Fast, clinical and decisive - all adjectives most would normally associate with Manchester United but have not been used regularly enough since Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford four years ago. For United fans, it must feel like an eternity.
According to Andy Mitten, though, that is exactly what United were during their 2-0 pre-season win over Manchester City Houston, Texas last month, in the first game staged between two clubs outside of the UK. Jose Mourinho said pre-match he regarded the game as nothing more than "training".
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And while flagship signing Romelu Lukaku, acquired at a cost of £75 million (Dh359m), and youth product Marcus Rashford stole the headlines during the club's first two games on their North American tour - Lukaku also scored in the win against Real Salt Lake - it is a player who arrived amid similar fanfare the previous summer who is quietly exerting ever greater influence on Mourinho's team.
Following the high-profile departures of Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan has assumed a senior role in the team. At 28, he is not quite elder statesman but neither is he wet behind the ears. He has talked of helping the new signings integrate and adapt to Mourinho's methods and tactics.
The memory of being the new boy in town all too vivid no doubt. He has taken on the role of mentor and cheerleader for younger players - “Marcus just needs to keep working hard and doing what he’s doing and he’ll become one of the best players” - the Armenian said of teenager Rashford after the win over City.
His own displays have no doubt given him the confidence to step up in the dressing room and on the pitch. There were enough encouraging displays towards the back end of last season to suggest there was far better to come in this one.
Much like the Worker bee that has come to symbolise his adopted home city following the terrorist attack at an Ariana Grande concert in May that claimed the lives of 23 victims, Mkhitaryan buzzes around on the flanks. His delivery of the ball marks him a threat on the outside while he has the footwork to cut inside and draw defenders out of position. And who could ever forget that goal against Sunderland?
It may have taken a while for him to find his feet but Mkhitaryan now stands tall at Old Trafford. It is obvious from his pre-season outings he will start this Premier League campaign in much better shape than his began the previous. The Armenian has the ability to shine on his own and bring out the best of young talents such as Lukaku, Rashford, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial.
Mkhitaryan was part of a squad that won the League Cup and Europa League last season but could finish only sixth in the league. With Mkhitaryan ready to flourish, United are primed to shake up the top four this season after missing out on it by a fair distance last term and once again do battle with Europe's elite in the Uefa Champions League instead of its lesser lights.
Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
RACE CARD
6.30pm Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.40pm Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m
8.15pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 - Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
