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  • Tottenham whipped Man United 2-0 in a PL record, 81,978 fans

    Tottenham whipped Man United 2-0 in a PL record, 81,978 fans

    Tottenham defeated Manchester United 2-0 at Wembley on Wednesday evening, and did so in front of a Premier League record crowd.

    A total of 81,978 fans turned out to see Spurs beat Jose Mourinho’s men by virtue of Christian Eriksen’s early strike and Phil Jones’ own goal.

    Spurs also held the previous Premier League record attendance, with 80,827 witnessing their thumping 4-1 win over Liverpool earlier this season.

    Eriksen almost set a record of his own with his stunningly early goal, scored after 11 seconds, just two seconds slower than Ledley King’s goal against Bradford.

    It was, however, the fastest goal Manchester United have ever conceded in the Premier League.

    Spurs are now just five points behind United, who remain second, and are two behind Liverpool and Chelsea in third and fourth respectively.

    Manager Mauricio Pochettino was delighted with the performance and result, which kept Spurs firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish.

    Meanwhile, Manchester United, Jose Mourinho blasted his team for their shocking start to the game, saying: ‘I don’t think it’s normal to concede a goal like we did after 15 seconds.

  • Man United top football money league ahead of Real Madrid, Barcelona

    Manchester United have retained their position on top of the Deloitte Football Money League as the football club to have generated the most revenue worldwide in the period under review, the 2016/2017 season.

    The Deloitte Football Money League profiles the highest revenue generating clubs in world football annually.

    United Kingdom financial consultancy firm Deloitte says “the Money League is the most contemporary and reliable independent analysis of the clubs’ relative financial performance”.

    The report says “aggregate revenue for the top 20 Money League clubs rose 6% to €7.9 billion (£6.8 billion) in 2016/17, a new record, with the top three clubs – Manchester United, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid – earning a combined revenue of €2 billion for the first time.”

    Deloitte added in the report published on Tuesday on their official website: “Manchester United retained top spot for a second consecutive year, generating total revenue of €676m (£581m).

    “This year’s battle for first place was the closest in Money League history, just €1.7m (£1.5m) separated Manchester United and second place Real Madrid: United’s win in the Europa League Final proving critical in the club topping our list for a tenth time.

    “Real Madrid moved back above FC Barcelona into second place thanks to strong commercial growth in 2016/17 and a title winning season in both domestic and European competitions, with Bayern Munich and Manchester City making up the remainder of the Money League top five.

    “A place in the top 20 now requires revenue of approximately €200m, a 16% increase on last year and double the amount required in the 2010 edition of the Money League.

    “The English Premier League has ten teams in the top 20 this year, the highest ever from one country, with Southampton (18th) making their debut in the Money League top 20, Manchester City consolidating their place in the top five, and Leicester City rising to 14th, from 20th last year. Outside the top 20, there are four more English clubs ranked 21-30, including AFC Bournemouth who debut in 28th place.

  • Manchester United overhaul Real Madrid, FC Barcelona as Europe’s biggest earners

    Manchester United enjoyed the biggest revenue of any European club in the last financial year after a 32 percent increase propelled them above Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, UEFA say.

    In an annual report published on Tuesday, UEFA in the European Club Football Landscape report said revenues among Europe’s 700-odd top-flight clubs totalled 18.5 billion euros (£16.5 billion) for 2016.

    This is in comparison to 16.9 billion the year before and 2.8 billion in 1996.

    However, the report acknowledged that nearly half that amount — 9.1 million euros — was generated by 30 clubs.

    It also noted that the financial gap between the elite ones and the rest was increasing.

    English Premier League television revenues were now such that mid-table Bournemouth earned the same as three-times European champions Inter Milan.

    Manchester United’s revenue for 2016 was 689 million euros, compared to 521 million euros in 2015, the report said.

    United were followed by FC Barcelona and Real Madrid (both 620 million), Bayern Munich (592 million), Paris St Germain (542 million) and Manchester City (533 million).

    Its operating profit of 232 million euros was also the highest followed by Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Manchester City.

    United was also burdened with the highest net debt of 561 million euros, ahead of Benfica, Inter Milan, Juventus and Liverpool.

    The report confirmed that the English Premier League enjoys by far the highest revenues in Europe, averaging 244.4 million euros per club.

