Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/668635
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 20 APRIL 2016 20 Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL PSG quiet on reports they have 'approached Mourinho' PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi is understood to have instigated an approach to Mourinho - via his agent Jorge Mendes - imme- diately after PSG's Champions League exit at the hands of Man- chester City last week, having grown frustrated at the club's lack of progress in Europe under Laurent Blanc. Sky Sports News HQ under- stands Mourinho's preference is to wait until the end of the season and monitor any developments at Manchester United, although he does consider PSG a credible choice for his return to manage- ment and is considering his op- tions. Mourinho is known to have a friendship with Al-Khelaifi, which pre-dates the Qatari's ownership of PSG. Al-Khelaifi has tried to appoint the 53-year- old as manager twice before, and remains convinced the Portu- guese is the man most likely to achieve the club's ambition of winning the Champions League. Last week, Al-Khelaifi could not hide his disappointment af- ter PSG were knocked out of the Champions League by City, and admitted Blanc took a "tactical gamble" by playing a three-man defence in the second leg, which they lost 1-0, eventually going out 3-2 on aggregate. The manner of the defeat was branded a "fiasco" by sports newspaper L'Equipe, and despite the fact Blanc signed a new two- year contract in February keeping keep him at the club until 2018, Al-Khelaifi now wants Mourinho to replace him this summer. PSG's approach to Mourinho will not go unnoticed among the Manchester United hierarchy, who will review Louis van Gaal's position at the end of the season. United currently sit four points off the top four in the Premier League with five games remain- ing, but could still win the FA Cup. Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports News HQ on April 9, Mourinho denied any agreement was in place for him to join Man- chester United in the summer. "I am always linked with jobs and in the summer I will have a job, but in this moment I can promise you I do not have a contract with any club," he said. Were United to sack Van Gaal this summer and replace him with Mourinho, it would also have an impact upon player re- cruitment at Old Trafford. Last week, Sky Sports News HQ revealed Zlatan Ibrahimovic would only be willing to join Manchester United if Van Gaal left the club. The Swede is avail- able on a free transfer this sum- mer but in his 2011 autobiogra- phy I Am Zlatan, he alluded to a strained relationship with Van Gaal during their time together at Ajax. Meanwhile, United are known admirers of John Stones, whom Mourinho unsuccessfully tried to bring to Chelsea from Ever- ton last summer. Everton reject- ed three bids from Chelsea for the defender, and refused to sell Stones. It is understood Mour- inho would approve of signing both the 21-year-old and Ibrahi- movic if he were to take over at Old Trafford. Laurent Blanc signed a new two-year deal at PSG in February Paris Saint-Germain have made an approach to Jose Mourinho BOV Female Player of the Month Jade Flask (Hibernians) wins March Award HIBERNIANS striker Jade Flask is the BOV Female Player of the Month for March 2016. The 19-year old striker, on loan to Hi- bernians from Fgura United is proving to be a force in Women's Football. She joined Hibernians following a stint with Swed- ish side Ange IF during the summer. Her performances were always on a high scale, especially their 5-1 routing of Pembroke Athleta and their 1-1 draw against Mgarr. Jade also featured prominently in the Malta National Team's participation in the Aphrodite Cup, where besides beating Estonia 2-0, the Team obtained a 1-1 draw against Israel who went on to win the Cup. Marica Ellul, Manager of Bank of Val- letta's Paola Branch presented the BOV Female Player of the Month Trophy for March 2016 to Flask. Bank of Valletta has been supporting the local football leagues for the last 11 seasons and is a major sup- porter of sporting initiatives on the Mal- tese Islands. Marica Ellul, Manager of Bank of Valletta's Paola Branch presented the award to Jade Flask