Man Utd board warming to Inter Milan boss Mourinho

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho's character is growing on the decision-makers at Manchester United.

The Daily Mail says those closest to the former Chelsea manager insist he is far from content in Italy.

That, given half a chance, he would be back here in a flash. While nothing is ever straight-forward with the self-anointed Special One, his most likely suitors at Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool might just want to consider how they would respond should he suddenly become available.

At United they see changes in Mourinho. They see a more mature manager with more humility after his experiences at Chelsea and Inter, and they see someone who was utterly charming when he came to Old Trafford last season for the first knock-out stage of the Champions League.

They also see him as someone chief executive David Gill could work with.

Portsmouth 1-4 Manchester United

Manchester United kept up the hunt for the title with a comfortable win at Portsmouth.


Avram Grant's reign at Chelsea ended with defeat on penalties to Manchester United and his first match in charge of Portsmouth saw Wayne Rooney score two crucial spot-kicks within his hat-trick at Fratton Park.

Grant, who has taken over from Paul Hart and will be rubber-stamped as manager next week when paperwork is completed, could not have asked for a tougher opening match than against the Barclays Premier League champions but there was hope of a result when Kevin-Prince Boateng levelled, also with a penalty.


Sir Alex Ferguson will have no complaints with the way Rooney wrapped up the points after the break. Ryan Giggs added the fourth late on.

Fletcher delighted Valencia amongst the goals for Man Utd

Darren Fletcher was delighted to see Antonio Valencia get on the scoresheet for Manchester United in their 3-0 victory over Everton.

As the direct replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, Valencia has been cajoled into increasing what was a minimal goals output at Wigan.

He only scored seven for the Latics last season and, including the deflected effort against CSKA Moscow that UEFA have credited him with, the Ecuador international now has four for United.

He is also starting to impose himself on games, with his forceful running unhinging a disappointing Everton outfit who seemed intent on containment.

"Antonio is a top-class player," said Fletcher. "He is getting used to the way we play and he was in the groove again.

"He is a really strong physical lad who can get goals. We have seen that in training and I believe he is going to get a lot for Manchester United."

Manchester United 3-0 Everton

Manchester United beat Everton to move into second place in the Barclays Premier League.


Darren Fletcher put the champions in front with a spectacular volley after 35 minutes.

Michael Carrick added a second on 67 minutes and Antonio Valencia made sure of the points with a deflected shot 14 minutes from time to cut Chelsea's lead at the top to five points.

Foster upset being dropped at Man Utd

Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster admits he's disappointed with being dropped earlier this season.

A blunder against Chelsea in the Community Shield was quickly forgotten. Less easy to dismiss were the mistakes he made in the Manchester derby, first in losing the ball to Carlos Tevez near his own box to gift the Blues their first leveller, then going down far too easily and effectively providing Craig Bellamy with a tap-in for City's third.

Michael Owen's stoppage time winner ensured United still won and it took another late goal, this time a deflected effort by Patrice Evra, to salvage a point for the Red Devils after Foster had been brushed aside in an aerial duel with Kenwyne Jones for Sunderland's second goal.

"I thought I started off well but then there was a period of two or three games where I made a few mistakes," he said.

"But they were the only ones I made really and I was disappointed to find myself out of the team."

It would take a brave man to confront United manager Sir Alex Ferguson about the situation and Foster has no intention of doing that just yet.

Man Utd legend Cole: Man City making all the right noises

Manchester United legend Andy Cole says Manchester City are heading in the right direction under Sheikh Mansour.

Cole, in his column for the National in Abu Dhabi, is convinced City are getting the important decisions right.

He wrote: “The step up from where City have been placed in recent years is massive.

“The top four is such a hard group of teams to break into yet they have already beaten Arsenal, the team playing the best football in England at the moment. And while City have dropped points by drawing, they have only lost one of their 11 league games this season

“City are sixth in the table, with a game in hand on most of the teams above them. They were 13th this time last season. The club have undergone a big change and there have been a lot of player movements, but City are moving forward in the right direction.

“I see that every week when I watch my son play for City’s Under 15s. The club’s new resources are not just being lavished on first-team players, but on the infrastructure. There were bound to be some growing pains, because City have gone from a club who went for the second tier of players and now they go for the first.

“When I played there, the big signing was the Greek striker Georgios Samaras for £6million (Dh30m). With respect to him, now City sign world-class players."

Chelsea boss Ancelotti slams Man Utd players for crowding ref

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti blasted Manchester United's players for crowding the ref throughout last night's 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

Ancelotti was particularly unhappy with the way United players appeared to try to get one of his players sent off.

