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      ‘Wow’ – Man Utd star Jadon Sancho posts heartwarming Instagram message to fans after finally returning to Ten Hag’s team

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      MANCHESTER UNITED star Jadon Sancho has uploaded a emotional message on social media after his return to action. The winger made his first appearance for Erik ten Hag’s side since late October on Wednesday, coming off the bench in the Carabao Cup semi-final win over Nottingham Forest.
      Jadon Sancho had a big smile on his face as he made his first appearance back after a tough time away from footballCredit: PA
      Sancho took a break from football to focus on his mental well-being and after getting a huge ovation from the Old Trafford crowd, Sancho thanked fans for their kindness.
      He wrote on Instagram: “Wow! Just want to say a massive thank you to everyone for the support I have received over the past few weeks, especially to the fans.
      “My focus is to give my all to my team and the club.
      “I’m so happy to be back out on the pitch, see you soon.”
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      Sancho was a regular in the Man Utd line-up at the beginning of the campaign but managed just three goals and one assist, coming off the back of a tough first season at the club.
      The 22-year-old missed out on a place in England’s World Cup squad and consequently took a break from social media.
      With his confidence low, Sancho was sent to the Netherlands to work on his physical and mental health alone.
      He then returned to Man Utd in late December as domestic football resumed and Ten Hag did not rush him back.
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      The former Borussia Dortmund star was instead given an individual training programme, practising away from the rest of the squad before eventually joining his team-mates again.
      Sancho and Ten Hag looked thrilled as he came on for Antony to play for 27 minutes versus Forest.
      United were 3-0 up on aggregate and after his introduction they sealed their trip to Wembley to face Newcastle in the final with goals from Anthony Martial and Fred.
      Sancho, who has been seeing a sports psychologist, could be set to make his first Premier League appearance in just over three months as Man Utd face Crystal Palace this afternoon. More

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      Man Utd and Newcastle fans set for huge change in Carabao Cup final with standing back at Wembley after 35 years

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      MANCHESTER UNITED and Newcastle fans will be able to cheer their boys on STOOD UP after it was announced standing is returning to Wembley.The first domestic final of the season, the Carabao Cup final, will take place on February 26.
      Standing tickets are available for Man Utd and Newcastle fans at the Carabao Cup FinalCredit: Rex
      And it will be Newcastle taking on Manchester United in the mouth-watering showpiece at Wembley.
      The Magpies stormed their way into the final after beating Southampton 3-1 on aggregate.
      Eddie Howe’s side have not won a major trophy in 68 years as he looks to make history.
      While United cruised into the final after beating Nottingham Forest 5-0 on aggregate.
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      Both clubs have announced ticket details already for the final – however this one will have a huge change following successful standing trials in both the Premier League and EFL.
      A statement from the EFL read: “The Carabao Cup Final between Manchester United and Newcastle United on Sunday 26 February (kick off 4:30pm) will be the first major domestic English men’s final in almost 35 years at which some supporters will be permitted to stand.
      “Both Clubs will receive an allocation of 867 seats which will be available within new standing areas at Wembley Stadium, located behind each goal, in both the East and West Stands, to accommodate both sets of supporters on the day.
      “EFL and Premier League Clubs have been permitted to introduce licensed standing in seated areas since the start of the 2022/23 season, with the likes of Cardiff City, Queens Park Rangers, Chelsea and Manchester City offering standing for home and away fans.
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      “In these areas, fans are allowed to stand for matches in allocated spaces behind a barrier or a rail which prevents them from falling forward.
      “In all other areas of the stadium supporters must remain seated.
      “Tickets for this area will be sold by the Clubs in accordance with the Wembley Stadium Ticket Policy.” More

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      Man Utd star Antony slammed as ’embarrassing’ and a ‘bluffer’ by Gabby Agbonlahor as ex-England ace mocks infamous spin

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      ANTONY was slammed as “embarrassing” and a “bluffer” in a brutal assessment by Gabby Agbonlahor.And then the former Aston Villa striker mocked the Manchester United winger’s trademark spin.
      Antony came under heavy criticism from Gabby AgbonlahorCredit: Getty
      The former Villa striker mocked the trademark spin ball trick live on the radioCredit: talkSPORT
      The Red Devils splashed out £85.5million to land the Brazilian from Ajax.
      But the 22-year-old has chipped in with just five goals and one assist in 22 appearances so far – and no goal contributions in the Premier League since early October, prompting accusations of being a “YouTube player”.

