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Jose Mourinho explains his red card against Man United
Sports 2026-01-11 01:49:14

Jose Mourinho explains his red card against Man United

Jose Mourinho has opened up on the red card he picked up during Fenerbahce's Europa League clash with Manchester United last week.Mourinho, who used to manage United, is now in charge of the Turkish side and led them to a 1-1 draw with the Red Devils last Thursday, with the Portuguese's outfit coming from behind. Jose Mourinho has opened up on the red card he picked up during Fenerbahce's Europa League clash with Manchester United last week. Mourinho, who used to manage United, is now in charge of the Turkish side and led them to a 1-1 draw with the Red Devils last Thursday, with the Portuguese's outfit coming from behind. But the game was dominated by the veteran manager, who was sent off in the second half of the game following protests against a refereeing decision. It was the latest episode of what has been a chaotic managerial career for Mourinho, but he has now opened up on the events which took place just a matter of hours ago. Speaking to Sky Sports, he attempted to explain what happened, and continued to plead his innocence. 'I was just screaming, like everyone on the bench and in the stadium, "It's a penalty, it's a penalty!" without any kind of insult, and I get a red card,' he said. 'I know it's a battle I can never win. Asked if he deserves better treatment, he replied: 'I deserve to be (treated) like everybody else. On the pitch it doesn't matter if you are Lionel Messi or playing your first match. The rules are the same for Messi and the young kid. 'For coaches it's the same thing. It doesn't matter if you are Carlo Ancelotti or a young coach just starting. Ancelotti has to behave the same way as the young kid has to behave.' After the game, Mourinho gave a press conference which grabbed attention for his words aimed in the direction of UEFA. He joked he would be prepared to coach a team near the bottom of the Premier League in England when he leaves Fenerbahce to avoid UEFA competitions, saying: 'I think the best thing I have to do is when I leave Fenerbahce, I go to a club that does not play UEFA competitions. 'If any club in England from the bottom of the table needs a coach in two years, I am ready to go. I don't want to say anything more about it.' He added of his relationship with UEFA: 'I don't want to have special treatment, I want to have honest treatment. Just that. So if I do something wrong punish and pay, but if I do nothing wrong leave me in peace, but it's getting difficult. 'Since that Budapest final it's getting difficult. The feeling is, I am in trouble in Europe. I lost a final in a way that I still don't accept, and since then I feel it (a penalty shootout defeat by Sevilla in the 2023 Europa League final).'

Could Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior move to Saudi Arabia after Ballon d’Or snub?
Sports 2025-12-23 12:59:39

Could Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior move to Saudi Arabia after Ballon d’Or snub?

Vinícius’s camp is taking stock of what happened - and his Ballon d’Or near-miss has fuelled fears he could decide his future is away from LaLiga.Right now, Vinícius Júnior and the people he has around him are taking stock of Monday’s Ballon d’Or disappointment. Frederico Pena, the Real Madrid star’s agent, applies an extremely analytical mindset to the way he works; he’s at pains to avoid impulse-driven responses. The primary conclusion Pena has reached is that the number of Ballon d’Or votes Vinícius received is very likely to have been adversely affected by the presence of two Madrid team-mates - Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal - among the favorites for the award. In particular, it’s felt that votes will have been split between Vinícius and Bellingham. Vinícius’s camp is taking stock of what happened - and his Ballon d’Or near-miss has fuelled fears he could decide his future is away from LaLiga. Right now, Vinícius Júnior and the people he has around him are taking stock of Monday’s Ballon d’Or disappointment. Frederico Pena, the Real Madrid star’s agent, applies an extremely analytical mindset to the way he works; he’s at pains to avoid impulse-driven responses. The primary conclusion Pena has reached is that the number of Ballon d’Or votes Vinícius received is very likely to have been adversely affected by the presence of two Madrid team-mates - Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal - among the favorites for the award. In particular, it’s felt that votes will have been split between Vinícius and Bellingham. Vinícius devastated by Ballon d’Or snub Meanwhile, Vinícius’s advisers are also aware that one of the criteria that Ballon d’Or jurors were told to take into account when casting their ballot was “class and fair play” - how players conduct themselves both on and off the field. In this regard, the Brazilian’s camp believes he has been placed at a disadvantage by the abuse he has to put up with at many stadiums around Spain, and a perceived lack of protection against opposition defenders from referees in LaLiga (in Europe, he feels far better looked after by match officials). Within Vinícius’s camp, it’s felt that these are factors that inevitably have a negative impact on his behavior. These two factors - a split vote between Madrid players and the ‘fair play’ criterion - are thought to be why Vinícius missed out on the Men’s Ballon d’Or, with Manchester City and Spain’s Rodri Hernández scooping the accolade instead. Although Vinícius has remained publicly bullish - posting on social media, “I’ll perform 10x better if necessary. They’re not ready” - privately, the 24-year-old is said to be devastated by missing out on the Ballon d’Or. Vinícius had been widely tipped to win the France Football award for the first time in his career. Ahead of Monday’s gala in Paris,he had flown around 50 people to Spain in anticipation of celebrations, and had prepared a huge party in Madrid. As part of his Ballon d’Or-victory festivities, he was also set to appear at the opening of a new Nike shop in the center of the Spanish capital. Vinícius believed that the trophy was his. Does Vinícius’s future lie away from Spain? But above and beyond Vinícius’s immediate sense of crushing disappointment,his Ballon d’Or near-miss could have longer-term consequences on the forward’s future at Real Madrid. He is starting to lose patience with several things. Firstly - and, as mentioned earlier, this was an influence on what happened on Monday - he feels utterly defenseless when he plays in LaLiga. While he accepts that at times he needs to work harder to ignore fans’ and opponents’ efforts to get at him, he feels Spanish referees are not only failing to protect a star whose playing style justifies soccer’s status as the ‘beautiful game’, but even end up punishing him when he complains about treatment he’s receiving. Moreover, fans’ abuse not infrequently crosses a line, descending into racist slurs - most notably, away at Valencia and in several Spanish-capital derbies against Atlético Madrid. The racism Vinícius has suffered in Spain has taken a heavy toll on him. And the growing constellation of stars at Madrid could also impact Vinícius’ long-term career strategy. Last season, Vinícius saw Bellingham take the limelight away from him in the first half of the campaign, before the Brazilian came back to the fore in the run-in. This term, Madrid have signed Kylian Mbappé, another megastar with whom he must now share top billing (not only in sporting terms, but also from a marketing standpoint). At the Bernabéu,such stiff competition for the spotlight could hinder Vinícius’s chances of going one better in the Ballon d’Or next year, even if Madrid win all seven trophies in play this season. Could Vinícius be tempted to Saudi soccer, Premier League? When it comes to Vinícius’s relationship with both Real Madrid and Spanish soccer as a whole,each of the above ingredients combines to create a highly dangerous cocktail. In 2023, his agent negotiated a short-term extension to his Madrid contract, extending his deal only until 2027. That was no coincidence. Pena wanted Vinícius to remain in firm control of his destiny. As things stand, he’s the most potent, penetrative attacker in the world, more so even than Mbappé, and is on the transfer wish list of every European giant that can afford him (chiefly the Premier League’s most powerful clubs, and Paris Saint-Germain). What’s more,Vinícius is also a target for Saudi Arabian soccer; as this newspaper reported, he was the subject of an eye-watering bid from the Saudi Pro League last summer. It was an offer that Madrid’s president, Florentino Pérez, refused to countenance, but the player himself took a different attitude to the approach. Were he to go to Saudi Arabia, he could sign the biggest contract in the history of men’s soccer. So, despite his commitment to enjoying further success at Madrid, Vinícius was interested in learning more about the Saudi offer, and his agents even discussed the potential for such a switch further down the line. Events such as Monday’s Ballon d’Or disappointment are the kinds of factors thatcould contribute to taking Vinícius down that path, or pushing him towards a league such as the English top flight.

Ruben Amorim: Sporting boss could be in position at Utd in time to face Chelsea
Sports 2026-01-01 10:53:11

Ruben Amorim: Sporting boss could be in position at Utd in time to face Chelsea

Man Utd are in advanced talks with Sporting head coach Ruben Amorim and he could be in charge for Sunday's Premier League clash with Chelsea, live on Sky Sports.United approached Sporting over appointing Amorim as their new boss and talks are thought to be advancing over making the 39-year-old Erik ten Hag's successor after the Dutchman was sacked on Monday morning. Man Utd are in advanced talks with Sporting head coach Ruben Amorim and he could be in charge for Sunday's Premier League clash with Chelsea, live on Sky Sports. United approached Sporting over appointing Amorim as their new boss and talks are thought to be advancing over making the 39-year-old Erik ten Hag's successor after the Dutchman was sacked on Monday morning. Amorim was part of the club's shortlist of options as revealed bySky Sports Newson Monday, and on Tuesday Sporting informed the Portuguese stock exchange that Man United were prepared to pay the £8.3m release clause. A deal has not been done yet and sources insist an announcement on United's new permanent manager is not imminent, but if a compensation package can be agreed Amorim could be in the dugout at Old Trafford for Sunday's home game with Chelsea, live onSky Sports. Despite batting away the question of whether he is in the frame to get the Old Trafford job during a press conference after Ten Hag's sacking, it is understood Amorim would relish the challenge of coaching United. When asked about his future in the wake of Ten Hag's sacking, Amorim said at a pre-match press conference on Monday: "I was expecting that question and obviously I am not going to talk about my future. "I am not going to speak about my future because no matter what I say I'd have to always talk about it. "Since the first day, I said it was not worthy to ask about it and I am not going to make any comments about my future." He added: "I am very proud of being Sporting head coach." In recent weeks he has been suggested as a future Manchester City manager with Sporting's Hugo Viana, a close friend, due to move to the blue half of Manchester as the club's new director of football next season. A former Benfica and Portugal midfielder, Amorim retired as a player in 2017 and just two years later he took up his first managerial job at Braga. He then joined Sporting in March 2020 where he has established himself as one of Europe's most sought-after young coaches, twice guiding the club to the league title. He has also won the Taca da Liga - the Portuguese League Cup - on three occasions, twice with Sporting and once with Braga. 'Amorim expected to become the next Man Utd manager' Sky Sports News Chief Reporter Kaveh Solhekol: "Multiple sources in Portugal are telling us they expect Ruben Amorim to become the next Man Utd manager. For that to happen, United need to sort out a compensation package with Sporting. "That will not be complicated as in his Sporting contract, it says if United want him, they will have to pay €10m (£8.3m) compensation. He has different release clauses in his contract for different clubs, so if he was to leave for a Portuguese team, it would cost €30m (£24.9m), but if he was to leave for a club abroad, it would be €20m (£16.6m). But for the biggest clubs, the 'killer clubs' as they are called in Portugal, a United is one, it is €10m (£8.3m). "So as long as he tells Sporting he wants to join United, there is a very good chance he will be their next manager." Why Man Utd are in talks with Amorim Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol: "Amorim was linked with the West Ham job, the Liverpool job and there is even talk of him being a Manchester City manager one day. "He is one of the most coveted young coaches in Europe at the moment. It is not just United who are interested. "One of the stumbling blocks to this deal being done is the fact that he's got this release clause in his contract. "Sporting had to pay a big release clause to get him in the first place and United will have to pay €10m (£8.3m) to get him. "United have to comply with PSR rules and they have to also pay off Erik ten Hag so there's talk they will have to pay him the region of £15m. "So United would need to spend not only to sack Ten Hag but also to bring in Amorim. "His brand of football is attractive but some detractors would say what he has achieved has been over a very short period of time in Portuguese football. "With all due respect, the level of the Portuguese league is not at the same level as others in Europe. But it looks like Amorim could be the next big Portuguese manager." 'Amorim will change tactics depending on the opposition' Portuguese football journalist Pedro Sepulveda: "Amorim always plays with three centre-backs, so Man Utd will have to change their tactics from under Ten Hag. "It is offensive football, a team that scores many, many goals and they hardly concede any, so he has a concrete idea how to play. "However, we have seen many times that if Amorim wants to change formation due to the opponent he is facing, that is not a problem too. "More importantly, he is a coach that studies his opponents a lot and the Premier League is a really good league for Amorim. "Amorim always says he does not have Twitter or Instagram, he says he never knows what is written in the press. "But he is a coach whose communication is very, very good, if you look at his press conferences, he always says the right things. "In my opinion, he is a coach who is above the others in terms of communication and behaviour during and after the match, which is very important these days. "Of course, he will have the pressure of being Man Utd coach, but there are some similarities with here, like Man Utd are not used to winning things. "So I really think he could make United one of the favourites for next season's Premier League." Why Sporting coach Amorim could be right for Man Utd Sky Sports' Adam Bate: It has long been inevitable that Ruben Amorim would take one of Europe's biggest jobs. Winning the title with Sporting in 2021 at the age of 36 all but guaranteed that. Repeating the feat last season only underlined his ability as a coach. Sporting recognised that this was a special talent very early, famously paying a huge release clause after his spectacular start at Braga. They bet on his tactical mind, his fierce commitment as a player, but more than anything on the power of his personality. In conversation with a series of Portuguese coaches, some of whom have pitted their wits against Amorim in his native country, we will explore his rise, what it is that makes him so impressive as a coach, and, crucially, whether this can be translated into his next job.

Garnacho's brother reacts to Amorim's imminent appointment as Man Utd's manager
Sports 2025-12-19 15:35:18

Garnacho's brother reacts to Amorim's imminent appointment as Man Utd's manager

Alejandro Garnacho's brother has delivered his verdict on Ruben Amorim's imminent appointment as Manchester United's new manager.Sporting Lisbon have announced that Amorim is on the brink of moving to Old Trafford, with United 'expressing interest' in paying his £8.3m release clause. Alejandro Garnacho's brother has delivered his verdict on Ruben Amorim's imminent appointment as Manchester United's new manager. Sporting Lisbon have announced that Amorim is on the brink of moving to Old Trafford, with United 'expressing interest' in paying his £8.3m release clause. Amorim is expected to take charge of Sporting for one final time tonight as they face Nacional in the Portuguese Cup, before joining United. With Amorim closing in on replacing Erik ten Hag, Roberto Garnacho has taken to X to post his reaction to the change in the dugout. 'Just praying to see a Man United which the fans are fully behind the manager and criticising the players when it's needed!' he wrote. 'Let's go Reds, hope good things coming for us.' Roberto's post appears to suggest that United fans had lost faith in Ten Hag after a dire start to the season. United have lost four of their opening nine league games to sit 14th in the table, while they are yet to win in Europe this term. His comment on criticising players could be construed as a thinly-veiled dig at supporters, with boos ringing around Old Trafford becoming a regular occurrence this season. The Red Devils have been beaten 3-0 at Old Trafford by Liverpool and Tottenham, while also losing on the road to Brighton and West Ham. That loss at West Ham on Sunday proved to be the final straw for Ten Hag, and Amorim will now be charged with bringing the feel-good factor back to United. He will not be in place for Wednesday night's Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City, with Ruud van Nistelrooy set to take charge of that match. But United hope he will be ready to lead the team this weekend when they host an in-form Chelsea side on Sunday afternoon.

Sporting fan bursts into tears live on TV after question about Amorim leaving
Sports 2025-12-13 10:09:11

Sporting fan bursts into tears live on TV after question about Amorim leaving

A SPORTING fan burst into tears when asked about Ruben Amorim's potential switch to Manchester United.The Portuguese has emerged as the favourite to take over at Old Trafford following Erik ten Hag's sacking. A SPORTING fan burst into tears when asked about Ruben Amorim's potential switch to Manchester United. The Portuguese has emerged as the favourite to take over at Old Trafford following Erik ten Hag's sacking. United are reportedly looking at several candidates including Thomas Frank and Gareth Southgate. But Amorim is their No1 choice and United are willing to trigger his £8.3million release clause. Amorim is said to be open to the switch too, which is not good news for Sporting fans. Supporters flocked to the Jose Alvalade Stadium ahead of their game against Nacional and some were asked about Amorim's future. One elderly fan burst into tears when asked about the prospect of the 39-year-old leaving the club. He was only able to muster a few words before clasping his hand his hand over his mouth, before wiping away tears from his eyes. Amorim is a popular figure amongst fans after leading Sporting to their first league title for 19 years. He followed up that success by winning the Primeira Liga again last season, and this term he has a 100 per cent record from nine games. Amorim has built a reputation for improving players while handing opportunities to young players - which bodes well for United's young talent. While he is described as a “master trash-talker” in press conferences – a genius in getting his message across, creating a narrative while deflecting pressure away from his players. As one source told SunSport: “There is no one like him.”

Europe is the main aim for Napoli, but Scudetto is realistic according to Conte
Sports 2026-01-10 16:40:49

Europe is the main aim for Napoli, but Scudetto is realistic according to Conte

Napoli manager Antonio Conte insisted that getting into Europe is the main aim with Napoli, although is finding it harder to ignore talk of the Scudetto after they extended their lead at the top of the league to seven points on Tuesday. Napoli manager Antonio Conte insisted that getting into Europe is the main aim with Napoli, although is finding it harder to ignore talk of the Scudetto after they extended their lead at the top of the league to seven points on Tuesday. Conte's side won 2-0 away to Milan to earn their eighth victory in a nine-match unbeaten run in the league, with a considerable gap having opened ahead of second-placed Inter's trip to Empoli on Wednesday. The 25 points they have already accrued, meanwhile, constitute almost half of what they did last season (53) during a terrible title defence that saw Napoli finish 10th. But after such a dismal season compared to how they have started this one, Conte needs to balance expectations within the club. "Scudetto? No one is hiding. We see realistically what we are doing this year," he told DAZN. "After 10 games, it has something of the incredible and unexpected. "Not even the craziest would have predicted it. But we remain with our feet on the ground. "We know what our goal is, which is to return to Europe. But there are five or six teams that have the same idea. "Winning in Naples would be something incredible. We have given ourselves three years. We are rebuilding something and it takes time." Having performed so well at the start of this season, Conte is aware that it will be hard to stop the fans getting carried away. "We try to feed the dreams of the fans, but we need to have balance," he said. "Our fans followed us with passion even today, it is right that they dream. We have to be prepared when there is some setback. "We want to make the Neapolitan fans proud of this team."

