Chelsea make title race ‘more interesting’, Man United ‘not consistent’, Tottenham ‘still fighting’: Premier League reaction

Reaction from Premier League managers after Saturday’s action Tottenham ‘still fighting for title’ Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. Jan Kruger / Getty Images Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino insisted his side were “still fighting” for the Premier League title after a 2-0 win at Burnley secured a “massive” three points. Spurs’ success at Turf Moor, with their goals scored by Eric Dier and Son Heung-Min, came as league leaders Chelsea suffered a shock 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace. The results saw Spurs close to within seven points of London rivals Chelsea, with both sides having nine league games remaining this season. “It was difficult to play the way we normally play,” Pochettino said. “It’s a massive three points for us and we have to still believe and fight for the title. “We showed great belief and faith and character and that makes me very proud. “I think the performance was great, not brilliant, very professional and this is a difficult place. “We knew very well how difficult Burnley have made it for other teams here so I give a lot of credit to my team. “They battled for every ball — we knew that Burnley are very direct and very physical, but we stopped them and then in the second half started using the ball.” Manchester United ‘not consistent’ Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. Lee Smith / Reuters Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho openly criticised four of his key players after yet another frustrating Premier League game at Old Trafford ended in a 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion. Mourinho’s side have now drawn eight league games at home this season, and in seven of them they were comfortably the more dominant team but ultimately failed to turn possession and chances into goals. The latest disappointment followed that pattern with United enjoying 75 per cent possession but failing to end a run of home draws that has left them facing an uphill task to finish in the top four. And Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial found themselves publicly criticised by Mourinho as a United team without six key players through injury or suspension, took their total of home points dropped in drawn games to 16 for the campaign. “This is déjà vu all season,” Mourinho said. “We’re not consistent. We miss easy chances. We have moments or periods when we push but then a couple of players disappear for 10 minutes, when you don’t see them. “You always see the same people, the same guys in front of the train, pulling the train. It’s disappointing. “We need to kill off teams. When you see the number of goals we score compared to our domination, it’s a big contradiction. “If you’re somebody who doesn’t know, you would think we’re a defensive team, a counter-attack team, waiting for opponents’ mistakes. And it’s completely the opposite. “But see how may goals our guys score during the season — Rashford, Lingard, Mkhitaryan, Martial. See how many goals they score and then Zlatan and Mata are the ones with more goals. “If they are not, the situation gets more difficult.” Title race ‘more interesting’ for Chelsea’s rivals Chelsea manager Antonio Conte. Tony O’Brien / Reuters Antonio Conte said Chelsea’s shock 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace has blown the Premier League title race wide open. Conte’s side went into Saturday’s clash with relegation-threatened Palace sitting 10 points clear at the top of the table and having won their previous 13 fixtures at Stamford Bridge. But after goals from Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke fired Palace’s stunning upset and second-placed Tottenham won at Burnley, Chelsea found their lead cut to seven points with nine games remaining. “For others this is a good result. It makes it more interesting, the championship,” said Conte, who’s side face Manchester City on Wednesday. “But I always said that the league finishes when it is mathematically sure you have won. Otherwise you must play every game to try to win because, I repeat, in England easy games do not exist. “We have to play on Wednesday against Manchester City and we all know the strength of this team. “But, now, the most important thing is to recover very well and rest. “It’s important to prepare in the right way for this game, but I think, in England, there are no easy games. “You could see that today against Crystal Palace. Every game will be very tough from now until the end. “Also, if the team is Manchester City or a side fighting in the relegation zone.” Liverpool wait on Mane injury after ‘deserved victory’ Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. Paul Ellis / AFP Sadio Mane looks set to miss Liverpool’s match against Bournemouth on Wednesday after suffering a knee injury during their 3-1 victory over Everton. The Senegal forward scored an early goal as Jurgen Klopp’s side strengthened their hopes of Uefa Champions League qualification with a deserved win in the 228th Merseyside derby at Anfield. Mane limped off in the second half following a collision with Everton defender Leighton Baines, but did not leave the ground on crutches, giving Liverpool hope he will not be out for long. “Today nearly everything was perfect, then we lose Sadio Mane,” Liverpool manager Klopp said. “When I saw him in the dressing room, it didn’t look as if he would be ready for Wednesday. We will see. We hope it’s not that serious, but it does not make our life easier. “Obviously he has pain and it didn’t look like it’s only a knock or a muscle or something, but we have to wait.” Commenting on the game, Klopp said: “It was a deserved victory. We controlled the ball after the first few minutes. I told the boys to be really smart and emotional. “The last 20 minutes were a bit wild. When organisation doesn’t work any more, you have to defend with passion.” Shakespeare ‘very proud’ to join elite company Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare. Andrew Boyers / Reuters Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare moved within touching distance of achieving his main goal of top-flight survival and joined managerial royalty in the process as the Premier League champions beat Stoke City 2-0. But Shakespeare admitted he has having to pinch himself after extending his perfect start to life at the helm of the club with a fifth successive win. Saturday’s home success at the King Power Stadium saw Shakespeare become the first Englishman to win his first four games as a Premier League manager. In doing so he joined serial winners Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Guus Hiddink and Pep Guardiola as the only managers to achieve the feat. “I’m very proud,” said Shakespeare, whose other win came in the Uefa Champions League. “You sometimes have to pinch yourself in terms of the names being mentioned. “I’m at a very, very early stage in my management career but to be mentioned in the same breath of them makes me very proud. “I realise there’s a lot people to thank along the way, in terms of my previous managers when I’ve been an assistant, but also the players.” * Agencies Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport

Chelsea make title race ‘more interesting’, Man United ‘not consistent’, Tottenham ‘still fighting’: Premier League reaction

Reaction from Premier League managers after Saturday’s action.