Football: Mourinho sacked as Tottenham Hotspur manager

LONDON - Jose Mourinho was sacked as manager of Tottenham Hotspur on Monday after 17 months in charge of the London club and six days before they will appear in the League Cup final.

Tottenham confirmed in a statement that the Portuguese had left along with his coaching staff.

"The Club can today announce that Jose Mourinho and his coaching staff Joao Sacramento, Nuno Santos, Carlos Lalin and Giovanni Cerra have been relieved of their duties," it said.

The news comes the morning after the London club said it was one of 12 clubs forming a breakaway European Super League - a development that has been widely condemned and threatens a bitter power struggle in the European game

The 58-year-old former Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United manager Mourinho had been in charge of 86 games at the club, having replaced the popular Mauricio Pochettino in November 2019.

Having taken charge with the club in 14th place in the Premier League, they finished in sixth spot last season.

His first full season in charge began well with the club beating Manchester United and Manchester City and topping the table in December.

But they have since slumped with fans disgruntled by the style of football and mystified by the lack of game time given to the likes of Gareth Bale and Dele Alli.

Tottenham have also become overly reliant on the goals of Harry Kane who took his tally to 21 for the season in the league with a double against Everton on Friday, but who is being linked with a move away from the club.

The 2-2 draw at Everton left Tottenham in seventh place and they have won only won of their last five league games, all but ending their top-four hopes.

They also suffered an embarrassing Europa League last-16 exit against Dinamo Zagreb, losing the away leg 3-0 having won the first leg 2-0.

The timing of Mourinho's sacking denied him the chance of landing Tottenham's first trophy since 2008 as he had taken the club to this Sunday's League Cup final against Manchester City.

Mourinho, a former FIFA World Coach of the Year, is one of the most-decorated managers in football and has delivered silverware wherever he has been since joining Porto in 2002.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy turned to Mourinho as the man to do the same for Tottenham, a club which boasts one of the best stadiums and training grounds in the world, but has consistently fallen short on the pitch.

However, results and performances have tailed off alarmingly this season and since the end of January Tottenham have won only five of 14 Premier League matches.

Mourinho has always been known for his pragmatic style and the steely mentality of his teams but Tottenham have dropped 20 points from winning positions this season.

"Jose and his coaching staff have been with us through some of our most challenging times as a club," Levy said on Monday.

"Jose is a true professional who showed enormous resilience during the pandemic. On a personal level I have enjoyed working with him and regret that things have not worked out as we both had envisaged."

Tottenham said former midfielder Ryan Mason will be in charge of the first team on Monday.

RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann is tipped as one of the favourites to take over from Mourinho, although he is also touted to replace Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich. 

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Catherine Evans and Angus MacSwan)

-reuters-

Football: Tottenham hit back to beat Olympiakos in Mourinho's home bow

LONDON - Jose Mourinho's first home game as Tottenham Hotspur manager suffered a shocking start but ended happily as Harry Kane's record-breaking double helped his side come from behind to beat Olympiakos Piraeus 4-2 to reach the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday.

The unexpected arrival of the celebrated Portuguese former Chelsea boss after Mauricio Pochettino, who took Spurs to last season's Champions League final, has caused much head-scratching amongst the Spurs faithful.

A 3-2 Premier League win at West Ham United on Saturday won over some of the sceptics but when goals by Youssef El Arabi and Ruben Sabedo put Olympiakos, bottom of Group B, 2-0 up inside 20 minutes, Spurs fans were stunned into silence.

Mourinho's first decisive act, sending on playmaker Christian Eriksen for defensive midfielder Eric Dier after 29 minutes, changed the flow and Dele Alli's tap-in on the stroke of halftime proved crucial.

Tottenham looked a different side after the break and Kane struck twice, either side of Serge Aurier's thumping effort, to take his Champions League tally to 20 in a record 24 games -- beating the 26 it took Alessandro Del Piero to reach the mark.

Victory meant Tottenham are guaranteed to finish runners-up in the group to Bayern Munich who they face in a fortnight.

Mourinho, who won the competition with Porto and Inter Milan, shook hands with each of his players and applauded the fans who applauded back, if not singing his name.

"It was a disappointing start, we know we didn't come out with any energy," Kane said. "They got the early goal and then got the second and it was uphill from there.

"The goal just before halftime changed the momentum. We knew we couldn't play any worse than we did in the first half."

There was no fanfare for Mourinho as he took his place in the technical area before kickoff.

But the challenge he faces at Tottenham immediately became apparent as they began in the sloppy fashion that has been a hallmark of their season so far.

Olympiakos were far more lively and took the lead in the fifth minute when Danny Rose's attempted clearance was gathered by El Arabi and the Moroccan cut in from the right before fizzing a low drive from 25 metres past Paulo Gazzaniga.

The hosts responded with Son Heung-min's glancing header producing a fine save from Jose Sa.

However, Olympiakos continued to cause trouble in the Spurs defence. The hosts needed a last-ditch tackle by Davinson Sanchez to deny Daniel Podence after he broke clear.

But it got worse for Spurs in the 19th minute when Portuguese centre back Sabedo poked home from a corner.

Mourinho shrugged his shoulders at his assistants and soon hauled off Dier, although there were other candidates, such was the hosts' lacklustre start.

Had Olympiakos, roared on by a huge and noisy following, reached halftime ahead it would have been tough for Spurs, but when Yassine Meriah swung and missed at a clearance Alli had the simplest task to reduce the deficit.

Five minutes after halftime, Tottenham were level. A quick throw-in by Aurier released Lucas Moura and he cut the ball back for Kane to fire home.

Suddenly Spurs were rampant and they went ahead in the 73rd minute when Aurier connected sweetly to thrash home a right-footed volley from an angle.

Kane sealed the points five minutes later when he headed in Eriksen's dangerous delivery -- his 23rd goal in 23 games in all competitions for club and country this season. 

(Reporting by Martyn Herman Editing by Christian Radnedge)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Football: Man City keep Liverpool in sights as Mourinho magic lifts Spurs

LONDON -- Manchester City kept Premier League leaders Liverpool in their sights on Saturday after battling back to beat Chelsea as Jose Mourinho ended Tottenham's away-day woes in his first game in charge.

Leicester saw off Brighton 2-0 to stay in second place, eight points behind Jurgen Klopp's men, while struggling Arsenal needed a stoppage-time goal to draw 2-2 with lowly Southampton.

Liverpool's hard-fought 2-1 win at Crystal Palace meant defending champions City went into their evening match against high-flying Chelsea 12 points behind the pacesetters.

N'Golo Kante gave the visitors a deserved lead midway through the first half at the Etihad but City hit back with a deflected shot from Kevin De Bruyne and a trademark Riyad Mahrez strike to win 2-1.

