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Established 1961 27 Sports Wednesday, December 19, 2018 ‘Special One’ loses lustre as Jose Mourinho sacked from dream job

Defeat to bitter rivals Liverpool proved the final straw

LONDON: Jose Mourinho reportedly cried when he tain-raiser to the season, as a hat-trick of . heard he had not been chosen as the heir to Alex United’s highest league finish since Ferguson’s Ferguson’s throne at Manchester United. Once he final- retirement followed last season but it was still only sec- ly landed his dream job he only lasted two-and-a-half ond best to local rivals Manchester City and by a years before leaving Old Trafford with his reputation record 19-point margin. seriously tarnished. The axe finally fell on the Portuguese yesterday, an POGBA POWER STRUGGLE increasingly inevitable divorce as Mourinho fell out The seeds of disharmony were also sown last season. with senior squad members, blamed his superiors for a Mourinho routinely dropped the club’s most expensive lack of backing in the transfer market and oversaw a ever signing, £89 million ($113 million) Paul drastic deterioration in performances and results on Pogba, to start a power struggle he has ultimately lost. the pitch. Pogba sat on the bench for the full 90 minutes at Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to bitter rivals Liverpool, which Anfield on Sunday and has not started any of United’s left United 19 points behind the leaders past three league games. The French World Cup winner after just 17 games, proved the final straw. After David was not alone. Mourinho was stinging in his public crit- Moyes and , a third manager sacked in icism of Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial among others. four years suggests there is far more to be fixed behind The man who introduced himself to English football the scenes at the world’s richest club than a new name as the “Special One” and proved it by delivering on the manager’s door. Chelsea’s first league title for 50 years was now the Former club captain raged at a club surly one. In a recurring theme from his third season at “rotten to the core” when rumours over Mourinho’s Real and the third season of his second spell at future first circulated and after the Liverpool defeat Chelsea, Mourinho’s message quickly fell on deaf ears. described United’s board as “so naive it’s unbelievable”. Without his confidant and assistant for 17 years, Rui But Mourinho did little to help himself, particularly Faria, who left United in May, Mourinho became even MANCHESTER: In this file photo taken on October 22, 2018 Manchester United’s Portuguese manager Jose in a short-lived third season, which has become an more volatile. The United board also seemed to lose Mourinho watches his players, including Manchester United’s French midfielder (3L), as he attends a unwanted hallmark of his managerial career. His faith just months after handing Mourinho a new con- training session at the Carrington Training complex in Manchester, north west England. —AFP departure from Old Trafford came a day after the tract until 2020 in January. third anniversary of his sacking from a second spell at A number of signing targets earmarked by the man- Chelsea just six months after winning the title with ager to improve United’s central defence in the summer Manchester City and Liverpool and have already con- “The most important job of football is entertaining the Blues. were apparently deemed no better than options already ceded more league goals in the current campaign than the people because it is only football and nothing else,” For the first time since leaving provincial Portuguese in the squad by the club’s hierarchy, led by executive in the whole of last season. said Klopp earlier this season on his personal duel with side Uniao de Leiria for local giants Porto in 2002, vice-chairman Ed Woodward. His cautious nature also clashed with the 20-time Guardiola. Mourinho leaves a club having failed to win a league Mourinho’s success has always been built on solid English champions’ tradition of attacking football. Even Mourinho has always been more pragmatic. But as title. He did deliver silverware, winning the League Cup foundations. Having not conceded more than twice in more galling for United fans was to see fierce rivals his previous spells in Madrid and at Stamford Bridge and Europa League in his debut season, and even one match for 22 months, United shipped three goals City and Liverpool under and Jurgen show, when a results-driven manager starts losing, claiming the Community Shield, a glorified friendly cur- each time in defeats to Brighton, Tottenham, West Ham, Klopp marrying success with entertaining football. there is nothing left to save his job. — AFP

