Tag: Man United

Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen will begin the chase for European Club competition glory with Galatasaray tonight  when they host PAOk Thessaloniki of Greece in the Europa League.

Galatasaray remains the only Turkish side to win a European trophy courtesy of their penalty shootout win over Arsenal in the year 2000 UEFA Cup final. The Turkish giants have had an excellent start to the 2024/25 season, taking 18 maximum points from their opening six matches in the league.

Osimhen turned up with an assist during their impressive 3-1 derby win over Fenerbahçe away from home on Saturday. Tune in to DStv ch 203 and GOtv ch 66 to watch live at 8 pm tonight.

Also, on Wednesday, Manchester United will take on FC Twente at Old Trafford in a Europa League tie, live on DStv ch 205 and GOtv ch 61, at 8 pm. Erik Ten Hag’s men will aim to avoid another miserable Europen campaign, following last season’s run which saw them finish bottom of the group and crash out of Europe in December.

Having seen their league form dwindle in recent years, the Red Devils have been a good cup team in the last two seasons, winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. United are currently 11th in the Premier League table and the Europa League could present them a good shot at another silverware this season.

In the Spanish Laliga, defending Champions, Real Madrid will host Deportivo Alaves live on DStv ch 204 and GOtv 62 at 8 pm. Los Blancos are already four points behind the league leaders with just six matches played and cannot afford to drop points going into the weekend derby against Atletico Madrid. On Wednesday, Barcelona will host Getafe live on the same channel, at 8 pm. The Catalans have been perfect in the league this season, with six wins out of six. With the Madrid derby set to hold on Sunday, Barcelona knows a win will pile more pressure on Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

Read Also: NFF board divided over Chelle, Saintfiet for Eagles

To enjoy all the matches and more, customers can take advantage of the GOtv Golden Window and upgrade to Supa Plus package for N13,900 instead of N15,700. You can also download the MyGOtv app for a better self-service experience.

Cameron Archer stepped up to take the first penalty of his professional career. Behind him, Ben Brereton-Diaz stood on the edge of the area perhaps wondering why he wasn’t standing over the spot instead after converting all seven of his previous attempts.

Archer aimed to Andre Onana’s right in the 33rd minute and the Manchester United goalkeeper read it perfectly, diving to keep out the young Southampton striker’s attempt before comfortably saving his follow-up effort as well.

And there it was, the turning point of this encounter as it took a new course towards a much-needed win for United manager Erik ten Hag and a fourth straight defeat for Saints.

Read Also: EPL: Leicester City draw Crystal Palace 2-2 at Selhurst Park

Within eight minutes, United had cleared their heads to take a two-goal lead and never looked like letting it slip after that.

‘That’s on me and the decision we made,’ said Saints boss Russell Martin. ‘We had a chat about it and Cam’s practised a lot over the last two weeks. He’s done brilliantly and had the confidence to take one. Ben was happy with that as well, but I don’t think he would be happy now.

‘It took the energy out of the game and then United had a moment which completely deflated everyone.’

Up to that point, Ten Hag’s side had largely been under the cosh in a game they really needed to win after losing two of their first three games. United hadn’t lost three of their first four since 1986 when Ron Atkinson was sacked to make way for Alex Ferguson.

Manchester United crashed to a last-gasp 2-1 defeat against Brighton.

Erik ten Hag’s side were left shell-shocked by Joao Pedro’s winner five minutes into stoppage-time at the Amex Stadium.

United fell behind to a 32nd-minute goal from Danny Welbeck, who poked in Kaoru Mitoma’s cross for his sixth goal in 16 appearances against his former club.

Amad Diallo equalised for United after an hour, cutting inside for a shot that deflected in off Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke.

Read Also:Arsenal, Man United face tough EPL tests

Joshua Zirkzee prevented Alejandro Garnacho from putting the visitors ahead in the closing stages when the United forward touched home his team-mate’s finish on the line.

Zirkzee, a close-season signing from Bologna, was in an offside position and VAR ruled out the goal.

Left completely unmarked at the far post, Brazilian striker Pedro rubbed salt into United’s wounds as he headed home from Simon Adingra’s cross to ensure Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler maintained his 100 percent start following last weekend’s win at Everton.

