Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho wants to stay at Old Trafford for longest unbroken spell

And nowManchester Unitedboss Mourinhohas revealed that, at a youthful 55, he could also carry on managing until he’s drawing his old-age pension.Mourinho is at the Theatre of Dreams for the foreseeable future, happy to go beyond the three years and three months in his first stint at Chelsea.Asked if he could stay at Old Trafford for his longest unbroken spell, he said: “I think so.

To be honest at other clubs I had the feeling of already thinking about ‘What next?’. I had things I had to do. I had to go toItaly for sure. I had to go to Spain for sure.“At this moment, there isn’t anything around the corner.

I don’t want to do anything different to what I am doing now.”So could Mourinho carry on in the toughest job in football until the ripe old age of his rival Wenger?

“For sure,” Mourinho said with a smile. “I will have to change clubs, though, because you don’t allow me to stay here.“I think until the point you lose your motivation you keep improving. But I can’t see myself doing 22 years at one club because you don’t allow it.

“It’s too much pressure – not just for the manager but for the club, especially without any kind of success. To have four or five years to get a trophy and change theteam, I don’t think you allow that any more.

 Am I a better manager now than 10 years ago? Yes, in every way. I am the same, nothing has changed. My passion for the job is the same and my sense of responsibility, emotional control is better.

“Obviously I am much more mature. At every level, training, matches, relations withthe players, it feels like everything is déjà vu.“It is very difficult now that there is something in my professional life I am surprised with or I don’t know how to react. I have had it before.“So yes, it is a job where the more experience you have the better you are.

You just have to keep this motivational level. I believe that one day a manager can say it is enough. They don’t want more.“Until a manager decides that, I think you get better and better.”

So Mourinho will witness the end of an era with Wenger riding off into the sunset, probably to another club on the European circuit. So how should Wenger be remembered?Mourinho added: “First of all, I don’t think he is dead. And I don’t think he ends his career. Until I have different information, heis only going to end his career as Arsenal manager.

“I am going to remember him as a big opponent. As the manager of The Invincibles. The Invincibles I met when I arrived in the country in 2004. The Invincibles who made me a better coach.“That’s the way I’d remember him.”

Man Utd star Paul Pogba speaks out over Jose Mourinho relationship and transfer rumours

Pogba was dropped for Manchester United’s Champions League games against Sevilla earlier in the season amid reports he and Mourinho were involved in a training ground bust-up.The £89million man has repeatedly been criticised by Mourinho during a testing campaign but he insists all is well off the pitch.

“I have no problem with him, and I don't think he has a problem,” Pogba said in an interview on French TV's Canal Football Club on Sunday evening.“He put me in as captain and he has given me responsibilities in a great club like United.“I am a player, and I like to give the best of myself.

“He is the coach, he has to make decisions and I am a player, I accept them, I have to answer on the pitch.“A coach makes his choices for the team, not for one player, he takes me out and puts someone else in.“It is only because he is looking for something else, and the players must accept that.”

Pogba has blown hot and cold in recent weeks, with his man-of-the-match displays against Manchester City and Bournemouth coming in between a lacklustre outing vs West Brom.He shone at Wembley on Saturday as United beat Tottenham to reach the FA Cup final.

Persistent rumours of a transfer, however, have not died down.Paul Pogbahas been linked with a move away from Old Trafford as a result of his struggles.

A potential move to Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain has been mooted, while he was also offered to Manchester City in January, but the 25-year-old has no interest in the speculation.He said: “Right now I am at Man United and I am thinking solely about the present, the FA Cup and the coming World Cup.“I am not thinking about transfers or any ofthat.”

Mohamed Salah wins PFA Player of the year

Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah has been crowned the PFA Player of the year after scoring 31 goals this term in the Premier League with three games to end the season.

The Egyptian fought off competition from Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne to scoop the prestigious individual prize on Sunday night, April 22.Former English professional footballer andcurrent sports broadcaster Gary Lineker broke the news on social media.

The former Chelsea and Roma man has been instrumental in Liverpool’s top four push under Jurgen Klopp.Salah joined the Reds from Roma last summer for £37 million and has quickly established himself as a club icon.

De Bruyne finished runner-up to Salah, withthe Belgian sure to be disappointed at missing out on English football’s top individual accolade.He has been the main man in City’s incredible title win, scoring eight goals and 15 assists this season.

