How Marcus is inspiring the next generation of Reds

So much attention is paid to Marcus Rashford’s Manchester United career and what he can achieve in the future, but very little is said about the incredible impact he has had off the pitch.

Our popular Academy graduate made his first-team debut at Old Trafford in February 2016 and now has 133 appearances, 33 goals and four trophies etched onto his club record.

On the international front, with England, he has also already amassed 29 caps, scored six goals and featured in two major tournaments: the 2016 European Championship and 2018 World Cup.

Today is his 21st birthday and many of his contemporaries from recent United history – Eric Cantona, Andy Cole, Ruud van Nistelrooy – could not boast such feats at this stage of their now iconic careers.

That must be remembered when the next unnecessary discussion about his development crops up.

Yet there is another side to Marcus Rashford’s story which often goes without appropriate attention.

recently saw it first-hand when visiting the Manchester United Foundation’s Street Reds project in Wythenshawe, which offers free football sessions to local youngsters from Monday to Friday night.

Marcus used to attend those sessions when he was growing up, with a dream to become a professional footballer for his beloved United. Although the initiative is not designed to develop young players for the club, his success has undoubtedly inspired the next generation of participants.

Amy was among the girls taking part when I attended a Street Reds session earlier this month and, as a pupil of the nearby Button Lane Primary School, which proudly counts Rashford among its graduates, she has a very personal connection to the homegrown hero.

“It makes me feel proud that he went to the same school and Street Reds project,” Amy told me after training. “He was on this pitch and I play on this pitch too. It makes me feel special.”

I asked the children what they admire most about Marcus and, unfairly, I expected their answers to include the more glamorous benefits of playing for Manchester United – like fame, money and material possessions. It’s only natural that children might focus on those things, or so I thought.

I was completely wrong and their responses underlined the excellent work of the Foundation coaches, who educate the children on good behaviour as well as the practices of playing football.

“I like when he is running down the line and, if he loses the ball, then he doesn’t give up,” said Amy. “He goes back to tries to win it back again. That is the thing that I really like about him. The other thing I like about Rashford is that he is resilient. He goes at it all the time. He doesn’t give up, ever!”

A boy named Josh, wearing a full United home kit with ‘Rashford’ on his back, said: “I can learn from his sportsmanship, the way he plays, how kind he is, how funny he is and that he never gives up.”

The link between Rashford and a Street Reds participant like Josh was easy to make – the Wythenshawe youngster was skilled on the ball, oozing confidence and even looked like Marcus.

His dream was clear, as he told me: “I am just going to imagine when I am older and being on that pitch at Old Trafford where Marcus Rashford used to be, when he was scoring goals, and there is a picture of me in the news with the words saying ‘Marcus junior - the new Marcus Rashford is here!’”

Josh may yet make it into the first team at United and I hope to read that headline one day in the future, but the reality is that only a very small minority achieve that ambition. We all wanted it as kids but for 99 per cent of us, including me, it doesn’t work out and alternative routes are found.

I was obsessed with United and had a forensic knowledge of the club as a child, but a lack of talent on the pitch (and a love for crisps) quickly put paid to my hope of representing the Reds.

It was saturated fats and not raw talent that ran through my veins, so in my teens I turned to the high octane sport of table tennis - ideal for a chubby child with limited cardiovascular fitness. I played regularly and often in the sports hall of Wythenshawe's Manchester Health Academy, coincidentally around the same time when Marcus attended the Street Reds project outside.

Sports journalism later became my new goal to aggressively pursue and now, as a United employee, I can tell you that the departments are littered with fans who did not have what it took to play for that beloved first team. So they chose employment at Old Trafford instead.

For me, this is exactly why the Street Reds projects and role models like Marcus are so important.

The young supporters I met in Wythenshawe did not talk about the rewards that Rashford enjoys from playing professional football, which are so often unfairly highlighted in the media.

Instead, they all spoke with wide eyes about their idol’s honesty on the pitch, his continued work ethic and consistent acts of sportsmanship; traits which can guide them to success in any walk of life.

The message there was clear: behave like Marcus Rashford and good things will happen, whether that is in football, education, industry or whichever route their lives decide to follow.

That impact cannot be underestimated and, for that, our no.10 deserves tremendous praise.

Happy birthday, Marcus Rashford.

The opinions in this story are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Manchester United Football Club.

Credit: Manutd.com

Robson: Rashford is in a great position

Marcus Rashford is well placed to become a true Manchester United great, according to club legend Bryan Robson.

Our talented no.10 turns 21 on Wednesday and has already achieved more than some players will in their entire careers – including playing at a European Championship and a World Cup with England.

The local lad is already inspiring the next generation of young footballers but, although Robson believes Marcus is ahead of schedule in terms of his development, the former England skipper feels he has the potential to get even better.

“I think you always want to improve and better yourself,” the former Reds no.7 told ManUtd.com. “Marcus is in a great position, he’s been in the first-team squad for over three years now.

“You can see him maturing, he’s building his stamina and strength, and he’s looking really good and sharp at the moment. With Marcus just turning 21 – happy birthday, Marcus! – he’s going in the right direction.”

Robson went on: “The only thing I would like to see is his finishing just being that little bit better, where we get Marcus up to something like 20 or 30 goals in a season, whether he’s playing out wide or through the middle.

“He’s adapted really well, because he has been playing wide as a player for quite some time now – he hasn’t had too many chances through the middle as a centre-forward. But I think it educates you as a player and Marcus is definitely going the right way to be a top-class player for Manchester United over the years ahead.”

Marcus burst onto the scene in February 2016 by scoring a double against Midtjylland as a substitute in the Europa League on his first-team debut, quickly followed by another brace against Arsenal on his Premier League bow. He then won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year trophy at the club’s end-of-season awards at Old Trafford.

Since then, he has gone on to score 33 goals, make more than 130 appearances and win three major trophies at the club, as well as represent England at two major international tournaments.

“When you’ve been to a World Cup at the age of 20 like Marcus has, that experience is invaluable to your improvement as a player,” Robbo said. “That experience will hold him in good stead over the years.

“Everything that Marcus has done has been very good so far, but it’s always the same with young lads – at the age of 21, you’re still a young lad – it’s about improving and getting better and better.”

Robbo had established himself in the England youth teams and at West Bromwich Albion by the time he turned 21, before joining United at the age of 24 in 1981. However, it was after reaching the same milestone birthday as Marcus that his career took a turn for the worse.

“It was really good for me, probably until I got to that age, because I’d gone into the England youth team and we’d won the mini World Cup,” Robson explained.

“I then got into the senior team on a regular basis but then, when I turned 21, I broke my leg three times, so it wasn’t a great period for me when I was 21! But before that, from 19 to 20, everything was going really well for me in my career at that time. Thankfully I got over the broken legs and it didn’t really affect my career.”

Last week, Jose Mourinho reflected on Rashford’s career so far and spoke of Marcus being in a privileged position for his age.

“Twenty-one years old for some players means zero matches in the first team,” the boss said. “For the majority of them, it means a squad player that plays a few minutes during the season.

“For Marcus Rashford, that means a player, I think, with more appearances [than any team-mate] in the past two years. It means playing in a World Cup, two seasons of the Champions League, a Europa League final, two FA Cup finals, a League Cup final.

“I think he's a privileged player, a privileged kid or, if you want to say now, a man, that has had so many opportunities to develop himself and he's going to keep having them,” said Jose. “So I think he has the conditions for his career to explode in the positive way of the word, conditions that not many players have during their careers.”

Neville dissects Martial form

Gary Neville took an in-depth look at Anthony Martial on Monday Night Football, explaining why no Manchester United player has left him more confused in the last decade and what he needs to do to move to the next level...

I've watched Manchester United's last five games and three of them I've watched at Old Trafford. I've had an incredible view of Anthony Martial, watching him closely and thinking how you'd play against him as a right-back.

Also, thinking about Manchester United's situation with him and his contract. What do they do? Do they fight for him? Is he worth fighting for?

Fans are torn on him and there's never been a player in the last 10 years at United that I've been more confused by in terms of what he is.

Normally when you look at a player you think what is he? Do I like him or do I not like him? I can't make my mind up with Martial. Some weeks I think he's brilliant, but other weeks I'm not sure he's a Manchester United player.

What's he good at?

If you look at his whole career, he's played a mountain of games for someone so young. That's the first thing to say, he's still a very young boy. You wouldn't say there's anything there that's off the chart. He's scored some goals but not at an incredible ratio, particularly not a ratio that you'd say would live with the modern great wide players that we watch in the Premier League and across Europe. Then you start thinking what is he as a player? What does he do well?

The things that he does well, he finishes well. He makes difficult finishes look really simple. It was brilliant against Chelsea and we saw another against Everton. He gets into those positions really well.

What else? He's got power, he's got pace and when he cuts inside he is a threat. He's positive and he can hit a ball. And when you give him the ball to his feet - just to his feet - he comes alive. He drives at people, he commits people and he's got something about him.

What does he need to improve?

What drives me crazy about him is his off the ball work. I'm not talking about his defending, forget his defending. I've gone past the point of wide players generally coming back and doubling up and all that. What do they do going forward? The best players I played against as a right-back were better off the ball than they were on it. The runs in behind you, in between centre-back and full-back, were difficult to play against.

The best players I played against they caught me. So as I was looking to see where the player was the minute I looked back towards the ball they would be gone. Martial doesn't get that. He doesn't know where to be and when to run at the right time. He hasn't got any timing in his off the ball runs. What Martial tends to do is wait and wait and hangs wide. He needs to change that.

