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Tag: Manchester United

  • Mourinho worried by Man United’s ‘very bad’ pre-season

    Mourinho worried by Man United’s ‘very bad’ pre-season

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is worried by the absence of key players from the club’s pre-season training camp in the United States.

    Mourinho said the situation was “very bad” ahead of the English Premier League (EPL) campaign.

    United are without several World Cup participants, including France’s Paul Pogba, Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini, and England’s Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, Ashley Young and Phil Jones among others, as they rest following a gruelling tournament.

    Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez is also absent from the camp due to visa issues.

    “The pre-season is very bad, the positive thing of the pre-season is only for the young boys that have a fantastic opportunity to train with us,” Mourinho told reporters.

    “I’m worried because I’m not training (with everyone) and then I go to the EPL without lots of players.

    “But it is what it is and we have to try and make the best out of it with the players we have here.

    “I’m not worried about playing Liverpool here or Real Madrid or Milan… I’m not worried if we lose badly,” continued Mourinho.

    United will play two friendlies, starting with Club America on Friday, ahead of next week’s International Champions Cup tournament, where they will face domestic rivals Liverpool, Real Madrid and Italy’s AC Milan.

    The Old Trafford side also play a friendly against German champions Bayern Munich on Aug. 5, five days before they kick off their league campaign against Leicester City.

    Reuters/NAN

  • Man Utd can challenge City rivals for title – Rooney

    Man Utd can challenge City rivals for title – Rooney

    Former Manchester United striker, Wayne Rooney is confident Jose Mourinho’s side can make a stronger push for the title next season, despite finishing 19 points behind champions Manchester City in 2017-18.

    Rooney, Manchester United’s record goalscorer with 253 goals between 2004 and 2017.

    “Obviously they can challenge, it’s a massive club. Last year was different because of how well Manchester City did,” he said.

    “In any other year, they might have won the title. A lot of people looked at what Manchester City did and said Manchester United didn’t play that well.

    “But they actually had a good season. Obviously they didn’t win anything but I think they can take confidence from that and I believe they can push Manchester City next season.

    “I saw that people said they weren’t playing the most attractive football. But they scored a lot of goals. I think they are getting there. Hopefully it won’t be long before they win the title again.”

    Wayne Rooney left Everton for DC United because he did not want to “hang around and be a dead weight”.

    The former England captain, 32, said he would not have moved to the United States if his wife and children were not going to join him.

    Rooney, who signed a three-and-a-half-year contract, said he remained hungry for success and wanted to win trophies.

    He left Everton in June after scoring 208 goals in 491 Premier League appearances over 16 years.

  • I want to win Champions League with Man City – Mahrez

    I want to win Champions League with Man City – Mahrez

    Record Manchester City signing Riyad Mahrez says he moved to a “big” club to win the Champions League.

    Mahrez, 27, joined the Premier League champions from Leicester City in a club-record £60m deal on Tuesday.

    The Algerian was attracted to the Blues’ “ambition” and the opportunity to work under Pep Guardiola.

    He said: “The Champions League is for big clubs, they’re a big club, they have everything to try to win it.

    “City have ambition to go further than the Champions League quarter-finals like they did last season. I made the decision to come here because I want to be part of that.

    “Pep [Guardiola] is a big manager, he’s won a lot of things and made history with this club.

    “I’ll give my best to achieve for the club. If I can help add quality.”

    The Algeria international faces competition for his place, with Leroy Sane, Bernardo Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling already operating on the wing but Mahrez says every club has “great” players and competition is “part of football”.

    Mahrez’s five-year deal at the Etihad, which puts an end to a long-running transfer saga between City and Leicester, is the sixth highest fee ever by an English club.

  • Transfer Gist: Manchester United want Alderweireld, Fred

    Transfer Gist: Manchester United want Alderweireld, Fred

    Premier League runners-up, Manchester United have made enquiries about Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld and Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred, according to BBC.

    The two players would cost United a combined fee in excess of £100m as manager Jose Mourinho seeks to strengthen the spine of his team.

    Alderweireld’s future at Tottenham is in doubt, with no agreement in place to extend his contract at the club.

    United defender Matteo Darmian, meanwhile, is interesting Juventus.

    The Italian, 28, has a year left on his contract and started only five Premier League games for United during the season just completed.

    Along with Daley Blind and Luke Shaw, Darmian has little future at the club as Mourinho, who signed a new contract in January that will keep him at Old Trafford until at least 2020, seeks reinforcements.

    United finished second in the Premier League – their highest placing since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 – but were 19 points behind champions Manchester City.

    Belgium defender Alderweireld and Brazil midfielder Fred have both been selected for their World Cup squads, meaning that unless deals can be done within the next fortnight, they are likely to have to wait until after the tournament.

    Alderweireld, 29, was involved in just six Tottenham games after declaring he had recovered from a hamstring injury in January, having failed to force his way back into the team.