    Next was Germany’s Bundesliga with 149.6 million per club followed by Spain (126.3 million) and Italy (100.2 million)

    Revenues fell dramatically elsewhere, even in traditional football nations such as the Netherlands (26.7 million) and Portugal (20.3 million).

    Greek clubs earned an average of 8.9 million euros.

    Figures for Eastern Europe were even lower at 5 million euros for Hungary, 4.4 million for Czech Republic and 1.5 million for Slovenia.

    “Once more, we cannot help but note that the polarisation of commercial and sponsorship revenues between the top tier of clubs and the rest is accelerating,” UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said.

    “As the guardians of the game, UEFA must ensure that football remains competitive even as financial gaps are augmented by globalisation and technological change.”

    UEFA analyst Sefton Perry said that “only a limited number of clubs are able to fully exploit the enormous commercial opportunities offered by the global market”.

    Sixteen of the top 20 clubs in terms of domestic broadcast revenues were English with Manchester United top on 146 million, edging out Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

    Bournemouth earned 99 million euros, level with Inter Milan who, along with Juventus, were the only Serie A side in the top 20.

    The report confirmed that transfer spending reached record levels of almost 5.6 billion euros in the European summer of 2017, including six of the top 20 most expensive transfers ever recorded.

    Arsenal were however the club who made the most from paying fans.

    UEFA said their yield of 97.8 euros per spectator was the highest in Europe.

    They were followed by Chelsea, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, FC Barcelona, Galatasaray, Manchester City and West Ham United.

  • Manchester United whip Stoke at Old Trafford amid Sanchez talk

    The thoughts of Manchester United’s fans may have been on the possible arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal but the players stayed focused to beat Stoke City 3-0 on Monday.

    In the English Premier League match at a rainy Old Trafford, full-back Antonio Valencia blasted Manchester United into a ninth minute lead.

    He had cut inside on to his unfavoured — but still potent — left foot before scoring.

    Anthony Martial and Romelu Lukaku later wrapped up the victory for Jose Mourinho’s side.

    The result leaves second-placed United 12 points behind leaders Manchester City who suffered their first league defeat this season in a thrilling 4-3 reverse at Liverpool on Sunday.

    Stoke’s new manager Paul Lambert, appointed earlier on Monday to replace the recently-sacked Mark Hughes, watched from the stands as Valencia put United ahead.

    Stoke’s Stephen Ireland, making his first start since May 2016, then missed two good chances as the visitors showed plenty of attacking intent.

    But seven minutes before the interval, United’s French winger Martial made it 2-0 with a sweet first-time finish after being set up by Paul Pogba.

    Lukaku rounded off the win with a 72nd minute goal, wriggling to find enough space for a shot into the bottom corner after good work from Martial.

    Mourinho omitted winger Henrikh Mkhitaryan from the squad amid reports that Arsenal were interested in taking him to The Emirates as part of a swap deal for their Chile forward Sanchez

  • Manchester United legend,Ryan Giggs set to be named Wales manager

    Manchester United legend,Ryan Giggs set to be named Wales manager

    Ryan Giggs is set to be named the new Wales manager on a four-year contract.The Football Association of Wales has called a news conference for Monday afternoon in Cardiff, where the former Manchester United winger is expected to be unveiled.

    Provided there is no late hitch, Giggs will be announced as the successor to Chris Coleman, who left for Sunderland in November.

    Craig Bellamy, Osian Roberts and Mark Bowen were also interviewed.

    The panel set up to conduct the search, led by FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford, is expected to put the finishing touches to the agreement on Monday morning.

    The recruitment panel decision does not have to go to the ruling council of the association because they have full powers to make the choice.

    Giggs, who has long been a target for the FAW, was one of the favourites for the role once Coleman departed after Wales failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

    Captain to manager?

    Giggs won 64 caps between 1991 and 2007 and captained his country – but he was criticised for regularly pulling out of squads and especially for missing friendly matches.

    The Manchester United great was in caretaker charge of the Red Devils for four games at the end of the 2013-14 season following the sacking of David Moyes.

    He spent the next two seasons as Louis van Gaal’s assistant but left after Jose Mourinho was appointed manager at Old Trafford.

    Giggs lost out on the Swansea job to Bob Bradley after being interviewed for the manager’s role at the Liberty Stadium in October 2016.

