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    Michael Schumacher hard drive feared to contain leaked ‘intimate’ photos & files is MISSING, blackmail trial hears

    A HARD drive feared to be filled with Michael Schumacher’s “intimate” pictures and medical files has gone missing, a German court heard.Three suspects who allegedly orchestrated a £12m blackmail plot against Schumacher appeared at Wuppertal District Court near Dortmund.Details around seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher’s blackmail plot have been revealedCredit: AlamyThe former security guard for the Schumacher family Markus F allegedly planned the blackmail plotCredit: FacebookBouncer Yilmaz T was also hired to extort £12million from Schumachar’s family, it is claimedMichael Schumacher and his wife Corinna before his accident in 2013Credit: AlamyThe extortionists have been accused of threatening the Ferrari star’s family and conspiring to leak private pictures of him on the dark web. The photos were part of a cache of 1500 computer files including personal videos, medication lists and the contents of Schumacher’s patient file.They were allegedly stolen by a former security guard who worked for the Schumacher family.All the data was reportedly transferred to two hard drives and four USB sticks. more on the f1 legend However, one of the hard drives which may still hold data on the F1 legend has gone missing.All three accused face prison sentences if convicted. Yilmaz T, 53, a former bouncer at the large Grey nightclub in Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg, is believed to have had the hard drive.He is thought to have initiated the extortion, by calling the Schumacher family and claiming to act as a middleman for other parties.Most read in MotorsportYilmaz T revealed he had two hard drives filled with the sporting legend’s medical records and private pictures.He is alleged to have threatened to leak them on the dark net. Schuey’s family awarded £170k damages over AI-generated ‘chat with F1 star’He claimed that he hid the hard drive with family members and friends.But while cops were able to recover the four USB sticks and one of the hard drives, the second one was not found.The former bouncer claimed to have received all the data from Markus F, 53, who is said to be the mastermind of the sickening plot.Markus F worked for Schumacher’s family as a security guard for years. He allegedly stole the data and passed it on to Yilmaz T. Markus F has been charged with aiding and abetting extortion and violating personal privacy.He has two prior convictions, including fraud in 127 cases, and in this case, he is charged with If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.PLOT’S ‘MASTERMIND’Yilmaz T’s son, Daniel L, 30, is also accused of supporting him in threatening the family by setting up an encrypted Gmail account and transmitting files.Yilmaz T claims he joined the plot to help a nurse – who has not yet been named – who also worked for the Schumachers. He told the court: “Completely honestly I didn’t see it the way it all came out. “Ok, it went badly, but…I was also given some pressure myself. “For example, the nurse became unemployed, so she wasn’t in a good financial situation. “And I was supposed to sort out money to help her out.”Markus F – who is accused of being the plot’s mastermind – worked as a security expert for Michael Schumacher for nine years.He is thought to have provided the original computer files which he wrongfully obtained during his work for Schumacher’s family to the ex-bouncer.Markus F also worked for the German Honorary Consultate in Egypt.In court, he refused to say a word other than to confirm his name and address. But in a statement read by his lawyer, he claimed that he had been asked by Corinna to digitalise copies of photos taken of her husband.Schumacher’s wife Corinna, 55, has filed a motion to protect her husband, which will allow her to exclude the