Tag: Manchester United

  • Ronaldo eager to “win great things” with Manchester United

    c has spoken of his desire to “win great things” in his second stint with English Premier League (EPL) side Manchester United Football Club.

    The 36-year-old Portugal forward completed a sensational return to Manchester United on transfer deadline day, rejoining the club from Juventus on a two-year deal.

    Ronaldo’s first six-season spell with Manchester United saw him help them secure a haul of silverware before moving to Real Madrid in 2009.

    Those trophies included the UEFA Champions League and three Premier League titles.

    In his first interview since returning to Manchester United, Ronaldo told the club’s website on Wednesday: “I have a fantastic history with this amazing club.

    “I was there at 18 years old and of course I’m so happy to be back home after 12 years. So I’m really glad and looking forward to start my first game.

    “I think it’s the best decision that I have made. It’s right on point in my opinion.

    “I moved from Juventus now to Manchester United, it’s a new chapter, I’m so happy and glad. I want to carry on again, to make history, to help Manchester United achieve great results.”

  • Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United a double-edged sword for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

    The 36-year-old superstar has always held a special place in the hearts of everyone at Old Trafford after winning the Champions League, three Premier Leagues, the FA Cup and two League Cups in a glittering six-year stay under his mentor Sir Alex Ferguson before an £80m move to Real Madrid in 2009.

    The current Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will rightly celebrate Ronaldo’s landmark return – but it is also a double-edged sword for the Norwegian, who is still in search of his first trophy and cannot afford to wait much longer for success given more vast transfer outlay this summer.

    Ronaldo will be greeted as the returning hero, the homecoming Old Trafford has always longed for but never seriously thought would materialise, and it will be a special occasion when he walks out once more as a Manchester United player.

    It was a moment of high emotion when he came back with Real Madrid in a Champions League last-16 second-leg tie in March 2013, Ronaldo tapping his heart in appreciation as he received a thunderous, prolonged standing ovation when he was introduced before kick-off.

    He responded in the only way he knew, scoring the winner but celebrating in subdued fashion as Ferguson’s last attempt to add another Champions League to his CV was snuffed out. Sentiment is not in his DNA. Success is.

    Now he is at Old Trafford again, this time in the red of Manchester United once more, Solskjaer will hope he brings that priceless commodity back with him.

    Ferguson’s father-son relationship with Ronaldo played a key role in diverting him away from the unthinkable outcome of signing for Manchester City, a move that would have threatened even his iconic status among United fans, in favour of this sensational comeback after 12 years away at Real and then Juventus.

    It is a remarkable strike in the markets by United, one that will be paraded as a coup over arch-rivals and Premier League champions City.

    The Glazers, owners still despised by large sections of United’s support, will say it is another signal that they are steadfast in their financial backing for Solskjaer, no matter what their critics think of them.

    United may be in desperate need of another quality midfield player but how could they seriously ignore the chance to re-sign someone who is a gold-plated United legend, the man won the first of his five Ballons d’Or after inspiring United’s Champions League win in 2008?

  • Ronaldo bids farewell to Juventus after joining Manchester United

    Cristiano Ronaldo has posted an emotional farewell to Juventus supporters after leaving the club.

    Manchester United have agreed to re-sign Ronaldo in a £19.4million deal, with his three-year spell at Juventus coming to an end.

    On Instagram Ronaldo posted a video of some of his most memorable moments in a Juventus shirt which was accompanied by a message.

    Ronaldo wrote: ‘Today I depart from an amazing club, the biggest in Italy and surely one of the biggest in all of Europe.

    ‘I gave my heart and soul for Juventus and I’ll always love the city of Turin until my final days. The ‘tifosi bianconeri’ always respected me and I tried to thank that respect by fighting for them in every game, every season, every competition.

    ‘In the end, we can all look back and realize that we achieved great things, not all that we wanted, but still, we wrote a pretty beautiful story together.’