    It is understood that Bellamy and Roberts, who is the FAW’s technical director, also had their supporters at Welsh football’s governing body.

    Bellamy, 38, won 78 caps and is the country’s fourth most-capped player.

    The former Newcastle, Liverpool and Blackburn forward is currently an academy coach at Cardiff City, where he ended his playing career in 2014.

    Roberts has worked throughout all age grades in the Welsh system and been widely credited for helping to produce the talented crop of youngsters who will be at the disposal of the new senior manager and was Coleman’s assistant boss during a spell in which Wales reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

    Tony Pulis was also among the initial contenders to succeed Coleman, but he ruled himself out when he became Middlesbrough manager last month.

    Bowen was available after leaving Stoke, where he was assistant to boss Mark Hughes until the latter was sacked by the Potters on 6 January.

  • Man City prepared to miss out on Arsenal forward, Alexis Sanchez over fee

    Man City prepared to miss out on Arsenal forward, Alexis Sanchez over fee

    Manchester City are prepared to risk missing out on Alexis Sanchez – possibly to Manchester United – rather than pay Arsenal’s £35m asking price.

    It is also understood Sanchez’s agent wants £5m for his part in the deal, taking the overall tally to £40m – double what City are willing to pay.

    Sanchez, 29, will leave the Gunners in January if a suitable offer arrives and a replacement is secured.

    United boss Jose Mourinho said Sanchez is a “phenomenal player” on Friday.

    Mourinho, who was speaking in his news conference before his side’s game against Stoke City, added: “Sanchez is an Arsenal player. I don’t know but probably this weekend he is going to defend Arsenal colours, so I don’t think it’s correct to say things about Alexis Sanchez.

    “At the general level, what I can say is myself and the Manchester United board and owners, we don’t believe a lot in the January market.

    “We don’t believe in signing a player just to sign a player. What we believe is there are some players in the football world, if you have the chance to sign them in January, March or July, you have to try. And that’s it.”

    French side Paris St-Germain have also been linked with the Chile forward but Sanchez’s preference is to join Manchester City.

    However, given Gabriel Jesus’ knee injury is now not as bad as initially feared, the club do not view such a huge outlay on a player who would be available for nothing in the summer, as being worthwhile.

    It had initially been thought Jesus would be out for two months with a knee injury he sustained against Crystal Palace on New Year’s Eve, with rumours surfacing the Brazil forward might be out for much longer.

    However, at his news conference on Friday, Guardiola said that, after tests in Barcelona on Thursday, it was possible Jesus could be back in action “in two or three weeks”.

    Manager Pep Guardiola is aware of Sanchez’s desire to join them, but City also feel the player is determined to leave Arsenal come what may this month, so their stance could lead to him joining a rival club.

    Guardiola would not be drawn on his interest in Sanchez at his news conference on Friday.

    He said: “I don’t answer. I understand the question, you do your job, you know my answer. I’m focused on Liverpool.”

    Manchester United spoke to Arsenal in September and Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho is a confirmed admirer, so the Old Trafford club could prove to be an attractive alternative should the impasse not be broken.

    It is understood the Gunners hierarchy have accepted that Sanchez is likely to depart after three and a half years at Emirates Stadium.

    However, Arsenal are reluctant to sell without replacing Sanchez and their first choice is Bordeaux’s 20-year-old Brazilian forward Malcom.

    “Normally he would stay until the end of the season – but we’ll see,” said Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

    Speaking at a news conference on Friday, the Frenchman added: “Nothing is really concrete at the moment and nothing is decided one way or another. Of course I want a quick resolution.”

    If a deal cannot be agreed with any club, Sanchez will be able to leave when his contract expires in the summer – a situation Arsenal are keen to avoid as they would receive nothing.

    Sanchez almost joined City for about £60m on the final day of the summer transfer window, only for the transfer to collapse when Arsenal failed to sign Monaco and France midfielder Thomas Lemar.

    ‘It would be a coup for United over City’

    Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville said Sanchez would be an “absolutely unbelievable signing” for the Old Trafford club.

    Responding to reports that said a £25m bid had already been made, he told Sky Sports: “If you look back at Manchester United’s big signings over the decades, Eric Cantona came out of the hat, [Robin] van Persie was a surprise – and they both helped United win titles.