Five times Amorim has already crossed paths with Man United
Sports 2025-12-21 23:42:40

Five times Amorim has already crossed paths with Man United

Ruben Amorim's career has had a connection with Manchester United dating back to his playing days.The Sporting head coach is in talks with the Red Devils over the vacant managerial role, with Erik ten Hag leaving the club after months of pressure building on his shoulders. Ruben Amorim's career has had a connection with Manchester United dating back to his playing days. The Sporting head coach is in talks with the Red Devils over the vacant managerial role, with Erik ten Hag leaving the club after months of pressure building on his shoulders. The Dutchman had guided United to their worst ever start to a Premier League season, and with three draws from winning positions in the Europa League from three games, results seemingly were not picking up. Amorim, meanwhile, has picked up plaudits in recent years for his exceptional work in the Portuguese capital, ended Sporting Club's 19-year wait for a league title in 2020-21, before winning the top-flight again last year. Here, Mail Sport's JOE BERNSTEIN looks at five occasions where Amorim and United's paths have crossed... 1. HOME AND AWAY CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TUSSLES Amorim was a member of the Benfica team that faced United in the Champions League group stages in 2011-12 and went on to progress to the knockout stages at Sir Alex Ferguson's expense. He started on the right of a midfield three for the tie in Lisbon which finished 1-1 after Ryan Giggs cancelled out a goal by Oscar Cardozo. Amorim then appeared as a late substitute in a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in November when Benfica were aided by an own goal from Phil Jones. Benfica topped the group and went on to reach the quarter-final when they were eliminated by eventual winners, Chelsea. Among Amorim’s team-mates in Portugal was future United midfielder, Nemanja Matic. Incidentally, United finished third in the group – in Sir Alex Ferguson’s penultimate Champions League campaign – and dropped into the Europa League. Amorim also returned a year later with Braga in Group H, in a side that also had Manchester City's future sporting director Hugo Viana in central midfield, losing 3-2 in Manchester, with Jonny Evans on the scoresheet with the winner for the hosts. 2. FERGIE NO 2 GIVES WORLD CUP CHANCE Two figures well-known to United fans were key to the beginning of Amorim’s international career for Portugal at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Amorim wasn’t named in the original squad but received a late call-up when United winger Nani was ruled out with a damaged collar bone suffered in training. The Portuguese boss Carlos Queiroz – who famously served as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Old Trafford – chose Amorim, then 25 and doing well with Benfica, to join the party, and he played in the 0-0 group game against Ivory Coast. It proved the first of 14 international caps for Amorim, many of them alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. He also played in a World Cup group game against Ghana four years later in Brazil but was not in the squad which won Euro 2016. 3. ERIKSEN WILL REMEMBER Amorim had the last laugh over one of the players he will manage at Old Trafford, Christian Eriksen, when they faced each other in the 2014 Europa League knockout stages. Despite scoring a free-kick in the last-16 first leg at White Hart Lane, Eriksen’s Spurs were beaten 3-1 by Benfica with Amorim setting up one of the visitor’s goals with a slide-rule pass. The second leg ended 2-2 at The Stadium of Light and Benfica progressed all the way to that year’s final – where they were beaten on penalties after a goalless draw by Sevilla, managed by a certain Unai Emery 4. UGARTE REUNION Given that Manuel Ugarte had two successful years under Amorim at Sporting, one wonders if the £42million purchase of the Uruguayan from PSG in the summer was made with a change of manager already in mind. It would explain why Erik ten Hag has been so reluctant to start with Ugarte. There is no doubt working for Amorim catapulted the combative midfielder into a higher echelon. He won the Portuguese League Cup and Super Cup with Sporting in 2022 and his performances the following season won him a £50million move to Paris St Germain. Though things didn’t work out for Ugarte in France, the prospect of working again for Amorim at Old Trafford will be exciting for the 23-year-old. Ugarte has a contract at United until 2029 – plenty of time for their partnership to work again. Amorim is a confirmed fan. After a 3-1 win at fierce rivals Benfica in 2021, the Sporting coach took time to praise the "personality and quality he (Ugarte) showed with the ball." 5. CLEAN SHEET IN MANCHESTER Given the rivalry with Manchester City, United fans might be heartened that on Amorim's only trip to Manchester as a manager - with Sporting in 2022 - the Portuguese side kept a clean sheet in a goalless draw, Ugarte among his starting XI. It was one of only three occasions that City failed to score at home in the 2021/22 season from their 28 games at The Etihad. Not that Pep Guardiola was overly-disturbed, City had already won the reverse Champions League fixture in Lisbon 5-0 when Bernardo Silva scored twice.

Postecoglou wonders if ETH have been sacked despite two trophies as Spurs boss
Sports 2026-01-02 03:58:47

Postecoglou wonders if ETH have been sacked despite two trophies as Spurs boss

Ange Postecoglou has questioned whether Erik ten Hag would have been sacked if he was at Tottenham rather than Manchester United.Ten Hag was sent packing on Monday after nearly two-and-a-half years at the club, and is set to be replaced by Ruben Amorim with United willing to play the Portuguese's release clause. Ange Postecoglou has questioned whether Erik ten Hag would have been sacked if he was at Tottenham rather than Manchester United. Ten Hag was sent packing on Monday after nearly two-and-a-half years at the club, and is set to be replaced by Ruben Amorim with United willing to play the Portuguese's release clause. He will have the task of turning around the Red Devils' fortunes when he takes over, with the club 14th in the Premier League and having not won in Europe for over a year. Postecoglou, meanwhile, speaking before his side's Carabao Cup game against Manchester City this week, compared the Dutchman's efforts at United to his own at Tottenham. He gave his verdict on his dismissal, pointing to the fact that he managed to win two trophies in two years. 'Nah, not really shocked,' Postecoglou, whose Spurs side beat United less than a month ago, said. 'Disappointing as it was, it was almost inevitable with the scrutiny he had. 'If you look at Erik, he was there for two and a bit years. He won a trophy in each year, they finished third in his first year. If he was here with that record would he have lost his job? I don't know. 'Would he be under the same scrutiny? I don't know, because everyone tells me all I have to do is win a trophy, but I have got a feeling it would be the same because, just the nature of the world today.' Tottenham haven't won a trophy since 2008 when they lifted the League Cup, with supporters desperate for silverware again. Ten Hag, meanwhile, won the League Cup in 2023 and FA Cup in 2024. Postecoglou is determined to deliver that, but is keen not to underestimate the importance of finding the balance between silverware and long-term success. He also wished the best for Ten Hag, who is now out of work having left his role at Old Trafford. 'As a manager you have to hit a sweet spot where you get success, you play football everyone likes, you get every signing right,' he continued. 'In that moment you seem to get some sort of validation. 'Anything other than that, it seems to be for some clubs they want trophies not football, others want football. It is a difficult task. 'But what you have seen in the past, I'm sure Erik will bounce back from that because he is a good manager. You have seen it with other managers. I'm sure his career will continue to go on strongly.'

Ruben Amorim: Departing manager is called a 'traitor' and 'son of a b***h'
Sports 2025-12-20 18:45:40

Ruben Amorim: Departing manager is called a 'traitor' and 'son of a b***h'

Ruben Amorim has been branded a 'traitor' by a former Sporting official ahead of his move to Manchester United and slammed by fans.Amorim looks set to leave Sporting in the near future to take over at Old Trafford on the back of the sacking of Erik ten Hag on Monday, with United happy to pay his £8.31million release clause. Ruben Amorim has been branded a 'traitor' by a former Sporting official ahead of his move to Manchester United and slammed by fans. Amorim looks set to leave Sporting in the near future to take over at Old Trafford on the back of the sacking of Erik ten Hag on Monday, with United happy to pay his £8.31million release clause. The Portuguese giants released a statement on Tuesday afternoon to the market confirming United's intent to replace Ten Hag with their highly-rated head coach. Mail Sport understands that negotiations remain ongoing. It is thought one issue to be ironed out is over Amorim's start date. United are keen to install him in time for Sunday's visit of Chelsea but there remain a number of obstacles to overcome first. And with the 39-year-old edging ever closer to taking a seat in the Old Trafford dugout, a former Sporting vice-president has slammed the outgoing manager. Speaking on the Bola Branca programme, on Radio Renascenca, Dias Ferreira said: 'It would be a disappointment and a betrayal. If Ruben Amorim left, it would be inconsistent with his speech, it would be a disappointment and a betrayal. 'I still believe that he will not go. Sporting has always satisfied all his demands.' It does however appear that he will go in a move that will bring his four-and-a-half-year stay to an end. There may be some reprieve, however, with United currently locked in talks with Sporting over Amorim's notice period, which Mail Sport has learned is 'a number of weeks'. United fans have been left enthused by the pending appointment given Amorim's success in Portugal and the style of play he could bring, but the feeling from Sporting fans is quite the opposite. 'There is no point in commenting on this topic until we have something official from the club, but anyone who abandons a project halfway through is not a man, he is a rat,' one fan posted on X. 'I hope that the man who spent weeks and weeks making the speeches he did does not run away like a rat. Another added: 'There are many things I tolerate in life, but I can't tolerate traitors, it's simply not part of my values. 'You may have given me the best joys in the world, but if you cheat on me you'll become a son of a b***h that I hate.' Amorim delivered Sporting their first league title in 19 years in the 2020-21 season, and won the league again last season having also improved the side's fortunes in Europe. He previously played for rivals Benfica, and has also been linked with the Liverpool and West Ham jobs in recent months. https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/98/720x-/-/-/CgAGVmchJuOAYdcFAACtFcikay0342.jpg The second Sporting fan continued on social media to post of his pending exit: 'Ruben Amorim, who has been saying for some time that he is proud to be Sporting's coach, who has been saying that he wants to win the second championship, is leaving in the middle of a practically perfect season, for me he is a traitor.' Another posted: 'No one wants to rush in before knowing something, but Ruben can't expect anything less than that reaction if that happens. 'He knows perfectly well the fans he has and what they've been through. Leaving now would leave a bitter taste whenever we say his name.'

Emi Martinez and his stunning Wag are BOOED mercilessly at Ballon d’Or ceremony
Sports 2025-12-26 05:27:36

Emi Martinez and his stunning Wag are BOOED mercilessly at Ballon d’Or ceremony

EMI MARTINEZ and his wife were mercilessly BOOED as they arrived at the Ballon d'Or.But the Argentine, 32, had the last laugh as he defended the Yashin Trophy.The pantomime villain is hated by French fans following his antics in the 2022 World Cup final. EMI MARTINEZ and his wife were mercilessly BOOED as they arrived at the Ballon d'Or. But the Argentine, 32, had the last laugh as he defended the Yashin Trophy. https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/8A/720x-/-/-/CgAGVmcg3yuAC3FWAAHmjrq76Oo450.jpg The pantomime villain is hated by French fans following his antics in the 2022 World Cup final. Not only did he put in a superb performance and play his genius mind games in the penalty shootout, Martinez riled up the France supporters even more with his provocative celebration with the Golden Glove trophy. However, Martinez was crowned Yachine Trophy winner in 2023 following his World Cup exploits. And on his return to Paris on Monday night, he was given another hostile reception. The Aston Villa stopper, decked out in a black tuxedo, headed down the red carpet holding hands with his glamorous partner Mandinha, who opted for a flowing red number. However, the boos were clear to hear - and neither of them particularly seemed to see the funny side. Martinez did give a brief thumbs-up - but whether that was genuine or a sarcastic response to someone out of shot was uncertain. The couple then posed for photos before heading into the Theatre du Chatelet for the prestigious awards ceremony. And once inside, Martinez was confirmed as the world's best goalkeeper for the second year running after helping Villa into the Champions League and winning the Copa America with Argentina. He pipped the likes of Spain No1 Unai Simon, Real Madrid stopper Andriy Lunin and Gianluigi Donnarumma to become the first goalkeeper to defend the crown. In the overall Ballon d'Or award, Martinez finished 18th in the vote - ahead of Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Antonio Rudiger, Cole Palmer and others. However, it was Rodri who collected the top men's award after his exploits with Manchester City and helping Spain win Euro 2024. Rodri beat Real Madrid trio Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal plus Erling Haaland and home-favourite Kylian Mbappe in the vote. His compatriot Lamine Yamal came eighth but secured the Kopa Trophy for the best young player aged 21 or under. The 17-year-old starred for Spain at the Euros and became the third Spaniard in four years to collect the gong - following Pedri, Gavi and then Bellingham. In the Ballon d'Or Feminin for women's football, it was more success for Spain as Aitana Bonmati collected her second trophy on the bounce. https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/8A/720x-/-/-/CgAGVmcg3yqAdPiUAAGoguZeY54587.jpg

Aguero blasts 'entitled' RMD for reaction to Vini losing out on the Ballon d'Or
Sports 2025-12-23 14:05:14

Aguero blasts 'entitled' RMD for reaction to Vini losing out on the Ballon d'Or

Sergio Aguero has labelled Real Madrid 'entitled' in a rebuke of the club's reaction to Vinicius Jr missing out on the Ballon d'Or.The Brazilian winger and his club were outraged by the decision to award the prestigious prize to Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri and boycotted the Paris ceremony on Tuesday night. Sergio Aguero has labelled Real Madrid 'entitled' in a rebuke of the club's reaction to Vinicius Jr missing out on the Ballon d'Or. The Brazilian winger and his club were outraged by the decision to award the prestigious prize to Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri and boycotted the Paris ceremony on Tuesday night. In a statement, the Spanish giants claimed that neither Rodri nor Dani Carvajal winning it proved that UEFA had no respect for the club. This was followed by a report on Wednesday from Vinicius' camp that the 24-year-old believes the snub was down to his vocal opposition to racism. Aguero, who played with Rodri for two seasons at the Etihad, believes his former teammate is a worthy winner of the gong and he slated Madrid for their attitude towards the result. 'Well deserved. Rodri is the best player in the world.' He said on his streaming channel. 'Football is for everyone, not just Real Madrid – they are so entitled.' https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/93/720x-/-/-/CgAGVWchBoyAKVDGAAF7mi_AcDQ912.jpg Vinicius was a hot favourite to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or after his epic contribution helped lead Madrid to a LaLiga-UEFA Champions League double. He hit six goals and four assists in ten Champions League appearances and tallied 20 goal involvements in 26 La Liga matches. He broke his silence just minutes after an emotional Rodri picked up the prize on Tuesday night, in recognition for his roles in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph and his club side's fourth consecutive Premier League. 'I'll do it 10x if I have to. They're not ready,' he posted on X, hinting at future successes.' Reuters later reported that this comment was a reference to his fight against racism in recent years. 'The football world is not ready to accept a player who fights against the system.' A member of the Brazilian winger's management staff is quoted by the outlet as saying. Madrid's statement to AFP said: 'If the award criteria doesn't give it to Vinicius as the winner, those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner. 'As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d'Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.' As a result, Manager Carlo Ancelotti was not present to accept his award for best men's coach and there were no representatives to collect the award for the best men’s team.

Where does Erik ten Hag rank among Man United managers since Sir Alex Ferguson?
Sports 2025-12-27 09:20:14

Where does Erik ten Hag rank among Man United managers since Sir Alex Ferguson?

Erik ten Hag was given his marching orders earlier this week after two and a half years in charge at Old Trafford, paying the price for Man United's dismal start to the 2024-2025 Premier League campaign. Erik ten Hag was given his marching orders earlier this week after two and a half years in charge at Old Trafford, paying the price for Man United's dismal start to the 2024-2025 Premier League campaign. It was United's 2-1 defeat to West Ham United on Sunday afternoon the proved to be the final nail in the coffin for the 54-year-old, who was sacked by CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth on Monday. Ten Hag's departure will see Ruud van Nistelrooy take charge of the Red Devils - who sit 14th in the Premier League table - on a temporary basis until Ruben Amorim reportedly steps into the managerial role. But, was the Dutchman's tenure at the club all doom and gloom? Mail Sport take a look at some of Ten Hag's highs and lows since being appointed at United manager in the summer of 2022. LOWS Brentford 4-0 Man United, August 2022 After losing to Brighton in their season opener, Man United aimed to reset against Brentford, only to face a devastating 4-0 loss by halftime with goals from Brentford's Josh Dasilva, Mathias Jensen, Ben Mee and Bryan Mbeumo. This performance left United at the bottom of the Premier League, sparking widespread criticism. The devastating defeat also saw Ten Hag become the first Manchester United manager since John Chapman in 1921 to lose his first two games in charge. In a symbolic act, Ten Hag joined the team by running 14km in training the next day. It was said to be the distance Brentford had outrun the Manchester United team during the game. Liverpool 7-0 Man United, March 2023 This defeat at Anfield remains a bitter memory for Man United supporters. Despite entering with a comfortable 10 point lead over Liverpool in the league standings and having won their previous meeting, United were humiliated in a 7-0 thrashing. The disappointing loss marked the club's heaviest loss to Liverpool in history. It's safe to say it wasn't just a defeat; the game highlighted gaps in United's defense and resilience that Ten Hag struggled to close. Crystal Palace 4-0 Man United, May 2024 Ten Hag's second season in charge ended with United finishing eighth in the Premier League, their worst position since 1989-90, which cemented doubts about the team's direction. The 4-0 defeat at Selhurst Park emphasised United's lack of consistency, leaving fans questioning both the squad and management. The loss represented the missed opportunities and frustrations that had defined much of Ten Hag's later tenure. It also highlight the fact United were being undone by teams that were sharper, fitter and more organised than Ten Hag's side. A problem that had to be solved... and solved quickly. HIGHS Man United 2-0 Newcastle, February 2023 Ten Hag did enjoy moments of success at United. Although brief, they were poignant to his career at Old Trafford. The Dutchman delivered United's first trophy since 2017 with a Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle. Goals from Casemiro and Rashford (deflected off Sven Botman) were enough to secure a 2-0 win. Though not a classic final, it was a significant milestone for the club. The result also saw Ten Hag become the eighth Manchester United manager to win a major trophy following Ernest Mangall, Sir Matt Busby, Tommy Docherty, Ron Atkinson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho. Man United 2-1 Barcelona, February 2023 Say what you want about Barcelona over the last couple of years, but United did well to get one over on the LaLiga giants in February 2023. The Catalans were on course to secure another Spanish title at the time of their clash with United. But, the Red Devils - despite dropping out of the Champions League into the Europa Leauge - pulled out one of their best performances on the European stage to go through 4-3 on aggregate. Man United 2-1 Man City, May 2024 One of Ten Hag's most celebrated victories came in the FA Cup final, where United overcame rivals Manchester City. Goals from young talents Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo underscored the promise of United's emerging generation, while the tactical outmanoeuvring of Pep Guardiola symbolised one of the Dutchman's best managerial moments. This FA Cup win, especially against Man City, was a high point fans savoured deeply. As one of them, watching it in a pub that was half red and half blue, I will never forget it. How does Ten Hag rank as United manager? Before his recent departure, Erik ten Hag's tenure at Manchester United positioned him as one of the more successful post-Ferguson managers. With a win rate of 56.25 per cent across competitions, he ranked second among recent United managers, following only Jose Mourinho's 58.3 per cent. Ten Hag and Mourinho stand out as two of only three managers in the last decade to secure trophies for United, alongside Louis van Gaal, who left with an FA Cup victory in 2016 but held a lower win rate of 52.4 per cent. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's three-year spell achieved top-four finishes and a second-place league finish, though he did not win silverware. Meanwhile, Ralf Rangnick's brief interim role stands as the least successful, prompting the club to pivot from initial long-term plans involving him. Ten Hag's time may have been mixed, but his trophy win and win percentage placed him near the top among United's modern managers.

