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Tag: FA Cup

  • EPL: Manchester United to sack Eric Ten Hag after Saturday’s FA Cup final against City

    EPL: Manchester United to sack Eric Ten Hag after Saturday’s FA Cup final against City

    Eric Ten Hag will be in charge of Manchester United for the last time against rival Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup Final in Wembley. This is because the United management has reached a decision to sack the Dutch irrespective of the results.

    The team’s struggles in the season 2023/24 have caused faith in Ten Hag to dwindle. United will have a last shot of qualifying for Europe when they face City – causing an upset against the champions would earn a place in the Europa League  but the hierarchy  at the club do not want to make a decision based on one game.

    United finished in eight a position and it didn’t sit down well with the Sir Jim Ratcliffe led management.

    The ruthless decision to change manager will be the most significant move made by Sir Ratcliffe and his allies since Ineos agreed to take a minority stake in the club last December and assumed control of football operations. United, who appointed Ten Hag two years ago, have felt compelled to act after ending a fraught campaign eighth in the Premier League, their lowest league finish since 1990.

    The challenge for Ten Hag, who has said he has already met with Ratcliffe and the minority owner’s advisers, will be ensuring that his players are not distracted by the noise around his position. For United, the focus will soon switch to picking a replacement for the former Ajax manager.

    United have lined up coaches who are likely who are out of jobs to be Ten Hag’s replacement.

    They are considering Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, England’s Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter and Brentford’s Thomas Frank.

    However, reports suggest that both Tuchel and Pochetinno are the most favourite through which one of them will be given the Job.

     

  • Man Utd handed fresh injury boost for FA Cup final

    Man Utd handed fresh injury boost for FA Cup final

    Manchester United have received a triple boost on the injury front this week.

    The Red Devils face their final game of the season as they take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

    United, who have not won a trophy this term, are aiming to stop City winning the domestic double.

    Per The Mail, the likes of Mason Mount, Anthony Martial and Victor Lindelof are all fit.

    They were all participants in training for the Red Devils as they look to get a starting spot for the game.

    United boss Erik ten Hag can also select the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.

  • EPL: Bruno Fernandes hints at leaving Manchester United

    EPL: Bruno Fernandes hints at leaving Manchester United

    Bruno Fernandes, a Manchester United midfielder, has dropped an hint about leaving the Premier League club after this summer’s European Championship.

    However, the 29-year-old has insisted that he   “wants to win”, insinuating tht he would love to win the FA Final against Manchester City on May 25.

    He added that his focus at the moment is to win the FA Cup with Manchester United.

    Amid media speculation that he could leave Old Trafford, when asked about his future, Fernandes told Dazn Portugal: “I don’t have thoughts for other things at the moment. It doesn’t just depend on me.

    “So, if you want me to be very honest, if I have to think about not continuing in the Premier League, it won’t be until after the Euros.

    “We can end the season by winning the FA Cup, then we have the European Championship, which is very important for us.

    Fernandes, who is in his fifth season at United, added: “I want to be competitive, I want to compete, I want to win.”

    The Portugal playmaker has won only the Carabao Cup since joining United from Sporting CP in January 2020 in a deal worth up to €80 million.

  • Job being decided by FA Cup semi would be crazy – Ten Hag

    Job being decided by FA Cup semi would be crazy – Ten Hag

    Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag said it would be “crazy” to decide on his long-term future based on a single game.

    Ten Hag was asked if the players had spared his blushes after winning an FA Cup semi-final penalty shootout win over Coventry City.

    United were 3-0 up with 20 minutes to go, before Coventry made it 3-3 and nearly won it 4-3 in extra time only for VAR to rule out a goal for offside.

    “That would be crazy. You need the tools to manage this, with all the injuries we don’t have so many tools, we don’t even have a back four in their best positions,” Ten Hag told reporters on his future.

    “On that part I have to give the team a compliment, the players managed that, they were in a position that is not in their best. They gave 100%, which they should, but it’s not always easy to play the best football when you’re not in your best position.”

    “No, I can’t see that. At the end of the day, it’s about achievement. I see the mistakes we make, but it’s not an embarrassment, it’s a huge achievement,” he added on the game.

    “Given a big team from United a decade ago they achieve final three times, now it’s two times in two years, that with all the setbacks, even today, at 3-3 it’s crazy that decision.

    “Then we should get a penalty to make it 4-3, that was more a handball than the penalty we conceded. That happens many times. Chelsea, two crazy pens, Liverpool, penalty very debatable. It’s like a curse against us. We’ll take energy from this, we have to build the confidence.”

