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      Arsenal fans fume after conceding ‘diabolical’ penalty just seconds after Lautaro Martinez controversially avoids red

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      ARSENAL fans have been left seething after conceding a controversial penalty during their Champions League clash with Inter Milan.The Gunners fell 1-0 down just before half-time after Mikel Merino deemed to have handled the ball inside the area, resulting in a penalty for Inter.Arsenal fans have been left fuming after conceding a controversial penalty against Inter MilanCredit: GettyThe ball struck the hand of Mikel Merino inside the areaHakan Calhanoglu dispatched the penalty to give Inter the leadCredit: GettyThat penalty was tucked away confidently by Hakan Calhanoglu and Inter took the lead with their first shot on target.But Arsenal fans don’t think that the Italian giants should have had a penalty in the first place, slamming the decision as “diabolical”.The ball clearly struck Merino on the hand, but the Spaniard was in close proximity to Mehdi Taremi when the ball bounced onto his arm.And Arsenal fans think that Inter star Lautaro Martinez should have been dismissed too, just moments before the spot-kick was awarded.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe Argentine was booked in the 16th minute for some pushing and shoving in the box, but risked a second yellow when he gestured to the referee to book William Saliba later in the half.Fortunately for Martinez, Romanian official István Kovács chose not to reach into his pocket and dismiss him for the offence.That left Arsenal fans seething with many reacting on social media.One fan wrote: “Am I dreaming or did Lautaro ask the ref to book Saliba which is a bookable offence while being on a booking?”Most read in FootballArsenal fans felt Lautaro Martinez should have been shown a second yellow cardCredit: EPAFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSWhile another fumed: “Lautaro waving for the imaginary yellow is suppose to be a card I thought.. A second for him.”A third commented: “Never a penalty that for Inter Milan. And if we are going down the ‘letter of the law’, then Lautaro Martinez should have received a second yellow card for asking for an opponent to be booked.”Thierry Henry aims huge dig at Arsenal in awkward CBS Sports moment as fans ask ‘why are you s***ting on your own club?And a fourth blasted: “Lautaro waving imaginary yellow and doesn’t get his second for it. They then get a ridiculously soft pen… what’s Merino supposed to do???”Arsenal fans had felt hard done by earlier in the half too, claiming they deserved a penalty themselves.Merino was involved once again as the summer signing leapt up for a header at a corner kick and collided with Yann Sommer.The Swiss shot-stopper jumped up to try and punch the ball away from trouble and ended up punching Merino in the head instead.But after a swift VAR review it was deemed that there was no significant error.Yann Sommer appeared to punch Mikel Merino in the head early in the first halfCredit: AP More

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      Champions League clash delayed as metro station evacuated after fans light pyrotechnics inside station

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      BAYERN MUNICH’S Champions League clash against Benfica was delayed due to a problem with the subway system as a separate incident saw a station evacuated.The German giants were due to take on the visiting Portuguese side at 8pm.Apparent Benfica fans had lit up pyrotechnics in a metro stationBut train delays had seen the match delayed by 15 minutesCredit: XIt was announced that the match kick-off had been delayed by 15 minutes due to a signal box malfunction.However, footage from inside a city centre metro station shared to social media showed chaos erupt before the Odeonsplatz station was evacuated.It came as apparent Benfica fans lit up pyrotechnics before throwing them towards a train.A statement from the Bavarian club said: “Due to the difficulty of many stadium visitors getting to the stadium, kick-off will be delayed by 15 minutes. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”The signal box malfunction has now been resolved.”A follow up statement added: “Due to a signal box malfunction, there are currently delays in the subway traffic towards the stadium/Fröttmaning. “Stadium visitors are therefore asked to use other means of transport if possible.”Bayern, managed by Vincent Kompany, had just one win from three games and two defeats in the Champions League on their record before the match.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMeanwhile, Benfica had two wins from three with one defeat.The game eventually kicked off at the delayed restart time.Jamal Musiala’s second-half strike was enough to separate the teams. More

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      Shakhtar fan left gutted as mate knocks beer out of his hand during goal celebration

