HARRY MAGUIRE has flown to Gdansk for Manchester United’s Europa League final on Wednesday night.
The Red Devils captain has been out with an ankle injury but has been included in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad for the Villarreal clash.
Meanwhile, United are ‘exploring’ a stunning return for Cristiano Ronaldo this summer.
Solskjaer has been looking to add to his striking department for months to help close the gap on champions Man City.
And England stars are planning to launch a Harry Kane charm offensive at the Euros, The Sun can exclusively reveal.
Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw will use their friendship with Tottenham’s £150million-rated forward, 27, to make him choose United over rivals Manchester City and Chelsea.
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ICYMI – GDA-MN IT!
Harry Maguire did NOT train with his Manchester United team-mates this evening, despite travelling with them to Gdansk.
Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to rule his skipper out of contention for tomorrow night’s game, despite his recent injury woes.
But the big defender, who was earlier included in Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man England squad, was forced to watch the from the sidelines as his team-mates were put through their paces.
Harry Maguire watches training from the bench FERGIE TIME
Manchester United icon Sir Alex Ferguson has travelled with his former side to Gdansk, ahead of the Europa League final tomorrow.
The Scot, 79, attended training this evening, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer put the players through their paces.
Sir Alex Ferguson cast an eye over trainingCredit: Getty Fergie travelled to Poland alongside David GillCredit: Getty WAN OF A KIND
Former Manchester United and England star Andrew Cole believes that Aaron Wan-Bissaka was unlucky not to make Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man Euro 2020 squad.
He told talkSPORT 2: “When anyone gets mentioned regarding the right-back position, they always say they’re not sure about players defensively, especially Alexander-Arnold.
“Wan-Bissaka is the opposite. Defensively, he’s brilliant. Going forward, he doesn’t attack as good as he rest of the boys.
“But defensively, he’s up there with the best of them.”
Aaron Wan-Bissaka failed to make Southgateâs squad
FINAL PREPARATIONS
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer put his players through their paces earlier this evening in Gdansk.
Minus crocked skipper Harry Maguire, who watched on from the sidelines, Manchester United’s stars got a feel for the pitch that they’ll face Villarreal on tomorrow night.
Man Utd stars were put through their pacesCredit: Getty Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes will be key tomorrow nightCredit: PA Maguire watched on alongside Solskjaer and Mick PhelanCredit: Getty FEELING THE HEAT
Tom Heaton has agreed to join Manchester United from Aston Villa on a free transfer, according to reports.
The former England stopper is out of contract this summer and is set to take the third-choice keeper spot at Old Trafford.
Heaton, 35, spent six years at Burnley before making the switch to Villa two years ago.
But he is surplus to requirements having lost his place to Emi Martinez who joined from Arsenal last summer.
Last month, SunSport exclusively revealed United were in for Heaton – as well as another former Red Devils ace, Sam Johnstone.
And now the deal is done, according to the Mirror.
Tom Heaton has agreed to join Man Utd GDA-MN IT!
Harry Maguire has NOT trained with his Manchester United team-mates, despite travelling with them to Gdansk.
Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to rule his skipper out of contention for tomorrow night’s game, despite his recent injury woes.
But the big defender, who was earlier included in Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man England squad, was forced to watch the from the sidelines as his team-mates were put through their paces.
Harry Maguire watches training from the benchCredit: Getty SHAW THING
Manchester United full-back Luke Shaw has revealed what winning the Europa League tomorrow night would mean to him.
The full-back, 25, missed the triumphant final in 2017 because of injury.
And ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Villarreal in Gdansk, he said: “I was a bit unfortunate last time, I wasn’t there.
“This season, especially now there’s, personally in my opinion, much more confidence and belief in the squad that we’re improving as a team.
“This is the next step [on Wednesday night] to go out and show that we’re going in the right direction. There’s a lot of confidence and belief that we’re taking the right steps and this is another step in the right direction.
“A [winners] medal would mean a great deal. It’s something that when you come to Manchester United you look to win trophies. We’ve missed out on a few trophies in the last few years and I know how disappointed the lads have been. So there is a massive incentive to go out there and obviously enjoy it, but leave everything out on the pitch to win it.
