LONDON // Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera on Monday dismissed talk of Jose Mourinho ‘losing’ the Old Trafford dressing room and instead thanked his club manager for the prospect of a first Spain cap.
Mourinho’s arrival in Manchester was supposed to herald an upturn in United’s fortunes after they failed, under his mentor Louis van Gaal, to qualify for the Uefa Champions League for the second time in three years last season.
But United are currently six points off a top four position in the Premier League needed to secure a Champions League spot – despite a pre-season spending spree which included splashing out a world record £89 million (Dh407.3m) transfer fee for midfielder Paul Pogba.
There are now suggestion that Mourinho, once the self-styled ‘Special One’, may be losing his touch amid reports that senior players are unhappy with the Portuguese’s methods.
But Herrera insisted that Mourinho still had the trust of United’s first-team squad.
"We have a saying in Spain: you catch the liar before you catch the lame man," Herrera told the Daily Mail. "It's true in life and even more so in football. If a coach is not straight, players soon find him out. Mourinho is very straight.
“He says what he thinks and he says it to your face. He says it when it is something we will like, but he also says it when it is something we won’t like.
“The team is enjoying the day to day. Training is very dynamic and everything is with the ball so the players never lose concentration – there are no really long sessions or long team talks.
“He really understands what a footballer needs which is 20 minutes of team talk and then you get down to it.”
Herrera, 27, could make his senior Spain debut against England in a Wembley friendly on Tuesday after becoming a United regular under Mourinho having been given a deeper role by his club manager.
“I have come here because Mourinho has given me the opportunity to take on a new position and I feel comfortable with it,” Herrera said. “I’m more defensive now, playing in front of the back four. I think I have that ability to win the ball back quickly when we lose it.
“I have taken a leap forward at United which has allowed me to get into the national side.”
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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Ovo's tips to find extra heat
- Open your curtains when it’s sunny
- Keep your oven open after cooking
- Have a cuddle with pets and loved ones to help stay cosy
- Eat ginger but avoid chilli as it makes you sweat
- Put on extra layers
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Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier, in Bangkok
UAE fixtures Mon Nov 20, v China; Tue Nov 21, v Thailand; Thu Nov 23, v Nepal; Fri Nov 24, v Hong Kong; Sun Nov 26, v Malaysia; Mon Nov 27, Final
(The winners will progress to the Global Qualifier)
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
