SPORTS UPDATE

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EPL: Mourinho told me I was rubbish – Chelsea defender, Zouma

 February 14, 2020


Chelsea defender, Kurt Zouma, has said Jose Mourinho once called him “rubbish” during their time together at the club.



Mourinho brought Zouma as a 19-year-old to Stamford Bridge from St Etienne in 2014.
Following a performance he was not impressed with, the Portuguese called Zouma into his office and gave him a dressing down.



“I cannot remember which match we were playing, we were losing 3-1, away from home.

“The following day, he [Mourinho] catches up with me, he takes me to his office, and he asks me if I am ok. I said yes, he asked me if I was sure.

“I said yes again, he replied ‘Because you were rubbish this weekend.’ Like that, direct. It shocked me, but it made me want to immediately respond on the pitch,” Zouma told RMC Sport.



From that time, Zouma has been sent on loan deals to Stoke City and Everton.

However, this season he has become a mainstay for Frank Lampard’s team.

Zouma is expected to be in Chelsea’s starting XI when they host Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League next week.

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SPORT
Coppa Italia: Cristiano Ronaldo reacts as Juventus failed to beat Zlatan Ibrahimović’s AC Milan

 February 14, 2020


Juventus superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, has admitted that his side’s Coppa Italia semi-final first leg 1-1 draw against Zlatan Ibrahimović-led AC Milan on Thursday night at San Siro was ‘tough’.



Ronaldo also urged his teammates to stay strong together when they play against AC Milan in the second leg on March 4 at Allianz.

Ante Rebic’s volley gave AC Milan the lead in 61 minutes after a string of good saves from Juventus veteran goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon.



But Stefano Pioli’s side was reduced to 10-men for the final 18 minutes during the encounter when defender Theo Hernandez was given a second yellow card for a strong challenge on Paulo Dybala.

Ronaldo, however, scored a late penalty to rescue Maurizio Sarri’s men.

In a post on his official Instagram page after the match, the 35-year-old wrote: “Tough game, but we stick together as a team, and now we have the second leg at home.



“With the support of our supporters, we will reach the #coppaitalia final.”

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SPORT
EPL: Cazorla confirms Arsenal’s interest in Samuel Chukwueze

 February 14, 2020


Former Arsenal playmaker, Santi Cazorla, has revealed he has received calls from people at the club, asking about two of his current team-mates.



Cazorla left the Gunners after six years and returned to Villarreal in 2018.
The Spaniard plays with defender, Pau Torres and winger, Samuel Chukwueze, who are both attracting interest from top clubs.



Torres got a first senior Spain call-up last year, while Chukwueze who plays for the Super Eagles, has been the subject of a bid from Liverpool.

However, Arsenal are now in the running for the player.
In an interview with Marca, when asked if he gets many calls about Chukwueze or Pau, Cazorla said: “Yes, friends from Arsenal especially.



“They ask me about them and think they can make the jump to the Premiership tomorrow.
“It’s good that great teams are interested in young players from Villarreal, but for the moment I tell them to leave them alone here.

“They still have to take steps forward. They both have a great personality, and their feet are on the ground.



“In Pau’s (Torres) case he hears constant talk of City or Barcelona, but he is aware that he has to keep growing as a player and that in the future we will see where he can go.”

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Manchester City Banned From UEFA Club Competitions For 2 Seasons & Fined €30m


Manchester City have been banned from the UEFA club competitions for the next two seasons by Uefa and fined €30m (£25m) after they were found to have seriously misled European football’s governing body and broken financial fair play rules.

UEFA handed down the punishment to the Premier League giants for breaching Financial Fair Play rules.

A statement read: "The Adjudicatory Chamber, having considered all the evidence, has found that Manchester City Football Club committed serious breaches of the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations by overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016.

"The Adjudicatory Chamber has also found that in breach of the regulations the Club failed to cooperate in the investigation of this case by the CFCB.

"The Adjudicatory Chamber has imposed disciplinary measures on Manchester City Football Club directing that it shall be excluded from participation in UEFA club competitions in the next two seasons (ie. the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons) and pay a fine of € 30 million.

"The decision of the Adjudicatory Chamber is subject to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). If Manchester City Football Club exercises that right the full reasoned decision of the Adjudicatory Chamber will not be published prior to publication of the final award by the CAS.”

"As noted by the Adjudicatory Chamber, the club has the right to appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Therefore, UEFA will not be commenting further on this decision at this stage."

Manchester City responded with a statement on their official website, expressing their disappointment with the decision.

