The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Manchester United

  • Sanchez, Lukaku and Matic enjoy sunset in Dubai

    Manchester United’s warm weather training camp in Dubai appears to have successfully restored a sense of camaraderie in the squad absent for much of the season.

    Interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has worked his magic over the last three weeks to heal the dressing room rifts that were the legacy of Jose Mourinho’s turbulent reign.

    With United winning all five matches played under Solskjaer so far, spirits have certainly been high during the week-long stay in the United Arab Emirates.

    United’s stars were afforded some downtime on their final night in Dubai, with Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic enjoying the sunset from their five-star resort.

    There were broad smiles for the camera as the squad prepared to fly home ahead of Sunday’s visit to Tottenham, far and away the toughest assignment of Solskjaer’s tenure to date.

    Tellingly, Sanchez captioned his Instagram post: ‘Family United’.

    United have defeated Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Bournemouth and Newcastle United in the Premier League, and Reading in the third round of the FA Cup, since Solskjaer arrived.

    In the process, they have scored 16 goals and looked far more recognisable as a United team than under Mourinho.

    By contrast, United had lost twice, drawn twice and won just once in the final five matches before Mourinho’s sacking.

  • Arsenal face Manchester United in FA Cup 4th Round, Liverpool ousted

    Arsenal will host Manchester United in the English Emirates FA Cup fourth round, according to the draw held Monday night.

    The Gunners have won the competition a record 13 times, while United are 12-time winners.

    Premier League champions Manchester City are at home to Burnley, while Tottenham face a tough trip to Crystal Palace.

    Holders Chelsea have an easier task with Sheffield Wednesday or Luton to travel to Stamford Bridge.

    Wolves’ reward for beating Liverpool 2-1 on Monday is a trip to either Shrewsbury or Stoke.

    Read also: Arsenal’s youngsters have added pace to team, says Iwobi

    However, league leaders, Liverpool are out of the tournament after suffering a shock 2-1 loss in the hands of fellow premier leaguers, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

    Liverpool, without most of the first team players, were one goal behind Wolves in the first half at the Molineux Stadium after the 38th minute goal by Raul Jimenez.

    In the second half, Divock Origi equalised for the visitors in the 51st minute, but four minutes later Ruben Neves slammed in the winner from outside the box.

    The draw for the fourth round took place moments after at the same stadium with Nigeria’s Carl Ikeme, also involved.

    All the pairings;

    FA Cup 4thh round pairings

    The matches will take place between 25 and 28 January.

  • Pogba’s pregnant girlfriend shows off baby bump before Man Utd win

    December looked like it was going to be a horror month for Paul Pogba after being dropped from the Manchester United team by Jose Mourinho.

    But since Mourinho was sacked, the midfielder has been recalled to the side under interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and has been integral in their three-game winning run since.

    It leaves the midfielder with much to look forward to on and off the pitch, with girlfriend Maria Salaues also expecting a child in the New Year.

    She arrived at Old Trafford on Sunday ahead of United’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth wearing a red jumper by the fashion label Supreme, which sells for around £200.

    Salaues has been publicly dating Pogba since 2017 when they were first spotted in LA while the France star was competing in the International Champions Cup with United.

    Born in Bolivia in 1996, she had been residing in the United States where she worked as a model following an earlier career pursuit as a real estate agent. This came after she attended the University of Bolivia to study business administration.

    Pogba seemed inspired by his heavily pregnant girlfriend in attendance, producing a man of the match performance by scoring twice in a 4-1 victory.

    Solskjaer’s arrival has brought about a transformation — one that always seemed possible once United’s £89million record signing was happy again.

    United’s next game comes on Wednesday when they travel to Newcastle United chasing a fourth consecutive victory.

    United will head into the game sixth in the table as they look to haul themselves back into the race for the top four, which provides a gateway to next season’s Champions League.

  • Pogba gets another double as Solskjaer extends perfect start

    The re-born Paul Pogba scored twice on Sunday as Manchester United beat Bournemouth 4-1 to make it three wins in a row for caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

    It was the second time the France midfielder was scoring since Jose Mourinho’s departure from the club who are now in sixth place.

    After emphatic wins over Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town, the manner of the victory was further evidence of the return of attacking football under Solskjaer.

    It also showed the liberated way in which the players are performing, and none seem to be relishing their football again more than 2018 FIFA World Cup winner Pogba.

    He has netted four of the 12 goals which rejuvenated Manchester United have scored in the three matches since their former Norwegian striker took the reins.

    It took Pogba just five minutes to strike, sliding the ball in at the back post after a wonderful piece of dribbling and a precise low cross from Marcus Rashford.

    The Frenchman, who scored twice against Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day, then burst into the box to head home an Ander Herrera cross from deep to make it 2-0.

    “It is different, we still won games with the old manager. But it is just a different style of playing,” said Pogba.

    “We are more offensive and we are creating more chances and that is how we want to play. I always want to do more, but I want to play for the team and play simple.”

    Not only was Pogba appearing in more advanced positions but he looked to be back to his confident self on the ball, strutting while in possession and constantly looking to create.

    There was real class about Manchester United’s third, in the 45th minute.

