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A player and his agent are now considering a "firm" offer from Tottenham and chairman Daniel Levy, as Spurs move very quickly ahead of the summer.

Spurs eyeing another new centre-back after Dragusin

The north Londoners, as already confirmed by manager Ange Postecoglou, are eyeing up another centre-back signing – despite bringing in Radu Dragusin for £25 million in January.

Tottenham have now made out-of-window bid to sign £17 million forward

The Lilywhites want a new striker.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 16, 2024

Spurs have often been reliant on Micky van de Ven's pace for Postecoglou's high line to be as effective as it has been this season, but as highlighted by his regrettable display against Newcastle last weekend, the Dutchman is by no means untouchable.

Van de Ven arguably put in his worst display of the campaign during their 4-0 defeat at St. James' Park, but even before his off-day, Postecoglou admitted that signing another centre-back is top priority this summer.

“If you’re saying, ‘Is it an area we can strengthen?’, yes it’s an area we will probably look at”, said Postecoglou on Spurs' summer transfer plans.

"With all these things, it’s about trying to strengthen the group as much as anything else. If you think about when I first arrived, we had maybe six or seven centre-backs at the club. So it’s not just numbers. It’s more about the ability of those players to play the football we want and to fit in to what we’re trying to build here.

“I think it is an area of the park we will look to strengthen, but I think we’ll look to strengthen all areas of the park come the end of the season. That is planning that’s already underway, and other people are in charge of it at the moment.”

Van de Ven's hamstring injury earlier this season also partly resulted in a real slump in form for Spurs, who endured a difficult winter period after previously starting 2023/2024 on a real winning streak. There are capable van de Ven alternatives available for bargain prices soon, and one of them is Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

The 26-year-old is set to leave Craven Cottage at the end of this season as a free agent, and it is believed Tosin is open to joining Spurs as clubs take interest in snapping him up.

Tosin considering Tottenham move after "firm" offer

According to TEAMtalk, the race for Fulham's star defender is a "big" one. In their report, it is claimed that a "firm" contract offer has been made for Tosin by Tottenham. The centre-back, who has impressed under Marco Silva since returning to the side, is currently considering the approach with his agent behind-the-scenes.

Tosin's towering 6 foot 5 frame and proven top flight experience makes him a pretty enticing capture, especially on a Bosman, and reliable journalist Alasdair Gold has already backed interest from Spurs.

Paulo Pezzolano has apologised to the city of Valladolid after his side were thrashed 7-0 by Barcelona.

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• Valladolid boss laments 'pitiful' display
• Raphinha inspires Barcelona victory
• Newly-promoted Pucela winless in three

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The odds weren't in Valladolid's favour when they made the trip to Barcelona on Saturday, but a 7-0 defeat was far worse than expected. The score was 3-0 to Hansi Flick's side by half-time and Raphinha completed his hat-trick as the hosts ran riot in the second half.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Real Valladolid secured promotion back to La Liga at the first time of asking last season, but this was a humbling defeat. Pezzolano's side had made a solid account of themselves beforehand, though, beating Espanyol in their season-opener and producing an impressive defensive display at Real Madrid before two late goals worsened the scoreline. The 41-year-old's honesty will likely soften the blow to Valladolid and their supporters as they look to remain in the Spanish top-flight.

• WHAT PEZZOLANO SAID

  "I want to apologise to the supporters and the city, they don't deserve it. We didn't compete today. It was pitiful. There's no other word, there are no excuses. We put the best we have on the pitch and we couldn't compete."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR VALLADOLID?

  Pezzolano will certainly be pleased to have away games against Real Madrid and Barcelona out of the way. The international break gives the Uruguayan the chance to assess the opening weeks of the season ahead of Pucela's meeting with Celta Vigo on September 15.

Tottenham now hold a serious interest in signing a former Arsenal star for manager Ange Postecoglou, according to a journalist this week.

Spurs eyeing new forward transfer as summer plans take shape

In an attacking sense, Spurs have been a joy to watch for a lot of the campaign, and their new high-pressing style under Postecoglou has won many admirers.

Tottenham have sat down to discuss signing £26m ace likened to Gibbs-White

The Lilywhites are looking to add more goals and assists.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 18, 2024

However, there are still many chinks in Spurs' armour, as highlighted by their dismal 4-0 defeat away to Newcastle United last weekend. Postecoglou's side face the possibility of missing out on Champions League football to Aston Villa, who are now in pole position for fourth, but they're still well and truly in the race heading into this final phase of 2023/2024.