In a stormy second half, United midfielder Darren Fletcher waved an imaginary card in an apparent attempt to get Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho dismissed.

Ancelotti said: "The Manchester players protested a lot. I don't know why. I don't like this. At the end of a very difficult match, all the players worked very hard - and sometimes it can happen."

Ancelotti admitted Drogba might have been offside for Chelsea's goal but said: "It was very difficult for the linesman to see. There was a lot of concentration of players in the box.

"We are in good position in the Premiership and in the Champions League. The players have done very well. We have to continue, because there will be other strong matches like today."

Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United

Chelsea moved five points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table with this victory.


Captain John Terry netted a second-half winner at Stamford Bridge.

Terry glanced home a 76th-minute free-kick from Frank Lampard - although United claimed Didier Drogba was in an offside position.

United had their chances, Wayne Rooney twice going close, but the Blues made it a club record of 11 straight home wins.

Man Utd's Berbatov: Individual moment will decide Chelsea clash

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov believes today's clash at Chelsea could be decided by a piece of individual brilliance.

It is one of the few occasions in the domestic campaign when United will meet an equal number of star names in opposition ranks.

"In this match it doesn't really matter whether you play at home or away," said Berbatov, addressing that woeful United record at the Bridge. "It is always 50-50.

"There are players who have the quality to decide a game like this in a second.

"But when I look at our dressing room, I see guys I know I can depend upon, just like they can depend on me.

"Everyone supports each other on the pitch, which is something we must have.

"We know it is going to be difficult. Chelsea have some really great players. But we have a really strong team too. They need to be wary of Manchester United because I believe we have

Man Utd legend Law tells Chelsea's Drogba to end antics

Manchester United legend Denis Law says Chelsea striker Didier Drogba will never get the recognition he deserves unless he stops his play-acting.

He warned Drogba that he will never gain the reputation that his talent deserves unless he cuts out the theatrics that have seen him labelled a footballing con-man.

Law, a former European Footballer of the Year who scored 237 goals in 404 appearances for United, told the Sunday Mirror: “Drogba has made a reputation for throwing himself on the floor at the slightest physical contact. But he really doesn’t need to do that because he is such a terrific player.

“Have you seen the sheer size and strength of the man? He is terrifying. He can rattle even the toughest centre-half.

“But he’s got to realise that he won’t get the recognition that his talent deserves until he stops the other antics. He’s got to stop and think about how he wants to be remembered.”

Law added: “To be fair to Drogba he has changed a wee bit over the last 12 months or so and I think he’s a better player for it. But there are still times when I can’t understand why referees and the people who run the game let him get away with it.

“It’s a shame because when he’s concentrating on the best parts of his game he is up there with the best in the world.”

Man Utd boss Ferguson to make personal check on £12M Di Maria

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is planning a raid for Benfica star Angel di Maria.

The Mirror says Ferguson is set to watch 21-year-old Di Maria in action against Everton tonight to make one final check on him ahead of a potential £12million transfer-window deal.

Ferguson's spies have been tracking the speedy and skillful South American for months, but they went onto red alert when he tortured David Moyes's men in the Europa League a fortnight ago.

Di Maria also comes highly recommended by Argentina coach Diego Maradona, who has promoted him to his full team after he scored the goal that secured gold for his country at last year's Beijing Olympics.

Man Utd's Fletcher: Beating Chelsea important psychologically

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher admits they would gain a mental edge on Chelsea if they can win in London this weekend.

United are trailing behind Premiership leaders Chelsea in the current standings.

"There's a long way to go yet in the title race, but Sunday's game could be important psychologically," he told MUTV. "We'll just concentrate on ourselves - we know we're capable of going there and winning. It won't be easy, but we'll go there with a game plan and the manager will have a lot of options for the side he wants to pick and we'll try and get a result."

After years of duking it out for top honours at home and abroad, United and Chelsea have few secrets. Nevertheless, Fletcher insists the reigning champions are capable of inflicting a rare home defeat on the Blues.

"They're a top side," he said. "We've both been challenging for the title over the last five or six years and there's great respect between the two sides. We know what to expect, it'll be a great challenge for us at Stamford Bridge. They've got a great record there, but it's up to us to go there and try and get the win."

Manchester United 3 CSKA Moscow 3

As expected, United dramatically reached the knockout stages of the Champions League - but not without the mother of all frights.

Goals in the final six minutes from Paul Scholes and Antonio Valencia - albeit via a huge deflection - saved United from a first Champions League home defeat since February 2005, after CSKA Moscow had stunned Old Trafford by roaring into a 3-1 lead.