Pochettino focused on Man United face major Spurs amid overhaul after wreckage United talk of Mourinho era LONDON: As Manchester United and also advanced to the Champions LONDON: insists he is survey the wreckage of Jose League last 16 after an impressive focused on doing his best for Tottenham amid Mourinho’s reign, the troubled club’s draw at Barcelona last week. reports he is the leading candidate to replace hierarchy would be wise to swallow Pochettino is yet to win a Jose Mourinho at Manchester United. their pride and copy the successful with Tottenham but he could be the Tottenham manager Pochettino was installed blueprint established by bitter rivals man to galvanise United, with as the bookmakers’ favourite to take charge Manchester City. Ferguson’s former assistant coach at Old Trafford after Mourinho was sacked by Mourinho was sacked by United Rene Meulensteen saying his old club United yesterday. yesterday as the Portuguese coach have lost their identity. United are expected to appoint a caretak- paid the price for the team’s worst “You hear people talking about er manager this week to lead the troubled start to a season since 1990. Now how United have lost their identity team for the rest of the season. That would the focus at Old Trafford turns to and that’s what you see among the give them time to tempt Pochettino to leave BARCELONA: File photo shows Tottenham Hotspur’s Argentinian coach Mauricio Pochettino (L) the search for Mourinho’s succes- players. There is no really clear direc- Tottenham, where he has established a repu- celebrates his team’s qualification for the next round during the UEFA Champions League sor and the club’s plan to escape tion,” Meulensteen told the BBC. tation as one of the brightest young managers group B football match between FC Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur at the stadi- the rut they have been stuck in Zidane, 46, has impeccable cre- in Europe during his four-year reign. um in Barcelona. -—FP since retired after dentials, which would ensure he Pochettino refused to completely rule out winning their most recent Premier would be respected by a United any interest in the United job, which might League title in 2013. squad that grew sick of Mourinho’s appeal to him given the club’s vast resources of today’s League Cup quarter-final at ality and dour tactics. United, languishing 11 points adrift relentless hard-nosed approach. One in contrast to Tottenham, who failed to sign a Arsenal. “I cannot answer this type of ques- Pochettino wouldn’t comment on the rea- of the top four, hope to announce a of the finest players of his generation single player in the summer transfer window. tion because rumours happen. I want to sons for Mourinho’s downfall, but admitted he , with strong links with Juventus, Real Madrid and But the 46-year-old, whose has led deliver my best at this football club.” felt sorry to see his friend sacked after just to the club, to see out the rest of the France, Zidane pulled off the tricky Tottenham to third in the Premier League and Although Pochettino is yet to win a trophy two-and-a-half years in charge of United. season within 48 hours. Regardless of task of making the transition to the a place in the Champions League last 16 this with Tottenham, he has caught the eye by “First of all I want to send my best wishes to that temporary solution, it is the long- dug-out. season, insists he is only concerned with his establishing a stylish side made up of flour- him. I feel so sorry,” Pochettino said. “I have a term direction of an increasingly rud- In just three years as Madrid boss current team at present. ishing youngsters and astute signings. His very good relationship with Jose, he is a good derless club that most concerns he won three Champions League “After nearly five years there is a lot of commitment to an attacking game-plan and friend, it is sad news. “It is not my business United fans. titles and one crown before rumours about my position as manager at his friendly relationship with his players is a what has happened in another club. I send my Tottenham manager Mauricio surprisingly leaving at the end of last Tottenham,” Pochettino told reporters ahead stark contrast to Mourinho’s acerbic person- best wishes to Jose.” — AFP Pochettino is the bookmakers’ season. United legend , favourite to replace Mourinho, with now the Wales boss, and former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe missed out on European competition. Zidane also a strong contender. have also been mentioned. UEFA urged to give bigger Breaking down the figures further, it proposed that 3.5 percent of Pochettino has caught the eye with Former United defender Laurent total revenue (116 million euros) be distributed among