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CLASS OF 92-owned Salford City have hired former Manchester United academy star Richie Wellens as their new manager.
Wellens, who played for Salford in 2016 during their time in the National League North, has taken over from Graham Alexander, who was sacked last month.

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Richie Wellens has been named new Salford City bossCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Paul Scholes had taken temporary charge of the side, with Roy Keane linked with the boss job before Wellens’ appointment.
The new boss left Swindon – with whom he enjoyed promotion to League One last season – to take the Salford job.
Wellens has signed a deal running until the end of the 2022-23 season.

On being given the job, Wellens, 40, claimed: “It’s a club everybody takes great interest in because of the profile of the club.
“It’s a club on the up and I’m a manager that wants to win games.
“Coming to Salford is an opportunity to win week in, week out.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to take the club to where they want to be.

“The club has had unbelievable success in the last six years winning promotions and Graham Alexander getting them into the Football League.

Roy Keane had been linked with taking over at the Class of 92-owned clubCredit: PA:Press Association

“I’m looking forward to continuing that success.
“Promotions at this level are more difficult, but the rewards are greater.
“I believe in continuing that success as well as giving the club an identity and style that reflects the people of Salford.”
Meanwhile, part-owner Gary Neville added: “Richie is someone we know well from Manchester United and his previous spell here.
“He has success at this level after winning the League Two title with Swindon Town last season.
“His philosophy to play attacking football is what we want to bring fans at The Peninsula Stadium.
“His knowledge of the area and the club having played for ourselves and come through the youth ranks at Man Utd also fits in with the profile we were looking for.
“We look forward to achieving success together.”

Man Utd legends van Persie and Scholes tears into the defence during Istanbul Basaksehir Champions League tie More

IT SEEMS almost sacrilege to say it but is Bruno Fernandes actually not very good at the moment?
At the weekend during the defeat to Arsenal he looked in a sulk for most of the game.

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Bruno Fernandes has looked poor in losses to both Arsenal and Istanbul BasaksehirCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Moved wide to accommodate Paul Pogba in a central position, he was out the game, and did not look interested in getting back in it.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer changed it back but by that time the shoulders were slumped and he was subbed with 15 minutes to go.
Likewise in this 2-1 Champions League defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir, as Solskjaer tried to accommodate the creation of Juan Mata and Donny van de Beek, Fernandes was not the dominant figure.

When he was on the ball he just kept losing it. A loose pass to Juan Mata even led to the opening goal.
He can be an angry man. We have seen it on a backstage camera in his time at Sporting Lisbon.
Seen it when he tore into Victor Lindelof when they conceded the winner to Sevilla in the Europa League semi-final.
Then there was the rumoured bust up with Harry Maguire at half-time during the 6-1 defeat to Spurs, denied on all sides remember.

Yet you need to be doing the business yourself when it comes to calling others out.

His influence last season following his move from Sporting Lisbon was undoubted.
He was the catalyst for a second half of the season that saw the club finish third in the Premier League and reach three semi-finals.
There have been four goals this season, three of them penalties and one the fantastic finish against Newcastle.
He also missed one against Newcastle and PSG before the latter was ordered to be retaken for the goalkeeper coming off the line and he converted.
Last night, like Sunday, however, there was little coming from him.
He was not alone… Van de Beek got another start that he wanted and, well, we still wait for the Ajax star who can turn a game.
Edinson Cavani came on too. Solskjaer tells us he does some great runs off the ball.
It would be nice if he actually touched it now and again too.
Still, before panic breaks out let us remember that it was United’s first away defeat in 19 matches dating back to last January’s defeat to Liverpool.
It was also the club’s first away defeat in 19 matches dating back to last January’s defeat to Liverpool.
They were superb in their opening two Group H games winning away to PSG and home to RB Leipzig.
But this result on the back of Sunday’s defeat adds to the fans’ worries.
Next up it is Everton away on Saturday, a fixture that the first manager after Sir Alex Ferguson will remember all too well.

Man Utd legends van Persie and Scholes tears into the defence during Istanbul Basaksehir Champions League tie More

DEMBA BA took advantage of Manchester United’s gung-ho attacking play to score the simplest of openers as Istanbul Basaksehir shocked the visitors on Wednesday night.
The Turkish champions were gifted the lead after just 12 minutes of the game.

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Demba Ba was allowed to race free with all ten United outfield players in the opponents’ half
On the attack, United committed all ten of their outfield players to the cause.
Every single player was standing within 35 yards of the Istanbul Basaksehir goal.
But after the play broke down, Ba seized the opportunity to break out.

The former Chelsea star, 35, raced towards the halfway line with no-one standing between himself and Champions League debutant Dean Henderson.
The ball was punted over the top for Ba to chase, with only Nemanja Matic within ten yards of him.
Ba outpaced and outmuscled Matic to compose himself and roll the ball past Henderson and into the back of the net.
United legend Paul Scholes was scathing of his former side’s defending.

He said on BT Sport: “That goal is completely down to organisation. It’s like Under-10’s football.

