Tag: Manchester United

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Liverpool fans cite Harry Wilson before brutally mocking Man Utd for Daniel James signing

Liverpool fans are ecstatic at the moment and why wouldn’t they be?! Their team are the European Champions after 14 long years! 

Their arch-rivals Manchester United, on the other hand, had a woeful season, finishing sixth in the Premier League resulting in failure to qualify for Champions League football next season.

While this is going to play a pivotal role in their transfer business, they did manage to sign Daniel James from Swansea City for about £15m.

James enjoyed a breakthrough season with Swansea, scoring 5 goals and providing 10 assists in his name. United fans seemed pleased with their new signing.

But while James is undoubtedly an emerging talent, it didn’t take long for Liverpool fans to shut their Man Utd counterparts down with direct comparisons to their very own youngster Harry Wilson.

Wilson, on loan with Derby County, took the Championships by storm with his 18 goals & 6 assists and was also nominated for the Young Player of the Year award.

The Liverpool loanee accumulated an average of 2.7 shots per game and a 74.6% pass completion rate, which clearly illustrates the composure and the confidence in his game, something that is attracting keen interest from other clubs, including a few Bundesliga outfits (Mirror).

Moreover, even after Wilson’s stellar performances, it is unlikely that he’ll be a part of Liverpool’s squad this season.

And Liverpool fans haven’t forgotten to share the same information with their rivals online –

https://twitter.com/JAckelmante/status/1138872219596206080

Quite surprisingly (or not), it seems there are Manchester United fans as well who share the same sentiment –

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Words fail as Man Utd star Romelu Lukaku blocks his own shot during Belgium v Scotland

Last night Belgium squashed the Scotland team in the Euro qualifiers to maintain their position at the top of group I.

Manchester Rivals Score Thrice To Bring Victory For Belgium

Romelu Lukaku managed to score a brace in Brussels against the Tartan Beasts. But he wasn’t the only goalscorer for Belgium. Man City ace Kevin de Bruyne netted a late stoppage time third to seal the win for the Red Devils.

Efficient display from Belgium and Romelu Lukaku on the night but the United striker did suffer a massive howler during the game.

Lukaku’s Miss

Those familiar with Manchester United know rather too well about Lukaku’s infamous first touch.

Not even the Man United fans spare him for his touch (the bad ones) and misses, even though the Belgian has quite impressive goalscoring stats in his favour.

And such a Lukaku moment took place during the Scotland game last night as well when the United striker managed to block his own shot while standing just yards away from the goal.

Stats On His Side

Despite the howler, it should be known that Lukaku was the man of the match and the striker has an impeccable record with the Belgian side.

He has scored 25 goals in his past 21 appearances for Belgium, including eight in his past six.

He can only wish that people remember these immaculate stats instead of the miserable gaffes he produces at times during a match.

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Man Utd new boy Daniel James tore through the Hungary defence with a scintillating run last night

Manchester United fans were impressed by the 21 year old youngster Daniel James’ performance for Wales on Tuesday night as he showed glimpses of brilliance during their Euro 2020 qualifying defeat against Hungary.

At the 25th minute with nothing to separate the two teams, the former Swansea speedster picked up the ball in his own half on the left flank and galloped down the pitch towards the Hungary defence.

Running through the wing in a long arc with startling pace, he tore through the opposition’s technical area and drew four Hungarian defenders onto him before slipping the ball to Tom Lawrence, who fired a shot straight at the goalkeeper and the attack petered out.

“James’ speed reminds of Usain Bolt – to be so fast like him is really incredible.” said the Hungary coach before the game. From where he stood the Hungary coach watched in awe as barely meters away from where David James started the sprint.

The 21-year-old displayed his amazing pace and some magical trickery with the ball at his feet on several occasions to create good chances for his teammates.

Manchester United confirmed the signing of Swansea’s star midfielder last week for £15m.

