Chelsea FC bust-up? Man Utd to axe Rooney? FC Barcelona run riot – Wednesday’s back pages

Crunch Sports Staff
in Soccer 25 Nov 2020Share

Jose Mourinho (credit: THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images)
The top stories making Wednesday’s back pages in the UK…
The Sun: Jose Mourinho gave Diego Costa a smacker after the pair had clashed in a heated bust-up. Chelsea’s boss tried to play down the spat which overshadowed his team’s win that put them on the verge of the Champions League last 16.
Also: Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has urged Wayne Rooney to join him in China.
And: Arsene Wenger has challenged Arsenal to snatch a place in the Champions League last 16.
Plus: Gary Lineker reckons Jamie Vardy should jump at the chance of leaving Leicester for a bigger club.
Daily Mirror: Jose Mourinho claimed he and Diego Costa kissed and made up after their public bust-up at Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
Also: Arsene Wenger jokingly mocked a suggestion by a journalist that he doesn’t like to spend money – and invited him on a night out.
Daily Star: Louis van Gaal has warned Wayne Rooney he can’t expect to walk back into the Manchester United starting line-up.
Also: Jose Mourinho had a blazing row with striker Diego Costa but Chelsea did what they had to do.
And: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed midfielder Francis Coquelin will face three months out due to injury.
Daily Mail: Jose Mourinho and Diego Costa were embroiled in an angry exchange of words and gestures during Chelsea’s comfortable victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Also: Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy admits that Memphis Depay is yet to make a decisive impact for the club but he has backed his Dutch compatriot to rediscover his form and cement his name into Old Trafford folklore.
And: Lionel Messi expressed his delight at returning to the starting line-up and playing the full 90 minutes in Barcelona’s 6-1 win against Roma in the Champions League.
Daily Express: Arsene Wenger is relieved Arsenal’s Champions League hopes are back in their own hands – and challenged his side to grab the chance to make amends for their failings in Europe this season.
Also: Jose Mourinho insisted that “kisses and cuddles” with Diego Costa at half-time in Israel had patched up the blazing row between the two.
And: Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter are facing lifetime bans on corruption charges brought by FIFA’s ethics committee.
Metro: Tottenham are ready to rival Bayern Munich for the signing of Mainz attacking midfielder Yunus Malli, who can leave the club for around £7million.
Also: Manchester United have tasked former boss Sir Alex Ferguson with helping to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club, according to reports.
Daily Telegraph: Jose Mourinho insisted he had kissed and made up with Diego Costa after a bust-up between the pair during Chelsea’s Champions League victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The Times: José Mourinho blamed the “dangerous” pitch at the Sammy Ofer Stadium for the injuries suffered by John Terry and Ramires, which marred Chelsea’s win over Maccabi Tel Aviv last night.
Also: Arsène Wenger urged his Arsenal players to seize the initiative against Olympiacos after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Dynamo Zagreb last night maintained their chance of qualifying for the knockout stage of the Champions League.
The Guardian: Luis Suárez hit a brace and set up a double for Lionel Messi in his first start after injury as Barcelona crushed Roma 6-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday.