Mour glory
JOSE’S UP FOR THE CUP COSTA HAS AN OFF DAY
JOSE MOURINHO has made the FA Cup a priority after demanding more silverware from his squad.
Man United reached the fourth round with Friday night’s 2-0 Old Trafford win over Derby. United boss Mourinho (left) said: “We were unfortunate to exit at the quarter-finals last season and we will be taking it very seriously again this time around.
“We won two major trophies in 2017 to add to the club’s incredible record – and we want to keep that going in 2018 by winning more silverware.”
United are out of the League Cup after winning it last season after their shock defeat at Bristol City.
They are off the pace in the Premier League too, as a result of Man City’s sensational form, while winning the Champions League is clearly going to be a tall order.
So it is clear why Mourinho sees the FA Cup a vital trophy to United this season – and that view is echoed by midfielder Ander Herrera, who said: “Now we are out of the Carabao Cup, we give all the importance to the FA Cup.
“We won it two seasons ago and we want to fight until the end again.
“When we won the FA Cup, we drew at home to West Ham with a last-minute goal and then we beat them away.
“You can beat one of the best teams away and then have problems at home to a Championship side.
“That is the magic of the
FA Cup.”
Mourinho meanwhile, is delighted with the form of
Jesse Lingard, whose 11th goal of the season broke Derby’s resistance.
He said: “Jesse is in a clear evolution. He is improving with the progressive style of the team.
“He is in a good place and he won’t lose his stability. He’s mature and has a better understanding of the game now.”
The can reveal that DIEGO COSTA scored on his home debut for Atletico Madrid in a 2-0 win over Getafe but was immediately sent off for an over zealous celebration as the former Chelsea striker made an eventful return to La Liga yesterday.
The Spain striker hit the second goal in the 67th minute, after Angel Correa put Atletico ahead in the 18th minute, and rushed to the home fans behind the goal, PHILIPPE COUTINHO’S move to Barcelona could impact the future of another of the game’s superstars – Antoine Griezmann.
Coutinho (below) and Atletico Madrid’s Griezmann had something in common until DAVID last night – they were both ★ WAGNER’S on Barcelona’s wish-list. heavily
Huddersfield are But with Liverpool form in reliant on their home in the Premier Brazilian Coutinho to their bid to stay a passionate the Nou Camp club League.There is
John Smith’s yesterday, it means atmosphere at the starts in only one thing for Stadium – and it where Griezmann, 26. the directors’ box, and There will now be no chairman Dean Hoyle his familly are very bid from Barca for the much among the France international, which cheerleaders. means the £90m-rated away from La Liga.
And the Premier League would look to be an obvious option for the skilful Griezmann.
He has been strongly linked with Manchester United and Old Traffordagreeing to sell forward is available for moves boss Jose Mourinho is keen to strengthen his squad. But they could face competition from rivals Man City, depending on how their transfer plans work out – particularly with regard to their top target. That, of course, is Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, 29. The Daily Star Sunday understands, though, that Griezmann is another player admired by City boss
Pep Guardiola. Lingard, 25, is benefiting from extra training, in which he concentrates on shooting and finishing.
Lingard, who scored United’s winner in their last FA Cup Final appearance, has been staying back after normal training for half-hour sessions with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, which has gone down well with the United boss.
Derby keeper Scott Carson (left) defied United until the 85th minute, when he was finally beaten by Lingard’s spectacular strike.
And Carson, 32, believes he would be a candidate for England’s World Cup squad if he was playing in the Premier League.
The keeper, who won the last of his four England caps seven years ago, said: “If I was playing in games like this regularly, I would probably be disappointed at not getting the chance. “There are three, four, five excellent keepers. But I think, at the end of the day, if you’re not playing in the Premier League, your chances are very minimal, bar injuries or things like that.” creating a mini surge as supporters ran down to embrace their returning hero, who also played for the club from 2010-2014.
Leaving the pitch to celebrate with the fans automatically incurs a booking and, as Costa had already been shown a yellow card for elbowing Djene Dakonam seven minutes earlier, referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero had no choice but to send him off. YORKSHIRE can boast the world’s newest international football team after its membership of the non-FIFA Confederation of International Football Associations (CONIFA) was ratified on Saturday.
The team, for which only players born in the county are eligible, was set up in July and is set to make its debut with a friendly match against the Isle of Man at Hemsworth on January 28.
PAUL HETHERINGTON