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      Man City targeting Premier League flop to take over as sporting director after Txiki Begiristain bombshell

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      MANCHESTER CITY have allegedly earmarked former Newcastle midfielder Hugo Viana as a potential replacement for outgoing chief Txiki Begiristain.Sporting director Begiristain will step down from his position at the end of the season.Man City chief Txiki Begiristain is set to leave at the end of the seasonCredit: PAFormer Newcastle midfielder Hugo Viana is believed to be in the frame for the jobCredit: EPAViana spent four years at St James’ ParkCredit: PA:Press AssociationSunSport revealed this week that he will play a key role in identifying and appointing his replacement.Begiristain aims to have a new man in place by January and will then spend six months helping the new chief settle into their new role.While Begiristain’s successor is yet to be revealed, ex-Newcastle star Viana is believed to be in the frame.The 41-year-old spent four years at St James’ Park as a player following his move from Sporting Lisbon in 2002 and made 61 appearances.Read More in FootballSince retiring, Viana has taken up a senior position in football.He is currently director of football at Sporting Lisbon, having accepted the job in 2018.Manchester United identified him as a potential candidate for the position of chief operating officer at Old Trafford earlier this year.He caught the attention of Sir Jim Ratcliffe by assisting the transfer of Bruno Fernandes in 2020.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSBut taking over from Begiristain at Man City would be an even harder job.City have won 14 major trophies under the guidance of the Spaniard, including the Champions League and six Prem titles.But they are currently in the midst of a huge legal battle with the Premier League.A hearing is underway into allegations that City broke PL rules more than 100 times in relation to sponsorship deals, player and manager contracts and failure to cooperate with the investigation.City deny all the charges. An initial verdict is expected in the spring, but the saga is unlikely to end there and Begiristain will be gone before everything is resolved.Man City vs the Premier League: Q&ABy Martin LiptonBOTH Manchester City and the Premier League were claiming a win after their legal scrap over Associated Party Transactions.SunSport sifts the claims to try to explain the latest issues.What was the case about?City were furious that Prem bosses brought in new tougher regulations – by the smallest possible majority under League rules – in February. They were aimed at blocking clubs bypassing financial controls by earning “unfair” amounts via sponsorship from a company with the same owners, or selling players on the cheap to teams under the same ownership umbrella.Why were City so upset?The Etihad club argued that the rules were illegal and had been deliberately aimed at them by rivals and were both flawed and politically driven. They also branded the “two thirds support” rule that has been part of Prem regulations since its inception as a “tyranny of the majority”This was an Arbitration Tribunal – explain that?Under Prem rules, any club has the right to ask for Arbitration if they are unhappy about the regulations or due process. The three retired judges heard evidence in June and their full ruling was distributed to the 20 Prem clubs on Monday afternoon.And what did they say?Depending on who you listen to, they either totally vindicated one side or the other. The actual answer is that there were “wins” for both City and the Prem. But it’s your choice which ones meant more.OK, what were City’s wins?Maybe the most important one in terms of the repercussions. That both the new rules and the previous version – brought  in after Saudi Arabia’s PIF bought Newcastle in 2021 –  were “unlawful” as they exclude shareholder loans to clubs in any APT calculations.  City also won over their claims that the rulebook prevented them from responding to Prem decisions over whether two proposed deals with Abu Dhabi companies represented “Fair Market Value”, access to the “databank” of comparable deals and the time it took for decisions to be reached.That sounds pretty big. So what about the Prem’s side?The key finding as far as the League is concerned is that the Tribunal backed the concept of APT rules as well as the Fair Market Value tests. Additionally, City’s challenges to the actual decisions on the two proposed deals “failed”. Prem bosses insist the “rulebook has been found to comply with competition and public law standards and is an effective and necessary system”.Is that it, then?Of course not. That shareholder loan issue is a big deal, given that it is believed owners have loaned around £1.5bn at low or preferential rates across the Prem. Those loans will almost certainly have to be calculated at commercial rates now, unless the owners convert them into shares. But the League is convinced the main thrust of the rules remains valid.And what will be the impact on the “115 charges” case?Probably nothing. That is an allegation of breaking the rules, while this matter was City questioning whether one small element of the current rulebook was legitimate. But City are using the same legal team, headed by £10,000 per hour Lord Pannick KC. And the stakes on the bigger case are a great deal higher. More