    “I think this could have a similar impact. He’s got the character to play at Old Trafford,” the ex-England international added.

    “It would be a coup, particularly for United fans, to have a player like Sanchez come to them over City. It would be a strong statement.

    “It’s pretty obvious he’s not going to stay at Arsenal. I think if United were going to buy him, £25m would be an absolute snip.”

    Meanwhile, former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has told the BBC that Arsenal should have cut their losses on Sanchez sooner.

    “I think Arsenal should have sold him at the start of the season. It was an unbelievable offer from Manchester City that they turned down,” said Schwarzer.

    “They should have got rid of him. He’s not the same player and his mind hasn’t been at Arsenal this season. The sooner they get rid of him, the better for Arsenal.”

    BBC Sports

  • Man Utd manager, Jose Mourinho says he wants to stay at the club

    Man Utd manager, Jose Mourinho says he wants to stay at the club

    Jose Mourinho has branded claims he is ready to leave Manchester United at the end of the season as “garbage”.

    Mourinho is in discussions over a new contract but it has been claimed he is so unhappy at Old Trafford that he is ready to walk away.

    His commitment has also been questioned as he continues to live in a hotel rather than move into his own house.

    “I say garbage. I don’t find a better word than to define the talk,” Mourinho said.

    “The worst thing someone can do is put one inch of doubt into my professionalism, to every detail related to my job, so yes the garbage news affected me just on this aspect because it’s something I don’t admit.

    “I repeat I am in the middle of my contract, if I am going to sign a new one it depends on the club but my commitment is total and I want to stay.”

    Mourinho, whose current deal does not expire until 2019, is in the second year of a three-year contract.

    It is understood detailed conversations have taken place between United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and Mourinho’s advisers over extending his stay at Old Trafford.

    “I see myself here,” added Mourinho. “It is just a question of the club, the board the owners, Mr Woodward, they are all happy with my contribution and they want me to stay beyond the end of this contract.”

    The Portuguese also addressed his apparent unhappiness at his present situation.

    “Because I don’t behave as a clown on the touchline? It means I lost my passion?” said the 54-year-old.

    “I prefer to do it the way I do it, much more mature, better for my team and myself, you don’t have to behave like a crazy guy on the touchline.

    “The way a person is dedicated to his work, not what you do in front of the cameras.”

    It is thought that sources inside Manchester United have been bewildered by speculation over Mourinho’s future.

    They remain adamant that Mourinho is happy at Old Trafford, despite obvious frustration at being 15 points adrift of a Manchester City side managed by his old rival Pep Guardiola.

    United beat Everton 2-0 in their most recent match but drew three games – against Leicester, Burnley and Southampton – over the Christmas period.

    Club sources, however, believe that Mourinho remains a jovial figure at United’s Carrington training complex and dispute a claim that he has become withdrawn and rarely speaks to staff.

    In addition, they say whilst Mourinho does travel down to his home in London, where his family still live, the United boss is present on the training ground whenever the first team is there – unlike Sir Alex Ferguson, who in his latter years was not averse to missing the odd session.

    Mourinho has made his feelings known both inside and outside the club that more needs to be spent on his squad to make it competitive.

    However, inside Old Trafford this has been viewed as an observation the squad Mourinho inherited was inferior to that of Manchester City, rather than an outright attack on the money he has been given during his 18 months in charge.

    Mourinho evidently wants to strengthen his squad, although United have already told Inter Milan they are not willing to enter into a loan agreement for Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan and would only consider a straight sale.

    However, Inter are not in a position to buy Mkhitaryan outright because of Financial Fair Play restrictions imposed by Uefa.

    Relations between the clubs became strained in the summer during United’s attempt to sign Ivan Perisic.

  • Burnley can challenge for Europe-Mourinho

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes Burnley can challenge for a European place this season. Burnley have surprised in the Premier League, sitting seventh at the halfway mark of the campaign.

    Ahead of welcoming Burnley to Old Trafford on Boxing Day, Mourinho praised Sean Dyche’s side, backing them to push for a European spot.

    “If survival was the objective, I think the objective is in the pocket, it’s totally under control,” he told Sky Sports News.

    “If the objective is to finish top 10, they will do it. If the objective is to fight for European positions, they are there so they have the right to fight, so it’ll be a difficult opponent.

    “If you compare what they are doing with the initial objectives, it’s a very good season.”