Europa League trophy stolen and recovered in Mexico

Mexican authorities confirm that the Europa League trophy was stolen after being displayed at a publicity event in Mexico, only to be recovered a few hours later in the state of Guanajuato.

The trophy had been on display at the football stadium in the city of Leon on Friday night, only to be taken from a car after the event.“We recovered the Cup after receiving information that it had been stolen from the car transporting it,”said a post on the Twitter account of the Guanajuato public prosecutor, alongside a picture of the trophy in a case.

No other information was given about who took the trophy, whereit was found or whether any perpetrators had been identified. The event had been organised by one of European football governing body UEFA’s sponsors.

Playing for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger was one of the best period of my career'- Football legend, Nwankwo Kanu pays tribute to Wenger as he quits the club after 22 years

Former Super Eagles captain andArsenallegend, NwankwoKanu has paid a tribute to his former coachArsene Wenger who is living the club after 22 years.

The 68-year-old Frenchman, who joined Arsenal from Nagoya Grampus Eightin 1996 shocked the football world when he announced in a statement on Friday that he will step down at the end of the season after 22 years.

Kanu, 41, who joined Arsenal in a £4.15 million deal fromInter Milanin 1999, took his Instagram account to pay tribute to Wenger.Sharing a photo with Wenger, as they pose together with his no.25 jersey on the day he was signed, the former Super Eagles captain wrote:

'Big shoes for anyone to fill, playing for Arsenal under Arsene was one of the best period of my career, 2 premiership, 2 FAcups, The invincibles, playing with some of the best assembled players, influencing millions of fansin Africa to support this great club are some of the memories that come to fore today but above all the privilege to have played for a gentleman like Wenger is most cherished.? ? ? ? ' 

Arsene Wenger: Sir Alex Ferguson reveals why he is 'pleased' by Arsenal exit announcement

enger broke the news on Friday morning as the Gunners gear up for this weekend’s showdown with London rivals West Ham atthe Emirates.Arsenal are set to miss out on Champions League qualification for the second successive campaign regardless of their result against the Hammers but silverware is still in their sights.

Europa League glory would represent the 11th major honour of Wenger’s spell in north London, a portion of which was spentbattling Ferguson.Former Manchester United boss Ferguson has now explained why he is pleased by the timing of his old adversary announcing his departure.

"I am really happy forArsene Wenger," Ferguson told United’s official website."I have great respect for him and for the job he has done at Arsenal."It is great testament to his talent, professionalism and determination that he has been able to dedicate 22 years of his life to a job that he loves.

"In an era where football managers sometimes only last one or two seasons, it shows what an achievement it is to serve that length of time at a club the size of Arsenal.

"I am pleased that he has announced he is leaving at this stage of the season, as he cannow have the send-off that he truly deserves.

"He is, without doubt, one of the greatest Premier League managers and I am proud to have been a rival, a colleague and a friend to such a great man.

"Arsenal follow up Sunday’s encounter with West Ham with Premier League fixtures against United, Burnley, Leicester and Huddersfield.

Current United boss Jose Mourinho paid tribute to Wenger this morning, suggesting his hostile relationship with the Arsenal manager was artificial.

"It’s not about regretting, I think your question is a typical question from somebody that was not in this side, you were not a manager, a player, of course you don’t know the way we respect each other even when sometimes it doesn’t look like we don’t, players that get yellow cards and red cards by aggression actions against each other, bad words during the career, the manager is the same thing but the ones that respect more each other are the ones with the problems," he said.

"It’s power and ambition and quality againsteach other but in the end it’s people from the same business and respect each others’careers, so it happened, what matters for me is the way I respect the person, the professional, the career and I always say that for some the memories short, but for us football people, the real football people, who are the ones inside the four lines, playing, or the managers, or the refs, the others live on us, the football people doesn’t have short memory.

I know what it means, three PL titles and seven FA Cups, what he did in Japan and France, what he brought to French football and what he gave to Arsenal in the period without Premier League, the transition from stadium to stadium, we know what he did.

"If he’s happy with the decision, I’m really happy and I hope he doesn’t retire from football."Arsenal are set to take on Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid over two legs for a place inMay’s Europa League final.Marseille and Red Bull Salzburg will contest the other semi-final tie as they lookto secure their spot at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.

