridge United last week was littered with mistakes, while in the Premier League Louis van Gaal’s side have just three points more than they had under his much-maligned predecessor David Moyes at this stage last term.

“Obviously we are not scoring enough goals, including me,” Van Persie said.

“Everyone feels responsible. I do, definitely. This year I have played something like 20 games and I have scored eight goals. I am not happy with that. I want to score more.”

He added: “It makes so many people happy. Including me.”

Although Van Persie’s confidence may have taken a hit because of his poor start, his faith in his manager has not wavered one bit.

Van Gaal made Van Persie his captain with the national side and the move paid off as the unfancied Dutch team made it through to the World Cup semi-finals last year where they were defeated on penalties by Argentina.

“I have known him for over two years now, I know how he works,” Van Persie added.

“We believe in him. We will still believe in him.”

He added: “We are confident it will change. Him and his coaching staff and we as players are trying everything we can to win games, not only win games but win them in a nice way as well.”

Van Persie admits United’s draw at Cambridge last week was not good enough.

But the forward, who won the FA Cup with Arsenal, has been encouraged to see the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur exit the competition over the weekend.

“After the game against Cambridge, everyone was a little bit down,” van Persie said.

“But in a way on Saturday the whole mood changed. City were out, Chelsea were out and suddenly we are in it with a home tie against Cambridge.

“We are the highest-ranked team left in the competition.”

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Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

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Cinco in numbers

Dh3.7 million

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The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.

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List of alleged parties

 May 15 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at
least 17 staff members

May 20 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'bring your own booze'
party

Nov 27 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff

Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary
Gavin Williamson

Dec 13 2020: PM and Carrie throw a flat party

Dec 14 2020: London mayor candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative
Party headquarters

Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz

Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party

The National photo project

Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).

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Emergency phone numbers in the UAE

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

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Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries