Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is looking forward to working with Zlatan Ibrahimovic again next season after declaring the striker&#39;s contract extension will be a formality.

Ibrahimovic 35, arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in July on a one-year deal with an option for a further year, which Mourinho in November indicated United would look to take up.

After Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored once and made two goals in United&#39;s 3-1 Boxing Day win over Sunderland, Mourinho said the clause had not been activated yet, but would be.

&quot;It is activated in his brain and it is activated also in my decisions and in the owners&#39; and the board&#39;s. So it is no problem,&quot; said Mourinho.

Ibrahimovic&#39;s goal against Sunderland means that he has scored 50 times across all competitions for club and country during 2016, the year he retired from international football with Sweden.

&quot;I am not really surprised because he is a very intelligent guy and a very proud man,&quot; Mourinho said.

&quot;He decided to come to Manchester United and to the Premier League, to a club with the level of expectation of Manchester United, in the most difficult league in the world for a striker.

&quot;When he decides to come here, it is because he knows he can do it.

&quot;When we contacted him and he said, yes, he will come, I was sure that he was not coming here to leave the Premier League without proving himself.

&quot;To leave the Premier League having failed at Manchester United? No way.

&quot;When such a guy decided to come, I was completely clear that he would be ready and he is ready for more next season. He will be here again.&quot;

Ibrahimovic set up Daley Blind to put United ahead in the 39th minute and then ran through to score from Paul Pogba&#39;s pass before setting up Henrikh Mkhitaryan for a spectacular &#39;scorpion kick&#39; volley.

United secured a fourth successive Premier League win, and extended their unbeaten record in all competitions to 11 matches, in the absence of captain Wayne Rooney.

The United captain was withdrawn from the squad after suffering a thigh muscle injury in training.

&nbsp;Relegation tussle&nbsp; 
Mourinho said the England captain was a doubt for United&#39;s home match against Middlesbrough on New Year&#39;s Eve.

Asked if Rooney would be fit, Mourinho said: &quot;I don&#39;t think so. I hope so. I would like him to be.

&quot;He is always a player I would like to be available. Let&#39;s see. It is not a big deal, but in four days, I have my doubts.&quot;

Sunderland manager David Moyes suffered defeat on his first return to Old Trafford since United sacked him in April 2014.

Moyes, whose team remain in the Premier League relegation zone, said he enjoyed his return, despite the publicity that surrounded him in the days before the fixture.

&quot;When you are in football, what comes around goes around,&quot; said the Scot, whose team replied through Fabio Borini&#39;s long-range effort.

&quot;I knew that some day I would come up against the Manchester United players or work with some of them.

&quot;I think that&#39;s what happens when you&#39;re in football. I enjoyed coming back. I have always enjoyed coming here. It&#39;s a hard place to come, a hard place to get a result, and that showed today.&quot;

From chasing titles at Old Trafford, Moyes now finds himself locked in a relegation tussle with Sunderland, who lie two points from safety.

&quot;We are going to have to try to galvanise from within,&quot; said the former Preston North End, Everton and Real Sociedad manager.

&quot;It is not a situation I am necessarily used to, but some of the players are used to it here.

&quot;I hope together we can find a way of being good enough and strong enough in the games that really matter.

&quot;Did this game matter? It definitely mattered. But there will be games maybe more so that will be important for us.&quot;

(AFP)

Jose Mourinho said he looked forward to working with Zlatan Ibrahimovic again next season and extending the contract is just a formality

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is looking forward to working with Zlatan Ibrahimovic again next season after declaring the striker's contract extension will be a formality. Ibrahimovic 35, arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in July on a one-year deal with an option for a further year, which Mourinho in November indicated United would look to take up. After Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored once and made two goals in United's 3-1 Boxing Day win over Sunderland, Mourinho said the clause had not been activated yet, but would be. "It is activated in his brain and it is activated also in my decisions and in the owners' and the board's. So it is no problem," said Mourinho. Ibrahimovic's goal against Sunderland means that he has scored 50 times across all competitions for club and country during 2016, the year he retired from international football with Sweden. "I am not really surprised because he is a very intelligent guy and a very proud man," Mourinho said. "He decided to come to Manchester United and to the Premier League, to a club with the level of expectation of Manchester United, in the most difficult league in the world for a striker. "When he decides to come here, it is because he knows he can do it. "When we contacted him and he said, yes, he will come, I was sure that he was not coming here to leave the Premier League without proving himself. "To leave the Premier League having failed at Manchester United? No way. "When such a guy decided to come, I was completely clear that he would be ready and he is ready for more next season. He will be here again." Ibrahimovic set up Daley Blind to put United ahead in the 39th minute and then ran through to score from Paul Pogba's pass before setting up Henrikh Mkhitaryan for a spectacular 'scorpion kick' volley. United secured a fourth successive Premier League win, and extended their unbeaten record in all competitions to 11 matches, in the absence of captain Wayne Rooney. The United captain was withdrawn from the squad after suffering a thigh muscle injury in training. Relegation tussle Mourinho said the England captain was a doubt for United's home match against Middlesbrough on New Year's Eve. Asked if Rooney would be fit, Mourinho said: "I don't think so. I hope so. I would like him to be. "He is always a player I would like to be available. Let's see. It is not a big deal, but in four days, I have my doubts." Sunderland manager David Moyes suffered defeat on his first return to Old Trafford since United sacked him in April 2014. Moyes, whose team remain in the Premier League relegation zone, said he enjoyed his return, despite the publicity that surrounded him in the days before the fixture. "When you are in football, what comes around goes around," said the Scot, whose team replied through Fabio Borini's long-range effort. "I knew that some day I would come up against the Manchester United players or work with some of them. "I think that's what happens when you're in football. I enjoyed coming back. I have always enjoyed coming here. It's a hard place to come, a hard place to get a result, and that showed today." From chasing titles at Old Trafford, Moyes now finds himself locked in a relegation tussle with Sunderland, who lie two points from safety. "We are going to have to try to galvanise from within," said the former Preston North End, Everton and Real Sociedad manager. "It is not a situation I am necessarily used to, but some of the players are used to it here. "I hope together we can find a way of being good enough and strong enough in the games that really matter. "Did this game matter? It definitely mattered. But there will be games maybe more so that will be important for us." (AFP)

Football: Ibra won't leave Man Utd a failure, vows Mourinho

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says he has started to feel &quot;really at home&quot; at Old Trafford and believes foundations are in place to bring success back to the club.

Mourinho endured a difficult start to life in Manchester after succeeding Louis van Gaal, but the Portuguese&#39;s impact has started to be felt in recent weeks.

United head into their Boxing Day fixture against Sunderland on the back of three consecutive Premier League victories and with the Champions League places almost within reach.

&quot;What I can say is that in here I felt people with open arms. A very calm, and intelligent, board and owners. They know what they want,&quot; Mourinho said.

&quot;They have big experience already. Very calm, very pragmatic, giving me good conditions to work and the players and people that surround me.

&quot;I felt (aware of) some sadness because people that love football, they want to be successful and everybody tries to help to go in the same direction.

&quot;For me it was easy to come. A difficult job, but easy now to feel at home.

&quot;Easy to feel good in the club, easy to feel that the club wants to progress, the people want to be happy again and I felt good immediately.

&quot;So five, six months here, but really feeling at home. For me it was quite easy.

&quot;Obviously expectations are high, results up and down, we are in a position that is not the position where we want to be.

&quot;But in terms of passion for my work, passion for my new club, feeling really happy here, yes.&quot;

Mourinho is again set to start with striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic against Sunderland, the 35-year-old having taken his United tally to 16 goals with a brace in last weekend&#39;s 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion.

He paid tribute to the endurance of the former Sweden international and his ability to cope with the rigours of English football despite his advancing years.

&nbsp;Moyes return&nbsp; 
&quot;I think 35 for him is the same as 25,&quot; Mourinho said.

&quot;He scores goals, plays well, I&#39;m really happy for him because he will end his career on high, not in America or China. He&#39;s ending his career at the top.

&quot;His record is good. He can improve. With no penalties, that is amazing too. Normally other guys that are top scorers have a lot of penalties.&nbsp;

&quot;He had one penalty in 17 matches. I couldn&#39;t be happier with him.&quot;

Mourinho is still without Luke Shaw (groin), but otherwise has a full complement of defenders to choose from with Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly all available.

Sunderland manager David Moyes goes back to Old Trafford in charge of a team for the first time since he was sacked by United in April 2014.

Moyes was given only 10 months to make an impact after he was chosen to replace Alex Ferguson, but has no regrets about leaving Everton to take the job.

&quot;My time there was too short, but as I have said many times, you have to win games and I didn&#39;t win enough games,&quot; said the Scot.

&quot;I would do it again, 100 per cent. Very few people are offered the job at Manchester United and I was honoured to be offered the job.

&quot;It was a great experience and one I wouldn&#39;t change because of the quality of the players and professionalism I found.&quot;

Former United players Donald Love and John O&#39;Shea could be in the Sunderland side, but Adnan Januzaj, who is on loan from Old Trafford, is not eligible to face his parent club.

&quot;I will feel that I&#39;m going into a difficult game and for us to get a result we will have to play really well,&quot; said Moyes.

&quot;Nevertheless we are in pretty good shape as well. We have had a pretty good run, so we want to go there and do well.&quot;

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

Mourinho endured a difficult start to life at Manchester but his impact has started to be felt in recent weeks

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says he has started to feel "really at home" at Old Trafford and believes foundations are in place to bring success back to the club. Mourinho endured a difficult start to life in Manchester after succeeding Louis van Gaal, but the Portuguese's impact has started to be felt in recent weeks. United head into their Boxing Day fixture against Sunderland on the back of three consecutive Premier League victories and with the Champions League places almost within reach. "What I can say is that in here I felt people with open arms. A very calm, and intelligent, board and owners. They know what they want," Mourinho said. "They have big experience already. Very calm, very pragmatic, giving me good conditions to work and the players and people that surround me. "I felt (aware of) some sadness because people that love football, they want to be successful and everybody tries to help to go in the same direction. "For me it was easy to come. A difficult job, but easy now to feel at home. "Easy to feel good in the club, easy to feel that the club wants to progress, the people want to be happy again and I felt good immediately. "So five, six months here, but really feeling at home. For me it was quite easy. "Obviously expectations are high, results up and down, we are in a position that is not the position where we want to be. "But in terms of passion for my work, passion for my new club, feeling really happy here, yes." Mourinho is again set to start with striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic against Sunderland, the 35-year-old having taken his United tally to 16 goals with a brace in last weekend's 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion. He paid tribute to the endurance of the former Sweden international and his ability to cope with the rigours of English football despite his advancing years. Moyes return "I think 35 for him is the same as 25," Mourinho said. "He scores goals, plays well, I'm really happy for him because he will end his career on high, not in America or China. He's ending his career at the top. "His record is good. He can improve. With no penalties, that is amazing too. Normally other guys that are top scorers have a lot of penalties. "He had one penalty in 17 matches. I couldn't be happier with him." Mourinho is still without Luke Shaw (groin), but otherwise has a full complement of defenders to choose from with Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly all available. Sunderland manager David Moyes goes back to Old Trafford in charge of a team for the first time since he was sacked by United in April 2014. Moyes was given only 10 months to make an impact after he was chosen to replace Alex Ferguson, but has no regrets about leaving Everton to take the job. "My time there was too short, but as I have said many times, you have to win games and I didn't win enough games," said the Scot. "I would do it again, 100 per cent. Very few people are offered the job at Manchester United and I was honoured to be offered the job. "It was a great experience and one I wouldn't change because of the quality of the players and professionalism I found." Former United players Donald Love and John O'Shea could be in the Sunderland side, but Adnan Januzaj, who is on loan from Old Trafford, is not eligible to face his parent club. "I will feel that I'm going into a difficult game and for us to get a result we will have to play really well," said Moyes. "Nevertheless we are in pretty good shape as well. We have had a pretty good run, so we want to go there and do well." (AFP)

As Man U does better, Mourinho feels better

Former Manchester United manager David Moyes says the club have abandoned their traditions ahead of his return to Old Trafford with Sunderland on Boxing Day.

Moyes, 53, lasted just 10 months as United manager after succeeding his Scottish compatriot Alex Ferguson at the helm in May 2013.

His two successors, Louis van Gaal and current manager Jose Mourinho, have invested heavily on new players and Moyes believes the present-day United are a different club to the one he joined.

&quot;Manchester United was a club with great traditions that they tended to pick British managers. That tradition has now gone,&quot; Moyes said, in comments published by British media on Saturday.

&quot;They are a football club who had traditions with the way they spent. They didn&#39;t try to compete with all the others clubs.

&quot;They tried to do what they thought was the right thing to do and spend in the right way.

&quot;I could say that&#39;s gone, so I think there have been a few changes at United, but that&#39;s the way they have chosen to go.&quot;

Moyes repeated a claim that he was &quot;definitely unfairly treated&quot; by United and revealed he had missed out on a string of high-profile transfer targets.

&quot;When I first went in my real target was Gareth Bale,&quot; said Moyes. &quot;I felt all along that Gareth Bale was a Manchester United player.

&quot;I fought right until the last minute. We actually offered a bigger deal than Real Madrid.

&quot;But Gareth had his mind made up on going to Real Madrid. That was, in my mind, the player I really wanted to bring to Manchester United.

&quot;The other one was Cesc Fabregas, who we thought we would get right up until the last minute.

&quot;I remember when I first met Sir Alex and he always said there was a chance (Cristiano) Ronaldo might come back.

&quot;So that was the level we were targeting. I was not going out to bring in seven, eight players, because we had a squad which had just won the league.

&quot;Toni Kroos was agreed to come in the summer. I had agreed it with Toni himself and his agent. Sometimes you don&#39;t get deals done.

&quot;A lot of players come into Manchester United and have not necessarily made the difference.

&quot;But I think that, given time and having got to this period, I would have hoped I would be working with a successful team now.&quot;

United are sixth in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday&#39;s game and chasing a fourth successive league win, with Sunderland in the relegation zone.

(AFP)

The ex-gaffer said lavish spending in transfer market and appointment of non-British managers has altered the club's virtues

Former Manchester United manager David Moyes says the club have abandoned their traditions ahead of his return to Old Trafford with Sunderland on Boxing Day. Moyes, 53, lasted just 10 months as United manager after succeeding his Scottish compatriot Alex Ferguson at the helm in May 2013. His two successors, Louis van Gaal and current manager Jose Mourinho, have invested heavily on new players and Moyes believes the present-day United are a different club to the one he joined. "Manchester United was a club with great traditions that they tended to pick British managers. That tradition has now gone," Moyes said, in comments published by British media on Saturday. "They are a football club who had traditions with the way they spent. They didn't try to compete with all the others clubs. "They tried to do what they thought was the right thing to do and spend in the right way. "I could say that's gone, so I think there have been a few changes at United, but that's the way they have chosen to go." Moyes repeated a claim that he was "definitely unfairly treated" by United and revealed he had missed out on a string of high-profile transfer targets. "When I first went in my real target was Gareth Bale," said Moyes. "I felt all along that Gareth Bale was a Manchester United player. "I fought right until the last minute. We actually offered a bigger deal than Real Madrid. "But Gareth had his mind made up on going to Real Madrid. That was, in my mind, the player I really wanted to bring to Manchester United. "The other one was Cesc Fabregas, who we thought we would get right up until the last minute. "I remember when I first met Sir Alex and he always said there was a chance (Cristiano) Ronaldo might come back. "So that was the level we were targeting. I was not going out to bring in seven, eight players, because we had a squad which had just won the league. "Toni Kroos was agreed to come in the summer. I had agreed it with Toni himself and his agent. Sometimes you don't get deals done. "A lot of players come into Manchester United and have not necessarily made the difference. "But I think that, given time and having got to this period, I would have hoped I would be working with a successful team now." United are sixth in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday's game and chasing a fourth successive league win, with Sunderland in the relegation zone. (AFP)

Manchester United have departed from its traditions: David Moyes

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was sent off as his side lost more ground in the Premier League title race by drawing 1-1 with West Ham United on Sunday.

After Diafra Sakho&#39;s second-minute opener was cancelled out by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mourinho was sent to the stands for kicking a water bottle in protest at Paul Pogba&#39;s booking for diving.

It was United&#39;s fourth successive home draw in the league -- a first since 1980 -- and left them 11 points below leaders Chelsea in sixth place.

United assistant manager Rui Faria, filling in for Mourinho, told BBC Sport: &quot;We all believe the results will appear.

&quot;The referee explained it to Jose and there is nothing more to say. I think it was frustration from Jose after the yellow card for Pogba.

&quot;It should be a foul for us, but the referee understood it in another way.&quot;

Elsewhere, Alexis Sanchez scored twice as Arsenal kept pace within the leading pack by winning 3-1 at home to Bournemouth.

Mourinho made six changes to his starting XI at Old Trafford, but his bench created the biggest stir as formerly exiled midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger made an unexpected return to the match-day squad.

West Ham needed just 90 seconds to go ahead as Dimitri Payet&#39;s free-kick from the right was headed in by Sakho.

In the 21st minute, Pogba&#39;s deep cross was nodded in by Ibrahimovic, who has now scored seven league goals this season.

Moments later referee Jonathan Moss booked Pogba for diving after the France midfielder took evasive action as Mark Noble moved in to tackle him.

Mourinho reacted by furiously kicking a plastic bottle and was duly sent to the stands for the second time this season.

Wayne Rooney, whose next goal will equal Bobby Charlton&#39;s 249-goal club scoring record, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan came on for United in the second half.

Jesse Lingard saw a goal chalked off for offside after Mkhitaryan had hit the post, while United were indebted to goalkeeper David de Gea for a crucial late save to deny Ashley Fletcher.

- Debuchy blow -

United will hope their luck changes when West Ham return to Old Trafford in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Arsenal ended a run of three straight draws in all competitions with victory over Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium.

With England midfielder Jack Wilshere watching from the stands due to the terms of his loan from Arsenal to Bournemouth, the home side took a 12th-minute lead courtesy of a horror moment from Simon Cook.

In seeking to play the ball back to goalkeeper Adam Federici from the right, he undercooked his pass horribly, giving Sanchez the time to pick his spot and put Arsenal ahead.&nbsp;

Bournemouth equalised in the 23rd minute when Callum Wilson netted from the penalty spot after Nacho Monreal was harshly adjudged to have fouled him.

But Arsenal equalised in the 53rd minute when Theo Walcott headed in Monreal&#39;s masterful cross and Sanchez made the game safe in stoppage time by tapping in substitute Olivier Giroud&#39;s cross.

&quot;I felt we started well, but when they equalised we were nervous and that&#39;s where having three consecutive draws played a little bit on our minds,&quot; said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose team trail Chelsea by three points.

Right-back Mathieu Debuchy, making his first Arsenal start for 370 days, was forced off by a hamstring injury in the first half and Wenger expressed fear the problem was &quot;severe&quot;.

Everton manager Ronald Koeman made an unhappy return to former club Southampton as his current side fell 1-0 to his previous employers.

Charlie Austin scored the game&#39;s only goal after just 41 seconds, heading in from close range after 19-year-old debutant Josh Sims helped on Cedric&#39;s cross.

Stoke City climbed to 11th in the table with a 1-0 win at Watford.

A 29th-minute own goal from Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes settled the game, with Charlie Adam&#39;s header hitting the post and bouncing into the net off the unfortunate Brazilian.

(AFP)

Manchester United manager Mourinho was sent to the stands for kicking a water bottle in protest of Paul Pogba's booking for diving

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was sent off as his side lost more ground in the Premier League title race by drawing 1-1 with West Ham United on Sunday. After Diafra Sakho's second-minute opener was cancelled out by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mourinho was sent to the stands for kicking a water bottle in protest at Paul Pogba's booking for diving. It was United's fourth successive home draw in the league -- a first since 1980 -- and left them 11 points below leaders Chelsea in sixth place. United assistant manager Rui Faria, filling in for Mourinho, told BBC Sport: "We all believe the results will appear. "The referee explained it to Jose and there is nothing more to say. I think it was frustration from Jose after the yellow card for Pogba. "It should be a foul for us, but the referee understood it in another way." Elsewhere, Alexis Sanchez scored twice as Arsenal kept pace within the leading pack by winning 3-1 at home to Bournemouth. Mourinho made six changes to his starting XI at Old Trafford, but his bench created the biggest stir as formerly exiled midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger made an unexpected return to the match-day squad. West Ham needed just 90 seconds to go ahead as Dimitri Payet's free-kick from the right was headed in by Sakho. In the 21st minute, Pogba's deep cross was nodded in by Ibrahimovic, who has now scored seven league goals this season. Moments later referee Jonathan Moss booked Pogba for diving after the France midfielder took evasive action as Mark Noble moved in to tackle him. Mourinho reacted by furiously kicking a plastic bottle and was duly sent to the stands for the second time this season. Wayne Rooney, whose next goal will equal Bobby Charlton's 249-goal club scoring record, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan came on for United in the second half. Jesse Lingard saw a goal chalked off for offside after Mkhitaryan had hit the post, while United were indebted to goalkeeper David de Gea for a crucial late save to deny Ashley Fletcher. - Debuchy blow - United will hope their luck changes when West Ham return to Old Trafford in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday. Arsenal ended a run of three straight draws in all competitions with victory over Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium. With England midfielder Jack Wilshere watching from the stands due to the terms of his loan from Arsenal to Bournemouth, the home side took a 12th-minute lead courtesy of a horror moment from Simon Cook. In seeking to play the ball back to goalkeeper Adam Federici from the right, he undercooked his pass horribly, giving Sanchez the time to pick his spot and put Arsenal ahead. Bournemouth equalised in the 23rd minute when Callum Wilson netted from the penalty spot after Nacho Monreal was harshly adjudged to have fouled him. But Arsenal equalised in the 53rd minute when Theo Walcott headed in Monreal's masterful cross and Sanchez made the game safe in stoppage time by tapping in substitute Olivier Giroud's cross. "I felt we started well, but when they equalised we were nervous and that's where having three consecutive draws played a little bit on our minds," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose team trail Chelsea by three points. Right-back Mathieu Debuchy, making his first Arsenal start for 370 days, was forced off by a hamstring injury in the first half and Wenger expressed fear the problem was "severe". Everton manager Ronald Koeman made an unhappy return to former club Southampton as his current side fell 1-0 to his previous employers. Charlie Austin scored the game's only goal after just 41 seconds, heading in from close range after 19-year-old debutant Josh Sims helped on Cedric's cross. Stoke City climbed to 11th in the table with a 1-0 win at Watford. A 29th-minute own goal from Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes settled the game, with Charlie Adam's header hitting the post and bouncing into the net off the unfortunate Brazilian. (AFP)

Football: Mourinho sent off in Man Utd draw, Sanchez fires for Arsenal

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is still unsure of his best team and of the right formula to get the most out of players like world record signing Paul Pogba, according to the club&#39;s former defender Phil Neville.

As United prepared to host Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday, Neville said Mourinho, while not having given up hope of winning the title, seemed still in the dark about how to get the best from his under-performing squad.

&quot;Jose will still believe he can win the title, I am sure of that,&quot; Neville, who played 263 times for United, told Reuters in an interview.

&quot;There are signs that they&#39;re playing a better style and quality of football but I don&#39;t think Jose knows what his best team is or what his best system is to get the best out of those players, Pogba in particular.&quot;

Arsenal have failed to beat United in their last nine Premier League games at Old Trafford (losing seven) and Mourinho is yet to suffer a league defeat against their manager Arsene Wenger after 11 previous meetings when he was at Chelsea.

Their rivalry has occasionally bubbled over with the pair becoming involved in a pushing match on the touchline at Stamford Bridge two years ago.

Neville, currently assistant coach at Spanish club Valencia, believes United&#39;s good record against Arsenal will give them a psychological advantage while the London club&#39;s &quot;lack of steel&quot; on big occasions could secure all three points for Mourinho.

&quot;I am sure both managers will try and play down the rivalry but ultimately the last time they played each other they were fighting on the touchline at Stamford Bridge so there is an intense rivalry there.

&quot;I actually enjoy it because I think it&#39;s good for football. They&#39;ve got one thing in common -- they both want to win. United need to win this game because if they don&#39;t they&#39;ll slip further away from the top four. It&#39;s a really intriguing encounter.

&quot;Arsenal are a fantastic football club and they play fantastic football but I always think that over the last 10 years, at the most important moments in seasons or in games, they&#39;ve always failed,&quot; said Neville who was speaking to promote his new book &#39;Class of 92: Out of our league -- our journey back to the heart of the game&#39;.

&quot;Coming to Old Trafford has been one of those moments over the last decade.

&quot;I think this is the biggest test for Arsenal so far this season,&quot; added Neville who is one of the co-owners of minor league club Salford City along with United team mates from the &#39;Class of 92&#39;, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and brother Gary Neville.

&quot;It will show where they actually are. If they come here on Saturday and get rolled over, then for me it will be same old Arsenal.&quot;

(Reuters)

He said Mourinho is still unsure of the right formula to get the most out of players like world record signing Paul Pogba

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is still unsure of his best team and of the right formula to get the most out of players like world record signing Paul Pogba, according to the club's former defender Phil Neville. As United prepared to host Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday, Neville said Mourinho, while not having given up hope of winning the title, seemed still in the dark about how to get the best from his under-performing squad. "Jose will still believe he can win the title, I am sure of that," Neville, who played 263 times for United, told Reuters in an interview. "There are signs that they're playing a better style and quality of football but I don't think Jose knows what his best team is or what his best system is to get the best out of those players, Pogba in particular." Arsenal have failed to beat United in their last nine Premier League games at Old Trafford (losing seven) and Mourinho is yet to suffer a league defeat against their manager Arsene Wenger after 11 previous meetings when he was at Chelsea. Their rivalry has occasionally bubbled over with the pair becoming involved in a pushing match on the touchline at Stamford Bridge two years ago. Neville, currently assistant coach at Spanish club Valencia, believes United's good record against Arsenal will give them a psychological advantage while the London club's "lack of steel" on big occasions could secure all three points for Mourinho. "I am sure both managers will try and play down the rivalry but ultimately the last time they played each other they were fighting on the touchline at Stamford Bridge so there is an intense rivalry there. "I actually enjoy it because I think it's good for football. They've got one thing in common -- they both want to win. United need to win this game because if they don't they'll slip further away from the top four. It's a really intriguing encounter. "Arsenal are a fantastic football club and they play fantastic football but I always think that over the last 10 years, at the most important moments in seasons or in games, they've always failed," said Neville who was speaking to promote his new book 'Class of 92: Out of our league -- our journey back to the heart of the game'. "Coming to Old Trafford has been one of those moments over the last decade. "I think this is the biggest test for Arsenal so far this season," added Neville who is one of the co-owners of minor league club Salford City along with United team mates from the 'Class of 92', Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and brother Gary Neville. "It will show where they actually are. If they come here on Saturday and get rolled over, then for me it will be same old Arsenal." (Reuters)

Mourinho doesn't know best team: Phil Neville

Jose Mourinho&#39;s sombre countenance on the touchline and failure to win the &quot;hearts and minds&quot; of his players since arriving at Manchester United could prove his downfall, believes a leading British sports psychologist.

