Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher admits it is imperative his side finish the season strongly as the misfiring champions prepare to host struggling Fulham at Old Trafford on Sunday.
United have endured a difficult campaign in the defence of the Premier League title they won so convincingly last season under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
With 14 matches left, United have little chance of retaining the title as they lie 15 points behind leaders Arsenal.
But Scotland international Fletcher is keen to stress the importance of amassing as many points as they can between now and May to try to qualify for the Champions League with a top-four finish.
“We need to finish the season on a bit of a run and with confidence,” Fletcher said.
“That will help us achieve something this season and also help us at the beginning of next season. We need to lead into the new season on a bit of a high.
“We want to get back to winning ways because there aren’t many games left this season and we have got to finish in the top four.
“Seasons and runs can be turned on one result, one cup win, one massive performance and these can be the catalysts for success.
“We have got to reflect on that and realise it has been done before. We finished the 2005-06 season on a high and went on a winning run to achieve a bit of success.
“All of a sudden, it carried on to the next season because that was the standard that we had set, that is what we knew we were capable of.
“There is no doubt about it, we need to get back to that. The goal is always to respond and be successful.”
United manager David Moyes is expected to have Phil Jones back from concussion for the visit of bottom-of-the-table Fulham, but Jonny Evans (calf) and Marouane Fellaini (groin) are set to miss out.
Moyes has revealed that he attempted to persuade Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen to remain with the club when he took over at Old Trafford.
Meulensteen was first team coach at United under Ferguson, but left shortly after Moyes’ arrival to become Guus Hiddink’s assistant with Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala.
The Dutchman returned to English football with Fulham in November 2013 as assistant coach and was then appointed manager when Martin Jol was sacked three weeks after his arrival.
“Rene helped me when I first came here,” Moyes said.
“I had several conversations with him. He helped me, told me about the club, how it runs, and the players.
“In the end I would have liked him to stay, but he wanted to go and that was fine. I am looking forward to seeing him.”
Meulensteen has already come under pressure after a dismal start to his reign at Craven Cottage, but he claims he still has the backing of owner Shahid Khan.
Fulham have won just three times in 11 games since he took charge in November, with their FA Cup defeat to League One strugglers Sheffield United in midweek the latest embarrassing loss.
“I have been in contact with him (Khan),” Meulensteen said. “We are keeping good dialogue and he has given me his full support.
“He told us to remain focused and optimistic. There are a lot of games and points to play and that’s what I intend to do.
“It’s important to get the owner’s support, but it’s even more important that I know the job I need to do with the players.
“That is what makes the difference and will turn things around. Life throws challenges at you and you need to accept it and rise to it.”
Former Everton defender Johnny Heitinga is set to make his Fulham debut, while club record signing Kostas Mitroglou will have a knee injury assessed before the match.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Scoreline
Swansea 2
Grimes 20' (pen), Celina, 29'
Man City 3
Silva 69', Nordfeldt 78' (og), Aguero 88'
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
UAE SQUAD
Ali Khaseif, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Khalid Essa, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Salem Rashid, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Mohammed Al Attas, Walid Abbas, Hassan Al Mahrami, Mahmoud Khamis, Alhassan Saleh, Ali Salmeen, Yahia Nader, Abdullah Ramadan, Majed Hassan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Fabio De Lima, Khalil Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Muhammed Jumah, Yahya Al Ghassani, Caio Canedo, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Champions parade (UAE timings)
7pm Gates open
8pm Deansgate stage showing starts
9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral
9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street
10pm City players on stage
11pm event ends
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hoopla%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jacqueline%20Perrottet%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2010%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20required%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24500%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Episode list:
Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery
Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges
Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic
Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks
Ep5: Travel and tourism
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
