Juan Mata has as much to fear as any Manchester United player as Jose Mourinho closes in on becoming the club's next manager.
The Spain midfielder was jettisoned by Mourinho at Chelsea in January 2014 despite being a fan favourite, having won the Player of the Year award in his two previous seasons at the club.
Mata is an astute attacking player who is always liable to chip in with important goals, as he showed when scoring United’s equaliser in the 2-1 FA Cup final win over Crystal Palace at Wembley on Saturday.
He does not fit the bill, however, for a prototype Mourinho midfielder. He lacks defensive attributes because he of a lack of pace, is weak in the air, cannot tackle and is heavily reliant on his left foot.
“It is one thing to play with Ramires and Oscar closing down opponents on each side and Mata as a No 10 behind a striker with his clever assists, clever passes and fantastic actions because he has great talent,” Mourinho said in September 2013.
“But it is another thing to adapt to the way we want to play.”
No matter how skilful they might be, Mourinho demands all his midfield players track back when the team lose possession to form a solid defensive shield.
Within months of selling Mata to United, the Portuguese replaced him at Chelsea with Cesc Fabregas.
More from Manchester United:
• Latest news: Mourinho on brink of Manchester United job after agreeing personal terms — reports
• Podcast: Steve Luckings and Jon Turner weigh up the pros and cons of Mourinho joining Manchester United
• Richard Jolly: Desperate not to be left behind, Man United had no choice but to replace Van Gaal with Mourinho
Chelsea won the Premier League at a canter in Fabregas' first season at Stamford Bridge but in the latter part of the campaign, Mourinho was reluctant to employ the Spaniard in a holding role alongside Nemanja Matic, thrusting him further forward where his defensive shortcomings were less noticeable.
Mourinho would have liked to sign the more combative Paul Pogba from Juventus after winning the league but Chelsea's advances fell on deaf ears, and the club endured a woeful start to the season that eventually led to the manager's sacking in December 2015.
A possible scenario, now that Mourinho is set to hold the reins at United, would see France international Pogba returning to his first club as one of the linchpins of a new-look team. Daley Blind is another United player whose role will come under scrutiny.
It seems inconceivable Mourinho would entertain the thought of deploying Blind in the same central defensive role he occupied under Van Gaal.
Mourinho prefers hard-as-granite centre halves like John Terry of Chelsea, Real Madrid's Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho, who he worked with at Porto before signing him for Chelsea and Madrid.
Blind, knowing perhaps that it might be tricky to win Mourinho over, wanted Van Gaal to stay at United.
"I always worked well with him and would have been keen that the co-operation lasted longer," Blind said after breaking off from training with the national team squad as they prepared for next month's European Championship in France.
“Even though there was so much being written about him losing his job over the last months, he always looked to protect and shelter us.”
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Memphis Depay, Ashley Young and Adnan Januzaj are other United players who may be understandably apprehensive about Mourinho’s impending arrival.
United fans have never really taken to Marouane Fellaini but the Belgium international is powerful in the air and combative on the ground and may be someone Mourinho can work with.
As for another possible marquee signing, media reports have persistently linked Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic with a move to United from Paris Saint-Germain.
Ibrahimovic teamed up with Mourinho at Inter Milan and has always spoken highly of the Portuguese.
“Mourinho is the disciplinarian,” he aid. “Everything with him is a mind game, he likes to manipulate.
“Such tricks were new for me, all the time doing one thing to get another thing, all the time triggering me. I like these games and it worked for me.”
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The Equaliser 2
Director Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Denzel Washington, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, Ashton Sanders
Three stars
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
WHAT%20IS%20THE%20LICENSING%20PROCESS%20FOR%20VARA%3F
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5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5