public from the trial if the seven-time world champion’s current state of health is discussed.The F1 star, who hasn’t been seen or heard from for over a decade after a horror ski crash, has been looked after by his close-knit family since the accident.The seven-time world champion’s family have kept his health a guarded secret for years.Markus F was allowed inside the famous Schumacher inner circle for upwards of eight years as Michael’s wife Corinna felt he was a trusted aide.Earlier this year, the relationship drastically declined as Corinna was forced to sack him due to changes to her husband’s care plan.This allegedly turned him bitter as he started to hatch a plan to extort the Schumacher family. What happened to Michael Schumacher?MICHAEL Schumacher’s life was hanging by a thread 10 years ago as medics tried desperately to keep him alive after a tragic skiing crash that left him with horrific brain injuries.The F1 legend was given the best possible treatment as he was put into a medically induced coma, had his body temperature lowered and underwent hours of tricky operations on his brain.Back in 2013, the retired seven-time world champion and his then 14-year-old son set off on the Combe de Saulire ski run in the exclusive French resort of Meribel.Footage from his helmet camera revealed he was not travelling at excessive speed when his skis struck a rock hidden beneath the snow.He catapulted forward 11.5ft and crashed into a boulder head first that split his helmet into two and left him needing to be airlifted to hospital for two life-saving operations.At one point his family were told to brace themselves for the worst case scenario as the situation was much worse than originally believed.At the time, medics said Schumacher was likely to stay in an induced coma for at least 48 hours as his body and mind recovered.But the coma ended up lasting 250 days – more than eight months.After he woke up in June 2014, he was discharged from the hospital and sent to his home in Lake Geneva to get further treatment.Since then his wife Corinna and his inner circle of friends have expertly avoided almost anything leaking out about his health status.Only small amounts of information have been released including reports that Schumacher was in a wheelchair but can react to things around him.In 2019, it was said that Schumacher was set to undergo breakthrough stem cell therapy in a bid to regenerate and rebuild his nervous system.Renowned France cardiologist Dr Philippe Menasche, who had operated on him previously, was set to carry out the treatment that would see cells from his heart go to his brain.Following the treatment at the Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris, he was said to be “conscious”, although few other details were given about his state.Schumacher’s family contacted the Swiss authorities to file a report about the alleged blackmail plot, with Swiss police then working alongside German cops to investigate the case.Cops arrested Markus F, along with Yilmaz T and Daniel L. for the alleged blackmail plot earlier this year.Authorities said they were able to track down the alleged extortionists through “technical measures”.Senior public prosecutor Wolf-Tilman Baumert, spokesman for the Wuppertal public prosecutor’s office, said: “After the advanced investigations, we currently assume that the accused son may have acted more as an accomplice.”Speaking for the first time at Wuppertal District Court, Yilmaz T said he had done nothing wrong – it was all to help out a poor nurse.He told the court: “I contacted the family. I told them that I could get the data and that I would then call back in 3 days and see if they were interested.”READ MORE SUN STORIESYilmaz T disclosed that the nurse, who has not yet been named, had also worked for the Schumacher family.However, Yilmaz T later confessed that he had never even met the nurse and that he had only been shown a picture of her by Markus F. More

