CRISTIANO RONALDO has added to the speculation of his time at Old Trafford coming to an end.
The Portuguese icon appeared to mouth the words “I’m not finished yet” during a post-lap of honour on the weekend.
But the 5x Ballon d’Or winner has claimed that this was not what he said.
Meanwhile, Jesse Lingard’s brother has gone on a rant as he believes that the United forward didn’t get the send off he derserved.
And former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher doesn’t believe that the infusion of Ralf Rangnicks role in Manchester and Austrian managerial role will work.
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Man Utd injury updates
Manchester United ace Jadon Sancho is likely to miss the rest of the season after spending the night in hospital with tonsillitis.
But the good news for interim manager Ralf Rangnick is that captain Harry Maguire may return before the end of the campaign.
Rangnick told the BBC: “Harry Maguire might be available again. We have to wait and see if he can train the day after tomorrow [Wednesday].”
Rangnick added: “”If [Sancho is to return] then maybe in the last game.
“I was in contact with him this afternoon. He was in hospital until this morning so he only returned back home today. He still doesn’t feel well so, for sure, not [vs Brighton]”
Lingard’s brother vents
Manchester United ace Jesse Lingard’s brother Louie Scott slammed the Red Devils for failing to give his sibling a proper farewell after the Brentford match.
Jesse’s contract runs out in June and he is expected to leave Old Trafford after a total of 21 years.
He posted on Instagram: “20 years of blood sweat and tears, four domestic trophies, three cup final goals, not even a farewell.
“No wonder it’s Conference League next year”
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Gard of honour
Manchester United ace Jesse Lingard has been linked with a move to Juventus and AC Milan as his contract runs out in June.
According to ESPN, the Serie A giants have both “registered their interest” in Lingard.
Juve and table toppers Milan are “leading the chase” to land the England international, who becomes a free agent next month.
The versatile midfielder hasn’t been able to stand out this season at United due to a lack of opportunities despite his successful loan stint at West Ham last term
More from Carragher
Jamie Carragher insists Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick can’t combine his consultancy duties with those of being Austria’s boss.
Carragher added: “Let’s not forget that Rangnick isn’t really a manager. He’s a director of football or someone who helps the coaches or builds a club.
“And that’s the talk about the role he’s going in and I just don’t get that.
“I don’t think you can be the manager of Austria and work for Man United. It’s one or the other”
Wreck it Ralf
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick should not be working part-time as a consultant for the club whilst managing Austria.
That is according to Liverpool legend and TV pundit Jamie Carragher.
Carragher told Sky Sports: “That is wrong. That should not be happening.
“The manager of Austria should not be working part-time for Man United, that is a nonsense”
Juan and only
Manchester United ace Juan Mata said goodbye to fans by spending several minutes in the rain with them.
Mata spent “several minutes in the rain” posing for photos and signing autographs for supporters after the match.
The versatile winger was soaked in the car park, spending time chatting and making memories with his admirers.
It was the Spaniard’s first Premier League start of the season and could be his final game in United’s colours
Man Utd star Juan Mata gets standing ovation from fans as he leaves the pitch against BrentfordGot it Ron
Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo has denied saying “I’m not finished yet” into the camera after Monday’s win over Brentford.
Ronaldo appeared to mouth the words during a post-match lap of honour with his team-mates at Old Trafford.
But now the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has insisted that was not what he said amid speculation over his future at the club.
In response to an Instagram post about his message into the camera, Ronaldo replied: “I didn’t say that”
Jur top, Klopp
Manchester United incoming manager Erik ten Hag has got it easier than Jurgen Klopp did arriving in Liverpool, Jamie Carragher has claimed.
Carragher said: “I think it’s very similar, really is.
“Possibly a harder job for Klopp because the funds for any Manchester United manager will be a lot more than Klopp had when he came in.
“There is talk about Liverpool and Manchester City being five or ten years ahead of United. I think that’s absolutely rubbish.
“A top manager gets a top club back on track in a couple of years. That’s not saying to win the title or the Champions League but competing. Ten Hag has to get Champions League football next season [2023-24]”
More from Fortune
Former Manchester United ace Quinton Fortune opened up more about his time with Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford.
Fortune added: “The guy came back a year later and no one ever pushed him off the ball again.
“I was laughing last night, because when I saw him shoulder barge the Brentford defender, it just reminded me of this kid that arrived in Manchester with no physical strength at all.
“He wants to show people that even at 37, he’s still got that strength. I was at the game last night, and that moment just took me back.
