United players 'not in love with goal', says Mourinho
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 35, is United's 27-goal top scorer of which 16 have been in the Premier League.
No other United player has managed double figures in the league, with Juan Mata on six, Paul Pogba on four and Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Henrikh Mkhitaryan on three each.
Mourinho's side travel to bottom club Sunderland on Sunday on a 20-match unbeaten run in the Premier League.
But 10 of those games have been drawn and seven teams have scored more than their tally of 43 goals this season.
United's attacking problems were laid bare in this week's goalless stalemate with West Bromwich Albion and 1-1 draw against Everton.
"We have some players that are not really players in love with the goal," Mourinho said.
"They are good players and they are creative players, but naturally they're not the kind of guy that's a killer."
Javier Hernandez was sold by Mourinho's predecessor Louis van Gaal to Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and the United boss believes the 28-year-old is the kind of cold-blooded forward his team needs.
"The way we dominate opponents in the box at Old Trafford, I think 'Chicharito' (Hernandez) would have 20 goals easily, even coming from the bench for the last 10 or 20 minutes," Mourinho said.
"He's the guy that when the ball goes here, rebound there, if the goalkeeper saves it, boom –- goal, or if the cross is coming, he anticipates the first-post header -- goal.
"We create a lot but we don't score enough goals for the way we play and the teams that come to Old Trafford know that and they defend.
"Zlatan's number of goals is a target for every striker. I think for all the others, no one has reached that level."
READ MORE: Griezmann eyes Atletico assault on Real’s title lead
Griezmann eyes Atletico assault on Real's title lead
The Frenchman thinks his Atletico teammates can inflict the worst possible start to a season-defining two weeks for Real Madrid as Atletico go for a record fourth straight La Liga win at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Griezmann scored the winner last season as Atletico became the first side to ever win away to Real in the league for three consecutive seasons.
"I see us as favourites. I believe in my teammates and the coach," said a bullish Griezmann on Thursday.
READ MORE: Klopp wants Liverpool to copy Chelsea blueprint
Klopp wants Liverpool to copy Chelsea blueprint
Klopp's side conceded an 87th minute equaliser in a damaging 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at Anfield on Wednesday.
That late slip means the gap to fifth-placed Arsenal was cut to six points, with the Gunners having two matches in hand on the third-placed Reds.
Klopp tried to ensure Liverpool held on to their lead against Bournemouth by switching to a three-man defence with 25 minutes to go when he replaced the ill Philippe Coutinho with centre-back Joel Matip.
But that could not prevent a late long throw leading to Josh King snatching a point for the visitors.
An inability to get results over the line has been a problem all season and the Reds boss admits they would do well to follow the example of the Premier League leaders, who have dropped just eight points from winning positions this season.
READ MORE: Liverpool fined over approach for Stoke starlet
Brazil top FIFA rankings for first time since 2010
It caps a terrific week for forward Neymar and Brazil -- last week they became the first country to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, their latest step on the road to redemption after the embarrassment and heartache of their World Cup failure on home soil in 2014.
Brazil were dumped off top spot after their elimination from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
READ MORE: Tuchel defends Aubameyang after mask fiasco
Liverpool fined over approach for Stoke starlet
The Premier League club won't be able to sign any academy players who have been registered with a Premier League or Football League team in the last 18 months.
Although the ban is for two years, the second 12 months has been suspended for a three-year period and will only be activated in the event of any further similar breach by the club.
A brief statement from Liverpool said: "The club accepts the sanction."
READ MORE: Tuchel defends Aubameyang after mask fiasco
Tuchel defends Aubameyang after mask fiasco
"Such a sensitive human being like Auba is affected when so much is said and written about him -- even if he has himself to blame," said Tuchel.
"The goal in this situation, with it's background, was very important for us and Auba."
The goal Tuchel refered to was Aubameyang's 25th in as many league matches which sealed Tuesday's 3-0 win over Hamburg to make him the Bundesliga top-scorer, one ahead of Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski.
Tuchel made Aubameyang captain for the night against Hamburg with regular skipper Marcel Schmelzer injured.
