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Sourced from ESPN FC article

Paul Pogba set to miss Manchester United’s Southampton clash

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Paul Pogba is expected to miss Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Southampton on Wednesday after being given compassionate leave to attend his father’s funeral.

Pogba was absent from the squad for Sunday’s defeat at Tottenham following the death of his father, Fassou Antoine, on Friday.

The France midfielder is likely to return in the final league game of the season against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford ahead of next Wednesday’s Europa League final against Ajax in Stockholm.

But manager Jose Mourinho said he had put no time constraints on Pogba and told a news conference: "I don’t think he will be available against Southampton.

"I think that his dad’s funeral has to be between Tuesday and Wednesday in France, so I don’t think that Paul has the conditions to play.

“We have left him completely free to be back when he thinks he’s ready.”

With United now unable to claim a top-four finish in the Premier League, Mourinho will rest and rotate players against Southampton and Palace before the Ajax clash.

“A final is a final and we have to go to the final with everything like Ajax does, because they have finished their season and they do not have any more football to play until the final,” he said.

"But I have to build some teams with the minimum of conditions to fight for the result.

"We lost against Arsenal 2-0, we fought for the result. We lost 2-1 against Tottenham and we fought for the result and we want to fight for the result.

“I don’t want to field a team where people have a feeling that we are not fighting for the result, but I am going to rotate people.”

Mourinho said Daley Blind would not play against Southampton but Marouane Fellaini will “because he’s not played the last three league matches.”

But he added: “I cannot put four or five kids all together in the fire. I cannot do that to the kids.”

United’s encounter with Ajax will be their 64th game of the season – one more than Sir Alex Ferguson’s team played during the 1998-99 Treble-winning campaign.

And Mourinho said he had given players unscheduled days off to ensure they would be ready for the final.

“It’s all so difficult,” he said. "I am giving one day holiday, a la carte, if you understand what I mean.

"Monday Blind, one day off, Monday Mkhitaryan one day off. He played 90 minutes, or 70, and now 30 more. Herrera one day off.

"It is a la carte and trying to have the people the best they can. It has to be.

“And against Crystal Palace, two or three more, and against Southampton, two or three more and that’s to try to arrive at the final in the best possible condition.”

Mark Ogden is a senior football writer for ESPN FC. Follow him @MarkOgden_

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382

Sourced from Daily Echo article

Mourinho attacks “crazy” fixture schedule ahead of Saints visit

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JOSE Mourinho says Manchester United’s “crazy” schedule is taking its toll mentally and physically ahead of the Europa League final and tomorrow night’s Premier League match at Saints.

Next week the Reds head to Sweden to take on Ajax looking to win the only major trophy to have eluded them in their success-laden history.

Europa League glory also offers qualification for the Champions League - the only way they can return to the continent’s top table after Sunday’s 2-1 loss at Tottenham officially put a top-four finish out of reach.

Mourinho has prioritised European success for several weeks now and, like at Spurs, plans to rotate his squad at St Mary’s on Wednesday, then again in Sunday’s Premier League finale at home to Crystal Palace.

Balancing the desire to win with resting players has been difficult and Mourinho joked it would have been worse was it not for Ander Herrera’s sending off in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Chelsea.

“The accumulation of the games, I never had that,” Mourinho said.

"You know that in all of my career I was never (knocked) out of European competitions in the group phases and in the last 16 I was out only once.

"So I reached the semi-finals 10 times, I go always until the end of the competitions.

"In the League Cup I normally go far. In the domestic competitions cups, I won in Spain, in Italy, in Portugal so I normally have a lot of matches. But like this I never have, I never have.

"This situation of you play a final and the game that you should play that day is going to be postponed until the last week, for the last week! This is crazy.

"And I repeat the same - thank you Michael Oliver because we were out in the FA Cup, because if we go to the FA Cup semi-finals it would be a total disaster. I don’t know when we would be playing that game.

"I never, ever have had a situation like this and on top of that the accumulation of big injuries, not small, not the injuries that you say ‘okay, hamstring, two weeks’.