“There’s no way any of us can take any credit for teasing him and making him a stronger player, that’s all down to him and his own determination”
‘He took it personally’
Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo was teased about his lack of strength during his early years at Old Trafford, revealed former Red Devils player Quinton Fortune.
Speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes at the launch of their 5-A-Side Bet on Brighton vs United, he said: “I was laughing at that moment last night before Cristiano won the penalty – he barged Rico Henry out of the way like he wasn’t there.
“But Ronaldo, when he arrived at United all those years ago, we used to tease him about that part of his game.
“We’d wind him up about his lack of strength, and he really took it personally. We’d tease him all the time in that first year, really getting under his skin”
Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd Ready to Va-Reign
Manchester United star Raphael Varane says he does not regret moving to Old Trafford despite a miserable first season.
Varane said: “The experience it’s amazing. The feeling to be a United player is something special.
“I am very happy to play in the Premier League and it’s a great experience.
“Obviously, it’s not the result what we expected but I’m still positive and I think that the next season will be better.
“I think I need a full pre-season to be fit but I think next season will be better. I think this season was not bad but we can improve and we can do better”
Can’t go Ron
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has vowed that Cristiano Ronaldo will be staying at Old Trafford despite all the rumours of a summer exit.
Speaking to Stadium Astro after the match with Brentford, Rangnick was asked whether it was a ‘wave of goodbye’ from Ronaldo during his lap of honour.
The German tactician said: “I don’t think why it should be a wave of goodbye.
“He’s got another year of [his] contract. And as far as I know he will be here next season again”
James Ward-Prowse reminder
Southampton star James Ward-Prowse is the man incoming Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag wants to run his new midfield, reports SunSport’s Phil Thomas.
And that could spark a £75million summer tug-of-war, as Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is a big fan of Ward-Prowse and wants him to replace Fernandinho in the middle of the park.
Ten Hag faces a major rebuilding job at Old Trafford and has already started put together a hit-list.
And the Dutchman has got the okay to go for the midfielder with West Ham intent on keeping Declan Rice for one more season.
The Hammers want a whopping £150million for Rice, too much for the Red Devils, who will almost certainly miss out on the Champions League next season.
Yet Ward-Prowse, whose release clause is 50 per cent lower than Rice’s, is rated highly by Ten Hag
Thomas Frank reacts
Brentford manager Thomas Frank claims a “stupid mistake” sealed his team’s defeat against Manchester United.
Frank said: “We made a stupid mistake for the penalty, that killed the game off.
“I think Rico [Henry] is one of the best defensive full-backs this season. I don’t think I’ve seen a player go past him in a one v one situation.
“Knowing [Ivan Toney], I know he’ll be disappointed. He had three good opportunities, maybe not for three goals but at least one. We know in a game like this, we need to take it but he couldn’t do it”
Credit: GETTY IMAGES All Premier League final
An all-Prem Champions League final is the most likely outcome of this week’s semi-final second legs – at least, according to history and the numbers.
Liverpool are firm favourites to progress at Villarreal this evening as they defend a 2-0 first leg lead over the LaLiga side.
And despite Karim Benzema’s last-gasp penalty at the Etihad last week, the odds favour Manchester City withstanding their ordeal by Spanish fire at Real Madrid to ensure the fourth all-English affair in 14 years.
Throughout the entire history of the Champions League, only five out of 21 teams have gone through after losing 2-0 away in the first leg.
In addition, a staggering 76 per cent of teams who have won at home while keeping a clean sheet – 56 out of 74 – have progressed.
And over the 30 seasons since the relaunch of Europe’s premier club competition, victory in the first leg has pointed the way to the eventual tie winner no less than 174 times out of 228
More from Rangnick
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick is “not completely happy” with his six-month stint in charge of the team.
Rangnick added: “I’m not completely happy with those six months. “I expected us to qualify for the Champions League. That was the goal we had, but we were not consistent enough.
“We had two or three breaks [in my time in charge]. One of them we had hardly any players there [due to coronavirus]. We were also not able to bring in any new players in January.
“I would have hoped and expected we won more points. We could easily have had eight or 10 points more”
Rangnick reacts to Brentford win
Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick, who will undertake a consultancy role while juggling his duties as Austria manager, insists the club needs to strengthen in every position, except in goal.
Rangnick told Sky Sports: “Apart from goalkeeping where we have three excellent goalkeepers in Tom Heaton, Dean Henderson and David de Gea, in all other areas there will be players leaving the club. I wouldn’t put focus on special areas of the pitch it should go through the whole team.