The striker set up Shinji Kagawa for Dortmund's second, then netted his own goal just before the final whistle with an ice-cold finish after rounding Hamburg's goalkeeper.
Being handed the captain's armband was a show of faith after Dortmund's goal machine once again fell offside with Borussia's senior bosses on Saturday -- the "situation" and "background" Tuchel was referring to.
He donned a red-and-orange wrestling mask for his goal celebration in the 1-1 Ruhr derby draw at Schalke.
The problem is sportswear giants Puma own a five percent share in Dortmund and Aubameyang wore the same mask in an advert for private sponsor Nike.
Puma has called on Dortmund to take action, especially after Aubameyang had the Nike logo shaved into his hair last month -- which had already landed him in trouble with Borussia's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke.
To make matters worse, Aubameyang picked up a yellow card in Gelsenkirchen for his masked celebration -- his third of the season -- and two more would see him banned for one league match.
The flamboyant striker has donned masks in the past to celebrate goals -- a spiderman headpiece in 2014 and a Batman one in 2015.
READ MORE: From riches to rags – football’s widening wealth gap
From riches to rags - football's widening wealth gap
Ronaldo reportedly earns about $45 a minute every day just from his Real Madrid deal. Fellow striker Mbidi has no contract or salary from his Democratic Republic of Congo team AC Real de Kinshasa.
"I do get $25 for each match we win," the 26-year-old told AFP.
"But if there is a draw or loss, I get nothing."
Mbidi goes training twice a day for the African side and gets about 79 US cents travelling costs for each session.
"In 2008 and 2009 we were the champions, but still only got the $25, not a penny more," he said.
FIFPro, the international players union, said that Mbidi's case is the rule more than the exception.
According to a study of 14,000 players in 54 countries it released in November, about 41 percent of football professionals do not get a salary and 45 percent earn less than $1,000 a month.
"The enormous salaries are a tiny minority," said FIFPro spokesman Alex Duff.
"Believing that most footballers live a life of luxury is like saying that most actors are Hollywood stars."
READ MORE: Title just the beginning for Rodgers big plans
Mane's season could be over, says Klopp
The 24-year-old Senegalese winger -- who has scored 13 goals this season and whose absence when on Africa Cup of Nations duty coincided with a slump in Liverpool's form -- is due to have his swollen knee examined further.
Mane suffered the injury after scoring in Liverpool's 3-1 Merseyside Derby win over Everton on Saturday and had to come off.
Liverpool have eight matches remaining in their Premier League campaign -- beginning with Wednesday's home game with Bournemouth.
Presently they are third but only a point ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and six points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United, who have two games in hand.
"Unfortunately that is possible but why should I say it now when I don't know?" said Klopp when asked at his eve of match press conference whether Mane could miss the rest of the season.
"The knee is swollen and we have to wait for the final assessment. It is not 100 percent clear.
"The only thing I can say for sure is that he will not be available for tomorrow (Wednesday).
"It is not very positive when it is like this. I cannot say at this exact time so we have to wait."
READ MORE: Moyes apologises for threat to female reporter
Title just the beginning for Rodgers big plans
Rodgers' side, 25 points clear of second-placed Aberdeen, set a new Scottish top-flight record as the earliest ever champions after wrapping it up with eight games remaining.
Rodgers, whose side face Partick Thistle on Wednesday aiming to preserve their unbeaten domestic record, says he has no intention of moving on despite being linked with a return to the English Premier League.
He is especially keen to improve Celtic's Champions League record which saw them fail to win once in their group stage ths season having begun with a humiliating defeat in the first leg of qualification to Gibraltar part-timers Lincoln Red Imps.
"I'm super ambitious and I told the players that when I came, but I have ambition for myself and for them to be the very best that we can be," he said.
"All I can say is that I'm very, very happy in every aspect of my life -- I'm in my dream job. That's the reality of it.
"I signed a four-year contract with Liverpool and 18 months later I was fired. I'm at the stage now where I probably appreciate more what I have.
"I've worked with many clubs in the past, but it's got a different feeling here."
