Sir Alex Ferguson on Friday launched a stinging attack on Jose Mourinho in the wake of the Chelsea manager’s claims that Manchester United are being favoured by referees during the Premiership title run-in. United manager Ferguson has accused Mourinho of pursuing a calculated strategy to increase pressure on match officials.

If David Beckham was hoping for an early return to international football, the Real Madrid midfielder will have watched Steven Gerrard’s inspiring display in England’s 5-0 defeat of Andorra with a growing sense of gloom. Asked once again to fill the right-hand position that Beckham had for so long made his own, Gerrard responded in sterling fashion.