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    Meet Pep Guardiola’s little-known brother who signed Iniesta and Fernando Torres and could offer Man City boss a new job

    PEP GUARDIOLA is known throughout the world of football as one of the most successful managers of all time.However, while his younger brother, Pere, does not make the same international headlines as the Manchester City boss, he is making his own waves in European football.Pep Guardiola’s younger brother Pere, is making waves of his own in the world of footballCredit: AFPGuardiola is the chairman of plucky Spanish minnows GironaCredit: SEG FootballGuardiola, second from right, has made a name for himself away from coaching and player like his brother hasCredit: GettyAt the age of 48, Pere – pronounced Pera – Guardiola, five years his brothers junior, has helped transform the fortunes of Spanish club Girona.The Catalan club earned a historic spot in the Champions League after finishing third in La Liga last season and will face six-time winners Liverpool in the competition tonight.The minnows have the highly-coveted coach Míchel, and despite only returning to the top flight in 2022, Guardiola believes the club is an incredibly attractive prospect for players.Speaking to Yahoo Sports, he said: “Girona is a very good place for football. The weather is great. The region is good. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”The club itself has a pressure because we live 24-hour football, but the environment and the history there is not that pressure like with big clubs.“But we are starting to have history and we are starting to put pressure because we know the level we want to reach and if we are not doing that we need to question ourselves. “That means this environment is very nice for the lovers of football and there is always a chance for anyone to one day come to Girona and play for Girona or coach Girona. Because the environment is calm.”Guardiola has even joked to his brother that “the day you get bored, you can come and coach Girona,” although he acknowledges this is more of pipe dream than a realistic reality.The two brothers grew up together in the small town of Santpedor, located between Girona and Barcelona, and have a shared philosophy and passion for the beautiful game.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe credits much of this philosophy to the pioneering player and manager Johan Cruyff, explaining: “OK, in the end, this is a bit Barca philosophy, of Cruyff.”Things don’t happen because they just happen. Things don’t just go the way you think because you have better skills. ‘I won fair and clean,’ says Jose Mourinho as he hits back after Pep Guardiola dig “Things happen because there is a kind of pattern – knowing that if you have a player better than the opponent then you will have more chances. We should never forget it is about the players.”I grew up eating this every day. The coach and sporting director and structure of the club is very important but we need good players. “That doesn’t mean expensive players, but players who can fit in. And we help them to be better.”Because if we don’t play good football it is like throwing a coin in the air. One day you can win; one day you can lose but most of the time you are going to struggle. “Trying to play good football, to control all the departments on the pitch, is going to bring you closer to the win.”However, while Pep was able to make his name as a player at Barcelona, Pere was an attacking midfielder in the lower leagues but soon made a name for himself in football agency by signing up some of Spain most prodigious talents.Guardiola explained: “I was good at getting people together, making things happen, getting them to agree. “I realised when I was growing up that I could do this. I was good at getting the right side to agree with the left side and I enjoyed it and did OK.”I was with Nike for 10, 12 years and started by getting young players to wear Nike boots. I signed Andres Iniesta when he was 14, I signed Fernando Torres when he was 14. “I grew up with them and ended up managing Ronaldo Nazário’s and Ronaldinho’s careers. One was in Madrid and the other was in Barcelona. “Every week, it was Monday, Tuesday in Madrid, Wednesday, Thursday in Barcelona, because I was managing both of them. All of this experience helped me. Then I started my own company as an agent.”When I got to Girona I had scope that definitely helped me to know what’s going on, what agents are thinking, what players are thinking. Now this is one of the things I have done that I like the most.”Guardiola’s involvement with Girona started in 2015 when the club was in danger of going out of business. And he admits he was not looking at the club for investment until then sports director Quique Carcel suggested the idea.But during his time working with the club as an agent, he “started falling in love” before he thought “why not” and purchased the club to save them from insolvency.City Football Group then invested in the club in 2017 with a 47 per cent stake, though with Girona now competing in the same competition as the star team of the franchise, that relationship now has to change.Guardiola said: “City were investing in clubs and we spoke with them and said they could have part of the club in a place where they know.”In the beginning, we could help form the players and then one day they could play for Man City or be sold, like Pedro Porro who went to Sporting. It was to have a stepping-stone club…”Now we are completely separate, but we were always quite independent.”We need to generate a very good squad. We need to see the money and how it is invested – part of it is in the squad, in the new stadium, in the training ground, in the academy. “In the end, we need to forget what people say outside of this. We need to do our plan and we need to keep going.”He added that the long-term goal was to be in La Liga for the next 15 years, with Champions League participation despite their struggles this season being a huge bonus.Despite backing from City Football Group, Girona have been frugal and invested their money wisely, with two of the teams current stars being former Manchester United stars Daley Blind and Donny van de Beek.On the duo Guardiola said: “We have a coach and we play in a way that not everyone fits but some people can fit. “That means that Daley Blind, for example, is a perfect player for us and we are a perfect platform for him. “Van de Beek is a bit like this. He went to United and was unlucky, losing momentum with different coaches and different players and got injured. “He was in teams that were struggling to play attacking football and he needs that type of football. READ MORE SUN STORIES”Now we are in a position that our football fits him very well, the Spanish league fits him very well, knowing that he needed time. “He had two, three years without really playing and every day now you can see he is improving.”While working as an agent for Nike he signed Spanish legend Fernando Torres and Andres IniestaCredit: Getty – Contributor More

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    ‘That is how you manage a team’: Watch Thomas Frank’s incredible Brentford speech after beating Newcastle