The difference between him scoring 10 to 12 goals a season and 20 is that movement off the ball. He very rarely does it off the ball. He very rarely makes that hurt run that really damages a team. It's a tough run to make and you don't always get it. He doesn't quite know when to run or where to run. He doesn't quite understand the game.

Is the problem coaching?

Jose Mourinho has to take responsibility for his players but Didier Deschamps has dropped this boy over the last 12 months. I never saw him making those off the ball runs under Louis van Gaal either. It's not just a Jose Mourinho thing. This boy's pattern of play has been set for three years. He's a massive talent but under three managers now, Deschamps dropped him before the World Cup and picked Thomas Lemar, Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe. Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal have both had him in and out of the team and I'm torn on him.

What do the stats say?

What I started to do was look a bit deeper into the stats of Martial and I got the shock of my like. When you look at the stats equivalent to a full season of Martial he's actually matching the likes of Sadio Mane and Eden Hazard in terms of minutes played, goals and assists, and that's incredible. Then you say to yourself what am I watching? It confuses me even more because they are incredible stats.

I looked at his physical stats against the players on the list and again I got the shock of my life. I got to the point where I thought that's why Deschamps, Mourinho and others don't fancy him. When you look at the players in and around, as we did before, Mane nearly runs 2km more than Martial. Hazard, who gets accused of not working hard, is 1.5km more than Martial. We're not talking about defending or anything like that, Martial is well down on his physical stuff.

Conclusion

The conclusion that I have come to is that the easiest thing to fix is those running stats. The easiest thing for him to fix is for him to understand how to make that run in between full-back and centre-back.

What it gives me is a clear understanding that Manchester United have to show patience with him because actually if you correct those running stats up to above 10km and you get him making those runs in between the full-back and the centre-back, because he can finish he will get up to 20 to 25 goals a season.

United have to invest in him, which I'm sure they are doing, but that's where the tension has been. Mourinho's wanted a player who is ready now to win the league now. He is not ready now, there's no doubt about that. However, the club are thinking this kid can actually be something special in the next two or three years. They've got to persevere with him but he's also got to improve himself.

Credit: Skysports.com

Martial 'dive' during Manchester United vs Everton will not be reviewed

Anthony Martial's alleged dive in the penalty incident during Manchester United's 2-1 win over Everton will not be reviewed by the FA, Sky Sports News understand.

Everton Boss Marco Silva accused the United winger of diving after Sunday's game and said it was wrong to award the spot-kick after replays appeared to show Idrissa Gueye make contact with the ball first.

Martial went down under a challenge from Gueye after 25 minutes to earn a penalty which was taken by Paul Pogba, who needed the rebound to give United a 1-0 lead at Old Trafford.

The Frenchman continued to make an impact down the left-hand-side - doubling United's lead in the second half with a curling effort into the bottom corner of Jordan Pickford's net.

Despite Gylfi Sigurdsson making it 2-1 with 13 minutes to go, United were able to hold on for their second win in eight games.

United manager Jose Mourinho was hugely pleased with Martial's performance saying he had improved everything about his game in recent months.

Martial has scored four in his last three Premier League matches and is the team's joint top scorer this season across all competitions.

Sky Sports News has been told Martial rejected a contract renewal offer from the club but that talks will continue in pursuit of an agreement.

Martial's deal expires next summer but the club have an option to extend his contract by a further year.

Credit: Skysports.com

Pogba's penalty routine assessed: Method in the madness or time for change?

Paul Pogba and his stuttering penalty routine for Manchester United were back in the headlines on Sunday.

The Frenchman hesitantly took 28 steps over 9.96 seconds before Jordan Pickford eventually saved his 27th-minute spot-kick against Everton - his second miss from 12 yards this season.

Pogba did, however, convert the rebound, but with his penalty-success rate this term at 50 per cent, questions are being asked of his suitability from the spot.

But is it time for a change in technique, or penalty-taker at Manchester United? We examine the trends of Pogba's penalties to find out...

Pogba's penalties

Throughout his seven years in senior football, Pogba has taken eight penalties, two for Juventus and six for Manchester United.

The 25-year-old has failed to convert from 12 yards on three occasions, leaving his penalty success rate at 62.5 per cent.

Pogba emerged as United's designated penalty taker this season despite only scoring one for his current club, against Fenerbahce in the Europa League in 2016.

He has had mixed results with his new responsibility, scoring against Leicester, Brighton and Young Boys and missing against Burnley and Everton.

Devil in the direction

It is clear Pogba favours shooting to a goalkeeper's right but, interestingly, he has more success shooting to a 'keeper's left.

Five of Pogba's eight career penalties have gone to a goalkeeper's right but only two have found the back of the net.

A 40 per cent conversion rate to a goalkeeper's right is of stark contrast to his flawless record in the other direction, with Pogba yet to miss any of his three attempts to a goalkeeper's left.

Even more interestingly, Pogba's last three successful spot kicks have been identical in technique and shot location, as have his last two unsuccessful attempts.

His strikes against Leicester and Brighton in the Premier League and Young Boys in the Champions League have gone high to the goalkeeper's left, while his misses against Burnley and Everton were as a result of low saves from goalkeeper's to their right.

Steps to success

The overriding trademark of Pogba's unique penalty approach has been a sequence of steps and the prolonged period in time before he eventually strikes the ball.

Across his four Premier League penalties this season, Pogba's run-ups have contained 75 steps (100 if you include his successful effort against Young Boys), with a combined 25.2 seconds between the start of his run-ups and making contact with the ball.

Pogba's run-up to his latest miss against Everton consisted of 28 steps and lasted 9.96 seconds, 0.38 seconds longer than Usain Bolt's 100m world record (9.58 seconds).

Time for change?

While pleased with Pogba's desire to take penalties, United boss Jose Mourinho suggested it may be time for him to change his technique, a technique Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville believes contradicts everything players are taught in football. "It doesn't feel right - it's feels as if it's a little bit for show," Neville said on co-commentary.

Pogba admitted he was lucky to convert the rebound and conceded at full-time that he may alter the approach he has adopted throughout his professional career.

"I always try to destabilise the goalkeeper," he told Sky Sports. "I always shoot like this and that's how I know how to take penalties.

"I may practise to change it because maybe the goalkeepers are starting to know my steps, but the most important thing is when the ball goes in."

Persist with Pogba?

With Romelu Lukaku out of form and Marcus Rashford in and out of the starting line-up, a replacement to relieve Pogba of the penalty duties looks in short supply.

But with a one in two record from the spot, should Pogba keep faith with his routine, tinker it a little, or even hand over duties to someone else?

Credit: Skysports.com

Matic targets more Manchester United improvement after Everton win

Nemanja Matic was delighted to get a ‘very important’ win against Everton over the line, but the Manchester United midfielder knows an improved killer instinct is needed.

Jose Mourinho's men secured their first victory since the international break on Sunday, with Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial scoring either side of half-time at Old Trafford.

But it was not an entirely straightforward encounter as Gylfi Sigurdsson pulled one back from the spot, leading United to nervously cling on to a 2-1 win.

It was an important show of resilience a week on from being pegged back at the death by Chelsea, with defensive midfielder Matic pointing to the importance of building from this result.

"Of course it is very important for us to win today," he said. "As you know, Everton is a very good team.

"We were unlucky that we didn't win against Chelsea in the last second and, as you saw, in this game also in the last minute we had some trouble after a corner kick

"We didn't want to allow this to happen again, so we are happy for the win, we are happy for the three points and I hope that this win will give us more confidence for the future.

"I think in some moments of the game we showed good football. We should, how we like to say, kill the game with the goal, but we didn't score and when you don't score this happens.

"Obviously in the Premier League every team has quality to hurt you, so we knew they would try to score.

"And they scored from the penalty, but we managed to control until the end and to win."

United had several opportunities to put the game to bed against an Everton side who showed flashes of the confidence that came with a three-match winning run in the Premier League.

Mourinho's side, by contrast, have seen their soft underbelly exploited all too often, which is highlighted by the fact they have managed just one clean sheet in their first 10 league matches.

"Not nervous, but of course we feel the responsibility for our supporters," Matic said. "We didn't allow them to score the second one.

"I think we deserved to win this game, but they tried to risk it. They went up front with seven, eight players to risk and after that we had a counter-attack, I think it was Anthony Martial, to score the third one.

"But this is football, we accept that and, in the end, the most important is the result."

Asked if the team was getting better, the 30-year-old said: "I think that we improve.

"We work very well during the week and I think that we improve. Also the other teams improve, they work also.

"Sometimes they don't allow you to do what you want to do, so I think that we improved but still we have to show that in the next games."

Credit: Skysports.com

Everton: Five talking points for United fans

Sunday's victory over Everton gave us two United goals, three points and at least the following five topics to discuss with our fellow Reds...

French connection

The first talking point on every United fan's lips after the Everton game was the seemingly telepathic partnership between Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba. The duo were undoubtedly the headline grabbers with Martial being unplayable at times. The 22-year-old set the tone for his electric display by stinging the hands of Jordan Pickford early on with a rasping effort, before his tricky feet and direct running won the penalty in which Pogba converted, albeit at the second attempt. Pogba’s trademark, stuttered run-up resulted in Pickford saving the penalty, but United’s no.6 was on hand to slot in the rebound for his fifth goal of the season.