The United manager has repeatedly criticised his team in public this season and the 53-year-old should think carefully about changing his approach, according to Steven Sylvester who works with Premier League players as well as world champions from other sports.

&quot;It&#39;s very strange. In my experience, I haven&#39;t seen him [Jose Mourinho] constantly criticise players in the media, this is a new style from him,&quot; Sylvester, who is also psychologist to the cricket county championship winners Middlesex, said in an interview with Reuters.

&quot;Although they must have done something to make him question if these players are at standard he wants, I think it is a way to mask his frustration that he can&#39;t get the team delivering according to his mandate.

&quot;The whole point of good leadership is to win the hearts and minds and if you criticise players in the press you&#39;re going against that.

&quot;The players will sit there in the dressing room thinking, &#39;who&#39;s next, what happens if this goes wrong today?&#39; It creates more fear within the culture than joy.&quot;

Mourinho, who has made an underwhelming start at United, recently said his living arrangements in Manchester have been a &quot;bit of a disaster&quot;.

He painted a miserable picture of himself holed up in his hotel, alone without his family and unable to venture out to local restaurants because of the prospect of being hassled by fans and photographers.

&quot;There&#39;s a lot going on there and if you listen to the content you can be distracted from the main theme,&quot; explained Sylvester, author of the book &#39;Detox Your Ego&#39; (www.withoutego.com).

&quot;For me, Mourinho is in major transition as how to build a new culture at Manchester United.

&quot;He is not going to go to the media and talk about what he is doing to get the culture changed and to get the performance right or how he is assessing the players, so he has to talk about something else.

&quot;He has been one of the best at being able to take people away from the scent of what he is really doing. I think it&#39;s probably tactical.

&quot;Having said that, he has looked really unhappy and I think being unhappy transmits to the players when you&#39;re in transition.

&quot;This means it is harder to get them to play with the rhythm that he wants. It takes time for a group of players to assimilate.&quot;

On the eve of United hosting Arsenal at Old Trafford, Mourinho claimed on Friday that rival manager Arsene Wenger received the respect that was not shown to him, even though &quot;my last title was 18 months ago, not 18 years ago.&quot;

Yet rather than opting for that typical swipe at Wenger, Sylvester felt it was about time Mourinho turned on his old &quot;charm&quot; instead.

&quot;I think he should go on the charm offensive, focus on what he can do to win the hearts and minds not only of his players and staff&nbsp;but of the fans, too,&quot; Sylvester said.

&quot;He needs the support of the media and the goodwill factor needs to come across in his leadership style.

&quot;Mourinho talks more about individual errors than collective errors. I believe in the collective. You win together and you lose together.&quot;

(Reuters)

Steven Sylvester said he has repeatedly criticised his team in public, should think carefully about changing his approach

Jose Mourinho's sombre countenance on the touchline and failure to win the "hearts and minds" of his players since arriving at Manchester United could prove his downfall, believes a leading British sports psychologist. The United manager has repeatedly criticised his team in public this season and the 53-year-old should think carefully about changing his approach, according to Steven Sylvester who works with Premier League players as well as world champions from other sports. "It's very strange. In my experience, I haven't seen him [Jose Mourinho] constantly criticise players in the media, this is a new style from him," Sylvester, who is also psychologist to the cricket county championship winners Middlesex, said in an interview with Reuters. "Although they must have done something to make him question if these players are at standard he wants, I think it is a way to mask his frustration that he can't get the team delivering according to his mandate. "The whole point of good leadership is to win the hearts and minds and if you criticise players in the press you're going against that. "The players will sit there in the dressing room thinking, 'who's next, what happens if this goes wrong today?' It creates more fear within the culture than joy." Mourinho, who has made an underwhelming start at United, recently said his living arrangements in Manchester have been a "bit of a disaster". He painted a miserable picture of himself holed up in his hotel, alone without his family and unable to venture out to local restaurants because of the prospect of being hassled by fans and photographers. "There's a lot going on there and if you listen to the content you can be distracted from the main theme," explained Sylvester, author of the book 'Detox Your Ego' (www.withoutego.com). "For me, Mourinho is in major transition as how to build a new culture at Manchester United. "He is not going to go to the media and talk about what he is doing to get the culture changed and to get the performance right or how he is assessing the players, so he has to talk about something else. "He has been one of the best at being able to take people away from the scent of what he is really doing. I think it's probably tactical. "Having said that, he has looked really unhappy and I think being unhappy transmits to the players when you're in transition. "This means it is harder to get them to play with the rhythm that he wants. It takes time for a group of players to assimilate." On the eve of United hosting Arsenal at Old Trafford, Mourinho claimed on Friday that rival manager Arsene Wenger received the respect that was not shown to him, even though "my last title was 18 months ago, not 18 years ago." Yet rather than opting for that typical swipe at Wenger, Sylvester felt it was about time Mourinho turned on his old "charm" instead. "I think he should go on the charm offensive, focus on what he can do to win the hearts and minds not only of his players and staff but of the fans, too," Sylvester said. "He needs the support of the media and the goodwill factor needs to come across in his leadership style. "Mourinho talks more about individual errors than collective errors. I believe in the collective. You win together and you lose together." (Reuters)

No way Jose: Top shrink says Mourinho should create joy, not fear

The Professional Footballers&#39; Association has voiced concerns over Jose Mourinho&#39;s criticism of Manchester United defenders Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw, urging the manager to show more empathy towards players with &quot;personal problems&quot;.

Mourinho condemned Shaw and Smalling over the pair&#39;s apparent unwillingness to play through the pain barrier in Sunday&#39;s Premier League win over Swansea City, saying they were not &quot;brave&quot; enough to feature.

&quot;I was disappointed by that because, knowing the individuals, they are both highly thought of. They&#39;ve got personal problems which I don&#39;t need to relay,&quot; PFA Chief Executive Gordon Taylor told Sky Sports.

&quot;Sometimes a manager needs to be a psychologist as well, and also to be a counsellor because you can&#39;t treat everybody in the team (the same), every manager must know that. Every player in a team is different.&quot;

Smalling has missed several United matches with a foot injury but took a pain-killing injection to play against Chelsea last month, according to British media reports.

Shaw, who recently returned following a 10-month injury layoff, has had a mixed start to the campaign and lost his place in the starting line-up after Mourinho publicly criticised the 21-year-old following United&#39;s loss at Watford in September.

&quot;It&#39;s a short-term career and we&#39;re all human beings. I think that&#39;s what management these days has to be,&quot; Taylor added.

&quot;I&#39;m not talking about being soft, I&#39;m talking about being understanding because to even get to the top in football you have got to succeed as not so many actually make it in the game.&quot;

(Reuters)

PFA urged Manchester United's manager to show more empathy towards players with 'personal problems'

The Professional Footballers' Association has voiced concerns over Jose Mourinho's criticism of Manchester United defenders Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw, urging the manager to show more empathy towards players with "personal problems". Mourinho condemned Shaw and Smalling over the pair's apparent unwillingness to play through the pain barrier in Sunday's Premier League win over Swansea City, saying they were not "brave" enough to feature. "I was disappointed by that because, knowing the individuals, they are both highly thought of. They've got personal problems which I don't need to relay," PFA Chief Executive Gordon Taylor told Sky Sports. "Sometimes a manager needs to be a psychologist as well, and also to be a counsellor because you can't treat everybody in the team (the same), every manager must know that. Every player in a team is different." Smalling has missed several United matches with a foot injury but took a pain-killing injection to play against Chelsea last month, according to British media reports. Shaw, who recently returned following a 10-month injury layoff, has had a mixed start to the campaign and lost his place in the starting line-up after Mourinho publicly criticised the 21-year-old following United's loss at Watford in September. "It's a short-term career and we're all human beings. I think that's what management these days has to be," Taylor added. "I'm not talking about being soft, I'm talking about being understanding because to even get to the top in football you have got to succeed as not so many actually make it in the game." (Reuters)

PFA chief Gordon Taylor voices concern over Mourinho's criticism of players

Jose Mourinho has taken a swipe at the Manchester United players he fears might not have the right attitude to guide his side back into the Premier League title race.

Mourinho saw first half goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba help United to only a second league victory in eight games as his side cruised to a 3-1 success at Swansea on Sunday.

However, in the wake of the win, Mourinho spoke openly about the need for players to play through the injury pain barrier.

&quot;We have players with problems, but we also have players on the pitch who have problems,&quot; he said.

&quot;And that is what I mean, because in every sport, and I know that because I have friends from other sports, playing at the highest level. How many times do they play when they are not 100 per cent?

&quot;I have a friend who is a big tennis player and he tells me that he remembers more times when he has played with pain than the times he has played without any pain. To compete, you have to work to the limits.

&quot;It is a cultural thing, for some. That&#39;s not my culture.&quot;

Asked if players needed to change to play for him, Mourinho said; &quot;Exactly, but more than me, Man United. More than me, Man United.&quot;

Despite Mourinho&#39;s blast, he could have no complaints about the overall United performance on Sunday.

&quot;After the draw against Burnley we needed points,&quot; he said.

&quot;We put in a great performance against Burnley, but only came away with one point. We needed three points today, more than the performance. But we got both.

&quot;Zlatan does not lack confidence. I used to say that a striker who doesn&#39;t score goals and does nothing else, means you have one player less.

&quot;A striker who doesn&#39;t score goals, but does everything else, is a very important player for the team. When Zlatan was not scoring goals, he was doing everything else. He was working defensively, he was working in the build up, he was giving assists and he was contributing towards the fact that the goalkeepers who played against us were the man of the match.

&quot;So, he was doing so many things that I was not worried. Today we needed goals to win and we got them.&quot;

Calling the tune

While Ibrahimovic was calling the tune in the final third, it was veteran Michael Carrick who was dictating the pace of the game in front of his back four.&nbsp;

Mourinho added; &quot;I would love Michael to play every game, but that is not possible.&nbsp;

&quot;He can&#39;t play in every game for the same reason I can no longer go to the gym every day. But he started today and he played very, very well.&quot;

Not even a 69th minute headed goal from Mike van der Hoorn could bring a smile to the face of Swansea manager Bob Bradley, whose side are stuck in the relegation zone.

&quot;We are in a tough spot, there is no two ways about that. We understand very clearly where we are and there is no hiding from that. But we understand all the areas where we need to be better,&quot; Bradley said.

&quot;We kept giving the ball back too quickly. I don&#39;t think we showed enough commitment to close people down. We cannot take solace from playing a little better in the second half.

&quot;There is only one way to win the support of the fans and that is to play well and to win games.

&quot;We need to focus on the only part we control and that is how we play. If the fans are angry, I understand that.&nbsp;

&quot;We didn&#39;t do enough to win them over. They had every right to be angry.&quot;

(AFP)

Mourinho spoke openly about the need for players to play through the injury pain barrier

Jose Mourinho has taken a swipe at the Manchester United players he fears might not have the right attitude to guide his side back into the Premier League title race. Mourinho saw first half goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba help United to only a second league victory in eight games as his side cruised to a 3-1 success at Swansea on Sunday. However, in the wake of the win, Mourinho spoke openly about the need for players to play through the injury pain barrier. "We have players with problems, but we also have players on the pitch who have problems," he said. "And that is what I mean, because in every sport, and I know that because I have friends from other sports, playing at the highest level. How many times do they play when they are not 100 per cent? "I have a friend who is a big tennis player and he tells me that he remembers more times when he has played with pain than the times he has played without any pain. To compete, you have to work to the limits. "It is a cultural thing, for some. That's not my culture." Asked if players needed to change to play for him, Mourinho said; "Exactly, but more than me, Man United. More than me, Man United." Despite Mourinho's blast, he could have no complaints about the overall United performance on Sunday. "After the draw against Burnley we needed points," he said. "We put in a great performance against Burnley, but only came away with one point. We needed three points today, more than the performance. But we got both. "Zlatan does not lack confidence. I used to say that a striker who doesn't score goals and does nothing else, means you have one player less. "A striker who doesn't score goals, but does everything else, is a very important player for the team. When Zlatan was not scoring goals, he was doing everything else. He was working defensively, he was working in the build up, he was giving assists and he was contributing towards the fact that the goalkeepers who played against us were the man of the match. "So, he was doing so many things that I was not worried. Today we needed goals to win and we got them." Calling the tune While Ibrahimovic was calling the tune in the final third, it was veteran Michael Carrick who was dictating the pace of the game in front of his back four. Mourinho added; "I would love Michael to play every game, but that is not possible. "He can't play in every game for the same reason I can no longer go to the gym every day. But he started today and he played very, very well." Not even a 69th minute headed goal from Mike van der Hoorn could bring a smile to the face of Swansea manager Bob Bradley, whose side are stuck in the relegation zone. "We are in a tough spot, there is no two ways about that. We understand very clearly where we are and there is no hiding from that. But we understand all the areas where we need to be better," Bradley said. "We kept giving the ball back too quickly. I don't think we showed enough commitment to close people down. We cannot take solace from playing a little better in the second half. "There is only one way to win the support of the fans and that is to play well and to win games. "We need to focus on the only part we control and that is how we play. If the fans are angry, I understand that. "We didn't do enough to win them over. They had every right to be angry." (AFP)

Football: Mourinho hits out at United 'problem players'

Manchester&nbsp;United&#39;s woes deepened as stunning goals by Moussa Sow and Jeremain Lens gave&nbsp;Fenerbahce&nbsp;a 2-1 Europa League win on Thursday that left Jose Mourinho&#39;s side facing a battle to reach the knockout stages.

