Jose Mourinho: What is going on – and does he want out of Man Utd?

A month ago, when England were looking forward to a World Cup semi-final and as pre-season training for Europe’s major clubs was just getting started, Manchester United’s final US tour match against Real Madrid had a major question mark over it.

Gareth Bale would be involved. But for whom?

Fast forward four weeks and, though England did not find their utopia, Bale is happy enough, laughing and joking with his Real team-mates in Miami, his short-term future at the Bernabeu assured by new coach Julen Lopetegui.

But as they prepare for Wednesday’s game, the question mark over United remains. If anything, it is bigger than before.

Manager Jose Mourinho’s comments in the labyrinth of rooms at the Michigan Stadium on Saturday after a 4-1 loss to Liverpool saw to that.

So, it is time to ask the question. What is going on with Mourinho and Manchester United?

• Mourinho voices transfer concerns in tetchy news conference
• Man Utd beaten 4-1 by Liverpool in pre-season

Why does Mourinho seem so unhappy?

In front of the cameras, Mourinho has not been a jovial character for some time.

Something – probably the scars of dealing with the Madrid media during his time as Real boss – happened between his first stint at Chelsea and his second. Whatever it was, it has taken away the public geniality of the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’.

Nevertheless, the breadth of the targets he fired at during his tetchy 10-minute post-match news conference after the loss to Liverpool was jaw-dropping.

He lamented the absence of senior players, decried the standard of some of the younger ones who are here, wistfully reflected on a transfer target he will not get, highlighted inactivity on one he still expects to, expressed frustration at injuries, invited senior players to return to training early, and questioned why supporters would pay to watch his team.

In a less well-publicised part of his news conference, he thanked defender Eric Bailly for stepping in to replace another senior player – Chris Smalling – at the weekend, then immediately rejected the Ivorian as a leader. Speaking to United’s TV station, he accused new captain Antonio Valencia of returning from his summer break out of shape. In addition, he ridiculed the standard of a referee who gave two penalties against his team.

Wide-ranging is a good description.

The key point is this: does Mourinho harbour a growing sense of genuine unhappiness at all these supposed sources of irritation, is he trying to make points, or is he attempting to deflect attention from a heavy defeat at the hands of a major rival?

If it is the last of those, it is a long-established managerial tactic. The middle one could go either way. But if it is the former, then a stereotypical full-blown third-year explosion – the type Mourinho is always so quick to reject when asked about – is on the way.

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Andy Murray beats Mackenzie McDonald in Washington Open

Britain’s Andy Murray beat Mackenzie McDonald 3-6 6-4 7-5 in the Washington Open’s first round in his fourth match following hip surgery in January.

Murray, 31, converted his seventh match point after more than two-and-a-half hours on court against the American.

“Mentally, it was a big one to get through,” said former world number one Murray. “I fought hard and I had to. The movements and stuff were fine.”

He will now play fellow Briton Kyle Edmund, 23, in the second round.

• Britain’s Boulter beats Krunic in Washington
• Norrie loses to Harrison in Atlanta semi-final

Edmund beat Murray at Eastbourne in the third match of his return during the grass-court season before the Scotsman pulled out of Wimbledon as he felt it was “too soon” to play five-set matches following his rehabilitation.

“I’ll have to play much better if I want to win that match, more aggressively,” Murray said. “It will help having one more match under my belt.”

Murray had been out of action since Wimbledon 2017 before having his operation at the start of this year.

After the Citi Open in Washington he also hopes to play Masters-level events in Toronto and Cincinnati in preparation for the US Open.

‘I enjoyed getting through that one’

He was broken in two of his first three service games on the way to losing the opening set in 40 minutes against 23-year-old McDonald, who is ranked 80th in the world.

In the second set, Murray, whose own world ranking has dropped to 832, broke in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead and served out to take the match to a decider.

He was then 5-4 up and serving for the match in the third set but McDonald saved five match points then converted his second break point to draw level at 5-5.

But Murray immediately broke back – in a game that included a controversial call when McDonald’s racket was adjudged to have crossed the plane of the net with the score 30-30 – before serving out to win a 73-minute set and reach the second round.

“I enjoyed getting through that one. You could see it in the celebration,” Murray said. “That was a tough match. It could have gone either way. It was nice to win it.”

Serve clock a ‘positive change’

The match was Murray’s first on a hard court since March 2017 at Indian Wells and his first experience with a serve clock, which will be used at the US Open from 27 August.

“I hadn’t played in darkness or under the lights in a really long time and I felt my rhythm was off,” Murray said.

“I was struggling on my serve. I cut the unforced errors a little bit in the second set and started serving better.”

The serve clock, which was used at the 2018 Australian Open, allows players 25 seconds to start their service motion from the moment the umpire announces the score after the previous point.

He added: “Without a shot clock, that would have been a three-hour match. It’s a positive change for tennis.”

Meanwhile, three-time Grand Slam champion Murray has signed up to play in the China Open at the beginning of October.