The Russians, who looked a team transformed from the sides' meeting in Moscow a fortnight ago, repeatedly took advantage of defensive generosity from the Reds, striking before the break through Alan Dzagoev and Milos Krasic. Michael Owen had briefly levelled in-between, but Vasili Berezutski struck early in the second half to seemingly put the game beyond United.

Inevitably, the Reds rallied late on, especially after the introduction of substitute Wayne Rooney and, after Scholes had headed home on 84 minutes, Valencia's 20-yard strike took a huge deflection off Georgi Schennikov and flew past the impressive Igor Akinfeev.

From the first whistle, the signs suggested United were in for a tough evening. An unfortunate ricochet threatened to deal the Reds' hopes a blow inside 20 seconds, as Dzagoev led a break of three visitors against two home defenders, but he could only fire over the bar from 20 yards. Two minutes later, Deividas Semberas chanced his arm from similar range, and his low drive skidded just past Edwin van der Sar's post.

In response, Valencia latched onto a fine through-ball from Wes Brown, but the Ecuadorian's attempted shot was blocked by a sliding challenge from Schennikov deep inside the CSKA area. Owen was then the beneficiary of some intricate build-up play from Nani and Valencia, but the Reds' number 7 could only scuff his shot, allowing the visitors to clear.

After a rocky opening, United gradually took control, with the midfield axis of Scholes and Darren Fletcher increasingly influential. The pair almost combined to put United ahead on 14 minutes as the former passed infield for the latter, but Fletcher's powerful shot arced agonisingly past Akinfeev's right-hand post.

However, CSKA served a quickfire reminder of their own need to take points back to Russia, as Tomas Necid escaped the attentions of Jonny Evans and fired straight at van der Sar. In the same passage of play, Owen took advantage of a ricochet to burst into the area, but could only toe-poke his effort straight at Akinfeev.

Macheda then drilled a left-footed effort just past the post after a sumptuous turn, but the visitors moved into a shock lead on 25 minutes. Dzagoev latched onto a chested pass from Necid, but his opening appeared to have gone after being herded wide by Jonny Evans. Despite the tight angle, the Russian struck a powerful effort across van der Sar's chest and high into the net.

The goal galvanised United's support and players, and the hitherto pin-drop atmosphere was suddenly cranked up. On the field, United responded by drawing level within four minutes. A fine decoy run from Gary Neville fashioned space for Valencia to cross, Nani gently caressed the ball in behind the CSKA defence, and Owen swept his shot unerringly
Normal service was resumed, but only for a matter of seconds. The visitors notched an immediate reply as Dzagoev dummied a ball infield, Necid sprung the offside trap with another neat chested pass, and Krasic rounded the exposed van der Sar and tucked away his finish.

CSKA were suddenly oozing confidence; hurtling into challenges and constantly foraging for further gaps to exploit. While United were understandably shell-shocked initially, a strong finish to the half saw Akinfeev smartly deny Macheda and Scholes. Nevertheless, the Reds went into the interval staring at a shock defeat.

That prospect seemed a grim reality after three pivotal minutes of the second half. Firstly, Vasili Berezutski stole at the back post to head in Dzagoev's free-kick, then Darren Fletcher was booked for a perceived dive deep inside the CSKA area - a decision which baffled and enraged the vehement Stretford End.

Just a day after the birth of his first child, Rooney's introduction at the expense of Nani further fanned the flames of support, and inevitably prompted sustained United pressure. Akinfeev was stretched by Scholes' thunderous free-kick, but time and again the final ball proved just too heavy for the hosts.

Akinfeev produced another haunting validation of pre-match praise from Sir Alex Ferguson with 11 minutes remaining as he made a superb double save to thwart Owen and Rooney. Moments later, Macheda headed against the post, but the Russian international was also equal to Rooney's powerful follow-up.
When Akinfeev then turned Scholes' blockbuster over the bar, all hope had seemingly been extinguished. United continued to press, however, and Gary Neville's inch-perfect free-kick was powerfully headed home by Scholes on 84 minutes to set up a grandstand finish, which was duly capped by Valencia.

The first of four added minutes had barely started when the Ecuadorian took aim from 25 yards. His drive appeared to be heading off target but struck Schennikov in the chest and spun into the space previously occupied by the committed Akinfeev.

With time still remaining, United continued to pour forward for the most unlikely of victories, but the Russians, who were reduced to 10 men after the injury-time dismissal of Semberas for a second booking, deservedly held on. Even in taking the easy route and qualifying with two games to spare, United had reached it the hard way.