Without a victory in four Premier League games,&nbsp;United&nbsp;desperately needed a morale-lifting result in Turkey but were undone by a brilliant second-minute overhead kick from Sow and a superb curling set piece by Lens before Wayne Rooney smashed home a consolation.

While Mourinho&#39;s men are third in Group A, Zenit St Petersburg have made it look easy in Group D and reached the knockout stages with two games to spare after a 2-1 win over Irish side Dundalk maintained their perfect record.

Athletic Bilbao&#39;s Aritz Aduriz became the first player to score five times in a Europa League match, his haul comprising three penalties in a 5-3 triumph over Racing Genk in Group F.

Anderlecht were also on the goal trail in Group C as Nicolae Stanciu and Lukasz Teodorczyk netted twice for the Belgians who brushed aside Mainz 05 6-1.

AS Roma&#39;s Edin Dzeko bagged a double as they moved top of Group E after a 4-2 win at Austria Vienna.

A gloomy pall has descended over Mourinho&#39;s reign at Old Trafford with the manager under scrutiny for his team&#39;s poor start and the disciplinary problems that have earned him a domestic one-match touch line ban.

After victories in their last two group games, Europe&#39;s second-tier competition had supplied United&nbsp;with some relief from their league struggles but they were sliced apart by&nbsp;Fenerbahce who exposed some glaring defensive weaknesses.

The two spectacular goals they conceded, however, were almost unstoppable.

The match had barely begun when Sow flung himself on the edge of the box into an overhead volley from a floated cross, smashing the ball past&nbsp;United&nbsp;keeper David De Gea and into the top corner.

Fenerbahce&nbsp;then took a stranglehold on the tie when Lens stepped up to nonchalantly curl a free kick around the wall and into the corner 14 minutes after the restart, leaving De Gea rooted to the spot as the ball bulged the net.

It should have got a lot worse for&nbsp;United&nbsp;when second-half substitute Emmanuel Emenike threatened three times to extend the lead before Rooney drove the ball home from 25 metres to set up a nervy finish.

United, who suffered an injury blow when the world&#39;s most expensive player Paul Pogba was forced off in the first half, are now a point behind group leaders Feyenoord and&nbsp;Fenerbahce&nbsp;with two games remaining.

(AFP)

United manager Jose Mourinho accused his side of playing with the intensity of a 'summer friendly'

Manchester United's woes deepened as stunning goals by Moussa Sow and Jeremain Lens gave Fenerbahce a 2-1 Europa League win on Thursday that left Jose Mourinho's side facing a battle to reach the knockout stages. Without a victory in four Premier League games, United desperately needed a morale-lifting result in Turkey but were undone by a brilliant second-minute overhead kick from Sow and a superb curling set piece by Lens before Wayne Rooney smashed home a consolation. While Mourinho's men are third in Group A, Zenit St Petersburg have made it look easy in Group D and reached the knockout stages with two games to spare after a 2-1 win over Irish side Dundalk maintained their perfect record. Athletic Bilbao's Aritz Aduriz became the first player to score five times in a Europa League match, his haul comprising three penalties in a 5-3 triumph over Racing Genk in Group F. Anderlecht were also on the goal trail in Group C as Nicolae Stanciu and Lukasz Teodorczyk netted twice for the Belgians who brushed aside Mainz 05 6-1. AS Roma's Edin Dzeko bagged a double as they moved top of Group E after a 4-2 win at Austria Vienna. A gloomy pall has descended over Mourinho's reign at Old Trafford with the manager under scrutiny for his team's poor start and the disciplinary problems that have earned him a domestic one-match touch line ban. After victories in their last two group games, Europe's second-tier competition had supplied United with some relief from their league struggles but they were sliced apart by Fenerbahce who exposed some glaring defensive weaknesses. The two spectacular goals they conceded, however, were almost unstoppable. The match had barely begun when Sow flung himself on the edge of the box into an overhead volley from a floated cross, smashing the ball past United keeper David De Gea and into the top corner. Fenerbahce then took a stranglehold on the tie when Lens stepped up to nonchalantly curl a free kick around the wall and into the corner 14 minutes after the restart, leaving De Gea rooted to the spot as the ball bulged the net. It should have got a lot worse for United when second-half substitute Emmanuel Emenike threatened three times to extend the lead before Rooney drove the ball home from 25 metres to set up a nervy finish. United, who suffered an injury blow when the world's most expensive player Paul Pogba was forced off in the first half, are now a point behind group leaders Feyenoord and Fenerbahce with two games remaining. (AFP)

Europa League: Fenerbahce beat Manchester United to heap misery on Mourinho

United manager Jose Mourinho has been charged with misconduct in the wake of his comments about referee Anthony Taylor before Manchester United&#39;s goalless draw with Liverpool last week, the Football Association said on Thursday.

Mourinho said it would be &quot;difficult&quot; for Taylor, who is from the Greater Manchester area, to have &quot;a very good performance&quot; after being put in charge of the Premier League game between two fierce rivals.

&quot;Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been charged with misconduct, in respect of comments he made relating to the appointed match referee prior to the Liverpool FC v Manchester United FC fixture on Monday 17 October 2016,&quot; the FA said in a statement.

The FA had earlier asked Mourinho to explain comments he made about the match referee. The 53-year-old has until Monday to respond to the charge.

FA rules prohibit managers and players from making comments about officials which could be viewed as intimidatory or influential before games.

On a busy day for the FA&#39;s disciplinary department, Sunderland boss Davis Moyes was also hit with a misconduct charge after he was sent off at Southampton in the League Cup on Wednesday.

Moyes has been accused by the FA of using &quot;abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official&quot; in their 1-0 defeat at St Mary&#39;s.

The Sunderland manager, who has until Tuesday to respond to the charge, was sent to the stands after referee Chris Kavanagh waved away a late penalty appeal.

Moyes, whose side are bottom of the Premier League, later admitted that he had deserved to be banished from the touchline.

(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Manchester United and Sunderland managers were both hit with misconduct charges after making inappropriate comments about match referees

United manager Jose Mourinho has been charged with misconduct in the wake of his comments about referee Anthony Taylor before Manchester United's goalless draw with Liverpool last week, the Football Association said on Thursday. Mourinho said it would be "difficult" for Taylor, who is from the Greater Manchester area, to have "a very good performance" after being put in charge of the Premier League game between two fierce rivals. "Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been charged with misconduct, in respect of comments he made relating to the appointed match referee prior to the Liverpool FC v Manchester United FC fixture on Monday 17 October 2016," the FA said in a statement. The FA had earlier asked Mourinho to explain comments he made about the match referee. The 53-year-old has until Monday to respond to the charge. FA rules prohibit managers and players from making comments about officials which could be viewed as intimidatory or influential before games. On a busy day for the FA's disciplinary department, Sunderland boss Davis Moyes was also hit with a misconduct charge after he was sent off at Southampton in the League Cup on Wednesday. Moyes has been accused by the FA of using "abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official" in their 1-0 defeat at St Mary's. The Sunderland manager, who has until Tuesday to respond to the charge, was sent to the stands after referee Chris Kavanagh waved away a late penalty appeal. Moyes, whose side are bottom of the Premier League, later admitted that he had deserved to be banished from the touchline. (Reuters)

EPL: Mourinho, Moyes charged with misconduct by FA

Chelsea made it a miserable return for Jose Mourinho as they hammered his Manchester United side 4-0 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in the Premier League.

Pedro Rodriguez opened the scoring after just 30 seconds and Chelsea did not look back, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N&#39;Golo Kante completing an emphatic victory.

He saw his side squander a chance to level when Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed over after Antonio Valencia had stood up a cross from the right.

More slack defending allowed Chelsea to double their lead in the 21st minute, Cahill slamming home after Hazard&#39;s corner had struck Ander Herrera and bounced down inside the six-yard box.

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had been relatively untroubled up to that point, although he produced a smart double save to repel Herrera&#39;s left-foot effort and Jesse Lingard&#39;s follow-up.

It was an ideal first half for Chelsea, but David Luiz was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after planting his studs in Marouane Fellaini&#39;s knee five minutes before half-time.

Mourinho changed tack at half-time, sending on Juan Mata for Fellaini and moving Marcus Rashford up front alongside Ibrahimovic in a 4-4-2 formation.

Lingard sought to sound the revolt for United, wriggling away from a pair of Chelsea players and unleashing a crisp drive that Courtois had to push away.

But in the 62nd minute it was game over. Nemanja Matic&#39;s pass down the inside-left channel found Hazard, who checked inside Smalling and steered a shot into the bottom-right corner.

Kante completed the rout, darting between Smalling and the sleep-walking Paul Pogba to tuck away his first Chelsea goal since his close-season switch from Leicester City.

Mourinho was appointed by United in May after being sacked by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich for a second time last December. With seven major titles across two spells, Mourinho is Chelsea&#39;s most successful ever manager, but his return to his old stomping ground ended in one of the most chastening results of his career.

Antonio Conte&#39;s side have now won three consecutive league games without conceding a goal and climbed to fourth place, just a point below leaders Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

Pedro, Cahill, Hazard & Kante ripped apart Manchester United's poor defence, taking Chelsea to fourth place in the Premier League standings

Chelsea made it a miserable return for Jose Mourinho as they hammered his Manchester United side 4-0 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in the Premier League. Pedro Rodriguez opened the scoring after just 30 seconds and Chelsea did not look back, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N'Golo Kante completing an emphatic victory. He saw his side squander a chance to level when Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed over after Antonio Valencia had stood up a cross from the right. More slack defending allowed Chelsea to double their lead in the 21st minute, Cahill slamming home after Hazard's corner had struck Ander Herrera and bounced down inside the six-yard box. Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had been relatively untroubled up to that point, although he produced a smart double save to repel Herrera's left-foot effort and Jesse Lingard's follow-up. It was an ideal first half for Chelsea, but David Luiz was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after planting his studs in Marouane Fellaini's knee five minutes before half-time. Mourinho changed tack at half-time, sending on Juan Mata for Fellaini and moving Marcus Rashford up front alongside Ibrahimovic in a 4-4-2 formation. Lingard sought to sound the revolt for United, wriggling away from a pair of Chelsea players and unleashing a crisp drive that Courtois had to push away. But in the 62nd minute it was game over. Nemanja Matic's pass down the inside-left channel found Hazard, who checked inside Smalling and steered a shot into the bottom-right corner. Kante completed the rout, darting between Smalling and the sleep-walking Paul Pogba to tuck away his first Chelsea goal since his close-season switch from Leicester City. Mourinho was appointed by United in May after being sacked by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich for a second time last December. With seven major titles across two spells, Mourinho is Chelsea's most successful ever manager, but his return to his old stomping ground ended in one of the most chastening results of his career. Antonio Conte's side have now won three consecutive league games without conceding a goal and climbed to fourth place, just a point below leaders Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. (AFP)

Football: Chelsea thrash Mourinho's Manchester United 4-0

Ahead of Monday&#39;s game against Liverpool, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has asked supporters of both teams to show restraint when two of football&#39;s fiercest rivals face-off in the Premier League.

&quot;In football, we have some &#39;football tragedies&#39;, which is the big match that you lost, the mistake that some player did and you can make fun of it in a positive way. But the human tragedy is something much, much more serious and I think is the last thing somebody should use on a football pitch, Mourinho told the press. &quot;These need our respect, so I would be really sad if in such a big football match that was a negative point.&quot;

He was referring to last season&#39;s Europa League last-16 tie when both clubs were fined for chants mocking the Hillsborough and Munich tragedies faced by their teams.

In 1958, 23 people, including eight United players, died after their plane caught fire and crashed in Munich. In 1989, 96 Liverpool fans died after being crushed during an FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough.

On Thursday, the two clubs also warned their supporters to behave in a joint statement.

Mourinho, who has faced Liverpool many times as Chelsea manager, also said he was looking forward to the match at Anfield and liked the atmosphere there.

&quot;I always like to play at Anfield. I won many times there, I also lost. I won big matches, I lost big matches. I cannot say I like to go there because I&#39;m always successful because it&#39;s not true. I like to go there, I like the atmosphere, said the Portuguese.

&quot;Being Man United manager obviously means something more because we cannot compare the historical rivalry between my previous club and Liverpool, Man United and Liverpool,&quot; he added. &quot;I&#39;m in England for a long time. Obviously I never played this match but I played many times against Liverpool, United. I understand the dimension of the clubs and now I understand better the history between the rivals.&quot;

&quot;In the end, it&#39;s just a big match. It can be comparable to Milan v Inter Milan, (Real) Madrid v Barcelona, maybe Porto v Benfica, maybe comparable to one of these matches.&quot;

He also clarified that the outcome would not impact United&#39;s season.