READ MORE: Former Premier League manager says he turned down Leicester
Former Premier League manager says he turned down Leicester
The experienced former Chelsea and Netherlands coach was in the frame to replace Ranieri after the Italian was sacked just nine months after leading Leicester to a shock Premier League title.
But the Dutchman, 70, told The Sunday Times: "To be strictly correct, I didn't talk directly with Leicester. But you know how the line goes. 'They think of you...'
"They asked not directly but indirectly, but I said no. If you have decided to sack Ranieri, why don't you go with your number two guy?"
READ MORE: Moyes apologises for threat to female reporter
Moyes apologises for threat to female reporter
Moyes was interviewed by BBC Newcastle and Radio Five reporter Vicki Sparks after northeast strugglers Sunderland's goalless Premier League draw at home to Burnley at their Stadium of Light ground on March 18.
Sparks had asked if Sunderland owner Ellis Short's presence at the game meant Moyes was under additional pressure, with the Black Cats yet again involved in a battle against relegation.
Video footage published by the Daily Star newspaper showed Scottish boss Moyes replying, "No, none at all" before the interview concluded.
The former Everton and Manchester United manager, however, believing he was off camera, added: "You were just getting a wee bit naughty at the end there, so just watch yourself. You still might get a slap even though you're a woman.
"Careful the next time you come in."
READ MORE: Lahm slams Bayern’s Bundesliga rivals.. except one club
Lahm slams Bayern's Bundesliga rivals.. except one club
Between them, Dortmund and Bayern have won the league title every year since 2009, when Wolfsburg lifted the trophy while Borussia were German champions in 2011 and 2012, on rare off-seasons for the Bavarian giants
The 33-year-old Lahm will retire in May and is hoping to sign off with the eighth Bundesliga title.
Bayern are currently 13 points ahead of second-placed RB Leipzig, with fellow Champions League quarter-finalists Dortmund three points further back in third.
But Lahm says the consistent failure over the years of their rivals, barring Dortmund, has made Bayern's life easy.
READ MORE: Real seal multi-million deal
Mourinho: – I am totally against it!
Mourinho expects to be without five first-team players against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, including the injured Paul Pogba and suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
"I am totally against the friendly matches," Mourinho told Sky Sports, after Jones had to withdraw from the England squad with a toe injury suffered in a training ground clash with Smalling, who pulled out after sustaining a leg injury in the Germany friendly.
Both defenders missed England's 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Lithuania, leading Mourinho to question the need for friendlies during the season.
READ MORE: Former Chelsea striker signs with new club
Everton star set to miss rest of season
Funes Mori was stretchered off with a torn meniscus in the first half of Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Bolivia in La Paz earlier this week.
The centre-back is unlikely to return from the injury before the end of Everton's Premier League campaign.
"It has been confirmed that the defender suffered a torn meniscus in Argentina's 2-0 defeat to Bolivia on Tuesday evening," Everton said in a statement on Thursday.
"He will have a surgical opinion next week but the initial diagnosis suggests the 26-year-old is likely to be out of action for the rest of the campaign.
READ MORE: Everton’s new stadium plan gets funding boost
Former Chelsea striker signs with new club
Cole joined Persib just two weeks after his former Chelsea teammate and ex-AC Milan and Real Madrid midfielder Michael Essien signed for the club -- the highest-profile player to make the move to Indonesia for years.
Cole signed a one-year contract for an undisclosed sum with Persib, owned by Indonesian businessman Erick Thohir who is also president of Italian giants Inter Milan.
Persib finished fifth in last year's Indonesian Soccer Championship.
"We will take the team to the next level. And I'll try to give my best," the Englishman said at a press conference.
READ MORE: Everton’s new stadium plan gets funding boost
Everton's new stadium plan gets funding boost
The Premier League club want to leave their historic Goodison Park home and will be allowed to borrow the necessary money, guaranteed by the council, to finance a new arena at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Everton can now begin the planning process which will potentially lead to the submission of a formal planning application by the end of the year.
The cabinet report claims a new stadium will bring a forecasted £9 million in economic benefits to the city annually and could play a part in its Commonwealth Games bid for either 2022 or 2026.