    Ronaldo signed a four-year deal with Juventus in 2018 and proceeded to score 101 goals for the club in 134 appearances.

    During his time in Italy, Ronaldo won the Serie A title twice as well as the Coppa Italia.

  • Fernandes, Cavani sparkle with braces as Manchester United hit Roma for six

    Fernandes, Cavani sparkle with braces as Manchester United hit Roma for six

    Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani scored twice each as Manchester United took a giant step towards the Europa League final with a 6-2 drubbing of AS Roma on Thursday.

    The emphatic victory was in their semi-final first leg game at Old Trafford.

    Manchester United’s run of four semi-final losses under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should be ended after next week’s second leg in the Italian capital then.

    This was after Fernandes and Cavani gave a display of class, providing two assists each to go with their goals.

    Roma paid the price for three first half injuries, including to goalkeeper Pau Lopez, which forced them to use all three sub windows before going in 2-1 up at the break.

    But that should not disguise the impact of the quality provided by Portuguese midfielder Fernandes and Uruguayan forward Cavani which the visitors simply had no answer to.

    Manchester United took a ninth-minute lead with a well-crafted goal.

    Paul Pogba’s clever turn and pass to Cavani resulted in an inviting pass to Fernandes who expertly chipped past the advancing Lopez.

    Six minutes later, though, Roma were awarded a penalty kick when Pogba slid recklessly into a tackle on Rick Karsdorp, with the full-back’s shot striking the outstretched arm of the Frenchman.

    Lorenzo Pellegrini drilled home the equaliser from the penalty kick spot.

    It got worse for Manchester United in the 34th minute when their former midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan fed Pellegrini in the inside left channel.

    The Italian’s low cross was turned in by ex-Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko.

    Roma coach Paulo Fonseca’s inability to freshen up his side from the bench in the second half proved decisive, however, as they wilted in the face of a determined Manchester United.

    Cavani fired the home side back on level terms three minutes after the interval with a fine first-time strike after being slipped in by Fernandes following a swift break.

    The Uruguayan completed the turnaround with a simple tap-in after Roma substitute goalkeeper Antonio Mirante failed to hold on to a low shot from Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

    Fernandes made it 4-2 from the spot after former Manchester United defender Chris Smalling had clattered into Cavani, and Pogba headed in the fifth from, inevitably, a Fernandes cross.

    There was still time for substitute Mason Greenwood to join in the fun with a confident finish after he was played in by the irrepressible Cavani.

    It was not quite a repeat of Manchester United’s 7-1 win over Roma in the UEFA Champions League last eight in 2007, but it was still something.

    It should give Solskjaer a chance to secure his first silverware as manager.

    “I don’t feel the job is done. We did a good job and did well, but we know they have quality,” said the Norwegian.

    “We took most of our chances today. So, we’re very pleased with that. The character showed —— we came back, we didn’t lose our heads. For five, 10 minutes at the end of the first half we didn’t look great, but we got it together.”

    His counterpart Fonseca was left puzzled how a team that was leading at the break could have fallen apart so badly.

    “It’s difficult to explain how the same team that did so well in the first half had that kind of second half.

    “It’s hard to play against a side like Manchester United without having the substitutions,” he said.

    “It’s positive to reach this stage of the competition anyway, and also to play like we did in the first half. But in the second half we got everything wrong.”

    Manchester United will face the winners of the other semi-final between Villarreal and Arsenal.

    The Spanish side won Thursday’s first leg in Spain 2-1.

  • EPL: Liverpool play out 0-0 draw with Manchester United

    EPL: Liverpool play out 0-0 draw with Manchester United

    Liverpool are still playing catch up with table topping Manchester United as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Anfield on Sunday night, January 17.


    Even with the high expectations before the game, fans were left disappointed as a lack of finishing quality was on show during the match.

    The following line up was used by both teams.

    Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Henderson, Fabinho, Robertson; Thiago, Wijnaldum (Milner 89′), Shaqiri (Jones 76′); Salah, Mane, Firmino (Origi 85′)

    Subs not used: Kelleher, R.Williams, Phillips, N.Williams, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino

    Man United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Pogba, Fred, McTominay; Fernandes (Greenwood 89′), Rashford, Martial (Cavani 61′)

    Subs not used: Henderson, Bailly, Telles, Tuanzebe, Matic, Van de Beek, Mata.

    Jurgen Klopp was deprived of Joel Matip in the buildup, with the Cameroonian not fit enough to feature, Xherdan Shaqiri, started while Jordan Henderson played as a left-sided centre-back.


    The Reds were dominant throughout the majority of the first half but, most of their chances were saved by an alert David de Gea.


    It was clear at half-time that both Firmino and Andy Robertson would need to improve after the break, and in the second half only Harry Maguire’s interception kept Liverpool’s No. 9 from scoring.

    English Premier League: Liverpool play out 0-0 draw with Manchester United  (As it happened)

    Edinson Cavani then came in for Martial who looked out of sorts, as Ole Gunnar Solkajaer felt he could smell blood.


    As the game progressed, it threatened to open up as an end-to-end battle.

    English Premier League: Liverpool play out 0-0 draw with Manchester United  (As it happened)

    Firmino and Mohamed Salah tooled but often saw themselves overrun while Shaquiri was replaced at the 76th minute by Curtis before Thiago drew a bright save from De Gea .


    Both sides pushed for a winner late on, but ultimately it did not come, with United staying top as Liverpool fell behind 

  • Ex-Manchester United stopper Johnstone on West Brom heroics against Manchester City

    Ex-Manchester United stopper Johnstone on West Brom heroics against Manchester City

    Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone said he and his team-mates “love” manager Slaven Bilic after his heroics earned West Brom their first point against Manchester City since 2011.

    The 27-year-old put in a man-of-the-match performance in the 1-1 draw at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, including two superb stops with his foot to deny headers from Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling.

    Johnstone spoke about the two saves that effectively secured a crucial point for the Baggies and praised his team-mates for their work-rate in achieving the result.

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    “The boys dug in, we fought for 95 minutes. They had a lot of the ball but we knew that,” Johnstone told Amazon.

    “The lads ran their socks off but I was there to make a few saves when needed. The two headers were close and I just got a leg to them and kept them out. The quality of the balls they put in is unbelievable. The lads are buzzing with that result. It’s a massive game coming here.

    “We love the manager. We knew getting promoted it would be difficult, we’re not hiding away from that.”

    Gundogan put Manchester City ahead on 30 minutes with his first goal in almost a year, but West Brom drew level just before half-time when Ruben Dias diverted Semi Ajayi’s wayward strike into the net.

    Despite being under heavy pressure to City for most of the second half, the Baggies held on, with Johnstone insisting the point they earned was deserved because of their endeavour.

    “We’re buzzing with that. We knew it would be tough. We rode our luck at times but we deserved that result,” he told BBC Sport. “We’ve played well in a few games and not got the result. Today we kept digging in and when that whistle goes the lads are buzzing.

    “We knew the quality they have and it wasn’t going to be easy. We knew they would have a lot of the ball. We thought for the club, for the manager and for ourselves.”

    Despite securing an excellent result on the road, West Brom remain in the relegation with only one win and seven points from their first 12 matches. They are two points adrift from safety with Burnley currently sitting in 17th on nine points.

  • Scholes accuses Man Utd goalkeeper De Gea of ‘bottling it’ against RB Leipzig

    Scholes accuses Man Utd goalkeeper De Gea of ‘bottling it’ against RB Leipzig

    David de Gea “bottled it” against RB Leipzig, according to Paul Scholes, who says the Manchester United goalkeeper was “scared of getting hurt”.

    United crashed out of the Champions League after being beaten 3-2 by RB Leipzig in Germany on Tuesday night.