    THOMAS FRANK amazed fans with his brilliant speech following Brentford’s win over Newcastle last weekend.The Bees boss was thrilled with his side after they beat the Toon 4-2 at the Gtech Community Stadium.Thomas Frank made an impassioned post-match speechCredit: @BrentfordFCHis words were caught on camera and posted on social mediaCredit: @BrentfordFCBryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, Nathan Collins and Kevin Schade were on the scoresheet for the home side, who climbed to the ninth in the table.In brilliant dressing room footage posted by Brentford’s social media team, Frank heaped praise upon his team.The passionate boss, 51, began: “Just wow. Honestly, wow. It’s a good team. They are a good team with good players.”And you, totally fair, honestly completely well deserved win. Well done.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLFrank then picked out some of his players for specific praise, and didn’t just refer to his star men.He continued: “A couple of things… 100 Premier League games for (Christian) Norgaard.”Two hundred games for Brentford, Ethan Pinnock.”As you know, it’s a full squad. We need everyone to be available, everyone ready.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”But Fabio (Carvalho) and Igor (Thiago), doing very well just coming in.”Dams (Mikkel Damsgaard) and Kevin had to be some of our best finishers. Help finish making the 4-2 goals so it’s done, very good.”Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo shows his skills on the training pitch Frank then singled out Ben Mee, who has made just three brief cameos in the Premier League this season.He said: “Thank you again, Ben. I know you want to play and I know it’s all that, top professional.”And I see the way on the pitch you speak to all the centre-backs. That means the world, just to let you know.”It’s not easy, so thank you very much for that.”‘WHAT A PLAYER’Frank subsequently moved on to one of his youngsters, adding: “Yehor Yarmoliuk, what a player guys.”After huge applause for the Ukrainian midfielder, Frank concluded: “Let’s get that music going boys!”Fans adored Frank’s brilliant post-match speech.’BRENTFORD’S BEST EVER’One gushed on social media: “That is how you manage a team! Love that he picked out Yarmoliuk, thought he had his best game yet.”While a second wrote: “Absolute class manager! Love this.”A third gushed: “This is why Thomas is one of the very best managers in the Prem, and possibly Brentford’s best ever.”READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd another added: “Love Frank. What an amazing feeling for the players when manager has their back and acknowledges all. Fantastic atmosphere in that locker room.”Brentford will return to action this Sunday, as they make the short trip to Chelsea for a tricky West London derby.Frank was thrilled with his side’s win over NewcastleCredit: Getty More

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    West Ham star forced to make major wardrobe change mid-match after breaking little-known kit rule

    CRYSENSIO SUMMERVILLE was forced into a mid-match wardrobe change after breaking a little-known rule.The West Ham winger started the 2-1 victory against Wolves at the London Stadium on Monday night.Crysensio Summerville was forced into a mid-match kit changeCredit: Sky SportsHe had to remove his white sleeves due to a little-known ruleCredit: Sky SportsSummerville, 23, put in an impressive performance from the left wing but did have to exit the action in the first half temporarily.This was because the Dutchman broke a little-known Premier League kit rule. The former Leeds man started the game wearing white sleeves under his West Ham home shirt.However, the sleeve colour must match that of the kit’s sleeves.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLWith the Hammers’ home kit having light-blue sleeves, the referee ordered Summerville to remove the extra layer.The summer arrival then ran off the pitch to the touchline to change before just whipping them off and returning to the action.Fans found the moment hilarious as they reacted on social media.One posted: “Summerville had to step off because his sleeves didn’t match the colour of his shirt, haha.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSA second wrote: “Summerville not even wearing a base layer, just a couple of sleeves, is the funniest thing I’ve seen.”A third commented: “lmao they for real made Summerville take his sleeves off.”Tomas Soucek reveals heartwarming video call with Michail Antonio as he dedicates celebration to stricken West Ham starWest Ham stars paid tribute to Michail Antonio before the gameCredit: AlamyTomas Soucek dedicated his celebration to the forward after scoring the openerCredit: GettyCaptain Jarrod Bowen showed Antonio’s shirt to the fans after scoring the winnerCredit: AlamyWest Ham claimed a valuable victory against Gary O’Neil’s side to ease pressure on Julen Lopetegui.Reports claimed that former Chelsea boss Graham Potter was open to replacing the Spaniard should he be sacked at the London Stadium.Summerville was also involved in the Hammers’ players’ tributes to Michail Antonio before the game.The stars wore pre-match jackets in honour of the forward who was injured in a horrifying car crash on Saturday.Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen made their own touching tributes after scoring in the match.At full-time, tempers flared as a huge brawl broke out after Bowen and Mario Lemina clashed.Soucek also revealed that Antonio had a video call with the team before the match started, during which he was cracking jokes.FA rules on undershirtsHere is what the FA rules state about undershirts in football…Undershirts must be:A single colour which is the same colour as the main colour of the shirt sleeve; orA pattern/colours which exactly replicate(s) the shirt sleeveUndershorts/tights must be the same colour as the main colour of the shorts or the lowest part of the shorts – players of the same team must wear the same colour. More