Even though Wales fell to a 1-0 loss to Hungary in the EURO 2020 qualification, James was the stand-out player on the pitch showing a lot of promise.

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Paul Pogba – Man Utd star launches France counter with an eye-popping pass against Bolivia

Pogba pulled off an outrageous defence-splitting pass in an international friendly against Bolivia last night.

A touch of a genius it was when he volleyed the ball past Bolivian defenders to start a deadly counter attack from his own half.

Pogba dictated the midfield for most of the game as France enjoyed a lion’s share of the possession in the game and eventually went on to win the match 2-0 with goals from Thomas Lemar and Antoine Griezmann.

The legendary Zinedine Zidane is said to have been obsessed with the French national as the Manchester United star is heavily linked for a potential shift to the Bernabeu this summer.

After a depressing season with United, the Frenchman would look show his brilliance with the French side in coming weeks.

Deschamps’ men look good in all the departments and will face Turkey in a top of the table clash in their qualifying campaign for the Euro 2020, later this week.

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FAN THEORY: Rio Ferdinand busy orchestrating Man Utd’s ‘biggest deal’ in the post-Ferguson era

An insane fan theory is doing the rounds on the internet. According to fans, the days of United’s defense woes could be over with the shock signing of Matthijs de Ligt. A legendary United defender is reported to be orchestrating the unbelievable transfer.

The unfolding of the drama

Reddit user DougieWR observed that United’s current number #5 , Marcos Rojo switched to number #16, keeping the revered #5 free. He speculated that a De Ligt transfer was all the more probable given this observation.

The person who revealed the news, Reddit user RightsaidFred_MUFC, confirmed Rio’s massive role in the deal. The user also revealed that the club is trying to inculcate ‘past greatness into the present’.

Since Ferdinand himself wore the #5 for United under Sir Alex, he is said to hold persuasive value in any deal with a defender.

While users suggested that the news should be taken with a pinch of salt, it seems all too plausible that such a move could take place.

Rio Ferdinand is rumoured to be appointed as the technical director at Manchester United . A legendary defender and teammate of current boss Solskjaer, Rio is one of the favourites to land the post.

It would be a stroke of pure genius to appoint him, given his vast knowledge and rapport with the staff and his obvious respect for the fans and the club.

Matthijs De Ligt : Man Utd and Barcelona in a tug of war over the hottest property in world football

De Ligt has been in the thick of transfer rumours this season. A phenomenal season at Ajax in the Eredivisie and UEFA Champions League has resulted in many top clubs scrambling to get the talented defender.

He has been heavily linked with a move to either Manchester United or Barcelona recently.

He is expected to join his teammate De Jong at Camp Nou after United seemingly backed off the deal yesterday.

De Ligt wants to play Champions League football. With Manchester United failing to provide that in the new season, De Ligt is perhaps not motivated enough to commit to the move.

However, Rio Ferdinand is said to be one of the young Dutchman’s childhood heroes. If Rio does persist, De Ligt will be compelled to listen to the advice of the defender.

Best signing of the post-Ferguson era

De Ligt’s signing would be in the true spirit of United. That is, buying young talent and helping them grow to be legends in their own rights.

After the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, Old Trafford has lost quite a lot of its spark. A string of high profile signings might have done well for the club’s image , but hardly enough for their performances.

Playing dismally season after season has left everyone at the club worried. With Ole Gunnar being promised all the support to completely rebuild the team, the transfer window seems to be United’s only remaining shot at redemption.

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Tottenham have gone above Man Utd in the UEFA coefficient rankings for the first time in their history

Tottenham Hotspur are playing some of their best football ever under Mauricio Pochettino and as a result, they have overtaken Manchester United in the UEFA
Club Coefficients ranking for the first time in their history. Spurs come in at 17th whereas United are in the 18th place.

https://twitter.com/coys100/status/1130443975033274368

UEFA club coefficients ranking

The club coefficient rankings are decided by reviewing the performances of the various clubs in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League over the previous five seasons.

