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      Jose Mourinho claims he was accused of ‘BULLYING’ at Man Utd after Special One would do ‘anything to win’

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      JOSE MOURINHO claims he was accused of “bullying” after substituting a player at half-time during his stint as Manchester United boss.The Portuguese managed the Red Devils between 2016 and 2018 before being sacked following a disastrous start to the season.
      Jose Mourinho was sacked as Manchester United boss in 2018Credit: Getty – Contributor
      Without naming the player in question, Mourinho looked back on a specific substitution he made as United boss that caused outcry.
      Appearing on The Obi One Podcast, he said: “When I was at Man United, I changed a player at half time.
      “I made a change and was accused of bullying.”
      Mourinho, 60, went on to reference another change he made while managing Chelsea in 2015.
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      During a match against Southampton he brought Nemanja Matic on at half-time… only to sub him off just 28 minutes later, with the Blues going on to lose 3-1.
      Referencing the incident, he said: “With Matic at Stamford Bridge, he was on the bench. I put him on minute 45, I take him off around minute 70.
      “That’s education, that’s coaching. That’s doing anything to win. I had to (make the) change.
      “I laugh about these times but it’s different times (now). Even to be a dad, you have to be a different dad to how your dad was to you.
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      “You have to change according to the world.”
      Mourinho doesn’t appear to have changed much, however, as he made a similar decision during Roma’s clash with Bologna last night.
      He brought on midfielder Renato Sanches at half-time with his side trailing 1-0.
      The former Premier League boss then opted to hook him off just 18 minutes later, much to Sanches’ surprise.
      Mourinho didn’t even look at the Paris Saint-Germain loanee as he came off, let alone provide an explanation.
      After his side’s dismal 2-0 defeat he said: “I’m sorry… The last time I did this to a player before Renato was Matic, and I’m terribly sorry about this.
      “But today I couldn’t leave the team with a player who had become frustrated. I had to make this decision.”
      Following sackings at Chelsea, Man Utd and Tottenham, Mourinho returned to Serie A with Roma in 2021.
      Read more on The Sun
      He has since failed to qualify for the Champions League in either of his full seasons in charge.
      Last night’s defeat saw them fall to seventh in the table, with Bologna leapfrogging them into the top four.
      Nemanja Matic was hauled off 28 minutes after coming on against Southampton in 2015Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Renato Sanches received similar treatment yesterdayCredit: Rex More

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      Arsenal news transfer LIVE: Gunners linked with £30m Gutierrez, Ivan Toney chase, Thomas Partey injury latest

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      ARSENAL are said to be in competition with Manchester City for Girona defender Miguel Gutierrez. The Spaniard could cost in the region of £30million.
      The Gunners are also reportedly monitoring Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio.
      Meanwhile, Ivan Toney remains a top transfer target for the Gunners and they are reportedly favourites to sign the striker ahead of Chelsea.
      Meanwhile, manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that Thomas Partey is making ‘good’ progress on his injury as he edges closer to a return.
      PADDY POWER WELCOME OFFER – get £40 in free bet builder bets
      Follow ALL the latest news from the Emirates with our live blog below…
      Arsenal fans react to draw
      Arsenal fans have been reacting to the Champions League draw on social media
      One fan posted: “One of those teams that are exceptionally fiddly to eliminate but you’d make Arsenal strong favourites.”
      A second wrote: “Lol we are winning this comfortably at home.”
      Another added: “They’ve got some decent players. Good keeper. Won’t be easy.”
      Check out our Arsenal WhatsApp page
      Read more Arsenal stories on our amazing WhatsApp Channel.
      AC Milan to come back for Kiwior
      AC Milan are still reportedly interested in Jakub Kiwior.
      The Italian club had been linked with a loan move for the Arsenal defender.
      The Daily Mirror has claimed that AC will make a fresh move for the Polish international.
      Up next for Arsenal
      The Gunners face Liverpool in their next Premier League game.
      The club then competes 2023 with back-to-back London derbies against West Ham and Fulham.