Pep Guardiola's men were never entirely comfortable with a one-goal lead but their margin of victory could have been greater as Raheem Sterling found the bottom corner deep into stoppage time, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside.

City's possession figure of 46.74 percent is the lowest recorded by a side managed by Pep Guardiola in any of his 381 top-flight matches in charge.

"It was a top game against a top side," Guardiola told Sky Sports. "Chelsea have been big quality for the past 20 years. When they went ahead in the best moments they had we scored through Kevin De Bruyne. Then we missed a lot of chances."

Guardiola sounded the alarm over all-time top-scorer Sergio Aguero, who limped off in the second half, saying he feared his injury could be "bad".

- Liverpool late show -

Earlier, Liverpool once again demonstrated their knack for scoring last-gasp winners, with Roberto Firmino finishing from close range following a goalmouth scramble.

Liverpool had looked set to drop points for just the second time this season after Wilfried Zaha cancelled out Sadio Mane's opener in the 82nd minute.

The European champions, chasing their first league title for 30 years, have now won 12 of their 13 Premier League matches this season and are unbeaten in 30 league games.

"We are not out there to show we invented football. We have a job to do to get results. We did that again," said Klopp.

"I have no problem that we were not brilliant today. You just have to make sure you are ready to fight for the result and we were that from the first minute."

Brendan Rodgers' Leicester kept up their dogged pursuit of the leaders, with second-half goals from Ayoze Perez and Jamie Vardy giving them a fifth successive league win.

- Mourinho effect -

In the early kick-off at the London Stadium, Son Heung-min, Lucas Moura and Harry Kane were on the scoresheet for Tottenham as Mourinho won his first game in charge 3-2, days after replacing the sacked Mauricio Pochettino.

Spurs' first away league victory since January will help to endear Mourinho to sceptical supporters, who were sad to see Pochettino dismissed less than six months after leading the club to a first-ever Champions League final.

"It was very, very important. Eleven months without music in the away dressing room, without a smile, without happiness and they did it," said the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss.

"That's where I belong (on the touchline), that is my natural habitat. I just love it. When things go in your direction, winning is the best feeling."

Arsenal manager Unai Emery is under increasing pressure after another limp display that leaves them winless in five Premier League matches.

Southampton took an early lead at the Emirates through Danny Ings only for Alexandre Lacazette to level.

James Ward-Prowse restored Southampton's lead in the second half but Lacazette saved Emery's blushes with a goal deep into stoppage time.

In-form Wolves won 2-1 at 10-man Bournemouth courtesy of a Joao Moutinho free-kick and Raul Jimenez's goal to climb to fifth in the table.

Norwich lifted themselves off the bottom with a 2-0 victory away to Everton while Burnley won 3-0 at Watford, who are now bottom.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United face Sheffield United on Sunday with a chance to move into fifth place.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Football: Mourinho pledges 'passion' after being named Spurs boss

LONDON -- Jose Mourinho promised "real passion" following his appointment as Tottenham Hotspur boss on Wednesday after Mauricio Pochettino was sacked by the struggling Premier League club.

The former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United manager was announced as the new boss at White Hart Lane hours after the Argentine was dismissed on Tuesday evening.

"I couldn't be happier and look forward to the challenge," Mourinho told Tottenham's official website. 

"What can I promise? Passion, real passion. Passion for my job, but also passion for my club, that's the way I have been all my career."

The 56-year-old, who had been out of work since leaving United last December, signed a contract until the end of the 2022-23 season after Spurs acted to halt their slide down the table.

The club reached the Champions League final last season but are languishing in 14th spot in the Premier League after picking up just three wins from 12 games. They are 11 points off the top four positions which allow qualification to European club football's top competition.

"I want to try, obviously, everything to bring happiness to everyone who loves the club," added the new manager, who has won domestic league titles in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain.

Mourinho was due to take training on Wednesday before his first press conference on Thursday. His first game in charge is at West Ham on Saturday.

His glittering CV includes Champions League titles with Porto and Inter Milan.

He also won three Premier League titles over two spells in charge of Chelsea, and returned to England to manage Manchester United in 2016, where he won the Europa League and the League Cup.

"In Jose we have one of the most successful managers in football," said Spurs chairman Daniel Levy. "He has a wealth of experience, can inspire teams and is a great tactician.

"He has won honours at every club he has coached. We believe he will bring energy and belief to the dressing room."

Mourinho was sacked by United last December and has been without a club since, most recently working as a TV pundit.

Despite his troubles in the latter stages of his tenure at Old Trafford he remains a big name, but is a divisive figure and there will be questions over whether his pragmatic style can mesh with Tottenham's tradition of attacking football.

- Spurs slide -

Pochettino had transformed Spurs' fortunes since arriving in 2014, qualifying for the Champions League four times.

Although he failed to win a trophy, Tottenham made a dramatic run to the European Cup final for the first time in their history in June, losing 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid.

But that masked a worrying dip in domestic form in the second half of last season and Pochettino was unable to reverse the slide in this campaign.

They were also bundled out of the League Cup by fourth-tier Colchester United and suffered an embarrassing 7-2 defeat at home to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp told the BBC that poor results had forced the club's hand.

"The same voice after six years starts to wear a little thin, a new man can find another 10 percent, they will find a spring in their step for Jose's first game," he said.

Mourinho has a tough task on his hands. No team with as low a tally as Spurs have after 12 games -- 14 points -- has ever gone on to record a top-four finish.

- Tributes -

Pochettino, operating on a tight budget in comparison with his rivals, nurtured a squad of young players to become household names including Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen.

A series of Spurs players paid warm tribute to their departing manager.

Tottenham and England forward Kane tweeted: "Gaffer. I'll be forever thankful to you for helping me achieve my dreams." 

South Korean forward Son Heung-min said in an Instagram post that "words are powerless to express my gratitude".

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust released a statement expressing "concerns" and seeking clarity over how the new boss and the board would work together.

The group asked: "Is the manager solely accountable? How much has the board's line on wages and transfers contributed to player unrest and disaffection?"

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Chelsea beat Mourinho's 10-man United to reach Cup semis

LONDON - Chelsea manager Antonio Conte got the upper hand on Jose Mourinho for the second time this season as his double-chasing side beat 10-man Manchester United 1-0 at Stamford Bridge to reach the FA Cup semi-finals on Monday.

N'Golo Kante's precise 51st minute strike was enough for Conte's team to break United's hold on the Cup after the visitors had Ander Herrera sent off after 35 minutes for a second yellow card -- both for fouls on Eden Hazard.

Premier League leaders' Chelsea's reward is a Wembley clash with Tottenham Hotspur next month, while the other semi-final will be between Arsenal and Manchester City.

United, who face a Europa League last 16 tie on Thursday against Russian side Rostov, were missing the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic and injured Wayne Rooney and offered little threat once Kante had beaten David de Gea with a precise low shot.