Arsene Wenger: Statement in full as Wenger confirms he will leave Arsenal

Wenger will leave Arsenal in the summer, standing down after nearly 22 years in charge.Wenger has been under fire this season after another difficult campaign and fans have even stayed away from the Emirates.

Arsenal will miss out on the top four again and their only hope of playing in the Champions League next season comes if they win the Europa League.But Wenger will leave to finally silence his critics.

Arsene Wenger statement in full

“After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end ofthe season," he said.

“I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years.“I managed the club with full commitment and integrity.

“I want to thank the staff, the players, the Directors and the fans who make this club so special.“I urge our fans to stand behind the team to finish on a high.

“To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club."My love and support for ever.”

Stan Kroenke paid tribute to Wenger and called on the side to finish the season in good form.He said: “This is one of the most difficult days we have ever had in all our years in sport.

"One of the main reasons we got involved with Arsenal was because of what Arsène has brought to the club on and off the pitch.His longevity and consistency over such a sustained period at the highest level of the game will never be matched.

“Arsene has unparalleled class and we will always be grateful to him. Everyone who loves Arsenal and everyone who loves football owes him a debt of gratitude."Three Premier League titles, including an entire season unbeaten, seven FA Cup triumphs and 20 successive years in the Champions League is an exceptional record.

"He has also transformed the identity of our club and of English football with his vision for how the game can be played.“We have high ambitions to build on Arsène’s remarkable tenure and to honour his vision by ensuring that Arsenal competes for and wins the biggest and most important prizes in the game.

“We must now focus on making a strong finish to the season and ask our millions offans around the world to join us in paying appropriate tribute to one of the greats of Arsenal’s history and one of the greats of the game.”

Mohamed Salah reveals how Chelsea failure has inspired stunning season with Liverpool

Salah has been a revelation forLiverpool, scoring 30 Premier League goals and inspiring them into the Champions League semi-finals.

He joined from Roma in a £39m summer move that turned heads after his failed spell atChelsea.

He joined Jose Mourinho’s side in 2014 but was loaned out to Fiorentina after just three games and then to Roma after struggling to adapt.

He eventually left on a permanent deal for the Italian capital and began showing signs of his talent.

Liverpool gambled on him and Jurgen Klopp has admitted he wasn’t his first choice but the club’s transfer committee pushed through a deal.

And Salah admits he wanted to show people ‘his football’ and stresses he wasn’t given a proper chance at Stamford Bridge.

"I know from the first day I wanted to do something different, something special,” Salah toldSky Sports.

“I was here with Chelsea, didn't get my chance, and then came back. I wanted to show everyone my football.

"I didn't play. You can see by the numbers. Ididn't have my chance, but you can see when I did get my chance I proved some people wrong.

"Because in my mind I have to succeed here, when I left the Premier League I said I'd come back, and when I had the chance, I came.

"You can see the difference [in me] between now, a year before, two years before that. Every year, every day, every month I am proving myself. I always try to see my weakness, work on it, to be better as a person and a player, everything.

You can see my body now is different thanbefore, my finishing is different, I am more comfortable on the pitch and am trying to improve every day.

"I think I have had a great season, doing very well with the team, fighting to be in thetop positions, second or third. I can't forgetwhat the team give me, the way we play, theway they support me inside and outside of the pitch.

"Salah leads the race for the golden boot with four more goals than Tottenham’s Harry Kane.He took his tally to 30 in the 3-0 win over Bournemouth at the weekend and admits his team-mates are helping him out to get over the line.

"As you can see last couple of games, the players are trying to help me a lot now to score goals, because they know now I am in for the Golden Boot. In the end it is an individual award, but it also helps the team gets the points.

The way we play is very good, and you cansee the fans are very happy and I feel very good about that, I feel they want me to win something."It's the last four games, so it's very clear, I play for it. In the beginning I played for it, but it's always for the team. I want to score for the team.

"But before, when I was second to Kane, I had a chance to score, I gave it to Bobby [Roberto Firmino] and he scored, I play football for football not just to think about myself. I give assists, I create chances, because I can't forget my position. I play still on the wing, not No 9. I play for the team and everyone can see that.