    Anthony Martial delivered a low cross with the outside of his boot and Rashford guided it home off the outside of his outstretched foot.

    Bournemouth pulled a goal back in stoppage-time at the end of the first half though.

    That was when David Brooks skipped around the Manchester United defence and placed a cross on the head of Nathan Ake who nodded past David De Gea.

    Romelu Lukaku made it 4-1, two minutes after coming on as a 70th minute substitute, latching on to a Pogba through ball and hooking the ball past the advancing Asmir Begovic.

    Pogba was inches away from a hat-trick with a low drive from 20 yards out that struck the post.

    The relaxed and positive mood was slightly undone by a wild lunge in the 79th minute from Manchester United defender Eric Bailly on Ryan Fraser.

    The Ivorian was rightly shown a straight red card.

    “In the first half we attacked the game with a high tempo and high energy, but the response to their goal was great. We managed the game much better than against Huddersfield,” said Solskjaer.

    “We are still looking for a clean sheet — you can’t switch off for one second in this league.

    “It’s a very very good performance, the crowd was enjoying it. But now Newcastle United, the next one, is a different kind of test.”(Reuters/NAN)

  • Manchester United appoint Solskjaer Caretaker Manager

    Former Manchester United striker, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, will return to Old Trafford as Caretaker Manager until the end of the season, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.

    United sacked Manager Jose Mourinho on Tuesday after the sixth-placed side made their worst start to a season for 28 years, culminating in a limp 3-1 loss to bitter rivals, Liverpool, at Anfield on Sunday.

    Norway international Solskjaer scored 126 goals for United from 1996-2007, with his most memorable contribution coming in the 1999 Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich when he netted an injury-time winner.

    “Manchester United is in my heart, and it’s brilliant to be coming back in this role,” the 45-year-old former Cardiff City Manager said in a statement.

    “I’m really looking forward to working with the very talented squad we have, the staff and everyone at the club.”

    Solskjaer will be joined by Mike Phelan, who returns as Assistant Manager, having previously worked alongside Sir Alex Ferguson for five seasons before leaving in 2013.

    Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna, both part of Mourinho’s backroom staff, will be retained at the club to work under Solskjaer.

    Read Also: Man United Sack Jose Mourinho

    “Ole is a club legend with huge experience, both on the pitch and in coaching roles,” United Executive Vice Chairman, Ed Woodward, said.

    “His history at Manchester United means he lives and breathes the culture here, and everyone at the club is delighted to have him and Mike Phelan back.

    “We are confident they will unite the players and the fans as we head into the second half of the season.”

    United face Solskjaer’s former side, Cardiff, in a Premier League clash on Saturday, the Norwegian coming up against a club he managed for nine months in 2014.

    The former striker’s appointment received the high-profile approval of Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg, who tweeted: “Finally confirmed! Great day for Norwegian football. Good luck keeping control of the Red Devils, @olegs26_ole”.

    Following the loss to league leaders, Liverpool, Manchester United (26 points) sit 19 points adrift of their rivals after 17 matches and 11 behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

  • Man Utd shares rise after Mourinho’s departure

    Frankfurt-listed shares in Manchester United climbed in early deals after manager Jose Mourinho left the English Premier League football club on Tuesday.

    It was an indication that investors welcomed the move after the club’s dismal start to the season.

    The stock rose 1.4 percent by 1030 GMT after extending gains following the news.

    Manchester United’s primary listing in the U.S. had not yet started trading as at the time of this report.

    Read Also: Man United Sack Jose Mourinho

    Mourinho was sacked as Manchester United manager on Tuesday following a 3-1 defeat by arch-rivals and Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday.

    It was a result which left the club in sixth place in the standings, 19 points off the top.

    His departure marked the first time since his days as Uniao de Leiria coach in 2002 that Mourinho has left a club without winning a domestic league title.

    He has spent two years at Old Trafford, which was perceived to be his dream job.

  • BREAKING: Man United Sack Jose Mourinho

    Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Manchester United.

    The club makes this known on Tuesday morning following their defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.

    The Red Devils were humbled 3-1 by their fiercest rivals at Anfield.

    And United have decided that the result was the final straw and have partied company with the Portuguese.

    Read Also: Mourinho is impossible

    The club statement reads: “Manchester United announces that manager Jose Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect.

    “The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future.

    “A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current season, while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager.”

    More Details to Follow

  • Manchester United lose 1-2 at Valencia to blow chance of top spot

    Manchester United endured an undignified end to their topsy-turvy UEFA Champions League group stage campaign by losing 1-2 at already-eliminated Valencia on Wednesday and missing their chance of topping Group H.

    Manchester United were already guaranteed a last 16 berth but needed to win and to see Juventus lose to group minnows Young Boys if they were to take the top spot.

    One half of the unlikely scenario materialised as the Swiss side beat the Italian giants 2-1 but Manchester United blew their chance with a defeat that consigned them to second place.

    Carlos Soler put the La Liga side ahead in the 17th minute with a powerful finish.

    Then Manchester United defender Phil Jones scored an embarrassing own goal at the start of the second half to double Valencia’s lead.