    The defender, one of the few senior players that head coach Maurico Pochettino is willing to lose, has a contract that is set to expire in 12 months’ time, but there is the option of a one-year extension. If that were activated, a clause within it would allow him to leave for £25m at the end of next season.

    Fred, 25, has been heavily linked with Manchester City ,but they have since turned their attentions to Napoli midfielder Jorginho, leaving the way clear for United to negotiate with Shakhtar.

    Rinat Akhmetov, Shakhtar’s president, has indicated that Fred will cost more than the £34m that Manchester City paid for Fernandinho in 2013, and the reported £43.8m that allowed midfielder Alex Teixeira to join Chinese club Jiangsu Suning in 2016.

    “We will sell Fred to a good and strong club, do not doubt it,” Akhmetov told the Great Football program on Ukraine’s Football 1. told the Great Football program on Ukraine’s Football 1.

    “He will cost the potential buyer more than Fernandinho and be even more expensive than Alex Teixeira.”

    Mourinho still hopes midfielder Marouane Fellaini will sign a new contract, although the Belgian has yet to make a final decision and hopes are receding at Old Trafford that he will stay now that he can leave for nothing.

  • Manchester United goalkeeper out of World Cup

    Manchester United second-choice goalkeeper, Sergio Romero has been ruled out for representing Argentina in the World Cup with a knee injury.

    The 31-year-old Argentine has won 94 caps for the country and played in the 2014 World Cup final defeat by Germany.

    Chelsea’s Willy Caballero, with two caps, and River Plate’s Franco Armani, who is uncapped, are Argentina’s reserve goalkeepers.

    Tigres’ Nahuel Guzman has been called into the squad as Romero’s replacement.

    Argentina’s Football Association said Romero will have surgery on his injured right knee.

    Argentina begin their World Cup campaign against Iceland on 16 June before games against Croatia and Nigeria in Group D.

  • EPL payments: Man Utd earned more than champions Man City

    Manchester United earned slightly more money than champions Manchester City from the Premier League last season, despite City’s record-breaking campaign.

    United, who finished second, received £149.77m, £328,491 more than City.

    United were paid more because two more of their matches were shown live in the UK – which meant their facilities fee was £2.26m higher.

    In total Premier League clubs received £2.42bn, £2.1m more than last season.

    Jose Mourinho’s United were shown live on UK television 28 times this season, the same number as Liverpool and Arsenal, with City screened 26 times.

    A club’s total payment is made up of UK broadcast revenue – of which 50% is shared equally between clubs, 25% is shared based on the number of live UK television matches, and 25% is based on league position – central commercial revenues and international broadcasting revenues.

    City received £38.63m for winning the league, £1.93m more than second-placed United.

     

    Payments to Premier League clubs 2017-18
    Clubs (by league position) Number of live UK TV matches Merit payment (prize money for league position) Total payment
    Manchester City 26 £38.63m £149.44m
    Manchester United 28 £36.69m £149.77m
    Tottenham 25 £34.76m £144.45m
    Liverpool 28 £32.83m £145.90m
    Chelsea 26 £30.90m £141.71m
    Arsenal 28 £28.97m £142.04m
    Burnley 10 £27.04m £119.77m
    Everton 19 £25.11m £128.01m
    Leicester 12 £23.18m £118.17m
    Newcastle 18 £21.24m £123.02m
    Crystal Palace 12 £19.31m £114.31m
    Bournemouth 11 £17.38m £111.25m
    West Ham 17 £15.45m £116.09m
    Watford 10 £13.52m £106.25m
    Brighton 13 £11.59m £107.71m
    Huddersfield 10 £9.66m £102.39m
    Southampton 16 £7.73m £107.24m
    Swansea 10 £5.79m £98.53m
    Stoke 12 £3.86m £98.86m
    West Brom 10 £1.93m £94.67m
  • Man Utd Keeper De Gea wins Premier League golden glove

    Man Utd Keeper De Gea wins Premier League golden glove

    Manchester United’s David De Gea won his first Premier League golden glove after recording 18 clean sheets during the season.

    The Spaniard was rested for United’s final game of the season against Watford, but had already established an unassailable lead in the standings.

    Manchester City’s Ederson finished in second spot with 16 clean sheets in his first season in England.

    Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris and Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois both nothced up 15 shut outs, while Burnley’s Nick Pope and Arsenal’s Petr Cech were next on the list with 11.

  • Eric Cantona set for Manchester United return

    Eric Cantona set for Manchester United return

    Manchester United and France legend Eric Cantona is to return to Old Trafford in June.

    He’ll be playing at Manchester United’s stadium as part of the Soccer Aid charity football match for Unicef.

    The 51-year-old says: “There is no place like home. Knowing I am coming back to Old Trafford is a special feeling.”

    He joins a host of famous faces including Usain Bolt, Sir Mo Farah, Olly Murs and Gordon Ramsay.

    Footballing giant Cantona will play for a World XI made up of ex-footballers and celebs, captained by Usain Bolt. It will be the first time he’s played there since 2001.