Regardless of whether they achieve a spot in Europe's most prestigious competition, reports suggest Postecoglou is set to be backed in the summer transfer market, as he looks to continue Spurs' undoubted growth since last campaign.

Supporters look likely to see a new forward arriving at some point when the window reopens, as stated by an array of reports over the last few weeks. Fabrizio Romano has said that signing a new attacker is a "priority" for Johan Lange and the Spurs recruitment team.

A few big names like Wolves winger Pedro Neto and Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze are apparently on Tottenham's shortlist, as is Genoa star Albert Gudmundsson from abroad. Spurs are said to have already held discussions over Gudmundsson, as per some reports in Italy, with Lange casting his net far and wide in search of more attacking talent.

Postecoglou has also tasked Spurs scouts with looking at talent from the Bundesliga, leading to interest in the likes of Serhou Guirassy, Victor Boniface and a few others in Germany. This may well have taken Tottenham to a new transfer target, as they now look at signing former Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry.

Tottenham now hold "concrete" Gnabry interest this summer

Boasting nearly half a century of caps for Germany, the £310,000-per-week forward has really impressed during his time at Bayern Munich, but the same cannot be said for this season in particular.

According to Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey, Bayern are open to selling the player, and Tottenham now hold a "concrete" interest in signing Gnabry this summer.

While the 28-year-old's game time has been severely limited due to injury, Gnabry has been clinical over his few top-flight appearances this season, bagging three goals and an assist in just four full starts.

"If you can get around 20 goals and 10 plus assists, you are sitting at the top level, a world-class wide man," said pundit Rio Ferdinand on Gnabry in 2020.

"He looks a well-educated player, does all the right things with and without the ball. He's got to be one of the most improved players in football at the moment. In terms of his trajectory, From where he was being discarded by Arsenal and West Brom to where he is now, wow."

Aston Villa’s European dream could well be over after a 4-2 defeat to Olympiacos in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final.

Unai Emery will need to give his team a solid team talk ahead of their clash against Brighton and Hove Albion this afternoon as they seek to return to winning ways in the Premier League.

Several of his players failed to deliver against the Greek champions in midweek, proving unable to shine when it mattered most.

Morgan Rogers was one of the main underperformers during the first leg, and he could be dropped against Brighton.

Morgan Rogers game in numbers vs Olympiacos

The winger was unleashed in the starting XI for the Midlands side but struggled to really get involved.

During his 74 minutes on the pitch, he took only 36 touches along with completing just 17 of his 22 attempted passes. Rogers also failed to deliver a single accurate cross or create a big chance, but he did attempt five dribbles, succeeding with two.

From a defensive viewpoint, the youngster was also poor, winning just five of his ten contested duels while losing possession nine times as Villa succumbed to defeat.

His display could see him dropped to the bench for the clash against the Seagulls this afternoon, which means Emery may make a change of formation to a 4-4-2 in order to unleash Jhon Duran, who enjoyed a solid cameo against Olympiacos.

Jhon Duran’s statistics this season

The Colombian striker came on for Rogers with just over 15 minutes remaining, subsequently succeeding with 100% of both his attempted passes and ground duels contested.

He also managed two shots during his brief time on the pitch while also winning the penalty from which Douglas Luiz missed, but it was a lively performance from the youngster.

Duran has scored six goals across all competitions this term, yet has started only nine times, having to play second fiddle to Ollie Watkins.

If Emery does move to a 4-4-2 system, it could see Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby operating on either flank, with Duran partnering the Englishman up top.

The £30k-per-week gem was lauded for having a “weapon” of a left foot by talent scout Jacek Kulig earlier this season, with Emery in need of more magic from his promising starlet.

Despite starting only two league games, the 20-year-old has succeeded with 40% of his dribble attempts, scored three goals, taken 0.8 shots per game and has a goal conversion rate of 20%, which proves that if he was given more time on the pitch, then these stats could certainly improve.

Could the clash against Brighton present the player with an opportunity from the starting XI given how impressive he was against Olympiacos?

Only time will tell, but if he doesn’t start receiving more game time, the Colombian could well be keen to move on to pastures new in the summer.