Jose Mourinho jokingly names his ideal club to manage in England
Sports 2025-12-15 11:11:04

Jose Mourinho jokingly names his ideal club to manage in England

Former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that he wishes to work in England again before he retires.The 61-year-old is currently in charge of Fenerbahce in Turkey and his team played out a 1-1 draw with former club United in the UEFA Europa League last week. Former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that he wishes to work in England again before he retires. The 61-year-old is currently in charge of Fenerbahce in Turkey and his team played out a 1-1 draw with former club United in the UEFA Europa League last week. Mourinho was sent to the stands in the second half of that match after being shown a red card for his reaction to Fenerbahce unsuccessfully appealing for a penalty kick. Speaking in a post-game press conference, Mourinho reacted to his dismissal by suggesting that he might like his next job to be with an English club that does not play in a UEFA competition - so that he can swerve UEFA officials. However, in an interview with Sky Sports on Tuesday, Mourinho clarified: 'I made a joke. I'm never going to a team fighting relegation. I will never go.' Explaining why he had said that he would like to manage an English team 'from the bottom of the table', Mourinho added: 'I get upset, and I'm not in the period of my career to get upset. I'm in the period of my career to be happy all the time and at this moment playing in European competitions, I am getting upset all the time. 'But I'm not going to fight relegation. It's too hard! Honestly, I believe that has to be the hardest thing. It's more difficult than playing for titles. It has to be very hard emotionally, because it's something that changes lives. I think it's brave guys that do it.' Mourinho then cracked another joke as he told Sky Sports reporter Gary Cotterill: 'Millwall. Millwall. I just cross the bridge from my house. Millwall!' Millwall's New Den stadium may be geographically close to Mourinho's London home, but the Lions are far below his usual level in terms of stature - having never competed in the Premier League. But while a move to Millwall is not seriously on the cards, Mourinho made it clear that he would love to return to England before his managerial career is over. He concluded: 'I had three clubs in England, so four different periods I've coached in England, and I love it. And by the social point of view, I've been lucky enough to live in so many cities, but my family lives in London. 'London is home, so one day I have to be back, unless no one wants me. But one day I would like to go back. 'But don't get me wrong, and let's make it very very clear, for the next two years, this season and next, no one will take me from Fenerbahce.'

Arsenal reject ambitious transfer offer for Jesus: 'The subject is closed'
Sports 2026-01-06 20:06:33

Arsenal reject ambitious transfer offer for Jesus: 'The subject is closed'

Arsenal have rejected an approach from Brazilian side Palmeiras for Gabriel Jesus.Jesus is yet to score in 11 appearances for the Gunners this season and has completed 90 minutes just once. He has fallen behind Kai Havertz in the pecking order and has been relegated to a role as a late substitute in the Premier League. But Mikel Arteta considers the struggling striker an important part of his squad. Arsenal have rejected an approach from Brazilian side Palmeiras for Gabriel Jesus. Jesus is yet to score in 11 appearances for the Gunners this season and has completed 90 minutes just once. He has fallen behind Kai Havertz in the pecking order and has been relegated to a role as a late substitute in the Premier League. But Mikel Arteta considers the struggling striker an important part of his squad. There has been plenty of speculation about his future, with reports from Brazil suggesting that Arsenal could be tempted to sell in January if their valuation - claimed to be in the region of £33.4m - is met. Jesus is under contract with Arsenal until June 2027 and appears keen to stay and fight for his place as the team challenge for the Premier League title. It seems that the feeling between club and player is mutual, judging by comments from Palmeiras president Leila Pereira, who had been keen to bring Jesus back to the club where he started his career in 2015. “Gabriel Jesus is not coming,” Pereira told ESPN. “We got in touch with Arsenal, and they said ‘Leila, there are no conditions whatsoever. We are not going to negotiate on the player.’ "The subject is closed.” Jesus came through Palmeiras’ youth ranks and spent two years playing for the Sao Paulo club before earning a move to Manchester City in 2017. He won four Premier League titles, the FA Cup and three Carabao Cups with City before Arsenal shelled out £45m to sign him in the summer of 2022. The Brazilian striker had a promising debut campaign, but netted just eight times in 2023/24 and an injury in pre-season derailed his start to the current season. The only time he has completed 90 minutes came in a 5-1 thrashing of Bolton in the Carabao Cup, but more opportunities should be on the horizon, with a trip to Preston coming on Wednesday in the same competition. "He came on in a great shape, probably in the best condition he's been with us," Arteta explained earlier this month. "He was flying in pre-season and unfortunately he got that injury straight away that affected him for a few weeks. "He put again a lot of work into it to come back and now he needs to get the rhythm. He's playing a few games, he's started two games in a row vs Atalanta and Bolton, he's come on against Southampton. "So yeah, he's there. Now he needs to earn the right to play more. He's got our full support, he's a player that can play in various positions and he's a really important player for us."

Man Utd players 'felt Ten Hag took punishment of Ronaldo and Sancho TOO FAR'
Sports 2025-12-16 19:05:01

Man Utd players 'felt Ten Hag took punishment of Ronaldo and Sancho TOO FAR'

Senior Manchester United players felt Erik ten Hag went too far with his punishments for Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, according to reports.Ten Hag was sacked by United on Monday after a little over two years at the club following a dismal start to the season. Senior Manchester United players felt Erik ten Hag went too far with his punishments for Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, according to reports. Ten Hag was sacked by United on Monday after a little over two years at the club following a dismal start to the season. His time at Old Trafford was littered with disagreements with players, including Ronaldo when he was just months into his new job. Ten Hag and Ronaldo fell out in October 2022 when the Portuguese superstar refused to come on as a late substitute against Tottenham. Ronaldo was banished from first team training in a move that was initially supported by the United squad. However, things turned when Ronaldo was prevented from getting back into the dressing room to retrieve a pair of trainers and had to get an academy player to pick them up for him, with some senior stars believing the outright ban on using first team facilities amounted to an 'unnecessary humiliation', as reported by ESPN. Just days later, Ronaldo conducted a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan where he accused Ten Hag of disrespecting him. Ronaldo's United contract was subsequently terminated by mutual consent as he left the club for the second time to join Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr. But that was not the only public fall-out that involved Ten Hag during his time at United. The following season, Ten Hag had a bust-up with Sancho after leaving the winger out of his squad for a 3-1 defeat by Arsenal due to his 'performance in training'. Sancho hit back on social media, accusing his manager of making him a 'scapegoat', and Ten Hag responded by exiling the England international from his squad. Sancho was forced to train, eat and change on his own, and refused to apologise to Ten Hag despite encouragement from his team-mates to do so. As the stalemate continued, it is understood that some players felt Ten Hag was being too harsh on Sancho, and that ordering him to apologise in public was an unnecessary demand. With no olive branch in sight, Sancho was loaned out to former club Borussia Dortmund in January 2024 for the rest of the season. He flourished on his return to Germany, helping Dortmund reach the Champions League final as he delivered a man of the match display in their semi final first leg victory over PSG. Following that performance, ESPN states United representatives reached out to high-profile pundits to tell them to stop talking so positively about Sancho as it would put United in a bad light. Sancho returned to Carrington in the summer, and with no club willing to match United's asking price for the 24-year-old he was brought back into the first team squad after reaching a truce with Ten Hag. Ten Hag was not comfortable with bringing Sancho back into the fold, though, as he wondered whether his authority would be questioned, and this led to Sancho being loaned out to Chelsea on deadline day in August. Chelsea will have an obligation to buy Sancho for £23m next summer, which represents a £50m loss for United after they bought him for £73m in 2021. Sancho has also started well at Chelsea, registering three assists in his first five league appearances, while Ten Hag is now back in the Netherlands after being put out of his misery at United.

Two top EPL clubs 'could move for PSG striker Randal Kolo Muani for just £33m
Sports 2026-01-07 20:37:10

Two top EPL clubs 'could move for PSG striker Randal Kolo Muani for just £33m

Two Premier League heavyweights have been named as potential destinations for Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani.The striker, 25, signed for PSG from Eintracht Frankfurt for £77million in 2023 but has managed just 11 goals in 50 appearances. Two Premier League heavyweights have been named as potential destinations for Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani. The striker, 25, signed for PSG from Eintracht Frankfurt for £77million in 2023 but has managed just 11 goals in 50 appearances. Now the Ligue 1 champions are prepared to offload him in January for between £33m and £42m, according to L'Equipe. The French outlet claims that Arsenal and Manchester United could be potential destinations but that the identity of the latter's next manager - at this stage looking likely to be Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim - will be influential. Kolo Muani was all the rage in the 2022-23 season when he hit 23 goals and provided 17 assists in all competitions for Frankfurt, earning his move to PSG in summer last year. He had been linked with a possible £105m move to United instead and admitted that playing in the Premier League was a 'childhood dream'. In the 2022 World Cup final he had the chance to win the tournament for France but was denied by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez's 'save of the century'. France have been able to get more out of Kolo Muani that PSG, with the forward scoring six goals in 12 international outings this year. In the most recent international break he struck twice against rivals Belgium in the Nations League. However, he has managed just two starts all season for PSG and even winger Ousmane Dembele was chosen over him as the number nine for the 3-0 win at Marseille on Sunday. PSG have reportedly spoken with his delegation and are willing to let him start afresh elsewhere in the new year. Borussia Dortmund and Juventus had been interested in the summer. Kolo Muani, who rose from the French third tier to the World Cup final in three years, is commended for his electric pace and strength.

Man Utd decided six months ago Ruben Amorim was not for them, writes IAN HERBERT
Sports 2025-12-31 10:58:25

Man Utd decided six months ago Ruben Amorim was not for them, writes IAN HERBERT

You’ll find all the modern vocabulary of Premier League managerial recruitment swirling around Manchester United’s pursuit of Ruben Amorim.He’s a ‘sought-after young manager’ with a ‘stellar reputation’ and ‘the brightest of the hugely promising generation of young Portuguese coaches.’ His ‘stock is rising fast.’ You’ll find all the modern vocabulary of Premier League managerial recruitment swirling around Manchester United’s pursuit of Ruben Amorim. He’s a ‘sought-after young manager’ with a ‘stellar reputation’ and ‘the brightest of the hugely promising generation of young Portuguese coaches.’ His ‘stock is rising fast.’ Sorry to ruin this party, but he’s actually won the Portuguese league title twice in four years and the Portuguese League Cup three times. When his Sporting Lisbon side played Ajax at home in a Champions League group stage game in September 2021, his players were blown away in a 5-1 defeat. The Dutch team’s manager that night? The soon-to-be sought-after Erik ten Hag. We also presently witness Amorim being praised to the heavens because of his uncanny knack for ‘developing young players.’ Which I rather thought was supposed to be the prerequisite of any coach. Such objections to the received wisdom are an inconvenience at times like this. Along with numbers showing Amorim’s win ratio to be 71.7 per cent, while Ten Hag’s win ratio when United hired him was 73.49 per cent. Options are few and everyone is looking to the latest kid on the block. The new flavour of the month. https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/97/720x-/-/-/CgAGVWchJjCALECSAACGE4LZGDM974.jpg There’s nothing wrong with recruiting relatively unproven overseas managers. So many, from Mauricio Pochettino to Roberto de Zerbi, have upended expectations. But this is not a breezy South Coast beach scene we’re talking about. It’s the raging, tempest of Manchester United, where managers and their reputations have routinely been devoured whole these past 11 years, before stepping on the first private jet out of the place. It’s the most difficult and complex crisis management role in world football. A task demanding someone with a material understanding of the white heat, the unyielding scrutiny and relentless impatience. Instead, United look a whole lot like a club stuck in a continuous loop, going back to a manager whom they actually decided six months ago was not for them. Liverpool, Aston Villa and West Ham have also all passed up on the chance to recruit Amorim, or at least speak to his agents. Please let’s dispense with any pretence about one of the prime motivations behind such a change of heart by the geniuses currently running this club. It’s a fear of missing out to Manchester City. United want Amorim because City supposedly want Amorim. Which, you would have to say, is hardly blue sky thinking. The notion of the Portuguese having a future at the Etihad has been tangible since it was announced that Hugo Viana, the director of football with whom he has formed a close partnership at Sporting Lisbon, will succeed Txiki Begiristain, when the Spaniard steps down from that role at City next summer. Amorim’s original intention had been to see out this season at Sporting and examine his options at the end of it, because they might have included linking up with Viana in Manchester, should Pep Guardiola walk away with Begiristain. City’s interest still seemed an obstacle just a week ago. United’s moves to pre-empt that included meeting Amorim during the international break earlier this month, for talks at which at least three of their executives were present. For City, recruiting Amorim to replace Guardiola would not represent an overwhelming risk, because he would be one significant cog in a well-oiled football structure, where the manager is asked to cohere to an agreed playing philosophy. It’s a structure which insulates a club from swinging wildly from one system to another, simply to fit the coach. It’s what progressive modern football executive oversight looks like. It’s also precisely the kind of structure you imagined INEOS would have established at United when recruiting Omar Berrada as chief executive from City, in January, and Dan Ashworth as sporting director from Newcastle United, in July, with Jason Wilcox, former City academy director, arriving as technical director last Spring. United are in desperate need of such a structure, though there is no evidence of one. At Old Trafford, Amorim will expect to be free to introduce his own playing philosophy – a 3-4-3 formation. And he will be reluctant to compromise on that, as Liverpool discovered when considering him as Jurgen Klopp’ successor this summer, and opting for Arne Slot instead, by some distance. United’s squad does not lend itself to playing with a back three and wing-backs. They currently have no natural, fit left wing back. And having blown the bank on average Dutch players for Ten Hag last summer, they do not have money to spend in January, either. Who was the right manager for United? This looks and feels like a club in need of a Carlo Ancelotti figure – as if – to instil sense and calm and bring coherence. The place exudes unhappiness to its core, with ancillary staff departing in the latest redundancy rounds describing a deep sense of hurt about a classless way things have been brought to an end. Graham Potter, out of a functioning football environment for too long, has been nowhere near consideration by United. Gareth Southgate – who would have brought maturity and sense – would not have gone down well in the court of public opinion. Xavi had Spanish ambitions to fulfil. Maintaining Ruud van Nistelrooy in an extended interim capacity, whilst INEOS reset and put some structure in place, would have made more sense than this punt on inexperience. It wasn’t to be. United just couldn’t wait. Change is in the air again at a club which has seems pathologically incapable of intelligent evolution. The new execs will power up the rollercoaster and crash on. Real Madrid's Ballon d'Or no-show was classless It’s hard to recall a more classless act than Real Madrid’s refusal to show up for the Ballon d’Or awards on Tuesday night because the player prize had gone to Manchester City’s Rodri, rather than Vinicius Junior. The players said they would not go where they are ‘not respected’, despite winning the club award. Sad to see the great club of Alfredo di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas, Francico Gento and Zinedine Zidane, boiling in its own bitterness and spite. Golf is reaching new audiences There was a time when club golf was remote and exclusive place, but the turn I took with my grandson last week around the nine-hole, par three course at Styal Golf Club, near us in Cheshire, was a reminder of why it has found new audiences and thrives. The boy has not long started picking up clubs - this was our third time around – and for me, there’s been an inbuilt worry about him digging out large chunks of fairway. The welcome and encouragement from the staff could not have been greater. And the nine shots I needed to exit the bunker at the fifth, reminiscent of that old Hamlet cigar ad, added considerably to his enthusiasm. England must acknowledge Bazball flaws It's the response in the worst of times which is the true gauge of greatness in sport. Ben Stokes has been garlanded with praise these past few years, yet amid the desultory performances in Pakistan, we’ve witnessed his loss of cool as England’s fielding fell apart in the second test, his distraction and aimlessness in the field during the third and a distinct reluctance to discuss anything off the field. Bazball has brought much joy but its practitioners’ refusal to acknowledge the flaws and failings is its least appealing trait. It smacks of swagger and ego.