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    Former Premier League manager Nigel Pearson reveals he’s ‘learning to walk again’ as he opens up on shock health battle

    NIGEL PEARSON has bravely opened up on his battle with a neurological issue, which forced him to re-learn how to walk.The 61-year-old revealed he was battling the problem last October after being seated for several of Bristol City’s Championship matches.Nigel Pearson has been experiencing neurological issues for over 13 monthsCredit: REXThe former Leicester and Bristol City manager has had to re-learn how to walkCredit: PAPearson, 61, provided an update on his health on social mediaCredit: X@NIGELGPEARSONHe tried to perform his duties to the best of his abilities and even began using crutches to ensure he could stand in his technical area.The neurological issue, however, has seemingly got worse over the last year, so much so that Pearson has had to re-learn the most basic of functions.The former Leicester City manager wrote on X: “I would like to thank all the kind people who have continued to send their support during the last 13 months.”I’d like to update you. Learning to walk again has been an incredible challenge.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS”My appreciation of support from family, friends, colleagues, supporters, and medical professionals has been profound.”I had the wonderful opportunity of travelling to the US with my dad to meet family for the first time, in Wisconsin.”Recently, I’ve been able to cycle in the Peak District, and swing golf clubs at the driving range, although my follow-through needs some work (I’ve not fallen over yet!)”Despite not receiving a prognosis on his debilitating ailment, Pearson remains optimistic.Most read in FootballNigel Pearson remains optimistic about his chances of recoveryCredit: RexHe continued: “Although my prognosis is still uncertain, believe me, that positivity and laughter can prove the best medicine as I experienced with old friends from school on a canal narrow boat on my birthday.”There is always light somewhere ahead… new possibilities, new challenges.’Leeds fans better than Sunderland’ plus bust ups and bug pranks | Jack Grimmer – What the EFL?!”Take care of each other, and enjoy a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones. Cheers, Nige”Pearson was flooded with hundreds of messages of support after providing an update on his condition.One footie fan wrote: “Great to hear you are doing well. All the best.”Another said: “Delighted to see you on the mend Gaffer (Mr. Pearson).”Hope it continues apace and you and your family have a great Christmas.”And another said: “Good to hear. Onwards and upwards!READ MORE SUN STORIESOne remarked: “Keep going legend, we’re all behind you.”Another chimed in: “All the best Nigel. Amazing news, have a lovely Christmas and New Year.” More

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    Tomas Soucek reveals heartwarming video call with Michail Antonio as he dedicates celebration to stricken West Ham star