      Yorke on Rice
      Dwight Yorke has insisted that Arsenal have still overpaid for Declan Rice despite his impressive performances.
      He told MegaDice.com: “Declan Rice needs to win a couple of trophies before I change my tune. I know he scored important goals against Luton and Man United, but that’s what you’d expect when you spend such a large fee.
      “Scoring a few important goals doesn’t mean much if you finish second at the end of the season. That’s not what I want my £100million man to be doing – I want him to win major trophies. 
      Credit: Reuters
      “People think that’s unfair, but the fee is a hell of a lot to spend to finish second. People may think there’s more to it, but you have to bring success to the club if you’ve joined for that amount of money. There’s no point otherwise.
      “Rice can score important goals, but it means nothing if Arsenal don’t win trophies. I expect Rice to be like a modern Roy Keane and drag his team to silverware. If he does that, then I’ll have no issues with his fee. 
      “I think Rice is a damn good player, but I don’t see £105million in him. I suppose that’s just the market, though. If Rice delivers success, then I’ll be the first one to congratulate him.”
      Terry snubs Arsenal
      John Terry has backed Real Madrid over Arsenal to win the Champions League title.
      Following the draw, he said: “I think team-wise you have to look at Real Madrid.
      “For me, I think they have been fantastic, probably for the last seven or eight years in the competition and are always there.
      “I think Bellingham has been incredible as an individual and they obviously have a fantastic manager in Carlo who I worked alongside for many years at Chelsea.
      “He’s a great man manager, so the players love him, great tactically and I think they will go a long way.”
      Credit: AP
      Arteta on Champions League progress
      Mikel Arteta has hailed Arsenal’s “positive” Champions League campaign.
      He said: “Overall, I think, very positive.
      “Having not been in the competition for six or seven years and having a team that hasn’t got that much experience, I think we’ve competed really well.
      “I really liked the approach of the team in every single game, the way we’ve tried to play. We had some big results and big experiences, like the one we had in Seville or Lens, or even today looking at how the team can act and how fair it is to give certain players that exposure when you make so many changes.
      “Overall finishing first with a game to play we have to be really happy. Now we have to now close that chapter until February and make sure that when that chapter opens up again that we’re in the best place to compete against another top side.”
      Credit: PA
      More from Edu
      Edu has also insisted that Arsenal need to “maintain” the performances in order to progress in the competition.
      He added: “The most important thing for us is to maintain our performances and the way we are playing.
      “That’s our focus, that’s where we want to be and want to keep growing, so let’s see how far we can go in the competition.
      “We want to try and go as far as possible, but we are very much concentrating on playing well, performing well and playing the best football we can, and then we’ll see how far we go.”
      Check out our Arsenal WhatsApp page
      Read more Arsenal stories on our amazing WhatsApp Channel.
      Edu reacts to draw
      Edu has reacted to Arsenal’s draw against Porto in the Champions League round of 16.
      Speaking after the draw, he said: “We are going to play against a club that is very used to playing in the competition because they play in it every single year and they have a lot of players as well with big experience.
      “We have to understand how are we going to play and respect them as much as we can. We will play our game and see if we can go through this stage.
      “We can see how they are playing, how organized they are, and the players that they have. Porto is a club that you have to be really prepared to play against or we’ll have problems, so what we have to concentrate on is maintaining our levels and the way we are playing.”
      Credit: Sunday Times
      Champions League top scorers
      Despite not making it past the group stages, Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojund is among the Champions League top scorers.
      The Danish striker netted five times in the groups, equal to Alvaro Morata, Antoine Griezmann and Erling Haaland.
      Who will finish the campaign with the most goals?

      Top assister
      Bukayo Saka has impressed in his debut campaign of the Champions League.
      The Arsenal star has assisted the most amount of goals [4] in the competition.
      `Will he impress in the knockout stages?