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side sat top of Group H on goal difference heading into the contest, and only needed a draw to secure safe passage through to the round of 16.

    However, the Red Devils made the worst possible start when Manchester City loanee Angelino capitalised on some lackadaisical defending from the visitors to fire home the opening goal of the game with just two minutes on the clock.

    Angelino turned provider 11 minutes later, floating in an inch-perfect cross from the left which Amadou Haidara volleyed past De Gea in emphatic fashion, sparking wild scenes of celebration on the Leipzig bench.

    United toiled in vain to get back into the game thereafter, and ended up being caught again midway through the second half, with Harry Maguire and De Gea both arguably at fault as Justin Kluivert stole in to chip the ball into the net.

    The Spanish shot-stopper turned his back as he went in to challenge Kluivert and Scholes has accused of him of failing to put his body on the line when his team needed him most.

    “He bottles it, doesn’t he?” the Red Devils legend told BT Sport post-match. “Basically, he’s scared of getting himself hurt. It should never go across the box.

    “Maguire looks wooden, stiff but De Gea as a goalkeeper has to come out and make himself as big as he can.

    “Yes, you might get injured but he turns his back away. It’s criminal.”

    Solskjaer’s men staged a late comeback to set up a tense final 10 minutes, with Bruno Fernandes netting a penalty and Paul Pogba forcing home a goal, but Leipzig ultimately held on for a famous victory.

    Maguire admitted after the final whistle that United “started the game too slow”, which left Scholes perplexed.

    “Harry Maguire’s interview was worrying, saying we weren’t ready and at it for the first 20 minutes,” said the former England international.

    “How can you not be up for such a big game and such a tough game coming to Germany? 

    “They should never have been in this position in the first place, but they are, and they are not ready for the first 20 minutes.”

  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claims his team was ‘Unlucky’

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claims his team was ‘Unlucky’

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claimed his Manchester United side were “unlucky” in RB Leipzig and hit back at Mino Raiola over his comments regarding Paul Pogba.

    Pogba’s agent, Raiola, spoke out on the eve of the crucial fixture at Leipzig – where United were eliminated from the Champions League after losing 3-2 – insisting he needed to leave the club in the summer transfer window.

    The France midfielder was named on the bench in Germany but came on and had a positive influence as United almost came from 3-0 down to earn a point, which would have been enough to qualify.

    “The squad is fine – they’re a team and they stick together,” Solskjaer said.

    “As soon as Paul’s agent realises this is a team sport and we work together, the better. That’s probably maybe the last thing I say on that. I don’t want to spend energy on that.”

    When asked if Pogba is happy at the club, Solskjaer said: “You’ll have to ask Paul. I’m not going to speak for him. Paul’s focused on doing his best for the team. He’s working hard in training.

    “Now is not the time to discuss ins and outs at the club.”

    Solskjaer, who must ready his side for a Manchester derby against City on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, said his team were not good enough on the night but were unlucky in the end not to level the game at 3-3 at the Red Bull Arena.

    He told BT Sport: “There was great spirit and comeback but we started too late. You can’t give a team a 3-0 lead.

    “I thought we were unlucky towards the end. The character and the effort was there.

    “We weren’t good enough. In a difficult group we started well but the big turning point was the defeat to Istanbul. That’s where we lost points that we should have had.

    “You can’t feel sorry for yourself. We have to focus on Saturday.”

  • Manchester United forward launches book club

    Manchester United forward launches book club

    Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is launching a book club so that all children can experience the escapism of reading.

    The United and England star is teaming up with Macmillan Children’s Books (MCB) to promote reading and literacy among children from all socio-economic backgrounds.

    Rashford says he wishes he had the chance to read more as a child but his family had to prioritise food over books when it came to budgeting.

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    MCB say there will be a particular focus on getting books into the hands of children from vulnerable and under-privileged backgrounds.

    The first title of the partnership, ‘YOU ARE A CHAMPION: Unlock Your Potential, Find Your Voice And Be The BEST You Can Be’ – an illustrated non-fiction title aimed at young people aged 11-16 – will be published in May 2021.

