Jose Mourinho told his critics to "calm down" after Manchester United's 1-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday.
The Red Devils manager had faced scrutiny in recent weeks after a 0-0 draw against Liverpool and shock 2-1 defeat by promoted Huddersfield.
Anthony Martial's goal kept United second in the league and at full-time Mourinho looked at a television camera and put his finger to his lips.
"Some people speak too much," he said when asked about the gesture.
"Calm down, relax a little bit. Don't speak too much, speak, speak, speak, relax. Relax a little bit, don't be so nervous. Don't be so excited," the Portuguese added.
Mourinho's defensive tactics were
criticised by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp after their goalless draw at Anfield two weeks ago, and fans booed the decision to replace Marcus Rashford with Martial after 70 minutes against Spurs.
But the substitution proved to be a game changer as Martial slotted home the winner from Romelu Lukaku's flicked header.
"If the result is 0-0 or 1-1 my feelings with the players would be the same because they gave absolutely everything, every ball was like the most important ball of their career," said the United boss.
"The concentration and focus was there and we cannot forget the quality of the team we were playing against."
No Kane, no gain
Tottenham were without top scorer Harry Kane for their trip to Old Trafford after the England striker was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Kane has scored 13 goals in 12 appearances in all competitions for his club and country this season, but boss Mauricio Pochettino said his absence should not be used as an excuse for their defeat.
"I said before the game that you are always going to miss your main striker and Harry Kane is one the best strikers in the world," said the Argentine, whose side are one place behind United in third.
"We did not lose the game because Harry wasn't out there, it is a collective sport and you have to adapt when someone isn't fit to play.
"I am happy with the performance and we deserved more than zero points."
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Sunday, 29 October 2017
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho hits back after win over Tottenham
Friday, 27 October 2017
Arsene Wenger: Arsenal manager's future will be reviewed after season
Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the Arsenal board will review his position as manager at the end of the season.
The Frenchman signed a two-year extension in the summer to extend his 21-year reign at the club.
But, speaking on Thursday at the club's annual general meeting, he suggested that talks would take place when this campaign concludes - something he confirmed in a news conference.
"I want to see what the board thinks of my performance," Wenger said.
"After that we decide where we go from there. My desire has always been to respect my contracts, but that is what I meant."
'I will always love this club'
Last season, the Gunners finished fifth in the Premier League, failing to qualify for the Champions League. It was the first time they have finished outside the top four since Wenger joined in 1996.
At the end of a campaign that saw Wenger face fierce protests from fans calling for him to leave, Arsenal finished 18 points behind champions Chelsea, but beat the Blues 2-1 to win the FA Cup.
On Thursday, Wenger told shareholders that the current side has "something special" and he believes there is "a chance" of success this term.
"My hunger, my commitment is bigger than ever," he said. "I question myself a lot, don't worry, I will sit down every year to see where I go.
"The present for me is about style of play, winning trophies, winning every game. Don't think I don't know. It's essential.
"No matter what happens one day I will always love this club forever and be an eternal fan."
'I dedicate my life to make you happy'
The Arsenal Supporters' Trust had issued a letter on the eve of the meeting urging small shareholders to vote against the re-elections of chairman Sir Chips Keswick and Josh Kroenke - the son of owner Stan - to the Arsenal board.
At least 200 small shareholders, many left standing when not enough chairs were provided, arrived at Emirates Stadium to hear from Keswick, chief executive Ivan Gazidis and Wenger.
A vote was held, but with 97% of the proxy votes, held by majority shareholders Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov, in favour of both re-appointments, the rebellion was quickly quashed.
Commenting on the voting, Wenger said: "I dedicate 99% of my lifetime trying to make you happy. Looking at today, that is not easy."
But he added: "My determination is as strong as ever."
Later shareholders booed and slow-clapped the club's board, and both Wenger and Gazidis were heckled.
'Gazidis pay is comparable to other clubs'
Earlier, Keswick defended a £2.6m pay-out to Gazidis after shareholders questioned why his payment remained the same despite a poor season on the pitch.
"Ivan is doing a fantastic and first-class job leading the development of this club across every aspect of its operations," the 77-year-old said.
Gazidis answered a series of questions about Arsenal's on-field performance, claiming that "according to objective metrics - points versus transfer expenditure - no club has over-performed as much as Arsenal".
Regarding their transfer business he said: "We deal with a massive amount of mis-information, there are many agendas at play. We want to compete at the top of the most competitive league in the world.
"To win the Premier League we need to do things better than our competitors in every area - without putting our club into financial difficulties.
"Arsenal, of the big clubs, have been the most over-performing club over time.
Saturday, 14 October 2017
MANCHESTER CITY 7 STOKE CITY 2: GUARDIOLA'S SIDE RUN RIOT
Manchester City survived a scare to run out rampant winners over Stoke City and move clear at the top of the Premier League.
Manchester City moved two points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 7-2 thrashing of Stoke City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Manchester United's 0-0 draw with Liverpool had temporarily lifted them to the summit but City took full advantage of their rivals' dropped points with a rampant display against a dismal Stoke side.
Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and David Silva had them 3-0 up in less than half an hour as a ragged visiting defence made life easy for Pep Guardiola's front three.
Stoke did threaten a comeback either side of half-time, with Mame Diouf firing home before his header deflected in off Kyle Walker to make it 3-2, but hope of a shock result did not last long.
Jesus scored his second and Leroy Sane his first from two exceptional passes from Kevin De Bruyne, making his 100th appearance for the club, either side of a stunning strike from Fernandinho.
Guardiola made some changes in the closing stages – although Sergio Aguero, back from a broken rib, stayed on the bench – as City looked to save some energy for next week's Champions League meeting with Napoli.
The substitutions did little to disrupt City's rhythm, though, as Bernardo Silva finished in the closing stages to seal a seventh win from eight games that opens up a gap at the top of the table.
Sane should have opened the scoring after seven minutes but instead blasted over the bar from point-blank range, but it did not take City long to strike.
With 17 minutes played, Kyle Walker was allowed time and space inside the penalty area just yards from Jack Butland's left-hand post, and his cut-back was turned in by Gabriel Jesus.
It was 2-0 barely 90 seconds later. De Bruyne's fine throughball found Sane, who had been played onside by Erik Pieters, and he unselfishly laid the ball off to Sterling to tap home.
Stoke had scarcely managed any spell of possession before City bagged a third, with David Silva controlling Sterling's cut-back before prodding past Butland from six yards.
It looked all-too easy for the home side but Stoke at least snatched a lifeline before the break. Xherdan Shaqiri released Jese Rodriguez down the right and he combined well with Diouf, who drilled a shot in off Fabian Delph's extended leg and beyond Ederson.
Matters become more uncomfortable for the home side less than three minutes after the restart, as Diouf's header from debutant Thomas Edwards' curling cross deflected off Walker and into the net, prompting jubilant celebrations in front of the away fans.
But City restored their two-goal advantage eight minutes later. Bruno Martins-Indi was caught dithering in possession and De Bruyne took full advantage, racing down the right before sending in a superb low cross to the unmarked Jesus, who fired high into the net.
Fernandinho then produced the best goal of the match, a thunderous strike from 25 yards out that went in off the crossbar, as Stoke's defence allowed the Brazilian all the time he needed to set himself and let fly.
Five minutes later and City had their sixth, De Bruyne's stunning pass picking out Sane's run into the left of the area, the Germany star side-footing beyond Butland at the near post.
There was time enough for Bernardo Silva to score his first Premier League goal, gathering in Sterling's pass after Stoke failed to clear before poking a finish into the bottom-right corner, capping another devastating display from City that has given them a boost in the title race.