Page 9 - Manchester United

Man City's 3-1 win against Man United provides reality check for Ratcliffe

Good luck trying to knock Manchester City off its perch. With new investment and renewed hope, Manchester United fans have been encouraged to believe the good times will return. That great revival felt as far away as ever after a humbling 3-1 loss to City in the Premier League, which could have been even worse Sunday if not for a spectacular miss from Erling Haaland and a series of saves from United goalkeeper Andre Onana. "This team is legendary," City manager Pep Guardiola said afterward. The same cannot be said for United after a 16th defeat in all competitions this season and its 11th loss in the league. The latest setback delivered another blow to Erik ten Hag's hopes of securing Champions League qualification, with his team in sixth and 11 points off fourth-place Aston Villa. City, meanwhile, marches on in its three-pronged defense of the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. "Don't forget City, at this moment, is the best team in the world," Ten Hag said. Such word

Manchester United forward Hojlund to miss up to 3 weeks with muscle injury

Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund will be sidelined for up to three weeks with a muscle injury, the Premier League team said Friday. The 21-year-old Denmark international had found his groove after a slow start to his first season in Manchester, scoring in each of his past six appearances for United. United said in a short statement that Hojlund will miss Saturday's game against Fulham at Old Trafford due to a muscle injury. It is expected to keep him out for two to three weeks, the team said. By that timeline, Hojlund likely would miss the Manchester derby at Etihad Stadium on March 3. Hojlund's scoring streak has helped Erik ten Hag's team move up to sixth place in pursuit of a Champions League spot.

Man United to make a move for key Newcastle official amid club's reboot

He has worked in the shadows in English soccer for more than a decade, instilling a so-called "DNA" into its improving national teams and then shaping the growth and philosophy of Premier League clubs Brighton and Newcastle. Now Dan Ashworth could be handed maybe his biggest task yet: Overseeing the reboot of fallen giant Manchester United. Ashworth has reportedly been placed on leave by Newcastle amid interest from Man United about taking up the role of sporting director amid an overhaul of the club's soccer operations under British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe. Neither Newcastle nor Man United have officially commented about Ashworth, though Newcastle manager Eddie Howe spoke last week of wanting a quick resolution of any potential deal. If Ashworth was to eventually make the switch to Old Trafford, he would be tasked with knitting together the various arms of Man United's soccer operations soon to be controlled by Ratcliffe's INEOS Sport division which would include overseeing ..

Man United and Jim Ratcliffe get EPL approval over deal to buy 25% of club

The Premier League has approved Jim Ratcliffe's proposed bid to buy a minority stake in Manchester United, the club said. In a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, United said it had already been granted approval under its rules over who is allowed to be an owner or director of a soccer club. It also said it expected clearance from the Football Association as British billionaire Ratcliffe closes in on completion of his deal to buy 25% of the club. League rules disqualify people from becoming owners or directors for reasons such as criminal convictions, sporting bans or involvement in other clubs. Ratcliffe is one of Britain's richest people and the owner of petrochemicals giant INEOS. He agreed a deal to buy a stake in United in December and on Monday the deadline for completion was extended from Feb. 14 to Feb. 17. As part of the deal, Racliffe's INEOS Sport division will take over control of United's soccer operation after more than a decade since it won th

Man Utd's Harry Maguire's appeal in Greek court postponed due to strike

The appeals trial of Manchester United defender Harry Maguire over a nightclub brawl on the Greek island of Mykonos has been postponed for a year because of a lawyers' strike, court officials told The Associated Press. The 30-year-old England international is appealing a 21-month suspended sentence following the incident in 2020. His case was due to be heard on Wednesday at a court on the island of Syros, the region's administrative capital. Yannis Paradeisis, a Syros lawyer assisting with the prosecution and representing four police officers allegedly assaulted in the brawl, said a new trial date was set for March 12, 2025. "The hearing has been postponed. It's because of the lawyers' strikes that have been occurring over the last few months," Paradeisis told the AP. Lawyers and other Greek self-employed professionals are protesting tax reforms announced last year. The strikes have added to a huge backlog in court cases. Maintaining his innocence, Maguire said he intervened to ..