Aston Villa plotting to repeat Tielemans masterclass with "prolific" target

Aston Villa appear to be eyeing a move for a striker who has plenty of Premier League experience

By
Ross Kilvington

May 4, 2024

Michael Owen says it "pains" him to see Wrexham flourishing under Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

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• Co-owners have taken Wrexham to League One
• Ultimate ambition is the Premier League
• Owen explains 'pain' of Wrexham success

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Owen was born in Chester and supports his local side, who count Wrexham among their rivals. So the sight of the Red Dragons' shining under Reynolds and McElhenney, earning back-to-back promotions and receiving worldwide attention thanks to their Welcome to Wrexham documentary, hurts the former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Reynolds and McElhenney have put Wrexham on the map since taking over the club in 2021. Fans have flocked from around the world to see the Welsh side, to the point that it's put a real strain on traffic around the SToK Racecourse. Phil Parkinson's side are now in League One after rising from the National League, and they already have the Championship in their sights after marching to the top of the table.

• WHAT OWEN SAID

  Owen told Genting Casino: "Well I'm a Chester fan of course, my dad played for Chester in the glory years when they got to the League Cup semi-final and got promotion. My dad speaks so fondly of his time at Chester and I was born in the city, lived in the city and my home sits just outside the city now so Chester is in my heart and soul. So it pains me in a way to say it, but I think it's great to see what is happening at Wrexham. The two owners are doing wonders for football in this part of the world.

  "There are so many fans out in America that wouldn't have been football fans, wouldn't have followed football without them. The buzz in the area is quite incredible. I live 15 miles from Wrexham and you can feel the buzz down the road. It's quite painful as a Chester fan, looking over your fence and seeing success down there, but also I would like to think that gives the motivation for Chester Football Club and the fans to want better and to want more. We'll see what happens there in the future.

  "I've got no problems with what Wrexham are doing. They're spending money, they're investing money into football. The crowds are growing, the stadium is getting bigger and better. I think it's an incredible story."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  Reynolds and McElhenney will be keen to get one over retired NFL superstar Tom Brady when Wrexham take on Birmingham on Monday evening.

The golden gate of Champions League qualification has swung open for Aston Villa and Unai Emery, who have soaked up the sunshine of securing a spot among Europe's elite with a top-four Premier League finish.

Emery has refashioned a struggling outfit, rooting out the rot and instilling an inner belief that has been demonstrated through supersonic growth, reaching the Europa Conference League last term before finishing fourth this week.

Now, the gates have indeed unfurled but the progress made must now be viewed as the foundation of years of success yet to come. The looming summer is a critical juncture in this sense.

Aston Villa eyeing exciting transfer

According to a report from French outlet L'Equipe, Paris Saint-Germain's versatile midfielder Carlos Soler is expected to leave the Ligue 1 champions this summer and is attracting a hive of interest, with Villa said to be holding advanced talks regarding the move.

The Spanish star has previously caught the eye of Arsenal and Liverpool and would mark a major coup for the Villans and an illustration of the newfound power that is a product of Emery's prowess.

Why Villa are interested in Carlos Soler

The revisionism vis-a-vis Emery's profile on English shores simply highlights the magnitude of his success at Villa Park, where he has sent a club that, only five years ago, languished in the Championship. The sharpened recruitment strategy suggests that Soler could make a real impact at the club.

PSG signed the Spain international, who is 27, from Valencia in a €20m (£17m) deal back in 2020, and while he has won a wealth of silverware across his two years in Paris, he has started just 25 league fixtures across the two terms.

Still, described as the "complete midfielder" by former Valencia stalwart Curro Torres, Soler would tick a lot of boxes for the Villans, who are seeking new full-backs on both sides and a multi-functioning midfielder, according to Football Insider.

Due to the showbiz-cluttered nature of PSG's squad – albeit the club is weaning itself away from this failed strategy – Soler has played seven matches as a wide defender this season, picking up a goal and two assists.

But given that the £79k-per-week star ranks among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 18% for assists per 90, as per FBref, it's clear that his creativity could have a real impact within the Villan squad.

With dynamism and versatility on his side, Soler could forge quite the partnership with the focal frontman at Aston Villa, Ollie Watkins, who has scored 27 goals and supplied 13 assists across 52 appearances in all competitions for the club this season.

Watkins is a fantastic player and this comes down to his multi-faceted approach to his football, with teammate Douglas Luiz describing him as an "extraordinary striker" who thrives due to his ability to blend attacking prowess with defensive work rate.

Soler would only serve to increase the depth of the Villan pool of talent and would offer the creative support that could see Watkins carry his storming streak of form into the 2024/25 campaign.