Pogba then displayed his array of passing qualities, beautifully slotting a ball through for Martial, who laid the ball back to his compatriot, only to be denied by Pickford. Prior to this clash with Everton, Martial had scored 40 goals for United since his debut in September 2015, an unrivalled tally over that period and he added to that ratio in impressive fashion curling, first time, into the far corner with Pogba again the provider. From our view in the press box, it was in from the moment it left his boot. The only blot on the pair’s copybook’s was Pogba losing the ball in the build-up to the Everton penalty, before Martial failed to put the game beyond any doubt when Pickford saved with his legs when clean through. Other than that, a match-winning French connection.

A century of goals against Everton

United have scored a lot of goals, against a lot of clubs over the years, but none more so than Everton. In fact, after Sunday's victory, United have now matched Arsenal's record of scoring 100 goals against a single club. Ironically, the Gunners have also done so against the Toffees, but the Reds' 36th win in this fixture is a Premier League record by a club against a single opponent. Moreover, this triumph was the third consecutive league victory against Everton - the first time we have done that against a single club for 11 years.

Lindelof impressive again

It can take time for players from overseas to adapt to the Premier League's physical nature and fast-paced environment and, over the last two weeks, it seems that sufficient time has now passed for Victor Lindelof to really find his feet at United. He went into the Everton game fresh from being arguably our Man of the Match against Serie A giants Juventus in the Champions League, when he had made a number of last-ditch challenges to keep the deficit at just one goal and had marshalled a certain Cristiano Ronaldo for much of the 90 minutes. He built on that encouraging display in Sunday's domestic match, keeping the tricky Richarlison quiet and making some important tackles in the process.

Jose Mourinho recognised his positive performance and reserved some praise for the 24-year-old, saying: “He's getting better, he reads the game well, he's fast, he's not very physical but he can be more aggressive than he is when he adapts to a different style of play which is the Premier League, but a second season at the club [means he] is a kind of player that can only be better.” Once Lindelof does fully adapt to the Premier League style of play, we may just be talking a little more about the improving Swede.

Fred the Red

Fred returned to the United starting XI for the first time since opening his Reds scoring account in the draw to Wolves at Old Trafford back in September and he did his chances of retaining his place, no harm at all against Everton. The Brazilian, whose debut against Leicester City was encouraging, started in a midfield three alongside Nemanja Matic and Pogba and was industrious, tenacious and illustrated his passing qualities. I was suitably impressed.

The former Shakhtar Donetsk man adds energy in the centre of the park and has the engine levels to fit the mould of the traditional box-to-box midfielder. Again, like Lindelof, his best days in a red shirt are of course ahead of him, but given this was just his sixth United appearance, it looks like 'Fred the Red' could be a headline we will continue to write over the months and years to come.

The Reds grow in confidence

Sunday's victory over Everton means the Reds are now unbeaten in three matches in the Premier League. I appreciate it's not a headline-making statistic, but after the enthralling second-half comeback against Newcastle, the thoroughly impressive away performance against high-flying Chelsea, which should have ended with the Reds returning with all three points, and the 2-1 home defeat of the Toffees, we are clearly growing in confidence. Week on week, we are highlighting more positives and we must hope these progressive signs suggest Mourinho's men are on the up! Bring on Bournemouth!

The opinions in this story are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Manchester United Football Club.

Credit: Manutd.com

This week on ManUtd.com

It's another action-packed week at Old Trafford, with landmark birthdays to celebrate, awards to vote for and fixtures for the four teams we cover here on ManUtd.com...

MONDAY

The week begins with reflections on Sunday's pleasing 2-1 win over Everton, which made it two league wins on the bounce at Old Trafford. However, the sad news from Leicester City has cast a cloud over the football world, with the club and numerous players using social media to send their love and support to everyone associated with the Foxes.

We're wishing our former goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar a happy 48th birthday. Ajax's chief executive officer visited us earlier in the year, when he relived the incredible penalty shootout win that clinched our third European Cup in Moscow ten years ago.

TUESDAY

As October approaches its end, we're asking you to vote for your Player of the Month and Goal of the Month. Three senior Reds will vye for the player award that Luke Shaw has won for the last two months, while a video will show you the strikes from the first team, women's team, Under-23s and Under-18s that have been shortlisted for the other accolade.

WEDNESDAY

This day is all about marking the remarkable rise of Marcus Rashford, as the Mancunian forward turns 21. So swift and stunning was his ascension to the first team that it's sometimes easy to forget how young he still is. We'll be celebrating everything he's achieved already with special birthday features on ManUtd.com and the official app.

THURSDAY

We'll announce the winners of our Player of the Month and Goal of the Month awards, and start our build-up to the Premier League game against Eddie Howe's buoyant Bournemouth with a comprehensive match preview.

FRIDAY

Jose Mourinho will speak to MUTV and hold a press conference on the eve of our Saturday lunchtime fixture at the Vitality Stadium. We'll have the manager's key quotes and video clips on ManUtd.com and the official app, as well as the all-important early team news.

In the evening, our Under-23s take on Newcastle United at Leigh Sports Village. Ricky Sbragia's men suffered a 2-1 defeat to Wolves at Molineux last Friday, despite 17-year-old striker Mason Greenwood scoring on his debut in that age group. You can watch the game live on MUTV (kick-off 19:00 GMT).

SATURDAY

Our Under-18s are first up on Saturday, hosting Wolves at the Aon Training Complex at 11:30 BST. Neil Ryan's lads have won eight consecutive matches - can they make it nine?

The first team kick off the weekend of Premier League action an hour later, with that south-coast trip to face Bournemouth. The Cherries are flying high in sixth position and have won four of their last five games in all competitions. Can United record back-to-back victories for the first time since September? We'll find out from 12:30 GMT.

SUNDAY

Manchester United Women bring the weekend's schedule to a close on Sunday afternoon, by taking on Championship table-toppers Tottenham Hotspur Ladies at Leigh Sports Village (kick-off 12:00 GMT). Casey Stoney's side have not played since beating Charlton Athletic 3-0 on 14 October, with last Sunday's visit to Leicester City being postponed in the aftermath of the King Power Stadium helicopter tragedy.

It's a big match for our nascent female team: Spurs are five points ahead (albeit having played one more game) and are the only team to boast a 100 per cent record in the Women's Championship thus far.

Mata: We feel Leicester's pain

Hi everyone... I am writing to you today with the win against Everton still fresh in my mind.

Three hard-earned points, which I think were well deserved against a good team that pushed us until the end. It is a victory that comes at a good time and gives us a confidence boost heading into some important fixtures that lie ahead in November.

The game was competitive and both teams had their chances, but we felt that we had spells where we were on top and had chances. I enjoyed being out there on the pitch and the most important thing was that we left feeling positive.

Now we can focus on what is to come. We will play five games next month, with the next three all away from home. We will keep the great support we’ve been receiving in mind as we prepare for three tough games on the road, starting with Saturday against Bournemouth. Afterwards, there will be time to think about Juventus and Manchester City.

I don’t want to overlook the tragic events that occurred in Leicester. I’d like to send my care and support to the families of the victims, with Leicester City’s owner among them. It is a massive blow for everyone who is a part of the Premier League. I send my best wishes to everyone at the club, we feel your pain and we are with you.

Sadly, I would like to also send my condolences to the family and friends of Paco Rius, the president of the Valencia supporters’ group that bears my name. I received news that he has passed away, which was truly painful to hear.

Hugs, Juan.

Matic: Martial can be one of the best

Anthony Martial can blossom into a Premier League great - if he starts to believe in himself.

That’s the opinion of the French striker’s Manchester United team-mate Nemanja Matic.

Martial is beginning to get his swagger back for the Reds, scoring four league goals in his last three starting appearances.

The 22-year-old's brilliant trademark right-foot drive, after cutting in from the left against Everton’s defence on Sunday, proved to be the winner at Old Trafford. It added to his brace at Stamford Bridge in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea and his goal in the 3-2 home win over Newcastle United.

Prior to this latest batch of goals, Martial had scored just once this season, against Young Boys in Switzerland in the Champions League. But the Frenchman is now undeniably on a hot streak.

“Anthony is a great player and he needs to understand that,“ said Matic after Sunday's match. ”He needs more confidence. He is still young and I think if he continues to score he will get that.

“If he reaches his top level he can be one of the best players in the league for sure.“

“Sometimes I don’t think he understands how good he is. He is quick, he is good with the ball, he can run. He has everything that a Manchester United football player needs. Sometimes I don’t think he understands that.

“If I had his ability with the ball and I was as quick as him then I wouldn’t pass to anyone and I would score every game!

“To be serious, he does need more confidence and this comes with results. When you don’t have results it is very difficult for players to have that high confidence.

“If we can get results over the next few games and improve as a team he will show that he is very important for us.

“The manager speaks with him about it. I have told him once! But he is a great person and a great guy and I am happy for him that he is scoring. It is great.

“The quality is there, confidence is there now and he just needs to be more consistent. I am glad we have him in the team.

“In football and in life you have difficult times and you have to get back on track and that is exactly what he is doing.”

Romelu Lukaku is another who needs to get back into the groove, with United manager Jose Mourinho admitting he put the Belgian on the bench against Everton due to a lack of confidence in recent matches.

Like his boss, Matic feels the striker can soon mirror Martial’s return to form.

“He (Lukaku) is a great player for sure. He has scored a lot of goals for United so I don’t see any problems for him,” added Nemanja.