"Honestly as you can see, I have had a greatseason and still some games to go. For anyone the most important thing is to play good, to perform good, to score goals for your team. I am happy in the city, for the club and for myself for sure. It means a lot."

Man Utd news: Buying Sanchez was a mistake and has hurt Rashford and Martial - Scholes

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho rotated Rashford and Martial in the wide left role for the first half of the season.But in January, United swooped to sign Sanchez from Arsenal in a swap deal involving Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

However, Sanchez has not been able to have the anticipated impact with just two goals for the club and Mourinho’s preference for Sanchez has seen Rashford and Martial become frustrated on the sidelines.Both players are currently being linked with moves away from Old Trafford in the summer.

And when asked whether Sanchez’s arrival stunted Rashford and Martial’s development, Scholes told BT Sport: “I think it did a little bit.

“Marcus [Rashford] and [Anthony] Martial, I think it stopped them playing.“Was Sanchez a player at that time United needed? Possibly don’t think so.

We know the qualities he has got, he’s had a great career.

He hasn’t quite hit it off at United."He’s had one or two games where he’s done quite well but on the whole he hasn’t done as well as we would have expected

PFA Team of the Year CONFIRMED: Premier League XI revealed with shock striker inclusion

Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah lead the line in the PFA Premier League Team of theYear alongside perhaps the most controversial choice in this season's XI.

Liverpool star Salah has stunned fans all season after racking up 30 league goals already since his move from Roma last summer.

He has enjoyed a season-long battle with Kane for the Golden Boot and attracted the attention of several major European clubs with his form.

Manchester City have five stars in the line-up after their terrific Premier League title victory, including Kevin De Bruyne.

Pep Guardiola's men were confirmed as top flight champions after rivals Manchester United fell to a shock 1-0 defeat against West Brom.City upped their consistency in 2017/18 and powered their way to top spot where they remained all season.

Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane have beencrucial to their success, though neither stars has been recognised in the PFA XI.

Aside from City, the rest of the team consists of Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea stars, with Salah the only representative of Liverpool to make the cut.

Several big names – such as Roberto Firmino – have missed out on a place in the team despite strong performances this season.

Further PFA award winners – including thePlayer and Young Player of the Year awards – are yet to be announced, though Salah

Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho threatens MAJOR changes with Paul Pogba in firing line

Mourinho was infuriated by United’s performance in the 1-0 home defeat to WestBrom on Sunday which has jeopardised their hopes of finishing runners-up.

And he will give other players a chance in the rearranged League clash at Bournemouth tomorrow with a warning that Wembley places are up for grabs regardless of status, pricetag or reputation.Asked if he would rotate his squad he said: “Rotating is not the right word.

If I play a player against Bournemouth and the playeris phenomenal, he plays in the semi-final.“So it is not rotating, because rotating looks like a player that plays against Bournemouth is in order to give a rest to somebody who is going to play against Spurs in the semi-final.

“It is an opportunity for some people to play and to try to get a place in the team for Spurs. Some of the guys that played against West Brom don’t have a place in that team [for the Bournemouth game].

What is the criteria for a manager to choose a team? I only know one criteria – it is the way they play. That is the only way I can select players. Or do you want me to go for the price they cost, or their salary, or their beautiful face or… The only way is to go with performance.

”Pogba, who has been in and out of the team this year, was substituted after 56 minutes on Sunday just a week after he had been the two-goal hero in the second-half comeback in the Manchester derby.Asked if he was disappointed with the £89mmidfielder’s performance,Jose Mourinhoadded: “It was not just him. And he had a yellow card so he was in a more difficult position than others.

“When you are playing with only two midfield players you cannot play with one player at risk of not being able to make a foul. You can do it if your team is not losingthe ball but our team was losing the ball so easily with the complication, everything was complicated, so we were losing lots of balls, with turnings and flicks and tricks

.“The midfield players and central defenders are at risk of one touch, one late challenge and they are out, so Paul was out [substituted] because of the yellow card, because of in terms of the way he played hewas not worse than some of the others who were on the pitch for 90 minutes.”Mourinho is unhappy at the lack of consistency in performance levels of his team.

During an up and down season Manchester United have lost to Huddersfield, West Brom and Newcastle as well as Bristol City in the League Cup, and been held to draws by Southampton, Burnley and Leicester, leaving them 16 points adrift of their neighbours and newly-crowned champions Manchester City.

