Premier League
Resurgent Man United seek revenge against Man City
Manchester United were outclassed by Manchester City in the last local derby, but the mood could not be more different as they prepare to host their city rivals in the Premier League on Saturday in the middle of a remarkable run of form.
Arsenal lead the standings on 44 points after 17 games, five ahead of defending champions City. United are fourth on 35 points, level with third-placed Newcastle, who have played a game more.
Since being thrashed 6-3 by City on Oct 2, United have won 15 out of 18 matches in all competitions and lost only once, while they are on a run of eight consecutive victories.
When asked on Friday what has changed since, manager Erik ten Hag said: “It was a lesson, we took the lesson and from that point on, we have made huge progress.
“That game was a setback, then you have to act, to deliver. You have to go through certain steps, you need a clear vision, a clear point where you want to go, a direction.
“Then it is about development. We have to prove that tomorrow on the pitch. Last time we didn’t do well and we have to do it better. We have to be brave, have to believe and have to play our game.”
United’s resurgence has been led by in-form striker Marcus Rashford, who has scored seven goals in his last six matches, and midfielder Casemiro.
The latter was surprisingly left out of the line-up for the last derby but has started all 10 of United’s league games since then and has added some much-needed stability, as well as aggression, to ten Hag’s midfield.
The Brazilian has made more tackles than any player in the league’s top six this season, according to statistics website FBref.com, and has contributed two assists and two goals despite being tasked with mostly defensive duties in midfield.
Another key influence in United’s turnaround is ten Hag, who has been firm with players on team discipline, dropping Rashford to the bench when he turned up late to a team meeting and banishing the now departed Cristiano Ronaldo for leaving a match early.
“Nobody is bigger than the team. That’s not about 11 players but the whole squad,” he told radio station TalkSport this week.
“Everyone has one aim and they’re working hard for that with togetherness. When we keep this going, we can achieve a lot.”
Diogo Dalot is a doubt with a hamstring problem, while Bruno Fernandes will be back in the line-up after missing the League Cup quarter-final win over Charlton Athletic due to suspension.
City have rarely reached the heights of that sparkling performance in October and are in stuttering form ahead of the derby, dropping points twice in their last four league matches while they slumped to a surprise 2-0 defeat by Southampton in the League Cup on Wednesday.
Pep Guardiola has warned his players that it will be another tough game on Saturday.
“I have the feeling every time at Old Trafford or the Etihad it’s been a difficult game,” said the City boss, who will be missing the injured Ruben Dias and John Stones.
“Both teams always want to try to win the game. A lot of quality players in both sides. It will be a good game.
“Of course it’s a big week we cannot deny it, (but) many games to play.”
Separately, City defender Benjamin Mendy was found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault on Friday, while jurors could not reach verdicts on one count of rape and one of attempted rape.
– Reuters
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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