      Jesus’ Champions League dream
      Gabriel Jesus has previously admitted that he wants to win the Champions League with Kai Havertz, having lost out on the cup to the German in 2021.
      He said: ”A lot, we are always joking that he [Havertz] won the Champions League against me and I always say I want to win one with him!”
      ”We always joke [about it], but now I want to win with him and Jorginho as well. He is an amazing player and the way he plays he is so strong and tall, with his quality as well he helps us a lot.
      ‘Quietly like me, he is always fighting and helping the team and the way this guy has arrived is massive. We are very happy we have him.”
      Credit: Getty
      When will the draw be confirmed?
      Uefa have confirmed that the exact date and times of the round of 16 matches will be announced this evening.
      Credit: Reuters
      Vieira homecoming
      Fabio Vieira will face some familiar faces when Arsenal take on Porto.
      The midfielder joined the Gunners from the Portuguese giants in 2022.
      Credit: Getty
      More fan reaction
      Football fans have been left fuming after the Champions League draw for the Last 16 was picked this morning.
      Supporters suggested that the random draw was “rigged” after Manchester City were picked against the “easiest” team in the pot and Arsenal were handed a tough tie.
      The Cityzens were drawn against Copenhagen while Arsenal will face Porto who won the competition back in 2004.
      Copenhagen are ranked as the 37th best team in Europe according to Uefa’s own club coefficient.
      While Manchester City are considered the best team in Europe off the back of their Champions League success last season.

      More on Porto’s CL history
      The Portuguese giants have won the Champions League twice in the club’s history.
      Porto first won the tournament in 1987 and again in 2004.
      The second victory was when the club was managed by Jose Mourinho.
      Credit: Getty
      Arsenal fans react to draw
      Arsenal fans have been reacting to the Champions League draw on social media
      One fan posted: “One of those teams that are exceptionally fiddly to eliminate but you’d make Arsenal strong favourites.”
      A second wrote: “Lol we are winning this comfortably at home.”
      Another added: “They’ve got some decent players. Good keeper. Won’t be easy.”
      Lord Bendtner
      Credit: Twitter
      Draw in full
      Here is the draw in full…
      Porto v Arsenal
      Napoli v Barcelona
      PSG v Real Sociedad
      Inter Milan v Atletico Madrid
      PSV v Borussia Dortmund
      Lazio v Bayern Munich
      Copenhagen v Man City
      RB Leipzig v Real Madrid
      Second draw
      The second tie will see Napoli play LaLiga giants Barcelona.
      The Catalonians have won the tournament five times.
      Arsenal get Porto
      The first club out of the draw is FC Porto, they will face ARSENAL.
      Here we go
      Uefa Deputy Secretary General Giorgio Marchetti and Terry are set to start drawing clubs for the round of 16.
      Quick reminder
      Here is a quick reminder of the teams in the pots for the round of 16 draw.

      Draw is getting close
      The ceremony for the Champions League draw is underway in Nyon, Switzerland. More

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      Roberto Mancini refuses to take credit for Man City’s meteoric rise.. and reveals who should take ALL the praise

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      THE man who started Manchester City on the glory trail expects that decade to be crowned with the ultimate glory this week.Roberto Mancini will never be forgotten at the Etihad, especially by those fans there to watch Sergio Aguero’s title-winning moment of magic in 2012.
      Roberto Mancini with the FA Cup in 2011Credit: AP:Associated Press
      He lifted the Premier League title a year later in 2012Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The Italian, 59, is now in charge of the Saudi Arabian national team, with an Asian Cup and the 2026 World Cup in his sights.
      But as Pep Guardiola’s City landed in Jeddah as hot favourites to lift the Club World Cup title for the first time in their history, Mancini downplayed his own role in the club’s rise.
      Many argue Mancini laid the foundations without which Pep would not have been able to add the glittering roof and adornments.
      The ex-Italy striker, though, dismissed the idea he was the “father” of the project.
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      Mancini said: “In that time it was very difficult. We won trophies, yes, but I was not the father. The father was the president of this team. I was the manager.
      “I was very happy that it was the first title win for so many years but Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon Al-Mubarak were the most important people there, not me.
      “Of course I remember that day, that match against QPR and everything that happened.
      “I remember looking around near the end when some of the fans were so upset and disappointed that they started to leave with just a minute or so to go.
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      “And then everybody wanted to come back in when it all changed. We deserved to win that title because we played very, very well. We deserved it.”
      Just as City’s owners promised, that title win — following on from the FA Cup final victory over Stoke 12 months earlier — was just the start.
      Mancini added: “I did believe it was the beginning of something.
      “I believed it because Manchester City had so many fantastic people behind the project, people who helped the manager and knew what they would need to do if they wanted to win everything.”
      I was very happy that it was the first title win for so many years but Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon Al-Mubarak were the most important people there, not me.Roberto Mancini
      Erling Haaland’s goalscoring feats have caused defenders across Europe to quake in their boots.
      The Norwegian will be the biggest weapon, with City expected to face Brazilians Fluminense in Friday’s final — although City first have to get past Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds tomorrow.
      Yet Mancini insisted he would not necessarily have swapped Haaland for any of Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli or even Carlos Tevez.
      And he believed the Italian defensive greats he himself played with and against would have found a way to control Haaland.
      He said: “I had fantastic strikers in my time. It was not just Aguero but also Djeko, Balotelli, Tevez.
      “In the last ten years City have made themselves into one of the best teams in Europe because they had very good players, not only the strikers but in midfield and defence as well.
      Mancini is now Saudi Arabia’s head coachCredit: AFP
      “But if you ask how the likes of Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini or Pietro Vierchowod would do against Haaland, we are talking about fantastic defenders from my era, about some of the best defenders ever.
      “There aren’t any defenders like them today. These players were so good, so strong, that they could have played in today’s football and still been great.
      “Yes, football has changed a lot from my day as a striker. In that time, you were allowed to be a strong, physical defender, more than in today’s football.
      “But they were also very clever players, not only strong. They could have adapted to how football is now.”
      Nevertheless, Mancini, who believes Saudi football will become a potential powerhouse over the next ten years, is backing City to triumph this week.
      The Italian added: “You have to look at everything about City — the quality, the pace, the power, the tactics. Everything. The whole package makes them the best team.
      “They will be playing in a fantastic stadium with a good pitch and it should be City versus Fluminense in the final — although that is not guaranteed.
      Read more on The Sun
      “They have Pep, who is one of the best managers in the world. He is a very demanding coach but all the best managers are like that — they always want to improve, their team and themselves.
      “And if you have a chance to manage all these players it is very good. You have the chance to win if you have very good players.”
      Mancini eyes crowning gloryROBERTO MANCINI is  desperate to bring success to the Saudi national side — so he can meet the man  making it  possible, writes MARTIN LIPTON.
      Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is a driving force behind the newly energised Saudi Pro League and leads the country’s ambition to host the 2034 Fifa World Cup.
      But despite Mancini’s high-profile recruitment as national team coach, he said: “I’ve not met the Crown Prince yet. Maybe if we win the Asian Cup in Qatar next month he will invite me over?
      “There are 36 million people in Saudi, many of them football fans.“And they are crazy about the game.”
      Around 80 per cent of the population play or follow the beautiful game and youth football funding  is up by 162 per cent since 2021.
      There are now 5,500 registered coaches, of which over 1,000 are women, with the aim to increase that to 8,000 by 2025.
      Ex-Manchester City boss Mancini added: “Saudi is one of the highest-growth-potential countries in world football and will be a very important country for the next few years.
      “That is why we want to work with young players who we can improve a lot in the next three or four years.
      “As a national team we need time because  it’s not easy to win very fast.“But we want to improve. It is very important to world football that we have many countries with a  strong team.”
      Saudi fans in Qatar last winter were left in  disbelief as their heroes kicked off the World Cup by  beating eventual winners Argentina.
      But Mancini said: “What is more important, for any team, is to win a trophy rather than just one game.”
      The mega-money launch of the Saudi Pro League has also reverberated around the globe, with Cristiano  and Karim Benzema among the top stars.
      Mancini, who has City legend Yaya Toure as his assistant coach, said: “Football is one of the most important things in this country and it will grow very, very fast.
      “It’s important   they can sign other players  if we want to develop the game.” More

