And that’s that folks.
The end of the day at Carrington.
Keep it on Mirror Football on Sunday for top coverage of the EFL Cup.
We’ll see you then.
(Photo: Matthew Peters)
KEY EVENT
Who are FC Rostov? Everything you need to know
Manchester United comfortably made it past St Etienne to reach the last 16 of the Europa League on Wednesday night.
But the UEFA gods have arguably plucked out much trickier opponents for Jose Mourinho’s men in the shape of Russian outfit Rostov.
Not
only did the outfit from the small town North of Moscow finish above
PSV Eindhoven in their Champions League group, but their also last side
to beat German giants Bayern Munich.
United fans will make the nearly 2,000 mile trip to face the Russians in two weeks time.
So here’s everything you need to know about FC Rostov
SolidarityKEY EVENT
"He probably deserves the Leicester stadium to be renamed after him"
Jose Mourinho stuck by Claudio Ranieri during his Manchester United press conference on Friday, and stated that the King Power Stadium should be renamed after the sacked Italian.
Ranieri
led Leicester City to the most unlikely Premier League title in history
last term, but nine months later has been dismissed with the Foxes
struggling and in a relegation dogfight.
Mourinho, who accused Leicester players of getting their manager the sack by being too self-obsessed, has a long history with Ranieri. Read about the amazing gesture here
Jose's shirt
Shirt-gate (Is that a thing?)
The shirt in question.
Maybe it used to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s?
Probably not
(Photo: Mirror screengrab)
More on Rooney
Mourinho happy Rooney remains
“I think he did in the right moment, in the best moment he did his declaration, his statement.
“I
told you that the questions you are asking me were questions for him.
Only he could answer and he did it in exactly the right moment.
“Your question is the last question about Wayne Rooney and should be until the end of the season
“He said he is staying and hopes to help the team to fight for the trophies. I am happy with that.”
(Photo: 2017 Getty Images)
Trophy hunt
Record breaking
Put to him that he could become the first United manager to win a trophy in his debut season, Mourinho declared:
“You are right but I have so many good things in my career that I wouldn’t be influenced by a little detail.
The important thing is the club and the fans.”
Ranieri shirt
Mourinho on his CR shirt
“I
lived a similar experience at Chelsea, but what happened to me was
peanuts compared with the dimension of what has happened to Claudio.
“My words on my shirt are his name, it’s my little homage to someone who wrote the most beautiful history in the game.
“Now,
they are also in the highlights with a decision that has everyone in
football united, because it is something everyone finds difficult to
accept.
“I thought last season, when I was sacked as a champion,
it was a giant, negative thing, now I recognise it’s peanuts compared to
Claudio.”
Mourinho has accused Leicester’s players of getting Claudio Ranieri the sack.
Mourinho,
who wore Ranieri’s initials on his top in a show of solidarity at his
EFL Cup final media briefing today, branded Leicester’s players
“selfish” for their role in Ranieri’s dismissal.
The Manchester
United boss accused Leicester’s players of being too concerned with
boosting their own profiles and salaries, rather than building on the
success of their title-winning season.
“Probably
the season started with the typical selfishness of others, people
thinking about new contracts, people thinking about leaving, people
thinking about more money, people forgetting what helped them reach a
certain level.
“But this is not just football. I think it’s also a bit our our world, maybe your world too.
(Photo: Michael Regan)
UEL draw
Mourinho on Rostov
“It’s a bad draw in every aspect,” he said.
“It’s far and is difficult. It’s far and comes in a bad period for us.
It’s difficult because they are a very difficult team, they had a very good Champions League campaign.
They’re defensive and physical but we’ll go for it.”
*GULP*
Rooney
Rooney to return
And now Wayne Rooney...
“He’s fine, he’s training with the team.
“He
was not selected for Saint-Etienne because he was not ready to play but
he was ready to have one more important training session and no doubts,
he is involved in the game.”
(Photo: Manchester United)
Mou speaks
Jones a doubt
Mourinho also says Phil Jones is doubtful.
Here’s what he has to say:
“Michael is available. He was clever, he had the experience and left the pitch in right moment.
“So Michael is available. Mkhitaryan is out. Jones, let’s see and decide tomorrow.”
(Photo: REUTERS)
Man UnitedKEY EVENT
Mkhitaryan out, Carrick OK
First off then - the League Cup final.
And Henrikh Mkhitaryan is OUT.
The Armenian will not be ok after coming off in France on Wednesday.
But Michael Carrick does have a chance Mourinho has confirmed.
(Photo: REUTERS)
Here we go
A few minutes out
Right then, almost time.