      And Agbonlahor is particularly disappointed by his efforts, most recently against Forest last night when he again pulled out the ball trick.
      The three-cap ex-England man fumed on talkSPORT: “Manchester United have looked better since Erik ten Hag has come in and they’ve done better in the last few months.
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      “But when I look at Antony, there’s been a few big transfers in the Premier League, £86m for him…
      “I think he’s a bluffer. I think when he gets the ball, he doesn’t take a player on. He doesn’t have the speed to take players on.
      “With 11 league games he’s got three goals, no assists. Four Carabao Cup games, one goal, no assists. Two FA Cup games, one goal, one assist. That’s one assist in all competitions.
      “He doesn’t do what Rashford does. Rashford gets the ball direct, takes players on, puts balls into the box.”
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      Agbonlahor continued his rant and then got out of his chair in the studio and hopped around in a circle to demonstrate the infamous spin.
      The Villa Park hero added: “The big thing for me is Antony’s number of crosses. He’s put in 1.5 crosses [average] per game.
      “If you’re a striker, you’re making runs and he’s doing his tricks, cutting in, cutting back, not putting the ball in the box.
      “I played with a great winger, Ashley Young, still playing now at 37. His first season at Aston Villa, he got nine goals and 14 assists.
      “You always knew he was going to put the ball in, take a player on, do his stepovers, do his chops, but he’d always put the ball in the right areas.
      “For me, Antony’s 1.5 crosses a game is not good enough.”
      On the spin, Agbonlahor concluded: “What would you do if you were a defender?
      “It’s embarrassing, he needs to liven up!”

      Antony pulled out the trick in the win over ForestCredit: Sky Sports More

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      ‘Idiot’ fan lands flat on his face in pitch invasion gone wrong Man Utd’s Carabao Cup win over Nottingham Forest

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      AN ‘IDIOT’ football fan face-planted in his botched attempt to invade the pitch at Old Trafford.The supporter ran on to the grass early in the second half of Manchester United’s Carabao Cup win over Nottingham Forest.
      The cameras cut away from the live action when the pitch invader ran onCredit: Sky Sports
      The male supporter was dragged away by stewards after hitting the deckCredit: Getty
      As the TV footage showed replays of Wout Weghorst going down in the penalty area wanting a spot-kick, the cameras did not pick up the incident.
      However, talkSPORT commentator Sam Matterface witnessed the events unfold live.
      He said: “Some idiot has decided to try and jump on to the pitch.
      “He has his face covered which is probably why when he jumped over the hoardings he tripped over his own feet and ended up falling flat on his face.
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      “He’s now being escorted out of the ground. Well done, mate.”
      A man wearing jeans, a black coat, a Red Devils beanie hat and a Marcus Rashford scared was pictured being led away by stewards.
      He would therefore have missed both United goals as Erik ten Hag’s men secured a 5-0 aggregate win and set up a Wembley final with Newcastle.
      Rashford was involved in both goals – with his blocked shot falling perfectly for Anthony Martial to break the deadlock on 73 minutes.
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      And three minutes later, he got round the back to tee up Fred who could not miss.
      Ten Hag was understandably delighted to make it through for a repeat of the 1999 FA Cup final at the national stadium.
      But he insisted there will only be a reason to celebrate if United beat Newcastle and end their seven-year wait for silverware.
      The Dutchman said: “It’s great but you play finals to win. It is not an achievement to come into a final.
      “We want to win them but first we have other things to do. We come back to the Premier League and bury this cup.
      “It is good to reach the final but it is not about reaching the final, it is about winning it.” More

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      Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag hints at shock position change for Bruno Fernandes and Victor Lindelof in top-four race

