“We don’t have Real Madrid in the Premier League,” offered a relieved Jose Mourinho after watching his side get outclassed in the 2017 Uefa Super Cup Final in Skopje.
“We have top teams in the Premier League, but they are different teams, teams with different qualities.”
Mourinho is right; there is not an English club which is close to the Spanish, European and world champions at present.
United are back in the Uefa Champions League and could draw Madrid in this season's group phase, but Mourinho’s priority is re-establishing United domestically with a serious tilt at the Premier League title.
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As the Portuguese and the 4,000 travelling United fans saw for themselves, they are still some way off the very best. Real Madrid, winners of three of the past four Champions League trophies, showed why they were the best side on the planet at present.
They have not lost an international final since 2000 and won the last 10 in a row including four Champions League finals, three Uefa Super Cups and two Fifa Club World Cups.
Zinedine Zidane, the Madrid manager, said after the game that his team “never get tired of winning” and paid some compliments to United, but he knew too that his team were vastly superior.
“Against a rival like Manchester United, then the key is to control two or three aspects like the second ball in or playing the ball high … we controlled that well,” the Frenchman said.
“We didn’t let them play. When we had the ball, we made the difference. We hold and we control well. We were cool, we took our time and we finish our chances at the right moment.”
Mourinho had agreed, claiming that between the 20th and 40th minute of the match, Madrid played the perfect game.
There were times when United could not get the ball from Madrid’s midfield, with man of the match Isco, who United once scouted, outstanding as he found space which appeared not to exist.
Toni Kroos, a genuine United target, brings balance and drive. Casemiro, a tank of a midfielder often overlooked by Rafa Benitez but highly regarded by Zidane, was a calming influence and goal threat. Luca Modric was sublime. And all that before anyone talks about Madrid’s venerated attackers.
United’s Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard ran and covered more ground than their foes. They had more possession too, but this was Madrid they were up against, not Ajax.
When Madrid had the ball, they used it far better. And they did that by leaving Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for the first 82 minutes. At least he heard United fans singing his name.
It was not until the second period that United began to improve. Mourinho could allow himself some optimism, picking out new signing Matic and substitute Marouanne Fellaini for praise.
“In the second half we found a way to create difficulties for them and to give them the kind of football they don't like and don't dominate,” he said. “I am really happy with our reaction because at 2-0, the next minute we have a double big chance with just [Keylor] Navas in front. And after the 2-1, we had Marcus Rashford face-to-face with the keeper and we had a fight until the last seconds.
"To do that I think is great because I always say that the Champions League is one thing and the Europa League is another thing.
“The Champions League winner obviously has a different potential than the Europa League winner, so for us to come here and to do the positive things we did, I think we have to go with a good feeling and we have to start the Premier League on Sunday with a positive feeling and great experience.”
The Portuguese also conceded that United's chances of getting Gareth Bale from Real Madrid were minimal because "the club wants him and he wants the club – game over even before it started – everybody knows he is going to stay".
United are still in the market for new players, ones which will help them reduce the gap between themselves and superior sides. It will take time, but Mourinho is making progress.
United, the Super Cup winners in 1991, have now lost three Super Cup finals in a row following defeats in 1999, 2008 and 2017.
Mourinho’s record against his former club is poor, with no wins in five matches, but Spanish clubs are football’s pre-eminent force. They have won eight of the past nine Super Cups and on the evidence of Tuesday's game, superbly staged in Skopje, that hegemony is set to continue.
It is not easy for the rest to watch, not that Madrid cared as they lifted yet another trophy.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
INDIA SQUAD
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
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Health Valley
Founded in 2002 and set up as a foundation in 2006, Health Valley has been an innovation in healthcare for more than 10 years in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
It serves as a place where companies, businesses, universities, healthcare providers and government agencies can collaborate, offering a platform where they can connect and work together on healthcare innovation.
Its partners work on technological innovation, new forms of diagnostics and other methods to make a difference in healthcare.
Its agency consists of eight people, four innovation managers and office managers, two communication advisers and one director. It gives innovation support to businesses and other parties in its network like a broker, connecting people with the right organisation to help them further
Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff
By Sean Penn
Simon & Schuster
Secret Pigeon Service: Operation Colomba, Resistance and the Struggle to Liberate Europe
Gordon Corera, Harper Collins
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
MATCH RESULT
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Jazira: Mabkhout (52'), Romarinho (77'), Al Hammadi (90' 6)
Persepolis: Alipour (42'), Mensha (84')
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Regional Qualifier
Saturday results
Qatar beat Kuwait by 26 runs
Bahrain beat Maldives by six wickets
UAE beat Saudi Arabia by seven wickets
Monday fixtures
Maldives v Qatar
Saudi Arabia v Kuwait
Bahrain v UAE
* The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Sri Lanka's T20I squad
Thisara Perera (captain), Dilshan Munaweera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ashan Priyanjan, Mahela Udawatte, Dasun Shanaka, Sachith Pathirana, Vikum Sanjaya, Lahiru Gamage, Seekkuge Prasanna, Vishwa Fernando, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay and Chathuranga de Silva.
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
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Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
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Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.
As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.
Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.
Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.
Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