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      Klopp tells Sky Sports reporter ‘you over-estimate your influence’ in awkward live TV interview after Man Utd draw

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      JURGEN KLOPP told Sky Sports reporter Patrick Davison “you over-estimate your influence” following Liverpool’s goalless draw with Manchester United.The Merseyside outfit were expected to beat their struggling rivals and return to the top of the Premier League table.
      Liverpool were held to a stalemate by Manchester United on Sunday eveningCredit: AP
      Jurgen Klopp hit back at claims the pre-match narrative impacted the result
      But while they dominated the game, they failed to put their chances away as the Anfield crowd came away frustrated.
      Following the result, Sky Sports interviewer Davison asked Klopp: “In the lead-up to the match, from us, not from you I have to say, there was a lot of talk ‘It was 7-0 last time, Manchester United are not in good form, Liverpool will run all over them’.
      “Do you think your team dealt well with the mood around the match, the expectation?”
      To which Klopp replied: “I think you over-estimate your influence, slightly. We couldn’t be bothered about what you say.
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      “I would recommend it, pretty much to everyone, not being bothered, because you take it and we have nothing to do with what’s said.
      “We knew it would be difficult. I recognised what you all – whoever -said. That only helps United, nobody else. So why should we listen to that?
      “That was not our problem today.”
      Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk claimed after the match that “there was only one team trying to win the game”.
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      The hosts had 34 shots to Man Utd’s six, as well as 69 per cent possession and 12 corners to their opponent’s none.
      But Man Utd legend Roy Keane slammed the Dutchman for his comments.
      The Irishman said: “He needs a reminder himself. He plays for a club that’s won one title in about 30-odd years.
      “He said, ‘Only one team wanted to win. Man Utd wasn’t worth a point.’
      “Man Utd are in a difficult place – like Liverpool have been in a difficult place for many a year.
      “A bit of arrogance backfired on him today.”
      The result leaves Liverpool one point behind Arsenal as they prepare to host the Gunners next Saturday.
      Meanwhile, Man Utd remain seventh in the Premier League table, six points adrift of the top four. More

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      Jose Mourinho subs off forgotten Premier League ace just 18 minutes after bringing him on – and refuses to look at him

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      JOSE MOURINHO savagely brought off midfielder Renato Sanches just 18 MINUTES after bringing him on during Roma’s 2-0 defeat away at Bologna.With the visitors trailing 1-0 at half-time, Mourinho brought the Paris Saint-Germain loanee, 26, on for Leonardo Spinazzola.
      Renato Sanches was left baffled as he was subbed off 18 minutes after coming on
      Jose Mourinho did not look at the midfielder as he made his way off the pitch
      Edoardo Bove replaced Sanches in the second half
      Roma then went further behind through a Rasmus Kristensen own goal just four minutes into the second period.
      And shortly after the hour mark, Mourinho hauled Sanches off, replacing him with Edoardo Bove.
      He later apologised to Sanches, saying: “I’m sorry… The last time I did this to a player before Renato was Matic, and I’m terribly sorry about this.
      “But today I couldn’t leave the team with a player who had become frustrated. I had to make this decision.”
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      Sanches, who played 12 Premier League games while on loan at Swansea in the 2017/18 season, was visibly surprised he was coming off after such a brief stint on the pitch.
      And Mourinho did not even look in the midfielder’s direction as he made his way off.
      Very little changed after the tactical switch as the score remained 2-0, a loss that leaves Roma three points adrift of Serie A’s top four.
      But the decision to substitute a substitute should come as no surprise to those that have followed Mourinho’s career.
      Most read in Football
      Sanches endured a rough time on loan in the Premier League with SwanseaCredit: Reuters
      Sanches has scored one goal in five Serie A games for Roma
      While Tottenham manager, the Portuguese coach hooked Eric Dier in the 28th minute when Spurs trailed Olympiacos 4-2 in a 2019 Champions League group stage match.
      On that occasion, Mourinho’s men came back to win 4-2, before he later issued an apology to Dier.
      He also carried out a similarly brutal move while at Chelsea.
      During a Premier League clash with Fulham in 2006, Mourinho substituted Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips in the 26th minute for Damien Duff and Didier Drogba.
      But it had little impact as the Blues lost 1-0 at Craven Cottage. More

