ROY KEANE launched a stinging attack on Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes after his performance in 3-0 Manchester derby loss.
On the takeover front, United chief Richard Arnold is set to exit the club after Sir Jim Ratcliffe completes his takeover according to reports.
Meanwhile, United are planning an embarrassing U-turn plan for David de Gea SunSport can exclusively reveal.
And we have the very latest on Jadon Sancho and his future at the club.
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Follow ALL of the latest from Old Trafford below…
Neville’s seal of approval
Gary Neville reckons Declan Rice could get Arsenal over the Premier League finish line this season.
He said: “Probably. I think he is a big influence, Declan Rice. That power, that drive.
“They’ve got brilliant players City anyway.
“But taking him out of Arsenal makes a huge difference, they wouldn’t be good enough.
“With him in it, he can be a difference player and he gives them a real chance.
“I’m predicting City might have a bit of a stumble this season and I suspect Arsenal get it right this season.”
Sancho update
Manchester United’s coaching staff are “not happy at all” with Jadon Sancho after his public falling out with head coach Erik ten Hag, according to Fabrizio Romano.
He told Give Me Sport: “I think with days passing, it’s obvious that he had the chance to apologise in September and October.
“Now we are moving into the second half of the first half of the season, and it looks like a challenging situation because if he had the chance to apologise in September, then this story could already have been resolved, and Sancho would be with the squad.
“But that is not the case. Sancho is not apologising, and people in the coaching staff are not happy at all with that.”
United fans trolled
Dominoes Pizza got in on the act of trolling Manchester United fans after their 3-0 defeat to City.
They tweeted: “Sorry if your pizza is delayed tonight – our drivers are struggling to get through all the tears of Man Utd fans.”
Ten Hag backs Rashford
Marcus Rashford’s poor run of form will come to an end, Erik ten Hag believes.
The Dutchman said: “It will come. The moment will come.
“Every game, he will have his chances and it is up to him but it will come.”
Ten Hag explains Hojland substitution
Erik ten Hag has revealed his reasons for subbing Rasmus Hojland during the Manchester derby.
He said: “Rasmus is playing every game and is not used to it.
“We had to work very hard to get the press on and you have to protect those players.
“As well, for the team, protect them to bring new energy in.
‘You see the effort Hojlund put in was massive. You have to take one off and Rasmus is coming in and is not used to three games a week.”
Fernandes slammed
Gary Neville reckons Bruno Fernandes tried to “con” Manchester United fans in the closing stages of their defeat to Manchester City.
After seeing him attempt to stick a hard challenge on John Stones, the former Red Devil said: “He’s trying to do someone there, Fernandes.
“He’s trying to do John Stones but he’s seen him coming and he’s ended up hurting himself.”
Neville added: “He’s conning no one with what he’s been trying to do over the past few minutes.”
Guardiola explains United’s problems
Pep Guardiola reckons the root of Manchester United’s problems is a lack of unity from the top down to the bottom of the club.
He said: “I have said many times we go in the same direction.
“The chairman, the manager, the CEO… first season unconditional support.”
Ten Hag laments Haaland penalty
Erik ten Hag reckons his troops were giving Manchester City a right run for their money before they gave a way a penalty in the 26th minute.
He said: “When you see the first half it is toe-to-toe and just the penalty changes the game, but even then we could have returned in the game with the shot of Scott McTominay just before half-time.
“For chances, it was very toe-to-toe and also in the previous games against them in the FA Cup final and January it was very close.
“So the probability that we could win was there in all the games.”
Credit: ALAMY Ten Hag upbeat
Erik ten Hag insists the Red Devils are on the way up, despite suffering their fifth league defeat of the season to Manchester City on Sunday.
The Dutchman said: “The three games before we won, and the spirit is very good, so I think we are on the way up.
“The start was difficult but we are on the way up.
“I am sure when we have some injured players coming back then our side will be stronger. We have to be patient.”
On-air row
Gary Neville blamed Manchester United’s current woes on the long-standing turmoil under the Glazer family in a furious row with Jamie Carragher.
The Sky Sports pundit said: ” To be honest with you, I can’t disagree with you. Those managers that you’re talking about [have] come into stable environments.
“They’ve currently got over their heads a guy all over the news [who is] gonna own 25 per cent.”
He continued: “Basically, you imagine you’re in a business, you’re in a football club and the news is that there is a guy that’s gonna come in and basically wipe out the whole football department.
“Can you imagine what’s going on inside that football department at this moment in time? In and around Erik ten Hag?
“It is toxic and embedded negativity. They all think they’re all going to lose their jobs. And you can say, ‘Carry on with it, they’re professional.’
“But can you imagine what’s happening? Sir Jim Ratcliffe is going to come in with Dave Brailsford, they’re going to sweep out the football department and they’re all going to get moved away.
“That’s what’s happening and I honestly believe this toxicity that exists at this club, and has done for years by the way, it just eats alive every manager that comes and every player that comes.
“Harry Maguire was going to go to Manchester City. Mason Mount was going to go to Liverpool.
“They come here and it’s a graveyard for them. Are we going to keep blaming the kids in the class or are we going to blame the head teacher?”
