Football
“They must fulfil this or else…”: Gary Neville issues three ultimatums to Manchester United on Old Trafford regeneration project
Gary Neville has revealed three ultimatums that Manchester United should not compromise on in their regeneration of Old Trafford and the surrounding area.
Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe completed his partial investment into United in February, the INEOS billionaire has repeatedly stated that he’s keen to oversee either the redevelopment of Old Trafford or the building of a brand-new stadium.
The future of the Theatre of Dreams has been the subject of a lot of speculation in the past few years, with many of the United supporters eager to see the stadium’s overall capacity increased.
It’s believed that Ratcliffe’s clear preference is to create a ‘Wembley of the North’ to rival the 90,000-seater national stadium in north London.
To this effect, Ratcliffe and INEOS set up the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force and installed himself as chair. Other members of the task force include Lord Coe, Gary Neville and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.
Neville spoke to club media and said that whatever option is pursued – whether it’s the building of a brand-new facility or the redevelopment of United’s existing home – three main things should take precedence.
The 49-year-old said, “There are three things I feel that Manchester United have to do, or at least two they have to do and one they should try and do.”
“One is that we have to have the best stadium in the world. Two is that we have to have the best training ground in the world and three is that we have to win. The third one, actually, I’m a little patient on. I’m a Manchester United fan; things move in cycles. You can’t always win.”
“But if number one and two are right, and if you have the right people in the club, you’ve got a great chance of number three happening.”
One thing those in favour of redeveloping Old Trafford have always stated is that United’s iconic grounds are historical and fans have an emotional attachment to it.
However, according to Neville, Old Trafford has changed a lot over the years and this shouldn’t necessarily hold the club back from building a new world-class arena.
Neville remarked, “I’m not one of those that says that because I’ve watched football out there for 45 years that I need to watch the exact same players on that exact blade of grass. You know, if you think of the development, that is not the stadium that’s been there 110 years. You know, the Stretford End is not the Stretford End that I saw growing up. The stands all around the ground have been redeveloped in the last 30-40 years. ”
“I’m not one of those people that says we can’t develop behind while we still play here and then move into a new stadium. On the other hand, if the best solution is to refurbish the current stadium and do what Real Madrid and Barcelona have done, which is essentially wrap their stadium and sort of, if you like, fit it from the inside out, then if that is the best solution then I’m not against it.”
“We’ve always been proud of the stories of Sir Matt Busby redeveloping the stadium, having come back from America and seeing hospitality boxes in the 50s and 60s and around that time, and how the manager when we were here, Sir Alex Ferguson, moved the training ground from The Cliff to Carrington.”
He added, “It was difficult for us, wasn’t it? Because we didn’t want to leave The Cliff; we loved The Cliff. It was in our hearts. But we needed this world-class, modern facility that Sport Science could move forward in, with all the sort of advancements in technology and medical.”
The Sky Sports pundit opened up on his role within the task force and said that it’s the only way he feels he can serve the club.
He noted that at the moment, there doesn’t seem to be a place for him in any other department and he’s happy with the responsibilities given to him by Ratcliffe and the new ownership.
Neville expressed his delight with the fact that there is now movement regarding the future of Old Trafford after more than a decade of inaction under the Glazer regime.
He relayed that Tottenham Hotspur’s facility is the benchmark and that United should be looking to hit those levels or even surpass the North London outfit. Neville also called for patience as the club’s ambitious plans take shape.
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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