    “I am coming back to make the June 10 match the best ever and I want you to join me,” says the Frenchman.

    “Let’s make history together at Old Trafford again one last time.”

    He’ll face an England team captained by Soccer Aid co-founder Robbie Williams.

    Cantona will join other ex-Man Utd stars playing at their famous ground including England Women boss Phil Neville and Edwin van der Sar.

    Other players for the World XI include Yaya Toure, Clarence Seedorf, Robert Pires, Jaap Stam and Patrick Kluivert.

    They’ll face the likes of David Seaman, Jamie Redknapp, Danny Murphy and Robbie Fowler for the England XI.

    Will Ferrell, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Jack Whitehall are just a few of the celebs to have taken part in the charity match in the past.

    The enigmatic Cantona – who signed for £1.2m in 1992 – scored 64 goals in 143 league games for Manchester United, winning four Premier League titles and two FA cups in five seasons there.

    But the number seven was also constantly surrounded by controversy – especially when he aimed a kung-fu kick at a fan during a match.

    He was banned for eight months for the incident 1995.

    At a press conference afterwards, he gave arguably his most famous quote: “When the seagulls follow the trawler, it’s because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.”

    Since he retired from football in 1997, Cantona has acted in movies including Elizabeth, French Film and Looking for Eric.

    He’s even made the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch star-struck.

    Tickets for the Soccer Aid match are priced between £10 and £50, and it will be broadcast live on ITV from 8pm BST on Sunday 10 June.

    The event, which takes place every two years, has raised £24m to help children since its launch in 2006.

    BBC

  • Manchester United secure second place with West Ham draw

    Manchester United secured the point they needed to finish second in the Premier League with a dull 0-0 draw at West Ham United on Thursday.

    There were few chances in a tepid first half, though Alexis Sanchez forced a good save from West Ham keeper Adrian.

    Marko Arnautovic looked the most likely West Ham player to make a breakthrough.

    Paul Pogba curled a couple of shots narrowly wide for Manchester United.

    The France midfielder was booked in the dying stages for kicking out at West Ham’s Mark Noble, who was also shown a yellow card as tempers frayed.

    Manchester United, 19 points behind champions Manchester City, moved four points clear of third-placed Tottenham Hotspur with one league game left.

    They will play Chelsea in the FA Cup final on May 19.

    West Ham are 15th in the table.

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was pleased to secure second place.

    “We are the second best team in the Premier League, a fantastic competition with lots of good teams with six teams trying to finish first,” he told the BBC.

    “We came second, I am not totally happy that is not my nature. But since the moment we felt it was impossible to finish first we had the target to finish second and it is done today.

    “I am not critical of the performance at all. In the 80th minute we know that a point was enough so we start thinking about that and we let the game go.”

    West Ham manager David Moyes was happy to draw with his former club.

    “A good point for us,” he said. “Our boys showed a great attitude after getting safe at the weekend.

    “We have conceded a lot of goals this season so a clean sheet is great. We have done the job we came to do – we are not relegated.”

  • Pogba will stay at Man Utd – Jose Mourinho

    Pogba will stay at Man Utd – Jose Mourinho

    Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho says he has “a feeling” Paul Pogba will still be at Old Trafford next season.

    French midfielder Pogba, 25, had been linked with a move away from the Premier League this season having fallen out of favour at United.

    Mourinho also said there were players in his squad who are not up to United standards, but who he accepted would not be leaving the club.

    “I think he’s going to be here next season,” Mourinho said of Pogba.

    “That’s my feeling.”

    Pogba – who joined United for a then-world record £89m in August 2016 – has scored six goals in 25 Premier League appearances this season, one more than his tally from the 2016-17 campaign.

    But he has been left out of Mourinho’s starting line-up for several key fixtures this season, including both legs of United’s Champions League last-16 defeat by Sevilla.

    “I can give the guarantee that I don’t want him to leave, that the club doesn’t want to sell him, and I can give you the guarantee that we don’t have any approach from him or his agent or from any club,” Mourinho added.

    “In this moment, for me, he’s staying, yes.”

    ‘I trust some more than others’

    With two games remaining of the Premier League season, United are second, 20 points adrift of champions and neighbours Manchester City.

    Mourinho says his players need to be “more consistent” on the pitch, adding he wanted to see “more quality” at the club next season if they are to narrow the deficit.

    “I trust some more than others that can bridge that gap. Some of the players I am totally convinced are going to make it, some others I have good hopes that they are going to make it, and some others I don’t believe they are going to make it,” he said.

    “Unless there is a perfect squad, where if you buy one goalkeeper you don’t like, you buy another one. You buy a central defender you don’t like, you buy another one. Unless you can do that, you have to keep players you don’t love – when I say love, I say it ‘footballistically’ – and players you don’t totally believe have the level of the squad.

    “If you go to the Premier League managers, I don’t say every one, but I say the majority of them will tell you the same. In my squad, I have some players where I would like to have better than what I have. That’s basic.

    BBC