Top ten Mourinho smart answers to sarcastic comments

Jose Mourinho should have a great relationship with Chelsea supporters. 

As the man who gave them three league titles - 60 percent of the league championships their club has EVER won - you might think the Manchester United boss could expect a warm welcome when he returns to Stamford Bridge. 

Apparently not. During United's 1-0 defeat in the FA Cup quarter-final, a large number of Chelsea fans booed and jeered their former hero. 

So how did Mourinho deal with this unexpected abuse? In typical Mourinho style, of course.

"Are these people serious? Do they not remember who am I?" (Photo: AFP)

During the game, he simply held up three fingers, to remind the home support of those three league titles. Straight after the match, he went one step further - delivering one of his classic comedy putdowns: 

 

“Until the moment they have a manager that wins four Premier Leagues for them, I'm the No1. When they have somebody who wins four Premier Leagues for them, I'll be No2. For this moment, Judas is No1."

Ouch. Mind you, the Stamford Bridge boo-boys are not the first victims of a Mourinho barb. Not by a long shot. After he came up with the outstanding reply to Chelsea fans booing him, here are the best/wittiest insults ever delivered by The Special One.

Leicester City's decline in numbers

32 - the Foxes are 32 points worse off than at this stage last season, with 21 as opposed to 53.
14 - they have lost 14 games, compared to only two last season. They also have only five wins as opposed to 15.
24 - their goal tally tells a similar tale of woe, having scored 24 this season against 47 through the same number of games last term.
0 - away wins this season. They have taken three points from 13 away games - only Burnley, with one from 11, have a worse record on the road.
0 - also the number of Premier League goals they have scored in 2017, in six games which have brought them only one point.

11 - in all, Leicester have drawn a blank in 11 games this season - it happened just three times in the whole of last season.
3.2 - Leicester's average for shots on target per match this season, the third-worst record in the division. Last season they ranked fifth with an average of 4.8.
343 - minutes the Foxes have spent in the lead in matches this season, compared to 863 at this stage last season.
5 - England striker Jamie Vardy, who scored in 11 consecutive league games last season on his way to 24 goals for the season and a Euro 2016 place, has just five this time around.
17/11 - PFA player of the year Riyad Mahrez's goal and assist tallies from last season. He has three goals and two assists this term.

Claudio Ranieri sacked as Leicester City manager nine months after winning Premier League title

Claudio Ranieri had been under increased pressure throughout Leicester City's poor run Credit: ap

Claudio Ranieri was sacked as Leicester City manager on Thursday night, nine months after guiding the club to the first top-flight trophy in their 133-year history.

Ranieri returned to East Midlands Airport from Seville in the afternoon to be given the news by Leicester’s director of football Jon Rudkin in a ruthless move which has stunned football as much as their remarkable title win.

Rafa Benitez could replace Arsene Wenger

 

 

Could this be the year when Arsène Wenger finally steps down as an Arsenal manager? Wenger’s £8m-a-year contract expires at the end of the season, and there is a strong possibility that he might walk away. A new two-year-old contract is on the table, and it is up to Wenger to decide whether he will stay put.

Newcastle United manager, Rafael Benítez, has emerged as a shock candidate to replace him. Arsenal have drawn up a shortlist of four candidates, and Benítez is among them. The Spaniard will face competition for the post with Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Tuchel, while Barcelona’s Luis Enrique, and Monaco’s Leonardo Jardim remain other options.

AFCON 2017: Cameroon beats Egypt 2-1 to lift AFCON trophy after 15 years wait

Cameroon's last-gasp win ends a 15-year wait for another continental crown

Cameroon came from behind to beat Egypt 2-1 and seal a fifth Africa Cup of Nations in a thrilling, edgy final.

Substitute Vincent Aboubakar swept in the winner two minutes from time, flicking the ball over defender Ali Gabr and thumping it home.

Nicolas Nkoulou had earlier equalised for Cameroon, rising highest to power in a header on the hour mark.

The equaliser cancelled out Mohamed Elneny's opener on 22 minutes with a beautifully taken near-post strike.

The wild celebrations for Aboubakar's winner announced Cameroon's return to the continental summit, after a wait of 15 years. 

It also makes them the second most successful nation in the competition's history - behind Egypt - and marks the first time they have beaten the Pharoahs in the final in three attempts.

Besiktas striker Aboubakar ran towards the triumphant Cameroon fans in the Stade de l'Amitie stands in Libreville to celebrate, pursued by delirious teammates and coaching staff.

Underdogs Cameroon had already upset the odds to reach the final and stunned the much-fancied Egyptians with the late dramatic strike, after fellow substitute Nkoulou had drawn them level.

Despite being beset by pre-tournament problems, including the withdrawal of key players such as Joel Matip and Eric Chuopo-Moting, coach Hugo Broos managed to assemble a squad that got their reward for being strong, adaptable and resilient in equal measure throughout.

The Pharaohs - bidding for an eighth title after seven years in the international wilderness - started comfortably and Elneny's opening strike capped a wonderful fluent move down the right. 