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      Rio Ferdinand rang Wayne Rooney and asked ‘how are you allowing this?’ about two Man Utd stars’ behaviour

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      RIO FERDINAND once rang up Wayne Rooney to demand answers about the behaviour in the Manchester United dressing room.Ferdinand and Rooney won five Premier League titles together and a Champions League trophy under Sir Alex Ferguson. Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney in 2014Credit: GettyThe England defender left in 2014 but Rooney remained at Old Trafford as captain. Reminiscing on Ferdinand’s podcast, former team-mate Phil Jones said: “Back then, when you look at the dressing room we had…”We had so many incredible, powerful leaders that wouldn’t let anything get in the way of the team’s performance and the team winning.”That winning mentality was so strong and powerful that no one that came in could disrupt that.READ MORE IN football “I think now players maybe don’t have the ability to call people out anymore and the power to tell them, ‘That’s not what we do at this football club… don’t come in here and start acting like that, that doesn’t work here’.”I’m not saying that happens every single day at the club but if we lost a game, we’d have a meeting the next day, not even with the coaches. “The leaders would be saying, ‘this is not good enough’ after one loss.”Ferdinand pointed to a time he furiously phoned Rooney after seeing Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard dancing on social media as the club sat sixth. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHe said: “I’ll tell you when it changed, from the outside at least.”I rang Wazza and said, ‘What’s going on here? How are you allowing this?’ And he said, ‘You can’t say nothing man, it’s not the same anymore’.Phil Jones reveals how Sir Alex Ferguson convinced him to sign for Man Utd “He said, ‘It’s not just those two, there would be a big group looking at me like I’m mad if I said anything’.”Lingard and Pogba are both no longer at United. Pogba has had an initial four-year doping ban changed to 18-months, allowing him to continue his football career in March. Meanwhile Lingard – who left United in 2022 – is now playing his football in South Korea with FC Seoul. Jones ended 12 years at Old Trafford in 2023 and announced his retirement a year later – with his eyes now set on coaching. Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba dancing in the Man Utd dressing roomPhil Jones on Rio Ferdinand’s podcastCredit: @philjones_4 More

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      Six-time Champions League winner warned he has just 50 PER CENT chance of recovering from horror injury

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      REAL MADRID legend Dani Carvajal has just a 50 PER CENT chance of recovering from his serious knee injury, according to a top doctor.The Spaniard, 32, won his sixth Champions League last season and also triumphed at the Euros.Dani Carvajal may never return to his top levelCredit: AFPHe was left in tears on the floor after rupturing his cruciate ligament, external collateral ligament and popliteal tendonCredit: RexSix-time Champions League winner Carvajal faces at least 12 months on the sidelineCredit: EPABut his season was ended during Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Villarreal on Saturday after he ruptured his cruciate ligament, external collateral ligament and popliteal tendon.Doctor Pablo Gelber, founder and president of the European Knee Society’s Lateral Knee Injuries Committee, has now given his take on Carvajal’s injury – which left the defender in tears.He confirmed it will take a minimum of 12 months to recover and also shockingly revealed the right-back only has between a 50 and 60 per cent chance of getting back to his optimum level.Speaking to Marca, Dr Gelber said: “Of all the factors for returning to sport, the time since surgery is perhaps the least important. It is a necessary factor, but by no means sufficient. In this case, I would not speak of less than 12 months of recovery.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”And another issue is the return to the same sporting level, which, speaking in cold numbers, is not more than 50 or 60 per cent.”A negative factor is that footballers tend to have varus legs, as we technically call it. It basically refers to having bowed legs, as Rivaldo, for example, had in a very pronounced way.”This fact is a negative factor for the successful recovery of these injuries, because it puts the ligaments that are being reconstructed under a lot of stress, potentially stretching them to levels that make the surgery fail.