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Tag: Red Devils

  • LONDON CALLING: Rejuvenated Red Devils out to disrupt Gunners’ title march

    LONDON CALLING: Rejuvenated Red Devils out to disrupt Gunners’ title march

    Michael Carrick could hardly have asked for a better start to his second temporary Manchester United tenure, but another difficult task awaits away to Premier League leaders Arsenal tomorrow..

    The Red Devils were deserved 2-0 victors in last weekend’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford, where Manchester City were cut apart by some superb counter-attacks. The “United way”, if there is such a thing, was very much on show.

    United had only 31.8% possession, yet they recorded 11 shots and hit the target with seven; City only had seven attempts in total. United’s shots amounted to 2.27 expected goals, to City’s 0.45.

    Carrick’s team had three goals disallowed and hit the woodwork twice, but strikes from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu got them the victory their performance merited.

    After facing second in the Premier League at home, Carrick’s United now head to the Emirates Stadium to take on Mikel Arteta’s leaders.

    Carrick remains unbeaten as United manager (P4 W3 D1) including his three-game caretaker spell in 2021, but most importantly, the manner of their performance against City won’t have gone unnoticed by Arsenal boss Arteta.

    He won’t be underestimating the challenge at hand, even if the Gunners are 15 points clear of United ahead of Sunday’s meeting. It is Arsenal vs United, after all, one of English football’s vintage rivalries.

    In fact, Carrick’s first and only Premier League victory in his previous stint as United’s caretaker boss came against Arteta’s Arsenal, a 3-2 win at Old Trafford in December 2021.

    However, it’s fair to say the Arsenal of 2026 are a different beast, and Arteta has generally had the upper hand in meetings with United. He has won 67% of his 12 Premier League games against them (W8 D2 L2), the highest win rate of any manager to face them at least five times.

    Read Also: MANCHESTER QUAKES: Eyes on Ronaldo as Red Devils dare Citizens

    For all of their issues, though, United do have what it takes to trouble the best teams, posting positive attacking numbers for most of the season. They rank third in the Premier League for goals (38), behind Arsenal (40) and Man City (45), second for xG (40.6), and they lead the way for shots (362) and shots on target (126).

    And, although it’s a small sample size of just two games (one being vs Burnley), United rank first in the Premier League for xG (4.81), shots attempted (41), shots on target (17), xG differential (+4.12) and shot difference (+27) since Ruben Amorim’s departure.

    But shutting teams out is arguably what Arsenal do best.

    Arteta’s side have not faced a single shot on target in either of their last two Premier League matches, the fifth time this season they have stopped their opponents from having one. It is the most occasions a team have managed this in a single season since Chelsea in 2020-21 (five). Similarly, only Man City (in 2017-18 and 2019-20) have done so more often in a season (six in each) since at least 2003-04.

  • Martial extends contract with Man. United

    Manchester United winger Anthony Martial has signed a new five-year contract, lasting till June 2024. The deal also includes an option for a further year

    The 23-year-old, who has been in transfer talks for a while, joined the Red Devils from Monaco in September 2015 for £36m. He has scored ten goals and one assist in 25 appearances across all competitions this season

    Speaking after the announcement was made on Thursday, Martial said “I am loving my time at this club. From the day I joined I have been made to feel part of the United family and I have been incredibly humbled and overwhelmed by the warmth and love of our fans, who continue to amaze me with their support.

    “I would like to thank Ole and his coaching staff for their belief in me and for helping me to take my game to the next level. This club is all about winning trophies and I am sure the next piece of silverware is not that far away.”

    Read Also: Martial helps United sink Spurs 1-0

    Martial could be back in action for Solskjaer’s side on Sunday, as they take in a trip to Leicester City.

    In another development, Manchester United has also reached an agreement with Chinese club, Shandong Luneng, over the transfer of Maroune Fellaini from Old Trafford.

    Fellaini, who joined Manchester United from Everton in 2014, has played only three minutes of Premier League action in seven top-flight games under interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

    Fellaini helped Manchester United win the 2016 FA Cup final as well as the Europa League in 2017.

  • Red Devils on rampage

    The Red Devils of Belgium looks poised for their first ever World Cup final berth in history when they meet Former Champions, Les Blues of France in the 1st Semifinal of the mundial at the 65,000 seated, St. Petersburg Stadium in Russia Tuesday at 1900 hours West African Time. On paper, the Belgians even look good as World Champions already.

    The stadium itself is a show of modernity designed by Japanese Architect, Kisho Kurosawa in the shape of space shift with retractable roof and a sliding pitch meant to keep the turf at 15*c. Surely you must have seen players gliding gleefully on the turf, which is a spectacular sight.

    Contrary to speculations of football permutations who are giving the match to France with 38% votes, those who think penalties will decide the match at 29% or those who think Belgium will coast easily to the finals 33% did, current performance gives it to Belgium.

    Records before now states that they have met a whopping 74 times with W24 to France, W30 to Belgium and D19, that record is like considering the Old Black Stars of Ghana whipping The Green Eagles now Super Eagles of Nigeria. Different story now.

    Both have played 5 games in this tournament where Belgians are the highest scorers with 14 goals to France haul of 9 goals. Belgium conceded 5 goals while France let in 4 but when you look at the goals difference of each country, the +9 of Belgium is the total that France scored but when you consider the 4 goals France conceded, there is an imbalance. Goals win matches and if Belgium come smoking, Les Blues are Goners. Bet.