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      Gary Neville fumes Man Utd star has been ‘found out’ and hints at major fall out with Erik ten Hag

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      GARY NEVILLE took aim at Manchester United defender Raphael Varane for getting “found out” at Old Trafford.And the Red Devils icon even hinted the French centre-back, 30, may have fallen out with manager Erik ten Hag.
      Gary Neville slammed Raphael Varane for his performances at Manchester UnitedCredit: Rex
      Varane has struggled for game time so far this seasonCredit: EPA
      Varane returned to Man Utd’s starting XI in the 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday night as they crashed out of the Champions League.
      It came after seven weeks on the sideline as the likes of Jonny Evans, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw were preferred to the World Cup winner.
      Varane, who won four Champions Leagues at Real Madrid, then started against Liverpool on Sunday.
      But ahead of the game, Neville criticised the defender for failing to live up to his billing since joining Man Utd in 2021.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “He has gone under the radar.
      “For his career, and he’s not the only one, I agree someone like him with the big matches and tournaments that you’d expect a lot, lot more.
      “Something has happened, there’s been a fall out, it doesn’t give me confidence.
      “With defenders you look at if they are they a first or second centre back. He’s second, he likes the other to be dominant and he had that at Real Madrid.
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      “I think he’s been found out a bit. He’s not the dominant leader type you talk about.”
      Varane has made 76 appearances for Liverpool, winning the Carabao Cup during Ten Hag’s first season.
      But he has failed to provide Man Utd any sort of stability at the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
      Man Utd had lost seven of their opening 16 Premier League matches heading into their clash with Liverpool, conceding 21 goals in the process. More

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      Newcastle kid Lewis Miley visited by club’s safeguarding officer to check rest of squad were being nice to him

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      NEWCASTLE’S safeguarding officer was at the training ground on Friday checking the rest of the squad were being nice to teen sensation Lewis Miley. Yet there is no danger of anything but love coming his way now after the academy starlet, 17, became Newcastle’s youngest ever Prem scorer on Saturday.
      Lewis Miley was the star of the show against Fulham on SundayCredit: Reuters
      They did try and get Miley to give a speech and do a dance after seeing Fulham off to reignite their top four hopes following a tricky spell, but the “humble” youngster was having none of it.
      And fellow local midfielder Sean Longstaff just can’t get his head around the impact Miley is making.
      Having excelled over six straight starts recently, he came off the bench to put Toon ahead against the 10-man Cottagers just as nerves were starting to jangle.
      Longstaff said: “It’s funny – we had the safeguarding officer on Friday, making sure people are treating him alright in the changing room.
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      “The funniest bit about it is the fact he’s so young. It’s because he’s under 18 they have to check everyone is doing everything right in front of him and it’s mad … how can you go from checking he’s okay to being the best player on the pitch.
      “We haven’t taken the mickey out of him for that yet. He’s in such a good place and playing so well that we don’t really want to get into him to be fair!
      “He came in the dressing-room afterwards and you couldn’t tell he’s scored, he’s just exactly the same.
      “Everyone started shouting and screaming at him, telling him to give us a speech and ‘dance, dance’ and he just put his head down like a typical 17-year-old kid and said ‘naaaa’.
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      “He just sat there as if he’s used to doing it. I’m really happy for him, he’s such a humble kid. He’s got all the talent in the world and we’re just lucky to have him.
      “It’s a massive goal – it could be one of the biggest in our season to kick start us for the rest of it.”
      Newcastle fans caught a glimpse of Miley’s potential when he was the star of their pre-season tour to the US.
      But if it wasn’t for £55million Sandro Tonali’s 10-month betting ban, there is every chance he wouldn’t have featured this season.
      Yet Longstaff added: “There’s a reason why we all speak so highly of him. None of us are surprised about what’s happened because he’s ridiculously good. It’s the way he receives the ball, the way he passes it, he’s a good size. His start to life in the Premier League and Champions League has been absolutely unbelievable and I’m so happy for him
      “He’s got the perfect people to guide him through it, he’s got great pros around him who will help him too and he comes from a good family and he’s got his feet on the ground. All that is probably 90 per cent of it.
      “If he doesn’t get carried away and keeps working hard and keeps enjoying it, that’s the main thing.
      “He shouldn’t put too much pressure on himself because there probably will come a time when it dips a little bit because that’s just natural. We hope that doesn’t happen of course and if he keeps the level head he’s got I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
      Sean Longstaff has been amazed by Miley’s impactCredit: Reuters More