"No. It’s surgery, boom, boom. It’s surgery - one knee, another knee. Another foot. Just big surgeries.

“So fewer players and fewer players and fewer players. It’s very difficult, really very difficult. But we are there and we go to the final.”

Mourinho says he is having to do “a la carte” preparation for his players, juggling rest, preparation and matches.

“Sometimes you need a day off and they don’t know what a day off is,” he said.

"So this is a period in one week when I have to give one day off and now I give a day off to (Antonio) Valencia. It has to be.

“And against Crystal Palace two or three more and against Southampton two or three more and that’s to try to arrive in the final in the best possible conditions.”

Mourinho wants to win both league matches but is not getting strung up on the outcome, given victory against Ajax is the overriding goal.

“What I want for the players is a good attitude, is a positive attitude, a positive approach, is team spirit, is understanding that some guys they have to sacrifice themselves for the good of others,” the United boss said of the Saints and Palace matches.

"(Daley) Blind played today after 90 minutes on Thursday. The next one, of course, (Marouane) Fellaini has to play the next one.

"Team spirit, empathy and the fantastic attitude that everybody has is not one more victory, one more point, one more defeat that is going to change something.

“A final is a final and we have to go to the final with everything like Ajax does because they have finished the season and they do not have any more football to play until the final.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young and Tim Fosu-Mensah miss both of United’s remaining Premier League matches through injury, while Mourinho is expecting to be without Paul Pogba at Southampton after the midfielder’s father died on Friday.

“I don’t think (he will be available),” Mourinho said. "I think that his dad’s funeral has to be between Tuesday and Wednesday in France.

“I don’t think that Paul has the conditions to play. We have left him completely free to be back when he thinks he’s ready.”

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Read Southampton

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 16/05/2017 17:59:44

| | Manchester United’s impressive win record at St Mary’s among 10 vital stats ahead of Southampton tripBETUNIBET |
| | What TV channel is Southampton vs Manchester United on?MANEVNEWS |
| | Southampton vs Manchester United in The Premier LeagueTHEFOOTBALLFREAK |
|

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| Pogba still unavailable but kids not an option for MourinhoSPORTSKEEDA |
| | Preview: Southampton v Manchester United - Official Manchester United WebsiteOFFMANUTD |
| | Tipping reserves players to start against Southampton over Rooney and CarrickFANCHESTERUNITED |
| | Jose Mourinho gives Paul Pogba update ahead of Southampton clashTHEPEOPLESPERSON |
| | Manchester United give Paul Pogba updateMANEVNEWS |
| | Manchester United: Paul Pogba still unavailable but kids not an option for Jose MourinhoGOALDOTCOM |
| | Southampton’s Puel turns down job offer amid speculation of early St Mary’s exitSPORTWITNESS |

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385

Sourced from The Independent article

Virgil van Dijk and Alvaro Morata primary Chelsea targets as Antonio Conte draws up six-man summer transfer list

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Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk is one of Chelsea’s primary targets for a busy summer that sees Antonio Conte looking to bring in at least six new signings to take his Premier League-winning side to the next level.

Well aware of both how they will need a bigger squad for next season’s Champions League as well as some issues in the current side, the Italian wants to add strength in depth and extra options, so has pin-pointed six key areas where he wants to sign.

They are: at least one striker, depending on the future of Diego Costa; a central defender; another left-sided central defender; a roaming forward for behind the striker; a central midfielder and a back-up goalkeeper given Asmir Begovic’s departure in pursuit of regular first-team football.

While the club are still discussing some positions, clear options have already emerged for particularly important roles.

Van Dijk has become the main target at centre-half and, although Chelsea will face strong competition from Manchester City and Liverpool, there is a growing belief that the 25-year-old Dutch international favours a move to Stamford Bridge. The club hierarchy similarly feel they have the edge on Manchester United in the pursuit of Monaco’s Tiemoué Bakayoko for central midfield.

Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata is Conte’s first choice as striker, but some of the hierarchy would prefer to investigate bringing Romelu Lukaku back to the club from Everton. With the Goodison Park board unwilling to sell Lukaku for anything less than £75m and Morata not currently getting regular football at the Bernabeu, a deal for the Spanish striker is likelier to be easier to do.