But the English side are not surprised by the suspension and says UEFA had made the decision even before the investigation had started.

"Manchester City is disappointed but not surprised by today’s announcement by the UEFA Adjudicatory Chamber," the statement said. "The Club has always anticipated the ultimate need to seek out an independent body and process to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence in support of its position.

"In December 2018, the UEFA Chief Investigator publicly previewed the outcome and sanction he intended to be delivered to Manchester City, before any investigation had even begun. The subsequent flawed and consistently leaked UEFA process he oversaw has meant that there was little doubt in the result that he would deliver. The Club has formally complained to the UEFA Disciplinary body, a complaint which was validated by a CAS ruling.

"Simply put, this is a case initiated by UEFA, prosecuted by UEFA and judged by UEFA. With this prejudicial process now over, the Club will pursue an impartial judgment as quickly as possible and will therefore, in the first instance, commence proceedings with the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the earliest opportunity."

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8005357/amp/Manchester-City-banned-Champions-League-two-seasons.html

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Guardiola may quit Man City over Champions League
February 15, 2020
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Pep Guardiola said he could end up being sacked by Manchester City if he failed to win the Champions League just days before the club were sensationally banned from the competition.

UEFA slapped City with a ban for the next two seasons yesterday evening following breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations.

The governing body’s statement read: “The Adjudicatory Chamber has found that in breach of the regulations the Club failed to cooperate in the investigation of this case by the CFCB.

Read Also: BREAKING: Manchester City get two-year UCL ban

“The Adjudicatory Chamber has imposed disciplinary measures on Manchester City Football Club directing that it shall be excluded from participation in UEFA club competitions in the next two seasons ( the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons) and pay a fine of € 30 million (£24.9million).”

Guardiola said his future at City could depend on winning the Champions League (Image: Action Images

The news comes after Guardiola said that winning the Champions League was the dream for City, who have won back-to-back Premier League titles under the Catalan before falling away this season.

City face Real Madrid in the last-16 of this season’s competition, and Guardiola told Sky Sports that the pressure was on him to deliver.

“I accept it. I want to win the Champions League, I dream and will enjoy the games against Real Madrid, to see what I can do,” he said.

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Manchester City hit with £25m fine & banned from Champions League for two years by UEFA







English club, Manchester City has been banned by European football governing body, UEFA, for two years and hit with a £25m fine.
 
                          

ManCity, coached by Pep Guardiola and owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the Abu Dhabi ruling family, were found guilty by Uefa’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) of falsely inflating their sponsorship revenues to make it look like the club was making more money than it was spending on player purchase, when submitting financial accounts as part of the Financial Fair Play (FFP) compliance process.
 
FFP was formed by UEFA to prevent European clubs from spending more money than they make as income.
With FFP, European clubs stopped overspending on player wages, restricting the amount owners are able to use of their own cash to cover losses.
With this new ban, Man City will now be suspended from any UEFA European competition for the next two seasons.
Man City have announced that they will appeal the case with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
The verdict passed by FIFA follows an investigation that after German magazine Der Spiegel “leaked” emails and documents in November 2018 alleging Man City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan was mostly funding the £67.5m-a-year sponsorship of the club’s shirts, stadium and academy via Etihad airline.
 
A statement from the club on Friday said: “Manchester City is disappointed but not surprised by today’s announcement by the UEFA Adjudicatory Chamber. The Club has always anticipated the ultimate need to seek out an independent body and process to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence in support of its position.
“In December 2018, the UEFA Chief Investigator publicly previewed the outcome and sanction he intended to be delivered to Manchester City, before any investigation had even begun. The subsequent flawed and consistently leaked UEFA process he oversaw has meant that there was little doubt in the result that he would deliver.  The Club has formally complained to the UEFA Disciplinary body, a complaint which was validated by a CAS ruling.

“Simply put, this is a case initiated by UEFA, prosecuted by UEFA and judged by UEFA. With this prejudicial process now over, the Club will pursue an impartial judgment as quickly as possible and will therefore, in the first instance, commence proceedings with the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the earliest opportunity.”
 

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Champions League: Neymar claims Dortmund have only ‘one special’ player in their squad


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 February 16, 2020


Paris Saint-Germain forward, Neymar, has claimed Borussia Dortmund have only “one special player” in their squad and that is winger, Jason Sancho.



The Brazil international also described Sancho as a very good player that he truly like to watch.
Neymar said this ahead of PSG’s UEFA Champions League round of 16 first-leg tie against Dortmund on Tuesday night.



