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Tag: Manchester United

  • UCL last 16 draw: Man Utd face PSG, Liverpool take on Bayern

    Manchester United will face Neymar and Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League, while Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp must tackle German opposition in the form of Bayern Munich.

    Manchester City take on Schalke, Tottenham battle Borussia Dortmund and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus meet Atletico Madrid.

    Elsewhere, Lyon have been handed the unenviable task of trying to shackle Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Roma have been paired with Porto and Ajax with reigning champions Real Madrid.

    Details to follow…….

  • Why I did not play Pogba against Liverpool – Mourinho

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho revealed why he did not consider starting Paul Pogba in United’s loss to Liverpool at Anfield.

    World Cup winner Pogba watched from the bench for the second league match in succession as United slumped to a 3-1 defeat that leaves them 19 points adrift of top spot and 11 shy of fourth-place Chelsea.

    Jurgen Klopp’s side were on top from start to finish and only fleetingly looked like dropping points when Alisson’s error allowed Jesse Lingard to cancel out Sadio Mane’s opener with one of the visitors’ two shots on target.

    Substitute Xherdan Shaqiri later made the dominance count with two deflected finishes as Pogba remained unused even while United floundered in their bid to mount a fightback.

    Asked whether the £89million midfielder was considered for a place in the starting XI, Mourinho said: “No.”

    Pressed as to why, he added: “Because I am happy with Nemanja Matic, Lingard and Ander Herrera.”

  • Man Utd far from being built in my image, says Mourinho

    Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho says his team are “far” from being built in his own image as he prepares to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

    United are 16 points behind leaders Liverpool, having won just one of their previous five Premier League games.

    Mourinho, who took over as manager in May 2016, conceded: “We have doubts about everything.

    “But we are going with the players we have available and a team capable of going there to fight for the victory.”

    Mourinho won the EFL Cup and Europa League in his first season in charge at Old Trafford.

    Since then, the team’s style has been questioned and there have been criticisms of his record signing Paul Pogba, who cost £89m and Romelu Lukaku, who cost £75m.

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been praised for the way in which his team is playing, but they are yet to win a trophy under the German, who took over in October 2015.

    However, he guided them to the 2016 League Cup and Europa League final, and last season’s Champions League final, where Liverpool lost 3-1 to Real Madrid.

    When asked if the amount of money his north-west rivals had spent last season was the difference between the two teams, Mourinho replied: “It’s not just about spending money and reinforcing the squad, a football team is more than that.

    “It’s like a house. it’s not just about buying the furniture, you have to do work, you spend money on the best possible furniture and then you’re ready to live in an amazing house.”

    Asked if winning trophies matter, Mourinho said: “I think trophies matter, it matters, especially when you have the potential to fight for trophies and especially when you clearly say the objective is to win the trophy.

    “I think sometimes to just say it is not very intelligent, but when you have the potential, you have nothing to hide, you know from day one your potential and your desire has a relation with the potential.”

  • UCL: Man Utd lose at Valencia to blow chance of top spot

    UCL: Man Utd lose at Valencia to blow chance of top spot

    Manchester United endured an undignified end to their topsy-turvy UEFA Champions League group stage campaign by losing 1-2 at already-eliminated Valencia on Wednesday and missing their chance of topping Group H.

    Manchester United were already guaranteed a last 16 berth but needed to win and to see Juventus lose to group minnows Young Boys if they were to take the top spot.

    One half of the unlikely scenario materialised as the Swiss side beat the Italian giants 2-1 but Manchester United blew their chance with a defeat that consigned them to second place.

    Carlos Soler put the La Liga side ahead in the 17th minute with a powerful finish.

    Then Manchester United defender Phil Jones scored an embarrassing own goal at the start of the second half to double Valencia’s lead.

    Substitute Marcus Rashford gave them brief hope of a comeback by heading home in the 87th minute after a rare bright passage of play from the visitors.

    But Valencia comfortably saw out the victory.

    Juventus finished top of the group on 12 points, with Manchester United on 10.

    Valencia, who were already assured of third place and qualification for the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League, finished with eight while Young Boys earned four.

    With one eye on Sunday’s trip to English Premier League leaders and historic rivals Liverpool, Jose Mourinho rotated his side.

    He made eight changes from Saturday’s 4-1 win over Fulham, including bringing record signing Paul Pogba back into the fold.

    Pogba had Manchester United’s best opportunity to cancel out Soler’s impressive opening strike following a Marouane Fellaini knockdown.

    But somehow he missed the target from close range with the goal gaping.

    Manchester United’s task in turning the game around became significantly harder, thanks to a clumsy moment from Jones.

    He failed to communicate properly with team mate Sergio Romero and slid the ball into his own net.

    “I think we were too passive in the first half. We were quite comfortable with the ball but not in intensity and ambition,” Mourinho told reporters.

    “In the second half, I was pretty sure that after speaking at halftime, things could be different. But we started with an own goal that gave Valencia a better position to control the game.”

    Valencia have had a poor campaign in both Europe and La Liga, where they lie 15th in the standings with only three victories.

    But coach Marcelino said the win had lifted the mood in the dressing room.

    “I’m happy for the players because they have competed well in many games this season but things haven’t worked out for us.

    “Today, we played with freshness and bravery, and I’m delighted for them because they have suffered,” he said.