Tears flow and fury grows as Ruben Amorim 'abandons' Sporting Lisbon
Sports 2025-12-23 21:43:57

Tears flow and fury grows as Ruben Amorim 'abandons' Sporting Lisbon

Shuffling up the steps from the Campo Grande metro station, there was an air of sadness that hung over everyone in green and white. For one elderly gentleman it soon became all too much.'It will indeed be a significant loss,’ he tells a local reporter before he bursts into tears. Strangers are offering out hugs. Shuffling up the steps from the Campo Grande metro station, there was an air of sadness that hung over everyone in green and white. For one elderly gentleman it soon became all too much. 'It will indeed be a significant loss,’ he tells a local reporter before he bursts into tears. Strangers are offering out hugs. Down by the bifana (a classic Portuguese sandwich) food trucks, arguments are breaking out about whether Amorim will face boos when he shows his face at the stadium. Earlier in the day at a supporters’ bar, Amorim memorabilia is being taken down and hidden away. One bar manager even instructs her bar tender to mute the television so as not to hear the word ‘Manchester’ on the live broadcast any more. Even without total confirmation of his departure come kick-off here, this League Cup match against Nacional was being treated as a day of mourning. It was too soon even for gallows humour when Mail Sport joked that the stress of Manchester United may well ruin Amorim’s thick head of hair. https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/9C/720x-/-/-/CgAGVmchY1yAVOK-AAGWVyH8V5c439.jpg Others were not so magnanimous in their words; furious with a man they were now labelling as a ‘traitor’. ‘Anyone who abandons a project halfway through is not a man, he is a rat,’ one fan fumed to a friend as scarves adorned with his face spill out of a box on a nearby stall. ‘I hope that the man who spent weeks and weeks making the speeches he did does not run away like a rat.’ There were no discounts to the Amorim scarves or flags. €7.50 take it or leave it we were told. There should be some fresh ones in print ready for Sir Matt Busby Way in no time. This was a day where Amorim wanted to hide away, quickly realising that the joviality with which he started the day was not shared by others and he needed to abandon the happy-go-lucky show. Mobbed in the early morning as he strolled along in a beige cardigan and an unkempt white shirt, he offered up a charming smile and would not be drawn on reports of his talks with Ineos supremo Sir Dave Brailsford. Across the city, the short-and-sweet interview was playing on a loop to a despairing public. Sources here familiar with those talks detailed how Amorim was under no illusion that he wanted to be the next man to try and turn Manchester United around after they concluded. He headed for the sanctuary of the training ground by 10.05am, protected from the camera flashes by the bus’ tinted windows. And when he appeared at the stadium to lukewarm applause it was his head bowed, not that of supporters, as he sheepishly shuffled out onto the pitch. Pacing up and down his technical area like a child waiting to hear the punishment from their parents, he gave the impression of a man desperate for this charade of a match - which few seemed to care about with large swathes of empty seats - to end. He paused often, taking sips from a nearby water bottle, but was not the animated character many here are accustomed to. With eyes burning a hole in the back of his head he took up a crouched squatting position. By the time they opened the scoring early in the second half through Morten Hjulmund there was barely a flicker of emotion. Embarrassment perhaps the overriding one Amorim wanted to shrug off. ‘There are several factors that need to be analysed,’ commentator Mario Cagica told Mail Sport said passionately in the manager’s defence. ‘On one hand, you have to understand Ruben Amorim's side of the story. He has done a brilliant job at Sporting, perhaps the best coach in the club's last 70 years, and here he has a once-in-a-opportunity to take over a major European team in a context identical to the one he found at Sporting: a team that is lost and needs direction. ‘It's a good opportunity, a good challenge for Amorim and it's understandable that the coach has accepted the project at this stage because he could run the risk of the opportunity not appearing so soon again if things went wrong at Sporting.’ For fans words and defences of Amorim ring hollow. It was Monday when Amorim spoke of his pride at coaching Sporting. A determination to guide Sporting - who have won nine games from nine, scoring 30 and conceding only two - to a third league title under his watch. Less than 24 hours his bags were packed and he was ready to head for England. To many it stings. Andre is a lifelong Sporting fan that heads to this match with his Benfica-supporting friend Ruben. The jokes are endless coming from one direction. ‘At work I felt like crying,’ Andre told Mail Sport. ‘It feels wrong that he leaves now. I don’t care about this game, I don’t. I want Amorim to stay, we need him to stay.’ Fred, a season-ticket holder for more than 10 years, first jokes he won’t speak because everything about England has ruined his mood. ‘I am incredibly sad. The way he built this team, created this team, we just have to be happy he got to have a part in this story.’ There is an irony in the fact that going back to 2021, when Manchester United found themselves searching for a manager after the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the question was put to Amorim if he was the right man for the job. ‘United? We are talking about rumours, my future is clear,’ he said that day. ‘I don't know how many names were talked about, I don't give much importance. If you allow me the opinion, United should take Ten Hag later this week. It was something that would make me very happy.’ Amorim was being cheeky then with Sporting about to face Ten Hag’s Ajax. Now it is ironic that almost three years on from that fateful response, it is Amorim United are turning to to clean up his recommendation’s mess. Funny how that works out.

Jota out until after international break, Slot confirms
Sports 2025-12-18 15:25:33

Jota out until after international break, Slot confirms

Arne Slot confirmed Diogo Jota will not be available for Liverpool until after the international break, as the forward remains sidelined with a rib injury.Jota has missed the Reds' last two games after a collision with Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo forced him off during their 2-1 win over the Blues on October 20, Arne Slot confirmed Diogo Jota will not be available for Liverpool until after the international break, as the forward remains sidelined with a rib injury. Jota has missed the Reds' last two games after a collision with Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo forced him off during their 2-1 win over the Blues on October 20, The 27-year-old will also be absent from Liverpool's next four matches, including Wednesday's Carabao Cup clash with Brighton and Hove Albion, as well as home games against Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa. Slot's side also travel to the Amex Stadium without Alisson and Harvey Elliott, who are sidelined with a hamstring injury and fractured foot respectively, while Federico Chiesa's struggles for fitness since his move from Juventus continue. Though the Dutchman revealed youngster Connor Bradley could feature against Brighton, he will have to make do without Jota and Elliott until the end of November at least. "Conor [Bradley] is training with us again, so maybe he could be in the squad [for Wednesday]," Slot said. "Jota not, Alisson not, Harvey Elliott not and Federico [Chiesa] not." Asked whether Jota could return before the international break, the Reds head coach replied: "No, it will be after that. Elliott the same."

Stoke City condemn 'sickening and unacceptable' chants aimed at Tyrese Campbell
Sports 2025-12-23 09:21:21

Stoke City condemn 'sickening and unacceptable' chants aimed at Tyrese Campbell

Stoke City have condemned 'sickening and unacceptable' chants aimed at Sheffield United player Tyrese Campbell.Campbell scored the second goal of the Blades' 2-0 win over City on Saturday, his first goal of the season in his eighth appearance for the Potters. Stoke City have condemned 'sickening and unacceptable' chants aimed at Sheffield United player Tyrese Campbell. Campbell scored the second goal of the Blades' 2-0 win over City on Saturday, his first goal of the season in his eighth appearance for the Potters. Stoke, however, have said that a 'small minority' of supporters were involved in chants thought to have been mocking Campbell over the passing of his father, Arsenal and Everton legend Kevin Campbell, during the game. The statement read: 'The club has a zero-tolerance approach to tragedy chanting and strongly condemns the abhorrent actions of the individuals involved. 'Any evidence brought to the attention of the Club that implicates individuals in such behaviour will be acted upon without hesitation and the police will also be informed. 'Supporters who see or hear any incidents of criminal, discriminatory, unacceptable or anti-social behaviour are implored to report it by any of the methods below. 'The Club will continue to work with fellow clubs, police forces and all relevant authorities to identify perpetrators of illegal actions and to ensure that matchdays are safe, welcoming and enjoyable for all.' Campbell passed away at the age of 54 in June after falling unwell earlier in the month, leading to an outpouring of emotion from the football community. The popular forward spent six years at Everton between 1999 and 2005, and left a lasting impression. Tyrese, who was present at a special Everton memorial service last month, posted an emotional tribute to his dad in the hours after his death on Instagram that read: 'I appreciate my Dad was admired by many and the outpouring of love has been some comfort for us as a family, so thank you for that at such a difficult time. 'The pain of this is indescribable and as a son you look at your Dad as invincible. He is my idol, the one who I wanted to be when I grew up. 'He was the life and soul of every party and room he blessed, a one in a million person that was loved by everyone, a special special person. I'll miss you Dad. 'I would now ask that the privacy of our family is respected as we mourn the loss of an irreplaceable father, brother, uncle and all round amazing human being. Love you always Dad.'

Injury-hit Juventus welcome back Koopmeiners for Parma test
Sports 2025-12-22 05:35:56

Injury-hit Juventus welcome back Koopmeiners for Parma test

Thiago Motta confirmed midfielder Teun Koopmeiners will be available for Juventus' upcoming Serie A clash with Parma on Wednesday.Koopmeiners, who joined Juventus from Atalanta in the summer, has missed the last three matches after sustaining a rib fracture in a 1-1 draw with Cagliari earlier this month. Thiago Motta confirmed midfielder Teun Koopmeiners will be available for Juventus' upcoming Serie A clash with Parma on Wednesday. Koopmeiners, who joined Juventus from Atalanta in the summer, has missed the last three matches after sustaining a rib fracture in a 1-1 draw with Cagliari earlier this month. The Dutch international had made seven appearances in all competitions for his new club before his injury, notching one assist in a win against Genoa. Koopmeiners' return to action is a timely boost for Motta, though he revealed Juventus are still without injured trio Gleison Bremer, Arek Milik, and Douglas Luiz. "We won't have Gleison, Douglas, Nico or Arek but we will recover Koop. We'll see if he can start from the first minute or be with us during the game," Motta told reporters. Juventus come into the game against Parma on the back of an enthralling 4-4 draw with Inter in the Derby d'Italia over the weekend. Kenan Yildiz scored a second-half brace to seal a share of the spoils at the San Siro, but the Bianconeri remain five points behind leaders Napoli in Serie A. Motta was happy with his side's previous showing, but bemoaned their defensive lapses, having conceded two penalties against Inter that were converted by Piotr Zielinski. "It was a good performance at San Siro but we could have won," Motta said. "But that's now in the past, everything else is just people's opinions and doesn't count much at this moment in time," Motta said. "Something to improve, for sure is penalties. We must always finish with 11 men and not cause penalties. I always say, the next match is the most important. "I respect everyone's opinions, mine as a coach is that we have to learn to manage the moments when others do better than us." Juventus will be confident of maintaining Motta's unbeaten league start against Parma, who are without a win in their last seven Serie A matches. The hosts have done historically well against the Crociati, with Juventus unbeaten in 13 of their last 14 matches against Parma in Serie A (W10 D3). They have also won eight of the last nine matches played on a Wednesday in the Italian top-flight (L1), scoring 20 goals in the period (2.2 on average per match). Parma, meanwhile, have not won any of their last 18 Serie A away games (D8 L10) and have only once recorded a longer away run without a win in the competition, between May 2007 and September 2009 (23).

Newcastle want Mbeumo but financial limits may require Howe to offload a star
Sports 2025-12-22 18:02:50

Newcastle want Mbeumo but financial limits may require Howe to offload a star

Newcastle United could make a move for Brentford's prized forward Bryan Mbeumo in January, but face financial restrictions that could trigger a player fire sale.According to the Telegraph, current financial regulations means if Newcastle were to spend big on Mbeumo in January they'd likely have to sell a player in the summer to balance the books. Newcastle United could make a move for Brentford's prized forward Bryan Mbeumo in January, but face financial restrictions that could trigger a player fire sale. According to the Telegraph, current financial regulations means if Newcastle were to spend big on Mbeumo in January they'd likely have to sell a player in the summer to balance the books. Profit and sustainability rulers (PSR) have already stymied the Tyneside club's efforts to invest in its squad last summer, despite on paper being technically one of the richest clubs in the world. Newcastle was forced to sell wingers Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to Nottingham Forest and Brighton respectively, to avoid a PSR breach in the summer. The report by the Telegraph says Newcastle 'languish behind the Big Six in revenue streams despite the takeover by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF)' back in October 2021. This has forced belt-tightening measure at St James' Park since the rules again changed last year, and after the club's owners had already laid out more than £400million on players. Now, the club needs to recoup money from player sales to balance against this spend so it does not fall afoul of regulations. The report states the PIF 'will continue to invest in the club' despite the recent announcement that the sovereign wealth fund will cut back funding from 30 per cent to around 18-20 per cent. In light of this, they've reassured supporters they are 'still willing to invest in a new stadium and the general growth of the club'. Meanwhile, the club's recruitment team are intensifying their recruitment plans but PSR will be a limiting factor as to who and how many players they can recruit. Manager Eddie Howe will be looking to fix 'glaring holes' within the squad, especially at centre back and right wing. Newcastle were thought to be leading the race to sign Crystal Palace centre back Marc Guehi in summer, but were thwarted in their pursuit by PSR. Senior players, such as Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson (who has started two games in 2024), remain on the books despite looking likely to be moved on, while Anthony Gordon has signed a lucrative long-term contract. If Newcastle do pursue Mbeumo, they'll subsequently have to sell someone in the summer. A big name like Gordon is therefore mooted to leave St James' Park, despite signing a new contract, while Bruno Guimarares and Alexander Isak could also attract bids from the league's biggest clubs.

Sporting set cut-price fee for Gyokeres despite £85m clause, eyed by 4 EPL clubs
Sports 2025-12-18 08:02:59

Sporting set cut-price fee for Gyokeres despite £85m clause, eyed by 4 EPL clubs

Sporting Lisbon are reportedly prepared to let Viktor Gyokeres leave the club next summer, with four Premier League clubs in the race for the Swedish forward.Gyokeres is currently contracted to the Portuguese giants until 2028, with his release clause set at £85million. Sporting Lisbon are reportedly prepared to let Viktor Gyokeres leave the club next summer, with four Premier League clubs in the race for the Swedish forward. Gyokeres is currently contracted to the Portuguese giants until 2028, with his release clause set at £85million. According to the Sky Germany, an agreement has been reached that Gyokeres will be able to leave for between £50-58million. Gyokeres will reportedly not leave the club during the January transfer window, but a move next summer is considered likely. The report claims Premier League giants Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City are among those tracking Gyokeres. The quartet have reportedly been informed of the significant drop in the 26-year-old's price tag. Manchester United are not considered to be in the race at this stage, but the Red Devils position could change if Gyokeres' current head coach at Sporting Ruben Amorim takes charge of the Premier League side. Gyokeres has been a stunning success at Sporting since joining from Championship side Coventry in a £20millon move in 2023. His debut season at the Portuguese club saw the forward score 43 goals and provide 15 assists in 50 matches. Gyokeres' form in front of goal proved vital in Sporting securing the Portuguese title last season. Gyokeres' form has continued for Sporting so far this season, with 14 goals and four assists in their 14 matches to date. Two of his goals have come in victories in the Champions League, which have helped Sporting to eighth place after three matches in the new look competition. The forward has also scored 10 times for the Swedish national team in 24 appearances. Gyokeres previously played for Premier League outfit Brighton with the Seagulls signing the forward as a teenager. He spent time on loan at St Pauli, Swansea and Coventry, before joining the Sky Blues on a permanent basis in 2021. Sporting moved for the forward after he scored 22 goals in 50 matches for Coventry, after the club were beaten in the play-off final in 2023. Coventry will reportedly be due 15 per cent of a future fee from Gyokeres' next move.

La Liga president Javier Tebas slams Real Madrid for 'lacking elegance'
Sports 2025-12-16 14:11:00

La Liga president Javier Tebas slams Real Madrid for 'lacking elegance'

The president of La Liga has accused Real Madrid of showing a 'lack of elegance' following the club's dramatic boycott of Monday night's Ballon d'Or awards.European champions Madrid had initially planned to send a delegation of 50 people to Paris, where they were expecting to see Vinicius Junior be crowned as the best male player in world football. The president of La Liga has accused Real Madrid of showing a 'lack of elegance' following the club's dramatic boycott of Monday night's Ballon d'Or awards. European champions Madrid had initially planned to send a delegation of 50 people to Paris, where they were expecting to see Vinicius Junior be crowned as the best male player in world football. Madrid right back Dani Carvajal - who won last season's Champions League with his club and then Euro 2024 with Spain in the summer - was also expected to rank high in the vote organised by France Football. However, shortly before their chartered plane had been due to leave Spain, it was leaked that Manchester City midfielder Rodri was going to beat Vinicius and Carvajal to the top prize. Madrid president Florentino Perez reacted by calling the trip off before the club issued a strong statement. The statement declared: 'If the award criteria doesn't give it to Vinicius as the winner, those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner. 'As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d'Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.' Tebas reacted on Tuesday by telling French newspaper L'Equipe: 'I'm a Madrid fan. The important values of this club are to be a gentleman and to shake hands when you lose. 'I think Real Madrid lost that mentality a long time ago. They should have gone to the ceremony and not questioned the France Football system, which is transparent, with 100 journalists voting. 'Real Madrid's victimhood doesn't have to be and it is exaggerated. I don't know where they're going. We also experience this lack of elegance in Spain.' The leaked info that caused Madrid to boycott Monday's ceremony proved correct. Rodri was indeed announced as the winner of the 2024 men's Ballon d'Or award. Vinicius finished second in the vote, ahead of Madrid team-mates Jude Bellingham and Carvajal in third and fourth respectively. City striker Erling Haaland came fifth. Rodri played 34 Premier League games last season to help City win a fourth straight title. The defensive midfielder then played a starring role in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph in Germany over the summer. Vinicius won La Liga and the Champions League with Madrid last season. The Brazilian, 24, provided six goals and four assists in 10 Champions League games, as well as a further 20 goal involvements in 26 La Liga matches.

