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      Man Utd chiefs told Erik ten Hag to keep expectations ‘realistic’ ahead of the new Premier League season

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      MANCHESTER UNITED chiefs reportedly told Erik ten Hag to keep expectations “realistic” for the new season.But the Dutchman instead talked UP United’s chances to boost player morale in his squad.

      ESPN claims Ten Hag went against the wishes of higher-ups by telling his newly-inherited squad they can make a big impact this term.
      United finished sixth last season after numerous underwhelming performances with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick at the helm.
      The bulk of the squad still remains, with only three new players signed so far.
      But despite Rangnick’s public criticism of United during his time at the club, Ten Hag has decided to go in the opposite direction.
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      Upon arriving at United, he felt morale was at rock-bottom.
      Club chiefs then informed Ten Hag to keep expectations realistic while they set about making new signings.
      But the former Ajax boss felt it was better to go in another direction.
      And he instead heaped praise upon maligned players including midfield duo Scott McTominay and Fred.
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      That’s despite being personally aware that fresh faces were desperately needed ahead of the season opener against Brighton.
      Ten Hag was then hit with a dose of reality when United crashed to a 2-1 home defeat against the Seagulls.
      Since losing, they have been linked with Bologna’s Marko Arnautovic and Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot – much to the displeasure of fans.
      United’s pursuit of Arnautovic has since been abandoned.
      But it’s reckoned Rabiot was on Ten Hag’s radar before the Brighton defeat.
      And initial contact was made with the Frenchman 24 hours before United’s Old Trafford humiliation.
      Ten Hag now has a chance to shake things up for Saturday’s visit to Brentford.
      Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Tyrell Malacia will all be pushing to start in a must-win game for United.
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      That’s because their third match sees them take on rivals Liverpool nine days later.
      And Ten Hag knows he cannot afford to lose all three of his opening games. More

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      Man Utd’s incredible decline under Glazers revealed with staggeringly slow growth compared to rivals on stock exchange

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’S incredible decline under the Glazers has been revealed through their staggeringly slow growth on the stock exchange.It comes amid reports of a “hostile” takeover attempt by former United director Michael Knighton, 17 years after the Glazers bought United for £790million.
      Man Utd’s share prices and finances have taken a hit under the GlazersCredit: Getty
      Financial writer Kieran Maguire made the revelation a decade after the Glazers first listed United on the New York Stock Exchange.
      The opening share price on that day was $14.
      And incredibly, if a person had invested £1,000 in shares back then, today that money would be worth just £814.
      The figure looks even bleaker against other sporting institutions, with a grand invested in Juventus now returning £2k.
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      With Formula One, you’d have £2,564 in your pocket.
      And even American baseball team Atlanta Braves would have returned £1,585.
      Maguire adds that the dip in value is a recent one, with share prices at $19.37 last September when United re-signed Cristiano Ronaldo.
      But a forward-facing market combined with the team’s poor performances – and a desperate need to upgrade Old Trafford – has resulted in a sharp decline.
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      Elsewhere, total interest charged under the Glazer ownership is a staggering £855m.
      That in itself would pay for another TEN Harry Maguire’s – the most expensive defender in world football at £80m.
      Net debt is at £627m – more than the £590m in 2006.
      And United’s transfer debt is also £184m – the highest it has been since 2008.
      Meanwhile £154m in dividends has been taken by shareholders – mainly the Glazers – since 2016.
      Income did soar from £159m in 2005 to £627m in 2019.
      But that fell to £494m last year as United struggled for consistency on the pitch.
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      And there is a bleak outlook for unhappy supporters – who are planning an “Empty Old Trafford” protest for the August 22 game against Liverpool – as the Glazers own shares that carry a whopping TEN votes – compared to just one vote for regular investors.
      The same structure is seen mainly in tech, with Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg and Tesla head Elon Musk employing the same tactic. More

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      How much Man Utd’s women get compared to men’s team… with staggeringly huge pay gap compared to Ronaldo and Co