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      MANCHESTER UNITED boss Erik ten Hag has hinted at potential position changes for Bruno Fernandes and Victor Lindelof. The Red Devils cruised into the Carabao Cup final with a 5-0 win on aggregate against Nottingham Forest.
      Erik ten Hag played two Man Utd stars in different positions against Nottingham ForestCredit: Getty
      Bruno Fernandes was played on the right while substitute Jadon Sancho played centrallyCredit: Getty
      Victor Lindelof played in defensive midfieldCredit: Getty
      But the game saw two first-team stars play in new positions.
      Ten Hag replaced three attacking players after an hour, and on came Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford for Alejandro Garnacho, Wout Weghorst and Antony.
      Instead of Sancho occupying the right flank, as he has done many times in his career, the England international operated centrally.
      Interestingly, Fernandes was sent out wide to the right.
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      The Dutchman said on Fernandes: “It was one thought about, but also to bring a different dynamic in the team, I wanted to see how that works, we brought Bruno more times before in the wide position.
      “I think it’s difficult to anticipate it when you first have to deal with Antony, then you bring a semi-wide player there, it’s difficult to anticipate, Bruno is really effective but I want to see the combination with Jadon and Anthony Martial, we’ve seen a different dynamic, that can help us and give us more opportunities in the future.”

      Fernandes provided the goods as his outside of the foot pass found Fred for United’s second of the night.
      The midfielder, who regularly captains the side in Harry Maguire’s absence, says he learned the skill from Ricardo Quaresma.
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      And when Lindelof replaced Casemiro with ten minutes to go, the Swede playing in holding midfield.
      But Ten Hag says Lindelof was trained there during his Benfica days.
      On Lindelof, Ten Hag said: “He was educated as a six, a control, holding midfielder in Benfica, I know he can do that.
      “We tried it in training, maybe one game, I want my centre halves in midfield positions so we create dynamics to construct more dynamic.”
      Man Utd will play Newcastle at Wembley for the Carabao Cup on February 26.
      But Fernandes is keen for United to not lose focus in their pursuit of a top-four finish.
      Fernandes and Lindelof becoming familiar in new roles could help Ten Hag rotate his team better to maintain momentum.
      Fernandes said: “Obviously it’s really good.
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      “For me it’s been three years in the cup, we reached one final and didn’t win that one unfortunately.
      “But now we have another chance. But before that are a lot of games coming, we have to be prepared for that.” More

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      How one Newcastle star will win Carabao Cup winners medal if his team are BEATEN by Man Utd in final

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      A NEWCASTLE player could get a Carabao Cup winners medal if his team LOSES to Manchester United at Wembley on February 26. The Toon booked their place in their first Cup final since 1999 with a 3-1 aggregate win over Southampton.
      Martin Dubravka played twice for Man Utd in their run to the EFL Cup final and can win a medal despite returning to Newcastle early with his loan being cut shortCredit: Getty
      They will play top-four rivals Man Utd under the Wembley arch, who candidly brushed Nottingham Forest aside.
      The Red Devils ran out 5-0 winners across two legs, helping boss Erik ten Hag secure a Cup final appearance in his first season at Old Trafford.
      But United had the help of a Newcastle star to reach the Carabao Cup final.
      Martin Dubravka moved to Man Utd on loan in the summer and made two EFL Cup appearances against Aston Villa and Burnley.
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      However, the 34-year-old was recalled by Newcastle on January 1.
      And the former Toon No1 is now cup tied – meaning he can’t even man the bench for Eddie Howe’s side.

      You should never want your parent club to lose, but in Dubravka’s case, a Carabao Cup winners medal is at stake.
      Should United beat Newcastle at the end of the month, Dubravka will pick up a medal for his participation, while his Newcastle team-mates drown their sorrows as losers.
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      A Newcastle win, however, will see the opposite happen, and Dubravka will have to share a dressing room filled with winners medals.
      Former Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey – sealed a January transfer to Nottingham Forest – will be hoping is old team win the Wembley dust-up.
      The ex-England international, 30, played twice for the Toon in the competition, and could win a medal despite not being at the club anymore. More

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      Watch Roy Keane make hilarious plea to Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag after his side reach Carabao Cup final

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      ROY KEANE was in a good mood as old side Manchester United beat another of his former teams in Nottingham Forest to reach the Carabao Cup final.The Sky Sports pundit made a hilarious plea to United boss Erik ten Hag after the game.
      Roy Keane had a hilarious question for Erik ten Hag after Manchester United reached the Carabao Cup finalCredit: SKY SPORTS
      Keane was on punditry duty for United’s semi-final win over Nottingham ForestCredit: Getty