Milan not out of title race according to head coach Fonseca
Sports 2025-12-31 15:58:26

Milan not out of title race according to head coach Fonseca

AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca was unwilling to rule his team out of title contention following their 2-0 home defeat to Serie A leaders Napoli, who now lead them by 11 points, on Tuesday.While Milan have a game in hand over their victors, it's a considerable gap to bridge even having played just nine matches so far this season. AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca was unwilling to rule his team out of title contention following their 2-0 home defeat to Serie A leaders Napoli, who now lead them by 11 points, on Tuesday. While Milan have a game in hand over their victors, it's a considerable gap to bridge even having played just nine matches so far this season. That is especially true when they have already lost three times, but Fonseca was not going to give up on the dream after being asked if it was still the objective after the match. "I can't say the opposite, especially seeing how we played. How the team responded to a difficult moment and how it showed unity even without important players," Fonseca told DAZN. Milan had to cope without key players including Theo Hermandez and Tijjani Reijnders against Napoli and their manager thinks they they will improve, "No team has won the league after nine games and none has lost it after nine games," he said. "For this reason, we must continue on the path of growth. Clearly we will need results to enter this fight." Fonseca accepted the blame for the defeat to Napoli, but did say that he was happy with how his team responded after Romelu Lukaku put the visitors in front after just five minutes. "I'm always responsible for what happens on the pitch and once again I take this responsibility," he said. "It's not easy to start the game with a Napoli goal after five minutes, but if we look at the result, they scored two goals and we created the chances. "The team had a good reaction at the beginning of the game, we played positive football with quality. "It's not easy against a Napoli team that... defends in front of its penalty area."

It will be a 'MIRACLE' if Paul Pogba can return to the top level, Petit claims
Sports 2025-12-13 02:44:57

It will be a 'MIRACLE' if Paul Pogba can return to the top level, Petit claims

Former France World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit has said he is 'happy' for Paul Pogba after his doping ban was cut short - but claimed it will be a 'miracle' if he can return to the top level.Pogba was staring retirement in the eyes when he received a four-year ban from football, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled earlier this month that he inadvertently took DHEA, a substance that boosts testosterone that is on WADA's banned list. Former France World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit has said he is 'happy' for Paul Pogba after his doping ban was cut short - but claimed it will be a 'miracle' if he can return to the top level. Pogba was staring retirement in the eyes when he received a four-year ban from football, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled earlier this month that he inadvertently took DHEA, a substance that boosts testosterone that is on WADA's banned list. It is understood that CAS' ruling allows Pogba to recommence training in January 2025, with a view to playing again in March the same year. Fans are now waiting to see where the former Manchester United midfielder will be playing, with him understood to be in negotiations to leave Juventus - the club he is contracted to and last played for. And Petit, who is, like Pogba, a former World Cup winner with France, has exclusively told Mail Sport on behalf of BetBrain that he would be surprised if the 31-year-old's career continued at a top team. 'I'm very happy for him, very happy for him,' he began. 'But he's right now, 31 or 32, something like that, the last time he played a proper game was a year ago, in September. 'For me, it will be a miracle if he can come back at the highest level. He's got the quality as a footballer. Can he get the energy as a human being to fill the expectation? I'm not really convinced about that. 'What happened in his private life, has been an earthquake. I don't think a lot of people will have survived what he's been through, with his brothers, his friends. Can you imagine what happened to him? Now you can understand why he was not really good with Manchester United. Sometimes on the pitch, he was lost. But I can understand with what happened to him.' Pogba's brother and five other men will reportedly stand trial as part of an alleged extortion case that targeted the Frenchman two years ago. Pogba filed a complaint after he was kidnapped and robbed in March 2022 by two unidentified masked and armed men in Paris , who demanded €13m (£10.98m) for 'protection services'. After the original threat, the group were said to repeatedly intimidate Pogba and claim that he didn't support them after becoming an international star in order to get him to pay, as per Le Parisien. And, after two years of investigations, the Paris prosecutor's office confirmed that Mathias Pogba and the five men would stand trial. Petit added: 'If my brother betrayed me... I mean, football is important, but life is more important, and we're talking about life. 'I hope I'm wrong. Honestly, because I like him, I like his personality, and I like the player as well, but it will be a big miracle if he comes back at at the highest level. I wish him the best, honestly, but the damages of what happened have been terrible, honestly, terrible. 'I'm not sure that in England you you understand exactly what happened to Pogba over the last two, three years. It's a nonsense. I've never seen that before.' Petit also commented on France captain Kylian Mbappe, who has been at war with former side Paris Saint-Germain after leaving the club for Real Madrid in the summer for free. PSG are set to take their wage dispute with Mbappe to court after the French football league's governing body (LFP) ruled in favour of the forward. French media report the 25-year-old, who has not commented on the dispute, is seeking around 55 million euros (£46m) in salary and bonuses he says he is owed by the club. The Ligue 1 champions, however, say Mbappe's contract was 'legally amended' and that he reneged on commitments when he left the club to join Madrid. He has also been the subject of controversy in France in recent weeks having faced criticism in his home country for missing their Nations League games against Israel and Belgium while being available to play for Real Madrid. The forward picked up a muscle injury last month but made his return to the pitch prior to the international break. Though his team-mates have leapt to his defence, Petit has insisted that his reputation has been spiraling since he left for Spain. 'In space of one year, his image has been going down,' he said. 'A year ago, he was the main man here in France. Everybody loved him. But what happened with PSG, what happened in the national team as well, the fight, he was not there. 'His image has not been good at all in France for at least a year now, and it's going down, down, down every single week. 'He knows that he's under huge pressure at Real Madrid, the biggest club in the world. He knows the expectation over there. And this is likely the the priority of Mbappe. Mbappe actually is more focused on the Real Madrid than the national team. 'And I can understand that honestly, but he has to be very, very careful, because, in France, his image is not good at all.'

Pep Guardiola says he feels 'so sorry' for Erik ten Hag after his sacking
Sports 2025-12-19 02:00:39

Pep Guardiola says he feels 'so sorry' for Erik ten Hag after his sacking

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his sympathy for Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman was sacked by Manchester United on Monday.Ten Hag was dismissed as United manager with his side 14th in the Premier League table, having finished eighth last season. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his sympathy for Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman was sacked by Manchester United on Monday. Ten Hag was dismissed as United manager with his side 14th in the Premier League table, having finished eighth last season. Guardiola's City faced off against United seven times during Ten Hag's 29-month reign at Old Trafford. City won four of those games - including a 6-3 victory in October 2022 - but United famously beat their neighbours 2-1 in the final of last season's FA Cup. Speaking on Tuesday, Guardiola had some kind words for his former rival. 'Always I feel sorry for managers [when they are sacked], you know?' Guardiola said at a press conference. 'He's lost his position, so I'm so sorry for him. 'I have a good, I think incredible relationship [with him]. I think he represented Manchester United at the highest level in terms of behaviours, of course. 'Our job as managers is one of the few jobs – in all the jobs in the world – where people are expecting to be sacked. People are expecting you don't have a job. 'I don't see architects or doctors or teachers or anything... the people deciding [their futures don't say]: "Get out." It's only us. It's our job, we have to accept it. Guardiola went on to predict that Ten Hag will 'come back stronger'. The Spaniard added: 'I wish him all the best, he and his family, and of course he's going to come back stronger. 'He knows, I know, everybody knows: our job depends on the results. The results are not good enough. 'I'm saying that, and even myself, I'm not an exception. If the results are not good, there isn't anything that can sustain it. Our job, unfortunately, is as simple as that. You have to get results. 'If you are [there] because you are handsome, or because you [speak well], or have good relationships with the hierarchies, forget about it. 'I have an incredible relationship with my hierarchy, but if I didn't get results, I wouldn't be here. This is a business, and when you become a manager, you have to know it.' Guardiola has been in charge at Man City since July 2016. His current contract is due to expire in June next year.

Ronaldo blasts 96th minute penalty over bar as Al-Nassr bow out of Saudi Cup
Sports 2025-12-18 09:11:02

Ronaldo blasts 96th minute penalty over bar as Al-Nassr bow out of Saudi Cup

CRISTIANO RONALDO blazed a stoppage-time penalty over the bar as Al-Nassr were dumped out of Saudi Arabia's biggest cup competition.Ronaldo and Co hosted Al-Taawoun on Tuesday night in the last 16 of The King Cup. CRISTIANO RONALDO blazed a stoppage-time penalty over the bar as Al-Nassr were dumped out of Saudi Arabia's biggest cup competition. Ronaldo and Co hosted Al-Taawoun on Tuesday night in the last 16 of The King Cup. Al-Nassr sit seven points above Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Pro League and were expected to book their place in the quarter-finals. But they fell behind with 19 minutes remaining as Waleed Al-Ahmed gave the visitors a shock lead. Ronaldo, who scored and assisted against Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Super Cup back in August, was given the perfect opportunity to equalise in added time when Al-Nassr were awarded a penalty. But he stepped up and fired well over the bar from 12 yards as Al-Nassr crashed out. Manchester United and Real Madrid icon Ronaldo, who has nine goals in 12 games this season, was left with his head in his hands after his late miss. Reacting to the penalty, one fan said: "Madrid fans need a break ????." While another added: "No way he missed a pen and knocked his team out of the competition ????????." A third replied: "Gifted him a penalty to level the game and he roofed it!" And a fourth responded: "No way Penaldo missed the penalty." The result means a golden opportunity for silverware goes begging, with Al-Nassr already playing catch-up in the league. They sit six points adrift of table toppers Al-Hilal after drawing three of their opening eight matches. Ronaldo's only silverware since joining Al-Nassr was last year's Arab Club Champions Cup.

Luke Shaw suffers injury setback - with Man Utd star still yet to feature
Sports 2025-12-16 16:36:55

Luke Shaw suffers injury setback - with Man Utd star still yet to feature

Luke Shaw has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury with the Manchester United left back still yet to feature for the club this season.Shaw has not played for Man United since February after suffering from injury problems. Luke Shaw has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury with the Manchester United left back still yet to feature for the club this season. Shaw has not played for Man United since February after suffering from injury problems. He had returned to make three appearances for England at the European Championships in Germany, but sustained a calf problem ahead of the Premier League season with Man United. The left back was originally scheduled to return in September, before his comeback was pushed back until after the October international break. In his final press conference as Man United manager, prior to his sacking on Monday, Erik ten Hag revealed Shaw had suffered a setback. https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/94/720x-/-/-/CgAGVWchDN-AUFiDAACF_XhvrhU729.jpg 'The process is not going as we expected, that's the truth,' Ten Hag said when previewing their Carabao Cup tie with Leicester. 'The setback - if you want to call it like this - but we want to do it very careful because when he is now dropping again we have made the wrong process. 'So we want to be very careful, we know his past. 'We have to do this right because we want him to be available because he will have a big impact on our performances and also on our levels. 'We can't have it where he plays for some games then drops out again, we will do it very careful.' Shaw's absence has left Man United without a recognised left back so far this season, with Tyrell Malacia having been absent for 17 months due to knee problems. Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui have been forced to deputise at left back in their absence. https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/94/720x-/-/-/CgAGVmchDN6AciQhAACBt2tU-PY376.jpg Man United interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy will have to decide who features at left back on Wednesday in their Carabao Cup tie with Leicester at Old Trafford. The match could be his only fixture in charge of the Red Devils. Man United are in talks to appoint Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim as head coach, with the hope he could be in place to lead the team against Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta provides updates on three Gunners stars
Sports 2026-01-05 06:30:18

Mikel Arteta provides updates on three Gunners stars

Mikel Arteta has been handed a triple injury boost ahead of a gruelling run of away games while the Arsenal boss is considering giving another teenage goalkeeper his debut.Defensive duo Gabriel and Justin Timber both limped off during Arsenal's draw against Liverpool on Sunday while Gunners captain Martin Odegaard has been out with an ankle injury since September. Mikel Arteta has been handed a triple injury boost ahead of a gruelling run of away games while the Arsenal boss is considering giving another teenage goalkeeper his debut. Defensive duo Gabriel and Justin Timber both limped off during Arsenal's draw against Liverpool on Sunday while Gunners captain Martin Odegaard has been out with an ankle injury since September. Arteta was positive about his key trio ahead of four away trips starting at Preston in the League Cup on Wednesday before clashes at Newcastle, Inter Milan and Chelsea. 'We are still assessing Gabriel but it doesn't look bad at all,' said Arteta. 'He was much better the next day so hopefully he will be fine. He has had some tests. 'Jurrien is fine. He was very tired, he had been out for a while and could not continue the game but there is no new injury there at all. He could not continue so we decided to make a very safe call. But he was fine.' Mail Sport revealed that Odegaard was ramping up his recovery and due to return to training on the grass this week and Arteta confirmed he was hopeful his skipper would return before the international break. 'He's been on the grass for a few weeks, but there is still a few boxes to tick,' he added. 'How fast we can do that last stage of the rehab is a question we'll have to answer once we have players around him and he starts competing with the team. He hasn't done that yet.' There was, however, bad news for Riccardo Caliafiori who looks set to be sidelined for ‘a few weeks’ after his injury against Shakhtar Donetsk. Arteta is considering handing a debut to young goalkeeper Tommy Setford at Deepdale on Wednesday night. The Ajax academy product, whose brother Charlie also plays for the Dutch side and whose father Chris is a professional golfer, joined in the summer only to miss most of the season with a hip injury. If he is to play, it will be the second round in a row that Arteta has fielded a young keeper after Jack Porter started against Bolton in their previous game. 'We brought Tommy because we know he's got the qualities we're looking for with our goalkeeping area,' said Arteta. 'Unfortunately he's been injured so he hasn't really played. 'It's not a question about age, it's that if they play it's because they deserve to the same as the rest of the players. 'At the end of the day we have to reward the people who, each day, they behave in a certain manner and they have the level to play in the manner we want to play in and if that is the case, I don't care if they are players from the academy, youth players or seniors, they will play.'

TIM HOWARD: Why United's move for Amorim feels like the failed return of CR7
Sports 2025-12-29 21:40:03

TIM HOWARD: Why United's move for Amorim feels like the failed return of CR7

If you didn’t know any better, if you didn’t know that INEOS is running the football side of Manchester United, you’d be forgiven for thinking nothing has changed over the last decade. This club is still being run by Ed Woodward and the Glazers. It’s business as usual. If you didn’t know any better, if you didn’t know that INEOS is running the football side of Manchester United, you’d be forgiven for thinking nothing has changed over the last decade. This club is still being run by Ed Woodward and the Glazers. It’s business as usual. Because the decision to fire Erik ten Hag now makes no sense. What baffles me the most? We are precisely where we were last season. Yes, United won the FA Cup – and that does matter – but look at the bigger picture. The performances were terrible and so were the results. INEOS did a review in the summer and their conclusion was: Ten Hag is the right man for the job. But not only that, we will back him financially too. Now United have had a horrific start to the season and he’s gone. But what have they learned? If INEOS had a checklist – listing all the reasons Ten Hag has been sacked – it would look exactly the same as it did in June. Familiar issues remain around United’s style of play, the quality of their signings and their results. All that’s changed? We are six months further down the line – with another transfer window gone and yet more money down the drain. Oh, and Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino – two managers linked with United over the summer – have taken other jobs. Now Ruben Amorim is in talks to take over. But he was highly thought of in the summer, too. He hasn’t become a good coach in the last few months. And that’s what concerns me. This feels like the decision to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021. Don’t forget, it looked like Ronaldo was going to Manchester City and so United decided to jump in at the 11th hour. It wasn’t part of their plan. It was a knee-jerk reaction and it backfired. I wonder if that is what has driven this decision to fire Ten Hag. It’s not long since City were linked with Amorim as a possible replacement for Pep Guardiola. Has that forced United’s hand? It would be a lazy way to run a club. But the last 10 years tells us one thing: United don’t know what manager they want. Since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, they have hired David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and then Ten Hag. They have tried serial winners, they have tried coaches with ties to the club and those with a track record in the Premier League. None worked. So now United are turning to one of the most exciting young coaches in Europe. They are not alone – bright, tactically-astute minds such as Xabi Alonso are now increasingly sought-after. With good reason, too. Look at the job Enzo Maresca is doing at Chelsea and the impact Fabien Hurzeler has made at Brighton. So I’m not opposed to Amorim because there is some naivety in youth. Manchester United has swallowed managers whole - good, experienced managers. So why not hire a younger coach who isn’t haunted by ghosts of the past? Amorim has had success at Sporting and he has very clear ideas about the way he wants to play. Then again, we said the same about Ten Hag after what he had achieved at Ajax. So is the manager really the issue at United? https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/8E/720x-/-/-/CgAGVmcg71eAESnwAACprmoZnCs818.jpg I have been a player, a sporting director and I’m now an owner with Houston Dynamo. I know that some managers are hamstrung by what goes on around them - they are given no backing in the transfer market and no say in who they sign, for instance. No one can dispute that United have been a dysfunctional operation over the past decade. But the truth is: Ten Hag has been given money and a big role in deciding signings. Just look at the number of ex-Ajax players United have bought: Anthony, Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt… the list goes on. And yet he wasn’t getting a tune out of this squad. That is a manager’s primary job: ensure the team is performing at a high level and getting results. He failed on both counts. So why would United keep a manager who had been underperforming for so long? https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/8E/720x-/-/-/CgAGVmcg71eAP6BEAACWucC9ZoA112.jpg I like what Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have put in place behind the scenes – I like the appointments of Dan Ashworth as sporting director and Omar Berrada as CEO. Maybe they decided that only so much could change straight away. Maybe this was a calculated risk: Ten Hag won’t be our manager long term but perhaps we can get away with keeping him while we fix everything else. Unfortunately, that brings other problems. Because, as long as you have a manager, you have to keep buying them players to make an impact. And these days, clubs are bound by Profitability and Sustainability Rules. They can’t keep spending forever. So now United has a squad full of players who are not good enough to win the Premier League or Champions League. Players Amorim won’t want.