Chelsea may also revive their January interest in Swansea City’s Fernando Llorente, but that will depend on whether Costa does actually leave for the Chinese Super League or elsewhere, a situation no longer seen as so certain.

The club have begun investigating a move for Dries Mertens as the forward, but there have already been indications they will have to begin looking elsewhere, since Napoli are determined to keep the Belgian.

There will be one or two sales along with Begovic to help fund a spree that would likely surpass £200m, and club sources say Chelsea would consider an offer from Manchester United for Willian. Jose Mourinho remains a huge fan of the player.

Chelsea are meanwhile themselves intent on keeping Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois in the face of interest from Real Madrid, and expect both to stay.

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386

Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article

Paul Pogba given compassionate leave to miss Southampton clash

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Manchester United have allowed star midfielder Paul Pogba to skip their clash with Southampton - following the death of his father.

World’s most expensive player Pogba has been mourning since Fassou Antoine passed away on Friday morning after a long illness.

Pogba missed United’s trip to Tottenham on Sunday and has been allowed to take the game at St Mary’s off.

Pogba’s teammates jetted off to the south coast with Jose Mourinho set to mix up his starting XI again as he prepares for the Europa League final.

United’s “crazy” schedule is taking its toll mentally and physically leaving boss Mourinho facing a fixture pile-up unlike anything he has experienced.

Next week the Reds head to Sweden to take on Ajax looking to win the only major trophy to have eluded them in their success-laden history and qualify for the Champions League.

Mourinho has prioritised European success for several weeks now and, like at Spurs, plans to rotate his squad at Southampton on Wednesday, then again in Sunday’s Premier League finale at home to Crystal Palace.

“The accumulation of the games, I never had that,” Mourinho said.

"You know that in all of my career I was never (knocked) out of European competitions in the group phases and in the last 16 I was out only once.

"So I reached the semi-finals 10 times, I go always until the end of the competitions.

"In the League Cup I normally go far. In the domestic competitions cups, I won in Spain, in Italy, in Portugal so I normally have a lot of matches. But like this I never have, I never have.

"This situation of you play a final and the game that you should play that day is going to be postponed until the last week, for the last week! This is crazy.

"And I repeat the same - thank you Michael Oliver because we were out in the FA Cup, because if we go to the FA Cup semi-finals it would be a total disaster. I don’t know when we would be playing that game.

"I never, ever have had a situation like this and on top of that the accumulation of big injuries, not small, not the injuries that you say ‘okay, hamstring, two weeks’.

"No. It’s surgery, boom, boom. It’s surgery - one knee, another knee. Another foot. Just big surgeries.

“So fewer players and fewer players and fewer players. It’s very difficult, really very difficult. But we are there and we go to the final.”

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387

Sourced from The Independent article

Claude Puel responds to ‘strange’ speculation over his Southampton future

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Claude Puel admits he finds speculation over his job as Southampton manager “strange” ahead of their Premier League clash against Manchester United on Wednesday.

Puel’s future at St Mary’s is uncertain despite reaching the EFL Cup final in February and leading one of the league’s youngest sides to a potential top-eight finish.

Jose Mourinho’s side came out victorious at Wembley as Saints came agonisingly close to their first trophy since 1976 in a thrilling 3-2 defeat.

At times this season, fans have not enjoyed Southampton’s style of play and squad rotation under Puel but the Frenchman pointed to his relationship with the supporters as evidence that the club are behind him.

“I think it’s strange because someone asked me about speculation and all of the questions about how I will improve the club,” Puel said.

"It’s strange, it’s not a question of being proud of my work, with my staff it’s good to develop young players for the future.

"I hope for Southampton that we will see this for next season but of course it will be interesting to continue this work because I think it’s important to improve.

"For me, it’s important that every time we have honesty with the club and the fans.

"I work to give the best for the team, for the staff and the fans, it’s normal.

"I cannot understand the speculation because when I see all of the fans on the street they are happy to see me, and tell me congratulations.

