Manchester United - The African Mirror

Nov

2023

Premier League talking points

TALKING points from the 11th round of the Premier League season: MAGUIRE AND FERNANDES ANSWER CRITICS Manchester United's Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes have come in for more than their fair share of criticism this season but both stood up to be counted in a vital 1-0 win at Fulham on Saturday. Maguire, who has been given a first-team reprieve largely because of injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, was a rock at the heart of United's defence, repelling numerous Fulham attacks and showing composure on the ball. Manager Erik Ten Hag described Maguire's display as massive but the…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

Invest in Man Utd with Ratcliffe? I support Guardiola, says Wolff

FOOTBALL

MERCEDES Formula One boss Toto Wolff has suggested his support of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola would make it hard to join team co-owner Jim Ratcliffe in buying into rivals Manchester United. Ineos's Manchester-born billionaire chairman Ratcliffe is poised to take a 25% stake in the Premier League side. Asked whether he might be tempted to join the Briton, Austrian Wolff -- also a co-owner of the Mercedes team -- distanced himself from any immediate involvement. "Here we go," he told Sky Sports television when the question was put to him. Wolff said Ratcliffe was "such a clever person" that he would…

Nov

2023

By MARTYN HERMAN

Beleaguered Ten Hag needs away-day boost at Fulham

FOOTBALL

SO dire has Manchester United's home form been this season that perhaps the only saving grace as they prepare for the next match of a so-far torrid campaign is that it is away at Fulham. Erik Ten Hag's stumbling United side were booed at halftime and full-time on Wednesday as they surrendered the League Cup with a 3-0 home defeat by Newcastle United. It was their second successive 3-0 home loss and they have lost five of their 10 home games in all competitions. They are not exactly pulling up trees away from home either and fans will not have…

Oct

2023

By The African Mirror

Reaction to death of England and Man Utd great Bobby Charlton

FOOTBALL

ENGLAND and Manchester United soccer great Bobby Charlton died aged 86. Following are reactions to his death from around the world: ENGLAND 1966 WORLD CUP WINNER GEOFF HURST "Very sad news today. One of the true greats Sir Bobby Charlton has passed away. We will never forget him & nor will all of football. "A great colleague & friend, he will be sorely missed by all of the country beyond sport alone. Condolences to his family & friends from Geoff and Judith." FORMER UNITED AND ENGLAND MIDFIELDER DAVID BECKHAM "It all began with Sir Bobby. Sir Bobby was the reason I had the opportunity…

Oct

2023

By The African Mirror

Premier League talking points

FOOTBALL

TALKING points from the eighth round of the Premier League season: ARSENAL ENDS MAN CITY HOODOO TO SEND TITLE MESSAGE Eight years without beating an opponent is a long time in competitive soccer, as is 12 defeats in a row to the same rivals. For Arsenal fans, ending that long barren run against Manchester City was worth the wait as Gabriel Martinelli fired a last-gasp winner to earn the Gunners a 1-0 win over the champions on Sunday and send the Emirates Stadium into delirium. Given the way Arsenal fell away in the Premier League title race last season, they…

Oct

2023

By PETER HALL

McTominay rescues Man United as Tottenham go top

FOOTBALL

MANCHESTER United needed two stoppage-time goals from Scott McTominay to secure a dramatic 2-1 win over Brentford as Tottenham Hotspur went top of the Premier League with a 1-0 victory at Luton Town on Saturday. Chelsea claimed back-to-back league wins for the first time since March after thrashing Burnley at Turf Moor and Everton climbed to 15th with their second victory of the season at home to Bournemouth. Boos rang around Old Trafford at halftime as United went into the break trailing Brentford, staring down the barrel of a seventh defeat this season in all competitions. Defensive frailties were exposed…

Oct

2023

By The African Mirror

Man Utd can still reach Champions League knockout phase: Ten Hag

FOOTBALL

MANCHESTER United are still in the running for a place in the Champions League round of 16 despite Tuesday's 3-2 defeat by Galatasaray leaving them bottom of Group A, manager Erik ten Hag said. United, who lost 4-3 at Bayern Munich in their opener last month, twice took the lead against the Turkish champions through Rasmus Hojlund but were pegged back by goals from Wilfried Zaha and Kerem Akturkoglu before Mauro Icardi scored the winner. "Everything is open. There are still four games to go and we have a double (game) with Copenhagen," Ten Hag told TNT Sports after United lost for a sixth…

Jul

2023

By The African Mirror

De Gea leaves Manchester United after contract expires

FOOTBALL

DAVID de Gea has left Manchester United following the end of his contract, with the Spanish goalkeeper penning a farewell message to the Premier League club's fans on Saturday after 12 seasons with the Old Trafford side. De Gea's contract expired on June 30 but at the time the club said they were still in discussions with the 32-year-old shot-stopper over an extension. The Spaniard, who joined United in 2011 when Alex Ferguson was manager, was the current squad's longest-serving player having made nearly 550 appearances. "I just wanted to send this farewell message to all Manchester United supporters," De…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Lethal Liverpool smash Manchester United for seven in record win

SPORT

LIVERPOOL brought Manchester United's bandwagon to a shuddering halt as Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah all scored twice in a record 7-0 hammering of their arch-rivals to boost their Premier League top-four hopes at Anfield on Sunday. A week after a resurgent United claimed their first trophy since 2017 by winning the League Cup and amid talk of a late title push they were blown away either side of halftime as Liverpool recorded their biggest ever victory in the fixture. Third-placed United had looked marginally the better side for 43 minutes but it turned into an Anfield horror show for…

Oct

2022

By The African Mirror

Ten Hag says Casemiro improving at Man Utd after Chelsea heroics

SPORT

MANCHESTER United boss Erik ten Hag hailed the growing influence of Casemiro in their midfield after the Brazilian international scored in added time of Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw at Chelsea to salvage a point for his fifth-placed side. Casemiro was signed from Spanish side Real Madrid in August to bring some badly needed aggression and steel to the centre of the pitch for United and the five-times Champions League winner has slowly grown into his role. The 30-year-old headed past Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in the 94th minute to deny the hosts all three points after Jorginho's late penalty…