Demba Ba celebrated after scoring a simple one-on-one in TurkeyCredit: Reuters

Demba Ba had only Nemanja Matic within ten yards of him as he streaked home to score

“What the back four were doing I have no idea, it’s embarrassing.”
Co-commentator Martin Keown labelled it as ‘comical’, while Robin van Persie also ripped into the Red Devils.
The Dutchman, 37, said: “I’ve never seen a goal conceded like that first goal – usually you leave two defenders at the back.”
United had won their opening two Group H games – 2-1 against Paris Saint-Germain and 5-0 against RB Leipzig.
But fell to a shock defeat in Turkey against the previously winless Basaksehir side.
Against arguably the minnows of the ‘Group of Death’, United would have hoped to press home their advantage with nine points from their opening three games but were stunned early on.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted to start Henderson in goal over David De Gea – with the Spaniard having played the opening two group games.
And Axel Tuanzebe was recalled into the heart of defence after impressing against PSG – that night as part of a back-three.
Sticking with his new, preferred diamond formation, Matic joined Juan Mata, Bruno Fernandes and Donny van de Beek in midfield.
But they were all caught napping as Ba was set clear to net the game’s opener in Istanbul Basaksehir’s quest to win their first Champions League game of the season.
The defending was just as bad for the second goal, with Edin Visca free at the back post to tap home from another counter-attack.
Anthony Martial struck back just before half-time, but it wasn’t enough as the home side held on for a famous win.

Robin van Persie tears into the Man Utd defence at half time of Istanbul Basaksehir Champions League game More

MARCUS RASHFORD has been immortalised in mural form after street artist Akse honoured his charity work.
The Manchester United star, 23, has already earned himself an MBE for his incredible, selfless work to feed poverty-stricken kids since March.

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Marcus Rashford has been immortalised in a mural on a Manchester buildingCredit: Zenpix

Manchester-based street artist Akse painted the incredible mural this weekCredit: Zenpix
Rashford has tirelessly campaigned to ensure children don’t go hungry during school holidays, lobbying the Government to continue feeding those in need.
The England ace has also teamed-up with charity FareShare to help dish out millions of free meals to the hungry.
Rashford’s generosity earned himself an MBE last month – and now he has been immortalised with a stunning mural on the streets of Manchester.

The incredible piece of art is splashed across the side of a huge building.
The brickwork was painted jet black, with Rashford’s smiling face splashed on top of it.
Over the weekend, Rashford backed Unicef after it stepped in to feed 15,000 British kids over the Christmas holiday.
It is Unicef’s ‘first ever emergency response within the UK’.

The money will feed youngsters through local charities, community and support groups over the festive holiday and half term next February.

Rashford looked every inch a superhero after teaming-up with Burberry

And Rashford told The Sun: “Unicef’s emergency response just reinforces the absolute need to identify a long-term sustainable framework to stabilise the households of our most vulnerable children.
“There’s an evident gap in accessibility to provision for children and this needs to be reviewed as a ­matter of urgency.
“I stand with Unicef and thank them for their support.”
Elsewhere, Rashford dressed the part of real life superhero after teaming-up with Burberry for their latest campaign.
The striker modelled the fashion giants’ cape as it signed up to give cash to youth groups supplying meals in London.
The high-end fashion house is providing grants for Norbrook Youth Club and Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, two youth centres Rashford attended as a child.
Burberry will also be providing support for 15 youth centres across London selected by Burberry and the organisation London Youth – which supports over 600 community youth organisations in the capital.

Marcus Rashford has been excelling on and off the pitch in 2020Credit: EPA
London Youth will use the money for meals and support with school work, while Norbrook will be improving their outdoor space.
The announcement of the England striker’s partnership with Burberry was accompanied by the publication of a moving letter the footballer wrote to his ten-year-old self.
He said: “When you fall, which you will, there will always be neighbours and friends to catch you.
“There is no need to feel ashamed because they will catch you without judgment and comment. No questions asked.
“Feel the warmth of those around you and know that one day, you are going to have the platform to repay them.
“For a young boy who says so little, one day you will have a voice that speaks for many.”

Man Utd’s Marcus Rashford helps out at food charity after MPs reject bid to extend school meals More

MANCHESTER UNITED must change Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s position if they are to be at their best, according to Glenn Hoddle.
The former Crystal Palace ace, 22, is regarded as one of the best defensive full-backs in the league.

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Man Utd should move Wan-Bissaka to centre-back for the good of the team, says HoddleCredit: EPA
But with United recently switching to a narrow midfield diamond, Hoddle fears Wan-Bissaka’s lack of attacking threat could hold United back.
Hoddle told Premier League Productions: “If you’re playing with a diamond your full-backs have got to be really good players on the ball.
“Wan-Bissaka is one of the best defenders in the league, there’s no doubt about that.

“Is he the best in the attacking third in the opponents half? No he’s not.
“But he’s going to end up with a lot of the ball… if they’re so tight in midfield they’re going to end up playing to their full-backs.”
Hoddle continued with a potential solution, adding: “They’ve been inconsistent in the shapes that they’ve been playing.
“He’s trying to find a spine and his best shape.

“Wan-Bissaka in a back three would work for me as the right-sided centre back.

“I would love to see him play there, I think he’d be brilliant there.
“But then you’re changing the shape of your whole team, he has played three at the back this year and he could play that.”
The only draw-back for United is their lack of depth at right-back with Timothy Fosu-Mensah the only other recognised right-sided full-back on the books.
On top of that, Axel Tuanzebe starred for United on the right of a back-three in the 2-1 Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain, as he kept superstar Kylian Mbappe quiet.
Meanwhile, Wan-Bissaka is the subject of an international tug-of-war between DR Congo and England.
He as called into Gareth Southgate’s senior side last year, but failed to play – and has since slipped out of contention.
Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Reece James have all been called up ahead of him Wan-Bissaka in recent months.
It prompted Wan-Bissaka to temporarily remove the England flag from his Instagram page, just leaving the Congolese flag.

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