READ MORE: Hazard and Chelsea look to switch focus back to title race
Real seal multi-million deal
The two-year agreement will swell Real's coffers once more -- Deloitte's Football Money League 2017 puts the Champions League winners third only to Manchester United and then great rivals Barcelona for annual revenue.
"This deal looks to strengthen our ambitions for today and tomorrow. Millions of our club's fans will be connected with the day-to-day workings of the club and the players," said Real president Florentino Perez as the tie-up was unveiled at the Santiago Bernabeu.
LES OGSÅ: Hazard and Chelsea look to switch focus back to title race
PSG's Marquinhos, Krychowiak to miss Monaco final
Neither player was included in the squad published on Friday for the trophy match in Lyon.
Marquinhos was forced off at half-time of Brazil's 3-0 win over Paraguay on Tuesday with a thigh problem.
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Barca job 'impossible' for Premier League manager
Pochettino was pictured meeting with Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu in the Catalan city last week amid reports he is a leading contender to replace Luis Enrique when he leaves at the end of the season.
But the 45-year-old Argentine has already managed Barcelona's city rivals Espanyol, as well as playing more than 200 games for them.
Pochettino, whose stock is high after leading Tottenham to second place in the Premier League this term, claimed his chat with Bartomeu was nothing to do with the Barcelona post and said he wouldn't want to betray his old Spanish team by moving to the Nou Camp.
READ MORE: Hazard and Chelsea look to switch focus back to title race
Drugs ban came from spiked drink: Berahino
The 23-year-old -- who moved to Stoke from Premier League rivals West Brom in the January transfer window for £12million ($15 million, 13.9 million euros) -- claimed his drink was spiked at a night club.
"To be banned for something you really haven't done is hard to take," the former England Under-21 international told the BBC adding the level of the drug in his body was so low it proved he hadn't intentionally taken it.
"You go on a night out, you don't know who you are around and there are people who are out to get you.
"Of course, I was in a nightclub, so I hold my hand up for being irresponsible.
"From then on it all crashed down. To this day, I still cannot understand who would want to do that to me."
READ MORE: Hazard and Chelsea look to switch focus back to title race
Mayweather 'out of retirement for McGregor
In a posting on the MMA website, the 40-year-old American said he wants to face McGregor, 28, in June.
"For Conor McGregor, I'm coming out of retirement, just to fight Conor McGregor," Mayweather told FightHype, according to the posting.
"Today, I'm officially out of retirement for Conor McGregor. We don't need to waste no time. We need to make this... happen quickly. Let's get it on in June."
Mayweather had matched Rocky Marciano's iconic 49-0 unbeaten career record when he walked away from boxing as the welterweight champion in 2015.
Speculation of a Mayweather-McGregor fight has intensified in recent months, with the US star saying he is willing to meet McGregor in a boxing ring.
READ MORE: Panthers star Newton undergoes shoulder surgery
Hazard and Chelsea look to switch focus back to title race
The 26-year-old Belgian star sat out Chelsea's last game at Stoke City as well as Belgium's fixtures during the recess with a calf problem but should return for the visit of Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge.
The forward, though, has still found himself the centre of attention following reports this week he is a target for Real Madrid.
Hazard has been one of the main factors in Chelsea’s dominance of the Premier League table this season -– Antonio Conte's side face Palace sitting ten points clear, with ten games remaining –- after rediscovering the form he showed in the 2015 title triumph.
Chelsea are determined to hold on to the player but the interest from Spain has provided an unwanted distraction as Conte attempts to maintain his team's concentration during the run-in.
But the head coach's efforts won't have been helped by comments made this week by former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon who insisted Hazard's future will be decided by the player himself.
Calderon told talkSPORT radio station: "Chelsea aren't a selling club, so it wouldn't be easy, but as always it would depend on the wishes of the player. If he wants to leave, he will leave -- that's always the point."
There has been no indication Hazard wants to leave and Conte will expect the player's response against a much-improved Palace to underline his commitment to remaining at Stamford Bridge.