clubs elimi- his fine work at Espanyol, Blanc and , who share of cake to unlucky 600 nated in qualifying rounds and 10 percent (330 million euro) to clubs Southampton and now Tottenham, served as one of Ferguson’s assis- who did not qualify in the first place. The European leagues also where the 46-year-old has blended a tants, are said to be in the frame for want 6.5 percent of total revenue to go into a new pillar which would clutch of talented youngsters and the caretaker position. Whoever ZURICH: For the 80 teams who qualify for the group stages of be used to fund professional football development outside the top cut-price signings into one of the comes in must heal the rifts created European club football, the season starts with a glitzy party at the draw five countries. —Reuters most attractive sides in Europe. by Mourinho, who was the author of ceremony in Monaco and ends with millions of extra euros in the bank. Despite not signing a single player his own downfall following damaging But while those clubs cash in on the riches produced by the in the close-season, Pochettino’s side feuds with Paul Pogba, Alexis Champions League and, to a lesser extent, the Europa League, more still sit third in the Premier League Sanchez and . —AFP than 600 top-tier clubs who fail to qualify have to feed off leftovers. Matches on TV Amid widespread concern that the financial gap between Europe’s elite clubs and the rest is still growing, UEFA is being asked by the conti- (Local Timings) nent’s domestic leagues to the alter the way it distributes the huge rev- FACTFILE ON JOSE son (until 1997) then deputy to enue from its competitions. FIFA CLUB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 MOURINHO Louis van Gaal (until 2000) European Leagues, their umbrella organisation, says in a report COACHING HONOURS: seen by Reuters that it wants the unlucky 600 to get a larger slice of v Real Madrid CF 19:30 Name: Mourinho With FC Porto: Portuguese the cake. Fearing the system is becoming financially unsustainable, it beIN SPORTS HD 1 First name: Jose champions 2003, 2004; Portuguese has also asked UEFA end payments which are based on a club’s previ- Birth date: 26/01/1963 Cup 2003, UEFA Cup (2003), ous record in European competition-something it says creates a snow- ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP Birth place: Setubal, Portugal Champions League 2004 ball effect. Nationality: Portuguese With Chelsea (first spell as man- UEFA’s club competitions are expected to rake in 3.25 billion euros Arsenal FC v Tottenham Hotspur 22:45 Coaching career ager): English champions 2005, ($3.7 billion) this season but the manner in which that money is distrib- beIN SPORTS HD 2 Sporting Portugal (POR) 1992- 2006, FA Cup 2007, League Cup uted has become increasingly contentious. According to UEFA and Chelsea FC v Bournemouth FC 22:45 1994*, FC Porto (POR) 1994-1996*, 2005, 2007. European Leagues figures, the 32 Champions League teams will share beIN SPORTS HD 1 FC Barcelona (ESP) 1996-2000**, With Inter : Italian champi- 2.04 billion euros of that amount with Europa League participants Benfica (POR) 2000-2001, Uniao ons 2009, 2010, Italian Cup 2010, receiving 510 million. GERMAN Leiria (POR) 2001-2002, FC Porto Champions League 2010 Only 7.3 percent of the total (237.5 million euros) will be distributed (POR) Jan 2002-2004), Chelsea in so-called “solidarity payments” and split between the remaining 600 Schalke 04 v 20:30 (ENG) 2004-Sept 2007, With Real Madrid: clubs. The report, which has been sent to UEFA and the continent’s 55 beIN SPORTS HD 5 (ITA) 2008-2010), Real Madrid Spanish champions 2012. Copa national associations, said this was down from 8.5 percent in the previ- SV Werder Bremen v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 22:30 (ESP) 2010-2013, Chelsea (2013-Dec del Rey Cup 2011 ous competition cycle from 2015-18. “The financial gap between par- beIN SPORTS HD 12 EN 2015), Manchester United (ENG) With Chelsea (2nd spell): English ticipating clubs and non-participating clubs is increasing, creating a SC Freiburg v 22:30 2016-Dec 2018 negative effect on competitive balance,” it warned, pointing out that beIN SPORTS HD 8 champions 2015, League Cup 2015 With Manchester United: the percentage was more relevant than absolute amounts. Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig 22:30 DEPUTY TO Europa League 2017, League The report proposed that the solidarity payments be increased to beIN SPORTS HD 5 Deputy to Robson for first sea- 20 percent in the next competition cycle which will cover the period FSV Mainz 05 v 22:30 Cup 2017. —AFP 2021-24. Based on an estimated revenue of 3.30 billion euros per beIN SPORTS HD 3 season, it said this would provide 660 million euros for those who