Soccer

RUUD VAN NISTELROOY will NOT remain at Manchester United.The interim boss has been brutally AXED by new manager Ruben Amorim after he’d hoped to go back to his assistant role.Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to depart Man UtdCredit: AlamyRuben Amorim made the brutal call after meeting CEO Omar Barrada earlier on MondayCredit: GettyThe former United striker returned to Old Trafford in the summer to work under Erik ten Hag and was installed as interim gaffer following his compatriot’s sacking on October 28.Van Nistelrooy was keen to stay on in a role following Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League win against Leicester, which capped an unbeaten four-match stint in charge.But that proved to be his final game with United with Amorim deciding to let him go in his first decision as boss.The makeup of Amorim’s coaching staff is yet to be confirmed but Van Nistelrooy, 48, will not be part of it.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe former Sporting manager, who won his final game in Portugal just 24 hours ago, arrived in Manchester earlier today.The Portuguese coach said on Sunday he planned to hold talks with Van Nistelrooy regarding his United future on Monday.He said: “About a legend of the club. He did a great job. I have to talk with him tomorrow. Then I will explain everything. I am very clear and I will tell you like it is. Let’s wait until tomorrow.”Amorim’s flight, a private jet from Beja international airport, was the most tracked flight in the world on popular flight tracking site Flightradar24.Most read in FootballUnited chiefs welcomed Amorim when he landed at Manchester AirportCredit: INSTAGRAM @manchesterunitedFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe 39-year-old is set to bring a number of coaches along with him to Old Trafford, but United will have to pay a fee.Amorim was given the last say on whether he wanted to incorporate the Dutchman into his backroom team and has ultimately decided against it.Emotional Ruud van Nistelrooy given incredible ovation at Old Trafford with Man Utd interim still unclear on his futureVan Nistelrooy was given a standing ovation as he enjoyed an emotional and teary-eyed farewell with the Stretford End on Sunday.The club statement read: “Manchester United can confirm that Ruud van Nistelrooy has left the club. “Ruud rejoined in the summer and has taken charge of the team for the past four matches as interim head coach.”Ruud is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend.”We are grateful for his contribution and the way in which he has approached his role throughout his time with the club. He will always be very welcome at Old Trafford.”Rene Hake, Jelle ten Rouwelaar and Pieter Morel have also departed and we wish them all well for the future.”We will confirm the full men’s first team coaching composition in due course.”Van Nistelrooy was serenaded by the Stretford End after Sunday’s 3-0 win over LeicesterSporting have moved on quickly themselves, announcing a new boss at the club before Amorim even touched down in Manchester.The Portuguese giants confirmed B coach Joao Pereira, 40, as manager earlier today.READ MORE SUN STORIESUnited fans face a wait to see their new boss, whose first game will be the visit to Ipswich on November 24.Amorim signed a contract until June 2027 with a club option of an additional year.Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man UtdWHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers. The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for. More

COLE PALMER has had one shot on target in his past two Premier League matches for Chelsea.Enzo Fernandez has not started the last two Premier League matches for Chelsea.Cole Palmer struggled against Arsenal amid a recent injuryCredit: GettyEnzo Fernandez has failed to nail down his spot in Chelsea’s strongest line-upCredit: GettyWhen he came off the bench yesterday against Arsenal, within two minutes the Argentinian provided the assist for Pedro Neto to score the goal that lifted the Blues into third position in the table.Yet still the debate rages that the £106million midfielder can be a liability for the team and cannot play alongside £115m partner Moises Caicedo.Fernandez is finding it tough proving to boss Enzo Maresca that he deserves a regular place in the starting line-up.Proof that a gargantuan price tag counts for nothing in the eyes of the demanding Italian whatever the figures say. And some of them are pretty convincing.