“I look around and everyone seems very relaxed, enjoying the moment being here in the final. We have not been in one for a while. I think most of the lads are just looking forward to getting out there.
“There is no need for nerves, we’re here for a reason, I think we deserve to be here. And on Wednesday night we just need to go out there and do what we’ve done to get here, and hopefully we can come back with the trophy.
“The last couple of days after the great win against Wolves we have studied Villarreal, but we need to focus on us and all the players will give everything to win this trophy and try to finish the season in a good way.”
Luke Shaw cut a relaxed figure ahead of tomorrow’s Europa League finalCredit: Getty HEART AND SOL
Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ‘quietly confident’ going into tomorrow night’s Europa League final.
He said: “It’s not about me. I’ve got enough self-belief, whatever circumstances I’ve been in.
“[I’m] Quietly confident, as I’ve always said. Trusting the players. These players are ready for this and that’s the main thing.
“I’ve seen in them something growing inside of them, more and more confident, more and more robust and resilient to setbacks.
“As a group, I’m confident that we’re ready for this now.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ‘quietly confident’ going into tomorrow’s matchCredit: Getty GUNNAR BE FIT?
Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has offered a team news update ahead of tomorrow’s Europa League final.
And the Norwegian has NOT ruled out selecting injured captain Harry Maguire.
He said: “We’ve prepared well. Anthony didn’t make it, Phil didn’t make it, of course, and Harry is just going to jog up and down the sidelines [in training]. I reckon he’ll try to join in a bit.
“Apart from that, we’re looking quite good.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer offered a team news updateCredit: Reuters
MORE FROM BRUNO
Ahead of tomorrow’s Europa League final, Bruno Fernandes said: “We come to this club because we want to win trophies.
“I think every player knows you come here to fight for trophies and to be a better player. The pressure to win is there, but pressure is good for me.”
Bruno was all smiles in pressCredit: Getty BRUNO SPEAKS
Man United ace Bruno Fernandes has addressed the media ahead of tomorrow’s Europa League final.
The Portugal ace said: “Being in the final is good, but to be perfect we have to win tomorrow.
“The team is confident and we trust ourselves. We know what we have to do.”
Bruno is determined to win his first silverware at Man United tomorrow nightCredit: Getty RON HIS WAY?
Manchester United transfer target Cristiano Ronaldo will hold urgent talks with Juventus over his future as transfer speculation mounts.
The Portuguese legend, 36, only has a year remaining on his whopping £540,000-a-week deal.
He looked set to depart the club if they missed out on Champions League qualification but Juventus managed to scrape fourth-place in Serie A with a 4-1 win over Bologna.
However, the forward was left on the bench for that crunch clash with boss Andrea Pirlo claiming that decision was down to ‘fatigue’.
A host of clubs have been linked with a move for Ronaldo, with both former sides Man Utd and Real Madrid keen on bringing him back.
Paris Saint-Germain are another side who would love to add him to their ranks while his first club, Sporting Lisbon, would be his mother’s ideal destination for her son.
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ROAD TO GDANSK
ENGLAND’S EUROS SQUAD BY CLUB
GARETH SOUTHGATE ON HARRY MAGUIRE’S INJURY
The England manager said: “From a club perspective, Manchester United have got a huge final tomorrow so it hasn’t been easy getting information, and we understand that.
“Kalvin Phillips also got injured with Leeds. These are the realities we’ve had to cope with in the last few days, and why we thought having more time would help us.”
ROY RAGE
ANDY GORAM furiously told Roy Keane to “f*** off”‘ at Manchester United before a “scared” Gary Neville warned him “we don’t talk to Roy like that” back in 2001.
Goram recalled the moment they met: “Shark’s eyes. Dead, devoid of emotion, glaring at me. No handshake. Welcome to Manchester United, Roy Keane-style.
“There were clashes between us. One day in training, we were playing a game of eight-a-side and Keane and Luke Chadwick were up front for my team.