Premier League: Tottenham twice comes from behind to draw 2-2 at Man United

Tottenham twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday as British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe attended his first match since agreeing a deal for a partial takeover at Old Trafford. Ratcliffe's agreement to buy a 25% stake and take control of soccer operations has brought some hope to a club that has fallen off the top of the English game under its owners, the Glazer family. But it is a long way back and fans will continue to protest the Americans' involvement, no matter how diminished, with Ratcliffe getting a first-hand look at the challenge he is taking on in the draw with Spurs. The 71-year-old Ratcliffe, who grew up supporting United, sat next to former manager Alex Ferguson in the directors' box at Old Trafford and only had to wait three minutes to celebrate as summer signing Rasmus Hojlund hammered home a shot into the roof of the net. Richarlison headed in a 19th-minute equalizer from a corner for his sixth goal in as many Premier Lea

England forward Sancho on verge of Borussia Dortmund return: Reports

England forward Jadon Sancho is reportedly on the verge of returning to Borussia Dortmund from Manchester United. German tabloid Bild reported on Thursday that the clubs agreed on a loan deal for the 23-year-old Sancho to the end of the season, with just minor outstanding details to be finalized. Bild reported Dortmund was to pay around 3 million euros ($3.3 million) for the loan. Sancho fell out of favor with United coach Erik ten Haag and has made only three league appearances as a substitute this season. He hasn't played since August. Sancho joined United from Dortmund for 85 million euros (the $100 million) in 2021. He has nine goals in 59 English Premier League appearances. Sancho previously starred in a four-year spell at Dortmund, scoring 50 goals in 137 competitive games. He joined the German club from Manchester City in 2017. Dortmund is inconsistent this season, arguably overachieving in the Champions League by finishing top in a group with Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan

Man United set to enter Ratcliffe era with spotlight on transfer, Ten Hag

Fans of Manchester United know 2024 will be anything but boring as the club tries once again to end a period of on-field decline that has lasted 10 years for the record 20-time English league champions. British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe agreed Sunday Christmas Eve to buy a minority stake in United. The owner of petrochemicals giant INEOS, and a number of sports teams, will also take charge of United's soccer operations. The announcement of the deal, worth around $1.6 billion, came more than a year after American owners the Glazers put United up for sale in November 2022. The deal requires Premier League approval. Here's a look at the people involved and issues likely to be raised by the deal, including the future of United manager Erik ten Hag. JIM RATCLIFFE The 71-year-old Ratcliffe is one of the richest people in Britain and a boyhood United fan from Greater Manchester. He already owns French club Nice and cycling team INEOS Grenadiers. He is a one-third shareholder of the ..

Despair then delight at Old Trafford; Utd beat Villa in 1st game after deal

Welcome to Manchester United, Jim Ratcliffe. In the space of 90 minutes, and in front of soon-to-be director Dave Brailsford, Old Trafford witnessed the best and worst of Erik ten Hag's team. Two days after confirmation that British billionaire Ratcliffe will buy a stake of up to 25% in the club, United trailed by two goals inside 26 minutes against Aston Villa and was booed by the home crowd on Tuesday. Ten Hag's players then produced a spectacular second-half comeback to win 3-2 and spark celebrations rarely seen at its famed stadium during a troubled season so far. We said Keep going. Believe it, in ourselves.' That is what I demand from the team," Ten Hag said afterward. "We said it before the game and during halftime, Keep believing and we will win this game.' Going into the game on the back of a run of four matches in all competitions without a win or a goal, United took to the field for the first time since Ratcliffe, one of Britain's richest people, secured an agreement wor

Football Yearender 2023: Top 10 transfers from Ronaldo to Messi and Neymar

From Saudi clubs poaching Europe's biggest stars to English clubs running after freak strikers, here's how the football transfer market operated in 2023

UK billionaire Jim Ratcliffe acquires 25% stake in Manchester United

More than a year after it was put up for sale, Manchester United said Sunday that British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe had agreed to buy a minority stake in the storied Premier League club. Ratcliffe, who owns petrochemicals giant INEOS and is one of Britain's richest people, has bought a stake of "up to 25 per cent" of the 20-time league champions and will invest USD 300 million in its Old Trafford stadium. As part of the deal, United said Ratcliffe would take responsibility for the club's soccer operations. Ratcliffe, who was born in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, had originally bid to buy American owners, the Glazers', majority share of around 69%. "As a local boy and a lifelong supporter of the club, I am very pleased that we have been able to agree a deal with the Manchester United Board that delegates us management responsibility of the football operations of the club," Ratcliffe said. "Whilst the commercial success of the club has ensured there have always been available fund

British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe takes stake in Manchester United

The club said $200 million of Ratcliffe's planned investment would be paid on closing of the deal, and a further $100 million by the end of 2024

Man United has to beat the odds and Bayern Munich to avoid CL elimination

The odds are against Manchester United as the three-time European Cup winners battle to avoid early elimination from the Champions League. United faces Bayern Munich at Old Trafford on Tuesday and needs to end the German giants' record 39-game unbeaten run in the group stages to have any chance of advancing to the knockout rounds. But even that might not be enough, with Erik ten Hag's team sitting bottom of Group A and also relying on a draw between Copenhagen and Galatasaray in the group's other game. What I know is I never think of a negative scenario, we think positive, we know what to do, we have to win to stay in Europe, it's about that, the United manager said Monday. We will prepare the team with that feeling, with that belief, we have shown in the last weeks when we are at our best we can do it. Consistency has been the biggest issue for Ten Hag this season. That was perfectly illustrated last week when United produced one of its best performances of the campaign to beat ...