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Washington Open: Britain’s Katie Boulter beats Aleksandra Krunic

British number two Katie Boulter reached the last 16 of the Washington Open by knocking out fifth seed Aleksandra Krunic in straight sets.

The 21-year-old saved a solitary break point as she beat the Serb world number 47 6-2 6-0 in 63 minutes.

Boulter, the world number 118, will face Allie Kiick of the United States in the next round on Wednesday.

Britain’s Harriet Dart was 7-5 4-2 down to Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic when play was suspended because of rain.

Compatriot Katie Swan is also competing in the tournament and is scheduled to face China’s Saisai Zheng on Tuesday.

Russian two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova progressed from the first round, beating American Kristie Ahn 6-2 6-1.

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Boulter, 21, is ranked 118th in the world. She plays mostly on the second-tier ITF circuit, though she did earn a first-round win at Wimbledon this summer before falling to 18th-seeded Naomi Osaka of Japan.

Allie Kiick was the only one of three Americans in action Monday who advanced. Kiick defeated China’s Xinyun Han 6-2, 6-3. Germany’s Andrea Petkovic blew out American Jamie Loeb 6-1, 6-1, and Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova eased past American Kristie Ahn 6-2, 6-1. Kuznetsova, 33, won the 2004 U.S. Open and the 2009 French Open.

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Hungary’s Fanny Stollar defeated Japan’s Mayo Hibi 6-1, 7-6 (6). The last match of the evening was suspended due to rain with sixth-seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland leading Great Britain’s Harriet Dart 7-5, 4-1.Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic

Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Grand Slam champion looking to regain her top form, pulled out a tight victory in the first round at San Jose, Calif.

British number two Katie Boulter reached the last 16 of the Washington Open by knocking out fifth seed Aleksandra Krunic in straight sets.

The 21-year-old saved a solitary break point as she beat the Serb world number 47 6-2 6-0 in 63 minutes.

Boulter, the world number 118, will face Allie Kiick of the United States in the next round on Wednesday.

Russian two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova also progressed, beating American Kristie Ahn 6-2 6-1.

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Jarryd Hayne has revealed he battled a mystery illness for over a year

JARRYD Hayne has revealed he spent more than a year battling a debilitating stomach problem he believes he picked up while training for Fiji’s Rugby Sevens team.

Hayne let spill on Tuesday that he was diagnosed with H-Pylori last year while at the Gold Coast, leaving him bloated and generally ill for the best part of 12 months.

The Parramatta superstar had to undergo surgery after the disease attacked his stomach’s lining, as his immune system suffered and he struggled to digest food.

The 30-year-old has enjoyed the best stretch of football since his return to the NRL in 2016 over the past six games and believes it’s due to the fact he’s finally healthy again.

“We didn’t know what was going on in my stomach,” Hayne said.

“I think we’ve really balanced my gut out and I feel awesome and it’s showing.

“I’ve found a real good balance before the North Queensland game (in round 14) and my body has felt amazing since.” Hayne believes the issue began when he drank local water while training with Fiji during his bid to play in the 2016 Olympics.

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He first went for tests last year and was placed on antibiotics before the problem emerged again at the start of this season and made him ill before and during games.

“I had to go see doctors and have a couple of surgeries,” Hayne said.

“It’s obviously tough when you don’t know what’s wrong with you and you can’t do things you normally can.

“That was obviously affecting me. I’m on top of it now but it’s going to be a long process. It takes three or four months to clear the stomach.”

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Caroline Wozniacki stresses on fitness ahead of US Open 2018

Caroline Wozniacki caught her first significant title in January at the Australian Open, bringing down current world number one Simona Halep in the last, and the 2009 and 2014 US

Caroline Wozniacki returns to Varvara Lepchenko during their women's singles first round match at Wimbledon.(AFP)

Open sprinter up approaches the hardcourt battle with new certainty.

Diligent work and pinnacle wellness are the significant worries for world number two Caroline Wozniacki as she begins her first rushed to the US Open as a Grand Slam champion.

The 28-year-old Dane caught her first significant title in January at the Australian Open, bringing down current world number one Simona Halep in the last, and the 2009 and 2014 US Open sprinter up approaches the hardcourt battle in front of New York with new certainty. "It feels incredible to have won my first Grand Slam. It was an awesome two weeks," Wozniacki said Monday.

"Now, you need to continue buckling down and endeavor to be in the most ideal shape heading  into the US Open. That is whatever you can do."

Wozniacki was sharp as she achieved Melbourne, falling off a title in the 2017 season-finishing WTA

Title in Singapore, beating Venus Williams in the last. Days after the fact, Wozniacki ended up connected to previous NBA player David Lee. Wozniacki had beforehand  been locked in to Northern Ireland golf star Rory McIlroy yet they separated in 2014.

In her 43rd primary draw Grand Slam appearance, Wozniacki at long last lifted a champion's trophy in  Melbourne and recovered the world number one positioning six years after last holding the best spot, obscuring Serena Williams by 11 months for the longest hole between rules. READ | John Isner beats Ryan Harrison to secure fifth Atlanta Open title

Wozniacki, who caught her 29th profession WTA title multi month prior at Eastbourne, made a fourth-round exit at the French Open and lost in the second round at Wimbledon.