“Dortmund is a club with lots of quality players,” Neymar told Sky Sports.

“But they have only one special player, who joined the club recently and is name is Sancho.

“The Bundesliga giants also have other good players but Sancho is the one player I like to watch player because he is an excellent player with a lot of quality.



Neymar added: “Our match against them on Tuesday in the Champions League would be tough at their home but we will do our best to come out with a good result at the end of the game to take back to Paris.”

Sancho has been impressive for Dortmund since joining the club from Manchester City in 2017.

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EPL: Guardiola takes decision on leaving Man City after Champions League ban

 February 16, 2020


Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has decided to stay at the club next season, despite their two-year ban from the Champions League.



The UK Mirror reports Guardiola will not leave the Etihad, even if the Premier League champions fail in their appeal against the ban.

UEFA, earlier this week, handed the European suspension on City, for breaking Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. That has led to speculation that Guardiola will walk away after this season.



However, the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss wants to show loyalty to the club, where he has spent four years.

That could mean Guardiola will not manage a team in Europe’s elite club competition for the first time in his career.

City are however heading to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), in a bid to get the decision overturned.

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SPORT
LaLiga: Hazard included as Zidane names Real Madrid squad to face Celta Vigo


 February 16, 2020


Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane, has included forward, Eden Hazard in his 19-man squad to face Celta Vigo in tonight’s La Liga fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu.



Zidane had confirmed in his pre-match press conference on Saturday that Hazard, who has been out of action for three months, is ready and fit to play for the Los Blancos.

Zidane’s men defeated Osasuna 4-1 in their last La Liga encounter.



Real Madrid squad against Celta:

Courtois, Areola, Toni Fuidias, Carvajal, Militão, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Mendy., Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Valverde, Isco, Hazard, Benzema, Bale, Jović, Vinicius Jr.
The match is schedule for 9 pm.

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SPORT
UEFA ban: I feel for Man City, Guardiola – Liverpool Manager, Klopp

 February 16, 2020


Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool manager, has reacted to the ban placed on Manchester City Football club by UEFA.



Klopp, who expressed his sympathy said he feels for the club and its manager, Pep Guardiola.

UEFA had placed a two-year ban on the English side over alleged breach of Financial Fair Play rules.



The European football’s governing body had disclosed that the English side had committed “serious breaches” of its FFP regulations.

However, speaking with BBC Sports, the German said he was shocked by the ban.
He said: “It was a shock. Complete wow!



“The only thing I can say is about football. What they have done on the football pitch is exceptional. The rest, I don’t know.

“I really feel for them, Pep and the players, but that is how it is. They can appeal. So, we will see what happens then. It is obviously serious.

“But the football they played was exceptional and will always be exceptional.”

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BREAKING:  Chelsea fall to Man. United at Stamford Bridge
February 17, 2020

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Our Reporter[/size]

 

Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire scored to give Manchester United a 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the English Premier League.

Martial headed in a beautiful cross at the stroke of halftime to give the Red Devils the lead and Harry Maguire made it 2-0 with another header converted

The Video Assistant Referee ruled out goals that would have changed the scoreline.

Odion Ighalo also made his debut, coming in for Anthony Martial in the 90th minute.

This victory further boosts Manchester United’s chances of playing in the UEFA Champions League next season.

 

Details Shortly

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Odion Ighalo makes history as first Nigerian player to play for Man United since it's inception 142 years ago







Nigeria's Odion Ighalo made history on Monday night as he came on for new club Manchester United in the 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, replacing Anthony Martial in the 90th minute.
                     

Ighalo wearing the number 25 jersey, broke two records on Monday night - He is now the fist Nigerian player to play for United since the creation of the club 142 years ago and the 200th player to make appearance for Manchester United in the Premier League.

 
 

                     
The Nigeria ex-international and a former Premier League star with Watford, came back to the premier league having joined the Red Devils from Shanghai Shenhua on a six-month deal in January.
 
Congrats to him.
 

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SPORT
Chelsea vs Man United: Lampard blasts referee over Maguire, speaks on Zuma, Giroud goals

 February 18, 2020


Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard has blamed the match officials for refusing to make use of the pitch side monitor during their 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Monday.

Lampard said Man United’s top defender Harry Maguire should have been sent off before he scored his side’s second goal.
Maguire escaped a red card for kicking Michy Batshuayi.

The Video Assistant Referee system was in the spotlight once again after Maguire kicked Batshuayi in the groin area in the first half of the game.
“Maguire should have been sent off,” Lampard told British media.
“That’s clear, and that obviously changes the game.”