    TOMAS SOUCEK has revealed the heartwarming call with Michail Antonio before West Ham took on Wolves.The Hammers star was the victim of a terrifying car crash that saw him airlifted to hospital.Tomas Soucek dedicated his celebration to Michail AntonioCredit: GettyHe also shouted Antonio’s name into the cameraCredit: AlamyAfter the match, Soucek admitted that the team spot to Antonio before the gameCredit: Sky SportsThe West Ham star was involved in a terrifying car crash on SaturdayCredit: GettyHis £260,000 Ferrari was left wrecked after colliding with a treeCredit: Steve BellAntonio, 34, had to be cut free from his £260,000 Ferrari FF after it hit a tree in Theydon Bois, Essex, on Saturday.He has since undergone surgery on a lower limb fracture in a London hospital.West Ham beat Wolves 2-1 on Monday night in their first match since the shocking incident.After the game, the Czech midfielder revealed that he and the rest of the team spoke to Antonio on a video call.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLHe told Sky Sports: “It was a tough week for us and his family. It’s really tough but we are happy he came to the position he can be.”We saw him before the game, we had a video call with him before the game.”I was so happy, he smiled to us and he gave us all the best and so happy for him. I can’t wait to visit him.”He’s a lovely guy, so happy. He had a few jokes and wished us all the best.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”He’s the top scorer for West Ham, one of the best West Ham have had.”This was great we saw him today, I wish him all the best.West Ham fans pay emotional tribute to Michail Antonio with ninth-minute applauseJarrod Bowen also paid tribute to AntonioCredit: GettyMohammed Kudus also displayed Antonio’s shirt after his offside goalCredit: PAThe West Ham team wore pre-match jackets in honour of AntonioCredit: GettyMichail Antonio’s incredible riseBy Jon BoonThe outpouring of love from the football community for Michael Antonio has been massive, with the striker recognised as a big character in the game.The Wandsworth-born forward started from humble beginnings – playing for non-league Tooting & Mitcham United.After impressing in 2008, he was offered a trial at Reading – some five divisions up – and Alan Pardew duly snapped him up.However, he later revealed he got kicked out by Tooting, after he refused to sign a contract.Antonio said: “They kicked me out because I refused to sign a contract.“I was like: ‘If someone comes in for me I don’t want to be tied down. I want to be able to go and not you out price me’.”Following spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest, in 2015 he was plucked from the Championship in a £7million deal by West Ham.He’s been there ever since, winning a player of the year award, twice being named Premier League player of the month and lifting a European trophy.Away from football, Antonio has bravely opened up about his mental health struggles in recent times.The Jamaica international was recently asked by Gary Lineker on the Rest is Football podcast what he would like to do when he retires from the game.He revealed: “I want to go into entertainment.”So more on the basis of A League of Their Own, Play to the Whistle…”Read more about Michail Antonio’s incredible rise and life away from the game.”These things happen, but hopefully he will be even better soon.”Soucek, 29, opened the scoring with a header and dedicated his goal to his team-mate and showed nine fingers in reference to Antonio’s shirt number.He added: “I dedicated it to him, I said to myself that I want to score even more today. “Antonio has been here since I came and he’s been my favourite.”It’s tough not to play a long time without him. This is for him, he’s a massive player and he’s in my heart.”It was really tough. I was with the kids and I saw the information on my phone.”I messaged everyone what I could on how he is. I wish him all the best, I was so scared as to what was going to happen.”Mohammed Kudus made his own salute to Antonio as he scored and celebrated with his stool while also handing a shirt with the star’s name on the advertising board.However, the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR check.Matt Doherty equalised for the visitors in the 69th minute.However, West Hame star Jarrod Bowen fired in the winning goal just two minutes later.The captain made his own tribute to Antonio as he held up the forward’s shirt towards the stands.The whole team were involved in a tribute to their team-mate before kick-off as they warmed up in shirts with “Antonio” on the back.The whole crowd in the stadium rose to their feet in the 9th minute to applaud the Jamaica international.The victory would have eased some pressure on Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui, with the club now nine points from the bottom three.READ MORE SUN STORIESReports had claimed that former Chelsea boss Graham Potter is open to replacing the Spaniard should he be sacked at the London Stadium.After the full-time whistle emotions boiled over as a huge brawl broke out after a disagreement between Bowen and Mario Lemina.Lopetegui dedicates win to AntonioJulen Lopetegui dedicated West Ham’s win over Wolves to star Michail Antonio.He said: “Mick is a very special player, a special guy, we love him a lot and we are very happy to be able to dedicate this victory to him. “It has been a tough few days for a lot of reasons. Today we are happy because we achieved three important points.”It was a very difficult match, as all the matches in the Premier League are, and we overcame different moments in disallowing the goals.”We had a lot of shots, the first very clear chances we had in the first half we didn’t take advantage of – we did the same against Leicester and in the end we lost. “Today after we started winning, making it 2-0 was more or less key, so the disallowed goal and them equalising was a trigger moment to be strong in our mentality. I think we did that. “I am happy for the players to have the possibility to dedicate this victory to Mick and his family. They deserve this.” More