"I took a brief period off," Wozniacki said. "It has been a hard season. My old mentor came in and

pushed me as far as possible. I needed to be in the most ideal shape. So it feels fine."

Wozniacki has balanced her objectives after at long last braking through for a Grand Slam title, looking at this point

for progress on a similar Arthur Ashe Stadium court where she lost to Kim Clijsters nine years prior in her first Grand Slam last and to Serena Williams in 2014.

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FIFA candidates for awards announced

FIFA has today uncovered the shortlisted contender for four of the individual trophies, which will be exhibited at The Best FIFA Football Awards™ service in London on 24 September 2018.

The declaration comes crisp after a terrific 2018 FIFA World Cup™, where football's best exhibited their huge energy and unrivaled aptitude crosswise over Russia in the race to be delegated The Best.

The hopefuls in every one of the accompanying four classes have been named: 

The Best FIFA Men's Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid CF/Juventus FC); Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City FC); Antoine Griezmann (France/Atlético Madrid); Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea FC); Harry Kane (England/Tottenham Hotspur FC); Kylian Mbappé (France/Paris Saint-Germain FC); Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona); Luka Modrić (Croatia/Real Madrid CF); Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool FC); Raphaël Varane (France/Real Madrid CF).

The Best FIFA Women's Player: Lucy Bronze (England/Olympique Lyonnais); Pernille Harder (Denmark/VfL Wolfsburg); Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Olympique Lyonnais); Amandine Henry (France/Olympique Lyonnais); Samantha Kerr (Australia/Sky Blue FC/Perth Glory FC/Chicago Red Stars); Saki Kumagai (Japan/Olympique Lyonnais); Dzsenifer Marozsán (Germany/Olympique Lyonnais); Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride); Megan Rapinoe (USA/Seattle Reign FC); Wendie Renard (France/Olympique Lyonnais).

The Best FIFA Men's Coach: Massimiliano Allegri (Italy/Juventus FC); Stanislav Cherchesov (Russia/Russian national group); Zlatko Dalić (Croatia/Croatian national group); Didier Deschamps (France/France national group); Pep Guardiola (Spain/Manchester City FC); Jürgen Klopp (Germany/Liverpool FC); Roberto Martínez (Spain/Belgian national group); Diego Simeone (Argentina/Atlético Madrid); Gareth Southgate (England/English national group); Ernesto Valverde (Spain/FC Barcelona); Zinédine Zidane (France/Real Madrid CF).

The Best FIFA Women's Coach: Emma Hayes (England/Chelsea Ladies FC); Stephan Lerch (Germany/VfL Wolfsburg); Mark Parsons (England/Portland Thorns FC); Reynald Pedros (France/Olympique Lyonnais); Alen Stajcic (Australia/Australian national group); Asako Takakura (Japan/Japanese national group); Vadão (Brazil/Brazilian national group); Jorge Vilda (Spain/Spanish national group); Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (Germany/Swiss national group); Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands/Dutch national group).

FIFA will report the last arrangements of the three candidates for every one of the four classifications recorded above toward the beginning of September.

Coming back to London for the second progressive year, the honors will respect the game's best players and training ability from around the globe, perceiving their uncommon accomplishments over the past season.

Two boards of prestigious specialists, uncovered not long ago, have chosen the shortlisted hopefuls in view of their exhibitions over the full 2017/18 season.

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Manchester United 1-1 AC Milan LIVE score and goal updates as Suso cancels out Alexis Sanchez opener

The International Champions Cup is in its 6th year as Europe’s greatest groups fight it out over the globe.

As a general rule, the International Champions Cup is a pre-season competition and winning means little to those partaking.

Rather, the emphasis on the 18 groups contending this year will be for players to develop wellness and inspire their directors.

Britain have the most agents of any one nation with Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham all contending.

The larger part of recreations are occurring in the US and Asia so UK fans planning to watch the diversions could be in for some late evenings or promising starts in the event that they need to get all the activity.

Manchester United delivered an enhanced execution in Los Angeles as they went up against Serie A side AC Milan.

Alexis Sanchez, straight from a mid year break, inspired for Jose Mourinho’s side who had been shaken before commence by the news that Anthony Martial was returning home for the introduction of his child infant.

Be that as it may, Sanchez took control of the diversion, opening the scoring in the wake of locking on to a through ball from Juan Mata.

Joined’s lead didn’t keep going long anyway as previous Liverpool forward Suso leveled.

Manchester United XI: Pereira; Darmian, Smalling, Bailly, Fosu-Mensah; Tuanzebe, McTominay, Herrera; Hamilton, Pereira, Sanchez

Air conditioning Milan XI: Reina; Antonelli, Bonucci, Musacchio, Calabria; Kessie, Mauri, Bertolacci; Suso, Kalinic, Calhanoglu

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