Maguire went on to score a thumping header in the 66th minute to seal the win for the Red Devils.
Lampard added, “Decisions like that are crucial.
“That’s a major part of what VAR was brought in for: a second viewing, different angles. I don’t get why they aren’t looking at the monitor. It should be used.”

The Englishman further lamented VAR decision which ruled out two Chelsea goals from Kurt Zouma and Olivier Giroud.
“The Zouma goal should have stood,” Lampard added.
“Giroud’s goal being ruled out is a bit soul destroying but it’s the culmination of a few incidents.”

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EPL: Solskjaer heaps praises on Man United new signing after 2-0 win over Chelsea

 February 18, 2020


Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has praised his new signing Bruno Fernandes’ performance against Chelsea on Monday night.

Solskjaer described the midfielder’s set-pieces as “top class,” adding that the Portuguese ability from dead-ball situations is among the best he has seen.
Harry Maguire headed in Fernandes’ corner in the second half to give Man United their 2-0 victory, after Anthony Martial gave the Red Devils the lead in the first half.
Solskjaer was delighted with the midfielder, who arrived at United in January.

Fernandes has now made two appearances for United following a start in the Red Devil’s goalless draw with Wolves before the Premier League break.
“He’s a top player, he wants to get on the ball,” the United manager told a news conference.
“But at set-ball delivery he’s top class, one of the better ones I’ve seen. And Harry, we know if he can get a run on the ball he’s dangerous and he got the goal.”

The win against Frank Lampard’s side moved Manchester United into seventh and within three points of fourth-placed Chelsea.

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EPL: John Terry blasts Rudiger after Chelsea loses 2-0 to Man Utd

 February 18, 2020


Former Chelsea captain, John Terry, has criticized Antonio Rudiger’s positioning for Manchester United’s first goal, as they lost 2-0 on Monday night.

Terry, speaking on DAZN, also lashed out at Andreas Christensen for not staying on the pitch.
The Blues conceded just before the break, after Anthony Martial headed in Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross.

Christensen was blamed for his role in the goal, having come back onto the pitch just seconds earlier, after receiving treatment for a bloody nose and not catching up to the pace of the game quickly

But while Christensen was out-jumped, Terry drew attention to Rudiger and felt he could have easily prevented the goal had he been positioned more intelligently to block Martial’s run.

“Got to think disappointed. Two in the box against six is disappointing to start with.

“But I think if you look at Rudiger in the build-up to that, the ball goes wide and he kind of gets sucked out into an area where he’s not really going to affect it. He can pass him on.

“If you could have Rudiger just outside the six-yard box, just to stop that run across, Martial then can’t make that run across and that just allows that second centre-half to go touch-tight and be more aggressive with him.”

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EPL: Kovacic reveals how Chelsea should approach Tottenham after defeat to Man Utd

 February 18, 2020


Chelsea midfielder, Mateo Kovacic, has urged Frank Lampard’s men to approach their next Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday at home like the beginning of the season.

The Croatian international said this while reacting to Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League on Monday night at Stamford Bridge.

“We need to wake up because they [Tottenham and Man United] are coming from behind,” Kovacic was quoted by Chelsea’s official website as saying.

“We need to play our next game against Tottenham and rest like we were playing in the beginning of the season and also make some changes.”

He added: “Chelsea must improve and focus because we have tough matches ahead of us.

“We have to train hard every day and avoid making too many mistakes against top teams because we will be punished.”

“The good thing is that we are still in the fourth position so we are in pole position to qualify for next season’s Champions League.”

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EPL: Harry Maguire names ‘leader’ in Man United squad after 2-0 win over Chelsea

 February 18, 2020


Manchester United captain, Harry Maguire, has said midfielder, Bruno Fernandes is a ‘leader’ following the Portugal international’s display in the Red Devils’ Premier League 2-0 win over Chelsea on Monday night.

Man United defeated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, thanks to goals from Maguire and Anthony Martial.

Speaking after the match, Maguire was quoted by Man United’s official website as saying: “Truly speaking, Bruno Fernandes helped with excellent delivery, and hopefully there will be more to come from him.

“You can see the quality he brings to the team, he is fantastic on the ball, his technical ability, and he’s a presence as well.

“Bruno is a leader, he demands things off players, and he is a nice person to have around in the dressing room.”
Man United’s next fixture is against Club Brugge in the Europa League on Thursday.