      Goals from Anthony Martial and Fred saw the Red Devils win 2-0 on the night, and 5-0 on aggregate.
      And Keane, 51, seemingly isn’t planning to be on punditry duty for the final.
      Instead he jokingly asked Ten Hag after the game for “two complimentary” tickets to the match.
      Keane said to the United boss on Sky: “And if you have any spare tickets for the final, you let me [know].
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      “Just two, two complimentary I hope, yes? Thank you.”
      Ten Hag couldn’t turn down the former club captain and seven-time Premier League winner.
      Granting Keane’s wish, he responded: “I think so Roy, no problem!”
      Ten Hag then walked away down the Old Trafford tunnel, before Keane insisted to presenter Mark Chapman that he didn’t want to pay a penny for the tickets.
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      He joked again: “Complimentary as well, I’m not paying!”
      Chapman later revealed Keane was “in the squad” for the final – meaning fans can expect the United legend to be providing his usual insight on February 26.
      Earlier in the night, Keane had blasted January signing Wout Weghorst for missing a glorious chance to put the hosts ahead.
      Nevertheless Ten Hag’s side coasted to victory, and will face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final at the end of the month.
      In his debut campaign at the club, Ten Hag has guided United to a first final since the 2021 Europa League penalty shootout defeat to Villarreal. More

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      Man Utd fans loving sweet moment between Sancho and Ten Hag as boss hints at new role for returning star

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      MANCHESTER UNITED fans loved seeing the sweet moment between Jadon Sancho and Erik Ten Hag as the Dutchman hinted at a new role for the returning star.The England international winger finally made a comeback for the Red Devils after 102 days out as United strolled into a Carabao Cup final showdown with Newcastle.
      Jadon Sancho finally made his comeback for Man Utd on WednesdayCredit: AFP
      Fans loved the warm embrace between him and Erik ten HagCredit: AFP
      The 22-year-old was given a huge ovation as he came on for a 28-minute cameo to help United beat Nottingham Forest 2-0, securing a 5-0 aggregate scoreline.
      Sancho had not played since October 22 after struggling with physical and mental issues.
      And Ten Hag hailed his returning star, who only rejoined full training with the first team recently.
      He said: “It’s good to have Jadon back.
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      “It’s most important players enjoy football. It gives energy and that gives them the motivation to perform. The reception from the fans to him was great and that will also give him more of a push to continue.”
      Ten Hag looked delighted to have Sancho back, as the pair enjoyed a laugh on the touchline before the Dutch coach gave the youngster a pat on the head before he entered the fray.
      He brought on Sancho just after the hour mark, and the youngster could not keep the smile off his face as he entered to chants of “Sancho, Sancho”.
      And fans were quick to spot the warm embrace, with one tweeting: “Sancho’s smile and Ten Hag’s little encouragement is all I needed to see.”
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      Another wrote: “Ten Hag with Sancho right there is why I love him as manager.”
      While another added: “Sancho smiling with Ten Hag yh it’s time to cook.”
      Sancho is usually deployed out wide, but this evening he came on and played the No.10 role behind fellow sub Anthony Martial.
      And afterwards Ten Hag hinted that could be his new role, saying: “Jadon, I know he can play as a number 10 and a winger. We can mix it often and that is what I like.”
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      The ex-Dortmund ace had last played away to Chelsea on October 22 before being left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the World Cup.
      Sancho was made to focus on an individual training programme after linking up with coaches Ten Hag had previously worked while team-mates were in Qatar.
      However, there now appears to be light at the end of the tunnel for the attacker following his cameo.
      And Ten Hag believes Sancho can make a difference in the key games ahead, adding: “He already showed that this season.
      “For instance in the game against Liverpool he scored a great goal. He scored against Leicester, he had some good games like Spurs — so he already showed his great capabilities. He has high standards.”
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      Sancho even got a hug from Forest boss Steve Cooper, who was his manager as England won the Under-17 World Cup in 2017.
      Cooper said: “We speak fairly often but it’s the first time I’ve seen him properly.” More