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      A SHAKHTAR DONETSK fan was left distraught after their beer was knocked out of their hands.During the Ukrainian club’s Champions League group stage clash with Young Boys on Wednesday, Shakhtar were able to celebrate two first-half goals.A Shakhtar Donetsk fan was left distraught after seeing his beer knocked from his handsIt came during celebrations for the Ukrainian club’s match-winning goalA friend was seen taking a flag from around their neckBut he knocked the cup out of his mate’s hand while doing soThe fan was left with their head in their hands over the spilled drinkKastroit Imeri had fired Young Boys in front before Oleksandr Zubkov equalised moments later.Heorhiy Sudakov then put the hosts ahead minutes before half-time.Fans went wild in the stands, though one saw their emotions go from ecstasy to agony.The fan, who had an orange flag wrapped around their neck, was seen holding a blue cup, presumably full of beer – fans in Europe are permitted to drink alcohol in view of the pitch, unlike the UK.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHowever, as another fan next to him started waving their own orange flag when moving it over their neck, disaster struck.As the fellow fan took the flag with his left arm he then moved it down, which ended up hitting the drink out of the right hand of his fellow matchgoer.The fan who had the beer could do nothing but look down at his tragically lost drink, before putting his hands on his head in disbelief.They were then seen appearing to say something to the culprit who knocked their beer over, before stopping themselves while the other fan continued to celebrate.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe game ended up remaining 2-1 to the hosts, marking their first win in the Champions League this season.The match was played at the VELTINS-Arena, the usual home ground of German club Schalke, due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.Inside Viktor Gyokeres’ glamorous life, from dating fellow footballer and actress to luxury holidays around world More

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      Club Brugge 1 Aston Villa 0: Tyrone Mings PICKS UP ball to give away decisive penalty and end 100% winning record

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      ASTON VILLA paid the harshest penalty possible after conceding the craziest goal in their 150-year-history to wreck their 100% Champions League record.Unfortunately Tyrone Mings will never forget his Champions League debut – for all the wrong reasons – after producing one of the biggest gaffes ever seen at this level.Aston Villa waved goodbye to their 100% record in this year’s Champions LeagueCredit: AlamyClub Brugge’s Hans Vanaken dispatched a penalty to win his side all three pointsCredit: PAThere seemed little to get excited about when Emi Martinez rolled the ball to his big defender at a goal kick.Until Mings reached down with his left hand, stopped the ball and proceeded to place it at the edge of his six yard box in a moment of madness!Suddenly all hell broke loose as Brugge’s clued-up players screamed foul and German ref Tobias Stieler agreed and pointed to the spot.Mings was stunned and protested his innocence along with Martinez.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut his defence was flimsy because he really should have been aware that Martinez had passed the ball rather than rolled it to him!Hans Vanaken kept his cool to send Villa’s spot-kick-king the wrong way from the resultant penalty and shell-shocked Villa never recovered.Unai Emery has taken charge of 190 European ties but he can never have lost one in such bizarre circumstances.It brought back memories of Gabriel’s let-off for Arsenal against Bayern Munich last season under similar circumstances.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSOn that occasion the Gunner was given a reprieve because the referee claimed it wasn’t in the spirit of the game to award a penalty.Unfortunately for Mings and Villa, referee Stieler was a stickler for the letter of the law.Aston Villa fans spot what Unai Emery did immediately after win over Bayern Munich as they say ‘what a man’So Villa and their stunned supporters were left to nurse a massive hangover in the beer capital of Europe.Yet Emery had every right to feel confident as he entered Club Brugge’s atmospheric Jan Breydelstadion on the second anniversary of his first match in charge of Villa.Unbeaten in four previous Champions League ties against Belgian opposition, he had won the last three with an aggregate score of 16-0.Emery led Valencia to a 7-0 win over Genk in 2011 and followed that up with a 9-0 aggregate win when his Paris Saint Germain team steam-rollered Anderlecht in 2017.That must have had Bruges goalkeeper Simon Mignolet quaking in his boots as he looked to improve on his own miserable Champions League record.The former Liverpool No.1 had conceded a goal every 46 minutes – the worst ratio of any keeper to play more than 2,500 minutes in the competition.Emery even felt confident enough to hand Tyrone Mings a Champions League debut of fire, 15 months after his horror ACL injury at Newcastle.Unfortunately it backfired on them both so unexpectedly!It took nine minutes for Villa to threaten when Ollie Watkins collected in space and ran at Brugge’s exposed defence.Tyrone Mings was at fault for the penaltyCredit: GettyThe defender PICKED UP the ball inside his own boxCredit: TNT SPORTSMings was hooked by Unai Emery after his errorCredit: GettyBut 20-year-old Ecuadorian Joel Ordonez read the danger brilliantly and expertly dispossessed the England striker.Youri Tielemans was singled out for treatment by the home support throughout, after starting his career with Brugge’s fierce rivals Anderlecht.And their jeers turned to ironic cheers when the Belgian international blazed a shot well over from the edge of the penalty area.Brugge responded with the first shot on target as Maxim De Cuyper tested Emi Martinez following a short free kick.Then Ordonez just failed to play in striker Ferran Jutgla with a searching through pass which he was inches away from.Watkins shot inches wide and John McGinn headed well over from seven yards as Villa got back on the front foot.But Brugge were growing in confidence and Mings turned back the clock with a brilliant goal line clearance to deflect Casper Nielsen’s netbound header which had beaten Martinez.Ardon Jashari pounced on the rebound but Martinez recovered to save.However Villa were living dangerously and came within a fraction of falling behind on the half hour.Ferran Jutgla’s fierce shot from inside the box was brilliantly touched onto the post by Emi Martinez, who then saved Christos Tzolis’s rebound.Villa made it to half-time intact but despite enjoying more than 60% of possession they have ridden their luck at times with Brugge rattling off five shots on target to the visitors’ one.But their luck ran out seven minutes after the break when they conceded one of the craziest goals ever – from their own goal kick!Martinez rolled the ball to Mings who picked the ball up and placed it in the corner of the six yard box to presumably take it himself.But credit the razor-sharp Brugge players who spotted an opportunity and frantically claimed for a penalty for handball.German referee Stieler agreed that Mings should have known the ball was in play and penalised Villa’s comeback man who couldn’t believe his misfortune.Hans Vanaken beat Martinez from the spot and Brugge were ahead in the most bizarre circumstances.Unai Emery received a lecture from Stieler for his protests and then played his joker as he sent on super sub Jhon Duran for McGinn.But Brugge were in control and Andreas Skov Olsen fired over as Villa continued to reel from the shock loss of THAT goal!READ MORE SUN STORIESThen sub Bjorn Meier squandered a golden opportunity to put the tie beyond Villa as he shot wide from close range with the goal at his mercy.In truth Villa surrendered with a whimper as they failed to recover from Mings’ moment of madness!Villa will have to bounce back from a lacklustre performanceCredit: RexThings don’t get much easier for the Villans More