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSNew Champions League format is a snorefestBy Dan KingUEFA sold the idea of expanding the Champions League from 32 to 36 teams, with each playing eight games instead of six in the opening phase, as a way of creating more competitiveness and excitement.The biggest clubs would have two matches against their peers, rather than having to wait until the knockout stage to meet.The smaller clubs would meet teams of a similar level twice and have a chance of tasting victory that was so hard to achieve if you were the bottom seed in a group of four.Ignoring for a moment the fact that the real motivation was the simple equation of more games = more money, the theory itself already looks flawed.None of the matches between European giants has delivered a compelling contest yet.And why would they? At the start of the long season with more matches in it, why would any team with ambitions to win things in the spring, go out all guns blazing in the autumn?Especially when they know they have six games NOT against big sides to make sure they accrue enough points to qualify at least for the play-off round (and even more games).There is even less jeopardy than before.Read the full column on the Champions League format fail and why everyone – including YOU – needs a rethink.”In normal people, we often correct this deviation of the leg to avoid this potential failure, especially in cases that have been going on for some time since the injury.Most read in Football”But in a professional footballer, this correction of the shape of the legs is totally contraindicated, because it would mean the end of a footballer’s career.Cristiano Ronaldo ‘agreed to rejoin Man Utd with Real Madrid star in £200m deal’ “On the other hand, the mental state in such serious injuries is of vital importance, because frustration, fears and negative thoughts can undermine optimal recovery.”Real Madrid made the classy decision to extend Carvajal’s contract until 2026 following the injury that is set to keep him out for the rest of the campaign.He has been with Los Blancos since 2002 when he was 10 years old and competed across all of their youth teams.After a year playing at Bayer Leverkusen, the defender joined Real’s senior team in 2013 and went on to win all major honours, including four LaLiga titles and six Champions Leagues.He also won Euro 2024 with Spain in the summer, defeating England in the final. More

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      Dave Kidd: There’s no such thing as football clubs having their own ‘DNA’ – unless you’re talking about being ‘Spursy’

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      SIXTEEN years have passed since Dimitar Berbatov left Spurs, so we should forgive him a memory lapse.But when the great Bulgarian soft-shoe shuffler turned up as a Sky pundit to watch his former club at Brighton, and claimed that tossing away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 “was not Spurs”, he could barely have been more wrong.Tottenham were beaten by Brighton on the weekendCredit: GettyManager Ange Postecoglou watched on as his team threw away a two-goal leadCredit: AlamyDanny Welbeck headed in the winner for the SeagullsCredit: GettyIn fairness to Berbatov, while the term ‘Spursy’ feels like the oldest of cliches, it only actually entered the footballing lexicon ten years ago.Although that’s only because, by 2014, Spurs had already been ‘Spursy’ for several decades and so everybody instinctively knew exactly what it meant.It meant stuff like snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, style over substance, softness under stress, bottling it — and choking.But can ‘Spursiness’ really be an actual thing?READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBecause most football supporters are fatalistic, believing their own club is cursed by bad luck and prone to most of those characteristics which define being ‘Spursy’.To chuck in another old chestnut — can any football club really possess a ‘DNA’? Fundamental and distinctive qualities which are unchangeable?In the decade since ‘Spursiness’ was coined, the club have gone through five managers, changed their entire playing squad apart from Ben Davies, moved into a magnificent new stadium and won nothing.If we accept that Davies isn’t the problem, then we’re going to have to believe that several entirely different bunches of blokes have, by signing on the dotted line for Spurs, become individually and collectively flaky. Which is like believing in mermaids or unicorns.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAnd yet, the thing is, it is actually true, isn’t it?Giorgio Chiellini said it best, after Spurs blew a lead and were knocked out of the Champions League by his Juventus side back in 2018.Giorgio Chiellini has a dig at the history of Tottenham Giorgio Chiellini fired a jibe at Spurs back in 2018Credit: EPAAntonio Conte slammed the club during his tenureCredit: Reuters“It’s the history of the Tottenham,” said the legendary Italian defensive b*****d.