Mourinho was spared the humiliation of the 4-0 thrashing his old club dished out in October's league meeting -- his first return to Stamford Bridge since being sacked last season -- but his United side were again found wanting.

Mourinho's frustration boiled over at times and the Portuguese and Italian Conte had to be separated after an angry exchange shortly after Herrera's sending off.

"The game was completely under control (before the red card)," Mourinho, whose players targeted Hazard for especially close attention, told reporters. "They couldn't find what is their game. I cannot be more proud of the players."

Chelsea, chasing the Premier League/FA Cup double they last achieved in 2010, dominated possession and could have scored more goals, though holders United had their moments.

LIVEWIRE HAZARD

Much was made of United's lack of striking options ahead of the game but Mourinho's somewhat depleted side started in confident fashion and Henrikh Mkhitaryan fired just wide in the 13th minute following a strong run by Rashford.

That escape sparked Chelsea into life though, particularly Hazard who was soon skipping his way past defenders to force De Gea into a great save from his deflected shot.

United's keeper then did equally well to claw out Nemanja Matic's low shot from the resulting corner.

Herrera then took matters into his own hands with two ill-judged tackles on Hazard, both punished with yellow cards by referee Michael Oliver.

Mourinho reacted to the dismissal by hauling off Mkhitaryan and sending on the combative Marouane Fellaini.

It was a tactic designed to frustrate Chelsea but the irrepressible Kante opened them up six minutes after the break, delivering a right-foot shot of unerring accuracy past De Gea.

Diego Costa should have made it 2-0 but United should have levelled when the galloping Rashford left David Luiz and Gary Cahill trailing but shot straight at Thibaut Courtois.

Chelsea were relatively untroubled, though, as they set up a juicy-looking semi-final against London rivals Spurs -- the last team to beat them in any competition.

"We must be pleased because to arrive in the semi-finals and play at Wembley gives us great satisfaction," Conte said. "It's another tough game against a strong team." (Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Mata fires Man United into League Cup quarters

LONDON - Juan Mata swept home to steer Manchester United into the League Cup quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over holders and bitter local rivals Manchester City on Wednesday as Jose Mourinho got one over old adversary Pep Guardiola.

Mata rifled in a low finish past City keeper Willy Caballero early in the second half at Old Trafford on a night of few chances but plenty of derby fervour as United boss Mourinho won the tactical battle against Guardiola's much-changed City side.

The result lifted some of the pressure off Mourinho following Sunday's 4-0 defeat to Chelsea, but for his old sparring partner, Guardiola, it was a sixth successive game without victory, his longest winless streak as a manager.

West Ham United also moved into the last eight after they overcame Chelsea 2-1 in a London derby spoiled by ugly scenes of fan violence at the end of the game, while Southampton heaped more misery on struggling Sunderland with a 1-0 victory.

Recent results and the gathering pressure on both Mourinho and Guardiola ensured the clash at Old Trafford had all the usual spice of a derby encounter even if City made nine changes to their side against a virtually full-strength United team.

City should have gone ahead after two minutes, but Kelechi Iheanacho darted in front of his marker to direct his header hopelessly off target from close range.

United offered little attacking threat, but gained control of possession as the match wore on and were the more dangerous side for most of the encounter.

It took until the start of the second half, however, for them to create a meaningful chance when Paul Pogba's low shot was turned onto the post by Caballero, sparking an onslaught from the home side that ended with Mata's opener on 54 minutes.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic shrugged off a challenge then played the ball back towards Ander Herrera, who went down dramatically in the box but Mata was following up to powerfully steer the ball home.

DERBY KNOCKOUT

Then it was just a case of holding on, which they did comfortably, as Mourinho recorded his fourth victory over Guardiola in a rivalry spanning 18 matches.

The greater satisfaction for the Portuguese, however, seemed to be erasing some of the negativity of Sunday's thrashing by his former club Chelsea.

"The fans felt deeply such a negative result and today was a good chance to clear that feeling because a derby knockout and to win gives everyone a better feeling," he said.

West Ham's woeful start to the season is turning round and the revival continued in the first derby at their new London Stadium home.

Tight security arrangements, including a ban on the sale of alcohol in the vicinity of the Olympic Park, was intended to prevent flashpoints off the pitch, but there were still ugly scenes towards the end as rival fans clashed behind the goal with several seats being ripped out.

On the pitch, a vibrant West Ham proved too strong for a Chelsea side much-changed from their weekend trouncing of Manchester United.

Cheikhou Kouyate put the Hammers on their way to a third consecutive win with a thumping header from skipper Mark Noble's driven cross after 11 minutes and Edimilson Fernandes beat Asmir Begovic with a low shot three minutes after the restart.

Gary Cahill did grab a Chelsea consolation in stoppage time but by that time all eyes were on stewards trying to keep rival fans apart.

Southampton's record signing Sofiane Boufal scored from long range in the second half in their 1-0 victory over Sunderland, a fourth defeat in five games for Sunderland manager David Moyes.

(Reporting by Toby Davis, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

PREMIER LEAGUE: Misery for Manchester as United thrashed and City draw

LONDON, United Kingdom -- Manchester's two Premier League clubs managed just a point between them on Sunday as Manchester United suffered a chastening 4-0 defeat by Chelsea on manager Jose Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge and leaders Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Southampton.

Chelsea's Pedro Rodriguez opened the scoring after just 30 seconds and the Blues were on their way, with Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N'Golo Kante adding to the agony for Mourinho, who won seven major titles in two spell as the London club's manager.

Victory saw Antonio Conte's side move up into fourth place, just a point behind the top three of City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

By contrast, defeat left United seventh and five points adrift of the top four finish they need to qualify for the Champions League after missing out on European club football's elite competition this season -- a failure that led the Old Trafford club to replace former manager Louis van Gaal with Mourinho.

"You come with a strategy. You cannot concede a goal in the way we did," Mourinho told Sky Sports. "We made incredible defensive mistakes, individual mistakes, and you pay for that."

After the final whistle, Mourinho whispered in the ear of Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.

Conte had urged home fans to make more noise after Kante made it 4-0 in the 70th minute.

But Mourinho refused to reveal what he had told the Italian, saying: "My words were with Antonio Conte were for him, not for you."

Conte was equally guarded, telling the BBC: "When there is a private conversation it is right to remain private, I have great respect for Jose, he is a great manager and he won a lot here."

As for the match itself Conte, in a separate interview with Sky Sports, said: "I am pleased with the performance, we started well, moved the ball quickly, created chances to score the goal."

At Eastlands, City suffered a fifth consecutive match without a victory although the point gained took Pep Guardiola's side back to the top of the table

Following their 4-0 midweek Champions League loss away to Barcelona, City were behind in the 27th minute when central defender John Stones's careless pass across the face of goal was seized on by Saints striker Nathan Redmond.

