Manchester United 'not good enough' in defeat at Newcastle, says Phil Jones

Phil Jones said Manchester United were "not good enough" in their 1-0 loss away to relegation-threatened Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday.

Matt Ritchie's goal proved the difference at St James' Park, with Jose Mourinho's visitors unable to match the commitment of Rafael Benitez's men.

Despite the defeat United remained second in the table, albeit a huge 16 points behind local rivals and runaway leaders Manchester City.

But England defender Jones took no comfort from United's league position, telling MUTV, the club's in-house television station: "Poor. We started slow and sloppy. The crowd were on their feet, they got momentum.

"We gained a bit of momentum midway through the first half. Second half we had a few chances, cleared off the line but, you know, we're not kidding ourselves. We were not good enough.

"For whatever reason, we weren't good enough and we'll have to play a lot better than that if we're going to kick on and improve."

He added: "We had a few chances ourselves, could have scored, but I think the result was probably fair. I don't think we deserved to win the game today."

"A lot of teams around us keep drawing, losing points and there is a lot still to play for," Jones said when asked about securing the top-four finish needed to qualify for next season's Champions League.

"It was a disappointing day, but we have to go again. That's all we can do, that's all we know. We're disappointed, we're devastated, but we have to improve."

______________

Steve Mounie double lifts Huddersfield Town to a 'huge win' over Bournemouth

Antonio Conte: I should not be fired if Chelsea do not win a trophy this season

Tottenham Hotspur's lethal Harry Kane kills off London rivals Arsenal again

______________

PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates

Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk

Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

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

While you're here

National Editorial: Donald Trump has left his mark on the Middle East

Con Coughlin: The thorn in the side of Biden's foreign policy team

James Reinl: Biden’s Yemen U-turn gets thumbs-up overseas

Raghida Dergham: Will Biden's 'maximum diplomacy' with Iran work?

UAE currency

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid