Jose Mourinho generally gives off an air that he thinks he's the smartest man in the room. We guess even the smartest man in the room forgets the alphabet sometimes.
"We don't have A, B, C, D, E, F, G..but we have L, M, N, S, O, P" pic.twitter.com/DiflA8Ky5B
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) March 19, 2017
It’s June 2004, and England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has just confirmed his squad for EURO 2004 in Portugal. The 23-man team is highlighted by 18-year-old Everton sensation Wayne Rooney. Aston Villa forward Darius Vassell, although an injury doubt, has been named in the squad at the expense of 21-year-old Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe.
It could be argued that this was Jose Mourinho’s masterplan all along against Rostov at Old Trafford, to sit back, control possession against an ultra-defensive setup and just let Zlatan Ibrahimovic do his thing.
It worked, and no one will remember this game tomorrow. Manchester United are through to the quarterfinals of the Europa League thanks to a beautiful assist from Ibrahimovic. United required a phenomenal save from Sergio Romero at the death to avoid extra time, and everything else made you want to be crushed by the skull of Marouane Fellaini.
The legacy of George Best will forever be a collection of astonishing brilliance and deep sorrow. As one part of the United Trinity at Manchester United, Best dazzled in the red No. 7 shirt.
In eleven remarkable years with the club, Best scored 181 goals, won the First Division twice and, most famously, lifted the 1968 European Cup.
The Premier League is the richest, bestest (not a word), fanciest, blingiest (also not a word), most-watched, most hyped domestic football competition in the world. It’s the Big League football league, it has all the best players and knows all the best words.
So why do its teams suck so hard when it comes to Europe? Why are three of its four participants already out of the Champions League before we’ve reached the quarterfinals?
It makes sense that Romelu Lukaku wants to move to a team where he can add to their ability instead of guiding it.