This and more from the happenings in the world of football
John Terry headed a second-half equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw for Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday as the managerial battle between Jose Mourinho and his former apprentice Andre Villas-Boas ended in stalemate.
Chelsea forward Pedro fears Pep Guardiola, his former coach at Barcelona, could be in for a rude awakening at Manchester City next season.
Bitter rivals Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho had wildly contrasting afternoons on Saturday as Arsenal went top of the Premier League and champions Chelsea lost again with their manager being sent off.
Manchester United suffered their third defeat in eight days as Watford handed Jose Mourinho his worst run as a manager in a decade. Goals from Etienne Capoue, Juan Zuniga and a late penalty from Troy Deeney overwhelmed the visitors, who had levelled with a solitary strike from Marcus Rashford.
Manchester United would be better off having midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger in the side, Manchester City's Ilkay Guendogan has said of his fellow German, who remains unlikely to figure in manager Jose Mourinho's plans. After making 18 Premier League appearances last season, 32-year-old Schweinsteiger has failed to turn out for United since the Portuguese coach replaced Louis van Gaal in the close season.
'Obviously, coming back where I started was for me, why I was really happy. Now I'm ready to come as a confirmed player not a youth player'
Central defender Eric Bailly joined Manchester United from Spanish side Villarreal on a four-year contract with the option to extend for a further two years, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.
Manchester United's interim manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been hailed by the Norwegian press and his former United captain and teammate Gary Neville expects him to get the job on a permanent basis this month: "I'll be surprised if Solskjaer is not awarded the job during the international break (in March)."
IMAGES from the English Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday
Jose Mourinho wants to be judged as a new Chelsea manager rather than for his achievements in his previous stint at Stamford Bridge, and says his first aim is to unite the club's fans after last season's turmoil.
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.
Marcus Rashford scored on his 100th Premier League appearance on Sunday to secure a 1-0 win over Leicester City that kept interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dream start going at his old club.
The United fans, who celebrated the victory at the end of the game with the manager and players, have not been the source of criticism of Solskjaer -- indeed the Norwegian has enjoyed strong backing from supporters who attend games at Old Trafford and those who travel away.
Tottenham Hotspur climbed to third with a 3-1 win over Southampton while Chelsea hung on to fourth spot, above Arsenal on goal difference, despite a 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Manchester United must avoid a repeat of last month's performance in order to revive their Premier League campaign after the international break, midfielder Ander Herrera has said. United kicked off their league campaign with three straight wins under manager Jose Mourinho, but slumped to back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Watford, having lost to Dutch side Feyenoord in their opening Europa League game.
Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger says he will not play for another club in Europe despite being unable to seal a place in the squad under new manager Jose Mourinho. Schweinsteiger, who is yet to make a first team appearance for United this season, has been made to train with the club's reserves and would be sold after Mourinho signed French midfielder Paul Pogba from Juventus, according to media reports.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Jose Mourinho's side have been the most impressive of any of the title contenders.
Bastian Schweinsteiger wants to continue playing for Manchester United this season, even though manager Jose Mourinho said last week that the former Germany captain is unlikely to figure in his plans. "My dream is to play for Manchester United," the 32-year-old told reporters at a Germany news conference on Tuesday, reflecting on his bad luck with injuries last season.
Jose Mourinho returned to Chelsea on Monday, with the smiling 'Special One' saying he was now the 'Happy One' on his second coming as manager of the Premier League club he has always loved.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola congratulated local rivals Manchester United on securing the services of striker Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal even though the Chilean international has not formally completed his transfer.
Manchester United secured the point they needed to finish second in the Premier League with a dull 0-0 draw at West Ham United on Thursday.
Manchester City reached their fourth straight League Cup final as second-half goals from John Stones and Fernandinho gave Pep Guardiola's side a 2-0 win over Manchester United in Wednesday's semi-final at Old Trafford.
Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic proved his hunger for silverware has not diminished with age as the Swede's double earned a 3-2 win over Southampton in an absorbing League Cup final at Wembley.
Images from UEFA Europa League semi-finals played on Thursday.
Manchester United reached the League Cup final but were made to sweat as Hull City won the second leg of their last-four encounter 2-1 on Thursday to come within one goal of forcing extra time.
'The Europa League is a massive thing for us now -- it's a trophy and it gives us qualification for the Champions League. With the players we have got, we can be unstoppable'
Manchester United, comprehensively outplayed by local rivals Liverpool and Manchester City at Old Trafford recently, face an even tougher challenge when holders Bayern Munich come calling in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Images from Sunday's action in the Premier League.
'In the present-day game, it is difficult to see any club having players who can stay with them for 10 years'
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Tuesday
Brighton and Hove Albion made sure of Premier League football next season with two games to spare after a Pascal Gross goal gave them a memorable 1-0 home win over Manchester United on Friday.
An ecstatic home crowd at a noisy and rainy John Smith's Stadium celebrated what was the Yorkshire club's first win over United since 1952 and one which few would doubt they deserved after a passionate display.
Jose Mourinho said Father Christmas must be a Chelsea fan after his side grabbed a last-gasp 3-2 win at Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
Manchester United's Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored a goal in each half as their team comfortably outclassed Ajax Amsterdam to win an emotional Europa League final 2-0 and qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.
Manchester City stumbled to the most unexpected defeat of the Premier League season on Saturday before neighbours Manchester United began their brave new world under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a glorious reminder of long-forgotten attacking swagger.
If Manchester United's performance in a 4-1 rout of English champions Leicester City on Saturday is anything to go by, Wayne Rooney may struggle to get back into the starting eleven. Dropped by manager Jose Mourinho to the substitutes' bench after a series of poor performances, Rooney made a cameo appearance after he replaced Marcus Rashford in the 83rd minute. Although the club captain struck a positive note as he waved and applauded the fans as he headed down the tunnel, his role as the team's driving force is under serious threat after United thrived with Juan Mata filling his position superbly.
Manchester United will be without world record signing Paul Pogba for their Premier League opener against Bournemouth on Sunday due to a suspension, the Football Association said on Friday.
Images from the English Premier League matches played at Old Trafford on Saturday
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