“When I spoke with our opponents’ players and staff, they give congratulations about our players and our quality and all of this is a good response to the speculation.”

With two games remaining in the Premier League, Southampton are aiming to finish eighth and Puel hopes to build for next season by taking six points against United and Stoke.

Puel said: "The last result away against Middlesbrough allowed us the possibility to finish strong in the Premier League.

"We made seven changes and with a good result and good play and we saw all the squad play with good concentration and focus and this is the most important thing.

"A lot of people ask me what the possibilities are for this team, and it’s about having a good focus about the game (on Wednesday), not having to focus on relegation, Europa League games or different things, and I’m happy with all the work we can do on the pitch and in the training sessions.

“When we can make seven changes with the team, this has allowed different players to recover, and this will allow us to finish strong this week.”

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

:two::four: hours to go!

Get set for #SaintsFC’s clash with #MUFC with our comprehensive match preview: http://sfcne.ws/PreviewMUFCh

Retweets: 1

Favourites: 4

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Read Southampton

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| Southampton’s managerial target keen on Premier League stay | The managerial post at Southampton has been the subject of much speculation in the last month, and Hull City’s Marco … 16-05-2017 |

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 16/05/2017 18:59:57

| | Manchester United squad vs Southampton revealedMANEVNEWS |
| | Jose Mourinho provides early Manchester United team news ahead of SouthamptonTHEPEOPLESPERSON |
| | Puel: 'Speculation over future is strange’SPORTSMOLE |
|

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| Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho promises more rotation as Paul Pogba misses Southampton clashIBTIMES |
| | No room to manoeuvre on Saints targetCLUBCALL |
| | Could Southampton hand Olufela Olomola his Premier League debut this weekend?HEREISTHECITY |

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Sourced from Sky Sports article

Southampton change sponsor on shirt to promote disabled charity

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Southampton will wear the Scope logo on their kit during Wednesday night’s clash with Man Utd, live on Sky Sports.

Scope support more than a quarter of a million disabled people and their families every year, promoting equality and raising awareness of key issues.

The idea is to highlight the on-going problem of disability discrimination in football after a new report found eight in 10 disabled fans have experienced some form of discrimination.

As part of the night, Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead MBE will help coach five supporters for a half-time penalty shootout in a bid to raise up to £25,000 for the charity.

One Saints supporter said “All people are asking for is the opportunity to come and support their teams in some sort of degree of comfort and access and being able to enjoy the game. I think the clubs are duty bound to provide that.”

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

We’ve been speaking to #SaintsFC’s @Prowsey16 ahead of the home clash against #MUFC in the #PL:

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Sourced from Sky Sports article

Paul Pogba will miss Man Utd’s trip to Southampton after death of his father

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Paul Pogba will miss Manchester United’s game at Southampton on Wednesday after being granted compassionate leave following the death of his father, manager Jose Mourinho has revealed.

Pogba’s father, Fassou Antoine, passed away last Friday following a long-term illness. Pogba was left out of the squad for United’s 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday.

“I don’t think (he will be available),” Mourinho said, in comments published on Manchester United’s website on Tuesday. "I think that his dad’s funeral has to be between Tuesday and Wednesday in France.

“I don’t think that Paul has the conditions to play. We have left him completely free to be back when he thinks he’s ready.”

After visiting Southampton, United finish the Premier League season at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday before tackling Ajax in the Europa League final in Stockholm on May 24.

With injuries having robbed United of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Ashley Young, Mourinho is carefully managing the remaining players at his disposal in order to have them in peak condition for the next week’s final.

“I am giving one-day holiday ‘a la carte’, if you understand - Blind one day off, [Henrikh] Mkhitaryan one day off, [Ander] Herrera one day off,” he said. "But the guys who played 90 minutes [versus Spurs], I cannot give them one day off if I want them to play versus Southampton because they need two recovery days.

“I’m trying to get people to be the best they can be. This is a period in one week where I have to give one day off, give [Antonio] Valencia a day off. And, against Crystal Palace, two or three more [players], and against Southampton, two or three more. And that’s to try to arrive in the final in the best possible condition.”