“They always create many chances and score so much but, in the end, they miss always something to arrive at the end. We believe in history.”That’s Chiellini — who knows a thing or two about being definitely not, in any way, Spursy — telling us that Spursiness exists.And to such an extent that even foreign clubs know exactly what it means.Sunday’s capitulation was the tenth time Spurs have lost a Premier League match having led by two or more goals. No other club has achieved this ‘feat’ on more than seven occasions.So the idea of an inherent ‘Spursiness’ is only a cliche because it holds large elements of truth.Usually, great managers give a team an identity. But they don’t tend to give a club a ‘DNA’.Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United always found a way to win.Since he left, United have found many different ways in which to lose.Arsenal’s last two title-winning bosses, Arsene Wenger and George Graham, employed chalk-and-cheese playing styles.Just five years apart, Chelsea won titles under Jose Mourinho, with the meanest defence English club football has ever seen, and Carlo Ancelotti, winning three of their final four home matches 7-1, 7-0 and 8-0.So there’s no such thing as a football club’s ‘DNA’.Except, perhaps, at Tottenham, who employed Mourinho and Antonio Conte — cynical men after Chiellini’s stony heart — and still ended up pretty damned Spursy all the same.Ange Postecoglou has dismissed the ‘Spursy’ tag as ‘playground stuff’ because he is a big, gruff Aussie who doesn’t believe in pixies at the bottom of the garden.And because he is paid handsomely not to believe that Tottenham’s problems are genetic and incurable.But back in May — on the extraordinary night when Spurs lost 2-0 at home to Manchester City and most supporters went home happy because the result went a long way to denying Arsenal the title — Postecoglou suggested a fundamental weakness.“The foundations are really fragile,” he said. “The last 48 hours have shown me that. It’s inside the club, outside the club . . . everywhere.”Of course, the one permanent feature of any club is its fanbase. True supporters are in it for life.So, do Spurs supporters make Spurs ‘Spursy’?By lacking a big-club mentality, by being happier to see Arsenal denied the title than to see their own club qualify for the Champions League, as they would have done had they beaten City that nightThis is surely too simplistic.There are almost 60,000 match-going Spurs fans at every home game and hundreds of thousands more who are devoted to the club — some old, some young, some cynical, some dreamy, some who even wanted Spurs to beat City that night.Perhaps it’s just that Spurs are in a unique position among English football clubs.They are bracketed as one of the ‘Big Six’, suggesting they ought to win things, but do not enjoy the wealth of the other five, nor  Saudi-backed Newcastle.They have an enviable ancient history and a ‘To Dare Is To Do’ ethos which encapsulates the essence of the game, as part of the entertainment industry.As Conte never tired of mentioning, Spurs also boast a world-class stadium and a training ground without a playing squad to match.They now have a promising first-team forward, Mikey Moore, who was born on the first day of the 2007-08 season, the last campaign in which Tottenham actually won a trophy.Postecoglou has pretty much promised to end that barren run by stating that he ALWAYS wins a trophy in his second season at a football club.As if openly defying the idea of ‘Spursiness’ by saying such a thing out loud would banish any hint of Spursiness.After that, Spurs won five matches in a row and went 2-0 up away at Brighton.And then, as Chiellini would have it, ‘the history of the Tottenham’ repeated itself.As if it were as fundamental and unchangeable as DNA.SLOT MACHINEArne Slot was not impressed about Liverpool’s 12.30pm kick off on SaturdayCredit: AlamyHAVING promised not to do so, Arne Slot was reading from the Jurgen Klopp hymn sheet when he moaned about Saturday’s 12.30pm kick-off at Crystal Palace.Slot has enjoyed the smoothest imaginable start to life as Liverpool boss — none of the seven teams the Reds have played are in the top nine of the table.Next he must face Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Newcastle as six of his next seven Premier League fixtures, as well as European ties against Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid — the champions of Germany and Spain.After that little lot, we can properly judge whether the Dutchman has more in common with Klopp than merely the ability to whine about TV scheduling.A VIEW TO A VILLJhon Duran netted the winning goal against Bayern MunichCredit: GettyTHE atmosphere at Aston Villa’s Champions League win over Bayern Munich was one of the best I’ve ever experienced at a football ground, and the spectacular winner by Jhon Duran was unforgettable.Which made it all the more sad to hear a radio phone-in during which Villa supporters spoke of being priced out by tickets costing between £85 and £97.Last Wednesday night at Villa Park was a true ‘I was there’ occasion.But clearly that was only for those who could afford it.STRENGTH IN DEPTHMikel Arteta has plenty of options in his squad this seasonCredit: GettyMIKEL ARTETA freshened up his Arsenal side for Saturday’s clash with Southampton by bringing in three fringe players.Those bench-warming ‘stiffs’?READ MORE SUN STORIESRaheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, who have eight Premier League titles between them.And Jorginho, a European champion at club and international level.Whatever problems the Gunners may encounter during this season’s title bid, it won’t be a lack of strength in depth.Who are these famous footballers? 