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Tag: Man Utd

  • Solskjaer hails Chelsea boss ahead of Sunday clash

    Solskjaer hails Chelsea boss ahead of Sunday clash

    Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has praised the early work of Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea.

    The two teams meet on Sunday in the Premier League.

    “Hopefully we can stop that run, that’s my job now,” said Solskjaer. “Thomas has come in and it’s changed a little bit at Chelsea. It’s going to be a great challenge for us.

    “He’s done really well. It’s never easy coming into a season halfway through, he must be pleased as well.

    “You can see the results, the stats, the possession they have had. They keep teams away from their own goal and keep possession.”

    Comparisons were made between Chelsea hiring a young ex-player in Frank Lampard and Solskjaer’s appointment at United, but Roman Abramovich chose a different path when he brought in the more experienced Tuchel.

    “I can’t really comment on Chelsea’s journey, that’s none of my business to be fair,” added Solskjaer.

    “Every club will have to run their own journey. We’re on a good path we feel we have improved, but we’re nowhere near where we want to be and that’s higher up the table and winning trophies.

    “The hunger in the group and the mentality in the group is good and that’s the main thing now that we keep on improving and hopefully we can get ready for Sunday now.

    “We know we have scored a lot of goals and, of course, we need to be a better team defensively. Even though we conceded 11 in the first three games, those three games almost don’t count in my head because we were so far away from a Man United team with our preparation and no pre-season.

    “But, even then, we have conceded too many goals so we need to improve on that and winning tighter games. We’ve had many games against City, Chelsea, Liverpool that have been 0-0 so get the goals in those games.”

  • I have no Man Utd regrets at all – Monaco defender

    I have no Man Utd regrets at all – Monaco defender

    AS Monaco defender Benoît Badiashile says he has no regrets turning down Manchester United.

    Badiashile rejected an offer from United last summer and has impressed with ASM in his first full senior season this term.

    The 19 year-old told RMC: “It’s the right choice. I haven’t had good seasons in Monaco. We played for survival.

    “I really enjoy being at the top of the table. To continue with my training club is the right solution to take and with the season we are doing, it is the best decision I have made.

    “No, I do not regret Manchester United at all.”

  • EPL: Man Utd ready to sell one from De Gea or Henderson

    EPL: Man Utd ready to sell one from De Gea or Henderson

    Manchester manager boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is prepared to sell one of his two senior goalkeepers.

    The Sun says United are set to move either David de Gea or Dean Henderson on this summer.

    The battle between de Gea, 30, and Henderson, 23, has become a problem behind the scenes and United are eager for one of them to leave either permanently or on loan.

    Henderson, who had two loan spells at Sheffield United, is determined to play regularly for Solskjaer’s side, especially as he wants to earn further recognition for England, for whom he has one cap so far.

    In a recent meeting Henderson was reportedly informed that only one of him and de Gea will still be at United next season.

    De Gea’s contract runs until the summer of 2023, while Henderson has over four years remaining on his deal.

  • Lebouef likens Marcus Rashford to Anelka

    Lebouef likens Marcus Rashford to Anelka

    World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf says Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford’s finishing isn’t good enough.

    Leboeuf, who won the 1998 World Cup with France, believes the 23-year-old needs to improve his finishing – comparing the situation to how Jose Mourinho said Karim Benzema’s end product needed to reach the next level.

    “What I want to say about Rashford… he’s a fantastic player,” Leboeuf told ESPN. “I didn’t want to play against those kinds of players because they go so fast, technically unbelievable.

    “The only thing with Rashford is he’s not a killer. I remember Mourinho talking to Benzema about that. You want to do nice things and it’s like you’re a bit easygoing, sloppy, which I’m sure he’s not. But he has to become a killer.

    “Because he has everything to become one of the best strikers in the world. He’s very close to that. He can score, I’m sure, double the goals he’s scored so far.”

    Leboeuf also said: “I played against Nicolas [Anelka] when he was at Arsenal and when he played for Paris Saint-Germain,.

    “The pace, the cleverness of the positioning – everything.

    “Nicolas had kind of the same problem. The consistency of scoring goals and being a killer. That’s a question you have to have: do you prefer Shearer? Who was not very elegant, wasn’t very technical but was a killer, a kind of crazy finisher.

    “Or do you prefer a Rashford or Anelka who can show you something fantastic but doesn’t score most times they have a chance to. I don’t know. It’s a debate. I love Rashford, like I loved Anelka.”

  • ​Man Utd considering Real Madrid midfielder to replace Pogba

    ​Man Utd considering Real Madrid midfielder to replace Pogba

    Manchester United are assessing Real Madrid star Federico Valverde as a replacement for Paul Pogba.

    The Frenchman has made no secret of his desire to leave United at some point in the near future.

    His agent Mino Raiola has also been outspoken on the matter in recent months.

    And according to The Sun, United have a shortlist of midfielders to replace Pogba should he be sold in the summer.

    Uruguay international Valverde is one of the players on that list.

    If Real wanted Pogba, a deal would be even easier to do as an exchange would be possible.

  • EPL: Solskjaer fires warning at Man Utd players

    EPL: Solskjaer fires warning at Man Utd players

    Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a warning for some players who believe they’re bigger than the club.