Consistency has nothing to do with age,” he added. “It has to do with personality, it has to do with the way you live for football,what is your priority in your life, what are your ambitions.“It is not to do with age. I met players 30 years old, not consistent at all, and I found boys of 18, 19, 20, real men, real pros. It is not about the age.

”Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard, Scott McTominay, Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones – all on the bench on Sunday – could all start at Bournemouth inMourinho’s big shake-up.

Real Madrid news: Zinedine Zidane issues fresh Chelsea transfer request

According to Spanish publication Don Balon, Zidane has asked Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to launch a bid for Kante when the summer transfer window opens.

It is claimed Los Blancos’ head coach plans to use the French ace alongside Casemiro as part of a deep-lying two-man midfield next term.

Kante is reportedly not the first Chelsea player Zidane has asked for.

Don Balonsay Zidane, who is likely to keephis job at the Bernabeu if he lands the Champions League for the third year in a row, has already issued a request to Perez for Eden Hazard.

Real Madrid are reportedly not the only team taking a fancy to Kante, who is under contract at Stamford Bridge for another three seasons.

Europa League draw :Arsenal discover their semi-final opponents, Emirates clash first

Arsenal have been drawn against favourites Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the Europa League.

The Gunners came from 2-0 down to draw the second leg of their quarter-final at CSKA Moscow 2-2 on Thursday night, progressing 6-3 on aggregate against the Russian side.The other semi-final will be between French club Marseille and Austrian outfit Salzburg,who advanced following fine come back wins over RB Leipzig and Lazio respectively.

For Arsenal it is possibly the worst draw to have, knowing they will have to head to the Wanda Metropolitano for the second leg against one of Spain’s top sides.

The first legs will be played on April 26, with the second legs on May 3.

Champions League draw: Liverpool to take on Roma, Real Madrid draw Bayern Munich

FULL DRAW:

Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid

Liverpool vs Roma

So, there we have it. Bayern will first welcome Madrid to Germany, while Liverpool host Roma a day later.The first legs will be played on April 24 and 25.The return fixtures will take place on May 1and 2.

Chelsea news: Alvaro Morata reveals the biggest mistake he made this season

After scoring seven times in his first eight outings forChelsea, he saw his form nosedive dramatically at the end of last year.

Leading the attack week in week out seemed to take its toll on the Spaniard.Indeed, Antonio Conte brought in Olivier Giroud from Arsenal in the January transfer window to ease the burden on the misfiring Spaniard.

After going 13 games without scoring, Morata ended his drought in the FA Cup last month against Leicester.

After picking up a back injury last December, the 25-year-old has admitted he played through the pain barrier, something he regrets doing.

He said: “Everything was good until I had the problems with my back.“I played with a lot of pain and it probably would have been better if I’d stopped.

“But I wanted to play with my team-mates, for the club and the fans. Now it’s in the past.

“My first year could have been better, but there are still more games to go and we have a chance to win the FA Cup.”Chelsea, who drew 1-1 against West Ham last Sunday, travel to face Southampton tomorrow (12.30pm) with their top four hopes all but over.

Arsene Wenger: Arsenal were lucky to progress against CSKA Moscow inEuropa League

.CSKA were on the brink of becoming the third side in Europe this week to wipe out athree-goal deficit in the second leg as Arsenal froze in Moscow for 76 minutes.

Goals either side of half time from Fedor Chalov and Kirill Nababkin put the tie on a knife edge – the away goal for CSKA at the Emirates a week earlier meaning another goal would have put the Russians through.

And with the noisy crowd behind their opponents, Arsenal looked in danger of having to fight all the way before Danny Welbeck eased their nerves 14 minutes from time only for Aaron Ramsey to put some gloss on the result with a second in injury time.

“We were in trouble in the first half,” said Arsenal manager Wenger. “I feel that maybewe were a bit surprised by the intensity at the start.

After moving to a back five we were more stable, didn’t concede as many chances.

“Of course it should be every year we get to semi-finals - it should be every year! It isnever enough. But we need to be focused. Let’s prepare well for the next round and see who we get.

”Welbeck, understandably pleased with a goal that takes him into double-figures for the season, insisted Arsenal realised it was not going to be easy.