  • FA Cup: Lucky! United set up Manchester derby final after defeating Coventry City 4-2 on penalties

    FA Cup: Lucky! United set up Manchester derby final after defeating Coventry City 4-2 on penalties

    Premiership side, Manchester United rode on the lottery of penalties to set up FA Cup final with neighbours Manchester City after defeating Championship side 4-2 on penalty shoot out.

    Mc Tominay, Harry Maguire and captain Bruno Fernandez all scored for Manchester United but they  threw away a three goal lead and conceded the fourth on the death of extra time however, they got lucky as the goal was chalked off for offside.

    Coventry looked down and out when as they trailed Manchester United 3-0, up till the 70th minute of the thrilling encounter.

    However, the Championship side began their resurgence back into the game when E.Simms scored for them in the 71st minute of the encounter.

    Ohare blasted home the second goal eight minute later and H.Wright leveled things up with a dying minute spot kick to send the game into extra time.

    All efforts by both teams to score in the extra 30 minutes proved abortive as every opportunity to hit the back of the net met a brick wall.

    After missing their first penalty kick, Manchester United fought back to win the game 4-2  to set up a repeat of last season’s  final in the FA Cup.

     

     

  • FA Cup: Manchester City zoom into final after beating Chelsea 1-0

    FA Cup: Manchester City zoom into final after beating Chelsea 1-0

    Manchester City on Saturday  booked their place in a second consecutive FA Cup final after defeating hard fighting  Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley.

    Both teams played out a goalless affair in the first half and were about ending 90 minute befoe Bernado Silva struck in the 84th minute.

    Jeremy Doku had dazzled on the left wing before sending a low cross that Chelsea goalie pushed with his left leg but the rebound fell to Bernado Silva who wasted no time to hit the ball and it landed at the back of the net to the Cityzens advantage.

    It was another devastating day at Wembley for Mauricio Pochettino as his side missed numerous opportunities to knock out the defending champions.

    But City march on in their quest to win one or two trophies this season and have already set up another Wembley final against Coventry City or Manchester United.

    However, on Sunday Championship side Coventry City will face Manchester United, with both teams searching for a place in the final against Manchester City.

    If the Red Devils triumph, they will set up a repeat of last year’s FA Cup final and another mouthwatering Manchester derby.

    But Coventry have pulled off some shocks to reach this stage and will be hoping to upset the odds in London.

  • FA Cup: Lawrenson predicts Man City vs Chelsea, Coventry vs Man United

    FA Cup: Lawrenson predicts Man City vs Chelsea, Coventry vs Man United

    Mark Lawrenson a former Liverpool footballer  has predicted the outcome of this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final matches.

    Manchester City will face Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening, while Manchester United will clash with Coventry in the other FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.

    Providing his predictions, Lawrenson told Paddy Power: ‘Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea, Coventry 0-1 Manchester United.’

    The kick-off time for Manchester City vs Chelsea is 5:15 p.m., while the kick-off time for Manchester United vs Coventry is 3:30 p.m.

    Manchester City are the tournament’s defending champions and would be hoping that they retain the trophy they won last season.

    Meanwhile, the FA Cup remains the only hope for both Chelsea and United to win a title this season.

  • FA Cup: Manchester City’s Haaland set to miss semi final clash against Chelsea

    FA Cup: Manchester City’s Haaland set to miss semi final clash against Chelsea

    Erling Haaland could miss Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday due to injury.

    City coach Pep Guardiola has revealed.

    It would be recalled that Haaland was substituted before the start of extra time in City’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg defeat against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

    Guardiola said after the penalty shoot-out loss that the Norway striker asked to be withdrawn but did not give a reason why.

    The City boss has now confirmed Haaland suffered an injury against Real and suggested it was not certain his leading scorer would recover in time for the FA Cup holders’ clash with Chelsea.

    “We will see. It was a tough game, a lot of action, high intensity for both sides,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.

    “Erling felt something, a muscular issue. That’s why he told me he could not continue.

    “The doctor said he had a little bit of niggles, a little problem, we will see how his evolution is in the next hours.”

    While Haaland remains unsure to be feature against Chelsea City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne should be involved against Chelsea after being taken off during extra time against Real due to fatigue.

    Given City’s hectic schedule, Guardiola conceded it is understandable that players are tired at this stage of the season.

