JOSE MOURINHO branded Newcastle players animals – but insists he meant in a good way after they beat his Manchester United side at St James’ Park. Matt Ritchie scored the only goal as Newcastle sealed a famous win over Manchester United.

It leaves league leaders Manchester City needing just six more victories to win the Premier League title – and opens the door for them to do it against United at the Etihad on April 7. City now lead United by 16 points after beating Leicester 5-1 on Saturday and Mourinho is fighting for second place.

Liverpool cut the gap to second to just two points with a 2-0 win over Southampton later on Sunday afternoon. And Mourinho claimed the Newcastle players fought for their lives, branding them animals – and meant it as a compliment. “They fought like animals – I hope they take that as a compliment,” he said.
“The gods of football were on their side. It wasn’t going to happen for us today. “Newcastle gave what they have and what they don’t have, that’s a beautiful thing in football. “They fought for their point, a point is what they had in mind. We made a defensive mistake and when they are in front they had only one thing in mind and gave their lives to keep a clean sheet.”

And it was another bad day for Paul Pogba, who hobbled off injured and limped away from the stadium. The France star had been dropped the previous week so came into this one with a point to prove. But he disappointed and probably shouldn’t have even played after picking up a knock in the warm up.

He was finally put out of his misery in the second half when hooked for Michael Carrick. Mourinho insisted he was OK, but Pogba winced in the mixed zone when asked how he felt. United’s next league match is the much anticipated clash with Chelsea on February 25 where Mourinho could come face to face with Antonio Conte on the sidelines at Old Trafford – unless the Italian has been sacked by then. Before then though United go away to Huddersfield in the FA Cup and Sevilla in the Champions League. For Newcastle this results seems them jump up the table having started the match in the bottom three they now rest more comfortable in 13.

Arsene Wenger hoping to sign Max Meyer
Arsenal are hoping to sign Schalke star Max Meyer, according to the Daily Star. It’s claimed Arsene Wenger is ‘working hard’ on a deal for the Germany international but faces competition from Liverpool, Bayern Munich and AC Milan.

Meyer is out of contract at the end of the season. Speaking about the 22-year-old last month, Schalke CEO Christian Heidel said: “Max will be deciding shortly if he wants to stay at Schalke past the summer. “Max is very happy here, Schalke is his home, we will try to make it him as comfortable financially as possible.

“He is playing the best season of his life, and the coach has found a position for him that Max didn’t believe he could play. “Personally, I didn’t think he could either.”

Jurgen Klopp calls Mohamed Salah GREEDY
LIVERPOOL boss has jokingly claimed Mohamed Salah is “greedy” after the forward continued his rich vein of form in the win over Southampton yesterday. Salah set up Roberto Firmino before roles were reversed later in the first half as the Egyptian took his Premier League tally to 22 for the season, just one behind Harry Kane in the race for the Golden Boot. The Egypt international continues to surpass expectations at Liverpool following his summer move from Roma.

And he has played a crucial role in the Reds keeping up their hopes of finishing in the Champions League places. But while Jurgen Klopp mockingly praised Salah for his unbelievable form, the Liverpool boss didn’t want to leave out Sadio Mane. “I don’t want to forget Sadio because he was involved in everything,” Klopp told BBC Sport.

“Mo is very good, really greedy. “Roberto Firmino was not bothered too much. Mo had assist and a goal, both of them did and it was deserved. Important players like that make a difference.

Messi fumes
Lionel Messi was reportedly left furious by Ousmane Dembele’s performance as Barcelona drew with Getafe yesterday. The Frenchman came on as a 63rd-minute substitute in the La Liga showdown at the Nou Camp.

But he was unable to inspire his team to a win that would have extended their lead at the top of the table. According to Don Balon, Messi was extremely unimpressed by Dembele’s showing. He was apparently unhappy about Dembele’s lack of creativity and the inaccuracy of his passing.

Valverde blast
Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde took aim at Getafe’s tactics during yesterday’s 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp. “We possibly lacked some freshness, especially in the first half, and also continuity in our game. We didn’t have our usual spark,” he said.

“They played their game, trying to stifle ours, with many fouls in the middle of the pitch, and this meant that we needed to keep our play flowing. “We knew how to pin them further back in the second half. They were more dangerous on the break later on, but that was also when we had more chances to score.”

Suarez transfer secret
Luis Suarez has been told by Lionel Messi that Denis Suarez is leaving Barcelona at the end of the season. That’s according to Diario Gol, who say the Argentine has discovered the La Liga giants’ summer transfer plans.

Denis Suarez has been forced to settle for a bit-part role ever since he returned to the Nou Camp from Villarreal. And Messi’s apparently told his namesake that: “He’s leaving Barca” when the transfer window next opens.

Marcelo on Ronaldo
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is happy at the Bernabeu. That’s the verdict of team-mate Marcelo. “I don’t think there is any truth to that, as if he was unhappy then he wouldn’t be here,” said the Brazilian. “He does everything to help the team. He’s a mature guy, who has a very strong squad around him at Real Madrid.