“It wasn’t comfortable, we have seen in Europe how difficult it can be coming into games with an advantage,” he said. “It was difficult today, away from home in differentconditions, but we stuck through it.

“Then with the goal, the defender was tight to me, he thought I would go inside like before, I went to the other side, played the one-two with Mohamed Elneny, knew it would beat the defender and finished it nicely.”

Nevertheless, skipper Laurent Koscielny admitted that Arsenal’s players had not been good enough on the night overall.“It was not the plan,” he said. “I think we missed a lot of movement, to be available for our team-mates. We didn’t win duels. They played well, had opportunities and took them. It put pressure on us, if they score we are out.

So I am happy because we came back, but our performance was not enough for the stage of the competition. We will see the draw, but need more confidence in our game.”

Arsenal join Red Bull Salzburg, Marseille and favourites Atletico Madrid in today’s draw, with the winners of the competition guaranteed a coveted place in the Champions League next season.

“Ideally we want to avoid Atletico,” said Wenger. “Maybe they are the strongest on paper, but let’s play well against the team we get.”

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp criticises Man City team selection after Champions League win

Liverpooltook a 3-0 lead to the Etihad Stadium but they had their nerves tested to the maximum early on when Gabriel Jesus netted after just 123 seconds.

Pep Guardiola was sent off at half-time for remonstrating with the referee after Leroy Sane incorrectly had a goal disallowed for offside.

Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino then scored in the second half to ensure Jurgen Klopp’s side progressed to the semi-finals.However, Guardiola’s decision to name a forward-thinking line-up eventually proved costly as they were twice hit on the break to crush their European dream.

And Klopp explained after the match that hewas rubbing his hands when he found out his rivals had left themselves with only three defenders at the back.

“I know after the game it is easy to say it is the wrong decision but they could have scored two or three goals in the first half.

”Klopp also moved to praise his side’s performance and abstained his players from any criticism.

“Again it was clear especially with the start.“This wonderful goal were served them on a plate but I expected something like that.

“We needed to react in the right way and I liked the reaction immediately after that but didn’t play enough football.

“We needed a little bit of luck and a really disciplined defensive formation.“I have nothing to criticise because I knew it would be difficult.”

Meanwhile, Guardiola was furious with his dismissal as he revealed what he said to thereferee."I said it was 'a goal' at half time.

That's why he sent me off," Guardiola said."It's different to go to half-time 1-0 not 2-0, it's different when Salah's first goal at Anfield is offside.

These are the things that influence things. Big congratulations to Liverpool, top team top manager."It is what it is. Congratulations to my players, and we will come back stronger next season. We now try to close the Premier League."I didn't insult the referee, I just said 'it's a goal, it came off Milner!'

Real Madrid news: Why Cristiano Ronaldo is SIMILAR to Zinedine Zidane - BT Sport pundit

That’s the view of former England international Owen Hargreaves, who saw Ronaldo score a stunning brace in last week’s Champions League tie over Juventus.

Real Madrid won 3-0 in Turin and take that lead to the Bernabeu for tonight’s quarter-final second leg (7.45pm).

Ronaldo has scored in all nine of Madrid’s Champions League matches to date this season.And Hargreaves believes the Portuguese star really is a man for the big occasions, just like Zidane was.

“Knockout phases, quarters, semis, finals, his scoring rate, even against Lionel Messi is stunning. It shows how great a player he is.

“If Real play say Olympiakos, they’ll beat them anyway, even if Ronaldo isn’t playing. But I think the best, like Zidane, in his primehe would pop up with crucial goals in finals.

“You think back to World Cup finals and that Champions League final goal against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002.

Ronaldo is similar, as good as he is, he seems to have an ability more so than anyone in the Champions League to play another step up from his natural game.

“I think that is a sign of true greatness, when the matches are tight, when the opposition is better, he always seems to produce in decisive games and that is a remarkable trait to have.
.
”Zidane scored twice as France beat Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 World Cup final, while he also netted in the 2006 final though was then famously sent off for a headbutt.

Cristiano Ronaldobecame the first player ever to score in three Champions League finals when he netted for Real Madrid against Juventus last year having also scored in the 2008 and 2014 finals.

Manchester Utd deny Manchester City perfect title party with stunning derby come back

Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho could probably barely believe what they had seen- as stunned by events as the millions watching round the world.Was there ever a match of two such different halves?

