Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho hits out at football ‘Einsteins’

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said football is “full of Einsteins” in a retort at criticism he has received following a poor run of form.
United ended a three-game losing streak as they beat Northampton Town 3-1 in the EFL Cup to set out a fourth-round tie against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Mourinho, who referenced Albert Einstein when in charge of Real Madrid, is quoted by the Manchester Evening News as telling MUTV: “We have three home matches now in a row and it is always good to be at home.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin tempers talk of Michel Platini payoff

New UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has dismissed allegations about his record in Slovenian football and promised that Europe’s governing body would not make any illegal or unethical payments to banned predecessor Michel Platini.
Ceferin was speaking at the launch of the branding for Euro 2020 at London’s City Hall in what was his first public appearance since being elected in Athens last week.
When asked about recent allegations by Norwegian football magazine Josimar that question gaps in his CV before becoming the president of Slovenia’s FA and claim a loan from UEFA that was intended for football development was actually used to buy shares in a lottery company, Ceferin flatly rejected them.
“No, that’s another joke from the same media [outlet],” the 48-year-old lawyer said, referring to Josimar’s earlier story alleging he was the beneficiary of FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s lobbying.
“[The loan] is completely clear and UEFA has all the documents. And I even wasn’t involved in

NPFL: Kano Pillars in slim win over El-Kanemi Warriors

Hosts, Kano Pillars Football Club, on Wednesday produced a brilliant performance to beat visiting El-Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri 1-0 in a rescheduled 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League fixture.‎
The fixture, played at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, saw the home side showing promising

Messi out three weeks after groin injury resurfaces in Barca’s 1-1 draw with Atletico

Lionel Messi will be sidelined for the next three weeks after his groin problem resurfaced in Barcelona’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
With Barca leading by one goal up in the second half, the Argentine dropped to the pitch, having struggled since reappearing after half-time.
Arda Turan was readied and came on his place, with Angel Correa grabbing Atletico’s equaliser almost immediately.
Barcelona confirmed that Messi suffered a groin strain after the game.

Barcelona fail to narrow gap with draw against Atletico

Barcelona failed to narrow the gap on league leaders Real Madrid as they were held by title rivals Atletico Madrid.
After failing to unpick Atletico’s defence with intricate passing, the hosts took the lead as Ivan Rakitic glanced in Andres Iniesta’s cross.
Lionel Messi was forced off with an injury on the hour and Atletico took quick advantage as Angel Correa danced through the defence to equalise.
Gerard Pique and Diego Godin went close but neither La Liga side could score.
A point means Luis Enrique’s side could only match Real’s earlier draw with Villarreal as they remain third in La Liga behind their fiercest rivals and Sevilla.
And there could be further implications for Barcelona’s season if injuries to Messi and midfielder Sergio Busquets prove serious.
The hosts were undoubtedly rocked by the loss of star striker Messi on 59 minutes.
A seemingly innocuous challenge from Godin saw the Argentine forced to hobble off with what looked to be a recurrence of the groin injury that forced him to fly back early from international

Manchester United to face Manchester City in EFL Cup fourth round

Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola will meet in the EFL Cup fourth round as Manchester United draw Manchester City at Old Trafford.
Guardiola has already seen success in the Manchester derby earlier this season when his side dominated in a 2-1 win against United on September 10, and he will again meet his old rival Mourinho in the week commencing October 24.
Liverpool will host Tottenham Hotspur in the other eye-catching tie of the draw as Jurgen Klopp

Villarreal hold Real Madrid to draw

Real Madrid missed the chance to make La Liga history as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Villarreal at the Bernabeu.
Sunday’s victory over Espanyol made it 16 league wins in a row for Los Blancos stretching back to March, equalling the all-time mark set by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in the 2010-11 season.
But Zinedine Zidane’s men were unable to secure the record outright as they fell behind to a Bruno Soriano penalty given for a Sergio Ramos handball on the stroke of half-time. Soriano scored with an expertly executed Panenka spot kick.
Ramos made amends when he levelled three minutes into the second period with a towering header and Real dominated after a hesitant first 45 minutes, but could not find a second goal.
Barcelona host Atletico Madrid in one of the day’s late matches.

Manchester United overcome nervy first half to beat Northampton Town

Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United ended a three-match losing streak and reached the EFL Cup fourth round with a timely, if at times uncomfortable, win at Northampton.
Community Shield glory and three straight Premier League wins brought the feel-good factor back to Old Trafford, yet things have gone awry since the international break.
Mourinho’s men arrived at Sixfields looking to avoid the ignominy of a fourth straight loss and managed just that, running out 3-1 victors as their quality eventually saw off the spirited League One hosts.
Northampton had looked to be facing a long night when Michael Carrick capped his first appearance since the Community Shield with a sumptuous strike, but the hosts upped the ante as half-time approached and drew a penalty out of Daley Blind.
Alex Revell converted to send a record Sixfields crowd wild, but United regained their advantage through Ander Herrera’s thumping effort after 68 minutes.
Substitute Marcus Rashford — brought on early in the second half with Zlatan Ibrahimovic — wrapped up the victory after Adam Smith, much to the goalkeeper’s embarrassment, failed to deal