Premier League
Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United are over-reliant on Marcus Rashford’s goals
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag admitted the team are over-reliant on Marcus Rashford, after he scored the winner as they beat Brentford 1-0 in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Wednesday to climb back into the top four.
Since the World Cup ended in December, only Napoli’s Victor Osimhen (12) has netted more league goals in Europe’s big five leagues than the England forward (11).
Overall, only Erling Haaland (42) and Kylian Mbappe (31) have scored more times than Rashford (28) in Europe’s big five league’s this term.
United’s other strikers are Wout Weghorst, who has scored twice in 19 matches and Anthony Martial, who has six goals in 16 games but has been injured for much of the season.
“Yes, it’s the truth,” conceded ten Hag, when asked if the Red Devils are too reliant on Rashford.
“But we know other players can score as well.
“Bruno (Fernandes) can score as well. We have many more players across the squad who can score.”
Rashford has found the net 19 times at Old Trafford this campaign, the most by a United player since Wayne Rooney, the club’s all-time top scorer, also netted 19 at home in 2011-12.
The 25-year-old’s 10 winning goals in the Premier League are the most by a Red Devil in a single season since Rooney in 2009-10.
“We are in that period of the season where every game is important and every game counts, so we are pleased to win,” Rashford said.
“We are not going to play our best every week, but there is never a time to drop our standards and we have to keep trying to push each other.”
The victory was a perfect response following a 2-0 defeat by Newcastle United on Sunday and lifted the Red Devils to 53 points, three ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and level with the Magpies in third.
United started brightly, forcing a series of corners and free kicks and, when the breakthrough came in the 27th minute, it was from another set piece.
A Brentford clearance from a corner only made it as far as winger Antony on the edge of the box.
He lofted it towards Marcel Sabitzer, and Rashford met the Austrian’s bouncing headed knockdown with a sumptuous half-volley that gave David Raya no chance.
David de Gea almost gave Brentford a lifeline early in the second half when his loose clearance cannoned into Ivan Toney. But, luckily for the United goalkeeper, the ball bounced to safety.
“We want to play as a machine and not make mistakes,” said ten Hag.
“We made one mistake and thankfully they didn’t benefit from it. This is a massive win.”
United could have sealed the game in the 80th minute as Rashford broke down the left and squared to Fred, but the Brazilian blazed the ball high over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Brentford poured forward in the closing stages, but the closest they came to scoring was an audacious chip from Toney that drifted harmlessly over the bar as the hosts held on.
Said Bees boss Thomas Frank: “We’re just disappointed that we didn’t get anything of it.
“That’s crazy because we were playing Manchester United. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves of who we are and what we have done.”
Looking for a top-four finish that will give them a crack at Champions League football next season, Rashford said consistency would be key for United as the Premier League heads into its final phase.
“Hopefully we can build on that and get back to where we were a couple of weeks ago,” he said.
-Reuters
England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence by a Greek court over a 2020 incident in Mykonos, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday.
In 2020, Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery and violence against public employees after his arrest in a brawl in which two police officers were assaulted.
Maguire, who was detained for two days following the incident and denied any wrongdoing, was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days but was granted a full retrial after appealing against Greek court convictions on multiple charges.
In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing nullified Maguire’s conviction before a full retrial in a more senior court. His retrial was postponed many times.
Maguire faced allegations of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. The 32-year-old was convicted on all three counts but will face no prison time. His legal team will appeal against the guilty verdict, Sky Sports reported.
Maguire’s brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were also found guilty of offences related to the incident and received suspended prison sentences in 2020. They also denied any wrongdoing.
-Reuters
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Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.
Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points, but it was a nervy afternoon in north London.
Mikel Arteta’s side moved to 64 points from 29 games, with Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.
Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel Magalhaes REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.
But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue.
Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league sequence under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.
-Reuters
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Premier League
Manchester United climb to third in Premier League table with come-from-behind win over Palace
Manchester United produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with captain Bruno Fernandes inspiring the turnaround that lifted the hosts into third place in the Premier League standings.
Trailing inside four minutes after a dominant start by Palace, United responded through a Fernandes penalty before his pinpoint free-kick was headed home by Benjamin Sesko to seal victory against the 10-man visitors.
The win extended interim manager Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run to seven matches since taking charge in mid-January. United now have 51 points from 28 games and are unbeaten since the January 5 dismissal of Ruben Amorim, climbing into third for the first time since May 2023. Palace remain 14th on 35 points.
“It feels like a big result, we were behind and had to show some character,” Fernandes told Sky Sports. “There are a lot of games to go still, and it is important that we don’t feel that we are in the position that we need to be. We need to make as many points as we can.”
Palace, under Oliver Glasner, were electric in the opening half hour, capitalising on sluggish United play. Defender Maxence Lacroix powered home a header from a corner after muscling past Leny Yoro, scoring the earliest goal United have conceded this season.
The visitors nearly doubled their advantage when Daniel Munoz latched onto an Ismaila Sarr through ball, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a crucial save.
United gradually found their rhythm before the break. Sesko forced Dean Henderson into action with a header from a Fernandes cross, and the Palace keeper also tipped a Fernandes free kick over the bar.
The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Fernandes converted from the penalty spot after Matheus Cunha was dragged down by Lacroix. Following a lengthy VAR review, Lacroix was shown a red card, reducing Palace to 10 men.
Eight minutes later, Fernandes’ delivery again proved decisive as Sesko rose highest to nod home the winning goal.
United pushed for a third, with Casemiro’s volley drawing a diving save from Henderson and substitute Amad Diallo testing the keeper from distance in stoppage time. Joshua Zirkzee saw efforts blocked, while Kobbie Mainoo’s fierce strike drifted narrowly wide.
Carrick praised his team’s resilience. “The biggest thing for us to take from the game is really the first time that we have been in that situation going in at halftime,” he said. “Being in that position and how we react and showing that personality and belief… to then come back as we did in the second half is the biggest thing for me today.”
Palace pressed late but could not find an equaliser. Glasner admitted his side had let the game slip. “It feels like there was more possible today. A great first 30 minutes, but the red card changed it completely. The second goal just happened too quickly.”
For United, the victory reinforces growing belief under Carrick that a top-four finish—and a return to Europe’s elite competition—is firmly within reach.
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