    Each chapter will begin with a story from Rashford’s own life and will cover topics such as the value of education, positive mentality, understanding culture, and female role models.

    It will be co-created with Carl Anka, a journalist for sports media group The Athletic, and Katie Warriner, a performance psychologist.

    Two fiction titles for readers aged seven and up will follow later in 2021 and 2022.

    Next year will also see the launch of the Marcus Rashford Book Club, a reader-recommends programme publishing front-list titles from MCB’s successful list.

    Rashford said: “I only started reading at 17, and it completely changed my outlook and mentality.

    “I just wish I was offered the opportunity to really engage with reading more as a child, but books were never a thing we could budget for as a family when we needed to put food on the table.

    “There were times where the escapism of reading could have really helped me. I want this escapism for all children. Not just those that can afford it.

    “We know there are over 380,000 children across the UK today that have never owned a book, children that are in vulnerable environments. That has to change.

    “My books are, and always will be, for every child, even if I have to deliver them myself. We will reach them.”

    Rashford says acceptance and acknowledgment are a key focus of the project, adding: “Let our children read that they are not alone and enable them to dream.

    “Equip them for obstacles and adversities they might face.

    “Allow them to relate to characters by making sure people of all race, religion and gender are depicted correctly and representative of modern society.

    “No matter where you grow up, talent should be recognised and championed.

    “Under the Marcus Rashford Book Club young writers, illustrators and creatives will be seen and they will be offered a platform to shine.”

    Rashford, 23, has drawn widespread praise for highlighting the issue of child food poverty and his campaign resulted in the Government back-tracking to announce free meals would be provided to disadvantaged children over the
    Christmas holidays.

    The England footballer was also recently awarded an MBE after forcing a Government U-turn on free school meal vouchers.

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  • ‘Solskjaer treading fine line amid Man Utd’s Pochettino links’ – Yorke

    ‘Solskjaer treading fine line amid Man Utd’s Pochettino links’ – Yorke

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is “treading a fine line” at Manchester United with Mauricio Pochettino seemingly waiting in the wings, says Dwight Yorke, but the Red Devils have been urged to “respect” their current coach.

    It remains to be seen how much longer the Norwegian will occupy the dugout at Old Trafford as inconsistency in 2020-21 has led to uncomfortable questions being asked of Solskjaer’s ongoing presence in the most high-profile of posts.

    Various options are said to be in contention if a change is made, with former Spurs boss Pochettino and current RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann seemingly sitting among the frontrunners.

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    Yorke is reluctant to speculate on who would be best for United, as they already have someone at the wheel, but he does concede that vast improvement is required from a heavyweight outfit that continues to punch below its weight.

    The former Red Devils striker told talkSPORT: “There’s no doubt that Pochettino is a tremendous manager. I’m not going to speculate because Ole is in the job and we don’t want to see Ole get sacked.

    “I respect Ole, he’s a friend of mine, I want to see him come through this and I’m not going to speculate about other managers because he’s in that position and I think we ought to respect that at the moment.”

    Yorke added on the pressure Solskjaer finds himself under, which has been ramped up by Premier League struggles on home soil and a Champions League defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir: “He is treading a fine line. We all want him to be successful.

    “We all know that we’re in a results business. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve played for the club or what you’ve done, you’re going to be based on performance.

    “The only way to come out of that is to come out and turn the team around, turn the players around and get positive results.

    “I think the most frustrating thing is the inconsistency, it seems to be one step forward and two steps backwards.

    “That is something he needs to address and start on Saturday, because it’s become an enormous game for him.

    “It’s not been the season we expected, but people tend to forget last season he had a tremendous season in many respects, getting to three semis, winning big games when it really mattered.”

    United, who sit 15th in the English top-flight table at present, will be back in action on Saturday when they take in a testing trip to Everton.