ZZ FANCIES MOUR OF A CHALLENGE
MANAGING Manchester United would be a challenge.
That’s not my word. French sources tell me it is the term being used by Zinedine Zidane, who is on the managerial market after sensationally quitting Real Madrid following their Champions League triumph in May. Zizou (below) is being linked with United after what has been a frustrating summer for Old Trafford boss Jose Mourinho. And if Mourinho, for whatever reason, was to leave there is no doubt that Zidane, 46, would be interested in the United job,
After all, how do you follow
Real Madrid? Zidane proved he could handle that hotseat, winning the Champions League three years in succession.
So a great player now deserves to be classed as a top manager. Mourinho and Zidane were colleagues at Real, when the United manager was the boss. The former France midfielder then worked under Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez before becoming a manager himself. But politics are always an issue at the Madrid club and Zidane decided he’d had enough.
But he quit at the top after conquering Europe once more. At the moment, though, the United ‘challenge’ is very much Mourinho’s. PAUL HETHERINGTON ★
HOUSE OF FRASER one day – House of Horrors the next.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley got his hands on the department store chain for £90million but his team felt short-changed after giving Tottenham a fight and a fright.
But they were not helped by some horrific defending, particularly on Spurs’ second goal on a day when there were familiar calls from the Toon Army for Ashley to “get out of our club”. That was after a pre-match protest by 200 Newcastle fans outside Ashley’s city centre Sports Direct shop.
The fans aren’t happy that Ashley is investing in a string of shops rather than their club, in terms of major signings. But Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino was happy with a winning start to the season, through goals from Jan Vertonghen and Dele Alli. Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez, however, said: “We deserved a point. You could see the quality of the Spurs team and we had to work hard to contain them, then create chances. “But when you look at the chances we had, we deserved a bit more.
“Now that the window is closed, we can’t change anything. So we’ll focus on what happens on the pitch.
“I’m not happy, though, when I have to praise the players for the way they have played, when we have lost. But there were positives for the future.” When it was pointed out that Newcastle were vulnerable at set-pieces and from crosses, Benitez added: “It is quite simple. Spurs had too many big, strong lads in the air.
“But when you have money, you can buy players who not only have quality, but also physicality.” And the Spaniard’s reaction to Matt Ritchie being unhappy after being subbed was: “You have got to try to change things when you are not winning.” It was the haves versus the have nots – but not in the way most people would expect. Newcastle had the summer signings – seven in all, although only two started yesterday and four were on the bench. Spurs, in contrast, were a signing-free zone in the transfer window.
But despite fears of a weakened team due to so many players being involved in the World Cup, only England’s Kieran Trippier was missing.
One of Spurs’ men in Russia, Belgium’s Vertonghen, gave them an eight-minute lead after Christian Eriksen’s low drive had been turned for a corner by keeper Martin Dubravka.
Eriksen’s delivery was nodded on by Davinson Sanchez and Vertonghen’s header hit the underside of the bar and crossed the line by just
To the obvious fury of Pochettino, Newcastle were level within three minutes.
Ritchie crossed from the right and the unmarked Joselu – surprisingly selected ahead of new arrival Salomon Rondon – glanced home a header.
Benitez said: “I’m really pleased for Joselu.
“Strikers need to score and this will be good for his confidence.”
The hectic pace continued with the north Londoners going back in front seven minutes later.
Serge Aurier, deputising for Trippier, crossed perfectly to the far post where Alli produced a trademark finish with his head from that position.
Harry Kane blew a chance when he failed to control after being set up by Eriksen and Sanchez flashed a header across the face of the goal. But
Spurs lived dangerously at the back – particularly at the start of the second half. Mo Diame crashed the ball against the post, then Kenedy’s touch let him down and Hugo Lloris was able to save at the winger’s feet.
The Spurs keeper also made a smart save from Ayoze Perez.
But Dubravka had to make a better stop at the other end to deny former Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko. The Geordies, though, were out of luck again five minutes from time when Rondon’s drive was deflected on to the bar by the outstanding Vertonghen.