Football
“Man United is currently on the same level with Crystal Palace…The player they don’t start is not the best player in Euro currently”: Gary Neville hails Man United Star’s performance, slams the Club for his awful performance in the Premier League
It’s no secret that Manchester United have fallen far below the expectations over the last 10 years and Gary Neville, the former Reds captain, has been one of the strongest critics of the club in the public domain in that time.
The latest disappointment came last month when it was confirmed that United had finished eighth in the Premier League – their worst-ever finish in the division as we know it.
Despite winning the FA Cup and securing silverware in back-to-back seasons following a six-year wait for a trophy, the pressure was still on Ten Hag as he fought to keep his job.
It was, however, confirmed earlier this week that the Dutchman will remain in charge for a third season.
Speaking recently, Neville has criticised the club for their transfer activity in that 10-year period but singled out Rasmus Hojlund for praise after the Denmark international’s maiden campaign.
“I think he has done well,” Neville said on Hojlund, according to The Mirror. “When you think about what Manchester United have done to players in the last 10 years, they’ve broken seasoned internationals who have signed for big money.
Erik ten Hag lands new role just one week after discovering Man Utd fate
Fresh from discovering his Manchester United future is secure for the moment, Erik ten Hag has landed himself another role.
The Dutch coach will appear on Netherlands broadcaster NOS this evening, as part of the broadcaster’s coverage of England vs Serbia in Euro 2024. The United boss will be a guest, alongside Marco van Basten and Yannick van de Velde, on Studio Voetbal.
Undoubtedly, the Red Devils boss will be relieved that he does not have to field questions on his own future after Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Old Trafford football hierarchy decided to stick with him. However, the decision followed meetings with the likes of Thomas Tuchel – and that will not strike the most reassuring chord.
The manner of the decision could yet provide the 54-year-old with greater leverage, however. After being told by Ratcliffe that he would not be sacked during a meeting in Ibiza, Ten Hag was adamant that he would not be prepared to relinquish control in his role identifying possible transfer targets – and he would decide the team’s style of play.
The United boss was also briefed on the club’s transfer policy. When negotiating with United about taking over at Old Trafford in 2022, the ex-Ajax boss insisted on a clause giving him sign-off on transfers.
After ditching their attempts to recruit a new boss, United now appear ready to enter discussions over a new deal for Ten Hag. The manager’s contract is due to expire in 12 months, though the club are said to hold an option to extend it.
In addition to his reluctance to concede control, United’s boss may have other conditions. It has been reported the Dutchman will not allow Jadon Sancho back into the first team unless he apologises. The winger spent the latter half of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund after falling out with his boss.
Ten Hag also wants to see the renewal of coach Benni McCarthy’s contract. The ex-Blackburn forward’s deal was set to come to an end with the close of the season.
The manner of United’s internal review was branded as disrespectful towards Ten Hag by former midfielder Paul Ince. The 56-year-old said it was “madness” for the club to hold talks with potential replacements while Ten Hag’s future remained unclear.
Football
“Call it a Day”: Manchester United Midfielder Slammed Over ‘Disastrous’ Liverpool Performance
Old Trafford witnessed a revealing scene during the pre-game festivities as Manuel Ugarte was introduced to the Manchester United faithful. The Uruguayan’s debut couldn’t have come at a more poignant time.
As the 23-year-old midfielder took his introductory bows, his predecessor, Casemiro, was gearing up for what would become a fateful encounter against Liverpool—a match that would underline the vast gulf the Brazilian now needs to bridge.
The defensive midfield role at Manchester United has been a subject of intense scrutiny and Casemiro, once a stalwart at Real Madrid, found himself overwhelmed in a game that laid bare many of United’s deeper systemic issues.
The match ended in a 3-0 defeat, with Casemiro’s disastrous performance a glaring weak spot. As Jamie Carragher insightfully remarked earlier, it might be time for Casemiro to step away from the top echelons of football, suggesting, “Football has left him at this top level. He needs to call it a day at this level and move.”
Despite the immediate criticisms, it’s crucial to remember Casemiro’s significant contributions to football, underscored by his wife’s poignant social media post showcasing his extensive trophy haul.
Such a decorated career deserves recognition, even as discussions about his current form persist. As Gary Neville empathetically noted, even the best can falter under pressure, reflecting on his own career’s twilight years.
For Manchester United, the challenge is not just about replacing a player but about realigning their entire midfield setup to compete effectively against top-tier teams like Liverpool.
Casemiro’s situation serves as a stark reminder of the relentless pace and physicality of the Premier League, where even the most experienced players can find themselves outpaced and outplayed
Football
“Biggest mistake of his life”: Real Madrid star told he has made the biggest mistake of his life for joining the Los Blacos
Kylian Mbappé joined Real Madrid as a free agent this past summer transfer window. While this is a significant step in his career, one person believes it’s the wrong decision.
Moreover, he notes that it’s an easy route to securing his football glory as winning the Ballon d’Or and UEFA Champions League at PSG would have had a different meaning than winning these honors at Real Madrid.
As a result, Cyril Hanouna stated in his interview with Europe 1 that the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner made a mistake leaving his hometown club.
“For me, Kylian Mbappé made the mistake of his life,” Hanouna stated (h/t Le10Sport). “I didn’t elaborate last time, but I’ll do it now. Winning the Champions League with Real Madrid is normal. Of course, winning the Champions League with Real Madrid, everyone does it. All the players who are at Real Madrid, at some point, will win the Champions League.
“Being Ballon d’Or at Real Madrid is rather easy. Benzema won it at Real Madrid. Mbappé should have stayed at PSG, won the Champions League with PSG, and won the Ballon d’Or with PSG. The club was giving him everything; it would have been his club. He would have been the main man at PSG.”
PSG are a young but exciting team, and perhaps they might not have the expectations of winning the Champions League this season. However, Real Madrid has the pressure of winning the competition this campaign with the Frenchman; if they don’t, then many will consider Year 1 of Mbappé a failure.
It will be interesting to see how this tournament plays out this season as Real Madrid know who they’ll be facing in the league phase. Mbappé won’t win the Ballon d’Or this year, but winning the Champions League and playing a key role could help his chances in 2025.
Football
“A really good signing”: Alan Shearer gives his verdict on Arsenal’s unexpected signing as he backs the player become a valuable star in the team
The term ‘baptism of fire’ is often overused in football, but it rings true for Raheem Sterling when considering he could make his Arsenal debut away to Tottenham Hotspur.
For a different player, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta might decide against deploying his new signing on such an occasion, but Sterling certainly has the mental resolve to handle it.
Sterling has endured some tough times in the past for England, criticised for his performances, and he’s been subject to similar at Chelsea too.
But in north London, the 29-year-old now has a new home, and the majority of Arsenal fans are excited to see if Arteta can recapture Sterling’s best, in a similar vein to Kai Havertz.
The two are at very different stages of their career, but like just Havertz, Sterling may find his confidence once again, a player who is still in his prime years.
Alan Shearer explains why Raheem Sterling could be really ‘valuable’ to Arsenal
Speaking on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast, Alan Shearer was very happy that Sterling had managed to get away from a ‘horrible’ situation at Stamford Bridge, which could have become even more messy.
And the pundit then went on to explain what Sterling can offer Arsenal, a move that suits both parties.
Shearer said: “Yeah I think it’s a really good move for him. I think it was important that he got out and played.
“It would have been horrible for him to sit there and rot in the stiffs, not even maybe, not even see first team football, never mind train or whatever with them.
“So I think it was really important for him to get out with his experience and know-how, he could be valuable to Arsenal.”
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