The man himself.
What will he say.
Let’s find out...
(Photo: Getty Images)
From the archive
Le Tissier on United's infamous kit change
“Sir Alex Ferguson should be ashamed!”
Not something you hear often.
But Matt Le Tissier has declared it, having spoken about that infamous day at The Dell. Check it out here
Keano
Mou's not leaving everyone happy
So United are winning.
Doing well.
In finals.
Sometimes that’s not enough to please everyone.
Here’s Roy Keane on Mourinho - and he’s not happy.
Ranieri
Mou's tribute
Well isn’t this interesting.
Former rivals, but there’s been an increasing respect for some time now.
Never has that been shown more perhaps than today.
Jose Mourinho wearing initials CR on his #MUFC shirt in his press briefing as salute to Claudio Ranieri
A quick bit of breaking news now.
United’s visit to Rostov will take place on March 9 - that we know.
And now we also know that kick-off is at 6pm UK time (9pm local time).
Huzzah!
So the big shock these last 24 hours has been the dismissal of Claudio Ranieri.
He led Leicester to the title last term, only to be sacked nine months later, stabbed in the back by his players. Foxes chiefs decided to wield the axe following a disastrous run of results that left them hovering dangerously above the Premier League drop zone.
Now Mourinho has backed his former rival for a momentous achievement.
“CHAMPION OF ENGLAND and FIFA MANAGER of THE YEAR️. Sacked.
“That’s the new football, Claudio. Keep smiling AMICO. Nobody can delete the history you wrote.”
Trophies.
It’s what football is played for.
And United can equal a benchmark this weekend.
Liverpool have 44 MAJOR trophies to their name.
This weekend offers United a chance to level that.
Will they?
YoungJames Nursey
No Chinese adventure for Young either
Ashley Young aims to complete a clean sweep of domestic medals with Manchester United this weekend after rejecting a huge move to China.
The former England winger, 31, was wanted by Shandong Luneng , who were offering £10million net in salary before their window closes next week.
Another Chinese Super League club also approached Young’s agent this month through an intermediary too.
Young
earns £120,000-a-week at United, where he is contracted until the end
of next season with another 12 months option in the club’s favour.
Main man MataAlex Smith
Mata opens up on Mourinho
Juan Mata has been in outstanding form recently for the Red Devils.
It was his cross early against Saint Etienne that was turned home by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and finished off the French side.
Now
he has offered up some thoughts on one of the great mysteries of recent
years - his relationship with Mourinho, the man who sold him as Chelsea
manager. Find out the full story.
Rooney
Wayne remains
Wayne Rooney was back in training on Friday ahead of Manchester United’s EFL Cup final with Southampton, 24 hours after committing his future to the club.
The
United captain confirmed on Thursday that he is determined to stay at
Old Trafford, despite interest from China and his demotion to a role as a
squad player.
the England captain was back at Carrington on
Friday looking to fight for his place after it was confirmed he would be
in the 18 man squad for Wembley on Sunday, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and
Michael Carrick both doubts.
“Despite
the interest which has been shown from other clubs, for which I’m
grateful, I want to end recent speculation and say that I am staying at
Man United,” Rooney said in a statement on Thursday.
“I hope I’ll play a full part in helping the team in its fight for success on four fronts.
Manchester United’s Europa League voyage will continue with a trip to Russia, after being drawn with FC Rostov.
United’s quest to win the only European trophy they’ve never landed will see Jose Mourinho’s men take on the Russian Premier League side, who saw off Sparta Prague in the round of 32.
The
Red Devils will travel to Russia for the first leg, a 3,744-mile round
trip - days before the FA Cup quarter-final tie with Chelsea on the
following Monday - before welcoming their opponents to Old Trafford the
following Thursday.
United sealed their place in the last 16 with a 4-0 aggregate victory over St Etienne in the first knockout round.
They
won the first leg 3-0 at Old Trafford to all but secure their place in
the next round, before a 1-0 win in France on Thursday evening, despite a
red card for defender Eric Bailly. More here
Jose timeKEY EVENT
Welcome folks
So here we go then.
Little
more than 48 hours until the first major trophy of the season will be
decided and Manchester United are at Wembley again.
Jose Mourinho’s side look to add the League Cup to last season’s FA Cup and August’s Community Shield triumphs at the stadium.
Standing in their way will be a resolute Southampton side, capably managed by Claude Puel this term.
The Saint however will be without star man Virgil van Dijk, a major loss that leaves United as heavy favourites.
The Special One will be having his say on all matters, including injuries to key men and the Europa League draw.
Stick around to hear what he has to say...
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