The ‘real reason’ why Vinicius Jr didn’t win the 2024 Ballon d’Or
Sports 2026-01-05 08:01:50

The ‘real reason’ why Vinicius Jr didn’t win the 2024 Ballon d’Or

The Brazilian winger missed out on the title of ‘best in the world’ to Man City’s Rodri.Vinicius Jr, as you surely know, missed out on the Ballon d’Or last night to Rodri of Manchester City, the midfield lynchpin who has guided his side to unprecedented success both domestically and internationally, taking them to a level previously unseen in England. The Brazilian winger missed out on the title of ‘best in the world’ to Man City’s Rodri. Vinicius Jr, as you surely know, missed out on the Ballon d’Or last night to Rodri of Manchester City, the midfield lynchpin who has guided his side to unprecedented success both domestically and internationally, taking them to a level previously unseen in England. However, the outrage of the apparent ‘robbery’, according to some, suffered by the Spanish club perhaps have a simple and understandable reason: there are a lot of good players in the world and Rodri is one of them. And a lot of them are also at Real Madrid. The vote between the 15-time European champions, as they charged to thetop of LaLiga and the Champions Leaguelast season, was spread out amongstVini Jr, Toni Kroos, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal, the standout performers for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Thissplit in success on the fieldhas led to thevote for Vini Jr being divided upamongst the aforementioned names, with the Englishman starting off his career at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in a fairy-tale-like way,firing goals in from the startand getting assists for Vini and co. across the season. DaniCarvajal, meanwhile, took his Real Madrid success one step further, winning the Euros with Spain and guiding his team from the right wing, making it his own in attack and defence. AndToni Kroos simply bossed the midfieldfor another season, probably ending on a 101% pass completion rate. This team success that was spread throughout the team - whether Vini Jr was, in your opinion, ‘the best in the world’ or not -makes it even more unlikely that all 100 journalists would choose himas the undisputed star ofLos Blancos. Vinicius Jr got 24 goals; Bellingham got 23. However, the Englishman scored 4more in the domestic competition (19) than Vinicius (15). He also managed more assists (6 vs 5). Carvajal‘s 7 goal contributions puts him up there as well, from right-back. It‘s a tough question that got people wound up last night. I guess the answer is that it’s simply really hard to play elite footballand there are lots of players who are good at doing so. Vini will get his chance again; perhaps he will take it next time.

Inside the curse of 2019 Ajax world-beaters who stunned Real Madrid
Sports 2026-01-01 18:15:39

Inside the curse of 2019 Ajax world-beaters who stunned Real Madrid

THEY were the best Ajax team since Louis van Gaal's mid 90s outfit that landed a Champions League title.That team featured the de Boer twins Ronald and Frank, Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars, Clarence Seedorf and Edgar Davids at the heart of midfield and more. THEY were the best Ajax team since Louis van Gaal's mid 90s outfit that landed a Champions League title. That team featured the de Boer twins Ronald and Frank, Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars, Clarence Seedorf and Edgar Davids at the heart of midfield and more. But the spirit of those incredible talents seemed to resonate through the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Donny van de Beek, Hakimn Ziyech, and Andre Onana. Led by up-and-coming manager Erik ten Hag, they played some of the best football in Europe during the 2018-19 season. Domestically, they went double Dutch - winning both the league and cup. While in the Champions League, they earned plenty of admirers for destroying Real Madrid 4-1 at the Bernabeu in the Round of 16 and beating Juventus in Turin in the quarter-finals. Their journey ended in the semis, after losing on away goals to Tottenham. As is almost always the case, Europe's top dogs cherry-picked Ajax's best talent - paying huge fees. De Jong went to Barcelona for £65million, de Ligt to Juventus for £75million, and manager ten Hag was hired to bring his flair to an ailing Man Utd team. However, as that team disbanded the worst was to come for those promising youngsters, and their boss. So, where did all go wrong? The kids Forget the old saying, 'You won't win anything with kids.' This Ajax team did, and they swept most teams before them. Steadied by Daley Blind at the back, who struggled in the Premier League with Man Utd, they had a youthful vibrance about them. De Ligt, the recipient of the 2018 Golden Boy trophy given to the best player under 21, was the first-ever defender to ever win the award. De Jong had plenty of swagger, controlling possession in the midfield and driving the tempo of the side. Astonishing stats from December to February of that campaign showed that De Jong had completed 354 of his 390 passes, while making 53 ball recoveries. That prompted former Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart to call De Jong the best player in Europe with the ball at his feet. Cameroon goalie Onana - who came through the Ajax academy - was also excelling himself between the sticks as a carbon copy of Edwin van der Sar with his handling and distribution praised. In Donny van der Beek they had a playmaker who starred in the No10 role and was drawing comparisons with Dennis Bergkamp. Moroccan Hakim Ziyech also provided a threat on the wing, in what was a breakthrough season that saw him score 22 goals in all competitions. Alongside Dusan Tadic, goals were flying in everywhere - testament to that was the 119 goals in 34 league games, and the four that shook the Bernabeu in that famous Champions League massacre. https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/93/720x-/-/-/CgAGVmchBdeAPR0jAAHpwiLzXdM565.jpg The manager They were led by the emerging ten Hag, who grew up on a diet of a Johan Cruyff's Ajax and Barcelona teams and studied Pep Guardiola, who he worked alongside at Bayern Munich. He once revealing of his Spanish mentor: "Every day I get to work with him, I look forward to it. He inspires me." On the wall of his modest office at the club's De Toekomst training ground ten Hag hung photos of past greats Cruyff, van Gaal, and Rinus Michels. An ode to history that would act as a basis for his own thoughts. The club would play a free-flowing 4-2-3-1 formation - it wasn't total football but it was an organised chaos. His approach to training was player mentality focused. Ten Hag would note down how each individual responds to minor errors, losing the ball or committing a foul. Then, he would pick a team based on the mentality of his team and the opponent they were facing. It was the manager who decided to address the balance of youth and experience by bringing in Blind and Tadic. A masterstroke, if ever there was one. https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/64/720x-/-/-/CgAGVmcgFKqAWueCAAOEsTWstjY433.jpg What happened next In 2019, that Ajax team mostly disbanded. A combination of lofty ambitions, and Europe's top clubs descending upon the Dutch giants like vultures to a dead carcass, saw its two best youngsters de Ligt and de Jong depart for pastures new. De Ligt would move to Juventus for £75million, with legendary Marcelo Lippi lauding his ability and comparing him to Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, and Alessandro Nesta. He would struggle to adapt to Italian football, and came under fire for lapses of concentration and occasional errors. Playing a zonal marking system under Maurizio Sarri also didn't suit his attribute of being a man-marker. Three seasons later, he was sold to Bayern Munich for another huge fee - around £56million. Again, he struggled. Injuries didn't help, as well as a strained relationship with Thomas Tuchel who reportedly didn't like the way he played the ball out of defence slowly. Two years later, the jury is out whether the £42.7million Man Utd have spent on him will help rediscover his and his club's fortunes. It hasn't been perfect so far. De Jong's transfer to Barcelona came at a time when the club were heading for financial ruin. In fits and spurts he's shown his qualities, but not in the way the club's fans have hoped. While it may be unfair to call him a flop, the club have certainly seen him as surplus to requirements in the past. To ease their economic concerns, de Jong was offered to Man Utd in 2022. The deal reportedly fell through due to personal terms, but his situation has seemingly changed under new manager Hansi Flick and he is happier. Van de Beek suffered the biggest career collapse of them all, but is credibly rebuilding himself at Girona. He was bombed out of Old Trafford in 2024 for £500,000 to the Spanish club, after unsuccessful loans at Everton and Eintracht Frankfurt. United's £40million investment went down the pan there, with the midfielder scoring just twice in 62 games. Even ten Hag couldn't get a tune out of him. Ziyech, who left in 2020 for Chelsea for £37million, also couldn't rediscover his goalscoring touch that made him so feared in Amsterdam. His bad luck continued after the Blues submitted the wrong documents on transfer deadline day in 2023, blocking a loan deal to PSG. A move to Al Nassr to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo collapsed, when the Saudi Arabian giants withdrew their contract offer after a reported failed medical, which he later denied. He's now with Galatasaray, after finally leaving in the summer but seems to be a shadow of the player he once was. https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/93/720x-/-/-/CgAGVWchBdaACqj0AAGl2aedhxs421.jpg https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/93/720x-/-/-/CgAGVmchBdWAK_SNAAEU8ZFDTd4800.jpg Following a nine-month ban from the game for a doping scandal, Onana restored faith in his abilities by starring at Inter Milan and guiding them to the 2023 Champions League final. United paid £47.2million for him, and although he struggled last season, there are signs of improvement. As for ten Hag, he has now been pushed from the Man Utd hot seat - sacked after two seasons that brought a League Cup and FA Cup, but just an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League last season and a worst-ever start to this term. You better believe it, the curse of Ajax's 2019 world beaters is very real.

Man United's pursuit of Ruben Amorim is waved through by rivals Man City
Sports 2025-12-24 02:25:36

Man United's pursuit of Ruben Amorim is waved through by rivals Man City

Manchester United target Ruben Amorim has not been among the names considered by Man City as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola, Mail Sport understands.The Red Devils entered talks with Sporting Lisbon on Monday for Amorim, as the club seeks a swift appointment following the sacking of Erik ten Hag. Manchester United target Ruben Amorim has not been among the names considered by Man City as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola, Mail Sport understands. The Red Devils entered talks with Sporting Lisbon on Monday for Amorim, as the club seeks a swift appointment following the sacking of Erik ten Hag. It is understood that Amorim was planning to leave Sporting at the end of the season, but was made aware of United’s interest earlier this month and has had two rounds of talks. The 39-year-old has also been linked with reigning Premier League champions Man City if Guardiola opts to leave the club in the summer at the end of his contract. Mail Sport understands Amorim is not under consideration, despite his relationship with Hugo Viana. Man City agreed a deal earlier this month for Viana, a former Newcastle midfielder, to take over as sporting director at the end of the season. He will succeed Txiki Begiristain when the renowned sporting director steps down at Man City. Viana has held the same role at Sporting and made the key decision to pay more than £10million to take Amorim from Braga in 2020. The decision has been seen as the catalyst for their spell of dominance in Portugal in recent seasons. Despite a belief in Portugal that Amorim and Viana would link-up again in England, it is understood Man City prefer for their next coach to align to Guardiola and Begiristain's style of play. Amorim had played down suggestions he could follow Viana to Man City earlier this month. 'We didn't talk about that because they are two completely different paths,' he said. 'I know that people made that connection. Viana's path is Viana's path. My path is my path. 'We only have a professional relationship that won't last forever, but it's certain that the friendship will last.' The 39-year-old is said to be 'wedded' to his 3-4-3 formation which he has adopted with great success at Sporting. Sporting have won two league titles under Amorim and have won nine successive matches at the start of this domestic season. The Portuguese giants are also eighth in the early Champions League table after making an unbeaten start to the competition. Amorim's side have beaten Lille and Sturm Graz in the league phase of the competition, as well as drawing with PSV. Sporting face Man City in their next Champions League match on November 5. Mail Sport revealed last week that Amorim was one of four targets if Ten Hag was axed, and United announced on Monday morning that the Dutchman’s two-and-a-half-year reign at Old Trafford was over. His assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy has been put in temporary charge, but United swiftly opened talks with Amorim and Sporting over triggering the £8.5millon release clause in his contract in Portugal. The 39-year-old, who was interviewed over the managerial vacancies at Liverpool and West Ham earlier this year, is said to be open to a move to Old Trafford. Asked about the links to United in the wake of Ten Hag’s sacking, he said on Monday: ‘I was already expecting this question and obviously I’m not going to talk about the future, because otherwise I’ll always have to comment. I’m very proud to be Sporting coach, that’s all.’ United took the decision to sack Ten Hag with the club lying 14th in the Premier League following Sunday’s defeat at West Ham, and in the bottom half of the Europa League. He was summoned to a meeting with chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth at Carrington on Monday morning and informed of the decision. The 54-year-old Dutchman, who is expected to receive up to £15m in compensation, flew to Holland on a private jet around lunchtime.

Slot breaks his silence on Ten Hag's Man United sacking
Sports 2025-12-14 23:20:10

Slot breaks his silence on Ten Hag's Man United sacking

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has offered his thoughts on Erik ten Hag's sacking at Manchester United.Ten Hag was axed by United on Monday after a little over two years in charge following a disappointing start to the season, with United down in 14th in the Premier League and yet to register a win in Europe. Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has offered his thoughts on Erik ten Hag's sacking at Manchester United. Ten Hag was axed by United on Monday after a little over two years in charge following a disappointing start to the season, with United down in 14th in the Premier League and yet to register a win in Europe. Slot only arrived in England this summer, but played his part in Ten Hag's downfall as he led his Liverpool side to a 3-0 win at Old Trafford last month. Despite the rivalry that exists between Liverpool and United, Slot has offered some sympathy for Ten Hag's situation, and has tipped his fellow Dutchman to bounce back. 'He's a Dutch manager which makes it even harder for me, for us as Dutch people,' Slot said at a press conference ahead of Liverpool's trip to Brighton for their Carabao Cup tie on Wednesday. 'Always your first thoughts are with the person. We are all in this job so we know it can happen, but if it happens, especially because I know him a little bit and I know how much work he puts into it, then to get this news for him is a pity. 'But we also know, especially coming from Holland, how well he did at Ajax and that he won two trophies over here so we will see him in the near future somewhere at a big club again. At this moment, for him and his family it's a big disappointment.' Prior to his arrival at Anfield, Ten Hag had appeared to aim a jibe at Slot back in May when he downplayed Feyenoord's achievements last season. Feyenoord finished seven points behind champions PSV Eindhoven, and Ten Hag told Voetbal International: 'People have been going overly lyrical about Feyenoord. 'Feyenoord were steady this year, but not top. PSV Eindhoven were two classes better in all areas. In terms of dominating the ball, in terms of putting pressure, in terms of intensity, you name it.' https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/8B/720x-/-/-/CgAGVmcg4UeAalLRAADvfFf7chE771.jpg He added: 'PSV Eindhoven were better than the rest by such a long distance, even so much better than Feyenoord.' But Slot gained his revenge earlier this season as Liverpool eased past United, and he has now outlasted Ten Hag in England. United have moved swiftly to find Ten Hag's replacement, with the Red Devils edging nearer to appointing Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim. Meanwhile, Ten Hag boarded a plane back to the Netherlands on Monday where he is set to spend some time with his family after being relieved of his duties at United.

Guardiola backs Ten Hag 'to come back stronger' after Man Utd dismissal
Sports 2025-12-15 09:33:44

Guardiola backs Ten Hag 'to come back stronger' after Man Utd dismissal

Pep Guardiola is confident Erik ten Hag will "come back stronger" after he was sacked by Manchester United.Ten Hag's two-year tenure at Old Trafford came to an end on Monday following the Red Devils' 2-1 defeat to West Ham in the Premier League 24 hours earlier. Pep Guardiola is confident Erik ten Hag will "come back stronger" after he was sacked by Manchester United. Ten Hag's two-year tenure at Old Trafford came to an end on Monday following the Red Devils' 2-1 defeat to West Ham in the Premier League 24 hours earlier. During the Dutchman's time at United, he faced Guardiola seven times, losing five matches and winning two, with one of those victories coming in the FA Cup final in May. Ten Hag, however, has failed to build on that success at Wembley. United find themselves 14th in the Premier League, picking up 11 points from their first nine games. "I feel very sorry for him, it's one of the best jobs in football. There's only us, it's not teachers or architects or something like that," Guardiola said. "I wish him all the best and he will come back stronger. If the results aren't good enough, you get sacked. No-one is different, myself included." Ten Hag took charge of 85 Premier League games and lost 27 of them. That is the highest total of losses by any United manager since Alex Ferguson. His loss rate of 31.8% is the second worst of all Red Devils managers in the Premier League era after David Moyes (32.4%), who was only in position for 34 matches. United faced 1,739 shots in their 128 games under Ten Hag. In comparison, since the 2022-23 season, City have faced 717 fewer shots than the Red Devils despite playing six more games in that time. Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined Ten Hag's coaching staff this past summer, will take charge as interim head coach during the club's search for a permanent replacement.

Erik ten Hag’s last stand: Ranking is not reflecting our performance
Sports 2025-12-27 10:42:35

Erik ten Hag’s last stand: Ranking is not reflecting our performance

On Sunday evening in the press room at the London Stadium, about half an hour after his team had registered the wretched defeat which would mark his final game in charge, Erik ten Hag was looking forward to Manchester United’s next match. On Sunday evening in the press room at the London Stadium, about half an hour after his team had registered the wretched defeat which would mark his final game in charge, Erik ten Hag was looking forward to Manchester United’s next match. Even as the extensive brain trust assembled by Sir Jim Ratcliffe to reinvigorate the playing side of the club were checking the details of his contract ahead of firing him the following morning, it was evident from his demeanour that the manager thought he was still in charge. And after he had spoken about the failings of VAR and his players’ haplessness in front of goal when facing West Ham, he addressed some questions from the media about the forthcoming Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City. As is the way of such arrangements, his answers were to be the subject of an embargo, not to be published until Tuesday lunchtime; there to serve as a preview for the midweek match. Instead, with the benefit of imposed hindsight, they can be seen as a rather sombre obituary for a manager’s career, a swansong for someone who appeared to be as unaware of his impending departure as he was about how to win a football match. Because in his answers was evidence that, while almost every other observer recognised that the performances he has extracted from his team thus far this season have been tantamount to a note of resignation, he really did not see the P45 heading swiftly in his direction. ‘Ranking is not reflecting our performance’ Take his response, for instance, to a question about whether he considered 14th in the Premier League with a negative goal difference a legitimate reflection of his and his side’s capabilities. “We have to do better, that is the ranking,” he said. “But I will tell them [the players] the ranking is not reflecting our performances and our levels.” Clearly his employers did not share such an opinion. For them, the table does not lie. Ten Hag, though, clearly felt time was still on his side. “But at the end of the season we have to get this right,” he continued. “It is not easy when you have so many setbacks at the start of the season and to overcome this, but we have to fight back. It will always help when you have a good start because that gives motivation, gives belief, the confidence will grow. We are now in the process on the other side where we are disappointed and we have to deal with setbacks and now we have to find the fuel from setbacks and disappointments.” ‘There are still four to go’ He was then asked if such fuel might come from success in the cup competitions. Would winning the Carabao Cup constitute a good season for him?  His reply was revealing. “Definitely. It is about trophies,” he said. “I don’t want to go into this debate again. There are not so many trophies you can win, if you win a trophy in top football, that is the most important, that is what the fans expect, what we expect – to win a trophy.” He clearly still believed that the cups he had popped in the Old Trafford trophy room (did he ever mention he had won two?) would continue to shield him from dismissal. “We have had five opportunities and one we missed, that was the Community Shield,” he concluded. “There are still four to go.” Four to go? Given the position he had steered the club to in both the Premier League and the Europa League this season, given how poor his team had played thus far, given his tactical arrangements had been exposed time and again, that was a magnificently optimistic reading of potential silverware. But never mind that. When the meeting with Dan Ashworth and Omar Berrada concluded with his dismissal, he will doubtless have headed back to the Netherlands convinced that he had bequeathed to his successor, whoever that may be, a side already embarked on the pursuit of a quadruple.