    “It’s normal with the amount of games we are playing this season and the previous seasons and not much recovery, and extra time and high intensity.

    “We put a lot of pressure on our game and that’s why the fatigue is there. They are human beings. They are not machines. We are used to it,” he said.

    The agonising shoot-out defeat by Real ended City’s hopes of winning a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble for a second consecutive season.

    But they remain on course to repeat the domestic double and Guardiola is determined to ensure the Premier League leaders bounce back from their European frustration.

    “We don’t have another option. I don’t want us to feel sorry for ourselves.

  • Nigeria’s FA Cup renamed

    Nigeria’s FA Cup renamed

    The Federation (FA) Cup, a Nigerian domestic football tournament, with teams drawn from the 36 states and the FCT, has been renamed “The President Federation Cup’’.

    The renaming ceremony took place on Friday at a ceremony attended by the organisers and stakeholders at the Westhood Hotel Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The tournament which began in 1945 as Challenge Cup and later renamed the Federation Cup will henceforth be known as `The President Federation Cup’.

    The GTI Asset Management, strategic partners to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in partnership with the Ministry of Sports Development jointly renamed the Federation Cup (FA).

    Sports Development Minister, Sen. John Owan-Enoh, who applauded GTI Asset Management for taking on the responsibility of the cup, also urged stakeholders to focus on restoring the glory of the tournament.

    He said: “Nigeria have a rich football history, optimised by prestigious competition like the Challenge Cup, which has captivated the nation since 1945 which has been renamed over the years.

    “Today we gather to relaunch it as The President Federation Cup, we didn’t call it Bola Ahmed Tinubu Cup, but we want this name to be timeless by using the highest office in the land.

    “I am pleased with GTI Asset Management, by signing the agreement with GTI, we aim to re-establish the benefits of this partnership, developing the grassroots, creating employment for approximately 500,000 Nigerians engaging over 100, 000, 000 enthusiasts.”

    The minister urged the private sector stakeholders to borrow a leaf from GTI and adopt a sport to enhance all round development in sports.

    “With our enormous population, we all can’t play football, I want to urge all stakeholders to emulate what the GTI group is doing with football through the NFF and NPFL.

    “Let’s use this medium to showcase Nigeria’s greatness globally, the President Federation Cup is one of president Tinubu’s legacy of championing Nigerian football,” he said.

    Similarly, NFF’s President, Ibrahim Gusau, lauded the GTI group for daring to do the importance with Nigeria football.

    “When I heard of the GTI initiative, I had to dedicate time, I was at their office for four hours and I asked all mind-boggling questions, they were able to give me answers.

    “I applaud them for taking this on, and I wish them success as they take on The President Federation Cup to make it bigger and better,” he said.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports Development, Atinuke Watti, also appealed to stakeholders to focus more on goal driven collaboration in order to develop sports at the grassroots.

    Abubakar Lawal, the Group Managing Director of GTI Asset Management, said signing the deal made him a happy man.

    Lawal, who also applauded the minister and NFF’s president, pledged his unflinching support to football development in Nigeria.

    “I’m the happiest man on the planet. I’d like to thank the minister for his believe in us, his support to ensure that this partnership happens. My gratitude also goes to Alhaji Gusau for creating time to listen to us and supporting us.

    “Football has gone beyond entertainment we are driving towards the business aspect of it, this is what will make our vision result oriented, we want our leagues to be better for it and the result is evident even on our rating table, it’s not business as usual.

    “The President Federation Cup is set to witness a revolution, history is about to be made and we are happy about it,” he said.

  • FA Cup: All games to be played in one leg as Football Association scraps replays

    FA Cup: All games to be played in one leg as Football Association scraps replays

    In a bid to strengthen competition, the Football Association, FA, in England has announced the complete scrapping of FA Cup from the first round proper, starting from next season.

    The FA and Premier League have agreed on this and it will take immediate effect from next season.

    It will also ensure all fixtures are played on weekends, with the exception of the fourth round which has been given a window of Friday to Wednesday.

    The fourth, fifth and quarter-final rounds will all be scheduled in exclusive periods without Premier League football.

    The FA Cup final will also be played on the Saturday of the penultimate weekend of the Premier League.

    However, this season’s FA Cup is in the semi-final stage and it will hold this weekend.

    Chelsea will slug it out with Manchester City on Sunday while non Premier League side, Coventry will trade tackles with Manchester United; all games will hold at Wembley stadium.

    Manchester City are the defending champions of the competition.