The coefficient of the league in which a club primarily plies his trade also plays a part.

The clubs receive two points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a defeat in games of the main stages of the Champions League and the Europa League.

The ranking is used to decide a club’s seeding in the competition draws so that the draw is fair.

Spurs making strides

Tottenham Hotspur and United are both on 78 points each but as Spurs are still in contention to win the trophy, we do see them rising higher in the ranking.

The rise in the rankings truly reflect on the success that Pochettino is achieving at Tottenham. They are playing some amazing football and have a squad mixed with both experience and young players. The players are hungry for success and are longing to bring that success to the new Tottenham Stadium. What an opening season that would be!

United falling behind

Manchester United on the other hand, are on a decline and are set to play in the Europa League next season after coming 6th in the recently concluded Premier League season.

With a lack of depth in their squad and the attackers not finding their feet, United have fallen down the pecking order and this season they are the only top 6 team without anything to show for.

How Tottenham have fared in Europe in their last 5 campaigns

  • 2014/15 – 21st place – Knocked out in the round of 32 of the Europa League
  • 2015/16 – 23rd place – Knocked out in the round of 16 of the Europa League
  • 2016/17- 20th place – 3rd place group stage finish, subsequently out in the round of 32
  • 2017/18- 19th place – Knocked out in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League
  • 2018/19-17th place – In the finals of the UEFA Champions League

Tottenham have been in and out of the UCL and UEL over the last 4 campaigns. However, this season they are in the final and against the odds, are looking to go all the way.

Spurs will take on Liverpool (currently on 11th place in the coefficient ranking) in the UCL final on June 1st in Madrid and will look to end the season in the best possible way, a Champions League Trophy to their name.

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The best video to understand soon-to-be Man United player Daniel James

The summer transfer market has just begun and Manchester United have already jumped into the race of signing new players to strengthen their squad.

The Red Devils are close to signing 21-year-old Welsh winger Daniel James from Swansea for an estimated amount of £15 million. It is believed that Daniel has agreed personal terms with the Reds. 

Rebuilding the Reds

Manchester United is going through its worst era of football ever since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson having won only three major trophies: Europa league, FA Cup and the League Cup in a span of six years. 

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer is determined on rebuilding the team and the club’s reputation. Daniel James will possibly be the first signing of Ole after taking charge of the club.

James has had an impressive season with the Championship side and is tipped to play a key role at Old Trafford. He is known for his pace and trickery and can play on both the flanks or as a number 10.

“We’ve got scouts scouring the planet for good footballers and we’ll sign players; players that we think is the right fit, personality-wise quality-wise and price-wise,” Solskjaer said in April. “And can you have longevity at this club and I’m confident we’re doing what we can to get the right players in.”

However, some fans are still not confident and believe that this will be another failed signing like Alexis Sanchez while others state that James is bought just to add depth to the squad and will be second to Martial in the picking order.

The club finished 6th in the Premier League and will be participating in the Europa League for the fourth time in nine campaigns in Ole’s first full campaign in charge.

Club legend Ryan Giggs has also been an admirer of the Welshman and acknowledges the fact that this signing can bring about a change in the club. 

“He is on fire at the moment. He is someone who has got genuine speed and someone who is exciting. He can start a game or potentially come on and make an impact. You always want players who are playing regularly and he is playing really well. If you have front players especially who are feeling confident, that’s always a good thing”, said Ryan Giggs.

What can fans expect from Daniel James

Daniel James can fit into multiple positions at Old Trafford. He can play on either flanks in a 4-3-3 formation but with the likes of Rashford, Martial and Sanchez playing on the left flank it is highly likely for James to replace Jesse Lingard on the right flank.

The 21-year-old can also operate as a false nine in a 4-4-2 formation with Rashford and Lukaku or possibly Martial upfront.