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      Liverpool loanee has brutal start to life at new club as he’s fined and ‘team-mates are astonished he keeps starting’

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      LIVERPOOL loanee Stefan Bajcetic has allegedly caused quite a stir at new club RB Salzburg.The 19-year-old joined the Austrian side on loan in August and has made five appearances.Stefan Bajcetic has struggled since joining RB SalzburgCredit: APFormer Liverpool star Bobby Clark has also failed to impress in AustriaCredit: GettyBut his performances have been so poor that some of his team-mates have questioned why he regularly plays, according to Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung.To make matters worse for Bajcetic, he was given a 1/10 rating by Krone following Salzburg’s 5-0 defeat to Sturm Graz on Sunday.The newspaper described him as “looking like a foreign body” in midfield.His team-mates all received the same rating following the dismal loss.Read More in FootballLast week, it was revealed that Bajcetic received a fine for being late to training ahead of a 4-0 Champions League defeat to Brest.His team-mate, Bobby Clark, is also struggling to impress at the Red Bull Arena.The teenager joined RB Salzburg from Liverpool in a £10million transfer this summer.He followed former Reds assistant Pep Lijnders to Austria when he was appointed manager of the Red Bulls.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSIn six first team appearances, Clark has managed just one assist.Salzburg have been struggling in the Austrian Bundesliga following the arrival of Lijnders.Arne Slot aims dig at Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool boss says ‘I’m a stupid manager if 12.30pm kick offs are more difficult’ They currently sit fifth with 13 points from seven games.In the Champions League they are down in 34th following two defeats.Meanwhile, Liverpool sit top of the Premier League table and fifth in the Champions League.Liverpool go DutchWHO’S who in the Liverpool dugout next season.Manager Arne Slot, 45Slot has led Feyenoord for three seasons, wining the Eredivisie title in 2023 and the KNVB Cup in  2024.A former footballer in Holland, he is known to be a perfectionist and favours attacking football like Jurgen Klopp.Assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff, 49Hulshoff currently serves as Ronald Koeman’s assistant manager with the Holland national team and also works alongside Slot at Feyenoord.He has had two spells as manager at little-known Dutch side Cambuur.Head of performance Ruben Peeters, 31A former fitness coach at Genk, Peeters has been working with Slot at Feyenoord since 2021. The Belgian has a Master’s Degree in Sports Sciences.Chief analyst Etienne Reijnen, 37Former centre back who retired from football in 2020 to move into coaching.In October 2023, Reijnen joined Feyenoord as assistant coach, to focus on analysing and providing technical advise to Arne Slot. More

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      Arsenal considering major change to match-day rules after Conor McGregor’s bizarre antics on Emirates Stadium pitch

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      ARSENAL have launched an inquiry after Conor McGregor’s antics on the pitch with Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.The UFC legend was in the stands for the Gunners’ 2-0 Champions League win over PSG last Tuesday.Conor McGregor went onto the pitch after Arsenal’s win over PSGCredit: @thenotoriousmmaHe played football and posed for snaps with Declan Rice and Bukayo SakaCredit: @thenotoriousmmaMcGregor was videoed play-fighting with Saka on the pitchAfter the final whistle, McGregor made his way from a VIP area to the pitch.He then enjoyed a kickabout on the field before being greeted by Saka and Rice.The Notorious jokingly kicked and grappled the winger as he warned the Irishman to “be careful” while play-fighting.Reports from The Times say that McGregor did not have permission to go onto the pitch and ignored requests for him to go inside.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLArsenal have launched an investigation into how it happened.They are considering changing match day rules to see if special arrangement can be made between players and celeb fans.McGregor got tickets to the game via a third party site called 1 Access.The company provide corporate sport packages to the rich and famous.