"I was anticipating it and it was just about keeping a cool head and putting the chance away," said Redmond.

The hosts were much improved in the second half and Kelechi Iheanacho equalised in the 55th minute when he finished a neat move involving Fernandinho and Leroy Sane from close range.

"The second half was much better," said Guardiola. "Of course our mistake is always complicated. The way I want to play is not to pass to their striker."

Southampton manager Claude Puel was pleased by the way his side recovered from their 1-0 Europa League loss away to Inter Milan.

"We played with just two days recovery after the Inter Milan match, which is difficult and we finished the game tired," said Puel. "It is a good point."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Rooney hails Man U momentum

LONDON -- Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney believes new manager Jose Mourinho's methods are already bearing fruit ahead of his side's Premier League trip to Hull City on Saturday.

United have won their two opening games, against Bournemouth and Southampton, and go into the weekend level on points with Manchester City, Chelsea and, unexpectedly, Hull at the head of the table.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored four goals in three games and with world-record returnee Paul Pogba impressing in the 2-0 win over Southampton, Rooney feels United have hit the ground running.

"We, as players, have to adapt to what the manager wants us to do in our preparations throughout the week and, on match-days, we try to take the game plan of the manager onto the pitch," he told MUTV.

"It's what we've tried to do and, fortunately, we've started the season well. We've prepared well this week so we're hoping that continues.

"The signings we've made this season have been really good signings. They've settled in really quickly and you've seen the impact they've had on the pitch already."

While City, United and Chelsea's presence in the top four gives the lead places in the Premier League standings a familiar look, Hull's strong start to the season has surprised everyone.

After Steve Bruce quit as manager and Hull were left with only 13 senior players, the East Yorkshire club were installed as the bookmakers' favorites to go down.

But they defied the odds to stun champions Leicester City 2-1 on the season's opening day and followed that up with a 2-0 success at Swansea City.

One of Bruce's principle reasons for leaving was frustration over the club's lack of transfer activity and caretaker coach Mike Phelan says there will be no new faces on show at the KCOM Stadium on Saturday.

"It's the same old, same old," said Phelan, who spent 20 years at United as a player, coach and assistant manager under Alex Ferguson.

"Nobody has yet come into the building. We haven't signed any new players. We are in talks with two or three new players.

"We've set our stall out and are pursuing interests, but at the moment nothing has been delivered."

KLOPP'S SPURS RETURN

The identity of the man between the posts for Manchester City will be a hot topic once again on Sunday when Pep Guardiola's side welcome West Ham United to the Etihad Stadium.

Claudio Bravo has completed his move from Barcelona for a reported initial fee of 13.75 million pounds ($18.2 million, 16.1 million euros).

But with the Chile international having only just arrived, Guardiola is expected to restore Willy Caballero to his starting XI, which means Joe Hart will drop to the bench.

Hart was hailed by City's fans during Wednesday's 1-0 Champions League win over Steaua Bucharest, but with youngster Angus Gunn also pushing for a place, Guardiola cannot even guarantee him a spot on the bench.

"If all four stay here, the best solution is for everybody to be involved in our idea," Guardiola said.

"They are going to be in rotation, part of that. So (if) Joe, Willy and Angus stay, then it won't be the same one who is always on the bench."

Chelsea will look to pursue their renaissance under former Juventus and Italy manager Antonio Conte when they entertain Burnley at Stamford Bridge.

Burnley stunned Liverpool 2-0 at Turf Moor last weekend, despite seeing less than 20 percent of the ball, only to then crash to a woeful League Cup exit at fourth-tier Accrington Stanley.

At White Hart Lane, Tottenham Hotspur host Liverpool in a clash between two clubs hoping to gatecrash the Manchester duopoly at the top of the table.

"Both teams have consistency in the squad. There are of course new players, but not too many changes," said Jurgen Klopp, whose tenure as Liverpool manager began with a 0-0 draw at Spurs last October.

"It will be exciting what will happen there."

Arsenal, meanwhile, visit Watford.

Arsene Wenger's men remain without a win after two games, but fans have been placated by moves for Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi and Spanish striker Lucas Perez.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Winning start for Mourinho, Liverpool edge Arsenal

LONDON, United Kingdom -- Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored as Manchester United defeated Bournemouth 3-1 in Jose Mourinho's first Premier League game as manager on Sunday, while Liverpool edged Arsenal in a 4-3 thriller.

Juan Mata and captain Wayne Rooney were also on target at Bournemouth as United recorded a straightforward win that left them top of the table after the season's opening weekend.

Philippe Coutinho scored twice as Liverpool recovered from falling behind to Theo Walcott's goal at the Emirates Stadium, with Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane also on target for Jurgen Klopp's men.

"Eric Cantona was here at the best moment in his career. This guy is more than a player," Mourinho said of Ibrahimovic, who opened his United account with a low drive from 25 yards.

Ibrahimovic, a free signing from Paris Saint-Germain, has now scored on his debuts in the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

"For the next two seasons I think he can be phenomenal for the team and the Premier League," Mourinho added.

Ibrahimovic, 34, said: "It's important to start good. Being new to the league is not easy. Everything is new for me: my team-mates, the clubs, the environment. I just play my game."

The charismatic Swedish star was handed a competitive full debut at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium along with fellow new signing Eric Bailly.

United's 89 million pounds (105 million euros, $116 million) record signing Paul Pogba was unavailable due to suspension.

Mata, controversially brought on and then taken off by Mourinho during the 2-1 Community Shield win over Leicester City last weekend, started on the right flank in place of Jesse Lingard.

United's starting XI bristled with attacking menace, but it took a calamitous blunder by defender Simon Francis for the visitors to take the lead in the 40th minute.

His woefully under-hit back-pass gave Mata a free run on goal and although Artur Boruc saved the Spaniard's shot, the ball rebounded off Francis and into Mata's path, giving him an easy tap-in.

Rooney made it 2-0 just before the hour, heading home Anthony Martial's mishit volley from six yards.

- Emirates goal-fest -

Ibrahimovic opened his Premier League account in style five minutes later, steering a shot into the bottom-left corner from range.

On the touchline Mourinho celebrated effusively and Bournemouth's consolation, a rasping shot into the top-right corner by Adam Smith, could not take the smile off his face.

"We dominated the early stages, but you can't gift Manchester United goals, which we did," said Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe.

Spectators at the Emirates Stadium were treated to a goal-fest as Arsene Wenger's injury-depleted Arsenal were beaten at home in their opening league fixture for the third time in four years.

Injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel, plus Laurent Koscielny's lack of match fitness, obliged Wenger to deploy Calum Chambers and new signing Rob Holding in an inexperienced centre-back pairing.

The hosts also lost Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi to injury in the second half.

