The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Manchester United

  • De Gea will return to form – Solskjaer

    Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says David de Gea has the strength of character to rebound from a slew of mistakes in recent weeks and has no intention of dropping the goalkeeper for the final two games of the season.

    The Spaniard’s latest error came in Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea.

    United had gone ahead through Juan Mata but Chelsea equalised when De Gea weakly parried Antonio Rudiger’s effort into the path of Marcos Alonso, who tucked the ball in.

    De Gea has made a number of uncharacteristic mistakes in recent games but Solskjaer says the goalkeeper cannot take the blame for the team’s struggles.

    Read Also: Top four finish difficult now, says Solskjaer

    “I don’t have any worries about him because he’s a strong character,” Solskjaer told British media. “He knows he could have had that shot but that’s football.”

    The result leaves United sixth in the league on 65 points and dented their hopes of securing a top-four finish. They sit three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with two games left.

    “With David, he’s been in the spotlight for right reasons for so long and now he’s going through a period where he feels he could have done better,” Solskjaer added.

    “But there’s no chance any of us will point fingers because he’s saved us so many times. I’ll speak to David as I’ve done when he’s played well… he’s not the reason we’re sixth.”

    United’s last two games of the season are against Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City.

    NAN

     

  • Top four finish difficult now, says Solskjaer

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted it will be “difficult” for Manchester United to finish in the top four after being held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea.

    Another David De Gea error meant United had to settle for a point at Old Trafford on Sunday, leaving Solskjaer’s side sixth in the table and three points off the Champions League places with just two games remaining.

    “If you look at the league table it’s going to be difficult,” Solskjaer told a news conference.

    “It’s one of those days and we must dust ourselves down and win the next two. You never know as points are being dropped left, right and centre.

    “You never know, we felt we needed to win this game.”

    Solskjaer watched Marcos Alonso score Chelsea’s equaliser after De Gea’s mistake to cancel out Juan Mata’s opener after 11 minutes.

    And there was further disappointment for the Norwegian, who saw Eric Bailly and Marcus Rashford go off injured in the second half.

    Bailly left the stadium on crutches and wearing a leg brace and is unlikely to play again until next season.

    “We strapped him [Rashford] up before the game and his shoulder got worse and worse,” said Solskjaer.

    “Eric — it’s a bad injury but I’m sure we won’t see him again this season unfortunately.”

    Rashford will be a doubt for the trip to Huddersfield on Sunday but Solskjaer insists De Gea is set to keep his place despite making a mistake leading to a goal for the fifth game in a row.

    The United manager has Argentina No. 1 Sergio Romero to turn to but suggested De Gea would keep the gloves at the John Smith’s Stadium.

    “No, I don’t have any worries about him,” said Solskjaer.

    “He’s a strong character. There’s many different ways of getting back to your best performances and, of course, I’ll sit down and speak to David, as I’ve done when he’s played well, and he’s not the reason we’re sixth.

    “David knows he could have done better with the goal, there’s no reason hiding that.

    “But there’s no chance any of us will point fingers because he’s saved us so many times.”

  • De Gea fumbles as Man. United hold Chelsea

    Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea produced another blunder to gift Chelsea a 1-1 draw in the battle between the two top four hopefuls.

    Ex-Chelsea man Juan Mata had given the hosts an early lead at Old Trafford, but Maurizio Sarri’s men were level just before half-time when De Gea spilled Antonio Rudiger’s long-range effort into the path of Marcos Alonso, who made no mistake.

    Defeats for Tottenham and Arsenal this weekend meant the winner of this clash had the chance to steal a march on their rivals.

    United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer named Ander Herrera in his starting line-up, despite the Spanish midfielder believed to be close to joining Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.

    The hosts started the brighter and took the lead after just 11 minutes. Romelu Lukaku played in Luke Shaw, who laid the ball back for Mata to swivel and shoot past goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

    Read Also: Man U insist on £45m plus  Morata for David de Gea’

    Chelsea players celebrate after profiting from a David De Gea mistake to equalise. Alex Livesey/Getty Images

    United were on top and Lukaku showed his determination as he barged defender Cesar Azpilicueta into the advertising hoardings, but they failed to add to their lead and were pegged back on 43 minutes following another De Gea howler.

    The Spain No. 1 has been at fault for goals against Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester City in recent weeks.

    Buoyed by that equalising goal, Chelsea were much brighter after the break, but failed to test De Gea’s frail confidence further.

    Both sides lost central defenders to worrying-looking knee injuries in the second period with Chelsea seeing Rudiger hobble off on 65 minutes and United’s Eric Bailly following him down the tunnel six minutes later.