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      Official reason ref awarded farcical pen to Club Brugge after Mings blunder – but Arsenal got away with same error

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      TYRONE MINGS gave away an unbelievable penalty in Aston Villa’s Champions League clash with Club Brugge tonight.The Villa centre-back was punished for a lapse in concentration that saw him reach down and pick up the ball in his own box.Tyrone Mings made a calamitous error to give away a penalty for Aston Villa against Club BruggeCredit: GettyEmi Martinez played the ball out to Mings from a goal kickCredit: TNT SPORTSMings thought that his keeper was giving it to him to take and leant down and picked the ball upCredit: TNT SPORTSThe referee was forced to award a penalty despite Unai Emery’s efforts to explain the honest mistakeCredit: AFPHans Vanaken dispatched the spot-kick to put Club Brugge 1-0 upCredit: GettyMings, 31, had the ball passed to him inside the area by goalkeeper Emi Martinez at a goal kick.But the former England defender thought that Martinez was kicking him the ball for him to take the restart, prompting a VAR check for handball.The referee had no choice but to award the penalty, which was dispatched by Hans Vanaken.It was a hammer blow to Villa with the goal being the difference between the two teams and the match ending 1-0.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd Mings’ Champions League debut was cut short after his calamitous error. The towering defender was hooked by manager Unai Emery just over ten minutes later.To make matters worse, Mings now becomes the first English player in history to give away a penalty on their debut in the competition.Unbelievably, Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes got away with the exact same error as Mings in last season’s Champions League.Most read in FootballArsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes escaped punishment for doing the same thing in last season’s Champions LeagueCredit: TNT SPORTSFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe Gunners’ star leant down to pick up a pass from David Raya against Bayern Munich, but was not called up on his moment of madness despite pleas from the Bayern players.The decision to punish Mings comes as the ball is already considered as in-play when Martinez plays him the pass – meaning the referee has to give a penalty for handball.The referee for Arsenal’s clash last season was lambasted by then-Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel for his decision not to strictly follow the rules.The now-England manager, said: “I think the referee did not have the courage to give a deserved penalty today in a bit of a crazy and awkward situation.”He admitted on the pitch that he saw the situation and that quarter-final is not enough for him to give a penalty, for a kid’s mistake. He admitted he saw the mistake the player made.“It was a goal kick, the goalkeeper passed to a central defender and one touched the ball with the hand because he thought it was not in game but it was in game and the referee admitted it was in game and was handball. Very frustrating.” More