    Read Also: Les Blues at exit door?

    The News Agency of Nigeria went to town asking how Nigerian fans who love Thierry Henri called Igwe, meaning King, for his penchant for goals while at Arsenal F.C., but now Assistant Coach for Belgium feel sitting on Belgian bench. They were all at sea, confused like an Egba man who was elected to lead Kiriji war against his Egba kinsmen by a foster Igbajo people.

    Oliver Giroud who cross-carpeted from Arsenal to Chelsea and the oldest player for France at 31 said “I know Thierry would have loved to be coach of France and we will get him back”. The Nigerian fans made two requests, that Belgium allow Thierry to go seat elsewhere and that FIFA cameras would spare him showing emotions.
    Thomas Meunier will be off for France because he bagged the second yellow in the quarters but Blaise Matuidi will be back. It will be interesting to watch Belgian captain, Eden Hazard face the hard tackles of his Chelsea team mate, Ngolo Kante. Oliver Giroud also of Chelsea however thinks much more of his international team mate, and France Captain, Goal Keeper Hugo Lioris as being better than his Chelsea mate and Belgium goal tender, Thibaut Courtehu. Thinking of penalty shoot outs?

    Uruguayans will officiate the Belgium-France match. Centre Referee is Andre Cunhe; the two astant Refs who are his country men are Nicolas Taran and Manricio Espinosa. The 4th and 5th Refs are Cesar Arturo Ramos and Marvin Torrendera both from Mexico.

    It is expected that the match will not go to the wire. France spanked Belgium 3-1 in the 1st round in 1938 and shoved same Belgium 4-2 at the Bronze medal battle of 1988. This is Belgium’s 2nd world cup semi. They lost to eventual winners Argentina in 1986.

    Fireworks are expected from the two sides who have gotten the experience of the quarry site in this tournament, What do you think of a France that played goalless with Denmark; dismissed Argentina with their megastars of Messi, Di Maria, Aguero, Mascherano etc 3-2 at the round of 16 and pecked Uruguay 2-0 in the quarters.
    Belgium caged the aristocratic Three Lions of England 1-0; dismissed the stubborn Japanese 3-2 and shoved off the prolific Samba boys of Brazil who believe the world cup is their birth right 2-1 in a breathtaking encounter.

    The attackers of Belgium are as dangerous as rattle snakes. Belgium kept injuring all opponents through set pieces especially corner kicks. Fellaini leads six other tall players in the Belgian squad. Most of the goals are through powerful headers. Hazard is terribly hazardous when on duty. Belgium needs an antidote for the lethal shots of Griezmann of France.

    The two teams know what is at stake. Belgium knows this kind of opportunity comes perhaps once in a life time. The team is a bunch of relatively young folks. Lukaku has been a star from age 16 and has 4 goals behind Harry Kane of England but the third goal scored against Japan that came through an Eden Hazard pass he jumped over for Chadu to slam in in 90+4 minute.

    France is regarded as an African team because they have 8 blacks or Africans in the team who got their citizenship. France plays physical football like Africa. I suspect that the team that will go out is the team that commits error.

     

  • Rooney: Scoring for Man Utd like playing underwater

    Rooney: Scoring for Man Utd like playing underwater

     

     

     

     

     

    Wayne Rooney says the feeling of scoring goals for Manchester United is like you are playing underwater.

    The 31-year-old became the club’s record goalscorer when he moved past Bobby Charlton to 250 strikes with a late equaliser in last week’s 1-1 Premier League draw at Stoke City.

    That goal came two weeks after Rooney had equalled Charlton’s then-club record with an FA Cup goal against Reading.

    In an interview to discuss becoming the outright holder of that united honour, Rooney was asked what it feels like to score for the Red Devils in the Premier League.

    “It is an amazing feeling,” he told BBC Sport.

    “When you score a goal the initial feeling is like you are playing football underwater and when you score the goal it is like you come up for air.

    “You hear the crowd, the atmosphere – for that four or five seconds it is a mad feeling.”

    Rooney was proud to share the record-breaking moment with Charlton and his young family.

    He said: “It was obviously a great moment for myself, a proud moment to get the record.

    “It was nice that Sir Bobby was there as he always is. He came into the dressing room after the game and congratulated me. That meant a lot.

    “It was a proud moment to be able to share that with my children. It is only my eldest lad who really understands at the moment. At home he was trying to re-enact it!”

  • Red Devils get Ebola test

    The Red Devils of  Congo players and officials all went through the test for Ebola Virus Disease, SportingLife has been reliably told.

    Congo have a match with the Super Eagles in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the U J Esuene Stadium, Calabar today but their contingent was thoroughly checked at  the airport at the point of entry and at the  their hotel-Channel View Hotels on MCC Road in Calabar.

    The Cross River Commissioner for Youths, Patrick Ugbe told SportingLife that because of the standard practice all over the world owing to the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease, it is imperative to take precautionary measures at curbing the disease.

    “The visitors too from Congo are all going to be screened first at the airport at the point of entry and also at their hotel. We know the scourge of the disease in the West African sub-region and we are taking precautionary measures which would be tasking.

    “The Red Devils will be tested at the airport and also at their hotel.”