TOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH JOSE

IT’S sometimes said that a manager can’t handle his players.

That’s particularly the case when they are high-profile, strong characters and, of course, multi-millionaires.

But at least one Premier League manager reckons there is a reverse situation at Man United, where the players can’t handle the boss – Jose Mourinho. The United boss is demanding, confident after a career winning trophies and isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. And that’s the case whether it is in the dressing room, on the training ground or in public. Mourinho (below) isn’t afraid to use the media to get his message across – just ask Paul Pogba or Luke Shaw.

Ahead of last night’s FA Cup Semi-Final against Tottenham one Premier League boss told me: “The players there can’t handle Jose.

“He’s not old in managerial terms but he’s old-school because he started as a manager when he was young. “He knows what he wants, his standards are high and he’s so demanding.” Mourinho, 55, is frustrated at times by the inconsistency of some of his players.

But they’ll have to start handling the Mourinho way if they want to stick around at Old Trafford.

RARELY will a solitary goal be celebrated with such warmth and emotion as Danny Ings’ first under Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

No wonder. Ings, dogged by sickening injuries since signing from Burnley almost three years ago, finally found the net for the first time since scoring back in October 2015.

And boy was the wait worth all that pain and suffering as Liverpool recorded being unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions.

Mo Salah threatened to upstage Ings on his big day with Liverpool’s second as West Brom fans sat back begrudgingly in their seats expecting the black spot of relegation stamped on every hand.

But a sensational second-half fightback saw the Baggies draw level and delay the death knell until today at least with goals from Jake Livermore and the battling Salomon Rondon.

Klopp was downhearted and not in much mood to talk but said: “I think it is like if you play set-piece Premier League football then West Brom for sure would not go to the Championship. “The pitch got drier and drier and it is not an advantage for the football-playing side. If you are the better team you should win. It feels a waste of points. They don’t need it. We need it.

“You have to create the best circumstances to help the boys deliver and then we let the home team decide whether they water the pitch or not. “It is not only for football it is also dangerous for injuries if the pitch is really dry.

“I wouldn’t probably have said anything about that if we had won but it is all you see during the game.”

Albion caretaker boss Darren Moore kept the fight going and said: “It was another good result because we as a football club have come together. “And we will continue to work until the next match. I’m looking for another positive performance.”

Moore must have wished the ground would swallow him up when Liverpool flew into a THIS column

★ reported last week on the surprisingly Louis van warm reception

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I didn’t was surprised. expect it but it was touching.” PAUL HETHERINGTON