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Tag: Man Utd

  • Odion Ighalo nominated for Man Utd award

    Odion Ighalo nominated for Man Utd award

    Odion Ighalo has been nominated for Manchester United’s Player of the Month award for March.

    The 30-year-old faces competition from fellow January signing Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire and Fred as he eyes his maiden accolade at Old Trafford.

    Ighalo has boosted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team since his temporary arrival in January and they are unbeaten in all competitions since their 2-0 defeat to Burnley back in January 22.

    In March, the Nigeria forward scored three goals including a brace in their 3-0 win over Derby County in the FA Cup and also produced a man-of-the-match display against LASK where he scored a goal and provided an assist in their UEFA Europa League triumph last Thursday.

    Ighalo is yet to start a Premier League match for Manchester United but he has scored four goals in three starts already.

    With the Premier League suspended until April 3 due to the outbreak of coronavirus, Ighalo will be hoping to keep fit before fifth-placed Manchester United return to league action.

    Meanwhile, midfielder Bruno Fernandes was voted the Premier League’s Player of the Month for February, in further recognition of his influential start to life at Old Trafford.

    It was the third individual prize that the Portuguese has won since completing a transfer from Sporting on 30 January, after taking home our own fan-voted trophy and the PFA’s monthly gong.

    Fernandes made three top-flight appearances throughout the second month of 2020, contributing to a draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers before inspiring victories over Chelsea and Watford.

    So far, Bruno has played in nine United matches across all competitions, scored three goals, registered four assists and, perhaps most importantly of all, earned the love of the Reds’ supporters.

    In an interview with Sky Sports that aired over the weekend, the Portuguese magnifico explained he was delighted to receive such love from the fans, yet he remains humble amid the widespread praise.

    He said: “We can talk about a new start after Bruno but it is not about Bruno, it is about the team. One player doesn’t change a team. The team changes when everyone pushes together for the same side.”

  • EPL: Man Utd trigger Matic contract extension

    EPL: Man Utd trigger Matic contract extension

    Premier League side Manchester United have triggered a clause to extend midfielder Nemanja Matic’s contract by one year.

    The 31-year-old, whose three-year contract was due to expire this summer, is also in talks with the club over lengthening the deal even further.

    Matic’s recent form has encouraged United to extend his stay to 2021 and the Serb could remain beyond that.

    Matic has made 109 appearances for the Old Trafford club since joining from Chelsea in a £40m deal in 2017.

  • Pogba sets up coronavirus fundraiser

    Pogba sets up coronavirus fundraiser

    Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has set up a fundraising page and pledged financial support to Unicef to help children affected by coronavirus.

    After turning 27 on Sunday, Pogba set up the birthday fundraiser to “help fight this war against Covid-19”.

    The France international says he will double the fund if his goal of £27,000 is reached.

    “The impact of a large-scale outbreak, especially on poor and vulnerable children, can be immense,” Pogba wrote.

    “It’s my birthday and I’m always grateful that me, my family and friends are healthy. Nonetheless, not everybody is in good health right now.

    “At times like this we need to come together.”

    The money will be used to provide disposable gloves, surgical masks and vented goggles for health workers,.

    On his 26th birthday, Pogba raised £7,360 for clean water organisation Charity Water.

  • Di Maria hates Man Utd – Bulka

    Di Maria hates Man Utd – Bulka

    Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, Marcin Bulka, has said that teammate , Angel Di Maria hates Manchester United football club because he has no good memory of the time he spent at the club.

    According to Bulka, the Argentine international quickly changes the channel when something related to Man United appears on television.

    The 20-year-old shot-stopper said this ahead of PSG’s Ligue 1 clash with Dijon FCO on Saturday.

    “Angel Di Maria hates Manchester United,” Bulka told Polish YouTube channel Foot Truck.

    “The Argentine has no good memory of the time he spent at Old Trafford.

    “As a matter of fact whenever something related to the Red Devils shows on television, Di Maria quickly changes the channel.”

    Di Maria played only one season (2014-2015) for Man United before he left Old Trafford for PSG.

  • ‘Man Utd signed Ighalo instead of me’

    ‘Man Utd signed Ighalo instead of me’

    Dalian Professional striker, Salomon Rondon, has claimed he was close to joining Manchester United last month.

    United were in the market for a frontman, after Marcus Rashford was ruled out for four months with a back problem.

    Red Devils boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, also tried to bring in Josh King from Bournemouth, but eventually decided on Odion Ighalo.

    Rondon says he waited for a phone call from his agent for an update on negotiations, before finding out about the Ighalo deal.