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS1 Access are believed to have a box at the Emirates Stadium within an area that players often hang out after matches.Reports state he was not a guest of Arsenal and the club want to distance themselves from his “brand”.I’m mum of an Arsenal star – I have a side hustle to help parents of Premier League footballers Arsenal ratings vs Southampton: Saka saves nervy Gunners with Jesus low on confidenceARSENAL came from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 in front of a temporarily anxious Emirates crowd.Here’s how SunSport’s Ivan Speck rated every Arsenal player…David Raya – 6A spectator for most of the game. Could do anything to keep out Cameron Archer’s curling opener.Thomas Partey – 6Swapped his usual defensive midfield role for right-back, though given the one-way traffic, he barely had any defensive duties.But he supported Saka at every opportunity.William Saliba – 6Dependable as always when he was needed, which was mostly in the second half.Could have closed down Archer more quickly for the Southampton goal, but not alone in that.Gabriel – 6Spent more time in the Southampton box trying to get his head on corners than in his own area, especially in the first half.Handled the giant Paul Onuachu well when Southampton threw him on.Riccardo Calafiori – 5Given a couple of uncomfortable moments by Tyler Dibling.Did not seem to know which way the St Mary’s youngster was going half the time.Jorginho – 6Inches wide with a searing low shot late in the first half.Probed but rarely found an incisive pass through the yellow shirts. Taken off after an hour.Declan Rice – 6His usual solid self and tried to take on a more creative role with Southampton camped out in front of their own area, but prefers an open game to showcase his box-to-box talents.Raheem Sterling  – 7A freedom about his play. Happy to take on defenders at pace with his dancing feet.Unlucky not to finish off one dazzling run and even more unfortunate to be taken off after an hour.But was robbed of the ball for the Saints opener.Bukayo Saka – 9A game of two halves. Had to cope with being double-teamed every time he picked up the ball in the first half and there was disbelief around the Emirates when he launched one shot high into the stands.The second period was a different story. Tore Southampton to shreds time and again.A brilliant floated cross for Gabriel Martinelli to put Arsenal ahead, then a typically clinical finish for his side’s third.Kai Havertz – 8Proved his worth again as a scorer of important goals with the crucial equaliser just as nerves were beginning to jangle around the Emirates.Gabriel Jesus – 4Too long in the shadows has drained him of the belief he had when he first arrived at Arsenal as the main man up front.Two tame shots summed up his current ineffectiveness.SUBSGabriel Martinelli (Sterling 60) – 8Three weeks ago, his role in the Arsenal side was in question.His form has returned in spades with a second Premier League goal in successive weeks.Leandro Trossard (Jesus 61) – 7Like Martinelli, welcomed as a hero when he came on. Has become an important player in this Arsenal team. His run led to the third Arsenal goal.Mikel Merino (Jorginho 61) – 6A first Premier League appearance in Arsenal colours. Introduced just as the games was opening up and will benefit from the taster.Takehiro Tomiyasu (Partey 84) – 6Back from injury. Given a run out towards the end to ease him back into first team duties.Jakub Kiwior (Calafiori 90) – 6Introduced late on when the game was won. Not much to do. More

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      Watch David de Gea save TWO penalties in the same game as Man Utd fans moan ‘dumping him for Onana a sackable offence’

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      DAVID DE GEA conjured TWO penalty saves in the same game to leave Manchester United fans ranting and raving.Ranting – that having Andre Onana rather than him in goal should be a “sackable offence” for Old Trafford boss Erik ten Hag.Lovely doubly! Fiorentina ace Dodo hails hero keeper David de GeaCredit: ReutersAnd raving – that the Spaniard still has such quality.De Gea’s flying blocks either side of the break helped mid-table Fiorentina stun AC Milan 2-1.The 33-year-old – who was without a club for all of last season after being released by United in 2023 – thwarted Theo Hernandez’s low effort to the right corner in first-half stoppage-time.The 45-cap Spain ace then went full-stretch the other way to keep out a tame spot-kick from ex-Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham soon after the interval.READ MORE TOP STORIESFiorentina were clinging on to Yacine Adli’s 35th-minute opener.After double disappointment from the spot Milan did finally level on the hour – with a volley of spectacular technique from another ex-Blues’ frontman in Christian Pulisic.However, Albert Gudmundsson fired a 73rd-minute winner for Fiorentina.And it all ended in another spot of bother for Milan left-back Hernandez – with a red card after the final whistle.