&quot;The season for me is not about the Anfield match though, or Old Trafford in January. It&#39;s about many matches, many points to win, many points to lose and targets to achieve.&quot; 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters)

The Manchester United manager does not want a repeat of last season's debacle when both teams were fined for mocking each other

Ahead of Monday's game against Liverpool, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has asked supporters of both teams to show restraint when two of football's fiercest rivals face-off in the Premier League. "In football, we have some 'football tragedies', which is the big match that you lost, the mistake that some player did and you can make fun of it in a positive way. But the human tragedy is something much, much more serious and I think is the last thing somebody should use on a football pitch, Mourinho told the press. "These need our respect, so I would be really sad if in such a big football match that was a negative point." He was referring to last season's Europa League last-16 tie when both clubs were fined for chants mocking the Hillsborough and Munich tragedies faced by their teams. In 1958, 23 people, including eight United players, died after their plane caught fire and crashed in Munich. In 1989, 96 Liverpool fans died after being crushed during an FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough. On Thursday, the two clubs also warned their supporters to behave in a joint statement. Mourinho, who has faced Liverpool many times as Chelsea manager, also said he was looking forward to the match at Anfield and liked the atmosphere there. "I always like to play at Anfield. I won many times there, I also lost. I won big matches, I lost big matches. I cannot say I like to go there because I'm always successful because it's not true. I like to go there, I like the atmosphere, said the Portuguese. "Being Man United manager obviously means something more because we cannot compare the historical rivalry between my previous club and Liverpool, Man United and Liverpool," he added. "I'm in England for a long time. Obviously I never played this match but I played many times against Liverpool, United. I understand the dimension of the clubs and now I understand better the history between the rivals." "In the end, it's just a big match. It can be comparable to Milan v Inter Milan, (Real) Madrid v Barcelona, maybe Porto v Benfica, maybe comparable to one of these matches." He also clarified that the outcome would not impact United's season. "The season for me is not about the Anfield match though, or Old Trafford in January. It's about many matches, many points to win, many points to lose and targets to achieve." (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Jose Mourinho asks supporters to behave ahead of United-Liverpool game

After Manchester United drew&nbsp;1-1 with Stoke City at Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho insisted his team had played the best football of the season.

He also said they could have put seven goals past lowly Stoke City.

A rare error by David de Gea allowed Joe Allen to cancel out Anthony Martial&#39;s 69th-minute opener.

But Mourinho refused to be critical either of David de Gea or his forwards, who missed a host of chances.

&quot;It&#39;s simple, that was the best performance of the season&quot;, said Mourinho.

&quot;Three or four-nil at half-time, six or seven-nil at the end of the game&hellip; but the result was 1-1.

&quot;That&#39;s football. That&#39;s very underserved but, I repeat, that was a much better performance than against Leicester,&rdquo; &nbsp;said Mourinho, whose side beat reigning champions Leicester 4-1 the previous weekend.&nbsp;

&quot;That was our best performance by far. We had six, seven, eight great chances to win the game.&quot;

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba, on at least two occasions, wasted glorious chances for United while Stoke goalkeeper Lee Grant -- making only his second Premier League appearance at 33 --&nbsp;was the man of the match.

&quot;In the first minute, their goalkeeper made an unbelievable save,&quot; said Mourinho. &quot;And he kept doing that until the end of the game.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;He started with an amazing save from Zlatan and ended with an amazing save from Zlatan.&quot;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

Mourinho refused to be critical either of goalkeeper David de Gea or his forwards, who missed a host of chances

After Manchester United drew 1-1 with Stoke City at Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho insisted his team had played the best football of the season. He also said they could have put seven goals past lowly Stoke City. A rare error by David de Gea allowed Joe Allen to cancel out Anthony Martial's 69th-minute opener. But Mourinho refused to be critical either of David de Gea or his forwards, who missed a host of chances. "It's simple, that was the best performance of the season", said Mourinho. "Three or four-nil at half-time, six or seven-nil at the end of the game… but the result was 1-1. "That's football. That's very underserved but, I repeat, that was a much better performance than against Leicester,” said Mourinho, whose side beat reigning champions Leicester 4-1 the previous weekend. "That was our best performance by far. We had six, seven, eight great chances to win the game." Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba, on at least two occasions, wasted glorious chances for United while Stoke goalkeeper Lee Grant -- making only his second Premier League appearance at 33 -- was the man of the match. "In the first minute, their goalkeeper made an unbelievable save," said Mourinho. "And he kept doing that until the end of the game." "He started with an amazing save from Zlatan and ended with an amazing save from Zlatan." (WION with inputs from AFP)

After 1-1 draw, Mourinho says United could have put seven past Stoke

Jose Mourinho says Manchester United&#39;s rehabilitation will be a steady process but Friday&#39;s 2-0 win over Southampton indicated the team are quickly rediscovering their vim and verve under the new manager. 
 
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice while Paul Pogba, the world&#39;s most expensive player, impressed on his first outing in his second spell at the club, prompting the kind of atmosphere that has been increasingly rare in recent seasons of toil at Old Trafford. 
 
Mourinho, who replaced Dutchman Louis van Gaal in the close season, has called on the squad to bring the fear factor back to the stadium and even at this early stage of their development there seems to be an aura about United again. 
 
&quot;The players are happy with some details which belong to the nature of this club,&quot; said Mourinho after his side made it two wins from two Premier League matches this season. 
 
&quot;We can&#39;t be the same United of the 80s, 90s and early 2000s as football has changed a lot. 
 
&quot;There is an evolution in things and we have to go in relation to that. It&#39;s a natural evolution, step by step,&quot; added Mourinho. 
 
&quot;We brought to the game some aspects of the United culture, the first goal is a great example of that.&quot; 
 
Ibrahimovic, who met Wayne Rooney&#39;s fine cross with a thumping header in the 36th minute, led the line with an Eric Cantona-esque air of self-belief as United played with the swagger that has been missing since the retirement of all-conquering former manager Alex Ferguson in 2013. 
 
BIG PUZZLE 
 
&quot;We need to get used to winning,&quot; said Ibrahimovic, &quot;the mental part is important. 
 
&quot;Everything is new. It&#39;s like a big puzzle, we need to put the puzzle together.&quot; 
 
For the first time since 2000, the world&#39;s most expensive footballer has not been signed by Real Madrid, and while Pogba is a &#39;Galactico&#39; in every sense, his return &quot;home&quot;, as Ibrahimovic described it, can provide United with a big lift. 
 
&quot;I came here to win, that&#39;s what I always wanted,&quot; said the France midfielder who has gone back to his first club from Juventus for a fee of 89 million pounds ($116.35 million). 
 
&quot;We need to get used to winning and carry on like this. We dream big. United are a big club, I know we will do big things this season.&quot; 
 
Pogba gave a dynamic display, managing more interceptions than any other player and completing more dribbles. 
 
There was more than a hint of fellow countryman Patrick Vieira about his performance and United fans will be hoping they have finally found a long-awaited successor to former Ireland midfielder Roy Keane who shone under Ferguson. 
 
(Reuters)

Ibrahimovic scored twice while Paul Pogba, the world's most expensive player, impressed on his first outing in his second spell

Jose Mourinho says Manchester United's rehabilitation will be a steady process but Friday's 2-0 win over Southampton indicated the team are quickly rediscovering their vim and verve under the new manager. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice while Paul Pogba, the world's most expensive player, impressed on his first outing in his second spell at the club, prompting the kind of atmosphere that has been increasingly rare in recent seasons of toil at Old Trafford. Mourinho, who replaced Dutchman Louis van Gaal in the close season, has called on the squad to bring the fear factor back to the stadium and even at this early stage of their development there seems to be an aura about United again. "The players are happy with some details which belong to the nature of this club," said Mourinho after his side made it two wins from two Premier League matches this season. "We can't be the same United of the 80s, 90s and early 2000s as football has changed a lot. "There is an evolution in things and we have to go in relation to that. It's a natural evolution, step by step," added Mourinho. "We brought to the game some aspects of the United culture, the first goal is a great example of that." Ibrahimovic, who met Wayne Rooney's fine cross with a thumping header in the 36th minute, led the line with an Eric Cantona-esque air of self-belief as United played with the swagger that has been missing since the retirement of all-conquering former manager Alex Ferguson in 2013. BIG PUZZLE "We need to get used to winning," said Ibrahimovic, "the mental part is important. "Everything is new. It's like a big puzzle, we need to put the puzzle together." For the first time since 2000, the world's most expensive footballer has not been signed by Real Madrid, and while Pogba is a 'Galactico' in every sense, his return "home", as Ibrahimovic described it, can provide United with a big lift. "I came here to win, that's what I always wanted," said the France midfielder who has gone back to his first club from Juventus for a fee of 89 million pounds ($116.35 million). "We need to get used to winning and carry on like this. We dream big. United are a big club, I know we will do big things this season." Pogba gave a dynamic display, managing more interceptions than any other player and completing more dribbles. There was more than a hint of fellow countryman Patrick Vieira about his performance and United fans will be hoping they have finally found a long-awaited successor to former Ireland midfielder Roy Keane who shone under Ferguson. (Reuters)

Ibra, Pogba power Manchester United to 2-0 win over Southampton

Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is joining Premier League club Manchester United, he said on Twitter today. 
 
&quot;Time to let the world know my next destination is @Manutd,&quot; the 34-year-old said. 
 
Ibrahimovic had been widely expected to make the move to England after announcing he was leaving French side Paris St Germain. 
 
United will be the eighth club in a career which began at Malmo in 1999 and has included spells at Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan. 
 
At Old Trafford he will play under new United manager Jose Mourinho. 
 
(Reuters)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will play under new United manager Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford

Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is joining Premier League club Manchester United, he said on Twitter today. "Time to let the world know my next destination is @Manutd," the 34-year-old said. Ibrahimovic had been widely expected to make the move to England after announcing he was leaving French side Paris St Germain. United will be the eighth club in a career which began at Malmo in 1999 and has included spells at Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan. At Old Trafford he will play under new United manager Jose Mourinho. (Reuters)

Ibrahimovic says he is joining Manchester United

Five facts on Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic after he announced that&nbsp;he is signing for English Premier League giants Manchester United today:

League titles but no Champions League crown

Ibrahimovic&#39;s goals have delivered league titles wherever he has gone, from the Netherlands to Italy to Spain and France, but never has he touched the Champions League trophy. Inter Milan and Barcelona won it, but after he had left them. United cannot give him it next season either as they failed to qualify, so he will just have to hope that they get a crack at it for the 2017-18 campaign and that he is still on the playing staff.

Carrot and stick approach needed for Ibracadabra magic

Ibrahimovic is such a contrary character that his coach at a previous club AC Milan Massimiliano Allegri says he needs constant attention if he is to be temperamentally ready to produce his magic turn on the pitch. &quot;With him, you have to use both the stick and the carrot,&quot; he was quoted in The Guardian in 2012. &quot;Ibra is a strong personality and needs to be relaxed at times, while in other occasions he has to be stimulated, otherwise he falls asleep.&quot; Swedish national coach Erik Hamren called him out when he retired from international football in 2009 telling him do come back but not as the depressed donkey Eeyore but as Winnie The Pooh.

Opponents pay homage to &#39;God&#39;

Fair to say Ibrahimovic through his exploits, his superstar appeal and lively temperament lit up a pretty moribund Ligue 1 for the past few seasons.&nbsp;Even opposing clubs felt compelled to offer their &quot;thanks&quot;&nbsp;for his presence, even if he hurt them by scoring goals against them. Such a case was Toulouse, who would have pleased him with the divine being they compared him to given his penchant for adorning himself with epithets in 2014. &quot;Today is your birthday, 33, the age of Christ, your son. Happy birthday and long live the Z! Despite the perverse pleasure you took scoring goals against us the last two seasons, we are not vindictive. We want to thank you. For everything.&quot;

Bikes, bed and docks

No one can begrudge Ibrahimovic his riches given he has fought hard to rise to the top, and at one point would have stuck with working on the docks in Malmo rather than attempting to carve out a football career. His youth team manager at the time persuaded him to stick with the &quot;beautiful game&quot;. Not that he needed a father figure, for despite his Bosnian caretaker dad splitting from his Croatian mother when he was just two, he spent more time with his dad Sefik, who nevertheless was badly affected by the Balkan War even though he had left Bosnia years before. Ibrahimovic -- who during his youth once stole a bicycle to get himself to training -- related to The Guardian in 2014 a moving story about his impoverished father shelling out for an IKEA bed&nbsp;for him. However, they had no way of getting it back home. &quot;We carried it home between us. It&#39;s fantastic what we did. I had time with my mother but I really lived with my father. One time he gave all his salary so I could travel to a training camp. He couldn&rsquo;t pay the rent but he did that.&quot;

Literary Roth of God

Most footballer&#39;s autobiographies generally don&#39;t provide much insight or indeed entertainment, but Ibrahimovic&#39;s &#39;I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic&#39; unsurprisingly bucked the trend. Not often in such tomes will you read anecdotes such as this, about his companion and mother of his children, Helena Seger: &quot;She came from a model family from Lindesberg, one of those families where they say, &#39;Darling, would you please pass me the milk?&#39;, whereas we at table mostly we just hurled death threats at each other.&quot; Indeed one critic compared it to US literary legend Philip Roth&#39;s fictional biography Portnoy&#39;s Complaint, both about growing up as immigrants. 
 