    Only Manchester City (12), Chelsea (14) and Manchester United (14) have conceded fewer league goals than Burnley (15) this season.

    Mourinho said that showed what Dyche’s side – who are winless in their past two league games and have scored just 16 league goals – were all about.

    “They conceded three in the last one but before that they were really amazing so they defend very, very well,” he said.

    “Everybody knows the way they play, if you expect them to play creative beautiful football, they don’t do that.

    “But if you talk about direct objective, pragmatic and play with their strength, I think they are very, very good.”

  • ‘Man City aren’t great’ Guardiola still behind Mourinho and Ferguson-neville

    Manchester City cannot be put in the same bracket as Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United and Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, says Gary Neville.

    Pep Guardiola’s side have enjoyed a record-breaking opening to the 2017-18 campaign to sit 14 points clear in the Premier League title race at Christmas.

    Returning the crown to the Etihad Stadium now appears to be a formality, with unbeaten City having swept aside all before them in a run of 17 successive top-flight victories.

    Neville, though, believes that success must be achieved over a prolonged period of time in order to be considered “great”, with Guardiola yet to join some iconic figures among English football’s elite.

    The former United defender said in a podcast for Sky Sports: “I can’t put City anywhere in terms of great teams as they haven’t won a league yet.

    “When they win a league, you’ll say it’s a great achievement. But to be one of the great teams in English football history, you have to win multiple leagues – you have to win two or three.

    “You think about Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich team or his Barcelona team, where he won multiple European cups – they are great teams.

    “The Chelsea team under Jose Mourinho, the United team under Sir Alex and the Liverpool teams over the years – they are all great sides. I can’t say a team that wins the league once is truly great side – however, they are achieving great things.

    “We’ve never seen anything like it. But, let’s just calm ourselves, and respect the bigger picture. I think they have to win more than one league championship and a European cup before they become a great side.”

    City hold such a commanding advantage as the chasing pack has been unable to keep pace.

    Closest challengers United dropped another two points in their latest outing, with Mourinho’s side allowing Leicester to snatch a last-gasp leveller in a 2-2 draw at the King Power Stadium.

    Neville was less than impressed by the Red Devils’ inability to see that game out, with a communication breakdown leading to a clearly injured Chris Smalling being left exposed as Harry Maguire stole in to snatch a dramatic equaliser.

    The ex-England international added: “Smalling has got to flag up as an experienced defender that he’s struggling, get someone else into the centre.

    “It didn’t happen for two or three minutes.

    “Then Phil Jones recognised it had happened and tried to reorganise – as I saw it, Ander Herrera refused to go to right-back and told Henrik Mkhitaryan to go back there. All over a sudden Smalling sits down on the floor and then goes off the pitch and then comes back on at centre-back. He ends up picking up Harry Maguire.

    “You can’t believe the disorganisation and lack of leadership shown by Manchester United at the end of that game in a game they should have won. Jose will be furious when he watches that back.”

    goal.com

  • I should’ve joined Manchester United, Bayern Munich great Kahn admits

    Bayern Munich legend Oliver Kahn has said that he regrets not taking the opportunity to join Manchester United.

    Kahn had the chance to sign for the Old Trafford club when Sir Alex Ferguson was still in charge at Old Trafford and feels that he missed out on a wonderful opportunity.

    No goalkeeper has made more appearances than Kahn in Germany’s top flight with 557, but he feels that he should have spread his wings a little more.

    “Sir Alex Ferguson is still mad at me today. He thought that I would move to Man Utd in 2003 or 2004, but I was more interested in trying to define an era at Bayern,” Kahn told Bild.

    “Looking back, I should have done it then. It would have been a nice challenge for me.”

    It was Kahn who kept goal for Bayern as they were on the wrong end of United’s dramatic comeback in the 1999 European Cup final, when two late goals sent the title to Old Trafford, yet he has a novel way of coping with the match.

    “I remember the Champions League final against Manchester United as a win – I just forgot the last two minutes,” he joked.

    Despite that disappointment, Kahn won the Champions League title with Bayern in 2000-01, while he also claimed eight Bundesliga titles. With Germany, he was a champion at Euro 96, while he was in the team that finished runner-up to Ronaldo’s Brazil in 2002 and was also present three years later as they finished third on home soil.

    Sporting News