“It’s obvious quite a few players will leave and there is a need for top-quality players. I strongly believe that if everyone works together we can bring Man Utd back to where we need to be.
“Other clubs only needed two or three transfer windows to challenge but from now on we need to bring in top-quality players who really help raise the level. If this happens then I don’t think it should take too long”
Milinkovic-Savic link reminder
Manchester United are leading the race for Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic after his agent Mateja Kezman confirmed Old Trafford is his preferred destination.
United are long-term admirers of Milinkovic-Savic, who could be available this summer as he refuses to sign a new deal with the Biancocelesti.
And the Red Devils hold the advantage as the midfielder has his eyes set on competing in the Premier League.
Quoted by Foot01, Kezman said: “Sergej has no shortage of offers for the summer transfer window.
“At the moment we are dealing with Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.
“He is focused on the end of the season with Lazio, but Sergej wants to go to Manchester”
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Chadwick gives Lingard opinion
Ex-Man United star Luke Chadwick has given his view on Jesse Lingard’s absence from the club’s Old Trafford lap of honour which led to the attacker’s brother slamming the Red Devils.
Chadwick said: “I think unfortunately that’s the way the game is at times. I’d assume his brother is quite close to Jesse so maybe that basically confirms he’ll be moving on at the end of the season.
“But I’m sure if he stays in the Premier League he’ll return to Old Trafford and get the kind of reception that a local boy who’s come up through the academy deserves.
“I don’t think it’s the be all or end all, he can be proud of what he achieved with United, whether he got a clap off the pitch at the end of it or not.”
Ronaldo denies claims
Cristiano Ronaldo has denied saying “I’m not finished yet” into the camera after Manchester United’s win over Brentford on Monday night.
But now he has insisted that was not what he said amid speculation over his future at Old Trafford.
In response to an Instagram post about his message into the camera, Ronaldo replied: “I didn’t say that.”
Sancho will miss season remainder
Jadon Sancho won’t play another game for Man United this season.
That’s according to United interim boss Ralf Rangnick who revealed that Sancho’s injury will rule him out of contention for the season’s remainder.
He said, via the BBC: “With Jadon [Sancho] it’s unlikely [he’ll play again this season]. He was in hospital until this afternoon.
“Harry Maguire might be available again.”
David De Gea defence
Paul Parker has launched a passionate defence in favour of Man United keeper David De Gea.
He told BonusCodebets: “We are seeing a lot of plastic journalists who are coming out saying that (Dean) Henderson is going to be the new goalkeeper, that Henderson should be the new goalkeeper.
“They are calling David de Gea part of the problem.
“He’s kept United in the game. The reason why United are still in the European spot is because of David de Gea.”
“So there are ten outfield players as far as I can see, surely you don’t want your goalkeeper being the best football player on the pitch, do you?”
What Man United need
Man United should’ve made Antonio Conte their new manager, according to Fabrizio Ravanelli.
But he reckons Ten Hag will do a good job if he can galvanise United’s youngsters and sort out the club’s defence that needs revamping.
Ravanelli told SunSport: “If Conte had had the possibility to work with the Manchester United players, certainly it would have been easier for him to achieve certain results.
“I don’t want to be nasty but honest. Without naming specific players, the whole defence should be changed completely. It needs radical change.
“I truly believe with Erik ten Hag, a new cycle is about to start. He did really well at Ajax and enjoyed remarkable results.
“He has always given great value to young players. If he starts working with the young players who understand what it means to play for United, they can make the difference and improve.”
Raphael Varane on Ten Hag
Raphael Varane is looking forward to working with Erik Ten Hag next season.
Ten Hag takes the reins at United this summer.
And Varane can’t wait for the Dutcham to arrive.
He said: “I’m very excited to work with him. I’m looking forward to working with him.
“I think he has good experience and he’s a good person to work in this club.”
Artist unveils stunning Rashford mural
A stunning mural for Marcus Rashford has brilliantly shown support for the Manchester United forward.
Artist Reuben Dangoor has produced a fine piece of artwork on a wall in the Shudehill area of Manchester – revealing online abuse and highlighting praise for Rashford.
The painting shows the Manchester-born ace in a Red Devils home shirt with his eyes closed and wearing a pair of Beats earbuds to block out the noise as part of the collaboration with the tech brand.
On the left, above the term “form is temporary” sits below a cluster of angry emoji-style faces interspersed with raging tweets hitting out at Rashford.
But the left, a lighter shade, has the opposite with happy, smiling, adoring and loving faces, coupled with love hearts and supportive tweets above the phrase “class is temporary”.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