(AFP)

'Time to let the world know my next destination is @Manutd', the 34-year-old said on Twitter today

Five facts on Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic after he announced that he is signing for English Premier League giants Manchester United today: League titles but no Champions League crown Ibrahimovic's goals have delivered league titles wherever he has gone, from the Netherlands to Italy to Spain and France, but never has he touched the Champions League trophy. Inter Milan and Barcelona won it, but after he had left them. United cannot give him it next season either as they failed to qualify, so he will just have to hope that they get a crack at it for the 2017-18 campaign and that he is still on the playing staff. Carrot and stick approach needed for Ibracadabra magic Ibrahimovic is such a contrary character that his coach at a previous club AC Milan Massimiliano Allegri says he needs constant attention if he is to be temperamentally ready to produce his magic turn on the pitch. "With him, you have to use both the stick and the carrot," he was quoted in The Guardian in 2012. "Ibra is a strong personality and needs to be relaxed at times, while in other occasions he has to be stimulated, otherwise he falls asleep." Swedish national coach Erik Hamren called him out when he retired from international football in 2009 telling him do come back but not as the depressed donkey Eeyore but as Winnie The Pooh. Opponents pay homage to 'God' Fair to say Ibrahimovic through his exploits, his superstar appeal and lively temperament lit up a pretty moribund Ligue 1 for the past few seasons. Even opposing clubs felt compelled to offer their "thanks" for his presence, even if he hurt them by scoring goals against them. Such a case was Toulouse, who would have pleased him with the divine being they compared him to given his penchant for adorning himself with epithets in 2014. "Today is your birthday, 33, the age of Christ, your son. Happy birthday and long live the Z! Despite the perverse pleasure you took scoring goals against us the last two seasons, we are not vindictive. We want to thank you. For everything." Bikes, bed and docks No one can begrudge Ibrahimovic his riches given he has fought hard to rise to the top, and at one point would have stuck with working on the docks in Malmo rather than attempting to carve out a football career. His youth team manager at the time persuaded him to stick with the "beautiful game". Not that he needed a father figure, for despite his Bosnian caretaker dad splitting from his Croatian mother when he was just two, he spent more time with his dad Sefik, who nevertheless was badly affected by the Balkan War even though he had left Bosnia years before. Ibrahimovic -- who during his youth once stole a bicycle to get himself to training -- related to The Guardian in 2014 a moving story about his impoverished father shelling out for an IKEA bed for him. However, they had no way of getting it back home. "We carried it home between us. It's fantastic what we did. I had time with my mother but I really lived with my father. One time he gave all his salary so I could travel to a training camp. He couldn’t pay the rent but he did that." Literary Roth of God Most footballer's autobiographies generally don't provide much insight or indeed entertainment, but Ibrahimovic's 'I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic' unsurprisingly bucked the trend. Not often in such tomes will you read anecdotes such as this, about his companion and mother of his children, Helena Seger: "She came from a model family from Lindesberg, one of those families where they say, 'Darling, would you please pass me the milk?', whereas we at table mostly we just hurled death threats at each other." Indeed one critic compared it to US literary legend Philip Roth's fictional biography Portnoy's Complaint, both about growing up as immigrants. (AFP)

Five Facts about Manchester United's sensational signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Jose Mourinho officially started work as Manchester United manager at the club&#39;s Carrington training base on Monday. 
 
The Portuguese man travelled to Manchester by train on Sunday night and posted a video on Instagram showing his arrival at Picadilly station, saying: &quot;I am here/UNITED we can&quot;. 
 
He arrived at Carrington with goalkeeping coach Silvino Louro on Monday morning. 
 
The 53-year-old was appointed as United boss in May after the sacking of Dutchman Louis van Gaal. 
 
Van Gaal won the FA Cup in his final match in charge, but in the Premier League he led the Red Devils to only fourth and fifth-placed finishes in his two seasons. 
 
Mourinho has already begun shaping his new squad to grace Old Trafford next season, with former Paris-Saint Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ivorian defender Eric Bailly high-profile new signings. 
 
The former Chelsea coach is also close to concluding a deal for Borussia Dortmund&#39;s Armenian playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan. 
 
The German club announced on Saturday that Mkhitaryan was close to finalising a deal with United after they had accepted an &quot;enormously valuable offer&quot;. 
 
Mourinho, who has won the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan, saw his second spell at Stamford Bridge unceremoniously ended after a disastrous start to the Blues&#39; league title defence last term. 
 
Mourinho is set to be formally unveiled as United head coach on Tuesday before the players start pre-season training the following day. 
 
The three-time European champions take on Dortmund and rivals Manchester City on their pre-season tour of China later in July. 
 
(AFP)

Other new high-profile signings include former Paris-Saint Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ivorian defender Eric Bailly

Jose Mourinho officially started work as Manchester United manager at the club's Carrington training base on Monday. The Portuguese man travelled to Manchester by train on Sunday night and posted a video on Instagram showing his arrival at Picadilly station, saying: "I am here/UNITED we can". He arrived at Carrington with goalkeeping coach Silvino Louro on Monday morning. The 53-year-old was appointed as United boss in May after the sacking of Dutchman Louis van Gaal. Van Gaal won the FA Cup in his final match in charge, but in the Premier League he led the Red Devils to only fourth and fifth-placed finishes in his two seasons. Mourinho has already begun shaping his new squad to grace Old Trafford next season, with former Paris-Saint Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ivorian defender Eric Bailly high-profile new signings. The former Chelsea coach is also close to concluding a deal for Borussia Dortmund's Armenian playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The German club announced on Saturday that Mkhitaryan was close to finalising a deal with United after they had accepted an "enormously valuable offer". Mourinho, who has won the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan, saw his second spell at Stamford Bridge unceremoniously ended after a disastrous start to the Blues' league title defence last term. Mourinho is set to be formally unveiled as United head coach on Tuesday before the players start pre-season training the following day. The three-time European champions take on Dortmund and rivals Manchester City on their pre-season tour of China later in July. (AFP)

Jose Mourinho's coaching reign kicks off in Manchester United

Manchester United have been rejuvenated under new manager Jose Mourinho and are poised to mount a strong challenge for the Premier League title, skipper Wayne Rooney has said. 
 
The 30-year-old forward, who secured his fifth league title with the club the last time they won it in 2013, scored eight top-flight goals last season as United finished fifth and failed to qualify for the Champions League. 
 
The 20-times English title winners have already signed striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, midfielder Zlatan Ibrahimovic and defender Eric Bailly and according to local media reports, have been negotiating with Juventus over the transfer of Paul Pogba. 
 
&quot;I think the players feel this is more like the old Manchester United. It&#39;s not just the new signings, we&#39;ve got Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford from last season who made such an impact,&quot; Rooney told the Daily Mail in an interview. 
 
Rooney, who will line up against boyhood club Everton in his testimonial at Old Trafford on Wednesday, also hopes United can secure the annual Community Shield against English champions Leicester City at Wembley on Sunday. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re in a very good spot now, we think we can challenge for the Premier League and we want to put a marker down, in the Community Shield with Leicester,&quot; Rooney added. &quot;I know it&#39;s a one-off game, but we want to show we can win a trophy early on. We feel that&#39;s an important event for us.&quot; 
 
United, who thrashed Turkish side Galatasaray 5-2 in a friendly on Saturday, open their league campaign with a trip to Bournemouth on August 14. 
 
(Reuters)

The 20-times English title winners have already signed striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, midfielder Henrikh Mkhityaran, and defender Eric Bailly

Manchester United have been rejuvenated under new manager Jose Mourinho and are poised to mount a strong challenge for the Premier League title, skipper Wayne Rooney has said. The 30-year-old forward, who secured his fifth league title with the club the last time they won it in 2013, scored eight top-flight goals last season as United finished fifth and failed to qualify for the Champions League. The 20-times English title winners have already signed striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, midfielder Zlatan Ibrahimovic and defender Eric Bailly and according to local media reports, have been negotiating with Juventus over the transfer of Paul Pogba. "I think the players feel this is more like the old Manchester United. It's not just the new signings, we've got Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford from last season who made such an impact," Rooney told the Daily Mail in an interview. Rooney, who will line up against boyhood club Everton in his testimonial at Old Trafford on Wednesday, also hopes United can secure the annual Community Shield against English champions Leicester City at Wembley on Sunday. "We're in a very good spot now, we think we can challenge for the Premier League and we want to put a marker down, in the Community Shield with Leicester," Rooney added. "I know it's a one-off game, but we want to show we can win a trophy early on. We feel that's an important event for us." United, who thrashed Turkish side Galatasaray 5-2 in a friendly on Saturday, open their league campaign with a trip to Bournemouth on August 14. (Reuters)

Rooney expects rejuvenated ManU to challenge for Premier League title

Ryan Giggs has rejected an offer to stay at Manchester United and is ready to end his association with the club after 29 years, a British newspaper reported today.&nbsp; 
 
Giggs, who played 963 times for United after joining the club as a 14-year-old, worked as a coach under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.&nbsp; 
 
But the Daily Mail said he has decided against taking up an offer of a reduced role from new manager Jose Mourinho. 
 
&quot;Giggs representatives are now in negotiations with United over a pay-off for the final year of his contract,&quot; the Mail said.&nbsp; 
 
It was reported that Giggs has not spoken directly to Mourinho, who starts work at United on Monday. 
 
Giggs is likely to be questioned about his future on British television today when he starts work as an ITV pundit ahead of the Euro 2016 quarter-final between Poland and Portugal. 
 
The Welshman had been tipped as a future Manchester United manager but is now expected to seek a role with another club. 
 
(Reuters)

Ryan Giggs played 963 times for United after joining the club as a 14-year-old and also worked as coach under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal

Ryan Giggs has rejected an offer to stay at Manchester United and is ready to end his association with the club after 29 years, a British newspaper reported today. Giggs, who played 963 times for United after joining the club as a 14-year-old, worked as a coach under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal. But the Daily Mail said he has decided against taking up an offer of a reduced role from new manager Jose Mourinho. "Giggs representatives are now in negotiations with United over a pay-off for the final year of his contract," the Mail said. It was reported that Giggs has not spoken directly to Mourinho, who starts work at United on Monday. Giggs is likely to be questioned about his future on British television today when he starts work as an ITV pundit ahead of the Euro 2016 quarter-final between Poland and Portugal. The Welshman had been tipped as a future Manchester United manager but is now expected to seek a role with another club. (Reuters)

Giggs 'set to leave' Manchester United after 29 year of association

A man has been jailed for four weeks after attempting to break into Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho&#39;s London home, British police said today. 
 
Gabor Roman, a 25-year-old of no fixed address, was arrested on July 10 in the plush London street where the Portuguese boss lives.&nbsp;He appeared before a London court on Tuesday charged with attempted burglary. 
 
&quot;He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four weeks in prison,&quot; London&#39;s Metropolitan Police said in a statement. 
 
The Sun newspaper, which carried the story on its front page, said the incident took place while Mourinho was watching Portugal win the European Championships on television. 
 
The tabloid said his maid screamed as she saw Roman trying to get in a basement door.&nbsp;A private security guard hired by local residents noticed his unusual behaviour, going from house to house trying the doors.&nbsp;Following the scream, the guard blocked Roman as he tried to get away, The Sun said. 
 
It had a picture of Mourinho and his wife looking out of the window as Roman was arrested. 
 
(AFP)

Gabor Roman pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four weeks in prison. The incident happened when Mourinho was watching the Euro 2016 final

A man has been jailed for four weeks after attempting to break into Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho's London home, British police said today. Gabor Roman, a 25-year-old of no fixed address, was arrested on July 10 in the plush London street where the Portuguese boss lives. He appeared before a London court on Tuesday charged with attempted burglary. "He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four weeks in prison," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement. The Sun newspaper, which carried the story on its front page, said the incident took place while Mourinho was watching Portugal win the European Championships on television. The tabloid said his maid screamed as she saw Roman trying to get in a basement door. A private security guard hired by local residents noticed his unusual behaviour, going from house to house trying the doors. Following the scream, the guard blocked Roman as he tried to get away, The Sun said. It had a picture of Mourinho and his wife looking out of the window as Roman was arrested. (AFP)

Man jailed for attempting to break into Mourinho's home

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs will leave Old Trafford after rejecting Jose Mourinhos offer of a reduced backroom role, according to British media reports today. 
 
Giggs is the most decorated player in United illustrious history and he amassed a record 963 appearances and 35 major trophies before going on to serve as an assistant to David Moyes and Louis van Gaal. 
 
But the 42-year-old is set to quit United because he feels snubbed both by the clubs hierarchy, who reportedly told him he would be offered the chance to succeed van Gaal when the Dutchman left, and Mourinho, who opted not to give him a senior role in his coaching team. 
 
Giggs had one more year on his contract as assistant manager, but Mourinho was said to be concerned the former Wales winger had distanced himself from both Moyes and van Gaal rather than offering public support during the teams struggles in recent years. 
 
Mourinho was also believed to be worried that Paul Scholes, a close friend and former United colleague of Giggs, had become a very vocal critic of Moyes and van Gaal. 
 
Instead of risking a similar scenario during his reign, Mourinho, who officially starts work with United this week after his May appointment, will give the role of assistant manager to his long-time associate Rui Faria. 
 
Mourinhos only concession to Giggs was reported to have been the offer of a position overseeing the connection between United youth teams and the first team. 
 
But, after considering his options on a holiday in Dubai, he decided he was dissatisfied with that role and how the club has been run during the post-Alex Ferguson era.Although United hoped Giggs could be persuaded to stay on in a different role, he has decided to call time on almost three decades with the club. 
 
Giggs, who won two of his four matches as Uniteds caretaker manager following Moyes sacking in 2014, this week worked as a television pundit during Euro 2016. 
 
But, rather than go into the media, he is said to be keen to land a permanent managerial position and, according to the Daily Mail, United are in negotiations with his advisors over a pay-off for the final year of his contract, with an official statement expected in the coming days. 
 
Giggs has passed all his coaching badges, was linked with the managers job at Swansea last season and is unlikely to be short of coaching offers once the first managers are axed next season. Giggs, who joined United on his 14th birthday in 1987, contributed to some of the greatest moments in the clubs history during the golden reign of Ferguson, who was the Welshman`s only club manager until he retired in 2013. 
 
He turned professional aged 17 in November 1990 and made his first team debut against Everton in March 1991. 
 
Eventually becoming the most decorated British player of all time, Giggs won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, four FA Cups, four League Cups, the Club World Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, the European Super Cup and nine Community Shields. 
 