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSUnited fans promptly homed in on De Gea’s save faster than the ex-Atletico Madrid stopper had latched onto Milan’s two penalties.A few supporters even claimed the keeper’s hot form was another reason Ten Hag should be axed.I tried Man United star Harry Maguire’s holiday to PresthavenOne blasted: “Dumping him for Onana was a sackable offence” – a reference to the Cameroonian arriving to replace De Gea in July 2023.DDG departed United that same month after 12 years, winning the Premier League and FA Cup once apiece.He remains seventh in the list for most United appearances ever, on 545 in all competitions.”Bring him back to Manchester,” pleaded one fan, while another posted: “Incredible reflexes, still one of the best goalkeepers in the world.”Other responses included “Ten Hag out”… “100 times better than Onana”… “Wish we’d kept him”… and “De Gea My Goat”.One supporter summed up the feeling by saying: “Two penalties, two saves. De Gea doing what he does best. Absolutely clutch.”READ MORE SUN STORIESBut some fans reckon it’s best for all parties that De Gea and United have both moved on.And one even sounded bitter with his assessment: “Leaves United and then suddenly becomes a penalty specialist. Pathetic.”Man Utd player ratings vs Villa: Evans rolls back the years with Garnacho let downMANCHESTER UNITED eased the pressure slightly on boss Erik ten Hag with a hard-grafted stalemate at in-form Aston Villa.United looked much more solid defensively after Ten Hag rung the changes – though the Red Devils still have just eight points from seven Prem games.Here’s how SunSport’s Graeme Bryce rated 14th-placed United rated at Villa Park on Sunday.ANDRE ONANA – 7Guilty of sloppy distribution once or twice but his hands were safe enough and he did well to beat away a piledriver from Youri Tielemans to keep United on level terms.NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 6Managed to contain Jaden Philogene comfortably enough in the first 45 minutes but failed to appear for the second half and was replaced by Victor Lindelof.HARRY MAGUIRE – 6Booked for a high forearm challenge on Ollie Watkins but his afternoon ended at half-time after he appeared to jar his knee defending a corner.JONNY EVANS – 9Handled Ollie Watkins well in the first 45 and showed all his experience to deal with the twin threat of Watkins and Jhon Duran for the final half hour. Rolled back the years with a five-star display to earn his Man of the Match rating.DIOGO DALOT – 7Sat in and rarely got forward but snuffed out the threat of Leon Bailey and was tidy enough. Crucial block to deny Philogene a stoppage time winner.CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – 7Used all his experience to plug any gaps in United’s carefully constructed midfield. Dealt with the threat from Morgan Rogers well.KOBBIE MAINOO – 7Nothing flashy from the England midfielder who had his work cut out preventing Youri Tielemans carrying out his magic.ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 6Fired in a first-half shot which Emi Martinez dealt with comfortably but shot hopelessly wide a couple of times after the break. Sloppy finishing let him down. BRUNO FERNANDES – 8United’s skipper only played after his red card against Spurs was overturned on appeal.Kept his cool here to avoid a third red card in three games – came closest for United with a free kick which crashed off the Villa crossbar.MARCUS RASHFORD – 7Taken off at half-time in Oporto and taken off after 64 minutes to save himself a second yellow card here! Looked United’s likeliest match-winner after forcing an early save from Martinez before bringing the best out in the Argentine World Cup winner with a sizzling effort which the ‘keeper tipped over. Booked for a foul on Cash.RASMUS HOJLUND – 6Put himself about and was involved in the clash which led to Ezri Konsa limping off. But lacked service and was replaced by Zirkzee just beyond the hour mark. Below par.SUBSMATTHIJS DE LIGT for Maguire (46 minutes) – 5 – Conceded a few fouls in dangerous areas. Still finding his feet.VICTOR LINDELOF for Mazraoui (46 mins) – 6 – First appearance since March but fitted in well as a stand-in right-back. Booked for a foul on Morgan Rogers.JOSHUA ZIRKZEE for Hojlund (64 mins) – 5 – Miles off the pace, failed to make any impact.ANTONY for Rashford (64 mins) – 6 – Brought out the best in Emi Martinez with a curler which was heading for the top bin until the keeper plucked it out of mid-air.CASEMIRO for Mainoo (85 mins) – 6 – Helped see out the match for United. More

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      Richard Keys demands Aston Villa give fans their money back after ‘worst game in Premier League history’ against Man Utd