Aston Villa given opportunity to sign £30m star who's like Grealish

He has not had much game time this season but would be an impressive pick up for Villa.

By
Joe Nuttall

May 15, 2024

In the summer of 2015 against Japan, Carli Lloyd scored the fastest hat-trick in World Cup history

It was the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup final in Vancouver, and the U.S. women's national team were playing Japan. Carli Lloyd, 33 at the time, had scored a goal in every game of the knockout stage.

She was on a mission to bring back the World Cup trophy to the U.S. after falling short of the title in 2011 and missing a penalty kick in the shootout. Four years later, Lloyd entered the pitch and within minutes found the back of the net. The USWNT were ahead 4-0 within the first 16 minutes, with three of those goals coming from Lloyd.

In the process, Lloyd became the first player to score three goals in a FIFA Women's World Cup final, and the second to do so at a senior FIFA World Cup. The USWNT went on to win 5-2 to become World Cup champions.

How did it all play out? Here's a look back at that moment, and what it meant, in this edition of… Throwback Thursday.

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  What happened?

  The 2015 FIFA World Cup was held in Canada, and the USWNT made it to the final, again, only to play a familiar foe: Japan. In front of a sellout crowd of more than 50,000 fans, including U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, the USWNT were on a hunt to bring back the World Cup title. Carli Lloyd was a key member of the team, and the last time she was in a World Cup final missed her penalty kick, a shootout that eventually went in Japan's favor.

  This day would be different.

  Within the span of 2 minutes and 15 seconds, Lloyd had already scored twice. She ended up adding a third goal, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in a FIFA Women's World Cup final.

  Lloyd went on to win the Golden Ball as player of the tournament, and the USWNT were finally able to bring back a World Cup trophy, after struggling to win since the inaugural tournament in 1991 and then only once more up until this point in 1999.

  Here's how in happened.

  Lloyd put the U.S. ahead just in the third minute after she went hunting for the ball off of Megan Rapinoe's corner kick. Lloyd timed her run, and was able to get a piece of her left foot on it to re-direct it to the far post.

  She made it 2-0 when she poked the ball in after a brilliant free kick from Lauren Holiday. Her historic third goal came from much further out. Lloyd caught a glimpse of Ayumi Kaihori in goal and noticed she was off her line. In an effort to back track, Lloyd took a shot from a distance right over Kaihori, off the post, and into the back of the net.

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  Why it mattered

  Not only was Lloyd's hat-trick historic, occurring in just 13 minutes (all in the first 16 minutes of the match) it was also the fastest ever – men or women – in a World Cup. But the result, and statement on the World Cup stage mattered even more.

  The USWNT had everything to prove, after their loss in 2011. This re-match featured eight of Japan's starters from 2011 taking the pitch, and just four Americans who started that game four years prior. One of those players was Lloyd.

  Lloyd's response was iconic, one of her best performances – and best for the USWMNT – ever. The Americans then went on to win another World Cup title in 2019.

• From those who were there

  It was game that seemingly everyone was watching. Social media was melting down over Lloyd's goals, and the Internet's early days of sports drama and reactions were at a fever pitch. Even President Barack Obama chimed in.

  “It was like nothing else around me was penetrating," Lloyd told CNN after the game. "It was me, the field, my teammates, the ball, and that was all I was thinking about.

  “That’s what happens when you are in that flow state – just being in that moment. A lot of good things happen when you’re in that space.”

  Redemption from the 2011 loss to Japan was a clear motivator.

  “I can remember that day vividly," Lloyd said. "I remember waking up the night before multiple times, finding my brain and my mind thinking about the World Cup final, thinking about winning."

  Lloyd's third goal was the most impactful for the record books, but the first one clearly set the tone for the U.S.

  “We got off to one of the best starts in a tournament that you could ever ask for,” Lloyd said. “It sounds pretty crazy, but scoring the first goal, it was like, ‘OK, I want more, we need more.’ Then you score the second goal and then it’s like, ‘OK, we need to keep pressing on.’

  “I just couldn’t believe it, honestly, to be able to pull that off in a World Cup final and to be able to complete a hat-trick in that fashion – you don’t get many moments like that.”