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    Rio Ferdinand tells Man Utd chiefs to be ‘brutal’ with the ‘s*** players’ and ‘get them the f*** out quick’

    RIO FERDINAND has demanded that Manchester United get the “s***” players the “f*** out” of the squad.The former Red Devils defender has insisted that the club needs to be brutal with the playing staff.Rio Ferdinand wants Manchester United to axe the ‘s***’ playersCredit: xDan Ashworth was asked by the club after just five monthsCredit: AFPFerdinand has claimed the club needs a similar attitude with the playing staffCredit: GettyFerdinand, 46, is hopeful that the ownership takes the same attitude with the underperforming stars as they have with directors.His X-rated rant has come following the decision to axe sporting director Dan Ashworth after just five months.He said: “Confusion is the first thing that comes to mind.”I just hope that they’re this brutal as they have been with the staff that have been there for years and that they’re culling.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL”I hope they’re this brutal with the s*** players that are there.”If there are any s*** players that are there, and ones that have either been there too long or the ones that just aren’t good enough, be as brutal as they’ve been.”Get them the f*** out quick.”I hope they’re like that. For better or worse, at least they’ve made a bloody decision.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”That’s the way I think about it. But you look at the things that are going on.”I think there’s a lot of noise around the club.Dan Ashworth leaves Man Utd after just five months with Sir Jim Ratcliffe ordering shock boardroom shake-upInside Man Utd chaos amid Ashworth departureTHE blame game has another victim as things go from bad to worse at Old Trafford.Manchester United’s first sporting director, Dan Ashworth, arrived in the summer and is gone before Christmas.SunSport exclusively revealed last month that there was trouble at mill.That the new senior management team were already blaming each other for the mess the club were in.Chief executive Omar Berrada and Ashworth were trying to wash their hands of it all, claiming they had arrived too late after serving their gardening leave.New part owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said making decisions was all down to them. Meanwhile, Jason Wilcox thought it was all a mess under previous boss Erik ten Hag but was part of the team that encouraged him to stay after every other candidate ran for cover.There is word Ashworth did not favour appointing his successor and new head coach Ruben Amorim, preferring an English manager with more experience in our game. Perhaps that was why ex-England gaffer Gareth Southgate’s name was always mentioned after they worked together at the FA.Either way, Saturday’s showing against Nottingham Forest, after their second-half capitulation at Arsenal a few days previously, proved too much.”Ticket price are now going up, there’s been laying off of 250 plus staff and again, they’re very definitive.”They’re like, ‘We’re doing this. We don’t care about the noise’.”Ashworth left the club after showdown talks with the club locked in a blame game for the poor start to the season.Manchester United announced the sacking with a blunt 53-word statement and insisted it was a “mutual decision”.Gary Neville slammed the statement as “not a good look” in his own brutal rant.The Red Devils’ shocking start to the Premier League campaign saw the end to Erik ten Hag’s reign as manager.The Dutchman was axed after the defeat to West Ham in October and then replaced by Ruben Amorim.Since the Portuguese coach was hired results have continued to be inconsistent.READ MORE SUN STORIESHis first game ended in a 1-1 draw against Ipswich before victories against Bodo/Glimt and Everton.However, the club is now winless in their previous three games with the latest ending in a 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.Ten Hag’s Man Utd signingsThe Dutchman has brought in 21 players since moving to Old Trafford in 20222022-23:Antony, (Ajax) £86mCasemiro, (Real Madrid) £70mLisandro Martinez, (Ajax) £46mTyrell Malacia, (Feyenoord) £13mChristian Eriksen, (Brentford) freeMartin Dubravka, (Newcastle) loanWout Weghorst, (Burnley) loanJack Butland, (Crystal Palace) loanMarcel Sabitzer, (Bayern Munich) loan2023-24:Rasmus Hojlund, (Atalanta) £72mMason Mount, (Chelsea) £60mAndre Onana, (Inter Milan) £47mSofyan Amrabat, (Fiorentina) loanAltay Bayindir, (Fenerbahce) £4.3mJonny Evans, (Leicester) freeSergio Reguilon, (Tottenham) loan2024-25:Leny Yoro, (Lille) £52mManuel Ugarte, (Paris Saint-Germain) £50mMatthijs de Ligt, (Bayern Munich) £45mJoshua Zirkee, (Bologna) £36.5mNoussair Mazraoui, (Bayern Munich) £12.8m More