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SPORT
Champions League: Mourinho’s Tottenham suffer major injury blow ahead of RB Leipzig clash

 February 18, 2020


Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that forward, Heung-Min Son, is set to undergo surgery this week after sustaining a fracture to his right arm during their Premier League 3-2 against Aston Villa last weekend.

Spurs disclosed this in a statement on their official website on Tuesday ahead of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 first-leg tie against RB Leipzig on Wednesday.

“Heung-Min Son will undergo surgery this week after he suffered a fracture to his right arm,” the club’s statement read.


“The South Korean forward picked up the injury during Tottenham’s 3-2 win over Aston Villa in Sunday’s Premier League encounter.


“After the surgery, our medical staff shall be reviewing management options for Son’s rehabilitation with the player expected to be out of action for a number of weeks.”


Son has been impressive for Mourinho’s side so far this season.


The 27-year-old also scored twice for Tottenham against Aston Villa on Sunday.

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Chelsea have alleged that a "large group" of Manchester United supporters made homophobic chants at Monday's Premier League match.

The Blues said people making "unacceptable" chants were either prevented from entering Stamford Bridge or ejected during the game.

"This behaviour will not be tolerated," said Chelsea on Tuesday.

"Those supporters will be banned from attending matches at Stamford Bridge in future."

Chelsea added that they have "passed on the details of those supporters" to Manchester United so they can "take appropriate action".

"Chelsea is a diverse and inclusive club and will always take firm action against all forms of discriminatory behaviour," they added.

United won the match 2-0 through goals from Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51555031

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I'm not trying to embarass the club' - Paul Pogba's agent Mino Raiola refuses to back down in war of words with Man .U. manager Ole Solskjaer







Super agent Mino Raiola has refused to back down in his attacks towards Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer claiming he only talked about the Man United manager because the manager always talked about him when the topic of his client Paul Pogba was brought up,
 
On Monday night, Raiola, one of the richest sports agents in the world posted a set of expletive tweets aimed at Solksjaer stating that Pogba didn't belong to anyone or wasn't 'a prisoner', after Solskjaer said to reporters that Paul Pogba belonged to Manchester United and not his agent Raiola. (If you missed the story, read HERE )
 
                   
 
Solksjaer, after Monday night's win against Chelsea responded to Raiola's twitter rant saying he wouldn't respond to the divisive agent on social media.
 
Raiola defended his earlier statement, claiming Solskjaer had misconstrued his previous words about Pogba and the possibility of returning to Italy.

Mino Raiola refused to back down in his war of words with Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saying he had no intention to drive a wedge between Pogba and Manchester United.

Pogba, recovering from ankle surgery, has not played for United since Boxing Day with his comments last summer suggesting he was tired of playing for Manchester united, but Raiola insists he did no wrong talking about his client and that Pogba was only focused on Man United for the season.

I thought what Solskjaer said was out of line because he took parts of sentences of an interview of mine and acted a bit, let’s say, offended that I was offering Paul to other clubs,” Raiola told talkSPORT on Tuesday.
“I was asked if Paul would fancy Italy, I said it was his second home, as it is for (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic, but that is not the case – now he is focused on Manchester United.

“I have been asked something, I haven’t said something. Would he like Italy? I was just answering as Mino Raiola I am not allowed to do that?

“I’m not allowed to talk about players I represent because they are owned by Manchester United or Barcelona or Juventus?

“I don’t think it was inflammatory. He (Pogba) is committed only to Manchester United and the European Championship this year, after that we will talk to the club if necessary.

“I said that in Italy and am saying it now – all the other things is just a bunch of bull****.”

“I have never spoken about Ole in the papers or the press,” he said.

“He always talks about me if I talk about (Erling) Haaland, or Paul Pogba’s injury or surgery, he is always talking about me.
“I have the right to an opinion and the right to represent players the way I want. I was not talking about Ole and Manchester United.

“I have not created any culture of division in the last years, I don’t need to defend myself here it is just to my player. They should read the whole interview where I say he is committed to Manchester Untied to and the European Championships. Ole should have read the whole interview."

“There is absolutely no way of me or Pogba not respecting Manchester United. There is no division between me and Manchester United, Ole already snapped out at me on two other occasions.

“It can be my opinion that his comments about an article that actually said that Paul is committed to Manchester United was taken out of context.

“The only focus there is to get back into the team as soon as possible and focus on making a good end of the season at Manchester United.

“I’m not publicly trying to embarrass the club. I don’t see where I have embarrassed the club. I have not offended Manchester United, their owners or fans in any way.”