Mourinho again takes dig at fans
LONDON: Jose Mourinho urged Manchester United fans to enjoy Tuesday’s Champions League match against Benfica more than the weekend clash at Old Trafford in an apparent dig at sections of the home support.
“I hope that you enjoy the game more than some of you did against Tottenham,” Mourinho in his programme notes, referring to the 1-0 win Premier League win.
The game on Saturday was not a classic but Mourinho used his notes to compliment his players, adding: “It was an extremely tight game between two big teams, but I think we got what we deserved for our efforts.
“They gave absolutely everything, so even if we hadn’t won, then I would have been proud of them.”
“The fans are the fans, and they pay their ticket and are free to express themselves however they want,” Mourinho said on Monday.
LOVREN SICKENED BY DEATH THREATS
LONDON: Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren, heavily criticised for recent defensive blunders, has branded death threats made against his family on social media “disgusting”.
The Croatian posted a direct message on Instagram he had received from a user that read: “I’m gonna murder ur family u Croatian prick.” The 28-year-old captioned it with “horrible what kind of people we have”.
He added: “I don’t mind when people talk shit about me, it says more about them! But I cannot ignore when my family is threatened. I just can’t and won’t accept that. Disgusting.”
DESCHAMPS EXTENDS FRANCE CONTRACT
PARIS: Didier Deschamps has agreed to extend his contract as coach of France until 2020, the president of the French Football Federation announced on Tuesday. “Didier for me is the best, there is no contest,” said Noel Le Graet at a press conference in Paris.
The deal will take the 49-yearold Deschamps through to the end of Euro 2020, meaning he will have been in charge for eight years.
LEWANDOWSKI URGES BAYERN TO BUY STRIKER
BERLIN: Robert Lewandowski has urged Bayern Munich to find a new striker to replace him - when injured - with the Poland hot-shot sidelined for Tuesday’s Champions League match at Celtic.
Bayern face the Scottish champions at Glasgow’s Parkhead in a Champions League clash minus Lewandowski, who injured his thigh playing for the Bundesliga leaders at the weekend.
With Lewandowski out, there is no senior specialist striker in the match day squad in Glasgow, where Bayern need a win to stay in touch with Group B leaders Paris Saint-germain.
“At the moment, there is no backup for my position,” Lewandowski told German magazine Kicker.