Eager fans can check out the video below to see exactly what Daniel James will bring to this squad –

United look keen on signing more players this summer in order to retain the club’s legacy and to compete against the top clubs of Europe. Even though Daniel James is pacy and skillful, he still lacks experience which is required to compete in the top flight.

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No respite for Alexis Sanchez as Man Utd star gets compared with Mo Salah’s daughter online

Alexis Sanchez’s move from Arsenal to Manchester United in January 2018 hasn’t gone as many would have expected. After having a few amazing seasons at Arsenal, he has looked a shadow of his former self at United. The Chilean has endured a miserable 2018/19 season and that has led to his future being in doubt at Old Trafford

Manchester United sacked Jose Mourinho midway through the last season and replaced him with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Despite a change in the scenery, Sanchez failed to hit the mark. In fact, in his 20 appearances for Manchester United in the recently concluded Premier League season, he has only scored 1 goal.

When Makka Salah stole the limelight at Anfield

In recent events, Mohamed Salah shared the Golden Boot trophy with Sadio Mane and Pierre Emerick- Aubameyang. He was awarded the trophy post-match, after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Wolves.

While all the attention should have been on him, it was in fact his daughter, who not only stole the show, but also stole the hearts of the Anfield faithful.

Makka Salah took to the pitch after the match was over, with a ball at her feet. She then proceeded to run towards the goal and score in an empty net, which was followed by applause from the fans, who were delighted at such a sight. She then repeated the entire process, scoring again at the Kop end.

How Alexis Sanchez is being trolled online

Many took this opportunity to mock the former Barcelona star and compared how the 6-year-old girl has managed to score more goals in a single appearance than Sanchez has managed this entire season.

With Solskjaer rumored to be promised a massive war chest for the coming transfer window, a massive overhaul can be expected of the United squad. And with Sanchez performing so poorly this season, he may well be on his way out of Manchester United.

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Liverpool fan offers apology to Man Utd for supporting Luis Suarez on the Evra incident

It would be an understatement to say that Luis Suarez is a divisive figure in the world of football.

At best, he is a creative, cunning and clinical striker with great awareness and guile. At worst, he is known for the infamous biting incidents and playing an illegal handball which resulted in Ghana getting knocked out of the 2010 World Cup.

That, apart from the comments he’s allegedly made towards fellow players don’t portray him in the best light possible. But there’s no denying the 32-year-old Uruguayan’s prowess on the pitch, as he is Barcelona’s fifth highest scorer of all time, and has enjoyed significant success at Ajax and Liverpool.

It is his celebrations in the Champions League game against his former Merseyside employers however has brought him under scrutiny again.

Liverpool were battered 3-0 at the Camp Nou, with Suárez scoring and Lionel Messi running riot.

After his goal in the 26th minute through a Jordi Alba cross, Suárez was very vocal in his joy in scoring against his former side, who had supported him throughout the racial abuse allegations and his subsequent ban.

Not only that, he was guilty of rash challenges on some of the Liverpool players, which can be chalked up to the competitive and sometimes brash nature of the Uruguayan centre-forward.

Nevertheless, Liverpool fans were not happy with the player, who was adored at Anfield in the three years he spent there, with some even apologising to Evra for supporting Suárez throughout the aforementioned incident when the Frenchman was at Manchester United.

Twitter user @RockyKlopp wrote, “Honest apologies to @Evra, Luis Suarez is actually inexcusably disgraceful to the game mate. If this is how he treats his ex team, he definitely did mean what he said to an United fan in a racial connotation.”

Following this, there was a barrage of tweets, some defending the forward and accusing the Liverpool faithful of hypocrisy.

Barcelona travel to Anfield with 3-0 lead, looking to seal the tie, while Jurgen Klopp’s men will be looking to regroup and somehow turn this deficit, which would take them to their second Champions League final in two years.

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Jose Mourinho – Man Utd didn’t back me like Pep and Klopp were

Widely known as ‘The Special One’, Jose Mourinho has won numerous trophies during his time in Spain, Italy, Portugal and England.

