Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KANE NEEDS PROTECTION
EUROPA LEAGUE, ROUND OF 16, 2ND LEG, 0-2 ON AGG v Jose calls on Southgate to give him a break
DINAMO ZAGREB TOTTENHAM, 5.55PM KO
JOSE MOURINHO would like to see Harry Kane “protected” more while on England duty.
Mourinho will thrust his superstar striker into action against Dinamo Zagreb in tonight’s Europa League clash, despite Spurs being 2-0 to the good from the first leg.
But he hopes that Kane and Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate can come to an agreement to give the Tottenham talisman a breather in the World Cup qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland.
Mourinho (above, with Kane) said: “I cannot do Gareth’s work, the same way Gareth is not trying to do my work.
“He doesn’t give any public opinion about who I should play or rest or give more minutes to these English players.
“He does not make any comment, so I also don’t feel comfortable in doing that.
“He does what he wants, what’s best for the team. He has a good relationship with Harry, so that means good communication and, without me in the middle, I hope that between them they can find some compromise to protect the player a little bit.” But Mourinho revealed he must still call on Kane tonight to ensure there won’t be an upset in Zagreb.
The Tottenham boss said: “The game is open. It’s an important game. If one of you ask me is he going to play or is he going to rest, I answer that he is going to play.”
Mourinho, meanwhile, claims that Heung-min Son should not join up with South Korea while he waits for news on the extent of his hamstring injury.
Son limped off in Tottenham’s north
London derby defeat to
Arsenal on Sunday and will miss tonight’s game. The 28-year-old, who has scored 18 goals this season, is also a doubt to face Aston Villa on Sunday.
And if he doesn’t recover in time for the Villa match, Mourinho does not want to see him jetting off for his country’s friendly with Japan in Yokohama next week.
He said: “Sonny is injured. How long for? I don’t know. But of course no chance for this game.
“If a player is injured a player cannot play – a friendly or official, it doesn’t matter what the match is.
“So if we arrived next week and Sonny is injured and we can prove that to the South Korean FA, what is he going to do there? Nothing.
“If a player cannot play for the club, he cannot play for the country.”
MARCUS RASHFORD is confident Manchester United can dominate against AC Milan tonight and continue their Europa League quest.
United face a tough task in the San Siro, after conceding in added time in the first leg at Old Trafford to draw 1-1 and hand opponents Milan a precious away goal.
But Rashford, who missed the first leg through injury but is set to start tonight, insists they can get the result they need to ensure they are in tomorrow’s quarter-final draw.
“It’s a massive game for us, but I’m feeling positive and optimistic,” said Rashford. “I think the first performance we showed we can do well in difficult conditions.
“Now we’re going to the
San Siro, looking to have a dominant display and ultimately score goals.”
Although United are set to secure a Champions League spot through a top-four finish in the Premier League, Rashford said there is a desire to go all the way in the Europa League and win a first trophy under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“That’s the aim,” said Rashford. “From when we unfortunately got knocked out of the Champions League, the focus was to win the Europa League and nothing less.
“I know the team and the staff and we won’t be happy with anything less than that, so we’ll do our absolute best.”
Standing between United and a place in the last eight is likely to be their former striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who also missed the first leg through injury but who is set to feature tonight.
Rashford, who played alongside Ibrahimovic at United, likened the winning mentality and influence of the 39-year-old Swede to that of the club’s current star player, Bruno Fernandes. “Mentally they’re both just winners,” he added. “They want to win games and trophies, and that’s the atmosphere and culture at this club. So we need to start doing that now – start winning trophies and start taking steps in that direction.
“This game is another opportunity for us to get one closer to that.
Rashford has featured in 44 of United’s 45 games this season, the first leg against Milan the only match he has missed.
The England striker is playing through the pain barrier with a shoulder injury that is likely to require surgery in the summer, after the Euros.
“To be honest, I just focus on the next game at hand and that’s just the way I deal with it,” said Rashford of the possibility of going under the knife.
“What’s needed after, we’ll deal with that, but my main focus is just being available for the games.
“I know my body and I know what I can do physically and that’s it.
“For now I’m happy playing as many games as I can.
“I recover from games quite well and injuries well, so I have no doubts or fears.”
EUROPA LEAGUE LAST 16, 2ND LEG ARSENAL v OLYMPIAKOS, KO 5.55PM
MIKEL ARTETA is delighted that Pierre-emerick Aubameyang has reacted “really positively” after being dropped for disciplinary reasons.
Gunners boss Arteta revealed he had further talks with the Arsenal striker after Aubameyang was relegated to the bench after reporting late for the north London derby on Sunday.
The Arsenal skipper, 31, could now even start against Olympiakos in the Europa League tonight, despite being left annoyed by his omission, which he blamed on heavy traffic while driving to the Emirates.
Arteta said: “We talked, everything is resolved and we moved on.
“He reacted really positively, that’s why I said that this is over, that we move forward in a positive way and there is no more comment to make on that.
“He trained really well the last two days. He was smiling as usual, as we always expect from Auba. It’s all good.”
Aubameyang was punished as it was not the first time he had turned up late and Arteta spoke out as he wanted to underline his authority and the standards he expects from his squad.
The public punishment may have been the reason that
Aubameyang was upset and left the Emirates sharply on Sunday, not even taking part in the post-match warm down on the pitch with the other substitutes.
But Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny (below) insisted the rest of the squad have the utmost respect for their captain.
Elneny said: “We are happy with Auba, he’s always there for us, he’s our captain and outside of the pitch he is one of the best players we have.
“He is always happy, an amazing player and gives us amazing energy. I don’t know what’s happening really but it’s finished now.”
Elneny was also determined to finish the job against Olympiakos, having gone out against the Greek side last year.
Arsenal now have the Europa League as their last chance of a passport back into the Champions League for next season.
He said: “It was amazing to be part of that build-up, a big European trophy and then so disappointing. So we will work even harder to make sure we do it this time.
“We must focus on the game like it’s 0-0. We play at home and must make sure that we finish the job and go through.”
ROMAN ABRAMOVICH is beginning to reap the rewards from last summer’s huge investment.
Chelsea spent £220million to overhaul the squad and put themselves in with a chance of the biggest prizes in football.
And fittingly, it was three of those big-money signings who teamed up to send Chelsea into their first Champions League quarter-final for seven years.
Hakim Ziyech, a £33m arrival from Ajax, scored the vital goal to effectively kill off Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge. But it was created by £71m Kai Havertz and Timo Werner, who provided the assist for a simple finish after a devastating counter attack.
Emerson made sure with Chelsea’s second moments after coming on as a substitute deep into injury time.
Thomas Tuchel has yet to lose in 13 games since taking charge but this was his most important result to date as it was against top-class European opposition and shows Chelsea are a force to be reckoned with again.
They play Sheffield United in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, are still in the hunt for a top-four finish in the Premier League and no one will fancy them in Friday’s Champion’s League draw.
Tuchel is not just getting the best out of last summer’s signings but making the team click. N’golo Kante was key to this victory, bossing midfield and running the game.
Different managers have tried Kante in different positions, which always seems baffling as the France international is arguably the best midfield anchorman in Europe, so why play him anywhere else? Another big summer signing, keeper Edouard Mendy, was rarely troubled because Chelsea’s defence was solid and all of the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. Perhaps the only mystery is Ben Chilwell, who cost £50m odd, excelled under Frank Lampard yet seems very much second choice under Lampard’s successor.
Yet Abramovich’s spending does not guarantee success and Tuchel’s impact has been huge.