Souness: Martial 'a very special player'

Manchester United striker Anthony Martial is "a very special player", says Graeme Souness, after the Frenchman produced another superb performance against Everton.

He scored his fourth goal in three Premier League games on Sunday with a wonderful curling strike from the top of the box as Man Utd won 2-1 at Old Trafford.

The performance came in for high praise from the Sky Sports pundits and Souness believes if he can overcome a few hurdles, he can have a bright future.

"I think he is a very special player. I've always believed it," he said on Renault Super Sunday. "He's 23 in December, he's a baby and it is really hard for us to pass comment because we don't work with him or know him but it looks to me that he gets discouraged easily and he gets moody.

"In terms of football, I was thinking when Pogba and Martial were being interviewed [by Sky Sports after the game], if Man Utd can get them right, what a pair they could be together given their age.


"He possesses everything - pace, power, a super technique as we've seen in the last few weeks of scoring goals. He's the full package if he's right, but I don't know if he doesn't want to be in Manchester or he's fallen out with the manager in pre-season because his partner has given birth, but there is a real player in there.

"If you line them all up and say 'who has got the most potential?', it is him and Pogba, but it is getting them to be proper players."

His sentiments were echoed by Jamie Redknapp, who says Martial needs to keep up his minutes on the field to maintain his recent good form, but he can go 'right to the top'

"They [the players] need to get rhythm as well. When you're in and out of the team, it's very difficult for anybody," he said.

"You're not sure if the manager fancies you or not, but every time I watch Martial, he does something special on a football field. You saw Seamus Coleman today, he was petrified of him because he picks the ball up and runs at you.

"When he's playing in that position, he's the best that they've got. He might even end up being a No 9. He's a great footballer... He's got all the attributes to go right to the top. He's so talented. The finishes are a God-given talent."

At just 22 years old, Alex Scott thinks Martial still has a lot to learn in his career, but praised his consistent performances over the last few weeks.

"I think the question marks have been because we've seen the glimpses, the frustration and we've seen the player he can potentially go on to be," she said.

"He's still a young player, but it's being able to do it consistently and that's what we're seeing now - a player full of confidence and showing up every week in a Man Utd shirt."

Credit: Skysports.com

Should Manchester United's penalty have stood?

Should Manchester United's penalty against Everton have been given? Graeme Souness and Jamie Redknapp debate with a few words from Souness for Dermot Gallagher...

In the 26th minute of the game, referee Jon Moss judged that Idrissa Gueye had fouled Anthony Martial in the area and awarded United the penalty, with Paul Pogba eventually scoring after his initial spot-kick was saved by Jordan Pickford.

But replays show that Gueye did touch the ball on the way through, which Souness and Redknapp point to as a reason for the penalty to have not been given.

However, the Renault Super Sunday studio got in touch with Ref Watch's Dermot Gallagher - who was watching the game for the Premier League - and he says the penalty should have been given due to the second contact from Gueye.

In response to Gallagher, Souness said: "That's his opinion. My opinion is that it isn't. I've been a player and if I'm in that game, on the pitch and as close to incidents like that as you can get, it's not a penalty.

"He can think what he wants, I'm sorry. That's my opinion. I played the game for a long time."

Redknapp also did not think the penalty should have stood after watching the replays, adding: "They get a huge slice of luck, it's not a penalty for me.

"I think the referee sees the ball going forward away from the referee if you like and it hits him on the left knee. There is contact, but Gueye wins the ball first of all.

"Personally, I don't think it's a penalty. It's not a great challenge, but it's not a penalty."

Credit: Skysports.com

Marco Silva unhappy with penalty decision

Marco Silva strongly feels the decision to give Manchester United a first-half penalty in their 2-1 win over his Everton side was wrong.

Anthony Martial went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Idrissa Gueye midway through the first half at Old Trafford, though slow-motion replays suggest the Everton man did get a touch on the ball.

Pogba saw his penalty saved, but slotted home the rebound, and Martial scored again in the second half before Gylfi Sigurdsson halved the deficit with his own spot kick.

Silva felt aggrieved with Jon Moss' decision, however, and feels it changed the balance of the game.

He told Sky Sports: "Every time we had the ball we created problems for them, the game was really balanced, and in that moment, for me it looks like no penalty. It's clear.

"My player told me it's clear he touched the ball. It's a difficult sensation for us, because when you come here to play a strong side, one moment like that starts to make things easy for our opponent.

"The referee is there at that moment. It looks like my player touched the ball, I think it's not a tough decision. In that moment, just one decision, yellow card to Martial."

Having won three Premier League games on the trot, Everton once again came away from a top-six side with no points having also seen chances go missing at Arsenal last month

Silva recognises his side need to be more clinical, having caused United problems in both halves.

"Like we expected, it was a tough match. But like I promised, we came here to win the match. It's our way, the only way we're working so far.

"I don't want to put all the excuses on the referee, because when you play against one team like Manchester United in their stadium, like we did against Arsenal, and create five, six chances to score and don't score, it's not because of the referee

"I think we have to do better in some situations if you keep creating chances to score goals."

Credit: Skysports.com

Martial showing his value to Man Utd at exactly the right time

While Manchester United's other forwards struggle for goals, Anthony Martial continues to impress. Is he now Jose Mourinho's main man?

With Romelu Lukaku benched, all eyes were on Marcus Rashford on Super Sunday. Could he grasp a rare chance in his favoured centre-forward role against Everton? Could he make a case for more regular opportunities through the middle in the future?

In the end, though, it was not Rashford but Anthony Martial who made the biggest impression at Old Trafford. From his usual position on the left-hand side of Manchester United's attack, the Frenchman was a constant menace to Marco Silva's side.




He was instrumental in the opener, latching onto Paul Pogba's through ball and winning the penalty when he was adjudged to have been brought down by Idrissa Gueye, and his beautiful curling finish for the second goal eventually proved decisive after Gylfi Sigurdsson had pulled one back.

Martial could be seen hunched on the Old Trafford turf with his head in his hands at the final whistle having missed a one-on-one opportunity with Jordan Pickford in the dying moments of the game, but he was still a deserving man of the match. As well as his goal and his vital contribution to the opener, there were four scoring chances created for his team-mates.

Martial's match-winning performance was a continuation of a fine run of form. The Frenchman only started one of United's first six Premier League games of the campaign following reports of a falling out with Jose Mourinho during pre-season, but he looks undroppable now.

His goal was his fifth of the season in all competitions and his fourth in his last three Premier League appearances. Having only played 441 minutes so far, his total gives him the fourth-best minutes-per-goal rate in the division after Chelsea's Eden Hazard, Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Manchester City's Sergio Aguero.

It is all the more impressive considering only one of his five Premier League starts has come as a central striker, and his prolific run of form comes at a good time for United given the scoring struggles of their other forwards.

Rashford, replaced after 65 minutes having only mustered one shot on goal against Everton, has not scored for United in a month, and you have to go back even further in Lukaku's case. Alexis Sanchez, meanwhile, has lost his place in the team having only found the net once all season.

Martial has exploded into life at exactly the right moment for Manchester United and it appears he has won over his manager in the process.

"I think he coped well with this development process," said Mourinho afterwards. "He took quite a long time to understand what we want from him, it took quite a long time for his brain, and also his body, to be ready to play the way we want him to.

"But at the moment he is solid, playing very well, and even if he doesn't score, his performance is a solid performance for the team, and that's what we need. So I'm very happy with Anthony."

Martial's improved defensive discipline and positioning delighted his manager but it was his attacking contribution which caused most excitement in the Sky Sports studio.

"There are signs that [United] are improving and it's mainly because of the guy that got man of the match," said Jamie Redknapp. "He's come into the team in the last few games and made such a difference to them. The pace that he plays with. He won the penalty. He was the decisive man. He has got all the attributes to go right to the top.

"I think he's a very special player. I've always believed it," added Graeme Souness. "He's got pace, power, super technique, as we've seen in the last couple of weeks with his goals. He's the full package if he's right.

"I think the question marks have been because we see the glimpses and that's the frustration - we see the player that he could potentially go on to be," said Alex Scott. "It's being able to do it consistently, and I think that's what we are seeing now, a player full of confidence and showing up every week in a Man United shirt."

Manchester United will hope it continues. The Frenchman's current contract is due to expire at the end of this season and he has rejected the club's latest offer of an extension, according to Sky sources, but talks are set to continue and his latest performance only added to the feeling that Martial and Manchester United could yet bring out the best in each other.

It is quite the turnaround for the 22-year-old. Martial's future looked bleak under Mourinho at the start of the season, but no player has been more important in easing the pressure on the under-fire manager. Right now, Martial is Manchester United and Mourinho's main man.

Credit: Skysports.com

Pogba may change penalty routine

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba says he may change his penalty routine after his stuttered run-up almost cost him against Everton, leading to criticism from the Sky Sports pundits.

United were awarded a spot-kick in the 26th minute of the 2-1 victory at Old Trafford after Idrissa Gueye was adjudged to have fouled Anthony Martial, with Pogba stepping up to the spot.

It was another strange run-up from the Frenchman, taking his time to get to the ball as he stuttered along - which he has done previously - and although his effort was initially saved by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, Pogba did slot home the rebound.

Pogba admitted he got lucky with the goal, which put his side 1-0 up, and hinted he could change his technique in the future.