His stint at Manchester United, it is fair to say, ended on not-so-good terms. He was criticized for his lack of attacking football, his public shaming of players, and most importantly, his refusal to play Pogba in the starting line up.

While doing punditry work for Bein Sports, the Portuguese hit back at the Manchester United Board, saying that they did not back him like how Manchester City backed Pep Guardiola, or how Liverpool backed Jurgen Klopp.

When looking back at his time at Manchester United, there is little proof that goes in favor of Mourinho. In his 3 years at the club, he had 5 transfer windows.

According to the Guardian, in those transfer windows, the club spent upwards of 350 million euros on 11 players.

It should also be noted that out of those 350 million euros, United spent 90 million Euros in 2016 in a world record transfer to bring Paul Pogba from Juventus to United.

Although that may be the case, the signings that United had made may not have been the signings that Mourinho would have wanted.

The lack of a Sporting Director at United means that the responsibility of getting new players goes to Ed Woodward, who, one would probably associate with having more of an eye for the business side of the game rather than what goes on the field .

Klopp and Guardiola on the other hand, with the help of their Sporting Directors, have gotten the players they desired and are now challenging for major trophies. T

The same cannot be said for Mourinho, who on multiple occasions had come out publicly to express his anger at not getting the players he wanted, especially a center-back.

With United needing an overhaul, the requirement of a Sporting Director is now more than ever.

Read: Man Utd could be looking to emulate Ajax with Rio Ferdinand as Director of Football

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Man Utd could be looking to emulate Ajax with Rio Ferdinand as Director of Football

For a football club to be successful, it must be a well-oiled machine as it goes about its work. This means that all parts of the football club must function properly on its own, and must be flawless when these levels are integrated. If this can be achieved, success is soon to follow.

One term that gets thrown about often when talking about club models, is the Director of Football (DoF) position. The job description for this is simple, but is possibly the most vital, as a person occupying this role is expected to run matters at the club in a footballing aspect, providing seamless integration between the business at the top and the football on the pitch.

With this being said, we look at the situation surrounding Manchester United. Having been unimpressive this season and generally a level or two below the top sides since the retirement of Sir Alex, United, it seems, are looking to implement a football model similar to that of UEFA Champions league semi-finalists Ajax.

Ajax are renowned for their footballing model, both on the pitch and off it. Characteristic of this is their faith in youth and a management that understands football and what it means to Ajax, whilst keeping matters separate between football and business, with Marc Overmars doing a fantastic job as DoF.

Internet got hit with the rumors of Rio Ferdinand being a potential DoF candidate when reports broke out that Man United chief executive Ed Woodward held a meeting with the former United player regarding the position.

Rio is reported to be one of candidates on Manchester United’s list of potential DoFs, as the club looks to rejig things and set the record straight in a bid to bring back the glory days.

Drawing inspiration from the Ajax model, some United fans are happy at this move in general as it implies a step in the right direction for the club.

https://twitter.com/maxmufc7/status/1123252108210388993

But the reaction to Ferdinand’s name being tossed about has brought mixed reactions from fans as well.

Some fans are delighted, hoping that he would be ideal as he knows how the club works, after being a mainstay in United’s defense for more than a decade.

Others, however, cite that United need someone with experience in this field to handle the football while filtering out the commercial aspect.

Would Rio be a hit as DoF at United given the connect he has with the club and fans, or are United better off signing someone with experience to be assured success regardless of them not being “one of their own”?

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The absurd amount of money Paul Pogba and his agent are charging Real Madrid for a summer transfer

Real Madrid, having had Zinedine Zidane reinstated, have continuously been linked with Paul Pogba, who has had his Manchester United future cast in doubt for quite some time now.

As the end of the season approaches, things are starting to heat up on the transfer rumors front with Manchester United star Paul Pogba being consistently linked with a move away to Real Madrid.

