Premier League
Ratcliffe says some Man Utd players not good enough
A number of Manchester United players are “not good enough” while some others are being “overpaid”, the club’s co-owner Jim Ratcliffe said on Monday as manager Ruben Amorim faces an uphill task to turn around the side’s fortunes.
Ratcliffe gave his backing to Amorim, who took charge in November following the sacking of Erik ten Hag, even though the Portuguese has struggled to turn around the team’s fortunes with United down in 14th place in the Premier League.
Since the 40-year-old Portuguese took charge, United have won five of 17 league matches and exited both domestic cups.
Thousands of fans protested about the club’s ownership before Sunday’s draw with Arsenal and British chemicals billionaire Ratcliffe attempted to address their concerns in a wide-ranging BBC interview on Monday, saying many of the problems were already there when he acquired a 25% stake in his childhood club and took charge of football operations.
“We’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying (Andre) Onana, we’re buying (Rasmus) Hojlund, we’re buying (Jadon) Sancho… whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.
“For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying 17 million pounds ($21.87 million) to buy him in the summer.”
Sancho, whose fee was 73 million pounds when he joined in 2021, is currently on loan at Chelsea while winger Antony, who cost 81.5 million pounds, is on loan at Spanish club Real Betis.
“Some players are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.”
Ratcliffe has some sympathy for Amorim, saying the former Sporting coach is an “outstanding young manager”.
“If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben, I think he is doing a really good job to be honest,” Ratcliffe said. “I think he will be there for a long time.
“You are beginning to see a glimpse of what Ruben can produce. I think you saw a glimpse of it against Arsenal.”
Ratcliffe, whose buy-in to the club was largely welcomed by the fans, said the 20-times English champions are in a period of transformation and that tough decisions were being made.
United have made job cuts this season and the 72-year-old Ratcliffe said the club would have run out of money by the end of the year if no corrective actions were taken.
He did, however, rule out selling youngsters such as Kobbie Mainoo and winger Alejandro Garnacho to help balance the books.
“The club had got bloated so we reduced that and will finish it with a lean and efficient organisation,” he said.
“United would have run out of cash by the end of this year – by the end of 2025 – after having me put $300m in and if we buy no new players in the summer.
“It’s an uncomfortable period and disruptive and I do feel sympathy with the fans … My only interest here is returning Manchester United back to greatness again.”
Ratcliffe said he fully-supported Amorim’s tough stance on forward Marcus Rashford who was frozen out of the first team before joining Aston Villa on loan in January.
“He wants a dressing room that is full of people who are totally committed to winning football matches. He won’t tolerate people who don’t have 100% of that attitude. The players have to be in the same box,” he said.
“(Rashford) has moved out of Manchester and maybe that’s a good thing for him. I’m pleased he’s doing well because he has got tremendous talent, but for whatever reason it wasn’t working for the past couple of seasons.”
-Reuters
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Premier League leader Liverpool is reuniting with Adidas as its uniform supplier for the first time in 13 years, starting from next season.
It will be the third time that Liverpool teamed up with the German sportswear firm after previous partnerships from 1985-96 and 2006-12. Since then, Liverpool has worn jerseys from Warrior, New Balance and most recently Nike.
The new agreement covers all men’s, women’s and youth teams at the club. Liverpool did not disclose financial details of the deal.
“The jerseys worn during previous partnerships are some of the greatest ever created,” Adidas chief executive Bjørn Gulden said in a statement. “We are honored to once again provide the players with cutting-edge technology to perform at the highest level and are looking forward to creating more classics for the fans.”
Liverpool has a 15-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and is on course for its first league title in five years.
-AP
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised Manchester United’s character and legacy ahead of Sunday’s clash while highlighting the boost his side got from their midweek 7-1 Champions League win at PSV Eindhoven as the key to maintaining momentum.
Arteta’s second-placed side are 13 points adrift of Liverpool with a game in hand in the Premier League standings and six points ahead of Nottingham Forest in third.
Despite their 21-point lead over 14th-placed United, the Spaniard is not taking Ruben Amorim’s side for granted.
“The history of United speaks for itself,” Arteta said in the press conference on Friday.
“The players they have, the club they are – there’s a legacy of overcoming difficult situations and they’re always a dangerous opponent, especially when you least expect it.
“Watching their recent games, you can see the character in their squad. They are more than capable of putting in a strong performance and beating you on the day.”
Arteta added that Arsenal would try to carry on the positive momentum from their stunning demolition of PSV on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
“What happened was we were super effective in the box and that’s a massive strength, especially in the Champions League, and that’s why we won the game with that margin,” he said.
“The manner of the way we did it lifted everybody but that is in the past unfortunately. It is about what we do today, the preparation for tomorrow and trying to replicate a great performance again on Sunday.
“But (against PSV) things were coming at the right moment, at the right time, in the right way and that’s very helpful, but every game is different.”
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Premier League
Premier League, Fulham condemn online abuse faced by Bassey after win over Man United
Fulham and the Premier League have condemned racist and homophobic abuse faced by their defender Calvin Bassey online after he scored in Sunday’s FA Cup win over Manchester United.
Nigeria international Bassey gave his side the lead before halftime in the match that ended 1-1 at Old Trafford before Fulham overcame the hosts on penalties to qualify for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
“Fulham Football Club is utterly appalled at the racist and homophobic abuse received and subsequently shared by Calvin Bassey on social media after yesterday’s FA Cup tie against Manchester United,” Fulham said in a statement on Monday.
“We strongly condemn this abhorrent behaviour which has no place in football or society. Such actions are entirely unacceptable, and we stand in full support of Calvin Bassey, who will continue to receive our full backing.
The club said they are working with the relevant authorities to identify the perpetrators and take the “strongest form of action against them.”
“We will offer our full support to Calvin and the club. We work with social media companies and authorities to help ensure any individuals found guilty of discrimination face the strongest possible consequences,” the Premier League said in a statement.
Manchester City’s Kyle Walker also faced online racist abuse after their loss to Juventus in the Champions League in December.
Last month, City forward Khadija Shaw missed a match for mental health reasons after facing racist abuse following a loss to Arsenal in the Women’s Super League.
“Fulham Football Club is committed to maintaining a firm stance against all forms of discrimination and remains dedicated to fostering an environment of respect and inclusion,” Fulham added.
Fulham host Crystal Palace in the FA Cup quarter-finals on March 29.
-Reuters
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