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      Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and 70s legend spotted at iconic League Two club despite being a Wolves fan

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      LED ZEPPELIN star Robert Plant has stunned fans after he was spotted at League Two club Accrington.The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was seen enjoying a tour on around the Wham Stadium.Robert Plant, second from right, paid a visit to Accrington while on his way to HarrogateCredit: https://www.instagram.com/asfcofficial/The Led Zeppelin star is a lifelong Wolves fanCredit: RexPlant, 76, stopped by the club while on his way up to Harrogate.He is a lifelong Wolves fan and club vice-president, but the musician admitted he had always liked Stanley.Supporter liaison officer Robert Houseman said of Plant’s told the Lancashire Telegraph: “As soon as he walked into the shop, I recognised that this charismatic guy was an entertainer, but I couldn’t place his face.”He told me he was a Wolves fan but had always had a soft spot for Accrington Stanley and had always wanted to visit the club.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“He was on his way to Harrogate where he was working. “Offering him a quick look around the stadium and a short history of the club.“He took a few pictures and as we left, I asked him about his line of work and who he was.”That is when I realised, I had just spent 20 minutes with Robert Plant, the lead singer of Led Zeppelin. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”He posed for a couple of photos, leaving with his bag of Stanley souvenirs.”London band Led Zeppelin split apart in 1980 after rising to fame in the 1970s to become a household name.Lincoln’s Ethan Erhahon reveals players STOLE the physio’s car and he was offered a ‘scrap’ with a fan – What the EFLFamed for songs including Stairway to Heaven and Whole Lotta Love, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.For all their fame, they somehow never managed to achieve a number one single, but did have seven albums who hit number one in the charts.Plant currently works with low-key acoustic band Saving Grace, whom he has been with since 2019.Accrington sit 20th in League Two, having won just three games from 13 in the division this season. More

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      Inter 1 Arsenal 0 LIVE RESULT: Gunners BEATEN in Champions League as Calhanoglu penalty seals victory – latest updates