Despite often being ranked as one of the most talented midfielders of his generation, Pogba has frequently been questioned on his work ethic, leadership ability, and impact on the pitch.

https://twitter.com/FutboIBailey/status/1122598391702331393

United bought back the talismanic Frenchman for a then record 102 million euro fee from Juventus, looking to make him the centerpiece in the squad.

But ever since the move, he seemingly hasn’t quite lived up to his immense potential, often earning the frustration and ire of the United faithful.

However, Zidane is a longtime admirer of the Frenchman, and when asked about a supposed move, had said, “He has always said that, after Manchester, Madrid has always interested him. So when his experience at Manchester ends, why not come here to Madrid?”

According to Spanish online newspaper Libertad Digital, the transfer is quite unlikely to happen.

Madrid are expected to table a bid of at least 150 million euros for United to even consider selling, and Mino Raiola, Pogba’s agent, has demanded 20 million euros in agent fees in event of the deal going through.

On top of that, the midfielder’s wage demands are quite high at 17 million euros a year, with the Madrid hierarchy doubting if he’s worth it.

Not just the Frenchman, Chelsea star Eden Hazard has also been strongly linked to join the Spanish club at the end of the season. It has been all but taken for granted in the Madrid camp, with captain Sergio Ramos already following Hazard on social media.

In the case of the United midfielder however, it is not yet clear what direction Madrid is willing to take despite Zidane’s interest.

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The shocking stat doing the rounds after Man Utd’s defeat against City

When the 2018-19 season was approaching its midway point, Manchester United sacked their then manager Jose Mourinho after just 17 games. In those 17 games, United broke a lot of records, but for all the wrong reasons. They had just 26 points, which was their worst return in 29 seasons, they conceded more goals at that point of the season than any other season and had the worst goal difference in 29 years at that point.

But with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s (OGS) appointment as caretaker manager, things started to look up instantly. United transformed overnight. High energy, intricate passing, hunger for goals and much improved performances saw United go 12 league games unbeaten at the time, dropping just 4 points. That saw United gain 32 points, and with the a renewed belief instilled and fans in love with the style of play reminiscent of the United of old. Ole was given the job permanently in the final week of March after winning 14 in 19 games at the helm.

But ever since then, United haven’t been the same. Their run of form has been shocking to say the least, losing 4-0 on aggregate to Barcelona in the CL quarter-finals, getting demolished 4-0 at Everton after a dismal performance and most recently, a 2-0 home defeat to their noisy neighbors, City.

This poor run of form has seen them win just two games, against Watford and West Ham. The game against Watford was the last time United scored from open play, and the stats surrounding this are disappointing from a United perspective.

Drawing blanks against Barcelona, Everton and City and scoring twice from the spot against West Ham, United’s attacking resurgence when Ole took over appears to have diminished.

https://twitter.com/philipdwright/status/1121155385073782784

The excellence and swagger that they portrayed during the “honeymoon ” period under Ole has been missing over the past month. And with every game from here on crucial for securing top 4, United fans will be hoping that the team dusts itself and provide fans solace in a season of highs and lows.

Fans are singing ‘Ole’s at the wheel…’ on every match-day regardless of the result, but have the wheels fallen off for Manchester United after a rapturous start under Ole, or is this just a blip that will be laughed at come the end of the season? Should Manchester United have waited till the end of the season to announce OGS?

 

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Hilarious TV promo nails the plight of Liverpool fans ahead of the Manchester derby

Over the course of the football league season, champions are made based on fine margins. It’s the close calls that make all the difference between being crowned champions and having to settle for second-best.

Getting stuck in and grinding out results in games when the team is not performing at its best, when the opposition is gritty or when things just don’t seem to go your way are the results that define a club’s potential to win the league. But while these are factors that the players and management can control by making a few tweaks, there are other factors that are out of one’s control completely.

Examples of such factors are injuries, personal emergencies, and performance and results of fellow title chasers.

And it is that last factor that has been spoken of quite a lot recently, with regard to the insanely close title race in England, between Liverpool and Manchester City.

