Carabao Cup

MANCHESTER UNITED have outspent their city neighbours over the last few years and Pep Guardiola is keen to point out that fact.The Manchester City boss could not resist aiming a cheeky dig at the Red Devils following their Carabao Cup success.
Manchester United have a bigger net spend than their rivals since 2016
Pep Guardiola was keen to point out the disparity in spendingCredit: Getty
Guardiola teased United after they won the Carabao CupCredit: Getty
United beat Newcastle at Wembley to win their first trophy since 2017, and Guardiola said it was only a matter of time until they began to compete again given their transfer spend.
Since Guardiola took charge in 2016 United have spent £1.077billion – a fraction more than City who’ve splashed £1.074bn.
But City’s net spend is significantly smaller at £478million thanks to major sales such as Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko last summer.
United’s net spend over the last seven years is an astronomical £835m, showing they have chucked more money at their effort to win silverware.
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Guardiola is well aware of the disparity between the two clubs in regard to net spend, so pointed it out after United’s Wembley triumph on Sunday.
He said: “Congratulations to United for the Carabao Cup. Sooner or later it should happen, shouldn’t it? Welcome.
“United have to be there. They’re in the position they normally should be.
“The reality is that two teams, Liverpool and ourselves, have done incredibly well with the numbers. Now it’s closer.”
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Asked if United are now back as a major rival, Guardiola said with a smile: “Maybe. If they spend a little more money, yes?
“Because they didn’t spend, did they?
“When I landed here I thought United would always be there, for the history, for everything, and Erik ten Hag is doing an incredible job.
“And the players . . . you see how committed they are, how all together they try to do it after they have been five or six years without winning one title.”
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Manchester United spent big in the summer, splashing out over £200m to bring Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro to the club.
Other big-money arrivals since 2016 include Jadon Sancho, Harry Maguire and Romelu Lukaku, who all cost in the region of £80m.
Paul Pogba, who joined ahead of the 2016/17 season remains Manchester United’s all-time most expensive transfer after his £89m arrival.
Man City’s most expensive signing is Jack Grealish, who became the Premier League’s first £100m player when he made the switch from Aston Villa in 2021.
Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo and Riyad Mahrez are just a few of the bigger deals seen at the Etihad since Guardiola landed at the club. More

MARCUS RASHFORD has explained his outrageous piece of skill in the build-up to his goal in the Carabao Cup final.The in-form forward netted Man United’s second goal against Newcastle as the club won their first piece of silverware in six years.
Marcus Rashford has explained his trick from the Carabao Cup finalCredit: Getty
He described the move as an aerial ‘heel-to-heel flick’Credit: https://twitter.com/UtdFaithfuls/status/1630141034209353728

Rashford’s deflected finish was able to get over Loris Karius, but it was his move before that which caught the attention of fans.
The United star controlled the ball before passing it to Wout Wegorst while airborne.
When asked by a fan “Rashford what did you do?” on Twitter, the England international replied saying: “It was a heel-to-heel flick but in the air.”
The move was fantastic as he set off Weghorst before making his own inverted overlap run in return.
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The Dutch striker then played the ball back to Rashford to finish off the move.
And fans were full of praise for Rashford as one said: “Our eyes started watering when you did this.”
A second tweeted: “Bruh! I watched this over and over and over again!! I’m like ah buh why ain’t no one talking bout this! Oboy Rashidi.”
While a third commented: “Insane technique. Rashford you beauty.”
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A fourth wrote: “Come on man! That’s filthy 👌 best in the business atm! Keep it up 🙏❤️.”
And a fifth added: “Love it Marcus. Was there last night and as a fan this meant so much to see us win a trophy.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for this club. You’re on fire rn 🔥😍.”
Rashford will be hoping to continue his fine form when United face West Ham in the FA Cup at OId Trafford on Wednesday. More

HARRY MAGUIRE had Manchester United fans in fits of laughter after aiming a cheeky swipe at Tom Heaton.The United captain lifted the first trophy in his career after winning the Carabao Cup on Sunday.
Tom Heaton posed with the trophy alongside all of United’s academy graduatesCredit: Getty
Harry Maguire poked fun at Heaton’s ageCredit: Getty
Heaton was promoted from United’s youth ranks in 2005Credit: Getty
And each one of his team-mates had an opportunity to pose with the trophy following the 2-0 win over Newcastle.
One photo included all of the academy players in the squad, but there was one odd man out – 36-year-old Heaton.
The United goalkeeper graduated from the academy in 2005 and Maguire poked fun at his age compared to the youngsters he was surrounded by.
Maguire wrote: “Ten lads on a day trip with their grandad.”
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Heaton draped his arm around midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 17, for the snap and he was stood behind Alejandro Garnacho, 18, and Scott McTominay, 26, who came on in the final.
He held the trophy along with Marcus Rashford, 25, and had his arm around the shoulders of Teden Mengi, 20.
Also featured in the photo were 20-year-old Anthony Elanga and defender Brandon Williams, 22, who have both fallen out of favour under Erik ten Hag.
Three 19-year-olds Zidane Iqbal, Rhys Bennett, and Radek Videk were also involved, highlighting the age gap to Heaton which fans found hilarious.
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One wrote: “Harry Maguire has won Instagram.”
Another added: “Maguire seems like a cool guy.”
And a third said: “Big Harry got jokes.” More

PRESENTER Laura Woods made an embarrassing blunder ahead of the Carabao Cup final.The television and radio host was in attendance at Wembley to see Manchester United beat Newcastle 2-0.
Laura Woods got herself into an awkward situation with a former Newcastle playerCredit: Getty
Ryan Taylor spent seven seasons at NewcastleCredit: Getty
Despite being an Arsenal fan, she was there with her Newcastle-supporting family and was invited to a pre-match dinner with the likes of Alan Shearer.
Plenty of former players were there and Woods, 35, awkwardly failed to recognise an ex-Toon defender.
Woods recalled on talkSPORT that she was approached by Ryan Taylor and didn’t realise it was him.
She explained: “I had a very awkward moment.
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“Ryan – I hope he’s not listening yet – walked up and just because we were frantically trying to find [our restaurant]. You know how big Wembley is and if you get lost, you’re lost for days.
“We had been saying hello to all the Geordies and fans outside and then we got up and Ryan came up to me and said ‘Hi, how are you?’
“I said ‘Good thank you, how are you?’, and he went, ‘Yeah, nice to properly actually meet you in real life.’
“I went ‘Sorry, who are you?’, I didn’t recognise him.
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“He went ‘It’s Ryan’, and I went ‘Oh God, Ryan, I’m so sorry.’ It was awful.
“I’m so sorry, Ryan. I did spend the rest of the day apologising profusely to him.”
Woods’ co-host Ally McCoist joked that their breakfast show had lost any chance of getting him on before she revealed Taylor was going to join the duo on air if Newcastle had won.
The 38-year-old played 106 times for the Magpies and he also had spells at Wigan, Hull and Tranmere. More