Having previously seen his penalty pushed away by Simon Mignolet, Walcott atoned by drilling Arsenal into a 31st-minute lead.

But Coutinho equalised with a glorious free-kick in first-half stoppage time before making it 3-1 with a neat volley after Georginio Wijnaldum had teed up Lallana to put Liverpool ahead.

Mane, a close-season signing from Southampton, added a fourth for Liverpool with a slaloming run down the right followed by an emphatic left-foot finish.

Boos rained down from the Emirates stands and despite substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Chambers replying for the hosts, Liverpool closed out their first away win over Arsenal since 2011.

"Scoring four goals is wonderful. Conceding three is the opposite of emotions," Klopp told journalists.

"It was hard work, but we deserved to win at the end."

Wenger said: "We played a very good first half and were unlucky to concede a goal just before half-time because the free-kick was very harsh. After that we paid for a lack of experience."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Old Trafford gives Mourinho raucous welcome

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom -- Jose Mourinho enjoyed a raucous reception as he watched a charity match from the stands on Sunday in his first appearance at Old Trafford since being named Manchester United manager.

Just nine days after the official confirmation of Mourinho's appointment, the 53-year-old was in Manchester to give his support to Unicef, who use the Soccer Aid friendly to raise money for children in danger across the world.

The former Chelsea boss originally agreed to manage an "England" team consisting of former internationals, musicians, actors and other celebrities, against a Rest of the World team coached by Leicester's Claudio Ranieri and featuring a host of retired legends.

But, following his move to United, Mourinho decided to save his first game on the home bench for the club's clash with Everton in Wayne Rooney's testimonial on August 3.

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce took care of the match-day management duties instead, while Mourinho watched from the directors box as England won 3-2.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be more involved tonight, but I'm so happy and involved at the beginning of my job at Manchester United that all the time I have right now is working time," Mourinho wrote in the match programme.

"But I love the boys at Soccer Aid so much -- the atmosphere and especially the cause -- that I couldn't be away on the day of the game."

Plenty of fans were waiting outside Old Trafford to greet Mourinho when he got off the England team bus and some in the stands held aloft signs and banners bearing his name.

Mourinho, hired to replace Louis van Gaal on a three-year deal, was given a loud reception from supporters, some of whom snapped up scarfs emblazoned with the new United manager's name and face, and it didn't take long for the Portuguese to make himself at home.

- New house -

Pele was Unicef's guest of honour and Mourinho posted a photo on his Instagram account of him and the Brazil legend as they shook hands in front of a Manchester United badge in the players' tunnel.

The caption to Mourinho's photo read: "An honour to host Pele at my new house" and he also posted a picture of himself standing in the tunnel looking towards the pitch.

Mourinho gave an interview to ITV before kick-off, but his microphone broke before he could get into full flow.

"I'm very happy to be here, and especially alongside Ranieri, who won the Premier League, and Sam, who saved Sunderland from relegation," Mourinho said.

"It's a shame I've really not had a chance to enjoy this season as much as they did."

Sunderland forward Jermain Defoe scored twice for an England side including Robbie Fowler and Jamie Carragher, as well as pop star Robbie Williams and One Direction's Louis Tomlinson.

Ronaldinho, Cafu, Jaap Stam and Edgar Davids starred for the Rest of the World, whose goals were scored by former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov.

Mourinho will take charge of his first game as United boss when they face Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai on July 22.

With his charity commitments out of the way, Mourinho has to focus on a less pleasant distraction as the employment tribunal brought by former Chelsea first-team doctor Eva Carneiro begins on Monday.

Carneiro is claiming constructive dismissal against Chelsea and Mourinho could be called as a witness.

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Chelsea turn back to Hiddink after Mourinho exit

LONDON -- Guus Hiddink has returned to Chelsea as manager "until the end of the season" following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, the struggling Premier League champions announced on Saturday.

The experienced Dutch coach, 69, watched Chelsea's 3-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday, having resumed a role he previously performed in 2009, when he led the London club to glory in the FA Cup.

"I am excited to return to Stamford Bridge," Hiddink said in a statement on the Chelsea website before the game.


"Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world, but is not where it should be at the moment. However, I am sure we can all turn this season around.

"I am looking forward to working with the players and staff at this great club and especially renewing my wonderful relationship with the Chelsea fans."

Mourinho, 52, was sacked by Chelsea for the second time on Thursday after a run of nine defeats in 16 games saw them slide towards the relegation zone.

With first-team coach Steve Holland taking charge of the team against Sunderland, Hiddink sat in an executive box alongside owner Roman Abramovich and former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

Chelsea captain John Terry welcomed Hiddink's return, telling Sky Sports: "Guus Hiddink's training is very intense. He is a great man manager as well."

Abramovich previously turned to Hiddink in February 2009 after sacking Luiz Felipe Scolari.

In a statement, Chelsea said: "Mr Abramovich and the board believe that Guus has what it takes to get the best out of our talented squad."

Well travelled and vastly experienced, Hiddink began his coaching career with PSV Eindhoven and delivered the club's first ever European Cup success in 1988.

He has also managed Fenerbahce, Valencia, Real Madrid, Real Betis and Anzhi Makhachkala, as well as the national teams of the Netherlands, twice, South Korea, Australia, Russia and Turkey.

- 'Anguished' -
His most recent role, as Netherlands coach, came to an end in June after a poor start to qualifying for Euro 2016.

Hiddink's first game will be the Boxing Day fixture at home to Watford next Saturday, which is followed by a trip to Manchester United on December 28.

Writing in the match programme for the Sunderland game, Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said the club had "anguished" over the decision to dismiss Mourinho "for some time".

"Please believe me when I say the decision was made for no reason other than to do what we believe is in the best interests of this club," he added.

"We are one of the biggest clubs in the world and we are all determined, as a collective unit, to get back to where we should be."

Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo said "palpable discord between manager and players" was a factor in Mourinho's dismissal, but Terry said player unrest was not the reason for his departure.

"We are aware there have been rumours of player power at the club, but I want to make it clear that is not the case," Terry wrote in the programme.

"We leave all decisions to Mr Abramovich and the board, and know that our job, as players, is to focus on getting results on the pitch."

Mourinho attended the Championship match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Middlesbrough on Saturday in his first public appearance since his sacking.

Sporting a newly shaven head and wearing a dark jacket, he was photographed in a seat at the Amex Stadium, where his former Real Madrid assistant Aitor Karanka was taking charge of Middlesbrough, who won 3-0.

The agency that represents Mourinho said in a statement that he would not be taking a sabbatical and would be attending matches in order to provide support to his "friends" in the game.

"He will not be taking a sabbatical, he isn't tired, he doesn't need it, he is very positive, and is already looking forward," said a statement from CAA, which also said Mourinho would remain in London.