The return of striker Diego Costa, who missed Spain's meeting with France because of ankle injury, will also help Conte's side pick up from where they left off before the break.
The victory at Stoke was secured by a late goal from Gary Cahill that came as a blow to second-placed Tottenham who have been hoping to capitalise on any slips made by Conte's side.
With an FA Cup semi-final meeting with Tottenham also looming at the end of April, Conte remains on course for a league and cup double in his first season in English football after leaving the post of Italy coach last summer.
READ MORE: Liverpool star gives Klopp headache
Panthers star Newton undergoes shoulder surgery
The Panthers announced following the operation by surgeon Pat Connor that a rehabilitation plan under which Newton will not be cleared to throw a football for at least 12 weeks and will be unable to throw during team drills for at least 16 weeks.
"Dr Connor was pleased with the results of the surgery and Cam is at home resting," Panthers trainer Ryan Vermillion said. "He will begin his rehab program Monday."
Newton, whose Panthers lost to Denver in Super Bowl 50 last year, injured his shoulder against San Diego last December. First tests did not reveal the injury but as issues continued, an MRI showed the torn rotator cuff.
The Panthers are hoping the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player will be ready for training camp in late July and Panthers coach Ron Rivera hopes Newton returns to top form.
READ MORE: Monaco princes primed to snatch PSG’s crown
Liverpool star gives Klopp headache
Lallana is expected to be out for a month, having suffered the injury during the closing stages of England's 2-0 victory over Lithuania at Wembley last Sunday.
The former Southampton midfielder been one of the most reliable performers this season in a Liverpool side who have lacked consistency, and his absence will be felt keenly as Reds boss Klopp attempts to secure a top-four Premier League finish.
They sit fourth going into the weekend's fixtures, with a four-point advantage over Manchester United in fifth.
United do have two games in hand, but that is no guarantee that they will make up the gap, as they have matches at Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham before the end of the season.
Liverpool's form going into the international break was encouraging; home wins over Arsenal and Burnley were followed by a draw at Manchester City, and they will start favourites against Everton, who have not won at Anfield since September 1999.
Sadio Mane's goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time gave Klopp's team a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture at Goodison Park in December, and a win on Saturday would secure a first league double over their local rivals since 2011-12.
Liverpool will be helped by the likely return of Jordan Henderson after more than a month out with a foot injury, with the England midfielder having resumed full training during the international break.
Klopp is in no doubt that Champions League qualification is in Liverpool's hands.
"In this moment, we should only think about how we can do it," he said.
"Would it be a disappointment if we don't reach it? Yes because we think we should qualify for it.
"Is it possible that we don't qualify? Yes because of the league, because of the opponents and all that stuff.
"But it is our big target, of course. We want to do everything to get it."
READ MORE: Revived Leicester face make or break month
Rodgers' revival to hit title peak
Rodgers has been rebuilding his reputation at the Glasgow giants after being sacked by Liverpool in October 2015.
The Hoops are unbeaten domestically this season and Rodgers clinched the first trophy of his career when he led the Parkhead club to the Scottish League Cup last November.
Celtic are 25 points clear of Aberdeen with nine games remaining and will win the title with victory at Hearts on Sunday.
The Hoops would also be crowned champions if the Dons lose to Dundee on Friday.
It would be a first league title for Rodgers, with the 44-year-old finally set to finish on top after his Liverpool team narrowly missed out on the Premier League in the 2013-14 campaign.
Steven Gerrard's infamous slip in a home defeat to Chelsea halted Liverpool's title charge and, after finishing sixth the next season, Rodgers was sacked during the following campaign.
After seven months out of the game, Rodgers was offered the chance to lead a revolution at Celtic following Ronny Deila's two-year reign at Parkhead, which ended without the Norwegian making any progress in European competition.
However, former Swansea manager Rodgers guided the Hoops into the group stages of the Champions League at the first attempt and, with a Scottish Cup semi-final against Old Firm rivals Rangers looming next month, he is now within touching distance of a first Celtic treble since 2001.
READ MORE: Five things to look out for in La Liga