Manchester United and beleaguered manager Erik ten Hag defied the odds and their critics to pull off a stunning FA Cup final victory over hot favourites Manchester City at Wembley.

Ten Hag went into this Manchester derby final with the growing expectation that he will be sacked by United’s new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, irrespective of the outcome.

If Ten Hag is to be dismissed, he will be going out on the back of the finest day of his two-year reign and United’s finest moment for years following a performance that was virtually unrecognisable from the dismal fare they have served up this season.

United’s triumph, which denied Premier League champions City a second successive domestic double, was built on an outstanding first-half display that brought goals from Alejadro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

Read Also: Guardiola admits tactical mistake in FA cup loss

Garnacho was the beneficiary of a mix-up between City keeper Stefan Ortega and Josko Gvardiol as he was left with an open goal on the half-hour while Mainoo crowned a sweeping move with a calm finish from Bruno Fernandes’ delicate touch nine minutes later.

City inevitably applied pressure in the second half, Erling Haaland hitting the frame of the goal, United keeper Andre Onana saving superbly from Kyle Walker and Julian Alvarez missing a great chance.

City substitute Jeremy Doku pulled one back with four minutes left but Ten Hag’s side held firm to record a famous victory and win a 13th FA Cup, their first since 2015.

A UEFA report has revealed that Manchester United had the most expensive squad ever assembled at the end of the 2023 financial year.

The report looked at the figures from top-tier clubs across Europe and found the Red Devils’ players cost a staggering £1.21bn in transfer fees in total.

These numbers included the £85.5m they spent on Antony, £80m on defender Harry Maguire in 2019, £73m they splashed out on Jadon Sancho two years later and £60m they paid for Casemiro in 2022.

Former Ajax winger Antony has arguably been United’s biggest flop in recent years given his hefty price-tag, having only scored four league goals in 44 outings.

Maguire has recently regained his place in United’s starting XI, but Sancho is now on loan at Borussia Dortmund after falling out with Erik ten Hag and Casemiro has battled with injuries this term and turns 32 later this month.

Read Also; FIFA Ranking: Eagles climb 14 places after AFCON silver win

The Red Devils also spent big ahead of this season, bringing in Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Andre Onana for combined fees in excess of £175m.

Hojlund has started to repay the faith the club have shown in him, scoring five goals in his last five outings, but Mount has spent most of the season on the treatment table after multiple injury setbacks, while Onana has endured an indifferent start after making a number of errors in United’s disastrous Champions League campaign.

Despite having the most-expensively assembled squad in the world, United still only finished third in the Premier League last term, 14 points behind champions Manchester City.

This season has gone even worse for them, as they currently sit sixth in the table, and are in real danger of missing out on Champions League football.

Three other clubs – City, Chelsea and Real Madrid – also had squads that cost over €1bn at the end of the most recent financial year.

City take second place on the list with their squad costing €1.286bn (£1.1bn), followed by Chelsea €1.084bn (£927m) and Madrid €1.031bn (£882m).

City’s big-spending paid off as they completed a historic Treble last season, but the same cannot be said for Chelsea.

The Blues have spent over £1bn since Todd Boehly arrived at the club just under two years ago, but they could only finish 12th in 2022-23, and they are stuck in mid-table again this year under Mauricio Pochettino.

Chelsea’s transfers from last January and summer 2023 were also not included, when they twice broke their record transfer fee by signing Enzo Fernandez and then Moises Caicedo for £107m and £115m, respectively.

The top three spots on UEFA’s list are all taken by English clubs, and six other Premier League teams also feature inside the top 20 when it comes to transfer costs.

Liverpool €905m (£774m) and Arsenal €890m (£761m) are sixth and seventh, respectively, with Tottenham ninth, Newcastle 12th, Aston Villa 15th and West Ham 17th.

Newcastle have a more expensive squad than Bayern Munich in 13th after bringing in players such as Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak in recent transfer windows.

This does not take into account the £100m that the German giants paid Tottenham for Harry Kane in August, though.

UEFA’s report also highlighted the dominance the Premier League has when it comes to revenues.

The total revenue of the 20 Premier League clubs was €6.5bn (£5.7bn), which was almost equal to the next two league combined, with LaLiga and the Bundesliga both generating €3.3bn (£2.9bn).