  @fifawomensworldcup

  And this was to complete a hat-trick scored inside the first 16 minutes… 😨 #CarliLloyd #FIFAWWC

  ♬ original sound – 🎶🎧

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• What came next

  The USWNT won another World Cup in 2019, and upon the arrival of new coach Emma Hayes, claimed 2024 Olympic gold. The USWNT totaled four World Cup titles overall and five Olympic gold medals.

  Lloyd retired in 2021, and would leave the game with two World Cup titles and two gold medals (2008 and 2012) to her name. And she will always be remembered for that hat-trick, a brilliant moment on a brilliant stage. 

  “For me it’s the compilation of the journey,” Lloyd said. “Without the journey from start to finish, everything in between doesn’t happen and it’s not as meaningful.”

A second-string team had more than enough firepower to see off the visitors on Thursday night at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea got the next phase of their Europa Conference League journey off to a winning start against Belgian side Gent.

The Blues safely made it through the qualifier against Switzerland's Servette and looked comfortable against their first opponents in the league phase.

It only took Enzo Maresca's side 12 minutes to get the stadium rocking, thanks to Renato Veiga's goal.

The Portuguese left-back did well to cushion a header back across the face of goal and past Davy Roef to open the scoring.

The majority of the game was played in Gent's half, although they did have small periods where they put Chelsea under pressure, although they were unable to make it count.

Things exploded into life in the second half when Pedro Neto smashed home an effort immediately after the restart.

Gent then pulled one back through Tsuyoshi Wantabe, but the Blues put the game out of reach with goals from Christopher Nkunku and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to make it 4-1.

The visitors did get one back late on, but it was nothing more than a late consolation goal.

In the end, it was a comfortable night for Enzo Maresca and that was without Cole Palmer or Nicolas Jackson in the squad.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Stamford Bridge…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Filip Jorgensen (7/10):

  Did what was required of him, making some comfortable saves in either half and there was nothing he could really do about Gent's goal.

  Axel Disasi (7/10):

  Picked up an assist but stood off for one of Gent's goals, but a relatively positive night for the defender.

  Tosin Adarabioyo (7/10):

  A solid outing for Adarabioyo who still looked a tad rusty at times having not played many minutes this season.

  Benoit Badiashile (8/10):

  Was a dominant force at the back, particularly in the air, winning first and second balls as Gent looked to play in behind the defence.

  Renato Veiga (9/10):

  Scored his first goal for the club with a beautifully cushioned header and added an assist in the second half.

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  Midfield

  Cesare Casadei (6/10):

  Never really got into the game despite Chelsea's dominance but was solid enough behind the attack.

  Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (9/10):

  Looked determined to make an impact after struggling for minutes in the Premier League and caught the eye after bagging his first goal for the London club.

  Joao Felix (8/10):

  Was arguably Chelsea's brightest player in the final third, the only thing that was missing was a goal for the ex-Atletico Madrid man.

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  Attack

  Pedro Neto (7/10):

  Ran his socks off as usual and took his goal well, using his speed and precision to smash his effort into the back of the net.

  Christopher Nkunku (8/10):

  Netted his seventh goal of the season with a bang, lashing home an effort at a crucial time to restore calm around Stamford Bridge.

  Mhkhaylo Mudryk (6/10):

  Grabbed an assist for Chelsea's first goal and played with renewed confidence, but went missing in the second half.

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  Subs & Manager

  Marc Guiu (6/10)

  Had little influence with 10 minutes left to go in the match.

  Tyrique George (6/10):

  Put in the yards but didn't see much of the ball as Chelsea saw the game out.

  Enzo Maresca (7/10):

  Did not have to think too much in the game such was Chelsea's dominance but gave some young guns a run out towards the end of the game which pleased the crowd.

It was a day of celebration for the red side of Manchester on Saturday afternoon, after Manchester United beat their bitter rivals Manchester City at Wembley 2-1 to win their 13th FA Cup title.

Despite some nervy moments at the end of the game, including what turned out to be a consolation goal from Jeremy Doku, United managed to get over the line. Goals from Carrington products Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo sealed the deal for the Red Devils.

Garnacho opened the scoring after pouncing on a mistake from City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, and left-back Josko Gvardiol. The duo badly miscommunicated, with the ball bouncing over Ortega for Garnacho to run on and finish into an open net.

Mainoo doubled United’s lead nine minutes later when he got on the end of a sublime Bruno Fernandes assist, a no-looker, to calmly slot home past Ortega. Mainoo ran over to the City fans to celebrate, giving them a send off with a salute goodbye.