“I don’t think he’s unhappy. The world knows what he is capable of doing, just look at his history with the club. “I don’t think he can be dissatisfied.”

Neymar move backed
Marcelo has tipped Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar to join him at Real Madrid in the future. “I think Neymar will play for Real Madrid one day,” the left-back explained to Esporte Interativo.

“Would Neymar fit at Real Madrid? He would fit, for sure. “It would be great if he came to Real Madrid. In my opinion the great players have to play at this club.”

Ronaldo warning
Zinedine Zidane has warned Paris Saint-Germain they will have to find a way to deal with Cristiano Ronaldo when they take on Real Madrid in the Champions League.

“We all know that he always wants to score goals and create chance,” said the Bernabeu boss after Saturday’s win over Real Sociedad. “He lives and breathes goals. He got three tonight and PSG will certainly have to keep close tabs on him. “It’s always a positive for the team when he gets his name on the scoresheet.”

Pierre-Aubameyang blamed for Alexandre Lacazette miss
Arsene Wenger has claimed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s arrival contributed to Alexandre Lacazette’s shocking miss against Tottenham. Lacazette was through one-on-one in the dying stages of the north London derby but spurned his chance to equalise when he shot wide.

“For him, one against one with the goalkeeper, he is a good goalscorer,” Wenger said. “He has gone through difficult periods before. He works hard in training, works on his finishing. “I don’t know what happened, did he not touch the ball well? It can happen, it is a fraction of a second. “Maybe the confidence is not at its highest because he has seen a competitor coming in for him.”

Conte on Enrique
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has revealed that he has held talks with Luis Enrique – the man strongly linked with replacing him at the end of the season.

“Yes, I have spoken with him,” Conte revealed. “I know him. We played against each other, and he’s a really good person. When I was the coach of Juventus, he was Roma’s coach. “I have great admiration for Luis Enrique and, sometimes, he is a fantastic coach.

“He reached his targets with Barcelona, and also with Roma, you could see a well organised team. “I can speak about him very well, as a person and a coach.”

Ronaldo doesn’t want Hazard
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly told the board he does not want Chelsea forward Eden Hazard to join this summer.
It is said he has communicated his feelings on the matter to Gareth Bale. Ronaldo is supposedly having second thoughts about leaving Real.

And he does not want the arrival of a fellow world-class star to put his position as talisman under threat. Ronaldo, Don Balon report, feels Hazard’s signing would be unnecessary.

MORE GOSSIP AND TRANSFERS…..

Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld will not travel to Turin for their Champions League last-16 tie with Juventus, putting the 28-year-old Belgium player’s future at the club in doubt. (Telegraph)

Spanish striker Fernando Llorente, 32, has cast doubt on his future at Spursby admitting he misses Juventus. (Mirror)

Former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique wants to manage in the Premier League next season, with Arsenal and Chelsea possible destinations for the Spaniard. (Sun)

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says he has spoken to Enrique as the pair “played against each other” and were opposing coaches. (Express)

Conte says he is a “bit of a disaster” in convincing Chelsea to buy players and “in this aspect I can improve a lot”. (Guardian)

The Blues coachsays his players are not being adversely affected by the “rumours” surrounding his future. (Sky Sports)

And Conte has banned smiling during Chelsea’s training sessions because “usually when you work you don’t smile”. (Sun)

West Brom boss Alan Pardew believes part of Chelsea’s problems this season are down to the sale of striker Diego Costa, 29, to Atletico Madrid. (Star)

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho wants to beat Manchester City to the signing of Real Madrid’s 25-year-old midfielder Isco. (Star)

Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez held clear-the-air talks with his team-mates after his 10-day absence, says defender Danny Simpson. The 26-year-old Algerian did not train and missed two matches after a potential transfer to Manchester City fell through. (Leicester Mercury)

Real Madrid defender Marcelo is convinced Paris St-Germain forward Neymar, 26, will join the club in the future – and thinks his fellow Brazilian will be a “great fit” at the La Liga club. (Marca)

But PSG defender Thiago Silva hopes Neymar will stay with the Ligue 1 club. (Canal+ via Goal)

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is trying to persuade Schalke midfielder Max Meyer, 22, to join the club but faces competition from Liverpool, Bayern Munich and AC Milan. (Star)

West Brom boss Alan Pardew will take his squad to Spain for a warm-weather training camp as they attempt to avoid relegation from the Premier League. (Telegraph)

Manchester City club captain Vincent Kompany will lift the trophy if his side win the Premier League this season, despite the Belgian playing a reduced role. (Manchester Evening News)

West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan has told fans to stick by the club after revealing he will be overhauling the way they scout, analyse and sign targets. (Evening Standard)

Part of the changes in transfer strategy at West Ham will involve Sullivan having less influence over new signings, says Hammers boss David Moyes. (Guardian) 

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez tried to sign England keeper Joe Hart, who is on loan at West Ham from Manchester City, in January, but failed as Moyes believed the 30-year-old could still play a part for the club this season. (Mirror)

SOURCE: bbc & daily express