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Mourinho sacked as Chelsea manager

LONDON - Jose Mourinho was sacked as manager of Premier League champions Chelsea on Thursday after a calamitous run of results left the London club one point above the relegation zone.

"Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have today parted company by mutual consent," the club said on their official Twitter account.

The 52-year-old Portuguese returned to Stamford Bridge for a second stint in charge in 2013 and last season led them to the title and a League Cup triumph.

Chelsea were beaten 2-1 by surprise leaders Leicester City on Monday, their ninth defeat in 16 league matches.

Ahead of this weekend's home game with Sunderland, they have managed only 15 points during their worst start to a season since being relegated in 1978-79.

Media speculation had been mounting about Mourinho's position and it reached a crescendo after Monday's defeat when he accused some of the players of "betraying his work".

Mourinho won back-to-back titles for Chelsea during his first spell in charge from 2004-07 before falling out of favour with the club's Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

He was welcomed back as a returning hero in 2013 after spells at Inter Milan and Real Madrid and soon delivered a third league title.

However, this season they have already lost the same amount of league matches as they did in the last two campaigns combined, and their hopes of a top-four finish look bleak.

Few could have envisaged their spectacular slump and although the fans have remained loyal to him, the defeat at Leicester proved to be his final match in charge.

The season has followed a similar pattern to Mourinho's previous dismissal eight years ago, although he was given a little longer to reverse their fortunes this time.

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FOOTBALL: Arsenal, Chelsea progress to Last 16 of Champions League

Giroud treble inspires rampant Arsenal to reach last 16

Graham Wood, Reuters

Olivier Giroud grabbed a superb hat-trick as Arsenal crushed Olympiakos Piraeus 3-0 to book their spot in the Champions League's last 16 with a classy demolition job that ended the hopes of their Greek opponents on Wednesday.

With Arsenal needing an emphatic victory to make it out of Group F, France forward Giroud produced a high-calibre display to ensure the English club finished second, level on nine points with Olympiakos, but ahead by virtue of their better head-to-head record.

Giroud opened the scoring in Greece with a powerful header in the first half, doubled Arsenal's advantage with a calm left-footed finish quickly after the restart and rounded off a superb individual display with a penalty.

The victory completed a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Arsenal who lost three of their first four games of the campaign and needed to win by any result other than 1-0 or 2-1 in their decisive group clash to finish second behind group winners Bayern Munich.

Chelsea outclass Porto to ease pressure on Mourinho

Clare Lovell, Reuters

Jose Mourinho's Chelsea turned from domestic whipping boys back to European stalwarts on Wednesday, beating his former club Porto 2-0 to top Champions League Group G.

A 12th-minute own goal which rebounded off Ivan Marcano under pressure from Diego Costa and a well-worked second-half strike from Brazilian Willian ensured victory for the struggling English champions and sent Porto into the Europa League.

Chelsea, cheered by a beaming owner Roman Abramovich, looked a completely different team from the one that has slumped to eight domestic defeats in 15 league games, including four at home.

The result took the pressure off Mourinho after intense speculation that the coach, who has won the Champions League with both Porto and Inter Milan, might lose his job if Chelsea failed to qualify for the knockout stages.

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Hernandez equalizer not enough for Leverkusen 

Reuters

A Javier Hernandez strike gave Bayer Leverkusen a 1-1 draw against Group E winners Barcelona but it was not enough for them to reach the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday.

In-form Hernandez netted his 12th goal in 11 games just three minutes after Lionel Messi had given a weakened Barca side the lead after 20 minutes.

However, the draw meant they finished third in Group E level on six points with AS Roma, who were held 0-0 by BATE Borisov, but eliminated due to a poorer head to head record.

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Roma advance but jeered by fans after 0-0 draw 

Reuters

Listless AS Roma sneaked into the Champions League last 16 after a 0-0 draw with BATE Borisov at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday but were booed off the pitch by their fans.

Victory would have guaranteed Roma a place in the knockout rounds as Group E runners-up behind Barcelona, but they appeared content to play for a draw, banking on Bayer Leverkusen failing to beat Barca at the BayArena.

Rudi Garcia's side were jeered off at the final whistle as they got away with their limp performance after Leverkusen only managed a 1-1 draw against Barcelona.

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Superb Lewandowski gives Bayern 2-0 win at Dinamo

Reuters

Bayern Munich eased into the Champions League's last 16 after a second-half double by top scorer Robert Lewandowski gave them a 2-0 win at Dinamo Zagreb in their Group F match on Wednesday.

Bayern, who had already secured top spot in the group, finished with 15 points from six games, six ahead of Arsenal, who booked their berth with a 3-0 win at Olympiakos Piraeus.

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Kiev grab last-16 place with lucky break against Maccabi

Igor Nitsak, Reuters

Denys Garmash scored a fortuitous goal to earn Dynamo Kiev a 1-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv on Wednesday and enable the Ukrainian champions to grab a place in the Champions League last 16.

Playing in an empty stadium because of a UEFA ban, Dynamo's winner came courtesy of a good deal of fortune when Maccabi's Tal Ben Chaim deflected a free kick towards his own goal.

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Ghent sink Zenit to reach last 16

Reuters

Debutants Ghent became only the second Belgian side to advance to the Champions League knockout phase when they ended Zenit St Petersburg's 100 percent record in Group H with a dramatic 2-1 win on Wednesday.

Danijel Milicevic scored a left-footed winner 12 minutes from time to secure the points for Ghent after Laurent Depoitre had put them ahead at halftime, only for Artem Dzyuba to equalise in the 65th minute.

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Neville suffers as Valencia crash out

Reuters

Gary Neville endured a dispiriting start to life as a head coach when the former England defender's Valencia side lost 2-0 at home to Olympique Lyonnais on Wednesday to exit the Champions League.

Maxwell Cornet put Lyon in front eight minutes before the break and Alexandre Lacazette sealed all three points for the French side in the 76th minute with a solo breakaway effort.

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Chelsea crisis after defeat in Mourinho's absence

LONDON - Jose Mourinho's future at Chelsea was pushed further under the spotlight on Saturday when the manager, absent through a stadium ban, may have watched in solitary misery as the champions lost yet again at Stoke City.

On a day when Jamie Vardy kept his amazing scoring exploits going for Leicester City to help Claudio Ranieri's side join Manchester City and Arsenal on 25 points at the top of the Premier League, the latest crisis for Mourinho still eclipsed all else.

The Portuguese had said his one-match suspension might force him to watch the match on a street corner on his iPad but, if media reports that he saw it at a nearby hotel are to be believed, Marko Arnautovic's 53rd-minute volley in Stoke's 1-0 home win will have made for wretched viewing.

It meant Mourinho was left surveying the wreckage of his worst-ever season in management, an unprecedented seventh league defeat in 12 matches being sealed by Arnautovic's acrobatic close-range effort.