    The result means Chelsea stay fourth but move two points clear of fifth-place Arsenal, with United a point further back in sixth.

    ESPN

  • Manchester City take big step towards title with derby win at United

    Manchester City took a big step towards retaining the Premier League title with a 2-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

    The win sent the Citizens back to the top of the table.

    City have 89 points, one more than rivals Liverpool, with both teams having three games to play.

    Second half goals from Bernardo Silva and Leroy Sane ensured a comfortable win for City against a United side that remain in sixth place, outside the Champions League qualification slots.

    Read also: Manchester United’s 10 most embarrassing defeat

    United, smarting from their 4-0 hammering at Everton on Sunday, played with aggression and energy in the scoreless first half but the game was put beyond them after the break.

    Bernardo Silva picked the ball up on the right flank and cut inside, surprising United keeper David De Gea with a low drive that sneaked in the bottom corner in the 54th minute.

    Twelve minutes later and City doubled their lead.

    Fred gave the ball away in midfield allowing Raheem Sterling to break forward before feeding Sane on the left with the German’s powerful drive flying in off the outstretched leg of De Gea. (Reuters/NAN)

  • Manchester United’s 10 most embarrassing defeat

    Last Saturday, Manchester United suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Everton at Goodison Park.

    The 4-0 defeat marked the 23rd anniversary of one of the darkest days of the Red Devils in the Premier League, with the 3-0 loss to Tottenham at Old Trafford in August under erstwhile boss, Jose Mourinho becoming their worst start in 26 years after losing two of their opening three games.

    The last time the Red Devils lost two of their opening three games in a campaign was in 1992/1993, according to Daily Mail, but what was to come was the start of unprecedented success for the club.

    Before the success of Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, they suffered a back to back defeat, they lost a chaotic game 6-3 to Southampton on the 26th of a October 1996.  It was a defeat that came six days after they were beaten 5-0 by Newcastle United at St James’s Park.

    Alex Ferguson restored the dignity of Man. United, building a dynasty at one of the institutions of English football.

    Here is a run down to some of the memorable defeats Manchester United suffered

     

    Manchester United 0 Everton 3, 1992

    Southampton 6 Manchester United 3, 1996

    Newcastle 5 Manchester United 0, 1996

    Chelsea 5 Manchester United 0, 1999

    Middlesbrough 4 Manchester United 1, 2005

    Manchester United 1 Liverpool 4, 2009

    Manchester United 1 Manchester City 6, 2011

    Manchester City 4 Manchester United 1, 2013

    Manchester United 0 Liverpool 3, 2014

    Everton 4 Manchester United 0, 2019

     

  • Breaking: Man Utd vs Man City XI

    Pep Guardiola has released the list of eleven men that will defend the colours of Manchester City in the must-win match against city neighbours, Manchester United.

    The Manchester Derby is a must-win for the Guardiola-tutored team to stand the chance of winning a successive English Premiership title.

    Find below the line-ups:

    Man Utd XI: de Gea, Darmian, Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw, Andreas Pereira, Fred, Pogba, Lingard, Rashford

    Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Zinchenko, Gundogan, Fernandinho, Silva, Bernardo Silva, Aguero, Sterling​

  • I’d be a Man Utd fan on Wednesday, says Liverpool’s James Milner

    James Milner will break the habit of a lifetime and become a Manchester United fan for once

    Liverpool are on course to amass 97 points, a figure that remarkably may not be enough to end their 29-year wait to become champions.

    But Milner does not believe a City victory in the Manchester derby will make the outcome of this duel a foregone conclusion.

    ‘It’ll be the first time in my life!’ Milner said with a grimace when asked if he was comfortable wanting United to win.

    ‘I don’t watch (games like these), to be honest. It’s a bit of a waste of energy, isn’t it, willing the ball into the goal and things like that. I can’t do anything about it.

    ‘Maybe I’ll put my phone away for a couple of hours and check it after. Maybe I’ll go and grab some food or whatever.

    “There are three games left. United will be a challenge for City, but it’s the old cliché – any game is tough in the Premier League no matter who you play.

    ‘To try and win a league title is not easy, whoever you play. Trust me, I know. Remember QPR (against Man City in 2012)?

    “To beat anyone is tough when it is all on the line. We’ve still got some tough games ourselves – and we have to win those and keep the pressure up.’

    Read Also: Milner hails City’s response

    Liverpool have won eight consecutive games in all competitions since a 0-0 draw with Everton on March 3.

    But whatever Milner and his team-mates achieve before the end of the campaign, he believes the indications for the coming years are hugely encouraging.