    Substitute Marcus Rashford gave them brief hope of a comeback by heading home in the 87th minute after a rare bright passage of play from the visitors.

    But Valencia comfortably saw out the victory.

    Juventus finished top of the group on 12 points, with Manchester United on 10.

    Valencia, who were already assured of third place and qualification for the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League, finished with eight while Young Boys earned four.

    With one eye on Sunday’s trip to English Premier League leaders and historic rivals Liverpool, Jose Mourinho rotated his side.

    He made eight changes from Saturday’s 4-1 win over Fulham, including bringing record signing Paul Pogba back into the fold.

    Pogba had Manchester United’s best opportunity to cancel out Soler’s impressive opening strike following a Marouane Fellaini knockdown.

    But somehow he missed the target from close range with the goal gaping.

    Manchester United’s task in turning the game around became significantly harder, thanks to a clumsy moment from Jones.

    He failed to communicate properly with team mate Sergio Romero and slid the ball into his own net.

    “I think we were too passive in the first half. We were quite comfortable with the ball but not in intensity and ambition,” Mourinho told reporters.

    “In the second half, I was pretty sure that after speaking at halftime, things could be different. But we started with an own goal that gave Valencia a better position to control the game.”

    Valencia have had a poor campaign in both Europe and La Liga, where they lie 15th in the standings with only three victories.

    But coach Marcelino said the win had lifted the mood in the dressing room.

    “I’m happy for the players because they have competed well in many games this season but things haven’t worked out for us.

    “Today, we played with freshness and bravery, and I’m delighted for them because they have suffered,” he said.

    “There are many tremendous teams in this competition, some real powerhouses. But the thing that counts is winning and, unfortunately, we haven’t picked up enough points.”(Reuters/NAN)

  • Fellaini get fans talking with new look ahead of birthday

    Ahead of his 31st birthday, Manchester United player, Marouane Fellaini has shaved off the `afro’ hairstyle he is known with.

    On his twitter handle @Fellaini, the Belgian midfielder posted a picture of himself on Wednesday with a low haircut and wrote: “new year, new look, birthday tomorrow’’.

    Read Also:Manchester United: Zidane may replace Mourinho

    Fans as well as his team mates have expressed mixed reactions over his new look with some lauding his new trim and others condemning it.

    His club teammate Eric Bailly and his Belgian mate Vincent Kompany reacted thus: @Ericbailly24 “noooooooooo’’, @vincentkompany“its photoshopped, it cant be true’’.

    Fans: @teddymuene“what a sad day in football’’, @egillgillz “amazing haircut King Fellaini, really brings out your chin’’, @f_edits “I love everything you do, but this aint it chief @martialfc_11 “love that big man’’.

  • Mourinho in focus again as English Premier League returns

    When Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho returns on Saturday to Stamford Bridge to face former club Chelsea, much would not have changed about him regarding his recent comments.

    He had said “it’s not about me” after his team’s thrilling comeback win over Newcastle United, but this is unlikely to be heeded this time.

    Mourinho’s words, spoken after united fans chanted his name in appreciation of the 3-2 victory, may have reflected weariness at the constant focus on his position at Old Trafford.

    But the spotlight will unavoidably be on the Portuguese again.

    The manner of United’s win, with three goals in the final 20 minutes of all-out attacking football, has raised the question of whether he will change.

    The change is for him to embrace a more positive style of play.

    Nothing in Mourinho’s history suggests that is likely and the prospect of facing Maurizio Sarri’s in-form team at Stamford Bridge is a strong deterrent against a cavalier approach.

    Second-placed Chelsea are unbeaten, level on points with champions Manchester City and challengers Liverpool and with their Belgian forward Eden Hazard in scintillating form they will start as clear favourites.

    Manchester United is already seven points behind the leading trio, having lost to Brighton and Hove Albion and West Ham United on the road and Tottenham Hotspur at home.

    Read Also: Mourinho deserves respect for being ‘real’ – Lukaku

    Surely, Mourinho will be keen to ensure they avoid defeat in west London.

    Chelsea has not lost at home to United since October 2012, losing just two of the 16 meetings between the two since then.

    Mourinho has suffered four defeats in six games against his former club since taking over at United.

    But, as he reminded the media in his recent demand for more “respect”, Mourinho won three Premier League titles in his two spells as Chelsea manager.

    The former Porto and Real Madrid boss has never been afraid to play defensively when visiting top rivals.

    So, for all the hope that he might try to replicate the ‘gung-ho’ second half display against Newcastle United, it would be no surprise if he were to revert to type on Saturday.

    Manchester City will expect to pick up three points at home to a Burnley side that will feature former City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

    City has not lost at home to the Clarets since 1963 and has lost once in their last 19 meetings in all competitions.

    Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp will also be expecting maximum points when he faces off with close friend David Wagner as the Reds travel to Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

    Huddersfield is 18th in the table, have yet to win during this campaign and have managed to score only four goals.

    Fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur visit London rivals West Ham on Saturday while in-form Arsenal host Leicester on Monday looking for a 10th successive victory in all competitions.

    Sunday’s game features Everton at home to Crystal Palace.