MAN UTD CONFIDENTIAL: How Berrada helped United beat City to Amorim's signature
Sports 2026-01-10 22:18:49

MAN UTD CONFIDENTIAL: How Berrada helped United beat City to Amorim's signature

The cost-cutting under Manchester United’s new co-owners Ineos has created plenty of negativity around Old Trafford, but it has never backfired so spectacularly as the budget flight to Barcelona that blew the lid off their plans to sack Erik ten Hag and hold secret talks with potential replacements. The cost-cutting under Manchester United’s new co-owners Ineos has created plenty of negativity around Old Trafford, but it has never backfired so spectacularly as the budget flight to Barcelona that blew the lid off their plans to sack Erik ten Hag and hold secret talks with potential replacements. Confidential exclusively revealed last week that chief executive Omar Berrada had led a four-man delegation – also understood to include sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox – to the Catalan capital to speak to representatives of former Barca boss Xavi Hernandez, and that Ruben Amorim was another leading contender. Now we can disclose that the United executives were spotted because they flew on Ryanair from Manchester rather than booking a private jet similar to the one laid on at short notice for Ten Hag after he was sacked on Monday morning. The cat was out of the bag and although Xavi was reluctant to take the job before the start of next season, Amorim has been more flexible and will replace Ten Hag who must have known he was a dead man walking once United’s secret mission unravelled. It still didn’t stop United from trying to save money on flights again by asking Manchester City if Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho could get a lift on their jet to the Ballon d’Or awards in Paris on Monday night only to be told that the plane was full. Utd can’t be City suckers again There is a strong suspicion that United moved for Amorim because Berrada has inside knowledge of Manchester City’s plans to appoint the Sporting Lisbon coach as Pep Guardiola’s replacement. Berrada joined United as chief executive in the summer after 13 years at City, who have already announced that Hugo Viana, Amorim’s director of football at Sporting, will take over the same role from Txiki Begiristain at the Etihad next season. If Guardiola doesn’t extend his contract, City were hoping to replicate his prolific partnership with Begiristain by reuniting Amorim and Viana. However, Berrada will also be aware that United’s attempt to gazump their neighbours has not always worked out well in recent years. United were panicked into agreeing a deal worth £35m with Arsenal by exchanging Henrikh Mkhitaryan for Alex Sanchez in January 2018 even though he would have been a free agent four months later. City had a strong interest in Sanchez but wouldn’t be drawn into paying the fee or making him their highest-paid player. It was a similar situation with Fred, who moved to Old Trafford for £52m from Shakhtar Donetsk after United swooped to sign him from under City’s noses, and Harry Maguire who cost £80m – a world record for a defender. And who could forget Jorge Mendes’ masterstroke by persuading United to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford from Juventus on a salary in excess of £500,000-a-week on the basis that they couldn’t stomach the thought of him joining City. If United do indeed appoint Amorim ahead of their rivals, they can only hope it works out better this time. Ruben has history with the Reds At least Amorim will be familiar with his surroundings if he lands the United job. The 39-year-old spent a week observing his Portuguese compatriot Jose Mourinho at Carrington and Old Trafford in 2017 when Mourinho was United boss and Amorim was starting out in coaching. Having terminated his contract at Benfica and retired as a player in April 2017, Amorim began working towards his coaching badges and also did a course in psychomotor, studying the actions and movements in the human body. He started out as a coach at third-tier Casa Pia before finding success at Braga and Sporting. Amorim’s time under Mourinho was said to include a class about how United beat Ajax in the 2017 Europa League final. That was before Ten Hag took over the Dutch club – later going on to record a thumping 5-1 win away to Amorim’s Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League in September 2021. Ten Hag’s cup half empty Ten Hag leaned too heavily on his twin successes in domestic cup competitions, and he was at it again in what proved to be his final press conference. Hardly surprising given that he was speaking ahead of Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup fourth round tie against Leicester at Old Trafford – a five-minute Q&A session with journalists that took place following his after-match press interviews at West Ham on Sunday. But the Dutchman never fully appreciated that winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in two-and-a-half seasons at a club as big as Manchester United was no protection when the team languished in 14th place in the Premier League. ‘Definitely. It’s about trophies,’ said Ten Hag. ‘I don’t want to go in this debate again, but I think it’s the truth. There are not so many trophies you can win, and it you win a trophy in top football that is the most important because that is what the fans expect and we expect. We have five opportunities and one we missed, that was the Community Shield, but we have still have four to go.’ Sadly for Ten Hag, he had run out of chances. Ruud gets his lead role Ruud van Nistelrooy will be caretaker manager for the cup tie against Leicester, and it always felt as though the former Old Trafford favourite gave United a Plan B if they decided to sack Ten Hag. Certainly the body language between the two men did not seem as natural as Ten Hag’s relationship with his previous assistants Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren. It has also been noted since Van Nistelrooy returned to the club in the summer – having turned down a number of managerial jobs – that he had adopted a more high-profile presence on the touchline than Van der Gaag, McClaren and Rene Hake, the club’s other new No.2. In Istanbul on Thursday, Van Nistelrooy stayed out longer than Ten Hag and the players to milk the applause of travelling fans who sang his name following the Europa League draw against Fenerbahce. The 48-year-old will certainly be centre-stage on Wednesday night, even if his stay in the United hot-seat is shortlived. Fans treated like animals United fans were left fuming at being ‘treated like animals’ after the final whistle in Istanbul. Supporters who spoke to Confidential raged at being kept inside Fenerbahce’s stadium beyond 1.30am, and then left with limited options to get back to their accommodation before early flights home. Buses had been laid on but they were starting and ending over in the Besiktas area of the city, while many fans had based themselves in the Kadikoy district. With a lack of taxis, it meant that United fans had to walk and some didn’t get back to hotels until after 2am. ‘I’m going to be asking the club for a European credit as an apology,’ one fan, who asked not to be named, told Confidential. ‘It was a joke how we were treated.’ Stalwarts go in Carrington shake-up Ten Hag isn’t the only departure from United this week. Confidential understands that loans manager Les Parry and academy player liaison officer Dave Bushell are the latest long-serving members of staff to leave as part of a shake-up at Carrington. Parry has been at United since January 2013, having worked as a physio at Accrington Stanley and Tranmere Rovers where he was also appointed manager in the wake of John Barnes’ departure. His most recent role was overseeing United’s players out on loan, travelling around the country and abroad as well as attending the Transfer Room global conferences to discuss player trades. He was known for keeping the young players grounded with his candour. Bushell has been at United since January 1995 in a number of roles, and was presented with the Eamonn Dolan award by Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford last year in recognition of outstanding contributions to youth coaching. Liverpool land Utd physio Head physio Robin Sadler may have been surplus to requirements at United, but he has found a new home at rivals Liverpool. Sadler left United in January as part of an overhaul of the medical department led by head of sports medicine Gary O’Driscoll who appointed his former Arsenal physio Jordan Reece. Sadler had been at United for three years – working under Erik ten Hag, Ralf Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – following spells with Manchester City and Derby. Now Liverpool are having a reshuffle of their own under club doctor Jonathan Power and Sadler will be part of the new set-up. He said: ‘There are some excellent sports medicine practitioners here at Liverpool. It’s exciting to work here and to see what we can try to achieve together. My role is primarily to work and support performance to enable players to fulfil their potential both in training and out on the pitch on a matchday.’ Chido’s blazing a trail United are eager to keep a lid on the hype surrounding Chido Obi-Martin, but it may well be too late for that. The youngster has been wowing teammates and coaches with his skill level and he made light work of Nottingham Forest, scoring a 16-minute hat-trick on his full debut for the Under-18s. Confidential understands that United are wary of adding to the already huge amounts of pressure on his shoulders, particularly at a time where the first team are struggling badly for goals. For now, he is expected to continue learning and playing with Adam Lawrence’s U18s, with no immediate urge to fast track the 16-year-old through the ranks. Jungle no place for Savage Robbie Savage, part of the famed Class of ‘92 before finding wider success elsewhere, has rejected an offer to be the first former Manchester United player to take part in I'm a Celebrity. Savage was seriously temped by a lucrative opportunity to enter the jungle but instead when the series kicks off in Australia next month, he will spend cold nights concentrating on his day job of managing Macclesfield Town. Though no man with a United connection has appeared in the hit TV show, George Best’s wife Alex appeared in series three, while Colleen Rooney is strong tipped to be in this year’s line-up. Among the footballers to have previously taken part are David Ginola and Ian Wright, while manager Harry Redknapp was crowned king of the jungle in 2018.

Luke Shaw: Manchester United defender has suffered injury setback
Sports 2026-01-02 21:58:47

Luke Shaw: Manchester United defender has suffered injury setback

Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw has suffered an injury setback.Shaw, who sustained a calf injury days before the start of the Premier League season, is yet to feature for United this season. Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw has suffered an injury setback. Shaw, who sustained a calf injury days before the start of the Premier League season, is yet to feature for United this season. The 29-year-old was expected to return from injury after the September international break. However, when that comeback was delayed, Shaw's potential return date was changed to after the October international break. However, the England international remains sidelined, and speaking after Man Utd's defeat to West Ham on Sunday, then United boss Erik ten Hag revealed that Shaw's recovery was not going to plan and "the wrong process" had led to a setback. "The process is not going as we expected, that's the truth," said Ten Hag, who was sacked by Man Utd on Monday. "The setback - if you want to call it like this - but we want to do it very careful because when he is now dropping again we have made the wrong process. "So we want to be very careful. We know his past. We have to do this right because we want him to be available because he will have a big impact on our performances and also on our levels. "We can't have it that he is playing for some games and then drops out again. So we do it very careful." United - who face Leicester in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, live onSky Sports+- currently have seven players out through injury and Ten Hag said last Friday that those absences were holding back his Man Utd. They were plagued by injuries last season and the recurrence of the problem led Ten Hag to call on the whole club to find solutions. "Yeah, [the injuries] holds us back in our levels. And also in our position in the league," said Ten Hag last week. "When you don't have the players available you can't line up the best team and that is what's holding us back in this moment and we need more players more often available. "We have to work all together on this point, players, coaching staff, all the other staff, we have to do better to get more available players. Because we know when we have them we are a really tough team to play and can be really successful, which is what we have shown over the last couple of months." Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of the team as interim head coach, starting against Leicester, while a permanent head coach is recruited.

Man Utd's 'expressed interest' in Amorim confirmed by Sporting
Sports 2025-12-19 23:26:38

Man Utd's 'expressed interest' in Amorim confirmed by Sporting

Sporting CP confirmed they have received an approach from Manchester United for their manager, Ruben Amorim.The reigning Primeira Liga champions also said the Old Trafford club have "expressed interest" in paying the €10million (£8.3m) release clause in their boss' contract. Sporting CP confirmed they have received an approach from Manchester United for their manager, Ruben Amorim. The reigning Primeira Liga champions also said the Old Trafford club have "expressed interest" in paying the €10million (£8.3m) release clause in their boss' contract. United are in the hunt for a new manager after parting ways with Erik ten Hag on Monday, with the club 14th in the Premier League after nine games this season. Ruud van Nistelrooy has taken charge as interim head coach, though Sporting confirmed in a statement to Portugal's financial regulator, the CMVM, that interest had been received. "Manchester United have expressed their interest in recruiting coach Ruben Amorim and have said they are ready to pay the 10 million euro release clause," it read. Amorim led Sporting to their first league title in 19 years in 2021, and repeated the achievement with the Lisbon club last season. He has overseen 156 games in charge of Sporting in Portugal’s Primeira Liga, recording 120 wins. Amorim's 76.92% win ratio in the competition is the best of any Sporting coach on record to have overseen more than two matches in the Primera Liga. So far this season, his side has won all nine of their league games, and have taken seven points from their first three Champions League matches. Should the 39-year-old be appointed, he would be the seventh Portuguese boss to manage in the Premier League after Jose Mourinho, Marco Silva, Nuno Espirito Santo, Andre Villas-Boas, Bruno Lage and Carlos Carvalhal. Sporting are in action on Tuesday against Nacional in the Portuguese League Cup, which could prove to be Amorim's final game at the helm.

'Rodri's on fire': Man City star celebrates Ballon d'Or triumph by singing along
Sports 2026-01-06 00:42:34

'Rodri's on fire': Man City star celebrates Ballon d'Or triumph by singing along

Manchester City star Rodri was seen celebrating his Ballon d'Or success at a restaurant on Monday night.The Spanish midfielder — out for the season with a double knee injury — became the first Premier League player to win the award since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. Manchester City star Rodri was seen celebrating his Ballon d'Or success at a restaurant on Monday night. The Spanish midfielder — out for the season with a double knee injury — became the first Premier League player to win the award since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. Rodri, 28, helped City to a fourth straight league title this year and was an integral member of Spain’s European Championship winning side. Rodri has lost only one club game in 18 months. There was controversy on the night as Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr refused to attend the ceremony after being snubbed - but that didn't dampen Rodri's spirits. Shortly after he won the award, a video appeared on social media that showed the 28-year-old wildly celebrating his achievement in a restaurant. The video, posted on Man City's X account, showed Rodri sat in a restaurant - alongside team-mate Ruben Dias - singing 'Rodri's on fire!'. The City duo - accompanied by an entire table of people - belted out a loud rendition of the chant while chucking their napkins in the air. Rodri and his friends continued their singing throughout the night and also carried on waving the napkins above their heads as they celebrated the Spaniard's victory. Soaking in the adulation on Monday night, the visibly emotional midfielder said: 'Incredible night for me today. If you will let me, I would like to speak in my language of my country. In Spanish, he added: 'I always said that one of my key things is that I try to improve every day. https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/93/720x-/-/-/CgAGVmchBSOAHF9QAADcAh2U80c388.jpg https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/92/720x-/-/-/CgAGVWchBSOAffT5AACgZCiHOtc464.jpg 'I was a traditional midfielder but when I realised I needed to get better in terms of assists and goals. You have to be like a striker because we always play in the frontal area. That is the key to improving every day. 'People don't know me much, I am just a normal guy. I try to enjoy my profession, try to be a good person, a leader, and learn every day from the best. 'I am a calm person until I get upset. I am a normal guy and try to say to my kids that you don't need to be crazy and try to do your best. 'I am feeling much better. A big big injury, it's part of life and sport. I try to look at the best part of this and be positive.'

'I called my father crying' - Rodri admits he nearly quit football
Sports 2026-01-11 12:35:14

'I called my father crying' - Rodri admits he nearly quit football

Rodri claimed his Ballon d’Or triumph was a victory for football after revealing he nearly quit as a teenager.The Manchester City midfielder’s surprise win in Paris was overshadowed by the childish boycott of the ceremony by Real Madrid after Vinicius Jr came second. But Rodri is a worthy winner after winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title and then the Player of the Tournament as his Spain won Euro 2024. Rodri claimed his Ballon d’Or triumph was a victory for football after revealing he nearly quit as a teenager. The Manchester City midfielder’s surprise win in Paris was overshadowed by the childish boycott of the ceremony by Real Madrid after Vinicius Jr came second. But Rodri is a worthy winner after winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title and then the Player of the Tournament as his Spain won Euro 2024. And his election is recognition by the jury that football is a team sport not just made up of superstar egos. Since Kaka ’s win in 2007, only Luka Modric (2018) and Karim Benzema (2022) have broken the domination of Lionel Messi (eight wins) and Cristiano Ronaldo (five). And Rodri, who appeared at the ceremony on crutches after undergoing season-ending ACL surgery last month, said: “We are often overshadowed by more attacking players but this time it is our turn. I am just a normal boy who profits from his job. I try to be a good team-mate, to give the best version of myself. “I have a thought for all the great midfielders, those who have won the Ballon d’Or before me. Messi and Ronaldo, the two best players in history, have for a long time confiscated this trophy but they are no longer here. Their absence launches a new era with a lot of great players. Football has won.” He is first Manchester City player to win the award and first Spanish male since Luis Suarez in 1960. His City team-mate Ilkay Gundogan said: “From today on he is finally not ‘underrated’ anymore. I’m especially happy that someone in a defensive position is winning this title and not always just the offensive players.” Shaped by Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid and now Pep Guardiola at City, the modest star has developed into the perfect modern midfielder. Rodri, who scored the winning goal in the 2023 Champions League final, added: “Winning the Ballon d’Or is the realisation of a dream and a genuine honour for me. “However, individual prizes are so often the result of strong team performances, and I am eternally grateful to everyone at Manchester City. My teammates are the best – I could not ask for more from them, both personally and professionally – and the support I receive from across every department at the football club means I am given the opportunity to focus on my football and perform at my very best. “I am very fortunate to be able to call myself a Manchester City player. My focus now is returning to full fitness and pulling on a City shirt again.” Madrid-born Rodri, who was rejected by the Atletico Madrid academy, also spoke about his testing journey to the top. “When I was 17-year-old I packed up my suitcases and I went to Villarreal with a dream to work in the Premier League,” he recalled. ”One day I called my father crying, telling him it was all over and that I had invested my life to get here and I had the feeling that this was it. “My father said we had come all the way here, let’s keep going and this is something that changed my mindset and now, here I am.” Rodri added: “I am going to keep doing what got me here. It is a message to young people: work, well done, can allow you to reach a very high level . It is my formula for success which will happen again I hope.”