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      Ollie Watkins explains celebration that sparked furious brawl in Brentford’s feisty clash with Aston Villa

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      OLLIE WATKINS has explained the celebration that sparked a furious melee between Brentford and Aston Villa this afternoon.The England striker, 27, bagged an 85th minute winner in West London to consign his former club to a 2-1 defeat.
      Ollie Watkins heads home Aston Villa’s winnerCredit: Getty
      Watkins pointed at a member of the crowdCredit: Reuters
      The incident sparked a meleeCredit: Reuters
      Tempers flared and set the tone for the rest of the matchCredit: PA
      Following his header, Watkins pointed at a home fan and posed in front of them.
      This sparked a furious response from a number of Brentford stars including Saman Ghoddos, who then clashed with Ezri Konsa.
      The incident set the tone for a bad-tempered conclusion to the match.
      Explaining his celebration to Premier League Productions after the game, Watkins said: “There was one individual who was abusing me all game so it only felt right that i celebrated in front of him.
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      “That caused a bit of a reaction and I’m glad we got three points.
      “[Thomas] Frank asked why I celebrated him like that and I told him. We’re still on texting terms. I feel like I’ve done so much for the club, there were just a few things that he did.”
      Further quizzed if he’d be reporting the incident, he said: “It’s up to them whether they want me, Thomas knows I wouldn’t just celebrate like that.”
      Leon Bailey nearly scored the own goal of the season and while Emi Martinez saved, he then went down theatrically following a challenge from Neal Maupay.
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      That lit the touchpaper and Maupay went down following a similar challenge from the Villa keeper and when Martinez tried to drag him up, all hell broke loose.
      Although he was not the only culprit, Boubacar Kamara got a red for grabbing the throat of Yegor Yarmoliuk.
      Following his sending off, Kamara was held back by Unai Emery, who had run onto the pitch.
      The Spaniard was then booked too.
      Keane Lewis-Potter had earlier fired Brentford into a half-time lead.
      The Bees had been 20 minutes from victory, before Ben Mee’s 71st minute red card for a careless lunge changed everything.
      Alex Moreno equalised in the 77th minute, before Watkins’ key moment on 85.
      After the game, Brentford boss Frank said: “The game that we love won’t be discussed in your questions today. I don’t like that.
      “Ollie and I went to each other after the game and said there was a situation. He is a top player with top integrity. I couldn’t understand why fans were booing him.”
      On his players’ clashes with Emi Martinez and Kamara, he added: “I didn’t like the situation. It’s difficult in a very emotional game to show class, win, draw or lose.
      “And yeah, I don’t think there was enough of that overall in the game.”
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      Emery, meanwhile, said: “I haven’t spoken to Ollie yet.
      “Tomorrow we are going to speak about the match and one part of it will be about that because we lost some control.”
      The bad-tempered match threatened to boil overCredit: Getty
      Emi Martinez was at the heart of the meleesCredit: Reuters
      Unai Emery ran on to hold Boubacar Kamara back
      Kamara was sent off by referee David CooteCredit: Getty More