(AFP)

The Welsh winger played 963 times for United and won 35 major trophies before serving as an assistant to David Moyes and Louis van Gaal

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs will leave Old Trafford after rejecting Jose Mourinhos offer of a reduced backroom role, according to British media reports today. Giggs is the most decorated player in United illustrious history and he amassed a record 963 appearances and 35 major trophies before going on to serve as an assistant to David Moyes and Louis van Gaal. But the 42-year-old is set to quit United because he feels snubbed both by the clubs hierarchy, who reportedly told him he would be offered the chance to succeed van Gaal when the Dutchman left, and Mourinho, who opted not to give him a senior role in his coaching team. Giggs had one more year on his contract as assistant manager, but Mourinho was said to be concerned the former Wales winger had distanced himself from both Moyes and van Gaal rather than offering public support during the teams struggles in recent years. Mourinho was also believed to be worried that Paul Scholes, a close friend and former United colleague of Giggs, had become a very vocal critic of Moyes and van Gaal. Instead of risking a similar scenario during his reign, Mourinho, who officially starts work with United this week after his May appointment, will give the role of assistant manager to his long-time associate Rui Faria. Mourinhos only concession to Giggs was reported to have been the offer of a position overseeing the connection between United youth teams and the first team. But, after considering his options on a holiday in Dubai, he decided he was dissatisfied with that role and how the club has been run during the post-Alex Ferguson era.Although United hoped Giggs could be persuaded to stay on in a different role, he has decided to call time on almost three decades with the club. Giggs, who won two of his four matches as Uniteds caretaker manager following Moyes sacking in 2014, this week worked as a television pundit during Euro 2016. But, rather than go into the media, he is said to be keen to land a permanent managerial position and, according to the Daily Mail, United are in negotiations with his advisors over a pay-off for the final year of his contract, with an official statement expected in the coming days. Giggs has passed all his coaching badges, was linked with the managers job at Swansea last season and is unlikely to be short of coaching offers once the first managers are axed next season. Giggs, who joined United on his 14th birthday in 1987, contributed to some of the greatest moments in the clubs history during the golden reign of Ferguson, who was the Welshman`s only club manager until he retired in 2013. He turned professional aged 17 in November 1990 and made his first team debut against Everton in March 1991. Eventually becoming the most decorated British player of all time, Giggs won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, four FA Cups, four League Cups, the Club World Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, the European Super Cup and nine Community Shields. (AFP)

Ryan Giggs ends 29-year association with Man U on sour note

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney admits the arrival of Jose Mourinho has given him added motivation for the season ahead. 
 
Former Chelsea boss Mourinho has suggested he preferred to play Rooney in a more attacking role, rather than see him pull strings from midfield as he did under predecessor Louis van Gaal. 
 
Rooney will be looking to forge a formidable strike partnership with new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, after a dearth of goals under the Dutchman last season. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m really excited to be working with Jose this season,&quot; the 30-year-old told the club&#39;s official magazine. 
 
&quot;He&#39;s one of the best managers in the world and it&#39;s an exciting time for Manchester United.&nbsp;I&#39;ve always respected him both as a man and a manager.&nbsp;I like to think I&#39;m always motivated as a player, but I&#39;d be lying if I said I wasn&#39;t a bit more motivated when a new manager comes in.&nbsp;He&#39;ll bring all these qualities with him and I&#39;m sure he&#39;ll have his own ideas, but one of the biggest assets will be his experience.&quot; 
 
United begin their Premier League campaign with a trip to Bournemouth on August 14. 
 
(Reuters)

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has suggested he'll play Rooney in a more exciting, attacking role

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney admits the arrival of Jose Mourinho has given him added motivation for the season ahead. Former Chelsea boss Mourinho has suggested he preferred to play Rooney in a more attacking role, rather than see him pull strings from midfield as he did under predecessor Louis van Gaal. Rooney will be looking to forge a formidable strike partnership with new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, after a dearth of goals under the Dutchman last season. "I'm really excited to be working with Jose this season," the 30-year-old told the club's official magazine. "He's one of the best managers in the world and it's an exciting time for Manchester United. I've always respected him both as a man and a manager. I like to think I'm always motivated as a player, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit more motivated when a new manager comes in. He'll bring all these qualities with him and I'm sure he'll have his own ideas, but one of the biggest assets will be his experience." United begin their Premier League campaign with a trip to Bournemouth on August 14. (Reuters)

Rooney looks forward to playing under new manager and alongside Ibrahimovic

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho today admitted that the club needs one more signing before the season starts but would not confirm it would be record target Paul Pogba. 
 
Media reports in the UK on Wednesday suggested United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had pulled out of the club&#39;s pre-season tour to China so he could meet and agree personal terms with Pogba&#39;s agent Mino Raiola. 
 
Mourinho was asked directly at a news conference in Shanghai whether he could confirm the reports. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t confirm and I don&#39;t deny. I cannot tell you,&quot; Mourinho said on the eve of the International Champions Cup match against Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai Friday. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t think it&#39;s correct to speak about players of other clubs, and he&#39;s a Juventus player and not a Manchester United player. The only thing I can tell you is that my board, my directors they did fantastic work to do 75 percent of the job I asked them to do,&quot; said Mourinho. 
 
&quot;I asked them for four players. To be more accurate I asked them for four or five players I need. I gave them a few options and they did for me 75 percent of the job with (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic, (Henrikh) Mikitharyan and (Eric) Bailly and they have just 25 percent to do until the 31st of August.&quot; 
 
&quot;We are calm. We have three faces to fill the profile. I am confident Mr Woodward will get the player we need to get a good balance.&quot; 
 
Mourinho has reportedly made French international Pogba his top transfer target as he bids to make a big impact in his first season at Old Trafford but it could cost the club a record-breaking &pound;100 million ($130 million, 119 million euros) to land the midfielder. 
 
United are believed to have had an opening bid of &pound;86 million rejected by Juventus and an improved offer could shatter the previous world record fee of &pound;85 million paid by Real Madrid for Gareth Bale in 2013. 
 
Mourinho has already spent more than &pound;50 million on defender Bailly from Villarreal and midfielder Mkhitaryan from Friday&#39;s opponents Dortmund, as well as recruiting Ibrahimovic who left PSG on a free transfer. 
 
Pogba, 23, had a spell at United but was allowed to leave for Juventus on a 2012 free transfer while still a teenager after just a handful of appearances under then manager Alex Ferguson, who slammed him for showing no respect to the club. 
 
Pogba has since emerged as one of the top midfielders in Europe, playing an integral part in the France side that reached the Euro 2016 final and helping Juventus win four successive Serie A titles. 
 
Manchester United round off their China tour against fierce rivals Manchester City in Beijing on Monday. 
 
(AFP)

Reportedly Mourinho has made Pogba his top transfer target as he bids to make a big impact in his first season at Old Trafford

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho today admitted that the club needs one more signing before the season starts but would not confirm it would be record target Paul Pogba. Media reports in the UK on Wednesday suggested United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had pulled out of the club's pre-season tour to China so he could meet and agree personal terms with Pogba's agent Mino Raiola. Mourinho was asked directly at a news conference in Shanghai whether he could confirm the reports. "I don't confirm and I don't deny. I cannot tell you," Mourinho said on the eve of the International Champions Cup match against Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai Friday. "I don't think it's correct to speak about players of other clubs, and he's a Juventus player and not a Manchester United player. The only thing I can tell you is that my board, my directors they did fantastic work to do 75 percent of the job I asked them to do," said Mourinho. "I asked them for four players. To be more accurate I asked them for four or five players I need. I gave them a few options and they did for me 75 percent of the job with (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic, (Henrikh) Mikitharyan and (Eric) Bailly and they have just 25 percent to do until the 31st of August." "We are calm. We have three faces to fill the profile. I am confident Mr Woodward will get the player we need to get a good balance." Mourinho has reportedly made French international Pogba his top transfer target as he bids to make a big impact in his first season at Old Trafford but it could cost the club a record-breaking £100 million ($130 million, 119 million euros) to land the midfielder. United are believed to have had an opening bid of £86 million rejected by Juventus and an improved offer could shatter the previous world record fee of £85 million paid by Real Madrid for Gareth Bale in 2013. Mourinho has already spent more than £50 million on defender Bailly from Villarreal and midfielder Mkhitaryan from Friday's opponents Dortmund, as well as recruiting Ibrahimovic who left PSG on a free transfer. Pogba, 23, had a spell at United but was allowed to leave for Juventus on a 2012 free transfer while still a teenager after just a handful of appearances under then manager Alex Ferguson, who slammed him for showing no respect to the club. Pogba has since emerged as one of the top midfielders in Europe, playing an integral part in the France side that reached the Euro 2016 final and helping Juventus win four successive Serie A titles. Manchester United round off their China tour against fierce rivals Manchester City in Beijing on Monday. (AFP)

Jose Mourinho tight-lipped on Paul Pogba's purported Manchester United move

Zlatan Ibrahimovic said today&nbsp;that he is joining Manchester United, ending intense speculation about where the 34-year-old Swedish superstar forward will be playing next season.

Ibrahimovic, who was a free agent after ending a hugely successful stay at Paris Saint-Germain, becomes the second signing of new United boss Jose Mourinho after that of highly rated Ivory Coast centre-back Eric Bailly from the Spanish outfit Villarreal.

&quot;Time to let the world know. My next destination is Manchester United,&quot; he wrote on Instagram and Facebook, complete with a picture of the United badge, as comments approving of the move,&nbsp;one of the biggest of the summer so far,&nbsp;flooded in.

Ibrahimovic reunites with Mourinho, after they enjoyed a good relationship while together at Italians Inter Milan, in what is likely to be the last major move in a career spanning five countries, starting with Malmo.

The towering Swede, who hit 62 goals in 116 international matches, had toyed with questioners for weeks about where he would be going and it will be his first time playing in the Premier League.

Ibrahimovic, who quit international football after Sweden crashed out of Euro 2016, has also played at Ajax, Juventus, Barcelona and AC Milan during a career in which he has become as well known for his colourful personality as his prowess in front of goal.

He had also been linked with a return to AC Milan and his agent had suggested that Major League Soccer in the United States was another potential destination. 
 
Mourinho means &#39;action&#39;&nbsp;

Ibrahimovic will bolster a forward line at Old Trafford that looked desperately short of ideas, depth and talent last season under Louis van Gaal.

Wayne Rooney could well play deeper next season, in midfield, while French starlet Anthony Martial had to carry the United attack despite his tender years until youngster Marcus Rashford burst onto the scene late on in the campaign.

Van Gaal paid out heavily for his fellow Dutchman Memphis Depay, but he failed to deliver and spent the second half of the season on the bench.

Ibrahimovic said weeks ago that he knew where he would be playing football next season, but kept the football world guessing -- typical of his mercurial personality.

&quot;Yes, I have made my choice,&quot; Ibrahimovic tantalisingly told a press conference at a training camp near Stockholm for the Swedish national team ahead of Euro 2016.

He said then that he had decided &quot;long ago&quot; but dodged all questions about whether that team was Manchester United, where Mourinho has replaced van Gaal after the Dutchman&#39;s troubled two-year reign at Old Trafford came to a bitter end.

Asked a direct question about whether he had received an offer from United, Ibrahimovic&#39;s hesitancy in answering spoke volumes.

He drummed his fingers on the table, smiled and eventually replied: &quot;Let&#39;s see what happens.&quot;

&quot;There are concrete offers from England, Italy... all countries. There are even some from outside Europe,&quot; he said.

&quot;There are many, many alternatives.&quot;

But when asked whether he was tempted to work again with Mourinho, Ibrahimovic said only that they had worked well together at Inter Milan, where the Swede played from 2006 to 2009.

&quot;You want action, you bring Mourinho. I believe he&#39;s the man to bring them back to the top. Wherever he went he won,&quot; the Swede said of Mourinho taking over at United, where he will be tasked with bringing back the glory days sorely missing under van Gaal.

There was no immediate word from United on Ibrahimovic. 
 
(AFP)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic said today that he is joining Manchester United, ending intense speculation about where the 34-year-old Swedish superstar forward will be playing next season. Ibrahimovic, who was a free agent after ending a hugely successful stay at Paris Saint-Germain, becomes the second signing of new United boss Jose Mourinho after that of highly rated Ivory Coast centre-back Eric Bailly from the Spanish outfit Villarreal. "Time to let the world know. My next destination is Manchester United," he wrote on Instagram and Facebook, complete with a picture of the United badge, as comments approving of the move, one of the biggest of the summer so far, flooded in. Ibrahimovic reunites with Mourinho, after they enjoyed a good relationship while together at Italians Inter Milan, in what is likely to be the last major move in a career spanning five countries, starting with Malmo. The towering Swede, who hit 62 goals in 116 international matches, had toyed with questioners for weeks about where he would be going and it will be his first time playing in the Premier League. Ibrahimovic, who quit international football after Sweden crashed out of Euro 2016, has also played at Ajax, Juventus, Barcelona and AC Milan during a career in which he has become as well known for his colourful personality as his prowess in front of goal. He had also been linked with a return to AC Milan and his agent had suggested that Major League Soccer in the United States was another potential destination. Mourinho means 'action' Ibrahimovic will bolster a forward line at Old Trafford that looked desperately short of ideas, depth and talent last season under Louis van Gaal. Wayne Rooney could well play deeper next season, in midfield, while French starlet Anthony Martial had to carry the United attack despite his tender years until youngster Marcus Rashford burst onto the scene late on in the campaign. Van Gaal paid out heavily for his fellow Dutchman Memphis Depay, but he failed to deliver and spent the second half of the season on the bench. Ibrahimovic said weeks ago that he knew where he would be playing football next season, but kept the football world guessing -- typical of his mercurial personality. "Yes, I have made my choice," Ibrahimovic tantalisingly told a press conference at a training camp near Stockholm for the Swedish national team ahead of Euro 2016. He said then that he had decided "long ago" but dodged all questions about whether that team was Manchester United, where Mourinho has replaced van Gaal after the Dutchman's troubled two-year reign at Old Trafford came to a bitter end. Asked a direct question about whether he had received an offer from United, Ibrahimovic's hesitancy in answering spoke volumes. He drummed his fingers on the table, smiled and eventually replied: "Let's see what happens." "There are concrete offers from England, Italy... all countries. There are even some from outside Europe," he said. "There are many, many alternatives." But when asked whether he was tempted to work again with Mourinho, Ibrahimovic said only that they had worked well together at Inter Milan, where the Swede played from 2006 to 2009. "You want action, you bring Mourinho. I believe he's the man to bring them back to the top. Wherever he went he won," the Swede said of Mourinho taking over at United, where he will be tasked with bringing back the glory days sorely missing under van Gaal. There was no immediate word from United on Ibrahimovic. (AFP)

Jose Mourinho was unveiled as the new Manchester United manager on Tuesday, insisting he was a winner who aims to return the club to its traditional position of dominance. 
 