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLChelsea’s highly-priced star might not be able to read the numbers very well on the speedometer of his Porsche when out driving in Wales, having been banned from driving for six months.But there is a surprisingly strong mathematical argument in the World Cup winner’s favour that he is a key component of the team. So far this season nobody has done better than Fernandez at playing the ball forwards to Chelsea’s formidable bunch of young, hungry forwards.In all competitions so far this season, he has delivered 20.3 passes per 90 minutes that finish in the final third of the pitch.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFor someone bought primarily as a holding midfielder that’s life in the fast lane as he would no doubt grasp.Portuguese winger Joao Felix, a featherweight, waspish forward, is next on 19.7.Need someone to set up a goal? He’s your man.Fernandez is second only to Jadon Sancho for assists this term on 0.49. Sancho is streets ahead on 0.88 but only six games into his Chelsea career, the average is bound to be higher.And going back to Palmer, only Wesley Fofana and Caicedo have picked out Chelsea’s talisman with a pass more often than Enzo.The tail end of last season was a microscope into the world of the anti-Fernandez brigade who dismiss him as overpriced.His last game of the season was April 23 – Black Tuesday when Arsenal smashed Chelsea 5-0 under previous boss Mauricio Pochettino.Fernandez checked out for a hernia operation the next day and did not play again until the summer.’Serious problems at PGMOL’ Ex-Prem ref blasts VAR after baffling decisions at Liverpool and WolvesThere were six games left of the Premier League campaign and Chelsea performed a better U-turn that Fernandez could even when being chased by the Old Bill in his flash motor on the way to two speeding convictions.From abject losers they won five of their last six games. So evidently, with Enzo out of the side, Chelsea can throw off the shackles and pour forwards.They scored 16 goals in those last six games – but they’d scored that in the previous six too.He missed the 6-0 thrashing of Everton eight days before the Arsenal debacle but was in the team when Chelsea smashed four past Manchester United 11 days prior to that on April 4.So whatever Chelsea’s problem at the time was, it wasn’t his, even if Fernandez was clearly struggling with abdominal issues.Now fit-again, Fernandez has created 1.9 chances per 90 minutes this season – fifth most in the squad. And that includes Sunday’s assist.The salient point is that Chelsea paid nine figures for Fernandez primarily to shield the defence.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt is now six Premier League games since they kept a clean sheet. Chelsea are third in the table but could be even higher.Maybe it’s not the attacking part of Fernandez’s game that Maresca is upset about?Moises Caicedo is proving his worth but the jury is still out on Enzo FernandezCredit: GettyChelsea ratings vs ArsenalRobert Sanchez – 6Still punches the ball clear when a catch would be much safer – and reassuring for the fans behind him.Malo Gusto – 6Went close with a header in the first-half. But was missing at right-back when Arsenal took the lead through Gabriel Martinelli’s 59th minute goal. The problem with also playing in midfield.Wesley Fofana – 7Strong challenges and now fully back from lengthy injury. Also went close to a goal in the second half when he pumped the ball just over.Levi Colwill – 6Forging a partnership with Fofana at the heart of defence. Got caught dangerously in possession by Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard but recovered.Marc Cucurella – 7Cracking tussle with Bukayo Saka. Despite being one of only three men on the pitch wearing gloves, including the keepers, Chelsea’s left-back is a formidable defender.Moises Caicedo – 6Enjoying a run of form at the moment that includes last weekend’s volleyed equaliser at Manchester United. Strong tackler and smooth through the gears in midfield.Romeo Lavia – 6A surprise package keeping £107million Enzo Fernandez out of the team. After a terrible run of injuries is forming some consistency. But any twinge is a scare and came off in the 66th minute.Noni Madueke – 6Called up to the latest England squad and is mobile and nippy. Also seemed a bit stroppy and went straight down the tunnel when subbed in the 66th minute. Perhaps needed treatment.Cole Palmer – 6Maybe the sore knee is still troubling him. Only trained yesterday for the first time in almost a week. But it hampered his impact on a disjointed London derby.Pedro Neto – 7Starting to make his presence felt after being relegated to the Conference League matches. Stunning powerful drive for the equaliser and full of energy. Nicolas Jackson – 6Feisty and fiery but went to ground too easily to win a couple of free kicks when he could have done more damage on his feet. Gives everything though. More