TOP 20 MOST-EXPENSIVE

1. Man United – £1.21bn
2. Man City – 1.1bn
3. Chelsea – £927m
4. Real Madrid – £882m
5. PSG – £802m
6. Liverpool – £774m
7. Arsenal – £761m
8. Juventus – £658m
9. Tottenham – £570m
10. Inter Milan – £504m
11. Barcelona – £493m
12. Newcastle – £464m
13. Bayern Munich – £457m
14. RB Leipzig – £433m
15. Aston Villa – £428m
16. Napoli – £381m
17. West Ham – £379m
18. Atletico Madrid – £369m
19. Borussia Dortmund – £334m
20. AC Milan – £287mREVELAED: £1.2bn-Man United top most expensive squad ever assembled

A UEFA report has revealed that Manchester United had the most expensive squad ever assembled at the end of the 2023 financial year.

The report looked at the figures from top-tier clubs across Europe and found the Red Devils’ players cost a staggering £1.21bn in transfer fees in total.

These numbers included the £85.5m they spent on Antony, £80m on defender Harry Maguire in 2019, £73m they splashed out on Jadon Sancho two years later and £60m they paid for Casemiro in 2022.

Former Ajax winger Antony has arguably been United’s biggest flop in recent years given his hefty price-tag, having only scored four league goals in 44 outings.

Maguire has recently regained his place in United’s starting XI, but Sancho is now on loan at Borussia Dortmund after falling out with Erik ten Hag and Casemiro has battled with injuries this term and turns 32 later this month.

The Red Devils also spent big ahead of this season, bringing in Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Andre Onana for combined fees in excess of £175m.

Hojlund has started to repay the faith the club have shown in him, scoring five goals in his last five outings, but Mount has spent most of the season on the treatment table after multiple injury setbacks, while Onana has endured an indifferent start after making a number of errors in United’s disastrous Champions League campaign.

Despite having the most-expensively assembled squad in the world, United still only finished third in the Premier League last term, 14 points behind champions Manchester City.

This season has gone even worse for them, as they currently sit sixth in the table, and are in real danger of missing out on Champions League football.

Three other clubs – City, Chelsea and Real Madrid – also had squads that cost over €1bn at the end of the most recent financial year.

City take second place on the list with their squad costing €1.286bn (£1.1bn), followed by Chelsea €1.084bn (£927m) and Madrid €1.031bn (£882m).

City’s big-spending paid off as they completed a historic Treble last season, but the same cannot be said for Chelsea.

The Blues have spent over £1bn since Todd Boehly arrived at the club just under two years ago, but they could only finish 12th in 2022-23, and they are stuck in mid-table again this year under Mauricio Pochettino.

Chelsea’s transfers from last January and summer 2023 were also not included, when they twice broke their record transfer fee by signing Enzo Fernandez and then Moises Caicedo for £107m and £115m, respectively.

The top three spots on UEFA’s list are all taken by English clubs, and six other Premier League teams also feature inside the top 20 when it comes to transfer costs.

Liverpool €905m (£774m) and Arsenal €890m (£761m) are sixth and seventh, respectively, with Tottenham ninth, Newcastle 12th, Aston Villa 15th and West Ham 17th.

Newcastle have a more expensive squad than Bayern Munich in 13th after bringing in players such as Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak in recent transfer windows.

This does not take into account the £100m that the German giants paid Tottenham for Harry Kane in August, though.

UEFA’s report also highlighted the dominance the Premier League has when it comes to revenues.

The total revenue of the 20 Premier League clubs was €6.5bn (£5.7bn), which was almost equal to the next two league combined, with LaLiga and the Bundesliga both generating €3.3bn (£2.9bn).

TOP 20 MOST-EXPENSIVE

1. Man United – £1.21bn
2. Man City – 1.1bn
3. Chelsea – £927m
4. Real Madrid – £882m
5. PSG – £802m
6. Liverpool – £774m
7. Arsenal – £761m
8. Juventus – £658m
9. Tottenham – £570m
10. Inter Milan – £504m
11. Barcelona – £493m
12. Newcastle – £464m
13. Bayern Munich – £457m
14. RB Leipzig – £433m
15. Aston Villa – £428m
16. Napoli – £381m
17. West Ham – £379m
18. Atletico Madrid – £369m
19. Borussia Dortmund – £334m
20. AC Milan – £287m