That was a great race, but its finished now and Im focusing ahea

MANCHESTER, England -- Hull started the season as the English Premier Leagues crisis club, regarded by some as the worst-prepared team ever to begin a top-flight campaign.No manager. Owners that want out. Only 13 fit senior players. Not a penny spent in the offseason. One of their best players sold to a lower-league club on the eve of the season.With two wins from two games, including one over reigning champion Leicester, the side from the northeast of England is confounding the grim preseason predictions and is mixing with Premier League royalty atop the fledgling standings.Hull sits alongside Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea on a maximum six points so far. One of them -- United -- visits the KCOM Stadium on Saturday.Im not sure we could have imagined or hoped for the start weve had, Hull midfielder Shaun Maloney said. But when the games come along, all the stuff off the field gets pushed to the back of your mind.The build-up to the season couldnt have been more different for United and Hull.At United, Jose Mourinho arrived as coach, around $200 million was spent on a quartet of signings that includes world-record transfer Paul Pogba and star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while the teams best players were retained despite its failure to qualify for the Champions League.Over at Hull, Steve Bruce resigned as manager three weeks before the season started, reportedly unhappy at not being able to sign players while the clubs owners -- the Allam family -- look to sell up. Long-term injuries have robbed them of Michael Dawson, Moses Odubajo and Allan McGregor, while Mohamed Diame -- the player whose winning goal in the League Championship playoff secured Hulls return to the Premier League -- was sold to Newcastle in early August.Meanwhile, Hull fans disillusioned with the owners continue to protest against the way the club is being run, and will likely do so again on Saturday.No communication, no manager, no engagement, no signings, no identity, no concessions, no honesty, the Hull City Supporters Trust said in a statement.Its against this backdrop that caretaker manager Mike Phelan is working, but the former Manchester United assistant coach has come up with a winning formula.Hard work, good preparation and making the most of limited goalscoring chances are reasons behind Hulls flying start -- a 2-1 win over Leicester followed by a 2-0 victory at Swansea. Midfielder David Meyler gave an insight into Phelans methods after the Swansea game on Saturday.We could tell you everything about them -- how long they sleep, how many times they go to the toilet every day, Meyler said. Thats just the type of person he is. Hes a winner and hes trying to embed that into us.Meyler wants Phelan to be hired as full-time manager and that possibility could materialize now that Hulls No. 1 target, Wales coach Chris Coleman, has pledged his future to the national team. Phelan has spent almost all his coaching career as a No. 2, most significantly to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.When youre Sir Alexs assistant for long enough, I presume you go through everything, Meyler said, and hes not taking any short-cuts now.Phelan said he is enjoying the moment and that the next step in his career is to become a manager. Beat United this weekend, and the job is surely his.Here are some things to watch out for in the third round of games:---IBRAS TARGETZlatan Ibrahimovic is already setting about making history at Manchester United.The Swedish striker scored the winner in the Community Shield and has also found the net in Uniteds opening league wins, against Bournemouth and Southampton. Against Hull, he is looking to become only the second player to score in each of his first four games for United, after Jimmy Hanson in 1924-25.Ibrahimovic is one of nine players to score in their first three United games.---STAYING PERFECTLooking for a third straight league win under new coach Pep Guardiola, Manchester City hosts West Ham on Sunday and could have a new goalkeeper between the posts.Chile international Claudio Bravo arrived in Manchester on Tuesday to conclude his move from Barcelona, and could get his debut if the transfer is tied up in time.Chelsea hosts Burnley on Saturday, while the standout fixture this weekend is Tottenham vs. Liverpool at White Hart Lane on Saturday.---NO POINTSThree teams are yet to get off the mark in the Premier League this season, and two of them play each other on Saturday when Bournemouth travels to Crystal Palace.Sunderland is the other side to open with back-to-back losses and visits Southampton. Fake Rockies Jerseys . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Custom Colorado Rockies Jerseys . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. https://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.us/ . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. Colorado Rockies Pro Shop . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. Stitched Rockies Jerseys . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. YAS MARINA, Abu Dhabi -- Max Verstappen says he is neutral to the recent comparisons made between his drive at the Brazilian Grand Prix and Ayrton Senna.Verstappen stole the headlines at Interlagos as he put on an overtaking clinic in the wet conditions, charging from 16th to third in the final portion of the race. Red Bull boss Christian Horner later said the drive deserved to be compared to some of Senna and Michael Schumachers career-defining races in the wet.Speaking about that praise on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen said: Its nice for sure but its also very important to stay neutral about it. That was a great race, but its finished now and Im focusing ahead. The day after I was still very happy with the performance, thats for sure.It was very difficult and at the end I was also just very happy to finish the race. The last sector was very difficult to drive, so on the last lap I was very happy that was the last lap of the race.When asked if he felt the race answered those who have questioned his aggressive technique this year, he replied: I always thought that was fine. Like I said before, Im always focusing on myself and trying to do the best possible race and result. Thats how it goes, I dont care about other opinionss.ddddddddddddOne of Verstappens most enjoyable overtakes was on Sebastian Vettel, who he has come to blows with on several occasions this year. The pass starting with him undercutting Vettel at the bottom of the hill running up towards the final corner and finished with the Ferrari driver being forced wide by Verstappen.Though Vettel complained about Verstappens driving after the race, the Dutch teenager admits the four-time world champion contacted him later with a different view of the incident.He sent me a text after the race, but that was mainly about the tyres. Its alright, we are racing drivers, so I think he realised soon afterwards that he couldnt hold me behind anyway. If we are fighting a lot then maybe he can complain a bit more, but it was a very fair move. In Turn 4 he tried to do the same to me, but I quickly realised what he was trying to do so just backed off behind.I did the same to him, I just overtook him, we were next to each other and he just kept going around the outside. At one point I cant do any more because Im on the inside where its more slippery. And we didnt even touch. ' ' '