'The FOUR star players Ten hag instructed to sign' only for the club to fail
Sports 2025-12-16 22:38:18

'The FOUR star players Ten hag instructed to sign' only for the club to fail

Prior to his sacking, Erik ten Hag was reportedly frustrated that Man United chiefs failed to sign four star players for the side.The Dutchman was sacked by Red Devils boss on Monday, finally bringing an end to his two-and-a-half year spell in charge that had been punctuated in its latter months by the near-constant threat of his dismissal. Prior to his sacking, Erik ten Hag was reportedly frustrated that Man United chiefs failed to sign four star players for the side. The Dutchman was sacked by Red Devils boss on Monday, finally bringing an end to his two-and-a-half year spell in charge that had been punctuated in its latter months by the near-constant threat of his dismissal. His position looked untenable ahead of the FA Cup final in May following a disappointing league campaign that saw them finish eighth in the Premier League. But their shock 2-1 win over Manchester City spared the former Ajax manager for a few more months. Ten Hag safety was only confirmed after Ineos conducted an end-of-season review, which included club chiefs speaking to prospective candidates. It's now emerged, prior to Ten Hag's departure, that the Dutchman did voice his frustration with United being unable to sign any of his transfer targets. According to ESPN, Ten Hag was frustrated that the club failed to sign Frenkie de Jong, Alexis Mac Allister, Federico Valverde and Harry Kane. The report further claims that United's chiefs found his demands to be 'unrealistic'. Ever since Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford, rumours over a potential move for Barcelona star De Jong had been rife but the transfer never materialised. Meanwhile, United's interest in Harry Kane was well known but, instead, they opted to sign Rasmus Hojlund while the England captain joined Bayern Munich. In April last year, rumours suggested that United were keen on signing at-the-time Brighton star Mac Allister but, instead, the midfielder moved to Liverpool. Whereas Valverde has remained firmly at Madrid likely due to his high wage and the immense transfer fee it would take to pry him away from the Bernabeu. Meanwhile, Ten Hag reportedly considered quitting United in the summer amid criticism of his performance and speculation the club were in talks with managers. https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/94/720x-/-/-/CgAGVmchDCqAeQlXAACPdfnBC2U192.jpg According to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, reports of those meetings, as well as heavy criticism of his performance as United boss made the 54-year-old consider resigning. They report that Ten Hag only decided to stay during a lengthy summit in Ibiza, where he had jetted off on holiday. Ten Hag agreed a one-year contract extension with the club following the clear-the-air talks in the summer. That deal would have seen him remain at the helm until 2026. Ten Hag lifted the lid on his discussions with United and revealed the club had turned up on his doorstep to confirm they wished for him to remain.

Man Utd remain locked in talks with Sporting over Ruben Amorim's start date
Sports 2026-01-08 19:55:08

Man Utd remain locked in talks with Sporting over Ruben Amorim's start date

Manchester United are currently locked in talks with Sporting Lisbon over Ruben Amorim’s notice period, which Mail Sport has learned is ‘a number of weeks’.The Portuguese club confirmed in a statement to the market on Tuesday afternoon that they had been approached by the Premier League giants, who want to replace sacked Erik ten Hag with their highly-rated young coach. Manchester United are currently locked in talks with Sporting Lisbon over Ruben Amorim’s notice period, which Mail Sport has learned is ‘a number of weeks’. The Portuguese club confirmed in a statement to the market on Tuesday afternoon that they had been approached by the Premier League giants, who want to replace sacked Erik ten Hag with their highly-rated young coach. The note added that that United had ‘expressed an interest’ in paying the 39-year-old’s release clause. However, while United are happy to meet that clause, they are currently negotiating when Amorim can start what will be a huge job at Old Trafford. And it can be revealed that Amorim, 39, has a notice period of ‘a number of weeks rather than days’. That means that should an agreement not be reached on an earlier termination, he will not be in the dugout when United take on Chelsea on Sunday. Indeed, there is a prospect that Amorim, who won back-to-back titles in Portugal, could not take charge until United head to Ipswich Town on November 24th. After facing Leicester in the EFL Cup tomorrow night and Chelsea on Sunday, the 14th-placed side take on Leicester in the league on November 10. Following that match, there is a two-week international break before the trip to Portman Road in a televised Sunday 4.30pm kick-off. Sporting’s statement disclosed that their directors had informed United’s representatives of the terms of the 39-year-old’s contract ‘specifically the termination clause of 10,000,000 euros’ and added that United ‘expressed an interest’ in paying that valuation.

Amorim outfoxed Arteta with tactical display… but lost to Erik ten Hag twice
Sports 2026-01-03 08:10:24

Amorim outfoxed Arteta with tactical display… but lost to Erik ten Hag twice

MANCHESTER UNITED managerial target Ruben Amorim already has experience of getting the better of some of the Premier League's top managers.The Sporting Lisbon boss appears to be in pole position to replace Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford hot-seat, after the Dutchman was sacked on Monday. MANCHESTER UNITED managerial target Ruben Amorim already has experience of getting the better of some of the Premier League's top managers. The Sporting Lisbon boss appears to be in pole position to replace Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford hot-seat, after the Dutchman was sacked on Monday. Amorim may have never managed in the Premier League, but his tactics have already come up trumps against some of the division's best managers. Most notably, his Sporting side saw off Mikel Arteta's Arsenal in the Europa League last 16 in 2023. Sporting knocked the Gunners out of Europe with some intelligent tactics that pushed Arteta's side to the limit and ultimately knocked them out on penalties. Amorim's side managed a draw in both fixtures, a 2-2 game at home and a 1-1 effort at the Emirates. And although they didn't win in regulation time, it was Amorim's tactics that impressed the most. Sporting played with a back three when in possession to throw numbers forward and allow Marcus Edwards time to shine. Before dropping into a back five when the Gunners attacked, stunting the efforts of Arsenal's forward line by keeping their shape and stepping up towards the half-way line. And there was a familiar face pulling the strings and orchestrating the rotations in the middle of the park for Sporting in the second leg too - Man Utd's summer arrival Manuel Ugarte. Ugarte, alongside Pedro Goncalves, continuously rotated in and out of position to drag Arsenal's players out of place and create pockets to play into. However, Ugarte was sent off for two yellow card offences later in the game. But it's not just Arteta that Amorim has experience against with the 39-year-old taking on a number of other Premier League bosses. The gaffer found himself facing Oliver Glasner's Eintracht Frankfurt side in the Champions League back in 2022 - winning one game 3-0 and losing the other 2-1. Glasner is now the Crystal Palace manager. While Amorim's tactics against Pep Guardiola have also had mixed returns, earning a 0-0 draw with Man City in the Champions League round of 16 and also losing 5-0 in the other leg. Perhaps the most concerning thing about Amorim's record against Premier League managers is his efforts when he took on Erik ten Hag. Going head to head with Ten Hag's Ajax side in 2021 saw Amorim's Sporting concedeNINE GOALSin two games. The Portuguese side lost 5-1 and 4-2 to Ajax, against a team that featured now-Man Utd stars such as Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui. Amorim has also faced Tottenham during his time as Sporting manager, winning 2-0 and drawing 1-1 to a Spurs side managed by Antonio Conte.

Amorim WILL be Man Utd manager as announce £8.3m release clause is being paid
Sports 2026-01-05 21:17:17

Amorim WILL be Man Utd manager as announce £8.3m release clause is being paid

Ruben Amorim is on the brink of becoming Manchester United's new manager after Sporting Lisbon released a statement confirming the English club's interest in hiring their boss.The Premier League giants began talks with Sporting Lisbon over a deal for Amorim after sacking Erik ten Hag on Monday afternoon following United's 2-1 defeat to West Ham on Sunday. Ruben Amorim is on the brink of becoming Manchester United's new manager after Sporting Lisbon released a statement confirming the English club's interest in hiring their boss. The Premier League giants began talks with Sporting Lisbon over a deal for Amorim after sacking Erik ten Hag on Monday afternoon following United's 2-1 defeat to West Ham on Sunday. The Board of Directors for Sporting Lisbon reportedly highlighted the terms and conditions set out in employment contract between Amorim and the club - specifically the £8.3million release clause. According to Sport Lisbon's statement, Manchester United registered an interested in paying the value of the aforementioned clause to secure Amorim's services sooner rather than later. Ten Hag guided United to their worst ever start to a Premier League season, and with three draws from winning positions in the Europa League from three games, results seemingly were not picking up. Amorim, meanwhile, has picked up plaudits in recent years for his exceptional work in the Portuguese capital, ended Sporting Club's 19-year wait for a league title in 2020-21, before winning the top-flight again last year. Sporting Lisbon are set to host Nacional in the Portuguese League Cup later tonight, with many speculating as to whether Amorim will be involved following the statement released by the club this afternoon. Amorim had previously been asked about links to United in the wake of Ten Hag's sacking, stating: 'I was already expecting this question and obviously I'm not going to talk about the future, because otherwise I'll always have to comment. I'm very proud to be Sporting coach, that's all.' This evening's fixture could be Amorim's final match in charge, with Portuguese newspaper Record reporting the 39-year-old could then travel to England on Wednesday.

Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting into champs… he can revive Man Utd
Sports 2025-12-22 21:09:08

Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting into champs… he can revive Man Utd

WHEN a 35-year-old Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”.Sporting ended that 2019/20 campaign in fourth, 22 points off champions Porto with Amorim their third manager in seven months. WHEN a 35-year-old Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”. Sporting ended that 2019/20 campaign in fourth, 22 points off champions Porto with Amorim their third manager in seven months. Optimism and hope was at an all-time low. But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals. Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term. He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers. The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival. And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the Continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford. Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up. After his early retirement as a player at the age of 32, Amorim would spend his time at the Faculty of Human Kinetics at University of Lisbon, listening to lectures held by Jose himself. Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”. Amorim knew the great man more than most thanks to his brother-in-law Antero Henrique – a former Porto communications director who worked with Jose during his ‘Special One’ years at the Estadio do Dragao where he lifted the Champions League in 2004. Ironically, Henrique was also targeted by United as a sporting director before switching their attention to Dan Ashworth – a man who normally gets it right when it comes to recruiting managers. But Ashworth should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won't be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.” And yet, you cannot help but compare the two. Amorim is described as a “master trash-talker” in press conferences – a genius in getting his message across, creating a narrative while deflecting pressure away from his players. As one source told SunSport: “There is no one like him.” There is an admirable arrogance within him, backed up by his early success, including becoming one of the most expensive managers in history after his £8.65m move from Braga to Sporting. This summer, his agents were reluctant to ship out his CV to top clubs, insisting: “You don’t need one when you’ve won two titles.” He then demands the final say over footballing decisions when taking charge at a club. After retiring, he was offered a role with Benfica's B team – having made 150 appearances for the club over seven years – but opted for Braga instead, where he would have more control. On his first day at Sporting, he showed the dressing room his preferred formation of 3-4-3 and told them they needed to fit into that system or risk not playing. Vasco Seabra, former head coach of Sporting’s rivals Estoril, said: “Amorim is always trying to improve his players. “He works with young talent but also with experienced players as well and what they all have in common is that they fight. They are really intense. “The players connect with him easily.” When in talks with both West Ham and Liverpool this calendar year, he requested a full revamp of the coaching staff, wanting to bring his huge eight-man team with him. His stubbornness over his back three has sometimes cost him jobs, with Anfield bosses unwilling to rip up their entire defensive unit to accommodate him. Amorim is not afraid to take on big egos and bad eggs, especially during his infamously tough training sessions at Sporting. During one session in April 2022, he sent ex-Leicester striker Islam Slimani home early for a lack of involvement and commitment. Three months later, Slimani was sold. But there is also a warm side to him, a humble side that Jose severely lacks. After flying to London to speak to West Ham back in April, he subsequently apologised to the fans. And unsurprisingly, he was welcomed back with open, loving arms, such is the relationship and trust he builds with his players. Vitor Campelos, head coach of Portuguese top-division side AVS, said: “He is the kind of coach who likes to bet on young players.” There is no shock then that Manchester City had been teeing up Amorim to be Pep Guardiola’s natural replacement after Sporting’s director of football, Hugo Viana, was named as the successor to Txiki Begiristain at the Etihad. And for all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face that City have no answer for.

'It's up to them' - Guardiola understands Madrid's Ballon d'Or boycott
Sports 2026-01-04 05:31:54

'It's up to them' - Guardiola understands Madrid's Ballon d'Or boycott

Pep Guardiola understands Real Madrid's decision to boycott Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony, insisting "it's up to them".Rodri scooped the top award in Paris after helping Manchester City win an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title, while he was part of Spain's victorious squad at Euro 2024. Pep Guardiola understands Real Madrid's decision to boycott Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony, insisting "it's up to them". Rodri scooped the top award in Paris after helping Manchester City win an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title, while he was part of Spain's victorious squad at Euro 2024. The central midfielder's importance is highlighted by the fact City have not tasted defeat in any of the 34 Premier League games in which he has featured this year. Rodri pipped Vinicius Junior to the accolade, with the winger and his club sparking controversy by not attending after finding out he would not be winning. The Madrid winger scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists last season, as Los Blancos won a LaLiga and Champions League double. Guardiola empathises with Vinicius, who he feels was also deserving of the award, but highlighted other notable recent examples where the result could have gone either way. "It's up to them," the Citizens boss said. "If they want to congratulate, that's fine. If not, that's fine as well. At Manchester City, we are not here to judge other clubs on what they decide they have to do. "Last year, for example, Erling [Haaland] won the Treble, scored more than 50 goals. I said to him: 'just being there, you have to be so happy'. I said the same to Rodri. If you are in the first two, three or four, it's exceptional. You have to be so satisfied. "Last season, should Erling have won? Yes. Should Messi have won? Yes. It's not important [who wins]. It represents that you and your team-mates have done something really nice that season. "Should it be Vinicius? Maybe. It's [voted by] journalists, you know, not an elite group of people who decide. It's [people] all around the world that vote, not just one country. There are different opinions, and that's what makes football nice, no? "Of course, if [Vinicius] won, it would have been more than deserved. The same with Erling [Haaland] last year. It will be really open. There will be more chance to win." Guardiola also paid tribute to Rodri, who became only the third different Spanish winner of the Ballon d'Or after Alfredo di Stefano (1957 and 1959) and Luis Suarez (1960). The midfielder was also the first Spaniard to make the top three since Andres Iniesta finished third in 2012, with the City head coach acknowledging the dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. "Rodri made an incredible speech," Guardiola added. "He spoke about family, Man City and Spanish football. "In the last decade, Spanish football has made such a difference - they've won a World Cup, a Euros - and Spain were never able to win this award before. Their importance in the last 10 or 15 years has been so important. "I remember once we nominated three players from La Masia. Xavi and Iniesta couldn't win it because Messi's a monster and nobody could beat him - just Cristiano [Ronaldo]. He's a monster and the father of the monster is Messi."

Eddie Howe responds to being BOOED by Newcastle fans for taking Tonali off
Sports 2025-12-24 02:06:22

Eddie Howe responds to being BOOED by Newcastle fans for taking Tonali off

Eddie Howe has asked supporters not to boo his substitutions as he called for unity amid Newcastle’s winless run.Fans have let their feelings be known during the last two matches when Howe has withdrawn Sandro Tonali not long after the hour mark. Eddie Howe has asked supporters not to boo his substitutions as he called for unity amid Newcastle’s winless run. Fans have let their feelings be known during the last two matches when Howe has withdrawn Sandro Tonali not long after the hour mark. Newcastle have slipped to 12th in the Premier League after five without victory and, while some fans and observers have criticised the functionality of the team’s midfield, there are others who believe it has been wrong for Howe to take off Tonali. He has been replaced by Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff in recent matches. Howe, though, would rather the booing did not happen during a game, as he asked supporters and the team to stay together ahead of Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup tie at home to Chelsea. ‘Firstly, I love the fact supporters regard Sandro in the highest esteem as I do,’ he said. ‘The only thing I would ask is that any frustrations towards me or any decisions are reflected after the game, not in the moment. I think it’s difficult then for the players coming onto the pitch. Not that it should necessarily affect their performance, but it just does create an element of doubt. ‘The difficult decision I have, especially in midfield, is that we have three outstanding players starting the game (Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton). Then, you’re losing the game and you’re trying to make changes that you feel can help us, without leaving it too late. Ultimately, I’ve judged it on goals and creativity and trying to get as many of them in the team as I can when we chase a game.’ Howe added: ‘At this moment, it is very important I back the players - show strength, show calmness in what I believe in what we are doing, but not blindlessly carrying on if things are not working. ‘Unity is the most important thing. The hardest thing when the team isn’t getting the results that we want is to stay unified. The supporters have been incredibly good, look at them at Stamford Bridge (on Sunday). ‘We talk about the reaction to Sandro’s substitution, and I understand that, but the reaction after the game was incredible. It is not the first time they have backed us in defeat or difficult runs. It means so much to us because it gives us the best chance to fight back as quickly as possible.’ Tonali has not scored since his debut against Aston Villa on the opening day of last season - albeit with a 10-month betting ban in between - and that was also the only time he has started a Premier League match Newcastle have won. Howe said following Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Chelsea that he believed there was more to come from the Italian, and he added: ‘Of course there is more to come from him and the whole team. More from him means more influence on the game. Technically, he is an outstanding player. To see that technical ability, we want him to get the ball more. ‘Playing as a No.8 we need more of a goal threat, too. That is such a key thing for the players in those positions. We have struggled for goals as a team. We need goals from every angle. Everyone has to contribute.’ Meanwhile, Howe has given a robust defence of his midfield unit. ‘I am happy (with the midfield),’ he said. ‘I don’t think it’s absolutely perfect at the moment, because the results will tell you it’s not. But if you look at the team functioning, especially in the last three performances, we’ve been good in the main. We have been creating chances and have been more than competitive. I don’t see something that is drastically wrong looking at the team. ‘The results will say the blend isn’t great, but I think our general performances in midfield I haven’t had an issue with. I don’t have a negative issue with our midfield. We have three outstanding starting players. Relationships do take time to build. These things don’t happen overnight, but I’ve seen enough to know that those three players can work in tandem together well.’

Romano: The contract and agreement details with Amorim are 100% finalized
Sports 2026-01-05 23:40:11

Romano: The contract and agreement details with Amorim are 100% finalized

Romano: Contract, project and details of the agreement between Rúben Amorim and Man United are 100% in place.Negotiations underway with Sporting to find a solution for Amorim’s exit. Romano: Contract, project and details of the agreement between Rúben Amorim and Man United are 100% in place. Negotiations underway with Sporting to find a solution for Amorim’s exit.

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