Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said his side's clinical 3-0 victory at Everton had boosted confidence ahead of the midweek trip to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.
First-half goals from Morgan Schneiderlin and Ander Herrera and a strike by Everton old boy Wayne Rooney gave United the spoils in a one-sided Premier League contest at a Goodison Park mourning the loss of former manager Howard Kendall on Saturday.
Read more: Richard Jolly on Manchester United and Wayne Rooney's restorative occasion against Everton
United crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal prior to the international break and Van Gaal was thrilled by their return to form, which saw Rooney net only his second goal of the Premier League campaign.
“It was a very good performance and I said to my players that I am very proud of them because it is one of our best matches,” said the Dutchman, whose side tackle CSKA in the Russian capital on Wednesday.
“We needed that because Everton are a very good team. We controlled the game for 80 minutes and only when the referee gave free-kicks around the 60-metre mark were Everton dangerous, because (Ross) Barkley can take free-kicks.
“I have seen a lot of individual players today (Saturday) playing very good, but that’s also because the result is very good.
“We got more confidence and you could see that in the second half. I was very happy.”
The match was tinged with sadness after news broke prior to kick-off that Howard Kendall, Everton’s most successful and most popular manager, had died at the age of 69 following a heart attack.
Kendall had an illustrious playing career at Goodison, winning the First Division title – the precursor to the Premier League – in 1970, before assuming the managerial mantle on three separate occasions.
He delivered the league title twice, in 1985 and 1987, the FA Cup in 1984 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1985 during a halcyon spell where Everton and neighbours Liverpool dominated the English football landscape.
Fans applauded throughout a pre-match moment of remembrance and players from both sides sported black armbands.
But there were few echoes of the famous passing style inculcated by Kendall as Everton failed to impose themselves on United.
Van Gaal’s side took the lead in the 18th minute when Steven Naismith’s clearance fell to Marcos Rojo.
The Argentine defender’s shot deflected off Chris Smalling and into the path of the unmarked Schneiderlin, who calmly directed the ball past Tim Howard from 12 yards.
Slack Everton defending was to blame again four minutes later as Seamus Coleman clattered into Anthony Martial, which gave Rojo the space down the left wing he needed to whip in a cross that Herrera clinically converted.
Everton responded impressively after the break and showed more heart, but they had precious little end product and Rooney sealed United’s win in the 62nd minute, charging through on goal to comfortably beat Howard.
“I’m very happy for him, but for me it is not important if he scores or not,” added Van Gaal of Rooney, whose side remain third, below Arsenal on goal difference, ahead of next weekend’s derby with leaders Manchester City.
“He has to be an attacking player, doing his job when we are defending. I am very happy when he scores. Maybe it is a start for many, many goals now because he needed this goal, I think.”
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BABYLON
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Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Result
Tottenhan Hotspur 2 Roma 3
Tottenham: Winks 87', Janssen 90 1'
Roma 3
D Perotti 13' (pen), C Under 70', M Tumminello 90 2"
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Mykonos, with a flight change to its partner airline Olympic Air in Athens. Return flights cost from Dh4,105 per person, including taxes.
Where to stay
The modern-art-filled Ambassador hotel (myconianambassador.gr) is 15 minutes outside Mykonos Town on a hillside 500 metres from the Platis Gialos Beach, with a bus into town every 30 minutes (a taxi costs €15 [Dh66]). The Nammos and Scorpios beach clubs are a 10- to 20-minute walk (or water-taxi ride) away. All 70 rooms have a large balcony, many with a Jacuzzi, and of the 15 suites, five have a plunge pool. There’s also a private eight-bedroom villa. Double rooms cost from €240 (Dh1,063) including breakfast, out of season, and from €595 (Dh2,636) in July/August.
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
Indian construction workers stranded in Ajman with unpaid dues
Spain drain
CONVICTED
Lionel Messi Found guilty in 2016 of of using companies in Belize, Britain, Switzerland and Uruguay to avoid paying €4.1m in taxes on income earned from image rights. Sentenced to 21 months in jail and fined more than €2m. But prison sentence has since been replaced by another fine of €252,000.
Javier Mascherano Accepted one-year suspended sentence in January 2016 for tax fraud after found guilty of failing to pay €1.5m in taxes for 2011 and 2012. Unlike Messi he avoided trial by admitting to tax evasion.
Angel di Maria Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain star Angel di Maria was fined and given a 16-month prison sentence for tax fraud during his time at Real Madrid. But he is unlikely to go to prison as is normal in Spain for first offences for non-violent crimes carrying sentence of less than two years.
SUSPECTED
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid's star striker, accused of evading €14.7m in taxes, appears in court on Monday. Portuguese star faces four charges of fraud through offshore companies.
Jose Mourinho Manchester United manager accused of evading €3.3m in tax in 2011 and 2012, during time in charge at Real Madrid. But Gestifute, which represents him, says he has already settled matter with Spanish tax authorities.
Samuel Eto'o In November 2016, Spanish prosecutors sought jail sentence of 10 years and fines totalling €18m for Cameroonian, accused of failing to pay €3.9m in taxes during time at Barcelona from 2004 to 2009.
Radamel Falcao Colombian striker Falcao suspected of failing to correctly declare €7.4m of income earned from image rights between 2012 and 2013 while at Atletico Madrid. He has since paid €8.2m to Spanish tax authorities, a sum that includes interest on the original amount.
Jorge Mendes Portuguese super-agent put under official investigation last month by Spanish court investigating alleged tax evasion by Falcao, a client of his. He defended himself, telling closed-door hearing he "never" advised players in tax matters.
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RESULT
Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')
Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
MO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreators%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Amer%2C%20Ramy%20Youssef%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Amer%2C%20Teresa%20Ruiz%2C%20Omar%20Elba%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68
Victims%20of%20the%202018%20Parkland%20school%20shooting
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