TheNewsGuru

Tag: Man Utd

  • Man Utd unsure of Paul Pogba contract plans

    Man Utd unsure of Paul Pogba contract plans

    Premier League club Manchester United and midfielder Paul Pogba are at deadlock over new contract talks.

    The Daily Express says there are currently no discussions ongoing between club representatives and the French midfielder’s notorious agent Mino Raiola despite the fact his contract is set to expire in just over a year’s time.

    Pogba has been the subject of a huge amount of speculation once again this season, with rumours continuing to suggest he could soon make a move to either Real Madrid or Juventus.

    Raiola claimed in December that his client is “unhappy” at Old Trafford, and is looking to leave as soon as possible.

    But there are currently no talks scheduled between any parties.

    And they also claim United are still none the wiser as to Pogba’s plans and whether or not he intends to remain at the club until the end of his current deal.

    The 27-year-old has once again had a mixed season on the pitch, and has struggled with a number of injury issues.

  • Bruno Fernandes defends his record at Man Utd

    Bruno Fernandes defends his record at Man Utd

    Bruno Fernandes has refuted accusations of going missing for Manchester United in big games, with the Portuguese playmaker defending his record against fellow members of the so-called ‘big six’.

    A talismanic presence at Old Trafford has registered 40 goal involvements through 41 appearances for the Red Devils.

    He does, however, have just one non-penalty effort this season across eight outings against other Premier League heavyweights Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea.

    But I agree the last two games, I didn’t play very well. And I don’t need to see the stats to see if I play well or not. I know when I play well or not.

    Fernandes has told Sky Sports on questions over his record in games that matter most: “I don’t know what people mean by ‘top six’, because the teams are in top six in the table. I score and assist against some of them. I score this season against Tottenham. But some people say penalties don’t count!

    “I know people expect Bruno to score or assist in every game because when I arrived, I was playing really well. If you see my stats, everyone is thinking that Bruno has to score in every game, Bruno has to assist in every game.

    “And I want to do that – it’s the most important thing. But as a player, I don’t look for the big six or the rest of the league. I look for every game in the same way. And I think the league is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. So you don’t have to score or win against the big six – you have to score and win against everyone.

    “I see people talking about Bruno not doing so well against the ‘big six’. People have said Bruno gives the ball away too many times when we lose a game.

    “Also, in the game against Basaksehir, I scored two goals and I lost more balls than their team, but people said I was the best player in the game. So, what is the point?

    “But I agree the last two games, I didn’t play very well. And I don’t need to see the stats to see if I play well or not. I know when I play well or not.

    “I saw an interview from Luke (Shaw) saying, ‘people now care more about stats than the performance’. And this is the truth. Because now they’re expecting from me just goals and assists, and not performances.

    “They don’t care about the performance of Bruno, they don’t care about ball recovery or how many chances I create, because I can create 10 chances but if I don’t score, people will say Bruno didn’t play very well.

    “But this is football. Football is in the moment. Some people have said I’m playing bad, and that I have to do better. And I agree, because we always can do better. But for me, it’s OK. I can have that pressure on my back.

    “I’m sure in some moments, I will score, I will assist, and I will perform. And that will help my team-mates to win the game.”

    Goal

  • Don’t sell Martial, Saha pleads to Man Utd

    Don’t sell Martial, Saha pleads to Man Utd

    Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha says Anthony Martial needs to become more selfish.

    Martial netted 23 goals in all competitions last season, his most prolific goalscoring campaign to date, but he has struggled this season.

    The France international has scored just seven goals in all competitions so far and Saha, who spent four-and-a-half seasons at Old Trafford, believes Martial needs to be “selfish” and become “obsessed with scoring goals”.

    Speaking to talkSPORT, Saha said: “I think he’s a top player, that’s for sure. I think when you’re a No.9 and you’re not scoring, it’s difficult as people are only asking you to score goals. That’s it.

    “When you’re not doing it you’re going to be criticised. You need to be strong and really believe. You also need to be selfish and adopt a style of play that you really fancy.

    “This is why he’s getting the criticism. It’s not about his talent or desire because he has that I’m sure.

    “It his expression sometimes. Having that obsession with scoring goals makes it easier because people say he’s been unlucky but you can see when he’s in his comfort zone people get on his back.

    “I really don’t think he’s a player Man United should let go because he can be that player who completes the striking force as he’s unique in the way he plays.

    “When you’re not scoring you need to be obsessed with scoring goals and I think sometimes he doesn’t show that.”

  • Man Utd face hefty bill if Fernandes wins Player of the Year

    Man Utd face hefty bill if Fernandes wins Player of the Year

    Manchester United face a hefty new bill of Bruno Fernandes wins the Player of the Year this season.

    According to The Times United will have to pay Sporting CP an additional £4.2m as part of their deal when they initially signed the 26-year-old in January 2020.

    Fernandes joined the Red Devils for an initial £46.6m from the Portuguese club, which could rise to £67.8m if all his performance clauses are met.

    And of those targets include a £4.2m pay-out if he either wins the PFA Player of the Year award or is in the top three for the Ballon d’Or while at the club.

    Fernandes is enjoying a brilliant Premier League campaign at Old Trafford where he has scored 15 goals alongside 10 assists.

     

  • Solskjaer always fighting doubters – Fred

    Solskjaer always fighting doubters – Fred

    Manchester United midfielder Fred says it’s no secret manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has had to battle doubters.

