Bale aims to excite the fans
Manchester
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho claimed drawing level with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table did not enter his mind following their 4-0 win over Everton.
United have the same points and goal difference as Pep Guardiola’s side after goals from Antonio Valencia, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial secured an emphatic victory over the Toffees on Sunday.
“I didn’t think one single second about Man City,” Mourinho said. “I thought about Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool.
“They didn’t win their matches and it was a chance for us to get two points like they got last week when we drew against Stoke. I was just thinking about them, not City. City won, they did their job.
“There is clearly a difference in relation to last season. We played better and we score more goals.”
Mourinho felt the margin of victory, secured courtesy of three goals in the final seven minutes, was not flattering and reflected the dominance of his side.
“I think if the result was 2-0 or 3-0 after 30 minutes I would say a clear reflection of fantastic football we played in the first 30 to 35 minutes, ultra-dominant against a team that defended with five, with four, we played phenomenal.
“The 2-0 came and after that the third and fourth goal are just a consequence of a team that are sad and another team that is happy. It was probably our best performance of the season.”
Mourinho also dismissed reports that an injury suffered by France midfielder Paul Pogba in their Champions League win over Basel could see him on the sidelines for up to three months.
“I don’t know if it is 12 weeks or 12 days, honestly,” he explained.
“Any comment, any rumour is totally wrong because we don’t know if it is 12 weeks or 12 days. The player was diagnosed initially after the match.
“Because of the muscle and the bleeding the decision was to wait one more week and to discover clearly in the scans. Nobody talked about 12 days or 12 weeks.
“It is an injury in the hamstring. But we have normal procedure and we wait a few more days. It is nonsense information.”
Everton striker Wayne Rooney was afforded a generous reception by the home fans on his Old Trafford return and left to a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 82nd minute.
Mourinho added: “I didn’t need to ask the fans. It is the nature of English fans, the nature of big clubs. When a player is big in the club and an important part of club history, I think every club does that.”
Everton have now lost four consecutive games in all competitions, conceding 12 goals and scoring none. –
– Gareth Bale (above) believes he can still win over the Real Madrid faithful after silencing his critics with a sensational solo goal to seal a vital 3-1 win at Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Bale had been jeered by his own fans in the 3-0 Champions League win over Apoel Nicosia in midweek for a poor start to the season, especially with Cristiano Ronaldo banned for five games.
But Bale helped Real get back to winning ways in impressive style by ending Sociedad’s own 100% start to the season.
“It’s normal, it happens in football,” Bale told Spanish TV station Movistar of the criticism that has come his way.
“For me obviously I just have to try to keep my head down and keep working hard. That’s all I can do.”
Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane believes Bale’s strike can be a turning point in his season.
Bale used his electric pace to burst past Kevin Rodrigues before dinking the ball over the advancing Geronimo Rulli.
“He needed to score a goal and in this manner. After a run of 60 metres, technically he finished it very well,” said Zidane.
However, the Frenchman insisted the man, who joined Madrid for a then world record fee in 2013, can still do much more to impress.
“I am happy for him, but for me he is still not at his best. Little-by-little we are going to discover the best of Gareth.”
Despite his struggles of late, Bale has always shone at Anoeta as he added to his impressive record of six goals in five games in San Sebastian.
“It’s great to always score, but the most important thing was to get the three points for the team, get back on track and get back to winning ways,” added the Welshman. –
Madrid