"I always try to destabilise the goalkeeper. I always shoot like this and that's how I know how to take penalties," he told Sky Sports.

"I may practise to change it because maybe the goalkeepers are starting to know my steps, but the most important thing is when the ball goes in.

"Today, I was lucky, but the most important thing is that the ball went in and I scored a goal. It was good for us and it was good for me. Then after, we carried on and had other chances. But the most important thing was the win today."

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville commentated on the game and was not a fan of the long run-up, saying: "It's not right, it doesn't feel right. It's not how you would ever kick a ball in normal play - it goes against everything you're taught.

"It feels for me like it's a little bit for show, for theatre. Cristiano Ronaldo used to do it at Old Trafford but it's not working for Paul Pogba."

Graeme Souness - usually critical of Pogba - was impressed with his first-half performance but also agreed that there was a touch of ego about his penalty run-up.

"I don't like to see this. I personally think it's a bit 'look at me, look at me'. I just don't get this penalty," he said at half-time.

"I think he's moved the ball quickly today, he's been uncomplicated, but he's been really good today. If he can do that week in, week out, he'd be a properly top player."

Credit: Skysports.com

Martial voted Man of the Match

Anthony Martial was the clear Man of the Match after the Manchester United fans were suitably impressed with his display in the 2-1 win over Everton.

The Frenchman sparkled in his left-wing role as he made it four goals in his last three Premier League outings with a quite stunning first-time shot that curled past Jordan Pickford, in the second half, for the eventual winner. It means he has found the net in five of his last six competitive meetings with the Merseysiders.

As he also earned the penalty that led to Paul Pogba opening the scoring, when being tripped inside the box by Idrissa Gueye, it was a decisive display by the popular forward. He also produced an inviting cross that created a chance for Juan Mata and will have been disappointed not to add a third goal in stoppage time when Pickford blocked his effort.

Jose Mourinho spoke glowingly about his no.11 after the game and also added in an interview with MUTV: “He showed the player he can be, because [he's] a talented player - he showed that many years ago. He showed that in Monaco, he showed that when he came to Manchester United, but [was] very intermittent.

”Today he showed that he can be a player with a really solid performance. This performance today without that wonderful goal would always be a good performance. So I think he's achieving a level where his performance is not just analysed by the goals he score, but by the performance overall, so he's becoming a better player.“

The player himself told Sky Sports: ”I am happy. I am in good form in this moment, so I have to train hard and continue to help the team.“

Martial earned 69 per cent of the vote on Twitter, finishing well clear of Pogba (18%), Victor Lindelof (8%) and Fred (5%). It was a similar story on our official app with the 22-year-old gaining 64 per cent, with Pogba again logging 18%.

In terms of Opta's breakdown of his performance, he had more duels than any other United player (11) and was also leading the way in terms of key passes (four). All three of his shots were target, as he also tested Pickford when the score was still 0-0 with a searing long-range drive.

A clear threat throughout, he made 15 sprints - a joint-high with centre-forward Marcus Rashford from a Reds perspective - and Jose is likely to be pleased with his defensive contribution as well. Martial won the ball back four times and also shepherded it out of play a couple of times when doing a diligent job assisting Luke Shaw.

All in all, it was a great day's work for our in-form Frenchman!

Credit: Manutd.com

Mourinho believes Lukaku's goals will come

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was pleased with Romelu Lukaku’s second-half cameo in the win over Everton at Old Trafford and is confident that ‘life will change’ for our no.9 once he finds the back of the net again.

Lukaku started the 2-1 victory over the Toffees on the Reds' substitutes bench but the Belgian forward replaced Marcus Rashford midway through the second half and earned post-match praise from his manager.

“I think when he scores one goal, life will change for him,” Mourinho told MUTV.

“At the moment, I think he's under that pressure that normally the strikers put on themselves, plus the press obviously. So it's not an easy life for strikers when they don't score goals.

“I think he's feeling a little bit of that, but he came into the game with good movement,“ he continued.

“Romelu showed good attitude, he wasn't losing the ball, his first touch was better, he was much more composed, so he will be better.

“I have no doubts that soon he will start scoring goals,” concluded Mourinho.

Will Pogba stay on penalties?

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has revealed Paul Pogba will stay on penalty duty when quizzed by reporters, whilst Pogba has discussed whether he will alter his stuttered approach.

Pogba missed a first-half penalty in the 2-1 win over Everton at Old Trafford after his trademark, paused run-up was saved by Jordan Pickford, before the Frenchman tapped home the rebound.

United's no.6 added an assist to his goal, laying the ball off for Anthony Martial's cracker, which was enough for the three points, despite Gylfi Sigurdsson pulling a goal back from the penalty spot himself.

And boss Jose Mourinho has admitted he is happy with the 'desire' Pogba shows to step up and take United's penalties under pressure.

“The thing I like is the desire to take it. I don’t like [players who are like], ‘Mickey Mouses,’ fragile and afraid to go and take a penalty. I don’t like that. I like a player that wants to take it,” he said.

“Like, for example today, the Crystal Palace boy [Luka Milivojevic] missed last week against Everton and today [against Arsenal] two penalties, give me the ball and if I miss, I miss, but I go there and take it. Paul wants to take them and that, for me, is fantastic. If he misses, he misses.

”Can he improve his penalties? I think he can. I think the goalkeepers know his run-up, they don’t move and they are waiting until the last second for his decision, so I think he probably has to learn from that, but what, for me, is the most important thing is that next time he has a penalty, he goes again and he goes happy again. And that, for me, is the most important thing.“

Pogba was also questioned on his techique in his post-match interview and revealed he may look at change his penalty technique after Pickford had denied him.

“Today, sure, I was lucky, but the most important [thing] is the ball went in and I scored the goal, so it was the one that was good for us. It was good for me and then after we carried on and we had other chances and the most important was the win today,” he said on Sky Sports.

“I always try to disturb the keeper. I always shoot like this and that's how I know how to take penalties, so I might maybe practice to change it, because maybe the keepers start to know my step, but the most important [thing] is when the ball goes in.”

Ashley Young also had his say on Pogba's penalty style and, when asked by MUTV's Stewart Gardner if his United team-mates ever have a joke with him about his run-up, Young admitted they have!

“I think we have [wound him up about his run up],” said the skipper.

“Someone just told me he took 26 steps [in his run-up], but if he wants to take 62 steps and scores the penalty that's all that matters,” he continued.

“As long as he scores the penalties, you can't take anything away from him.”

Key quotes: Jose Mourinho reflects on win

Jose Mourinho was delighted with the performance of his Manchester United side after the 2-1 win over Everton at Old Trafford.

Speaking to Sky Sports, MUTV and at the post-match press conference, the manager discussed a number of issues, including the fact the Reds survived over six minutes of stoppage time, the midfield and Anthony Martial's dazzling display...

BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON?

“I thought we played very well against Chelsea, especially in the second half. The second half against Newcastle was also special. The first half against Spurs was phenomenal. We had some nice games in some nice periods. I think this was not complete because the result was in doubt until the last second, but that is a consequence of a goal that we concede and a consequence of some big chances that we miss, but I agree with you, the performance was solid. In some periods in the second half, it was not just solid, it was more than that, I think beautiful, great actions, create possession, not the possession just to have the ball but to create possession. I think the performance was very good. We don’t need the last corner, where a bit of tragedy almost like what happened at Stamford Bridge.”

THE UNITED EVERYONE WANTS TO SEE?

“In terms of the philosophy and the mentality, yes. But I would like a better Manchester United.”

MAGICAL MARTIAL

“ I think he has the same natural talent that he had one year ago, two years ago, but he's improving his way of thinking football, thinking training too and thinking his role in the team, so I'm really, really happy with him. And with Luke Shaw, with boys that are improving and difficult periods for them, difficult periods for myself, because I want more from them and I took them to the limit. But in this moment I think both of them and in today's case, Anthony, he was able to do things that he was not able to do before, so I'm really, really happy with Anthony.”

AN 'IMPOSSIBLE MISSION'

“Fred played well. I think they were good. [Nemanja] Matic, Fred and [Paul] Pogba were good. I think in other matches, even when he [Fred] didn’t play, I think the team was was controlling well. Even against Chelsea, when we played with two midfield players, we were in great control and great creation so I think we are playing okay. We are not as solid, as rock solid as I would like. We don’t have the killer instinct that I would like. Some teams with three chances score three goals and some teams without the ball, they can resist and keep clean sheets all the time. For us, it is always an impossible mission to keep a clean sheet even with the phenomenal goalkeeper we have and to score goals is really difficult for us. You can see that in this moment.”

IT WAS NEVER GOING TO BE EASY

“Difficult moments, you're always going to have. You see Everton. Everton is not on paper, and I don't think they feel themselves, a candidate to the top four, but look to the potential and you don't see many differences and they are a team capable to come here and to fight for a result the way they did, so every match is difficult.”

LINDELOF SETTLING IN

“He [Victor Lindelof] is getting better. He reads the game well, he's fast, he's not very physical but he can be more aggressive than he is when he adapts to a different style of play, which is the Premier League. But a second season at the club [and he] is a kind of player that can only be better.”

Premier League: Man. United 2 Everton 1

Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba were Manchester United’s goal heroes as the Reds held off a late Everton rally to win 2-1 at Old Trafford.