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      ASTON VILLA should give their fans a refund after making them watch the “worst game in Premier League history”.That’s according to Richard Keys who was far from happy after sitting through the goalless draw with Manchester United.Richard Keys claims Aston Villa should return the fans’ money after a goalless draw with Manchester UnitedCredit: X / beINSPORTS_ENKeys claims Villa’s match with Man Utd was the worst he ever watchedCredit: AFPControversial former Sky presenter Keys was hosting coverage of the Villa Park snoozefest for Qatar-based beIN SPORTS.Villa had earned a sensational Champions League win over German heavyweights Bayern Munich in midweek.But Unai Emery’s side looked leggy a United team desperate to avoid defeat, with boss Erik ten Hag on the brink of the sack.After watching the 0-0 draw almost totally devoid of goalmouth action, Keys was far from impressed.Read More on FootballAnd he suggested fans should even be compensated for being subjected to the bore draw.Immediately after full-time, Keys told his viewers: “I’ve watched every Premier League game one for or another since 1992… and that is the worst I’ve ever seen.”Villa should give those fans their money back.”Keys, who has enjoyed a 48-year career as a sports broadcaster, then doubled down on his assertion on X.Most read in FootballKeys tweeted: “I have watched every PL game since 1992 in one form or another – this one might just be the worst I’ve ever seen.”United came close to snatching a victory when Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick rattled Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez’s crossbar.Manchester United vs Aston Villa: Player Ratings BreakdownMan Utd almost left with a victory against Aston VillaThe Villans, though, were left fuming when Marcus Rashford escaped a red card following a rough challenge on Leon Bailey.This result extended the Red Devils’ winless streak to five games across all competitions.It also marked the Manchester giants’ worst start to a Premier League season with only eight points in the first seven matches.Man Utd player ratings vs Villa: Evans rolls back the years with Garnacho let downMANCHESTER UNITED eased the pressure slightly on boss Erik ten Hag with a hard-grafted stalemate at in-form Aston Villa.United looked much more solid defensively after Ten Hag rung the changes – though the Red Devils still have just eight points from seven Prem games.Here’s how SunSport’s Graeme Bryce rated 14th-placed United rated at Villa Park on Sunday.ANDRE ONANA – 7Guilty of sloppy distribution once or twice but his hands were safe enough and he did well to beat away a piledriver from Youri Tielemans to keep United on level terms.NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 6Managed to contain Jaden Philogene comfortably enough in the first 45 minutes but failed to appear for the second half and was replaced by Victor Lindelof.HARRY MAGUIRE – 6Booked for a high forearm challenge on Ollie Watkins but his afternoon ended at half-time after he appeared to jar his knee defending a corner.JONNY EVANS – 9Handled Ollie Watkins well in the first 45 and showed all his experience to deal with the twin threat of Watkins and Jhon Duran for the final half hour. Rolled back the years with a five-star display to earn his Man of the Match rating.DIOGO DALOT – 7Sat in and rarely got forward but snuffed out the threat of Leon Bailey and was tidy enough. Crucial block to deny Philogene a stoppage time winner.CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – 7Used all his experience to plug any gaps in United’s carefully constructed midfield. Dealt with the threat from Morgan Rogers well.KOBBIE MAINOO – 7Nothing flashy from the England midfielder who had his work cut out preventing Youri Tielemans carrying out his magic.ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 6Fired in a first-half shot which Emi Martinez dealt with comfortably but shot hopelessly wide a couple of times after the break. Sloppy finishing let him down. BRUNO FERNANDES – 8United’s skipper only played after his red card against Spurs was overturned on appeal.Kept his cool here to avoid a third red card in three games – came closest for United with a free kick which crashed off the Villa crossbar.MARCUS RASHFORD – 7Taken off at half-time in Oporto and taken off after 64 minutes to save himself a second yellow card here! Looked United’s likeliest match-winner after forcing an early save from Martinez before bringing the best out in the Argentine World Cup winner with a sizzling effort which the ‘keeper tipped over. Booked for a foul on Cash.RASMUS HOJLUND – 6Put himself about and was involved in the clash which led to Ezri Konsa limping off. But lacked service and was replaced by Zirkzee just beyond the hour mark. Below par.SUBSMATTHIJS DE LIGT for Maguire (46 minutes) – 5 – Conceded a few fouls in dangerous areas. Still finding his feet.VICTOR LINDELOF for Mazraoui (46 mins) – 6 – First appearance since March but fitted in well as a stand-in right-back. Booked for a foul on Morgan Rogers.JOSHUA ZIRKZEE for Hojlund (64 mins) – 5 – Miles off the pace, failed to make any impact.ANTONY for Rashford (64 mins) – 6 – Brought out the best in Emi Martinez with a curler which was heading for the top bin until the keeper plucked it out of mid-air.CASEMIRO for Mainoo (85 mins) – 6 – Helped see out the match for United. More