Mourinho, who received the FA ban for making abusive comments to referee Jon Moss during last month's defeat at West Ham United, will have gone through agonies after Pedro hit the post with a curling shot as Chelsea piled on late pressure.

The defeat dropped Chelsea to fifth from bottom, astonishingly hovering three points above the relegation zone and placing further question marks over the manager's future at the club he led to championship glory just six months ago.

Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, who was back at his former club Stoke on Saturday, said Mourinho remained the "right man" for Chelsea.

"We are behind the manager, you can see that from our performances," said Begovic.

"His spirit and his presence is always there. We wanted to get a result for him."

Leicester became unlikely bedfellows with giants Manchester City and Arsenal at the top as Vardy hammered home a 65th-minute penalty to score for the ninth consecutive league match and secure a 2-1 victory over Watford.

Ranieri's Leicester are third on goal difference behind City and Arsenal who both play on Sunday.

VAN NISTELROOY RECORD

Vardy needs to find the target in his next game at Newcastle United to equal the record of Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy who netted in 10 successive matches in 2003.

Riyad Mahrez, the usual Leicester penalty taker, handed the ball over when Vardy was brought down by keeper Heurelho Gomes and the home crowd bayed for the striker to be given the chance.

"Of course Jamie wanted to score, that's normal," Ranieri said. "Van Nistelrooy was a fantastic striker and, like him, Jamie has everything to achieve at the highest level."

The Italian manager's surprise packages, who spent last season struggling for survival, had gone ahead when midfielder N'Golo Kante was amazed to see his weak 52nd-minute effort roll under accident-prone Gomes' hands.

Troy Deeney's 75th-minute penalty for Watford proved in vain.

Manchester United kept up the pressure on the pacesetters when a terrific goal from youngster Jesse Lingard helped them to a 2-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion, putting the Old Trafford club within a point of the leaders.

Juan Mata sealed the deal with a stoppage-time penalty after Gareth McAuley was sent off for hauling down Anthony Martial.

West Ham United missed the chance to close on the leaders after Romelu Lukaku scored against the Hammers at Upton Park to earn Everton a 1-1 draw after on-loan Argentine Manuel Lanzini had put the home side ahead.

Lukaku has now netted in all seven games he has played against the London outfit.

Sunderland's struggles at the foot of the table continued as Southampton earned a deserved 1-0 triumph at the Stadium of Light, Dusan Tadic hammering home a 69th-minute penalty.

Newcastle earned an important and highly improbable 1-0 victory at Bournemouth, scoring completely against the run of play thanks to a 27th-minute Ayoze Perez goal.

Norwich City pulled clear of the danger zone with a 70th-minute Jonny Howson header clinching a 1-0 win at home to Swansea City. (Editing by Tony Jimenez)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

FOOTBALL: Chelsea players back Mourinho, Real and City advance

All behind Mourinho: Chelsea captain Terry

Ian WINROW, Agence France-Presse

John Terry insists the players must shoulder the blame for Chelsea’s disastrous start to the campaign and is adamant the dressing room is fully behind under-fire manager Jose Mourinho.

The Chelsea captain believes the responsibility for ending the club’s dismal start to the season lies with the players.

And he dismissed claims some players were no longer willing to fight for Mourinho as ridiculous, including weekend reports one unnamed player had said he would rather lose a game than win for the manager.

Terry, who will lead the side into the Champions League group game with Dinamo Kiev, said: “We've not played well enough, and we take that on the shoulders. We know where we are in the league and the Champions League group, and we know what we need to do to get out of it. That relies on us, as players, not the manager.

“It's going to take a dressing room that stays together, sticks together. What we've seen in the last two or three days, ridiculous stories about what's happening within the club and the dressing room.

“I can assure you the players are 100 percent behind the manager. We are together. Anyone who has been at the last three or four games can see the way we're playing is turning. Together is the most important thing: that we stay together in that dressing room."

 Man City ease past Sevilla, into last 16

Kieran CANNING, Agence France-Presse

Manchester City secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with two games to spare with a hugely impressive 3-1 win at Sevilla on Tuesday.

Early goals from Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho put the visitors in command.

Benoit Tremoulinas pulled a goal back for Sevilla, but Wilfried Bony restored City's two-goal cushion before half-time.

Borussia Moenchengladbach's 1-1 draw with Juventus in the other game in the group means City cannot now be caught by the Germans, or Sevilla due to their superior head-to-head record.

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 Unlikely hero Nacho takes Madrid into last 16

Agence France-Presse

First-half substitute Nacho was the unlikely hero with the only goal of the game as Real Madrid beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 on Tuesday to seal their place in the Champions League last 16.

The defender had only been on the field for two minutes as an emergency left-back in place of the injured Marcelo when he took advantage of a defensive mix-up in the 35th minute to slot past stranded PSG goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and score the only goal of the game at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The result allowed Rafael Benitez's side to become one of the first teams to guarantee their place in the knockout rounds as they maintained their unbeaten record this season and inflicted a first defeat on PSG since Barcelona eliminated the French champions from this competition in April.

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 Rooney ends Man Utd goal drought to down CSKA

Tom WILLIAMS, Agence France-Presse

Wayne Rooney ended Manchester United's goal drought with a 79th-minute winner as his side overcame CSKA Moscow 1-0 on Tuesday to close on the Champions League knockout phase.

United were on course to record a fourth consecutive goalless draw for the first time in their history as their scoreless run ticked into its 404th minute when under-fire skipper Rooney met Jesse Lingard's cushioned pass with a thumping header in front of the Stretford End.

Moments earlier, Chris Smalling had produced a goal-line clearance to thwart Seydou Doumbia and the two decisive moments contributed to a much-needed win that sent Louis van Gaal's side to the top of Group B with two games to play.

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Ex-Brazil soccer chief pleads not guilty in U.S. after extradition

Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi and Nate Raymond, Reuters

Former Brazilian soccer chief Jose Maria Marin pleaded not guilty to bribery charges in a U.S. court after being extradited on Tuesday from Switzerland in the corruption case that shook world soccer's governing body FIFA.

Marin, 83, who headed Brazil's preparations to host the 2014 World Cup while president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, had bail set at $15 million and a judge ordered him placed under house arrest.

He entered his plea through an interpreter before U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie in Brooklyn, New York hours after arriving on a flight from Zurich, where police arrested him in May. Marin had agreed last week to the extradition.

Marin was among seven officials from global soccer body FIFA who were arrested after being indicted on U.S. charges, an affair that has scandalized the administration of the world's most popular sport and upset powerful commercial sponsors.


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Chelsea rocked, United's Martial makes instant impact

LONDON -- Jose Mourinho refused to condemn his Chelsea flops after their title defence was plunged into turmoil by a 3-1 defeat at Everton, while Manchester United's Anthony Martial exploded onto the Old Trafford stage with a superb strike in his new club's 3-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday.