It wasn’t all plain sailing after Pogba had given the Reds a half-time lead when he followed up his penalty, which was saved by Jordan Pickford, to score the rebound. In-form goalscorer Martial extended United’s lead in the second half when he scored his fourth Premier League goal in his last three outings. But United couldn’t stroll home as Everton, who’d won their last three league matches, forced their way back into the game from the spot when Gylfi Sigurdsson netted.

The Reds were the better side early on but arguably got a shade lucky on a couple of counts when taking the lead in the 27th minute. Firstly, referee Jonathan Moss gave a penalty for a foul by Idrissa Gueye on Martial. It looked on TV replays as if the Everton midfielder had got a touch on the ball before the Reds’ Frenchman went over his legs in the box. Gueye’s heart must have been in his mouth though as he’d been yellow-carded only five minutes earlier for a foul on Fred. Moss, however, deemed the spot-kick was enough punishment.

After a long, slow, trademark run-up, Pogba finally saw his penalty saved by Everton’s England no.1 Pickford, but he could only parry the effort back into the six-yard area and Pogba accepted the gift the second time.

Martial, who’d early planted an inviting cross onto Juan Mata’s head, only for the Spaniard to send a soft one into Pickford’s arms, was becoming the root of all United’s danger. He was enjoying himself as he made hay down Everton’s left and revelled in cutting inside and getting the Old Trafford crowd on their feet.

Marcus Rashford, in a central role in place of Romelu Lukaku who was on the bench, had the ball in the net after Pickford saved from Pogba but the Mancunian was ruled offside.

Marco Silva's side responded with a couple of efforts of their own but, fortunately for United, both Sigurdsson's header and Theo Walcott's left-foot shot were weak and were meat and drink to David De Gea. A more powerful drive from Walcott just before the interval was also dealt with by the Spaniard allowng United to take the slender lead into the break

Everton’s efforts would have been flagged up at half time with everyone knowing a 1-0 lead is too precarious for comfort and a Richarlison shot soon after the break added to the cautionary mood. But United were soon in a more comfortable position thanks to Martial.

Pogba was being urged by Old Trafford to have a crack when he received the ball in shooting distance in a central position but the midfielder chose a cute square-pass for Martial. Everyone in the sight line behind the French winger in the Sir Bobby Charlton stand and those watching it from the Stratford End vantage point, knew it was going to be beyond Pickford’s arms from the moment it left Martial’s boot.

It was a classic Martial execution.

With United holding the 2-0 lead, and surviving a real scare when Bernard went past De Gea but could only find the side-netting, Jose Mourinho made his first substitution in the 65th minute.

Having admitted he’d left Romelu Lukaku out of his starting line-up due to a recent lack of confidence, the manager brought the Belgian on to face his old club to the expected jeers from the fans of his former employers.

But it was Everton who made the next big impact on the match. Mourinho had barely been in his technical area at all during the match, probably reflecting United’s dominance. The manager though decided to make his presence felt after Richarlison broke through and had a good chance to reduce the arrears. Jose had clearly recognised the developing threat.

United had become loose in their play and did pay the price when Richarlison again stretched the Reds at the back and Chris Smalling was forced to make a clumsy challenge in the 76th minute. Sigurdsson won the penalty shoot-out contest with De Gea to set the nerves jangling inside the stadium.

Haunting memories of Chelsea’s late Stamford Bridge point saver came back when the fourth official put up six minutes of injury time on the electronic board. Martial could have settled those frayed late nerves down when he had a one-on-one showdown with Pickford but the Everton keeper won the duel.

United, however, were able to see out the game for a much-needed three points.

MATCH DETAILS

United: De Gea, Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw; Matic, Pogba, Fred (Lingard 90), Mata (Herrera 85), Rashford (Lukaku 65), Martial.

Subs not used: Romero, Alexis, Rojo, Darmian.

Booked: Smalling, Matic.

Scorers: Pogba 27, Martial 49

Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne, Gomes, Sigurdsson, Bernard (Lookman 62), Walcott (Calvert-Lewin 77), Gueye (Tosun 77), Richarlison.

Subs not used: Stekelenburg, Baines, Mina, Davies.

Booked: Gueye.

Scorer: Sigurdsson 77 (pen)

Attendance: 74,525

Thai cave boys to watch Manchester United v Everton at Old Trafford

The 12 children who were rescued from flooded caves in Thailand this year will be at Old Trafford on Sunday to watch Manchester United play Everton.

The youngsters, all members of a junior football team, were rescued in July after being trapped for over two weeks.

Their plight gained worldwide attention and in the aftermath the children were invited to a United game by the club's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

The boys met Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on Saturday.

It is understood the youngsters will walk by the side of the pitch before watching the Premier League encounter (16:00 GMT) from the directors' box.

Credit: BBC Sport

Mourinho: Lukaku goal drought at Man Utd is like shaking a bottle of ketchup

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has likened Romelu Lukaku's current goal drought to shaking a ketchup bottle as the striker prepares to face his former club Everton.

Lukaku has often gone through barren spells in front of goal during his playing career, followed by ruthless scoring streaks which have resulted in him having an impressive goals-per-game ratio of 0.45 in the Premier League.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports ahead of United's Super Sunday clash against Everton, Mourinho says he expects Lukaku's next purple patch to not be too far away.

He said: "I think one of the best scorers in football had funny words about it. It was when Cristiano Ronaldo was speaking about the ketchup bottle and when you [shake it]. The goals are coming and coming and coming.

"I believe with Lukaku that this will happen, but the reality is that in this moment it's not happening.

"There's been lots of matches in which he's not scored a goal, and not just scoring but also the performances, the happiness in the performances, I think is the problem.

"But he's a good player, a good boy, and I think the best way to do it is to just keep working and the moment will arrive."

Mourinho is wary of the threat Everton pose his side this weekend, with the visitors having already scored six headed goals this season in the Premier League - more than any other team.

Conversely, United have struggled to defend set pieces, and Silva will look to exploit United's weakness at Old Trafford.

Mourinho missed out on signing Yerry Mina from Barcelona during the summer, with the Colombia international yet to make his Everton debut following a prolonged period out injured.

Mina is expected to have to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench given the form of Kurt Zouma and Michael Keane, and Mourinho says this weekend's opponents have been able to invest without the same level of pressure to succeed.

"Everton have one advantage in relation to us, which is a similar potential, but much less expectations," Mourinho added.

"Everything they do nicely is positive, the mood has been calm during their investments.

"They've improved their team, they've had time to work, no pressure at all, and the potential is very similar.

"We have on us that extra factor that we are Manchester United, but we have to be strong enough and brave enough to know that it's a game that we can win."

Credit: Skysports.com

De Gea: We know how big this Everton game is

David De Gea has declared a “real sense of commitment” among the Manchester United players ahead of an important Premier League match against Everton.

The Reds are determined to claim all three points from the Old Trafford encounter and our no.1 has called on the team to “control the game from minute one”.

Here, in our exclusive interview, De Gea speaks openly about United’s recent form, a couple of well-known connections with the Toffees and the exciting promise of Marcus Rashford ahead of the forward's imminent 21st birthday…

Firstly, how do you reflect on the performance against Juventus in midweek?
“I have got to be honest and say it was probably not our best performance, but we were up against a top side who were very well organised and prepared. They happened to perform well on the night and they worked hard. I think in the second half we had a chance to equalise, but at the end of the day we have to admit that they were superior to us on the night. It is behind us now and the focus is on Everton. It is a key match and a real chance to go for the three points.”

One of the positives from the Juventus game was the performance of Chris Smalling, who is about to make his 300th United appearance. You did that recently – how big an achievement is it?
“I think it is a lot of games in anybody’s book, but when you consider it is for a big club like Manchester United, then it is a fantastic achievement. Chris has been doing really, really well and he has managed to compete at a high level for all of those games. Just as an example, he and Victor [Lindelof] were great together. Hopefully, Chris will enjoy many, many more great games for this club, and Victor will too, because they worked well together on Tuesday.”

You have said that everybody is looking forward to the Everton match and all the players want to put on a positive performance and get the win. To do that, is it a case of reproducing what we have recently done in second halves but this time for the whole game?
“Yes. I have to say that we are really focused and committed. There is a real sense of commitment among the players. We know how big this game is. What we have to try to do is control the game from minute one, right from the referee’s first whistle when he starts the match. It is important we start well as a team, we keep things tight defensively and try to keep the ball, to have some possession. We know that we have got quality up front and our strikers will do a job for us. Iff we can get service to them then we can hurt them. That is what we’ve got to do with our strikers and these three points are very, very important. We are very focused and committed to getting them.”

Everton are playing well, have won three games in a row and have several players who are hitting form. One of them is Michael Keane, your former team-mate here at United. Are you pleased for him, following a difficult first season at Everton?
“Yeah, as you say, Everton are a good side. They signed well and made some good acquisitions during the summer transfer window. They have a good squad of quality players. I am happy to see Keane doing so well, I am happy to see that he is featuring as a first choice in the starting XI. Obviously, things were a little bit unfortunate for him when he started there at the club but I am happy to see him doing well now, because he is a good player, as he was when he was here.”

Another big connection we have with Everton is Wayne Rooney, who has been scoring goals with DC United and driving them up the MLS table. You must be delighted to see him looking so happy and playing so well?
“Yeah, he is a legend of this club, of course he is. It is great to see him still playing so well. I am sure he will still be scoring goals until the day he retires, and not just ordinary goals – fantastic goals at that! He has always scored some classic goals. It is good to see, you can tell he is enjoying his football and I hope he continues to do well out there for as long as he possibly can.”