The 53-year-old former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan coach said he did not want the players to think improving on last season&#39;s fifth place would be sufficient. 
 
&quot;For United fans, for many years, success was just routine. In the last three years, I want to forget,&quot; the Portuguese manager told reporters at Old Trafford. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t want the players to think we need to do better. What is to do better? Finish fourth. Finishing fourth is not the aim. We want to win. 
 
&quot;I want everything. I want to win matches, I want to play well. I want to score goals, I don&#39;t want to concede goals. I want everything.&quot; 
 
Mourinho&#39;s first game in charge will be a friendly against Borussia Dortmund in the International Champions Cup at Shanghai Stadium on July 22. United&#39;s first Premier League game is at Bournemouth on August 13. 
 
(Reuters)

Jose Mourinho was unveiled as the new Manchester United manager on Tuesday, insisting he was a winner who aims to return the club to its traditional position of dominance. The 53-year-old former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan coach said he did not want the players to think improving on last season's fifth place would be sufficient. "For United fans, for many years, success was just routine. In the last three years, I want to forget," the Portuguese manager told reporters at Old Trafford. "I don't want the players to think we need to do better. What is to do better? Finish fourth. Finishing fourth is not the aim. We want to win. "I want everything. I want to win matches, I want to play well. I want to score goals, I don't want to concede goals. I want everything." Mourinho's first game in charge will be a friendly against Borussia Dortmund in the International Champions Cup at Shanghai Stadium on July 22. United's first Premier League game is at Bournemouth on August 13. (Reuters)

Mourinho is unveiled at ManU, he insists he is a winner

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho today backed Sam Allardyce&#39;s impending appointment as England manager saying he was a &quot;good choice&quot; for the job. 
 
&quot;I think it&#39;s the right person for that job,&quot; Mourinho told a news conference in Shanghai on the eve of the International Champions Cup match against Borussia Dortmund. 
 
&quot;I think he&#39;s a good choice. I think Sam never had a big chance at the highest level; lots of experience in the Premier League but never that big one and now he has the big one. 
 
&quot;I think he&#39;s more than ready.&quot; 
 
Allardyce is set to be chosen as new England manager at a Football Association board meeting at Wembley today, FA chairman Greg Dyke said. 
 
&quot;Big Sam&quot;, as the Sunderland manager is known, has been selected by a three-man FA panel from a shortlist that included Hull manager Steve Bruce, Bournemouth chief Eddie Howe and USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann. 
 
Allardyce is also thought to have received a strong recommendation from former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson and the new Old Trafford boss agrees. 
 
&quot;I think he&#39;s a good motivator. I think he can create a good team spirit with his players,&quot; said Mourinho. 
 
&quot;And I wish him the best from my side and not just as a friend but as a Manchester United manager. 
 
&quot;The only thing I can promise is that I am going to try to support him in the best way ...to have English players always available in conditions to help him. 
 
&quot;So good luck to Sam.&quot; 
 
Dyke told the UK&#39;s Sky Sports News that the board were due to rubber-stamp Allardyce&#39;s appointment. 
 
&quot;Clearly the three-man group are convinced he&#39;s the right man and I go along with that, yes. 
 
&quot;We appointed a three-man committee to go out and look at all the candidates, come back with a recommendation who they thought was the best man. 
 
&quot;They&#39;ve taken that decision and obviously we&#39;ll agree with them.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

Big Sam, as the Sunderland manager is known, has been selected by a three-man Football Association panel

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho today backed Sam Allardyce's impending appointment as England manager saying he was a "good choice" for the job. "I think it's the right person for that job," Mourinho told a news conference in Shanghai on the eve of the International Champions Cup match against Borussia Dortmund. "I think he's a good choice. I think Sam never had a big chance at the highest level; lots of experience in the Premier League but never that big one and now he has the big one. "I think he's more than ready." Allardyce is set to be chosen as new England manager at a Football Association board meeting at Wembley today, FA chairman Greg Dyke said. "Big Sam", as the Sunderland manager is known, has been selected by a three-man FA panel from a shortlist that included Hull manager Steve Bruce, Bournemouth chief Eddie Howe and USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Allardyce is also thought to have received a strong recommendation from former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson and the new Old Trafford boss agrees. "I think he's a good motivator. I think he can create a good team spirit with his players," said Mourinho. "And I wish him the best from my side and not just as a friend but as a Manchester United manager. "The only thing I can promise is that I am going to try to support him in the best way ...to have English players always available in conditions to help him. "So good luck to Sam." Dyke told the UK's Sky Sports News that the board were due to rubber-stamp Allardyce's appointment. "Clearly the three-man group are convinced he's the right man and I go along with that, yes. "We appointed a three-man committee to go out and look at all the candidates, come back with a recommendation who they thought was the best man. "They've taken that decision and obviously we'll agree with them." (AFP)

Sam Allardyce ready to lead English football: Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho&#39;s first game as manager of Manchester United ended in a short trip and comfortable 2-0 victory over newly-promoted Championship side Wigan Athletic at their DW Stadium today. 
 
Goals early in the second half from Will Keane and Andreas Pereira secured victory for United who parted company with former manager Louis van Gaal after winning the FA Cup on their last competitive outing two months ago. 
 
It was a weakened United line-up at the disposal of their new manager given that 14 players who represented their countries in the European Championships and Copa America this summer were unavailable and have yet to return to training. 
 
Nevertheless, it is a sign of the strength in depth that Mourinho will have at his call this season that the starting line-up he selected still boasted summer signings Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, bought for a total of nearly &pound;60 million (71.7 million Euros), and England left-back Luke Shaw, returning after 10 months out of action with a broken leg. 
 
The game, arranged at short notice to give Mournho extra competition prior to his team leaving for a tour of China on Tuesday, was predictably low-key. 
 
But it still represented a winning start to his reign as United manager as the 5,500 United supporters in attendance welcomed him by chanting his name within the opening minute. 
 
The victory will doubtless have pleased their manager even if the opening goal was a gift from veteran Wigan goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen who made an appalling clearance directly to Juan Mata who squared for Keane to convert after 48 minutes. 
 
Ten minutes later, United doubled their advantage with a goal that clearly owed much to the work put in by Mourinho in his first week on the training ground with his new charges. 
 
A well-worked free-kick saw Mata pick out Ander Herrera in the Wigan penalty area and, after his shot was blocked, Brazilian Pereira was handed the simple opportunity to sweep the ball in from a dozen yards. 
 
Otherwise, the game was a typical pre-season affair, with Mourinho making seven half-time substitutions, and swapping all 11 players before the end of the 90 minutes. 
 
Interestingly, Ivory Coast defender Bailly, a new arrival from Villarreal, played longer than any other outfield player, seeing out 82 minutes of the contest, as Mourinho presumably attempts to acclimatise him to the English game. 
 
But the United manager will nevertheless have gained satisfaction, and information, from the game with the new playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the first Armenian to play in the Premier League, particularly bright in the ppening exchanges. 
 
His neat lay-off after eight minutes should have been converted by Memphis Depay only for the Dutchman to see his shot blocked and the same United forward was guilty of an even more glaring miss halfway through the opening period when he missed the target at the far post after more good approach play from Mkhitaryan. 
 
Indeed, it was easy to see how Mkhitaryan led the Bundesliga in assists with Borussia Dortmund last season and he might have capped his first United outing with a goal just before the interval but volleyed over from a Jesse Lingard cross. 
 
The 45-minute performance of Shaw will also have pleased his new manager as the left-back showed no ill effects from the horrific double broken leg he suffered early last season in a Champions League tie at PSV Eindhoven. 
 
Mourinho will now welcome back the remaining 14 international players to Old Trafford this week ahead of Tuesday&#39;s departure to China where his team plays Dortmund in Shanghai and a Manchester derby meeting with City in Beijing. 
 
However, while a number of those players, including England internationals Chris Smalling, Wayne Rooney and Marcus Rashford, will travel with the squad, Mourinho has indicated they will not play in the two fixtures. 
 
Veteran newcomer Zlatan Ibrahimovic may remain in Manchester to concentrate on his fitness. 
 
(AFP)

Mourinho will welcome back the remaining 14 international players to Old Trafford ahead of a match in China where they will play Dortmund

Jose Mourinho's first game as manager of Manchester United ended in a short trip and comfortable 2-0 victory over newly-promoted Championship side Wigan Athletic at their DW Stadium today. Goals early in the second half from Will Keane and Andreas Pereira secured victory for United who parted company with former manager Louis van Gaal after winning the FA Cup on their last competitive outing two months ago. It was a weakened United line-up at the disposal of their new manager given that 14 players who represented their countries in the European Championships and Copa America this summer were unavailable and have yet to return to training. Nevertheless, it is a sign of the strength in depth that Mourinho will have at his call this season that the starting line-up he selected still boasted summer signings Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, bought for a total of nearly £60 million (71.7 million Euros), and England left-back Luke Shaw, returning after 10 months out of action with a broken leg. The game, arranged at short notice to give Mournho extra competition prior to his team leaving for a tour of China on Tuesday, was predictably low-key. But it still represented a winning start to his reign as United manager as the 5,500 United supporters in attendance welcomed him by chanting his name within the opening minute. The victory will doubtless have pleased their manager even if the opening goal was a gift from veteran Wigan goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen who made an appalling clearance directly to Juan Mata who squared for Keane to convert after 48 minutes. Ten minutes later, United doubled their advantage with a goal that clearly owed much to the work put in by Mourinho in his first week on the training ground with his new charges. A well-worked free-kick saw Mata pick out Ander Herrera in the Wigan penalty area and, after his shot was blocked, Brazilian Pereira was handed the simple opportunity to sweep the ball in from a dozen yards. Otherwise, the game was a typical pre-season affair, with Mourinho making seven half-time substitutions, and swapping all 11 players before the end of the 90 minutes. Interestingly, Ivory Coast defender Bailly, a new arrival from Villarreal, played longer than any other outfield player, seeing out 82 minutes of the contest, as Mourinho presumably attempts to acclimatise him to the English game. But the United manager will nevertheless have gained satisfaction, and information, from the game with the new playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the first Armenian to play in the Premier League, particularly bright in the ppening exchanges. His neat lay-off after eight minutes should have been converted by Memphis Depay only for the Dutchman to see his shot blocked and the same United forward was guilty of an even more glaring miss halfway through the opening period when he missed the target at the far post after more good approach play from Mkhitaryan. Indeed, it was easy to see how Mkhitaryan led the Bundesliga in assists with Borussia Dortmund last season and he might have capped his first United outing with a goal just before the interval but volleyed over from a Jesse Lingard cross. The 45-minute performance of Shaw will also have pleased his new manager as the left-back showed no ill effects from the horrific double broken leg he suffered early last season in a Champions League tie at PSV Eindhoven. Mourinho will now welcome back the remaining 14 international players to Old Trafford this week ahead of Tuesday's departure to China where his team plays Dortmund in Shanghai and a Manchester derby meeting with City in Beijing. However, while a number of those players, including England internationals Chris Smalling, Wayne Rooney and Marcus Rashford, will travel with the squad, Mourinho has indicated they will not play in the two fixtures. Veteran newcomer Zlatan Ibrahimovic may remain in Manchester to concentrate on his fitness. (AFP)

Mourinho's Manchester United reign commences with 2-0 win over Wigan

jose-mourinho

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Football: Ibra won't leave Man Utd a failure, vows Mourinho

As Man U does better, Mourinho feels better

Manchester United have departed from its traditions: David Moyes

Football: Mourinho sent off in Man Utd draw, Sanchez fires for Arsenal

Mourinho doesn't know best team: Phil Neville

No way Jose: Top shrink says Mourinho should create joy, not fear

PFA chief Gordon Taylor voices concern over Mourinho's criticism of players

Football: Mourinho hits out at United 'problem players'

Europa League: Fenerbahce beat Manchester United to heap misery on Mourinho

EPL: Mourinho, Moyes charged with misconduct by FA

Football: Chelsea thrash Mourinho's Manchester United 4-0

Jose Mourinho asks supporters to behave ahead of United-Liverpool game

After 1-1 draw, Mourinho says United could have put seven past Stoke

Ibra, Pogba power Manchester United to 2-0 win over Southampton

Ibrahimovic says he is joining Manchester United

Five Facts about Manchester United's sensational signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Jose Mourinho's coaching reign kicks off in Manchester United

Rooney expects rejuvenated ManU to challenge for Premier League title

Giggs 'set to leave' Manchester United after 29 year of association

Man jailed for attempting to break into Mourinho's home

Ryan Giggs ends 29-year association with Man U on sour note

Rooney looks forward to playing under new manager and alongside Ibrahimovic

Jose Mourinho tight-lipped on Paul Pogba's purported Manchester United move

Ibrahimovic says he is joining Manchester United

Mourinho is unveiled at ManU, he insists he is a winner

Sam Allardyce ready to lead English football: Jose Mourinho