    Fred says Solskjaer was always going to be under extreme scrutiny in the Old Trafford hotseat – but says he is becoming a better manager every day.

    “With each passing day, you see his evolution,” Fred told ESPN Brazil. “I really like to see him here. I think there will always be distrust.

    “You being in a big club like this one, a lot of people want to see you badly, there’s no way. But you have to stay strong and I think he has a good head.”

    Fred added: “He was a player, he’s been on this side.

    “So he knows how to deal with us. He talks a lot with the players. I think this is what sets him apart.

    “He’s always playing with us, supporting us, helping us in positioning, on a daily basis. He’s a guy who’s always close and this is very important for the player.”

  • Matic tells Man Utd how to end goal drought

    Matic tells Man Utd how to end goal drought

    Nemanja Matic is looking for Manchester United to start taking a few risks in their bid to end a barren run in front of goal that has now reached 285 minutes.

    Three full games have come and gone since the Red Devils last found the target, with nobody in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad troubling the scorers since Bruno Fernandes converted a 75th-minute penalty at Newcastle on February 21.

    Matic told United’s official website following the stalemate at Selhurst Park: “It’s hard to explain, but I think that we have to do much better in these sorts of games, especially to create more opportunities, to risk more in their half, around their box.

    “Crystal Palace were very solid at the back. Their midfield dropped in a bit so it was very difficult to break through. We have to give credit to them, but we know what we have to do. We need to do better in attack. We know these are games we have to win.”

  • Man Utd to hand Fernandes new double-your-money contract

    Man Utd to hand Fernandes new double-your-money contract

    Premier League club Manchester United are ready to hand Bruno Fernandes a new contract.

    The Sun says the Portuguese midfielder has been the best player in the last two campaigns for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s stuttering side but is way behind in the earnings charts.

    He is expected to be handed a boost to his £100,000-a-week flat-rate wage.

    He does earn more in incentives and bonuses, but is still way behind David De Gea, Paul Pogba and Co.

    Fernandes is one of the lowest paid first-team players at Old Trafford, and is keen on a pay rise.

    It is expected his money will go up to around £200,000-a-week flat, with extras on top of that for appearances, goals and trophies.

    The ex-Sampdoria ace is only the seventh highest paid player, and earns only £20,000-a-week more than axed Juan Mata.

    De Gea is on around £375,000-a-week, Pogba about £290,000 with Anthony Martial slightly behind.

  • Man Utd will keep fighting for title – Solskjaer

    Man Utd will keep fighting for title – Solskjaer

    Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his team will keep fighting to catch Manchester City.

    The Red Devils dropped two more points as they drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace.

    United have now drawn with the same scoreline in their past three matches in all competitions.

    They take on City on Sunday in what may be their last chance to close the gap before the end of the season.

    Asked about the result against Palace and the rest of the campaign, Solskjaer told reporters: “It’s not what we want but that’s football.

    “We’re in the Premier League and you have to play better to win games.

    “We know we’re in a battle to be as high in the table as possible and we’ve seen other results sometimes go like we don’t expect.

    “We know we’re in a fight and we need to pick up every point we can.”

  • Alcantara better player for Man Utd than Liverpool – Scholes

    Alcantara better player for Man Utd than Liverpool – Scholes

    Manchester United legend Paul Scholes says Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara would be a better performer with United.

    Scholes believes Thiago would be a better fit at Old Trafford.

    “The way Liverpool play with the three in midfield, I don’t think he has great legs about him, so that central role would suit him down to the ground,” Scholes told Premier League Productions.

    “Once you are in a wider position in the three, it’s very difficult to get around the pitch because he’s not that type of player. He’s not someone who is going to be running out to a left-back. It’s just not his game.

    “He just needs to be sat in the middle. Controlling things, bringing players into play and that’s what he’s good at – I just wonder if this way of playing that Liverpool play is suited to his style of football.

    “He doesn’t seem a Jurgen Klopp type player, does he? You think of the midfield players he has got and the forward players. Everything is 100 miles per hour.

    “I thought he would have been more suited to a Manchester United team. In a two in midfield with a holding player, really good strong defensive player, where he can sit and control games.

    “Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool, I don’t see them controlling games. I see them going for the throat in teams. He hasn’t got that energy to really overpower midfield players.”

  • Man Utd denied penalty in draw at Stamford Bridge

    Man Utd denied penalty in draw at Stamford Bridge

    Manchester United lost further ground on Premier League leaders Manchester City after they played out a drab goalless deadlock with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

    Ole Gunnar Solkjaer’s side remain second but are now 12 points adrift of City while the result left Chelsea outside the top four a point behind West Ham United.

    Manchester United – who have lost only one of their last 20 league games – thought they were about to be offered the chance to make a breakthrough in the first half, but a penalty appeal for handball against Callum Hudson-Odoi was dismissed by referee Stuart Attwell after he was instructed to consult a pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee.

    Chelsea, who remain unbeaten under new manager Thomas Tuchel, had chances but United keeper David de Gea made a fine second-half save from Hakim Ziyech while opposite number Edouard Mendy saved well from Scott McTominay and Fred was narrowly off target with a long-range effort. Mendy also punched away a late effort from Bruno Fernandes.

    In the end, however, this was another game to add to the list of meetings between the so-called top six that ended in stalemate.

    BBC