Finally, Marcus Rashford will celebrate his 21st birthday next Wednesday, so will you and the lads mark the occasion in any way? And do you remember your own 21st birthday?
“He is a great player and he is still very, very young. He is still only 21 and the amount of games he has played for Manchester United, it is a lot of games when you really think about it. He is a huge talent with a really promising future. I can’t remember too clearly how I celebrated my own 21st birthday. I think it was just a quiet celebration with a few people here at the club.”

Rashford's achieved so much already

As Marcus Rashford approaches his twenty-first birthday, Jose Mourinho has reflected on the youngster's career at Manchester United so far and assessed how much he could still accomplish.

In his pre-match press conference for the Reds' Premier League fixture against Everton, the boss spoke of Rashford being in a privileged position for his age, given the experience of international and European club football he has already gained.

“Twenty-one years old for some players means zero matches in the first team,” said Jose. “For the majority of them, it means a squad player that plays a few minutes during the season.

”For Marcus Rashford, that means a player, I think, with more appearances [than any team-mate] in the past two years. It means playing in a World Cup, two seasons of the Champions League, a Europa League final, two FA Cup finals, a Carabao Cup final.

“He has had experiences and opportunities to develop himself that, at his age, can only be compared with the fantastic players who also made their breakthrough at a very, very young age.”

In 2016, Rashford introduced himself to the United faithful in style as the then 18-year-old scored a brace for the Reds against Midtjylland in the Europa League and quickly followed up with another double against Arsenal in his Premier League bow. He won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year trophy at the club's end-of-season awards at Old Trafford.

Since then, Marcus has gone on to make 84 league appearances with a return of 18 goals and nine assists, with the manager admitting that the Mancunian forward has laid the foundations for a fantastic career after all he has achieved so far.

“I think he's a privileged player, a privileged kid or, if you want to say now, a man, that has had so many opportunities to develop himself and he's going to keep having them,” said Jose. “So I think he has the conditions for his career to explode in the positive way of the word, conditions that not many players have during their careers.”

Many have compared the rise of Rashford to that of a former United great, Wayne Rooney. When asked about a comparison between the two, the boss admitted that while parallels can be drawn between the starts of their respective careers, it'll be what happens in the future that will determine whether Marcus will be held in the same regard as Rooney.

“This is the kind of thing that I think is not good for him,” said Mourinho. “By one side he has a fantastic range of opportunities to develop himself, by another side he has always this kind of situation surrounding him and probably that is not the best thing for him.

”Rooney did it. Marcus didn't. It's like comparing somebody with an amazing career, with amazing numbers, with a young player whose only similar thing so far was the start. The start was similar, but now let's see how it ends. So I don't think Marcus needs this kind of comparison. Rooney is Rooney, Marcus is Marcus.“

RASHFORD'S CAREER SO FAR IN NUMBERS
132 appearances for United across four campaigns.
33 goals in domestic and European competitions.
9 goals scored for England, including one on his debut against Australia.
4 trophies won with the Reds (Europa League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Community Shield)
4 goalscoring competition debuts in the Europa League, Premier League, Carabao Cup and Champions League
1 Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award, won in 2016

Manchester United players and style slammed by Soccer Saturday pundits

The Soccer Saturday pundits delivered a scathing verdict on Manchester United ahead of their game against Everton, live on Sky Sports Premier League.

It has been another turbulent week for Jose Mourinho's side after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Chelsea last weekend, complete with a late touchline confrontation, before losing 1-0 to Juventus in the Champions League.

There has also been speculation surrounding the future of David de Gea, as well as the form of players such as Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez.

Manchester United's recent highs and lows were discussed by the Soccer Saturday panel and they did not hold back on their assessment.....

'60 per cent of players aren't good enough'

Alan McInally: "There's too many flaws in Manchester United. The reality is 60 per cent of these players are not good enough to play for Manchester United and that's why the results are very up and down.

"When you play for a big club, you're expected to be able to win every game. You don't have the luxury not to, and I genuinely don't think some of these players can cope with it. They're good - but I don't think they're that good."

'United further away than they think'

Charlie Nicholas: "I couldn't believe what I was watching [against Juventus]. It was an attack-minded team at Chelsea and he stuck with the same team against Juventus so I thought, 'Manchester United are going to have a go again'.

"But Lukaku looks as if he can't move - he looks as if he doesn't know where he's running to, he doesn't know when the service is coming - and I just thought they were so timid about everything they did.

"Juventus couldn't believe the space they were getting - it was all so comfortable. It was probably the angriest I've seen some Manchester United fans for a while in that last 20 minutes. Jose came out afterwards and talked about what they needed to catch Juventus, Man City, Barcelona... but I thought, 'You're further away than you think'.

"I don't get what the formation is. Victor Lindelof didn't play that badly but I don't know where the centre-backs are going to be. I've never seen such a timid Manchester United team, at home, on a European night, accepting that they were second-best.

"Lukaku's a unit but he's cumbersome and the service is not coming quickly enough. He's strong enough to hold the ball up and link up play but nobody runs beyond him - occasionally Marcus Rashford. If I was Mourinho - and I'm not, it's only my opinion - if you're going to keep him in the team, I'd put Rashford as the No 9 and let him play slightly right - or you leave him on the bench. They need movement."

'Playing like a relegation team'

Paul Merson: "Lukaku went to Manchester United to score bundles of goals and get bundles of chances. He's playing in a team at the moment, up front, on his own, that are playing like a bottom-half team... a relegation team. He should be getting seven chances a game at Old Trafford. Does he trust the players he's playing with?"

'No consistency'

Phil Thompson: "No. I'm not surprised, they're 10th - at this moment. They're up and down. There's no consistency - you don't know what you're going to get. They don't express themselves against teams.

"It's a good time to play Manchester United. Everton will be thinking, 'It's a good time, let's stay in the game, quieten the crowd a bit, make it uncomfortable, take the game to them'."

Credit: Skysports.com

Strachan: David De Gea deserves to choose his next club

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has earned the right to choose where he moves next, according to Gordon Strachan.

The Spain international hit the headlines on Friday when United boss Jose Mourinho revealed he was 'not confident' the goalkeeper would sign a new deal at Old Trafford, with his current contract due to expire at the end of the season.

Real Madrid have been long-term admirers of the 27-year-old, but after they signed Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea in the summer and Juventus showed a recent interest, De Gea's potential next destination is far from confirmed.

Speaking on The Debate, former Scotland boss Strachan said De Gea's performances for United over the past seven years warrant the stopper being able to decide where he will play next, should he leave.

"He deserves the right to choose where he goes and he'll have a few clubs after him," Stachan said. "But he deserves it after a sticky start where young players can crumble going to Manchester United, we've seen it before - they crumble, they disappear and we don't see them again.

"He dealt with it, physically got better but mentally got stronger. Over the last couple of years, I'm sure he's had approaches and he's dealt with it in the right way. OK, it takes you a little while to get over a knock-back if you really want to go to Barcelona or Real Madrid or wherever it is, but he's dealt with it, he's got on with it.

"He's been a great team-mate and a great servant for the club, so I think it's right that he decides where he wants to go."

United's lacklustre start to the season sees them languishing in 10th in the Premier League standings heading into the weekend's action and Strachan argues the club's failure to hit top gear this season will prove to be a significant factor in the stopper's thought process.

"I think the problem United are having just now is because they are not up there with the top clubs in Europe," he added

"They are one of the top clubs, but not one of the top teams at the moment - he'll go back to the Spanish squad and he's got the guys from Real Madrid in the Champions League final, Barcelona, they are winning leagues. He's not winning leagues anymore.

"And I think he's way past the stage of worrying about money. I think what you need now is job satisfaction and as a goalie he's got another 10 years in it. I think he wants to go and be in the top games, the Champions League, cup finals, winning leagues. That's what he's after.

"He may stay but I think sometimes as a player you just want to go and try something different, meet new people.

"I think that's where you start talking to the lad. When you get close to a lad and he decides to move on then you realise there's no changing his mind, that's when you say, "Let's help him."

"Let's help him get the best move and then hopefully he's in fine form when he moves on because I think he deserves that kind of group thing where they say 'thanks very much' instead of making a hassle out of this. If he's made up his mind, then let him go."

Credit: Skysports.com

De Gea: My focus is on winning, not a new Man Utd contract

David de Gea insists his concentration is on winning games for Manchester United, not his contract situation.

The Spanish goalkeeper's current deal runs out in the summer - although United do have the option to extend this by a further year - and talks have been ongoing for several months.

United manager Jose Mourinho said on Friday he is "not confident" De Gea will extend his contract, but has urged the club to keep him.

And in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports ahead of United's meeting with Everton on Super Sunday, De Gea says he is looking to avoid any distracting talks of a new deal.

"What matters is the team and all of us being focused on what we need to focus on, which is winning games, rather than contracts or any topics that can be a distraction. What matters is focusing on football.

"We have an important game against Everton and we have some big fixtures over the coming months. I think that's what matters, rather than thinking about anything else."

"I've been here for many seasons, as we've said. I've been at the club for eight seasons now. I'm very happy here. I always feel that warmth from the fans and everyone who works at the club."

United's form and Mourinho's subsequent future have also been a hot topic of debate in recent weeks, with the club sitting 10th in the Premier League having lost three games already this season.

De Gea's own form has also been in question following a difficult World Cup with Spain, but the 27-year-old says he is too busy to get bogged down in contract talk and finds it easy to concentrate on his game.