    “There are many tremendous teams in this competition, some real powerhouses. But the thing that counts is winning and, unfortunately, we haven’t picked up enough points.”

  • Lingard’s quick response saves point for United against Arsenal [EPL standings]

    Lingard’s quick response saves point for United against Arsenal [EPL standings]

    Jesse Lingard rescued Manchester United as the Red Devils twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with in-form Arsenal at Old Trafford.

    Lingard nipped in to exploit a mix-up between Sead Kolasinac and goalkeeper Bernd Leno straight from the kick-off after Alexandre Lacazette bundled in following Marcos Rojo’s mistake.

    Before the break, Shkodran Mustafi’s header had squirmed through David de Gea’s gloves to open the scoring for the Gunners, via goalline technology.

    That early lead lasted only four minutes, with Anthony Martial sweeping home Ander Herrera’s cross.

    Both team had chances in the final 20 minutes but, with heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury in the crowd, neither could land a knockout punch.

    Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s brilliant volley from an acute angle was rightly ruled out for offside as the visitors came closest to a winner.

    Manchester United are now four Premier League games without a victory.

    See Premier League standings:

  • Man Utd don’t have mad dogs, says Mourinho after Southampton draw

    Manchester United are lacking in “mad dogs” in midfield, manager Jose Mourinho said after his side recovered from a terrible start but were still held to a disappointing draw at struggling Southampton.

    Mourinho’s side were facing an embarrassing defeat early on as the Saints went into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

    Marcus Rashford inspired a comeback before half-time, with two goals in six minutes from Romelu Lukaku and Ander Herrera earning the visitors a point, but it was another unconvincing display.

    Mourinho – who played two midfielders in a back three because of injury problems – bemoaned his side’s inability to take control of the match.

    “It doesn’t matter the system we play,” Mourinho said. “(Not winning) has to do with the characteristics of the players.

    “With all due respect, we don’t have many mad dogs that bite the ball and press all the time. We don’t have many people with that spirit.”

    Neither side were able to mount any real pressure in the second half, with the draw leaving the Saints in the relegation zone in 18th with just one win in their past 15 Premier League games, including last season.

    Mark Hughes’ side will reflect on a costly capitulation at the end of the first half after fine goals from Stuart Armstrong and Cedric Soares had seemingly put them in control.

    United move seventh – still six points off a Champions League place and a massive 16 shy of the lead held by rivals Manchester City.

  • Man Utd: Mourinho fears Sanchez will be out for long time

    Man Utd: Mourinho fears Sanchez will be out for long time

    Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez could be out for a “long time” with a hamstring injury, says manager Jose Mourinho.

    The 29-year-old Chilean suffered the injury in training on Thursday.

    Sanchez is yet to have a scan to determine the extent of the damage but Mourinho said he was “screaming” in pain.

    “It is not a little muscular injury from which he will be ready in a week or 10 days,” he added.

    Mourinho says it is more severe than the hamstring injury defender Victor Lindelof has suffered.

    The Sweden international, who was injured in Saturday’s home draw against Crystal Palace, is expected to be out until the festive period.

    On Sanchez, Mourinho added: “It is an aggressive muscular injury. He has not had a scan yet but the player is experienced. He knows what the injury is.

    “From my experience, the painful scream and the way it happened, it will be a long time.

    “For me and Alexis Sanchez, the grade is different to the one that Lindelof has and that was not easy.”

  • Watch: Man Utd’s De Gea wonder save against Young Boys

    Manchester United secured a late victory against Young Boys as Jose Mourinho’s men qualified for the Champions League knockout stages on Tuesday.

    Before the final whistle, Manchester United shot-stopper De Gea had produced a wonder save to keep the Red Devils alive in the game.

    After 70 minutes of their crucial Champions League clash, it looked as though Young Boys had grabbed a shock lead over the Red Devils.

    But with a remarkable sprawling stop, De Gea somehow kept the ball out of the net when a goal looked certain.

    It was another exceptional game-changer from the gloveman, as he continues to prove United’s savior.

    Watch video:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf9ECEIsiSo

  • UCL: Fellaini rescues Man Utd with late strike to reach last 16

    Marouane Fellaini secured a late victory for Manchester United against Young Boys as Jose Mourinho’s men qualified for the Champions League knockout stages.

    Fellaini’s strike was United’s first 90th minute winner in a Champions League game since Cristiano Ronaldo vs Sporting in November 2007.

    Mourinho’s side had looked set to waste a gilt-edged opportunity to qualify for the last 16 as a resolute Young Boys came within seconds of holding United to a second goalless draw in three days, after Saturday’s stalemate with Crystal Palace.

    The hosts were also thankful for a stunning David de Gea save as the Spaniard clawed the ball from off the goal line after Ulisses Garcia’s shot deflected towards the bottom corner.

  • Man Utd players reportedly angry with Mourinho

    Manchester United players are reportedly angry with Jose Mourinho, after their draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday, following his comment about them “lacking heart”.

    The Portuguese turned on his squad after their lacklustre display against Palace, accusing some of them of not caring enough about results.

    He said some of his players would happily “party” after the result and said he might have to pick himself in future as he truly cares about the club’s fortunes.

    However, the Daily Mail is reporting that the comments did not go down well with Mourinho’s squad as some of the first-team members are angry that he has criticized them publicly again.

    The comments follow Mourinho’s controversial interview with Univision in which he questioned the maturity of Luke Shaw, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.