The first was all light blue as Guardiola’s stylishManchester Cityteam went 2-0 ahead and virtually humiliated their opponents with football mastery.

The second was all red as Mourinho’s dynamic Manchester United roared back with three goals to claim an astonishing victory.What a game - and what a way to delay the title party for City, who will probably have to wait a couple of weeks now.

Guardiola selected a strong side to match the occasion despite the demands of their Champions League quarter final second legagainst Liverpool on Tuesday night, leavingout three regulars in Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus.

This was a match for the ages in Manchester football, and in the first half there was only one team playing. City attacked, while United’s ambition seemed to be only resistance.It was a flawed policy from Mourinho.

An early penalty claim for City, when Ashley Young clearly handled the ball, left referee Martin Atkinson unmoved, but the light blue tide was relentless.

City took the lead in the 25th minute with a classically English goal - a curling corner from Leroy Sane powerfully headed home from close range by Vincent Kompany.It prompted an emotional celebration by the City captain who has missed so much time out of game through injury.

Guardiola’s team scored again five minutes later when United keeper David De Gea senta woefully bad pass straight to Sane.He was fouled, but the ref played advantageand Ilkay Gundogan swiftly swapped passes with Raheem Sterling before steering home a low shot.

City were rampant at this stage; United a rabble.Sterling twice shot over the bar from close range after superb passes from David Silva, while Gundogan headed another chance straight at the keeper.

How they would rue these glaring misses.Down on the touchline Mourinho was a picture of misery. His cautious tactics had been ineffective, his team given a master-class in football. The worst of it for United fans was that their players seemed resigned to being overwhelmed.

It had to change after the break, and so it did, after Gundogan had squandered yet another opportunity, shooting against the woodwork.United were soon level thanks to two goals in two minutes from Paul Pogba, the subject of much pre-match discussion, and totally anonymous until then.

Alexis Sanchez was the architect both timesas Pogba tucked the first over City keeper Ederson and then headed home unchallenged for the second.City fans who had been crowing as they wandered off for their half-time cuppas were stunned as anxiety swept the stadium and the momentum was all suddenly flowing with United.

Football can be a curious game.Guardiola and Mourinho have had a captivating, and at times aggravated, rivalryin the past decade of big-time football --- and this occasion was up with the best of their collisions.

Mourinho was almost emotionless on the touchline, though, when United went 3-2 ahead in the 68th minute with a goal volleyed home from close range by Chris Smalling with the home defence hopelessly out of position.It was an incredible turnaround as the derby passions blazed.

Sergio Aguero was introduced from the bench and should have been awarded a penalty in the 78th minute when taken out by a studs-first challenge from Young, who might easily have been sent off.

The referee, amazingly, misread the incident. Tempers flared everywhere and a succession of players from both teams were then booked.City almost salvaged an equaliser in the final moments. Aguero had a header brilliantly saved by De Gea, and Sterling struck the post from the subsequent corner.

The drama seemed never-ending, but the final whistle eventually blew and signal thatthe title will have to wait for City and their manager.This was match number 514 in the managerial career of Guardiola - and the first time his team had conceded three goals in successive matches.It was not the history he had craved.

Man Utd news: Pep Guardiola makes SHOCK revelation ahead of Manchester derby

A victory for City at the Etihad this evening (5.30pm) will mean Guardiola’s men are crowned champions.

But it comes at a tough time for the Premier League leaders.City lost 3-0 toLiverpoolin the Champions League quarter-final first leg in midweek and have it all to do to turn around that deficit on Tuesday.

And Guardiola has admitted he would prefer a less demanding clash today in preparation for that match.

Between Liverpool [games]? Yes! I would like to play at home against another team, not strong like United. Definitely.

"We would prefer a game not so demanding, to prepare more for the Liverpool game. After that we have Tottenham!

"City will win the league with six games to go should they beat Manchester United today.

Guardiola’s side can also break a points and goals-scored record this campaign should they continue their dominance.But the inevitable waltz to the title has shocked even Guardiola."Being honest, in pre-season we did not expect to have the season we have,” Guardiola added.

We competed, we were there, of course wecan lose, but we were not a team like today.We were not there.

"When we are able to win 18 games in a row in the league, in the Premier League that was the key point, where they said: 'These guys will win the Premier League.'"