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    Pep Guardiola set to throw ‘new Lionel Messi’ straight into Man City squad in desperate bid to reignite failing season

    PEP GUARDIOLA will throw the ‘new Lionel Messi’ straight into Manchester City’s creaking squad next month.Argentine starlet Claudio Echeverri, 18, arrives from River Plate — a year after a £12million deal was completed.Pep Guardiola is taking drastic action to tackle Man City’s plightCredit: GettyClaudio Echeverri is arriving from Argentinians River Plate to help CityCredit: GettyCity agreed to let him stay in his homeland for another season while  the South American giants hoped to keep him even longer.But boss Guardiola has decided he wants to be able to call upon the attacking midfielder during the second half of the campaign.So Echeverri is moving to England in the new year to spend the rest of the season training with the first team.He will be available to step in straight away but is likely to need time to find his feet in his new surroundings.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLCity had previously considered sending the teenager to one of their sister clubs to gain some European experience.That remains a possibility for the summer if the feeling is he is still not ready to challenge for a spot in Pep’s team.But the Etihad boss admitted at the weekend he is desperately short of options after a pile-up of injuries.And Echeverri will be given every chance to show he can play a part in the set-up.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe reigning Premier League champions beat off competition from around the world as they clinched the signing of the Argentina Under-17s captain last winter.His position and style have seen him compared to his country’s World Cup-winning skipper and Barcelona legend Messi — who Guardiola helped mould into a superstar at the helm of the Spanish giants.’Who the f*** do you think you are?’ Man City told after ‘making outrageous bid for Lionel Messi by accident’Echeverri broke into River’s first team 18 months ago and has been playing regularly for them since.His arrival comes in the wake of the news that the  hearing into the 130 breaches of Financial Fair Play rules levelled at City by the Premier League is now over.A three-man panel, who have heard both sides over the last three months, will now consider the evidence before writing up the report.While the earliest an outcome is expected to be known is spring, there are fears it could run into next season.The hearing began on September 16 at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London and was originally scheduled to take ten weeks.It has overrun by around a fortnight but it is understood closing statements were heard at the end of last week.Abu Dhabi-owned City are also  accused of failing to co-operate with the investigation — which began in 2018 — of their alleged breaches of FFP.READ MORE SUN STORIESIf they are found guilty, they could face a huge points deduction which may condemn them to relegation.But both sides would have the option to appeal against the decision if they are not satisfied — meaning it could be several more months before any such   penalties are imposed.What will happen to Man City?MAN CITY began the season as favourites to win the Premier League title yet again – but there is one elephant in the room that threatens to put the skids under the Etihad giants.Sunsport’s MARTIN LIPTON discusses what the next few months could hold with Head of Sport SHAUN CUSTIS….Custis: So the big question – will there be a resolution this season?Lipton: Yes…. probably! It will take at least a month to go through the evidence. So I suspect around March, April time, we will get a result. But that’s where it starts to get tricky.Custis: Why is that?Lipton: If the result is in City’s favour, that’s the end of the matter. They will be cleared. They will have no punishment to face.But if City are found guilty, these will be the heaviest penalties ever imposed by the Premier League.I suspect if they are found guilty, they will be expelled from the league or given a massive points deduction and a huge fine so that they’re not in the Premier League next season.Check out the full discussion on Man City’s future. More