Currently, Liverpool have 88 points with three games left, and City have 86 points with four games to spare. Given that they are the in-form clubs in the top flight, if both clubs win all of their remaining fixtures, City would be champions. This prospect brings us to the plight of Liverpool fans.

Having not won the Premier League since its inception, Liverpool are within an arm’s reach of glory, with City providing the only roadblock.

A roadblock that can be done away with, with the help of the old enemy: Manchester United. With due respect to other clubs, City’s toughest fixture is the trip to Old Trafford. And with both title contenders expected to win their remaining fixtures, it is only Manchester United that can stop City from winning the title, handing it over to Liverpool.

A recent TV promo shows exactly what it means to the Liverpool fans, in the most hilarious way possible. It shows a Liverpool fan having to reluctantly support arch rivals United (donning their jersey and singing their songs), hoping that they can do the Reds a favor.

The video is worth the watch and it does bring out a laugh, but it also highlights the conundrum the Reds’ fans find themselves in, perfectly: having to support a club they hate for the greater good; so that they can experience PL paradise.

https://twitter.com/SuperSportTV/status/1120235792071180290

This Manchester derby is hailed as the game that decides the title. If City win, they are well and truly in the driving seat to be back-to-back champions. If United win, the title is Liverpool’s for the taking. It’s a sticky situation for United fans as well, but come the derby, the red side of Manchester is sure to have more “Red” support.

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Ter Stegen stopped Barcelona fans from singing an anti-De Gea song during CL clash

It is possibly the toughest job in the world of football. Unforgiving, relentless, and widely considered the most important job in football; we are talking about the goalkeeper’s position. The game can be glorious and cruel for the ‘keeper, and it can all change in a matter of moments.

Always under the spotlight, a goalkeeper’s performance is vital to the team’s performance. Called into action at crucial times, pulling off blinding saves to keep their team in the lead or in the game, their job must not be looked down upon. A goalkeepers’ life is such that the world celebrates with them when they pull off a great save; but they stand alone in condemnation when they make a mistake and cost the game.

Spoken of in high regard as one of the best ‘keepers’ in the world, Man Utd ‘keeper David De Gea’s (DDG) rise to the top is inspiring. From a lanky lad from Spain to possibly the best shot-stopper in the world right now, De Gea has seen it all. World-class saves and jaw-dropping performances seem to be his definition of “normal”. But, he has also had his fair share of howlers.

DDG was culpable for Barcelona’s second goal against United in the clash between the giants at the Nou Camp in the CL quarter-final second leg. Leo Messi’s right footed attempt crept under the Spaniard and rolled into the goal, blowing the roof off the stadium. On the one side, the Catalans were on cloud nine; on the other, DDG and United stood devastated, looking at elimination.

https://twitter.com/FutbolBible/status/1118965199493582848

If there’s anyone who can understand the emotions DDG was going through, it was another goalkeeper.

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was in goal for Barca when the catastrophe took place. The German’s reaction to what unfolded was amazing.

Videos show him not react at all to the goal, even though it asserted Barca’s dominance. He is seen having a sip of water as his teammates celebrated.

Also worth mentioning is that Ter Stegen requested the Barca fans to stop singing ill of DDG and his howler. It really was a class act from the Barca custodian.

He mentioned in a post match interview that he chose not to celebrate as that sort of mistake can happen to him as well, and he empathized with De Gea. He also praised DDG by labeling him as “one of the best in the world”. His response to the entire situation was just magnificent. Champion-like behavior from a serial winner, chasing success on multiple fronts this season. This also begs the question: Who’s the better ‘keeper – De Gea or Ter Stegen?

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Man Utd midfielder completes 30 ball recoveries in a week – Absolute maniac

When Manchester United signed just 2 outfield players in the summer of 2018, fans feared the worst for their season. Rightfully so, as they aspired for silverware and with 52 million pounds shelled out on a midfielder that wasn’t a high-profile name, United fans were wary. That player, as Fred Rodrigues.