    Without naming names, Solskjaer has publicly told any player who believes he’s bigger than his teammates to find himself a new club.

    Referring to his own approach while a player with United, the manager told VG: “As a super-sub, as I was called a lot, I helped us win the extra points that helped us not to be number two, but league champion.

    “I try to make everyone on my team understand that they are involved and contribute in their own way. Then there are some who want to be the big fish in a small pond. Then maybe it’s time to go.

    “Here there is a large pond, but it is not just big fish in it.”

  • Van de Beek urged to quit Man Utd

    Van de Beek urged to quit Man Utd

    Former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas says Donny van de Beek needs to leave Manchester United.

    Van de Beek played from the start in United’s FA Cup win on Tuesday night, but Jenas feels as if he is playing too “safe” and may have to seek pastures new.

    He told the Mirror: “Its a tough one, because it was a strange move in the first place for Donny to go there.

    “It is very similar to the issue Tottenham have with finding a replacement for Harry Kane, which is why they’ve never found anyone of close quality.

    “People know they’re not going to play. The only way you get the best out of any player is you fill them with confidence – especially players like him – by playing them every week, making them feel part of the project and showing that they’re not just the side dish.

    “When he was at Ajax I saw a player that was a problem for teams, arriving late in the box, scoring goals. At the minute he just plays safe and because of the position he plays he’s always being compared to another player – they’re best player.

    “We can take this back as far as you want – could you imagine if there was a foil to Cantona or Beckham – it just doesn’t happen. Its kind of one position, its not as if he’s part of the two in midfield where they can mix it up.

    “Unfortunately the only way I see him getting back to a confident state and playing again is to move. He needs to be the special player.”

  • Social media abuse brought Man Utd chief to tears

    Social media abuse brought Man Utd chief to tears

    Former Anderlecht sporting director Michael Verschueren has revealed social media abuse has brought Manchester United vice-chairman Ed Woodward to tears.

    Towards the end of 2019, both Woodward and the Glazers were on the receiving end of strong abuse from the terraces – with things coming to a head in a 2-0 defeat to Burnley.

    Verschueren has now claimed that Woodward once had ‘tears in his eyes’ when he saw posts online.

    He told HLN: “Two years ago, I was accompanied by Ed Woodward, the CEO of Manchester United, who was going through a sporting slump at the time.

    “He showed me tweets from supporters: ‘Look Michael, how cruel the fans can be’ – the tears were in his eyes.

    “Today Manchester United are the leader [second] in the Premier League.

    “I messaged Woodward a few days ago to congratulate him. He texted me back saying, ‘You know how tough the journey was’.

    “Well, that’s my message to our supporters: the journey will not be easy in the coming years, but Anderlecht will be back.”

  • Solskjaer names Amad Diallo in Europa League squad [Full list]

    Solskjaer names Amad Diallo in Europa League squad [Full list]

    Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has included Amad Diallo in his 24-man squad for the Europa League this season.

    The 18-year-old has yet to make an appearance for United since joining from Atalanta in January.

    But the Ivorian scored twice on his debut for the U23s in the 6-3 win over Liverpool on Saturday.

    And Solskjaer could give Amad his chance in the Europa League competition.

    The Red Devils face Spanish outfit Real Sociedad in the last-32 stage.

    Man Utd’s Europa League squad:

    Goalkeepers

    David De Gea

    Dean Henderson

    Lee Grant

    Nathan Bishop

    Defenders

    Eric Bailly

    Phil Jones

    Victor Lindelof

    Harry Maguire

    Luke Shaw

    Alex Telles

    Axel Tuanzebe

    Aaron Wan-Bissaka

    Midfielders

    Amad Diallo

    Bruno Fernandes

    Fred

    Daniel James

    Juan Mata

    Nemanja Matic

    Scott McTominay

    Paul Pogba

    Donny van de Beek

    Forwards

    Edinson Cavani

    Anthony Martial

    Marcus Rashford

  • Solskjaer explains Cavani’s half-time substitution

    Solskjaer explains Cavani’s half-time substitution

    Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has explained his decision to substitute Edinson Cavani at half-time during United’s 9-0 thrashing of Southampton.

    United moved level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table after a comprehensive victory against the Saints on Tuesday night.

    Alex Jankewitz was shown a straight red for a rash challenge on McTominay and the floodgates opened thereafter, with Jan Bednarek, who scored an own goal just after the half-hour mark, also being sent off late in the second half after bringing down Martial in the box.

    United made their numerical advantage count in ruthless fashion, which allowed Solskjaer to ring the changes at the interval.

    A few eyebrows were raised when the Norwegian removed Cavani for Martial though, with the Uruguayan having headed home his sixth goal of the season in the 39th minute to cap a superb first-half display.

    However, Solskjaer revealed post-match that the 33-year-old was withdrawn as a precaution after picking up a knock, which he is hopeful will not keep the striker out of action for any length of time.

    “Edinson got a bad tackle on his ankle so he had to come off,” the Red Devils boss, whose side face Everton at home on Saturday, told BT Sport. “He probably would have loved to be out there scoring goals. But there was no point in taking any risks.

    “Hopefully, it won’t swell up too much.”