Man United manager Ten Hag under more pressure as international break looms

The pressure is mounting on Erik ten Hag as his Manchester United reign descends deeper into crisis. The 4-3 loss against Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday was yet another blow for the Dutch manager in a season that is unravelling by the week. He says he is waiting for one moment to turn the campaign around. It needs to come quickly. United now faces the humiliating prospect of being eliminated from the Champions League after the group stages; its defense of the League Cup has already ended and five losses in 11 Premier League games have silenced pre-season talk of a potential title challenge. In any ordinary season United would be expected to sweep its way past teams like Luton at a packed Old Trafford on Saturday. But this is clearly no ordinary season for the 20-time league champions. Last week the club denied a report it was exploring alternatives to Ten Hag after a troubled start to the campaign. A win against Luton would do little to quieten speculation about h

Bobby Charlton, the Manchester United and England soccer great, dies at 86

Bobby Charlton, an English soccer icon who survived a plane crash that decimated a Manchester United team destined for greatness to become the heartbeat of his country's 1966 World Cup-winning team, has died. He was 86. A statement from Charlton's family, released by United, said he died Saturday surrounded by his family. An extravagantly gifted midfielder with a ferocious shot, Charlton was the leading scorer for both United (249 goals) and England (49 goals) for more than 40 years until being overtaken by Wayne Rooney. Sir Bobby was a hero to millions, not just in Manchester, or the United Kingdom, but wherever football is played around the world, United said. He was admired as much for his sportsmanship and integrity as he was for his outstanding qualities as a footballer; Sir Bobby will always be remembered as a giant of the game. Alex Ferguson, who managed United from 1986-2013, said before Charlton's death that he is the greatest Manchester United player of all time and tha

ICC World Cup 2023: Bumrah on Rashford-style celebration; watch video

Bumrah's new 'temple point' celebration after taking wickets became the talk of the town during India's match against Afghanistan in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Sancho's future depends on him: Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag

Manchester United head coach Erik Ten Hag has asserted that Jadon Sancho's future at the club "depends on him"ahead of their Sunday clash against Burnley. Sancho has been an outcast for the past two weeks following his fallout with Ten Hag. Sancho was left out of Manchester United's squad against Arsenal on September 3.After their 3-1 loss against the Gunners, Ten Hag was quizzed about the absence of Sancho to which he replied, "Jadon, on his performances in training we did not select him. You have to reach a level every day at Manchester United and we can make choices in the front line. So for this game, he was not selected."Sancho took out his frustrations with a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he claimed that he was training well and that he has "been a scapegoat for a long time which isn't fair."Ahead of their match against Burnley on Sunday, Ten Hag was quizzed about Sancho's situation to which he replied as quoted from Sky Sports, "It depends on him. For the rest, we are ...

Ten Hag questioned about Man United player unrest and transfer dealings

Erik ten Hag's second season at Manchester United is not going to plan. Three defeats in the Premier League already have left his team a long way off the pace at the top of the standings, while United's return to the Champions League ended in a 4-3 loss at Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Ahead of Saturday's trip to Burnley, Ten Hag has had to deal with reports of unrest among some players and on Friday faced questions about the influence of agent Kees Vos in terms of the club's transfer dealings. Vos is Ten Hag's agent, and his Sports Entertainment Group also represents Rasmus Hojlund, who was an $82 million signing from Atalanta in the offseason, and negotiated Sofyan Amrabat's deadline day loan move from Fiorentina. Reports this week claimed there were concerns from some United staff about Vos' involvement in deals, but Ten Hag dismissed suggestions that there could be a conflict of interest. For player decisions, transfers, it's always 50-50, we both have a veto the club, represen

UCL: Stoppage-time drama again as Bayern Munich beats Manchester United 4-3

Mathys Tel's stoppage-time goal proved enough for Bayern Munich to beat Manchester United 4-3 in their Champions League opening game. Tel scored with a spectacular finish in the second minute of injury time on Wednesday, restoring Bayern's two-goal lead just when United threatened to pull off another remarkable comeback after Casemiro scored in the 88th. Casemiro did score again in the fifth minute of stoppages with a header to Bruno Fernandes' free kick, but this time there was no fairy-tale ending for United, which beat Bayern with two late goals to win the 1999 Champions League final. United had forced the initiative early as the old rivals met again in the group stage, but Harry Kane's penalty in the 53rd for 3-1 seemed to be the final blow for an injury-hit team low on confidence after starting the Premier League with three defeats in five games. United was without the injured Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and coach Erik ten Hag w

Champions League: Manchester United vs Bayern Munich live match time today

Man Utd vs Bayern match in the Champions League will take place on September 21, or after midnight today.