As they feared, their season did not go as planned, and neither did Fred’s. With United having a stop-start season and the team not performing as many would’ve hoped, fans turned against the management and how the club was run.

For Fred however, he wasn’t given as many opportunities as he would’ve liked; often remaining an unused sub. He would’ve hoped for more appearances and more goals at his new club.

Given that United were taking one step forward but two steps back and  Mourinho becoming a ticking time-bomb, his reign at the club came to an end. This signaled hope for Fred, who himself was struggling for form and battling injuries, striving to make more of an impact.

That hope came in the form of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (OGS). With the Norwegian coming to the club and breathing new life into it, the fans seemed hopeful for a turnaround. His arrival saw improved performances and results, as United pushed for top 4.

https://twitter.com/StatmanDave/status/1116084772189757445

Fred under Ole:

With the Brazilian not featuring initially and recovering from injuries, Ole was quick to ensure the fans and the number 17 that he would definitely feature on his return, given that there was a huge chunk of fixtures left to play.

He was given his first big opportunity to shine in the game against PSG away, where he was influential in United’s comeback win and progression to the quarters of the CL.

He seems to be racking up quality performances and plaudits now, after exceptional stats in his most recent games, against Barca and West Ham.

Arguably on par with Utd’s MOTM McTominay against the Catalans, Fred produced a stellar performance that saw him recover the ball 15 times; and his overall stats: mind-blowing.

He reproduced a similar performance in the league this time around, against West Ham with the same number of recoveries, anchoring the midfield alongside Pogba. In less than a week’s time, Fred has completed 30 ball recoveries for United and delivered for them with the race for top 4 getting tighter and tighter.

With Fred coming to his own and featuring regularly for United, fans are excited to see more from the Bazilian.

Always looking for a forward pass and playing the ball ahead of the player to push the team forward, he’s gaining a lot of praise and becoming the “Fred, the Red” that United need.

 

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Ashley Young was the ‘black hole’ where all of Man Utd’s attacking chances disappeared against Barcelona

When Manchester United and Barcelona collide, it usually is a game with high stakes. Two giants of the game, a fixture between these two generates a lot of hype, is loaded with action and for the players – an opportunity to prove themselves against the big names, and possibly even write their name in folklore.

Big games such as this bring out the best in players. They step up to the plate and the extra-effort they put in makes all the difference in the end. Over the years, this fixture has seen a whole host of big names make their mark: Messi, Rooney, Scholes, Villa, and many more.

But there weren’t a lot of heroes in the match at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

With the bags of attacking talent available, it’s stupefying to know that Barca took home a 1-0 lead thanks to a Luke Shaw own goal.

For United though, the biggest disappointment was the lack of a goal, having put in a gritty performance. Majority of the Man United fans blamed Ashley Young for being unable to deliver anything good from the right hand side and incredible stats (like the one below) prove the same.

Absolutely appalling. Playing as a right wing-back and not being able to deliver one pin-point cross or complete one dribble is an absolute abomination.

Fans totally lost their temper at the disgraceful performance of their captain. Sloppy on the ball, delaying passes on a quick counter, over or under-hitting crosses and haphazard while defending: these are common phrases associated with Young (not just for this game). Sickening.

Time and again, fans have been calling for Young to be shown the door, but earlier this season he signed a one-year extension. With good performances few and far between and consistently getting on the nerves of United fans, the Man Utd captain needs to step up, big time. Or to the delight of most supporters, leave.

https://twitter.com/DevilsOfUnited/status/1116213381864800256

With the world being introduced to the first ever picture of a black hole, it’s almost poetic that Young’s horrendous performance coincided with that; given that Young was the “black hole” through which all of United’s attacking chances disappeared.

In a game this important, the abomination of a performance that Young produced is inadmissible. While McTominay and Fred were brilliant, Young produced a horror show. Will United address the Young issue in the summer?