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      ARSENAL were beaten 1-0 by Inter Milan in the Champions League thanks to a first-half penalty. Mikel Merino was penalised for a handball in the area and the resulting spot kick was tucked away by Hakan Calhanoglu on the stroke of half-time. Kai Havertz came off late in the game after suffering a bloody gash to his head. Kick-off time: 8pm GMTLive stream: discovery+TV channel: TNT Sports 1Inter XI: Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bisseck; Dumfries, Frattesi, Çalhanoglu, Zielinski, Darmian; Taremi, Lautaro MartínezArsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Partey, Havertz, Mikel Merino; Saka, Martinelli, TrossardFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFollow ALL the action from the San Siro with our live blog below…Midfield looking bare in MilanMost sides in European football would miss players such as Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.Arsenal certainly did this evening and their cover for these players does not seem to keep them at the levels they want to be at.It will be integral to their season that Arteta is able to wrap them in cotton wool and ensure there are no prolonged spells on sidelines for the remainder of the campaign.Copy linkCopiedChampions League still looking goodDespite tonight’s defeat, Arsenal currently sit in twelfth place in the new format league table.Obviously every side wants to finish in the top eight, to avoid a two-legged play-off, but as it stands they are only two points away from these places.Inter move to fifth in the table and are now three points clear of The Gunners.Copy linkCopiedTough run ahead for GunnersWith an international break thrown in the middle of it, Arsenal have some tough fixtures coming up.They travel to Stamford Bridge this weekend for what seems like a crucial game before the break.Then they face high-flying Nottingham Forest, travel to Sporting Lisbon and also face Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd.Much will rely upon Odegaard getting back to his best form as quickly as possible.Copy linkCopiedView from SunSport’s Jordan Davies in MilanWell, what do Arsenal now? Three defeats in their last six in all competitions and no signs of that changing ahead of what is now a HUGE visit to Chelsea on Sunday.Mikel Arteta’s men had nearly 50 crosses and still could not break down an Inter side who were as impressive as they were stubborn.Arsenal have gone 408 minutes away from home in the Champions League without a goal and have not scored in their last two – here and in thew 1-0 loss at Newcastle.They need goals. They need results. If not, the critics will come for Mikel Arteta and he will have no hiding place.Copy linkCopiedBoss not happy with manner of defeatThe Gunners boss spoke with BT Sport after the game in the San Siro:I’m very proud of my players and the game we played. I feel that we were harshly done tonight. If you give that penalty agaiinst us, you have to give the one where our player was punched in the head. The team plays like we did here tonight, we can go to Chelsea and win.Mikel ArtetaArsenalCopy linkCopiedGunners firing blanks once againWhile many pundits will defend the transfer activity of their former employers, no one can deny there is something lacking.They do not have an out and out number nine and often there iis no presence in the penalty area to cause problems for the opposition.The owners have invested heavily in transfers but Arteta has opted not to strengthen in the striking department.Add to that, they sold Folarin Balogun to Monaco in the summer after he scored 21 goals in 37 games on loan to Reims last season.Copy linkCopiedDenzel dominates as the Inside ManInter’s Denzel Dumfries starred for the Italians this evening.As ever, he was up and down the touchline throughout the game.He was a threat going forward but also contributed in a defensive sense to keep The Gunners out.Copy linkCopiedDisappointing night in MilanMikel Arteta’s side are going through a mini-wobble currently.They have lost three of their last six games and their only two wins have come against Preston and Shakhtar Donetsk.With a big game coming up against rivals Chelsea on the weekend, The Gunners need to rediscover their form sooner rather than later.Credit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedFT: Inter 1-0 ArsenalThe Gunners suffer their first defeat in this season’s Champions League competition.Despite all their possession they did not create enough problems for Inter in the San Siro this evening.While the stats look good, they can be somewhat misleading, Sommer only had one real save to make in that second-half.Copy linkCopiedFT: Inter 1-0 ArsenalThe referee brings the game to a close.Inter have inflicted defeat on Arsenal at the San Siro.They just could not breakdown this Italian defence.Copy linkCopiedInter 1-0 Arsenal90+4. Arteta will be hoping Havertz is able to play Sunday against Chelsea after that gash to his head.The travelling fans are pleased to see their Norwegian playmaker back on the pitch again.No pressure, you have three minutes to change the game.Credit: AFPCopy linkCopiedInter 1-0 Arsenal90+2. We have a break in play after a collision of heads.Bisseck and Havertz are both receiving treatment.The German has been forced off with a nasty cut and is being replaced by Odegaard.Copy linkCopiedInter 1-0 Arsenal90. Another ball comes into the box.This time Havertz wins the header and knocks it down.Inter are alert to the danger and hack the ball clear.We are going to have five added minutes.Copy linkCopiedInter 1-0 Arsenal88. Inter have not offered a lot in an attacking sense in this half.Not that they will be worried about that if they win this game.The ball is very much in Arsenal’s court to try and break them down now in what remains of this game.Copy linkCopiedInter 1-0 Arsenal86. Martinelli swings another cross into the box.Arsenal have plenty of numbers in the box but once again the defender is fiirst to it as they head clear.The home fans are making some noise in the San Siro, trying to see their team through to the final whistle.Copy linkCopiedInter 1-0 Arsenal84. Inter are dealing with the aerial threat with ease.Apart from when Saliba or Gabriel can come forward, mainly set-pieces, there is no one who can make a nuisance of themselves in the box.Saliba is penalised for a foul on Thuram.Credit: AFPCopy linkCopiedInter 1-0 Arsenal82. It must be a concern for Arteta how his team do not look like scoring in open play whatsoever.Zinchenko and Nwaneri replace Timber and Trossard.Final roll of the dice from The Gunners.Copy linkCopiedInter 1-0 Arsenal80. Inter bring on Dimarco for Taremi.As we head into the final ten minutes of the game, the hosts will be thinking of holding on to what they have now.Timber sends a cross into the box but it is headed clear once again.Copy linkCopiedInter 1-0 Arsenal78. Time is starting to run out for The Gunners now.Arteta may be tempted to bring on Odegaard for the remainder of this game.Despite having all the possession in the final third, they have no one capable of providing that killer pass to create a goal.Copy linkCopiedInter 1-0 Arsenal76. What a huge chance for Arsenal.Inter fail to deal with the cross and it drops to Havertz in the middle of the six yard box.He gets a shot away but Bisseck makes a sublime block to send it behind for a corner.Brilliant defending.Copy linkCopiedInter 1-0 Arsenal74. Martinelli wins a free kick as he is bundled over by Dumfries.Arsenal manage to force another corner.Chance for the visitors to put Sommer under some more pressure.It is a poor cross from Martinelli and Havertz knocks it straight out of play for a goal kick.Credit: AFPCopy linkCopiedInter 1-0 Arsenal72. Calhanoglu comes off for Asllani.Unless something changes in this game, he is easily the man of the match in this game.Dumfries receives the ball from Barella but does not catch it well and it goes wide of the target.Copy linkCopiedInter 1-0 Arsenal70. Having just been booked, Jesus needs to be careful now.He goes flying into another challenge immediately after but luckily the referee lets it go.The last thing Arsenal need now is to go down to ten men.Copy linkCopiedInter 1-0 Arsenal68. Havertz goes down under the pressure from Barella.He is looking for a free-kick but the referee is not interested.The German needs to be stronger in those situations.Copy linkCopiedInter 1-0 Arsenal66. Saka mannages to create some space but Inter get numbers back quickly.The best he can do is to win another corner for his team.This time his delivery cannot beat the man at the near post.Copy linkCopied More