The Gunners midfielder started the move and finished it, after receiving the ball from Mohamed Salah in the box and sweeping it past Fabrice Ondoa into the roof of the net at the near post.

 

But Egypt invited the Indomitable Lions to come at them in the second half and they paid a heavy price.

The excellent Cameroon forward Benjamin Moukandjo whipped in an excellent, menacing cross and substitute Nkoulou muscled his way through the Egyptian defence to beat Ahmed Hegazy to the ball and bury it past 44-year-old Essam El Hadary in the Egyptian goal.

The contest developed into a fascinating cagey final, with Cameroon, inspired by the excellent Christian Bassogog and Jacques Zoua up front, pinning Egypt back and limiting them to long balls to Salah and substitute Ramadan Sobhi.

Fatigue soon set in in the Egyptian ranks and Cameroon got their ultimate reward for increasing the pressure on the experienced Egyptian defence.

Aboubakar controlled a long ball forward with his chest at the edge of the box, flicked it over the stranded Gabr, before gathering, taking a step and smashing home off his right foot for a fitting winner.

The Egyptians - featuring the tournament's oldest and most experienced player - El Hadary, were left stunned after looking comfortable for much of the first half.

As they had done for much of the tournament, Egypt relied on a well-marshalled defence, led by Ahmed Hegazy, Gabr and Hull City's Ahmed Elmohamady. They also had the formidable Elneny and Salah leading the line. 

The Pharaohs more than played their part in an entertaining final, but it was Cameroon's energy that would light up the occasion and provide a thrilling end to a thoroughly entertaining tournament for the near-capacity crowd of more than 38,000 in the Gabonese capital.

Belgian coach Broos reflected the unity in his squad's ranks, as he celebrated the first Nations Cup title of his career.

"I am happy for the players," he said. "This is not a group of football players, they are a group of friends."

Egypt coach Hector Cuper was left to dwell on another defeat in a major final, having lost two European Champions League finals with Spanish club Valencia.

"The sadness I have is not because I lost another final," he said.

"It's because there was so much hope especially among the people in Egypt and I am sorry for the players who put in so much effort."

5 most important Branislav Ivanovic goals for Chelsea

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic has moved to Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg. The Serbian is set to call time on his Blues career after nine eventful and successful years with the club. There were several doubters when he arrived in January 2008. He didn’t make a single appearance for the club in the second half of the 2007-08 season, and was linked with a move away in the summer. Slowly and gradually though, things changed.

376 appearances, 34 goals and 9 trophies later, there is little doubt that Ivanovic will go down as a Chelsea legend. His form may have dipped dramatically in his final two years at Stamford Bridge, but he will forever be fondly remembered by the fans.

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic set to leave on a free transfer before Tuesday

After spending nine successful years at Stamford Bridge, it might be curtains for Branislav Ivanovic’s Chelsea career, if reports are to be believed.

With four days to go for the January transfer window to slam shut, clubs like Crystal Palace, Leicester City, West Brom and Zenit St. Petersburg are queuing up to sign the Serbian defender.

After Antonio Conte switched to a 3-4-3 formation, Ivanovic has found his starting berth usurped in part by Cesar Azpilicueta and Victor Moses. With fitness and form already on the wane, the defender has been a peripheral figure in Chelsea’s grip on the top of the league table.

AFCON 2017: Egypt claim last semi-final ticket

Karahba (right) celebrates his late winner with team-mate Mohamed Salah. [Photo credit: theguardian.com | Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

The list of teams for the semi-final of the ongoing African Cup of Nations is now complete.

The Pharaohs of Egypt claimed the final slot on Sunday as they defeated their North African opponent, Morocco, by a lone goal.

The solitary goal that earned Egypt a semi final berth came off the boots of Mahmoud Kaharaba with two minutes left on the clock.

The Pharaohs who are making a return to the AFCON after years of absence will now face Burkina Faso in the second semi final game.

Ghana will face Cameroon in the other semi-final.

AFCON 2017: Host Gabon out

 

 

Burkina Faso and Cameroon secured progress to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday as hosts Gabon crashed out.

Gabon were held to a 0-0 draw by Cameroon in Libreville, and their opponents went through to the last eight as runners-up in Group A.

Burkina Faso won the group on goal difference after a 2-0 victory against Guinea-Bissau in Franceville.

AFCON: Hosts Gabon face decisive Cameroon clash

Panthers of Gabon

Veteran Gabon goalkeeper Didier Ovono has called for the country to unite behind the team as they face the prospect of having to beat Cameroon on Sunday to stay in the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Panthers have so far only managed two 1-1 draws against Guinea-Bissau and Burkina Faso, form that has not been good enough to rouse the central African state hit by violence after a contested presidential election last year.

“We have come here to play for Gabon. There will be time after the Africa Cup of Nations to dress the wounds,” 33-year-old Ovono, who plays his club football in Belgium, told AFP on Friday.