"I think it's very easy to be focused on what you have to focus on, partly because we have lots of training sessions and play every three or four days," De Gea added.

"You have to be focused on what's important, which is the team, winning, doing well in training and being in good shape to give your all.

"You don't have time to think about things that aren't as important as football and the points that are at stake in the games that we have to win and do well in."

Credit: Skysports.com

Mourinho backed for Real Madrid return by former president Ramon Calderon

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon believes Jose Mourinho will return to the Spanish capital "sooner or later".

The future of the Manchester United boss has been frequently brought into question in recent weeks, with the team 10th in the Premier League.

However, Mourinho has reiterated his intention to see out his current deal at Old Trafford, which is set to run until 2020. The Portuguese served as Real manager from 2010 to 2013, and former president Calderon feels it is only a matter of time before a reunion comes to fruition.

"If this president [Florentino Perez] is with the team for a few years, and I think he will be, Mourinho will be here," Calderon said in an interview with ESPN.

"No doubt. It's the only coach the president has respected. For better or worse. I think he will be here - if he leaves Manchester, of course. But sooner or later, I think he will be here."

United return to action on Sunday when they host Everton, live on Sky Sports, in a fixture which sees Romelu Lukaku poised to go up against his former club.

Credit: Skysports.com

Gary Neville on Anthony Martial's Manchester United future

Are you surprised Martial has turned down a new deal?
I'm not surprised he's turned down a new deal. I think it's probably the general answer of everybody that gets offered a new contract nowadays, that they turn a new one down. He probably wants the same level of money some of the other players in the squad are on, he is probably looking at his options externally. From that point of view, at this moment in time, it doesn't surprise me at all that he's turned it down.

How important is he? How far should Man Utd go to keep him?
To be honest with you, I'm quite neutral [on the Martial situation]. I reckon he probably divides the fans 50:50. When you are watching Anthony Martial, you are not quite sure whether it's someone who's got an incredible talent who will go on to be one of the best in the world, or whether what you are actually seeing is what he is - which is, to be fair, someone who shows it in glimpses and doesn't perform consistently over a season and over, now, a period of three or four seasons.

He's got unbelievable talent, the ability to become one of the best in the world, he just needs confidence, belief and to play in a team that's successful and all of a sudden we'll see the real Martial. On the other hand I'd look at it thinking his body language isn't great, his movement off the ball isn't great, he does not make enough moves between the right back and centre back. He doesn't drive at people often enough in the final third and commit them, doesn't actually have great quality when the ball is at his feet and he works his way in from the left.

I am so torn, I think that's where fans are as well, he is a bit of a conundrum in the sense you don't want to lose him and think of what he might become. On the other hand he may need to leave to become what he might become. Diego Forlan had to play in Spain to become one of the best strikers in La Liga, there are players who have to leave sometimes to achieve what they want. Then there are sometimes players who achieve what they want, Cristiano Ronaldo it just hit him after three seasons and he became incredible. So I am really torn, it feels like I am sitting on the fence, but it is the reality I am at, I cannot make my mind up on him and I am not sure if that's good or bad three years in.

Credit: Skysports.com

Jose: We must be ready for Everton

Jose Mourinho sat down with MUTV's Mark Sullivan to discuss how Manchester United are shaping up for Sunday's big match against Everton at Old Trafford. Read on to hear the manager's thoughts about facing Marco Silva's side...

Jose, Tuesday’s game against Juventus was a really high-level and physical game. What was it like to be involved in?
“Yes, we had two very intense matches [against Juventus and Chelsea] in three days – very, very hard and without many solutions to make changes to the team. The majority of the players played two full matches of high-level football – very intense, very hard. But as I was saying, it was very, very good to match ourselves against one of the best teams in England and then one of the best teams in the world. The results could be better – I think obviously the three points against Chelsea were much deserved and, because of our second half against Juventus, a 1-1 draw would be very acceptable too, so I think the performances were better than the results. We have to try to take the positives, we’ve had time to rest because, from Tuesday to Sunday, it’s a good period of rest and I believe that on Sunday the players can be at a really good level.”

Given how tough those two games were, how is the squad looking? Will you get any players back who are injured?
“[To be] 100 per cent [fit] no, but probably with the effort of the players, the medical department and the fitness people, over the weekend we can recover one or two of them to at least to be on the bench and to give us more options. Jesse [Lingard] is one of those that is possible.”

How tough a test will Everton be on Sunday?
“Difficult. Incredible investment... we knew that the club were going to move in that direction so, in the summer, [they had some] incredible investment. [They bought] very good players. Just to give you an idea, three of them came from Barcelona [Yerry Mina, Andre Gomes and Lucas Digne]. That’s the level that Everton want to reach, without the pressure that we have because obviously [the] Manchester United name, history and dimension brings a different level of responsibility. But I think their conditions are very similar to our conditions, so it's a difficult match for us but I think, after playing Chelsea and Juventus, the players must be ready for the challenge.”

You have a very good record against Everton – does that play any part or have any significance?
“I didn’t even know until you said that. I’m not very good on these numbers and these stats. I forget them, I don’t realise. Sometimes people tell me something about that and I didn’t know it at all. So, I don’t know but it doesn’t play any part – for me, every game is a different game and a completely separate event. What I know from my time at Manchester United is that in the four matches I’ve played against Everton, home and away, all of them were hard, all of them were close, all of them were difficult. Now, with the evolution in their potential, I believe that even more.”

The fans were right behind the team against Juventus, as they were against Chelsea and Newcastle too. How important will the crowd be again on Sunday?
“Very important. I think the crowd has been good to the boys. I think the crowd likes the effort, obviously like myself and everyone else, they want the effort with the result. But I think they [the fans] respect the players’ effort. They knew clearly that against Chelsea the team was phenomenal, and they knew that against Juventus we were playing against probably the best team in Europe now. The boys fought for the result until the very end so, from the crowd, we cannot ask for anything more than they’re giving us.”

Finally, how important is it to pick up the three points and get a consistent run of good performances?
“Yes, the performances are coming and the results – the Newcastle victory was very important obviously, [against] Chelsea we felt very disappointed with the point and we have to try now obviously. Everton is difficult but we have to try to go back to the victories but, if possible, a victory and a good performance because performances are also important.”

Cantona: I suffer watching Manchester United

Eric Cantona says he "suffers" watching Manchester United and that the club are "losing a generation of young players" because of their current style of play.

United are 10th in the Premier League and lost 1-0 to Juventus on Tuesday.

Their performance against the Serie A champions was widely criticised and Jose Mourinho's future at the club has been repeatedly questioned this season.

"It's not the right man for the right woman," said former striker Cantona of Mourinho's relationship with United.

Cantona, 52, won four Premier League titles and two FA Cups in five seasons at United, under Sir Alex Ferguson.

"It's the way you play," said the former France international at an event reported by The Republik of Mancunia.

"You can lose games but you take risks. You lose against Juventus and they have 70% possession of the ball at Old Trafford. Could you imagine that with Ferguson on the bench?

"I suffer and I suffer even more when I see [Manchester City] play so wonderfully.

"I think kids needs to have an example. They need great players, great movements, creative football to identify themselves to a player or a team. And I think they are now losing a generation of young players.

"These young players identify themselves to the way City play. Can we accept that? No."

Commenting on who he would like to see given the top job at Old Trafford, Cantona suggested a former player should be given a chance.

"At United, they never give a chance to a player who knows the club from the inside, who knows the identity and philosophy of the club," he said.

"I don't want people to think I'm saying this because I want to be manager of Manchester United. It's just the truth.

"[Ryan] Giggs? Any player who wants to be the manager they should give them the chance."

Credit: BBC Sport

Manchester United earn least from Premier League clubs in 2017/18 Champions League

Liverpool earned more money from last season's Champions League than any other Premier League club - but Manchester United earned both the lowest total and lowest in TV revenue of all the English sides.

Jurgen Klopp's runners-up, who were beaten by Real Madrid in the final, received £71.86m including a £5.6m performance bonus - by no means the most - and one of the highest shares of TV revenue with £25.8m, yet all still less than second-highest earners Roma.

Jose Mourinho's United, however, received just less than half that of their Merseyside rivals with a total of £35.67m, which included more in performance money at £7.21m but far less in TV share at £11.93m, despite reaching the last-16.

This could be in part due to Liverpool playing the likes of Real Madrid, Roma and Manchester City, while United played Basel, CSKA Moscow and Benfica in the group stage before being knocked out by Sevilla.

It is Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham who have earned the highest performance bonus of any club in the competition with £7.65m, despite only reaching the first knock-out stage - some £500,000 more than the likes of United, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

Chelsea earned the most TV revenue out of the Premier League clubs; some £35.86m going towards the second-highest English-club total of £57.6m, which is slightly more than Manchester City's £56.4m and Tottenham's £54.2m totals.

Pep Guardiola's City earned a performance bonus of £7.2m and a TV revenue share of £26.94m, while Chelsea's performance bonus was £5.21m and Spurs' TV share was £30m.

Champions Real Madrid were the highest earners in total with £78.38m worth of winnings, while quarter-finalists Juventus, who ultimately knocked out Tottenham in a dramatic second-leg comeback at Wembley, had the highest TV share in the competition with £43.29m.

UEFA have paid out a massive £1.25bn to all clubs in last season's competition, including £527m TV revenue - the largest portion of its total bill.

Credit: Skysports.com