Despite a constant onslaught from City, Doku was the only man to be able to breach Andre Onana’s goal. United held on and managed to secure their 13th FA Cup and end a poor season in style.

There were several impressive performances from United, coming from the likes of Fernandes and Mainoo, who picked up the Player of the Match award. However, it was not just those two who stood out.

Andre Onana’s game vs Man City in numbers

Although he could have done better for Doku’s goal, there is no doubt that Onana made some crucial saves on Saturday afternoon. After starting the season in frustrating fashion, the Cameroonian has ended in fine form.

According to Sofascore, Onana made three saves in the match, as many as his opposition number Ortega. However, he made three punches, compared to the German’s none, and made one high claim, a crucial catch from a corner late on. He had 47 touches of the ball in total.

Indeed, Onana’s three saves were crucial, with one in particular coming off a thunderbolt from Kyle Walker outside the box. United’s goalkeeper managed to get across in time after seeing it late, acrobatically tipping a shot destined for the top corner, wide.

The 28-year-old’s performance was only worthy of a 6/10 rating from Samuel Luckhurst, chief United writer for The Manchester Evening News. This is largely due to his mistake which allowed Doku to pull one back for City. However, Luckhurst acknowledged the way he “brilliantly repelled” Walker’s shot to prevent the Englishman.

8/10 Man Utd star with 100% dribbles was even better than Mainoo

The Red Devils produced a stunning shock on Saturday afternoon…

By
Joe Nuttall

May 25, 2024

Sofyan Amrabat’s game vs Man City in numbers

27-year-old midfielder Sofyan Amrabat was one of the stars of United’s FA Cup final victory at Wembley on Saturday.

It has been a tough season at times for the Moroccan, who has had fleeting opportunities, but in recent weeks has really shown his best form.

Against City, Amarbat won a deserved 9/10 rating from Luckhurst, on the biggest of stages. The United journalist explained how Amrabat’s “hustling of City ypified United's compact performance” against Pep Guardiola's side, before describing United’s number four as an “impregnable shield”. He was relentless in front of the back four all game and screened them superbly.

This is certainly reflected in the Morocco international’s stats from the final. He actually had fewer touches of the ball than Onana’s 47, with just 37, but he certainly made them count. He won two ground duels, and two out of his three tackles, as well as making 2 clearances. Crucially, Amrabat kept the ball superbly and had a 93% pass accuracy at full-time, completing 25 of his 27 attempted passes.

If Amrabat does leave the club following the end of his loan spell, it has certainly been a memorable way to go out. It was a performance that earned him high praise from one of United's greatest players. Paul Scholes complimented Amrabat's performance on Instagram, calling him a "prime Gattuso." Moroccan journalist Jonas Adnan Giæver even described him as a "mountain."

This might also be Erik ten Hag’s last game as manager of the Red Devils. At the moment, his future is still up in the air, but if it is goodbye, he will leave his post as Manchester United manager as a winner.

The top 10 FA Cup finals of all time – ranked

Some finals fail to live up to the billing, but sometimes the magic of the FA Cup shines through.

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By
Alex Caple

May 25, 2024

Gary Neville has insisted he has no influence on Erik ten Hag's future despite meeting with Manchester United over redeveloping Old Trafford.

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• Man Utd legend invited to discuss 'regeneration' plans
• United chiefs also discussed Ten Hag's future
• Neville denied he was 'an inside man' at Old Trafford

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Neville was asked about his opinions over Ten Hag's future by Ian Wright as "someone on the inside" but the ex-Man Utd defender insisted he was only in contact with his former club about plans to regenerate Old Trafford.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ten Hag has come under increasing pressure this week due to United's poor start to the season, which sees them sit 14th in the Premier League after just two wins in their opening seven games.

  United held a meeting during the international break to discuss their manager's future, with the outcome seemingly resulting in Ten Hag keeping his job for the time being.

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  WHAT NEVILLE SAID

  "I'm not on the inside of it, no I'm not," Neville told The Overlap's show. "I went on Monday to meet them about the regeneration side."

  When asked whether football issues were discussed during his meeting with United, Neville replied: "Not at all."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD AND TEN HAG?

  United will host Brentford in their first game after the international break next Saturday hoping to finally kick-start their season after their disappointing start to the new campaign.

  Ten Hag will know that a poor result will inevitably continue to pile the pressure on him, with United already reportedly discussing Thomas Tuchel as a potential replacement for the Dutchman.