Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest news snippets from across the footballing world, including Jose Mourinho's swipe at old rival Jurgen Klopp, John Stones on angering his manager and a special training regime for incoming Derby striker Wayne Rooney. Scroll down for more!
Mourinho responds to Klopp's United criticism
© Reuters
Ex-Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho reacted with a meat and fish analogy after Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp criticised his former side's style of play. United held the table-topping Reds to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last weekend and speaking afterwards, Klopp said that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men "just defend".
Responding on Sky Sports afterwards, Mourinho said: "He didn't like the menu. He likes meat and he got fish, so he was not happy. They are of course much stronger against opponents who give them a chance of transitions and counter-attacks. United didn't do that. And he didn't like the menu.
"They were organised, they had a plan. You can agree or disagree, but they had a game plan, they stuck to it. If I was Ole I would be proud, and a little bit frustrated, because I think the boys, they gave everything."
Stones admits angering Guardiola
© Reuters
Manchester City defender John Stones has admitted that he annoyed his boss Pep Guardiola on Tuesday night as he was being subbed on during the side's 5-1 win over Atalanta. The centre-back was brought on for the injured Rodri in the 41st minute and as Stones adjusted his shinpads on the bench, Guardiola was seen slamming a seat while shouting at the player.
"I had them on but I just needed to fix them up properly," Stones explained to BT Sport afterwards. "Time is of the essence and that's obviously what he wanted."
Cahill: 'I could have left Chelsea in January'
© Reuters
Crystal Palace defender Gary Cahill has admitted that he decided against leaving Chelsea halfway through last season in order to make sure his next career step was the right one. The 33-year-old was frozen out by Maurizio Sarri for the final year of his Blues contract and was linked with fellow London sides Arsenal and Fulham in January, but he decided to wait until the end of the campaign before moving to Selhurst Park on a free.
"It's a difficult thing to speak of," Cahill told The Times. "People outside football say, 'Why didn't you move in January?' It's not as simple as that, to just go. You need to make sure the next move is right, you need make sure the contract is right, your family is right. I felt I'd earned the right to wait. The kind of things that were around were not right for my career."
Everton youngster 'wants Newcastle return'
Everton teenager Lewis Gibson is keen on a return to Newcastle United when his contract expires at the end of the season, according to Football Insider. The 19-year-old left the Magpies for Everton in 2017 but has yet to make his first-team debut for Marco Silva's side, instead playing with the Under-23s, where he has made 30 appearances.
Hart praises "genius" Pep
© Reuters
Joe Hart has insisted that he holds no ill will towards Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, describing his former boss as a "genius". The goalkeeper was dropped by Guardiola upon his arrival at the Etihad in 2016, being sent out on loans with Torino and West Ham United before finally sealing a permanent switch to Burnley last season.
Speaking on BT Sport, Hart said: "There's no denying it, you can't question anything he has done in the game. Discussing about Champions League, the systems, the styles, the search for different perfection. They grind out results, they bubble their way through, Real Madrid won three on the spin without necessarily playing the best football.
"I don't know, he mostly has the ingredients to win the Champions League, he's proven that. I spent not a great deal of time with him but we immediately had a difference in opinion in how our careers were going to go. I was up against a superpower. I enjoyed working through that situation with him, he's a good man. I made it clear that football is football, let's not make this personal.
"I don't know whether that's how he works but I made it clear that's how I wanted to work the situation. He's a winner like we say, he's a genius. He's demanding but the beauty of him are his demands have to be met or you're out. That power isn't there at a lot of teams. A lot of the guys will appreciate that if a manager isn't thought of highly you can just wait until they're sacked. With this guy you're the one that is out."
Derby 'give Rooney strict regime'
© Reuters
Wayne Rooney will be forced to undergo a strict training regime over Christmas before he joins up with Derby County, according to The Mirror. The former Manchester United and Everton striker has signed up to appear as a player-coach for the Rams from January 2020, having seen his contract with MLS side DC United come to an end this month. The 33-year-old is currently on holiday with his family but will be forced to maintain his fitness during his two months out of action before finalising a date to join Phillip Cocu's side.
Digne opens up on Everton "honour"
© Reuters
Lucas Digne has admitted that it was an "honour" to captain Everton for the side's 2-0 win over West Ham United last weekend. The 26-year-old was handed the armband after skipper Seamus Coleman was suspended for the clash at Goodison.
"Our captain was suspended and I knew that Gylfi [Sigurdsson] would not be starting, so I knew that I was going to be captain," Digne told Canal+. "The coach spoke to me about it, I took this on with enormous pleasure and it is an honour to captain this team. They are great guys, this is a big club and so it is a big responsibility, the coach believes in me enormously and I can only be happy."
Torres set for Amazon Prime documentary
© Reuters
Former Liverpool and Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres is to appear in his own documentary on Amazon Prime, according to Deadline. The programme will chart the Spaniard's illustrious career and follow his recent retirement after he called time on his playing career earlier this year.
