Premier League
SOLSKJAER VOWS HE WILL NOT ‘FALL LIKE A HOUSE OF CARDS’ AFTER MAN UNITED DEFEATS
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer vowed on Friday he would not “fall like a house of cards” after damaging defeats ramped up the pressure on the Manchester United manager.
The Red Devils reacted impressively following the chastening 6-1 home defeat to predecessor Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham at the start of October but things have gone badly awry in the past week.
United fell to an embarrassing 2-1 loss to Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League on Wednesday, just days after a flat performance in the 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal.
United are languishing in 15th spot in the Premier League table.
Scrutiny has ratcheted up on Solskjaer ahead of Saturday’s crunch trip to Everton. They would have their lowest points tally after seven matches since 1989-90 if they fail to win.
But asked at his pre-match press conference if he is as certain of being successful at United as he was when permanently appointed manager, Solskjaer said: “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?
“If I don’t trust my beliefs and values and my staff’s quality and the players’ quality, who else should?”
Solskjaer added: “I don’t look at one or two results and fall like a house of cards. But, yeah, setback definitely.”
The United boss said too much had been made about his team’s inability to score against Arsenal and Chelsea, adding that they had been widely praised after their wins against Leipzig and PSG.
One quirk is that their away performances have been strikingly good while they have struggled at home, where they have struggled to break down opposition defences.
Defeat in Turkey ended United’s longest away winning run in all competitions in their history – 10 straight victories.
“It’s not too long ago we were the best thing since sliced bread when you beat Leipzig and PSG, so there’s ups and downs in football and that’s just the way it has to be,” said Solskjaer.
“You’ve got to have that belief in yourself, belief in the players.”
United have reacted well to setbacks under Solskjaer, who has been at the helm for two years and a positive response will be crucial at Goodison Park before the international break.
“You have to be mentally strong,” the Norwegian said. “Of course there’s demands on a Man United player and a coach and a manager.
“There’s also an expectation because we are at the best and the biggest club in the world.”
Club great Solskjaer understands the pressures and expectations at Old Trafford better than most.
But the 1999 treble winner remains confident that he retains the backing of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and the United hierarchy.
“With me, today it’s sunny in Manchester,” said Solskjaer. “I don’t expect the wind to turn. Of course there’s always pressure and expectations on us.
“But I’ve grown up here, or I became a man at Manchester United, and I’ve learnt how to deal with good and bad times.”
-AFP
Thomas Partey, who formerly played for English Premier League soccer club Arsenal, has been charged with rape and sexual assault, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday.
Partey, a Ghana international, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the charges relating to three women and the offences reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, the statement said.
Partey’s management did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He is due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 5.
Partey, 32, was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for 50 million euros ($59 million) in October 2020 and became a key member of Arsenal’s first team.
He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing.
-Reuters
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Five players including England forward Marcus Rashford and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho have informed Manchester United that they wish to explore a future away from the Premier League side, a club source said on Friday.
Brazilian midfielder Antony, Dutch defender Tyrell Malacia and England international Jadon Sancho are also looking to leave the club, the source added.
Rashford, who has made more than 400 senior appearances for United, has fallen out of favour with manager Ruben Amorim, played for Aston Villa on loan while United had their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 15th in the standings.
Amorim had called Rashford’s work rate into question, saying he would rather put a goalkeeper coach on the bench than a player not giving their all.
Rashford said he was feeling fitter and better since joining Villa, where he scored two goals in 10 league appearances.
United also failed to qualify for the Champions League as they lost the Europa League final 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. Garnacho, who was a late substitute in the final, voiced his displeasure on social media after the loss.
“Up until the final, I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know,” he wrote in a post . “The final will influence (my decision), but the whole season, the situation of the club.”
Sancho was on loan at Chelsea, where he made 31 league appearances last season. Antony, who joined United from Ajax Amsterdam in 2022 for a reported initial transfer fee of more than $100 million, scored five goals in 17 LaLiga appearances on loan at Real Betis.
Malacia joined Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on loan in February.
-Reuters
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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes turned down the opportunity to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in order to keep playing “at the highest level”, he said on Tuesday.
The Portuguese midfielder admitted that he had considered the move, which media reports said was worth four times his current salary, after being contacted by Al-Hilal’s president.
“There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,” Fernandes, who is preparing to face Germany with Portugal, told reporters on Tuesday.
“It was a big offer, very ambitious. There was a waiting period for me to think about the future.”
Fernandes ultimately decided to stay at United and said he was motivated by his desire to continue playing at the top level and encouraged by his family and the club’s coach Ruben Amorim.
“I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so,” Fernandes added. “I spoke to the coach Ruben Amorim who really tried to talk me out of it. The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave.
“I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career.
“It would have been easy to move there but I want to keep myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions and I feel capable of it. I am happy with my decision.”
The 30-year-old Fernandes scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions for United last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time.
However, it was a season to forget for the team, as they finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest league finish in half a century, and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
-Reuters
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