Gary Neville repeatedly blamed United’s woes on the ownership of the clubCredit: SKY SPORTS Keane calls for Fernandes demotion
Roy Keane reckons Erik ten Hag should take the captain’s armband away from Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes.
The Irishman said: “After today, watching him again today, I would definitely take the captaincy off him. 100 per cent.
“I know it’s a big decision, they changed it with Maguire, but Fernandes is not captain material.
“He’s a talented player, no doubt about it, but I think what I saw today with him again, he’s whinging, he’s moaning, he’s throwing his arms up in the air constantly, it really isn’t acceptable.
“What we saw today, I would take that off him.
“You have to start somewhere, we talk about board-level, managers, I would start at that because the manager is capable of doing that and holding his hands up and saying: “Look, I got it wrong.”
“Fernandes is a brilliant footballer, but, in terms of captain material, he’s the opposite of what I’d want in a captain.”
Credit: Getty Roy Keane’s fear
Manchester United Roy Keane admits he has serious concerns for the future of the club following their defeat to Manchester City.
He said: “They’re just toying with United now, they’re a different level.
“It’s almost – I wouldn’t say embarrassing. But I do feel for the United players.
“But listen, they’re short in every aspect.
“Technically, tactically and worringly for me, physically, United look so off it.
“Credit to City, they’re an outstanding team.
“United… where do you start and where do you finish, long way back. A long way back.”
Derby day woe
Manchester United have slumped to yet another derby defeat to local rivals Manchester City.
The Red Devils suffered a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford.
A brace from Erling Haaland and an 80th-minute strike from Phil Foden did the damage.
Credit: GETTY Fergie pays tribute
Sir Alex Ferguson has paid tribute to his late wife Cathy and Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton.
He wrote: “Unfortunately, I have also suffered the painful loss of my beloved wife, Cathy, this month, and I want to thank the club, the fans, and everyone who has sent me their condolences.
“The black armbands worn by the team against Brentford, and the flags at half-mast around Old Trafford were a wonderful tribute.
“Cathy supported me every step of the way through my career, and she was the backbone of our family.
“At such a sad time, there is tremendous comfort to be found in being part of the Manchester United community and we’ve all felt that spirit this week.
“We’re continuing to mourn for Bobby’s loss, but as we look forward to the derby this afternoon, let’s also celebrate the many wonderful memories he has blessed us with and be inspired by the example he set.”
Ten Hag hits back at Carragher criticism
Erik ten Hag has dismissed Jamie Carragher’s claim that Manchester United have “regressed” during his reign.
He said: “In possession, we have to do better, but there are reasons that I don’t go into, but everyone is seeing,
“There are also facts that I disagree with, [in which] we are much better.
“We are in the top three in the Premier League for high-ball regains. We in the top [teams] in the Premier League for middle-ball regains.
“So when we are pressing, we are very good. So that is not the truth what he is saying.
“I said we are in the right direction, and we have a way to go. I see positives, I see also negatives, which is probably what Christian [Eriksen] is referring to.
“We are not consistently, in possession, on the level where we can be, where we show in games we can be.
“Like for instance, Arsenal away. Also, the first 30 minutes in Bayern Munich away. But we should do this on a consistent basis. But pressing, we are quite good.
“We have the most ball regains from the whole Premier League, we have the most middle regains from the whole Premier League.
“So, there you see, our defensive organisation, our pressing organisation. I said before the season how we wanted to play, that is us.
“But then, we don’t take the benefit in the attacking transition moments, and we should be because we have the abilities in our team, the players there who can take benefit from it.
“We paid some attention to it, and this has to grow, this has to progress. Then games will become easier.”
Key derby day players
Goal machine Erling Haaland will be tightly marked by the in-form Harry Maguire.
The centre-back was stripped of the captaincy over the summer, a move to West Ham then fell through and he was jeered following an own-goal for England versus Scotland.
But a resurgent Maguire is suddenly back to his best, putting in two outstanding performances against Sheffield United and then heading home the winner against Copenhagen.
United also have a fantastic record when he starts, winning 16 of 17 games since October 2022.
As usual for City, Haaland will be the man to watch.
He has missed several big chances this season and even went on a three game goal drought, but he has still found the back of the net 11 times this term.
Team news
Erik ten Hag will be hoping Casemiro is back fit for the derby after suffering from an ankle injury.
The boss still has a defensive injury crisis to deal with as Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are all set be unavailable for the visit of City.
Pep Guardiola will be without Manuel Akanji as he serves his one-match ban for receiving two yellow cards during last weekend’s victory over Brighton.
Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden will all be fresh after being rested versus Young Boys.
Prem sides have Kroos chance
Premier League sides could have the opportunity to sign Toni Kroos in January.
The Real Madrid star’s contract expires at the end of the season and he could leave the club in the next transfer window.
The German has always admitted that he would fancy playing in the Premier League.
City backed to win
Former Manchester City star Richard Dunne is expecting his old club to do the business against Manchester United.
Speaking to BoyleSports, who offer the latest Premier League odds, Dunne said: “I think there’s a difference between City and United over a league campaign and you’d bet that City will finish above them.
“The derbies, however, teach you that anything can happen. Teams can have one-off performances.
“United were the best team in the world in my day, and City used to beat them occasionally.
“I would say City are the favorites on a normal day and I think they’ll win 2-0. You never know, though.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