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      I asked Sir Alex Ferguson a stupid question moments after he offered me Man Utd job – his response spoke volumes

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      FORMER Manchester United coach and assistant manager Mike Phelan has recalled one of the most telling things Sir Alex Ferguson ever said to him.Phelan, 62, played 138 games under Sir Alex as a player for United, before working alongside him as a coach for 12 YEARS.Mike Phelan worked alongside Sir Alex Ferguson for 12 yearsCredit: GettyAfter working as a coach for the Red Devils between 2001 and 2008, Phelan was promoted to be Ferguson’s assistant.It was in that position that he helped United win three Premier League titles, two Community Shields and two League Cups.But after all those years alongside one the greatest managers in football history, it was his first day on the job that lives longest in the memory for Phelan.The retired pro recalls Ferguson’s answer to his “stupid question” after getting the job as a coach as one of the Scot’s most telling moments.READ ON MAN UTDSpeaking to The Athletic, he said: “I was a player, a coach, and an assistant manager at Manchester United. The only hat-trick I got, to be fair. “And when I started out coaching, the first thing the manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, said when he offered me a job came after I asked a stupid question.“I said, ‘How do you want me to coach?’ He went, ‘Mick, you’re the coach, I’m the manager. You coach. I’ll manage.’ “Simple as that. What he gave me was ownership.”Most read in FootballMike Phelan’s careerA brief look into Mike Phelan’s playing and coaching career…PLAYING CAREER1980 – 1985: Burnley1985 – 1989: Norwich City1989 – 1994: Manchester United1994 – 1996: West Bromwich AlbionCOACHING CAREER1996 – 1997: Blackpool (assistant manager)1997 – 1999: Stockport U18s (manager)1999 – 2001: Manchester United 18s (manager)2001 – 2008: Manchester United (coach)2008 – 2013: Manchester United (assistant manager)2014 – 2015: Norwich (assistant manager)2015 – 2016: Hull City (assistant manager)2016 – 2016 Hull City (manager)2018: Central Coast Mariners (sporting director)2018 – 2022: Manchester United (assistant manager)FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSIt was that mentality and that kind of leadership that saw Ferguson become the Premier League’s most successful manager, winning the competition 13 TIMES.That dynasty came to an end over 10 years ago now, and United find themselves about to embark on a new era under the management of Ruben Amorim.Nicky Butt reveals time Sir Alex Ferguson caught him and Roy Keane red-handedBut with a new boss comes plenty of changes, with old pal Ferguson now completely off the books at Old Trafford, Phelan has questioned whether an entirely new setup will bring success back to the Theatre of Dreams.He said: “It’s a completely changed environment [at United] now. “The proof of the pudding will come further down the line, as to whether they can achieve what they are setting out to do, but there seems to be a lot going on there.“They’ve got rid of a lot of people — some good people.”It needs streamlining in the right areas but has it still got that unity it had when it was successful? There is more exposure now to open up those cracks.”Ruben Amorim is about to bring in a new era at Old TraffordCredit: PA More