Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/683529
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 25 MAY 2016 20 TWO days after leading United to their first major trophy of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, Lou- is van Gaal's turbulent two-year Old Trafford reign was brought to an end. The divisive Dutchman paid for United's prosaic style and underwhelming substance, with Saturday's FA Cup win unable to mask the poor Premier League performances that saw United miss out on Champions League qualification by goal difference. Mourinho, his former assistant at Barcelona, looks a shoo-in for the job and according to reports, Woodward and Mendes are meeting in London to discuss the deal. It is understood Ryan Giggs is considering an offer to remain with the club he has served for so long, although it is unclear what that role would be having been assistant to Van Gaal. No official confirmation on the remainder of the Dutchman's backroom team has been made, but it has been reported that as- sistant coaches Albert Stuiven- berg and Frans Hoek, as well as performance analyst Max Reck- ers, have left. As for the new manager, the seemingly inevitable appoint- ment of Mourinho has been called a "nice prospect" by Mem- phis Depay. Having arrived to much fanfare last summer, the 22-year-old failed to live up to expectations at Old Trafford and was not in- cluded in United's FA Cup final squad. Depay was understandably disappointed to miss out but re- mains "happy to be at Manches- ter United", with the Holland international looking forward to proving himself next term. "A love-hate relationship (with Van Gaal)? I do not know," he told De Telegraaf. "And now he leaves, as things go in football and in life. You learn and you become stronger. "If the arrival of Mourinho be- comes official, I will ask Wesley Sneijder sure what kind of man he is. "That is interesting. It all sounds so, but it is not yet offi- cial. " When told that Sneijder had called his former Inter Milan boss the best he has worked with, Depay said: "That's a nice pros- pect." United team-mate Daley Blind also spoke positively about Mourinho, saying he has "achieved much", but the over- riding emotion was one of disap- pointment for Van Gaal. "I always worked well with him and would have been keen that the co-operation lasted longer," he told reporters at Holland's training camp in Portugal. "The manager of a top club in England is naturally under much more pressure but over the last six months he has not been treat- ed fairly. "I think a manager like Louis van Gaal, who has achieved so much already, deserved more re- spect. "Even though there was so much being written about him losing his job over the last months, he always looked to pro- tect and shelter us. It is not easy for a coach if you are repeatedly being fired in the newspapers." CRISTIANO Ronaldo has reas- sured Real Madrid fans he will be fit to play in Saturday's Champi- ons League final against Atletico Madrid in Milan after limping out of Tuesday's training session. Ronaldo failed to complete training for the third session in a row, leaving the pitch with a thigh problem following a clash with Real goalkeeper Kiko Casil- la. "It was a minor scare, a knock, but in a few days' time I will be well," the Portuguese forward told reporters. The 31-year-old missed the first leg of Real's semi-final against Manchester City with a thigh injury but thinks he is in better physical condition than he was before the final two years today. "I believe I'm in better shape," he said. "I've had a slight problem but it's normal as I have been the most used player in the team. "I think this is the season where I have played the most minutes. Besides the problem of today's training session, I believe I'm at my best level." Real's goalscoring machine is just one victory away from clinching his third European crown. Ronaldo is one goal short of matching his own record of 17 in the competition set in the 2013- 14 campaign when the team lift- ed the European Cup for the 10th time. "I would love to equal or even surpass that record," Ronaldo said. "But it is not an obsession. The record is mine whether I score or not in the final. The im- portant thing is that we win." Ronaldo is the all-time lead- ing scorer in Europe's elite club competition with 93 goals, 78 for Real. The former Manchester United player netted the last goal in the final in Lisbon two years ago when Real defeated Atletico 4-1 after extra-time. Ronaldo has amassed 51 goals in 47 games in all competitions this season but none against Atletico. "I'm focused," he said. "This is the game of our lives. "The best two teams are in the final. I be- lieve we are better but we have to play a good game. I think we will win and lift the European Cup again on Saturday." Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Ronaldo declares himself fit for Champions League final after injury scare Mourinho agent Jorge Mendes in talks with Man United Jose Mourinho is close to becoming Manchester United's next manager, with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward holding talks with his agent Jorge Mendes in London Jose Mourinho leaves his home in London Ronaldo (R) is attended to during training