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Read Southampton

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| Southampton vs Manchester United: Combined XI | Southampton welcome Manchester United to St Mary’s on Wednesday evening in their penultimate game of the campaign. … 16-05-2017 |

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| Southampton’s managerial target keen on Premier League stay19 hours ago |
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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 16/05/2017 20:00:11

|

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| Van Dijk ‘likes’ Wijnaldum tweet about Reds’ top-four hopesGOLIVERPOOL |
|
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| ‘Is James Rodriguez starting or on the bench?’ - United fans react as Jose drops hint ahead of SaintsSHOOTCOUK |
| | Southampton vs Man United: Full travelling squad – No David de GeaTHEPEOPLESPERSON |

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Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article

Paul Pogba given compassionate leave to miss Southampton clash

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Manchester United have allowed star midfielder Paul Pogba to skip their clash with Southampton - following the death of his father.

World’s most expensive player Pogba has been mourning since Fassou Antoine passed away on Friday morning after a long illness.

Pogba missed United’s trip to Tottenham on Sunday and has been allowed to take the game at St Mary’s off.

Pogba’s teammates jetted off to the south coast with Jose Mourinho set to mix up his starting XI again as he prepares for the Europa League final.

United’s “crazy” schedule is taking its toll mentally and physically leaving boss Mourinho facing a fixture pile-up unlike anything he has experienced.

Next week the Reds head to Sweden to take on Ajax looking to win the only major trophy to have eluded them in their success-laden history and qualify for the Champions League.

Mourinho has prioritised European success for several weeks now and, like at Spurs, plans to rotate his squad at Southampton on Wednesday, then again in Sunday’s Premier League finale at home to Crystal Palace.

“The accumulation of the games, I never had that,” Mourinho said.

"You know that in all of my career I was never (knocked) out of European competitions in the group phases and in the last 16 I was out only once.

"So I reached the semi-finals 10 times, I go always until the end of the competitions.

"In the League Cup I normally go far. In the domestic competitions cups, I won in Spain, in Italy, in Portugal so I normally have a lot of matches. But like this I never have, I never have.

"This situation of you play a final and the game that you should play that day is going to be postponed until the last week, for the last week! This is crazy.

"And I repeat the same - thank you Michael Oliver because we were out in the FA Cup, because if we go to the FA Cup semi-finals it would be a total disaster. I don’t know when we would be playing that game.

"I never, ever have had a situation like this and on top of that the accumulation of big injuries, not small, not the injuries that you say ‘okay, hamstring, two weeks’.

"No. It’s surgery, boom, boom. It’s surgery - one knee, another knee. Another foot. Just big surgeries.

“So fewer players and fewer players and fewer players. It’s very difficult, really very difficult. But we are there and we go to the final.”

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398

Sourced from Daily Star article

Transfer News: £200m Chelsea spree, Rodriguez to Man United update, Arsenal latest

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Virgil van Dijk and Alvaro Morata are the two players at the top of Chelsea’s summer transfer wish list.

The Independent claim Antonio Conte is looking to add six new faces to his squad as the Blues prepare for a return to the Champions League and an increased amount of fixtures next season.

The Italian will target a striker, two central defenders, a midfielder, backup goalkeeper and someone who can play off the front man and is ready to spend over £200m.

Chelsea are said to be confident of beating Liverpool and Manchester City to the signing of Southampton defender Van Dijk.

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

:speaking_head: “These last couple of games are very important in terms of where we want to finish." #saintsfc http://sfcne.ws/JWPPreMUFCh

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 16/05/2017 21:00:23

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| Mourinho removes key star from squad to face Southampton, but is it a good idea?FANCHESTERUNITED |
| | Virgil van Dijk’s recent Twitter activity might make Liverpool fans excitedGIVEMESPORT |
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| Rumour Mongering: Reds and City Battle for BertrandSBNATIONTHELIVERPOOLOFFSIDE |
| | Southampton v United - Early Team-NewsVITALFOOTBALL |

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