Mourinho's side made a miserable start at Goodison Park as Scotland forward Steven Naismith came off the bench to score twice in the space of five minutes mid-way through the first half.

Nemanja Matic pulled one back for Chelsea before the interval, but Naismith completed his treble in the closing stages to condemn the Blues -- with three defeats and only four points from their five matches -- to their worst start to a season since 1988.

It left Chelsea 11 points below leaders Manchester City, who snatched a late 1-0 win at Crystal Palace, but Mourinho claimed he had no complaints about his team's performance and blamed bad luck for their recent woes.

"I am a champion, the players are the champions, the way they are playing is not as bad as the results, but in every single game things are going against us," Mourinho told BT Sport.

"We have to cope with it. Football is about results. It's easy to say and I agree completely, but results are too bad.

"I don't blame my players and I don't blame myself. I don't accept the results."

At Old Trafford, Martial made one of the more memorable United debuts in recent memory as the teenage French striker came off the bench to mark his debut with the clinching goal against Liverpool.

Signed from Monaco on transfer deadline day for a reported initial fee of £36 million ($55 million) that even United manager Louis van Gaal admitted was "ridiculous", Martial had been dismissed in some quarters as a panic buy.

But the hefty price tag, that made the 19-year-old the world's most expensive teenage player, didn't seem to bother Martial, who came on as a 65th minute substitute and settled one of English football's heavyweight clashes with a devastating knockout blow.

United had taken a two-goal lead thanks to Daley Blind's sumptuous long-range finish in the 49th minute and an Ander Herrera penalty in the 70th minute following Joe Gomez's foul on the Spanish midfielder

But the hosts were clinging to a 2-1 lead after Christian Benteke's brilliant bicycle kick in the 84th minute had given Liverpool hope of snatching a draw.

That was the cue for Martial to steal the spotlight two minutes later as he took possession on the left, surged past Martin Skrtel and cut inside before calmly steering his shot into the far corner.

"Anthony Martial scored a marvellous goal and physically he can play in the Premier League," van Gaal said.

"He's been with us for three days, that is too short to judge his personality but he made a very good impression."



- Pace-setters -


Early pace-setters City sit five points off second placed United after they won 1-0 at Palace courtesy of a last-minute goal by substitute Kelechi Iheanacho.

City had earlier lost Sergio Aguero through injury, but prevailed when 18-year-old Nigerian striker Iheanacho poked in the rebound from a Samir Nasri shot to preserve the visitors' 100 percent record.

Aguero was forced off in the 24th minute after a heavy challenge by Scott Dann, which saw Kevin De Bruyne come on for his City debut following his £54 million ($83.3 million, 73.5 million euros) switch from Wolfsburg.

"I think the team is demonstrating why we have won five games," said City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who hopes Aguero will be fit to face Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday.

"Last season is in the past and now we are thinking about the future. It's important to have a gap between champions, but three or four teams can be very strong and can win the title."

The result left Alan Pardew's Palace fourth, six points below City and a point behind United and Arsenal, who won 2-0 at home to Stoke City.

After Alexis Sanchez had twice hit the post, Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead from Mesut Ozil's pass in the 31st minute and Olivier Giroud sealed victory with a header five minutes from time.

Elsewhere, Swansea City saw their unbeaten start to the season ended in a 1-0 defeat at promoted Watford.

Norwich City beat fellow promoted side Bournemouth 3-1 to claim their first home win of the campaign.

The day's other game saw Southampton draw 0-0 at West Bromwich Albion.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Chelsea held in Bridge storm, five-star City cut gap

LONDON - Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Burnley as rivals Manchester City thrashed Newcastle United 5-0 to leave Jose Mourinho smoldering with rage after the title race was injected with new life on Saturday.

Leaders Chelsea offered a chink of light to City after a stormy game at Stamford Bridge where Nemanja Matic was sent off for retaliating to an awful challenge from Burnley's Ashley Barnes and the hosts were denied two strong penalty claims.

City made the most of their lifeline, emphatically exposing Newcastle's failings with two goals from David Silva among the highlights of a crushing victory that reduced their deficit at the top of the Premier League to five points.

It was another ominous display from second-placed City who have scored nine goals in their last two games and look back to their very best.

SIMMERING MOURINHO

In typical fashion, all of Saturday's action, that included a 2-1 win for Arsenal at Crystal Palace and defeat for Manchester United at Swansea City by the same scoreline, was largely overshadowed by the simmering Mourinho.

It began so brightly for Chelsea as Branislav Ivanovic's knack of scoring crucial goals looked to have set the hosts on the way to a routine win after 14 minutes.

Then an Ivanovic shot struck Michael Kightly's arm and Diego Costa was pushed over by Jason Shackell but both penalty appeals were waved away by referee Martin Atkinson who then became public enemy number one.

Barnes flew into an ugly challenge on Matic, catching the Serbian enforcer on the shin. The Burnley player escaped without a booking while Matic, who chased the striker before throwing him to the floor, was dismissed with 20 minutes left.

Any sense of injustice may have been mitigated had the home side clung on but Ben Mee rose to power in a header at the back post and Mourinho was left to seethe.

"I am punished when I refer to these situations and I don't want to be punished," he told the BBC.

His mood would not have improved when Manchester City took the lead in Saturday's late game after two minutes, with Sergio Aguero coolly converting from the spot.

Samir Nasri fired into the roof of the net for the second and Edin Dzeko, felled for the penalty, added a third after being fed by Silva.

The Spanish playmaker then scored twice in three minutes at the start of the second half.

SWANSEA DOUBLE

Manchester United will be sick of the sight of Swansea who completed the double over Louis van Gaal's side, having also won on the opening day of the season.

There was an element of role reversal at the Liberty Stadium where United, who have frequently this season played poorly and still won, dominated but were undone when Bafetimbi Gomis deflected in Jonjo Shelvey's long-range strike for Swansea.

United, who took the lead through Ander Herrera before Ki Sung-Yueng levelled, slipped to fourth, 13 points off the top, after only their second defeat in 20 games.

They are a point adrift of Arsenal who made it five league wins out of six by beating Palace.

A Santi Cazorla penalty and an eighth league goal of the season for Olivier Giroud allowed Arsene Wenger's side to survive a late scare when Glenn Murray reduced the deficit in stoppage time.

Tim Sherwood's first match as Aston Villa manager ended in disappointment as his new charges squandered a first-half lead to lose 2-1 at home to Stoke City who scored an injury-time penalty from Victor Moses to snatch the points.

At the bottom of the table Hull City moved four points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Queens Park Rangers who had midfielder Joey Barton sent off in the first half.

Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion drew 0-0.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)

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