Champions League

BRUNO FERNANDES revealed why he passed up a hat-trick chance by handing a penalty over to Marcus Rashford last night. The Portugal playmaker scored Man Utd’s first two goals inside 20 minutes against Istanbul Basaksehir at Old Trafford. And the opportunity presented to complete a first-half Champions League hat-trick when Rashford was brought down. But […] More

MANCHESTER UNITED are masters of their Champions League fate, while Chelsea are already assured of a last 16 place. SunSport goes through the scenarios facing the English teams in the world’s most lucrative and prestigious competition. Manchester United The 4-1 win over Istanbul Basaksehir keeps United top of Group H, with nine points. It means […] More

A TV presenter was forced to apologise after Jamie Carragher shouted ‘oh f***’ live on air. The Liverpool legend was working as a pundit alongside Alex Scott for CBS for the Champions League on Tuesday. But after being corrected for a gaffe about Scott’s career, he let out the expletive under his breath as he […] More

RIO FERDINAND has called for Donny van de Beek to be given a chance in the Premier League.
The Dutch midfielder arrived at Manchester United for £40million in the summer from Ajax.

Three Man United legends have called for Donny van de Beek to start in the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty

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Despite that hefty price tag, boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has rarely used him in the top-flight so far, restricting the playmaker mainly to outings in Europe.
Van de Beek, 23, was handed an opportunity to shine on Tuesday night as the Red Devils hosted Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League.
And he took his chance with both hands by producing a brilliant display against the Turkish title holders as United ran out 4-1 winners.

Following his display at Old Trafford, three former United Champions League winners all agreed they wanted to see him given a shot by Solskjaer in the Prem.
Speaking on BT Sport, Ferdinand said: “I was very impressed. You spend £40m on a player and you want to see him make more than just cameos here and there.
“I think he is the one player in this squad who is happy playing one-touch, two-touch, keeping it simple… sacrificing parts of his game to help other people flourish.
“In any great team you need players like that and he’s one player who will make other players tick, and make them play better.”

Fellow United legend Paul Scholes added: “Some of the one-touch, two-touch play in the first-half was excellent.”

“He showed why he’s so highly thought of in European football.””He will make other players tick and perform better.”@rioferdy5 and Paul Scholes liked what they saw as Donny van de Beek ran the show in midfield for Man Utd 👏 pic.twitter.com/bAJpaQPW5l
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 24, 2020

And Owen Hargreaves added: “I thought Van de Beek was close to perfect.
“He is so unselfish, he can just fit in and play the right balls everywhere.”
United only need a point from their final two group matches to secure qualification to the knockout stages.
They face Paris Saint-Germain at home next week before travelling to Germany to take on RB Leipzig a week later.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils head to Southampton on Sunday in the Premier League.

Solskjaer reacts to Man Utd’s win over Istanbul Basaksehir More

UNSETTLED Olivier Giroud’s stoppage time winner put Chelsea into the knock-out stages and left Frank Lampard admitting: He’s given me a problem.
Giroud’s late header secured the win over Rennes to ensure qualification for the last-16 days after cast doubts over his Blues future because of a lack of game time.

Frank Lampard admits he has a selection dilemma after Olivier Giroud’s winner at RennesCredit: EPA

Lampard has preferred to use Tammy Abraham up front with Timo Werner on the wing in recent gamesCredit: AFP

The 34-year-old could seek a move from Stamford Bridge unless his opportunities improve and boss Lampard said: “I have a problem.
“I have Tammy who is playing well, and we know what he did last year. Oli, who always contributes in that way with that professionalism.
“That problem’s always been there, it’s not a fresh problem and when I say that it’s probably the wrong word because it’s selection issues for me and I need that.
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“We need it with the fact that we’re playing every three days, maybe at Christmas we’re playing every two days unless the scheduling get sorted out.
“It’s hard to say I won’t have to prove to him because all I have to do myself really is look at game by game myself and try and plan to get the best for us.
“At the moment Tammy’s in great form as well. So, I have to pick on face value what I see is the best for us.
“I have two players in a similar position that are fighting for a place – that is a good problem. Oli will get his minutes because we have a busy schedule.

“I think everybody kind of feels, from the outside as well, what a great professional he is and how highly regarded he is by his teammates and by myself.

“Her is so professional in how he trains and looks after himself. Age isn’t even a factor in him – I think he’s getting better with age if anything because of how well he looks after himself, so he offers a lot for us.”
Chelsea still need to finish the job by topping Group E to ensure they are in the seeded pot by the time the knock-out stage draw is made.
But the got the job done in France with Giroud’s late winner having been pegged back four minutes from time after leading through an excellent first-half striker from Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Lampard added: “I’m very happy to qualify with two games to spare. It was a really tough match, they’re a very good team.
“Their recent form doesn’t reflect how good they are, it was a tough hard-fought win.”

Chelsea fans in hysterics as Joe Cole tells Frank Lampard to give players a ‘smacked bum’ at half-time vs Rennes More