Amidst the 101 different things we like about Ole is his refreshingly succinct and honest style in front of the microphones.

I am writing this in southwestern rural France, an hour before the start of ‘Le Crunch’, as the French call their annual rugby highlight against the elderberry-smelling English hamsters.

Manchester United’s troubled International Champions Cup campaign suffered another blow, with a 4-1 defeat to Premier League rivals, Liverpool, in Michigan on Saturday night.

Man Utd 1 Watford 0

It wasn’t one of those games that will go down in FA Cup folklore — nor can I imagine will Mourinho have any sleepless nights between now and the final.

IT may be misplaced confidence, it may be over-optimism, it may be kidology, but United’s Ander Herrera is adamant that bitter rivals, City, are not on the verge of an era of dominance in English football, even if they lift the Premier League trophy today by winning the Manchester derby.

Pep Guardiola has clearly won his private, and long-standing, feud with Jose Mourinho for this season at least but, to listen to beaten manager Carlos Carvalhal on Saturday, the all-conquering Catalan should make the most of his current dominance.

Mark Mother’s Day with one of this season’s most beautiful scents, writes Rachel Marie Walsh.

Paul Pogba’s professional response to being dropped has impressed Jose Mourinho, who has underlined the need for Manchester United’s stars to earn his trust.

Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool can compete with Europe’s best even if no-one is giving his side much of a chance in the Champions League.

Debutant Alexis Sanchez helped steer Manchester United into the FA Cup fifth round with two assists as Jose Mourinho’s men eased past Yeovil 4-0.

Goalkeeper Sergio Romero will start for Manchester United against Derby.

Jesse Lingard’s second-half heroics may have plastered over some of the cracks in Manchester United’s season, but Jose Mourinho was left to count the cost of a damaging six days.

Ander Herrera admits Manchester United’s loss to bitter rivals City felt like a “big punch”, with the midfielder frustrated by the manner of their defeat and infuriated by his booking for diving.

One hopes the TV lip-reader was right: “When you’ve won the Premier League, let me know.” That, allegedly, is what Ashley Young said to Spurs’ Alli during a set-to on Saturday. In the “show-us-yer-medals” culture that is English football, there is no effective rejoinder to that. 

Manchester United bounced back from their Huddersfield horror show with a comfortable Carabao Cup victory at Swansea last night.

Manchester United bounced back from their Huddersfield horror show with a comfortable Carabao Cup victory at Swansea.

After United cheerfully disposed of Crystal Palace three weeks ago, I warningly noted that José Mourinho was groaning about the forthcoming international break — as we all were. 

Paul Scholes believes Manchester United should push to beat their title rivals away from home to give themselves a psychological advantage.

Burton boss Nigel Clough insists he can see similarities between his father Brian and Jose Mourinho.

Ander Herrera says Manchester City’s summer spending makes them Premier League favourites, with Pep Guardiola’s trophyless first season meaning they currently have a greater obligation to win titles than Manchester United.

Manchester United return to the Champions League fray tomorrow with their aura of invincibility ever so slightly dented.

Manchester United 2 Sampdoria 1

Jose Mourinho insists Manchester United's hectic-looking pre-season schedule will help rather than hinder, going as far to say as their American tour is "perfect".

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

Germany eased into the Confederations Cup final following a comfortable 4-1 victory over Mexico in Sochi.

Ugly scenes marred Mexico's Confederations Cup victory over New Zealand as Oribe Peralta got his side out of jail at Sochi's Fisht Olympic Stadium.

Arsenal 2 Manchester United 0: Success at last for Arsene Wenger against Jose Mourinho and, more significantly, fresh hope for Arsenal in their quest for a top four place. 

Arsene Wenger finally recorded a Premier League victory against Jose Mourinho as Arsenal kept their slim top-four hopes alive with a well-deserved win over Manchester United.

Manchester United 1 Swansea 1: As Jose Mourinho surveyed the wreckage of yet another home league draw, he was hard pressed to know where to start trying to resurrect a season that is in danger of spiralling out of control.

Manchester United v Swansea: Jose Mourinho offered a tongue-in-cheek solution to Manchester United’s personnel problems: picking himself against Swansea.

Manchester City 0 Manchester United 0: Marouane Fellaini managed to drag a Manchester derby that had been interesting rather than memorable into pure chaos at the Etihad last night, earning a red card for a headbutt on Sergio Aguero some six seconds after being booked for a foul on the same City forward.

Manchester United - 0

Zlatan Ibrahimovic felt like Benjamin Button, but it was more a case of Groundhog Day as far as Sunderland were concerned. Manchester United retain a two-pronged assault on Champions League qualification, but all the Wearside club has to look forward to are trips to some of football’s less celebrated destinations in the Championship next season.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1: Zlatan Ibrahimovic salvaged a point for Manchester United with virtually the last kick of the game but their hopes of finishing in the top-four suffered another blow with a draw against Everton.

United are now four points behind City in fourth.

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata is in danger of missing the rest of the season after undergoing groin surgery.

Manchester United have been charged with failing to control their players during Monday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Chelsea, but Marcos Rojo has avoided sanction for his apparent stamp on Eden Hazard.

FA Cup quarter-final

Five things we learned from Chelsea v Man Utd.

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte feared Eden Hazard would be seriously injured during the bad-tempered 1-0 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.