    ‘For a long time we have had our head round the fact that we just need to win all of our games,’ said Milner.

    ‘If we do that and it’s not good enough, you have to hold your hands up and say “well done City”.

    All we can do is keep asking them questions and keep winning our games.

    ‘We know they’re a top team and they’ve done it before. It’s about encouragement at how we have improved.

    “Of course it’s frustrating that we could have one defeat and it might still not be enough but all we can do is win the rest of our games and keep putting them under pressure.’

    Dailymail

     

  • Everton hit four in win over Manchester United

    Everton have heaped further misery on Manchester United by registering a dominant 4-0 victory over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in Sunday’s Premier League at Goodison Park.

    Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott all got on the scoresheet as Everton moved into seventh position in the standings, while United remain in sixth place after a third top-flight defeat in five matches.

    Both Marco Silva and Solskjaer would have demanded a positive response after poor peformances over the past eight days, but it was Everton who completely dominated the opening 45 minutes.

    David de Gea made a terrific save to keep out a close-range volley from Richarlison, but the United goalkeeper was powerless to prevent the Brazilian from handing Everton the lead two minutes later.

    A long throw was headed on by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Richarlison reacted fastest to send a scissor kick into the roof of De Gea’s net after beating Diogo Dalot to the ball.

    United almost found an equaliser when Marcus Rashford fired narrowly over from 15 yards out, but it was a rare moment of joy for the visitors as they failed to get to grips with Everton in all departments.

    The Toffees’ second goal arrived when Sigurdsson was provided with too much space by Victor Lindelof, and the Iceland international capitalised by drilling a low 25-yard strike into De Gea’s right-hand bottom corner.

    Everton maintained control of the contest without building on their second goal, although Richarlison did have a speculative effort from distance saved by De Gea at his near post.

    Solskjaer – almost inevitably – made changes at the break with Ashley Young and Scott McTominay being introduced into the action, but Everton were also forced into an alteration when Richarlison was unable to shake off an injury to his ribs.

    United were doing their best to find a way into the contest, but Everton netted their third before the hour mark as Digne fired a low volley through a pack of players into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

    Sigurdsson soon went close to adding a fourth when his corner had to be cleared off the line by De Gea, but it was not long before the home side further extended their advantage.

    Walcott was sent clear of the United defence down the left flank, and the substitute was able to drift inside before slotting a low shot under De Gea from eight yards out.

    Everton continued to push for goals during the closing quarter of the game, but United twice went close to consolation efforts with Anthony Martial and Nemanja Matic failing to hit the target from the centre of the penalty area.

    Martial also had a long-range strike kept out by Jordan Pickford but any goal for Solskjaer’s side would have been harsh on Everton, who have now registered 10 points from home fixtures with Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and United.

  • Breaking: Everton thrash Man Utd 4-0

    Manchester United’s hopes of clinching the top four in EPL suffered a debilitating setback on Sunday with a 4-0 thrashing by Everton.

    The loss compounded the woes of Red Devils after elimination from the Champion League by Spanish giant, FC Barcelona last Tuesday.

    Read Also: Breaking: Man Utd make Solskjaer permanent coach

    Richarlison opened scoring for Everton with a well-taken bicycle kick following a corner before Sigurdsson fired home a grounder shot to take the score to 2-0 at halftime.

    Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott completed the massacre of the Red Devils who were left with a mountain to climb for Champion League spot next season.

     

  • Solskjaer: Utd won’t sign many players in summer

    There won’t be major changes in the transfer market, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has stated.

    He said there is no “quick fix” to the club’s struggles.

    “There will be new players coming in over summer but I don’t think you can expect six,” Solskjaer said.

    “I don’t think any manager you ask would be in favour of that amount of change anyway.

    “We want to rebuild but it is going to have to be gradual, over a few windows.

    Read Also: Solskjaer: Man United rebuild could take years

    “We plan to be in the top four, we plan to be in the Champions League next season and we want players who can keep us in the Champions League and move us up the table. But we know there is not going to be a quick fix. We have to take it step by step.”

    United have lost five out of their past seven matches and Solskjaer has warned any under-performing players they will be moved towards the exit.

    “When I was given the job there was an understanding that we had to get Manchester United’s DNA back into the club and the team,” he added.

    “That doesn’t mean I want to live in the past. It would be naive to tell players to do all the same things we did when I played. But I want to create a culture that we all believe in.

    “When I played the manager trusted us and we took responsibility for our own careers.

    “If anyone stepped out of bounds, they wouldn’t stay here long. That’s the way it has to be at a club like this.”