    “They started to talk to my agent and I was just waiting by my phone for a decision, maybe for the lawyers, but then I saw Ighalo had signed.

    “It didn’t get to the stage where an offer was made or anything like that, but I think it was really close.

    “It’s decisions again and they obviously decided Ighalo was the best decision for them. I’ve played against him and I’m pleased for him,” the 30-year-old told The Athletic.

    Rondon previously played in England with Newcastle, where he scored 11 goals in 32 Premier League appearances.

  • Man Utd: Ighalo in contention to start in Europa

    Man Utd: Ighalo in contention to start in Europa

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says January signing Odion Ighalo is in contention to start the first leg of Manchester United’s Europa League last-32 game against Club Bruges on Thursday.

    The Nigeria striker, 30, made his debut in the 2-0 win over Chelsea last weekend when he came on as substitute.

    “I won’t tell the team today but we will have to rotate with all the games coming up,” said the United manager.

    “He’s one that could start, we’ve not 100% decided yet.”

    The Norwegian added: “Odion is a different type of striker.

    “We have seen him in training. He knows how to play as a centre-forward – he’s a fantastic professional and human.

    “We need to give him as much game time as possible.”

  • Lampard under fire from Chelsea board

    Frank Lampard’s position as Chelsea manager will come under increased threat, if he fails to qualify for the Champions League, the UK Telegraph reports.

    The Blues have won just twice in the Premier League since Christmas Day, losing their grip on fourth place.

    Their 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Monday night at Stamford Bridge, now sees Tottenham, Sheffield United and United closing in.

    Chelsea’s senior officials are now starting to raise questions over “Lampard’s management of his squad”.

    They are surprised Lampard refused to recall Kepa Arrizabalagato to the starting line-up for Monday night’s defeat after he was dropped following a series of poor displays.

    Chelsea host Tottenham Hotspur, who are managed by former boss Jose Mourinho, this Saturday.

  • Lampard speaks on goalkeeper to start against Man Utd

    Chelsea boss, Frank Lampard, says he has already decided who to start between goalkeepers, Arrizabalaga and Willy Caballero when his side take on Manchester United in the Premier League on Monday.

    Lampard opted to start Caballero ahead of Kepa in Chelsea’s last Premier League 2-2 draw against Leicester City.

    Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Lampard was quoted by Chelsea’s official website as saying: “The reaction from Kepa has been good as I would expect him to train hard and head down.

    “I have not had lots of conversations with him this week and I have decided already who between him and Caballero who to start against [Man United] but you will have to wait to find out.

    “It does not matter how you came to the club, what age you are, what part of your career you’re at.

    “If it did, then I’d have to pick the whole team on how much they cost and it can’t be that way. All the players know that.

    “It is all about how you train every day and how you play on match day. I have to have that competition within the squad.”

  • Three managers to replace Solskjaer at Man Utd

    Three managers to replace Solskjaer at Man Utd

    Manchester United chiefs have drawn up a three-man shortlist of managers to replace under-fire Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to Star Sport.

    United executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, is reluctant to sack Solskjaer. But the club has still drawn up a three-man shortlist to replace Solskjaer if results fail to improve, with Pochettino, Gareth Southgate and Julian Nagelsmann figures of interest.

    Solskjaer is fighting to save his job at Old Trafford, with United’s points tally of 34 their lowest at this stage of the season since 1990.

    The Red Devils find themselves six points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea and 33 points below Premier League leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.

    Solskjaer initially impressed after he was appointed on an interim basis following Jose Mourinho’s sack.

    But the Norwegian is now the bookmakers’ favourite to become the next managerial casualty.

  • EPL: Man Utd still want Leicester’s Maguire

    EPL: Man Utd still want Leicester’s Maguire

    Manchester United are continuing to show interest in Leicester’s England defender Harry Maguire, even though the Foxes have no wish to sell the player.

    United backed away from talks last summer as they felt the 26-year-old’s £70m price-tag was excessive.

    However, with United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer keen to bolster his central defensive options this summer, Maguire remains on the club’s radar.

    Leicester are in a strong bargaining position though.

    The defender signed a five-year contract last September and new manager Brendan Rodgers made it clear at the end of the season he feels Maguire can develop even more if he remains at the King Power.

    The England centre-half is not the only defender United are keen on.

    Solskjaer also retains an interest in Crystal Palace’s England Under-21 full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

    The 21-year-old was named Palace’s player of the year this season, the first full campaign of his senior career.

    United would have to pay a fee well in excess of £40m if they were to try to push forward with a deal for the youngster.

    BBC