“I always prided myself on the accuracy of my kicking, on being able to pick out a player from a distance, and that day I half-volleyed a peach right on to Chadwick’s foot.
“The kid snatched at it and ballooned his volley over the bar. Suddenly, I was the target of a volley of abuse from Keane. ‘Hey you, give me the f*g ball,’ he screamed.
“I replied, ‘What, do you get the ball just because you’re Roy Keane? F*** off’.
“The atmosphere was icy from that moment on, and on the way off the field Gary Neville collared me. ‘Goalie,’ he said, ‘we don’t talk to Roy like that down here. We just don’t’.
“It was a telling insight for me. Of course I respected Keane as a player, but I couldn’t have that.”
HEROES & VILLANS
Manchester United finished one place higher than they were expected to in the Premier League this season, according to a Premier League supercomputer.
But Wolves and relegated Sheffield United were the biggest disappointments of the campaign.
Dean Smith’s side avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth on the final day of last season but have transformed themselves this campaign.
But the Blades were a revelation in 2019-20 before capitulating this season and dropping into the Championship.
After Villa, West Ham and Newcastle were the next biggest over-achievers.
Both sides finished five positions higher than Bettingexperts’ supercomputer predicted they would at the start of the campaign.
SIX MAN UTD PLAYERS IN ENGLAND’S PROVISIONAL SQUAD
ENGLAND’S PROVISIONAL 33-MAN SQUAD FOR EURO 2020 (MAN UTD PLAYERS IN BOLD)
GOALKEEPERS: Dean Henderson (Man Utd), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield Utd).
DEFENDERS: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Ben Godfrey (Everton), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Man City), Ben White (Brighton).
MIDFIELDERS: Jude Bellingham (Dortmund), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (West Ham/Man Utd), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds), Declan Rice (West Ham), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton).
FORWARDS: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Mason Greenwood (Man Utd), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jadon Sancho (Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
CONTROVERSY
CIES Football Observatory have named their Premier League Team of the Year leaving fans utterly furious.
Another top-flight season is in the books with Manchester City reclaiming their title from Liverpool.
In an exciting season, the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Mohamed Salah, Luke Shaw, Ilkay Gundogan and N’Golo Kante set the league alight with their incredible play.
Yet bizarrely, NONE of those star names made CIES Football Observatory’s best XI for 2020-21.
Even more astonishingly the team did include the likes of Granit Xhaka and Victor Lindelof.
CANT COMPARE
Bruno Fernandes has spoken of his pride to be compared with Eric Cantona after a monumental 2020-21 season.
Fernandes told BBC Sport: “It is an honour to be compared with him.
“The impact he had was really high and he won many major trophies with the club.
“But when you are compared with this kind of big player it means you need to be better every day.
“It makes me work harder to keep in the mind of the people, being compared with him. That, for me, is a good pressure.”
LUKE-ING UP
Luke Shaw will be hoping to make up for missing five finals in a row by starting in Manchester United’s Europa League final against Villarreal tomorrow night.
He said: “There was disappointment with all of them, really.
“In big games at big times are big opportunities to show yourself and I feel like I missed out on them.”
MEMORY LANE
Gary Neville has urged Manchester United against a sensational reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo.
All signs are pointing towards Ronaldo’s exit at Juventus after he was dropped for their crucial final game of the season.
Ronaldo then posted a lengthy cryptic message on social media strongly hinting he was ready for a new challenge.
And Juventus’ financial crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic has raised doubts over whether they can afford to keep Ronaldo beyond the season.
Ronaldo earns a staggering £540,000-a-week and still has a year left on his contract.
Following reports United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is closely monitoring his availability, one fan took the opportunity to ask club legend Neville whether the Red Devils should push ahead with the transfer.
But the former right-back dismissed it, replying: “Love him but think it’s better to leave the memories where they are.”
HURTY HARRY
This is how we expect Manchester United to line up against Villarreal in the Europa League final tomorrow evening, with captain Harry Maguire set to miss out due to injury.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