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      THE staggering pay gap between Manchester United’s men and women players has been revealed. Marc Skinner’s female side finished an impressive fourth in last season’s WSL, 14 points off winners Chelsea.
      Man Utd women’s stars like Ella Toone are paid far less than their male counterpartsCredit: Getty
      Wantaway ace Cristiano Ronaldo is picking up £480k each weekCredit: Getty
      But there is a huge pay gap when compared to the men, who could only muster a sixth-place Premier League finish last term as they finished 35 points off Man City.
      A BBC study this month revealed the average WSL player earns £47,000 a year – around £900 a week.
      Meanwhile, the average male Premier League star earns £60k a WEEK.
      At United, the Telegraph claims most female stars are picking up between £50k-£90k each year, making for an average annual salary of £70k.
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      In terms of a weekly wage, this works out to just £1,350.
      That’s despite FOUR Utd players winning the World Cup with England – goalie Mary Earps, midfielder Ella Toone, plus forward Alessia Russo and new signing Nikita Parris.
      Compared to the figures secured by the underperforming men’s team, it is certainly a pittance.
      Bar one player, of all the aces who started United’s opening day Prem defeat to Brighton, the lowest weekly wage in the side was £120k.
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      Man Utd men’s salary
      Meanwhile, over £200k-a-week is handed to Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes.

      And Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and David De Gea are on well over £300k.
      As for wantaway Ronaldo, he pockets £480k each week.
      It means the average weekly salary for Man United’s men works out to £173k.
      That is £171,650 more each WEEK on average than United’s women.
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      Elsewhere, a gender pay gap report by the Government on Man Utd for 2021/22 found that women’s mean hourly pay was 86.1 per cent lower than men’s.
      And mean bonus pay was also 66.8 per cent lower than men’s. More

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      Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand names most hated players he faced during career including Liverpool and Man City heroes

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      MANCHESTER UNITED legend Rio Ferdinand has named the most hated players he faced on the pitch.And unsurprisingly, most of them played for rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.
      Rio Ferdinand has revealed his toughest opponentsCredit: PA
      Ferdinand did not enjoy the times he went up against Fernando TorresCredit: Getty
      Ferdinand, 43, spent 12 years starring at Old Trafford between 2002 and 2014.
      The former England star played 455 times for United, winning six titles and one Champions League.
      Of course, Ferdinand came up against plenty of incredible footballers during his time.
      But while some epic duels resulted in mutual respect, others left Ferdinand baying for blood.
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      Speaking on his podcast Vibe with Five, Ferdinand named several players including Robbie Savage and Kevin Davies as his most hated opponents.
      But special mention was given to three ex-Liverpool players: Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres and Mario Balotelli – who also starred at Man City.
      Ferdinand was left particularly irked by Torres, who says he was left SCARRED by a stamp from the ex-Chelsea striker.
      Ferdinand said: “I hated Balotelli, hated him. He did a couple of things I didn’t like with the fans and I thought he was rude. 
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      Ferdinand was also not a fan of Luis SuarezCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Ferdinand used to dislike Mario Balotelli but the pair are now friendsCredit: Getty
      “But I chat with him now, lovely geezer. It’s mad because I’d see him after and it would only be respectful. 
      “In the games, in the end I respected it, he was an animal on the pitch.
      “Didn’t like Suarez, didn’t like Torres. He stamped on my foot one time when the ball was up the other end, stitches in my foot. 
      “I was playing, the ball was in the other end, we had some tussles – he was game – he just stamped on my foot.
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      “Went in at half-time, took off my boot and it was the worst thing I could’ve done. My foot went ‘woof’, I need stitches. 
      “I had an injection, for ages it was killing me, got a scar on my foot.” More

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      Watch shocking moment Man Utd fans FIGHT each other in stands at tense Old Trafford during horror defeat to Brighton

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      THIS is the shocking moment a brawl erupted between Manchester United fans at Old Trafford.The scrap broke out as the Red Devils crashed to a 2-1 opening day defeat against Brighton.
      Two Man Utd fans scrap during their side’s horror loss to BrightonCredit: AP
      Fans had to be pulled apart in tense scenes at Old TraffordCredit: AP
      Two Man Utd fans scrapped as their team lost 2-1 at home to BrightonCredit: Twitter

      A video posted on social media showed two men grappling in the South Stand as the game carried on in the background.
      Stunned onlookers attempted to get involved by trying to break up the unsightly melee.
      The short clip ended with the two men squaring up to each while shouting in front of dozens of supporters.
      It is unclear what triggered the fight between the pair.
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      But neither will have been happy with the end result at the Theatre of Dreams.
      Erik ten Hag was hoping to mark his first-ever Premier League game with a morale-boosting win.
      But the day turned into a nightmare for United as two goals from Pascal Gross put Brighton on course for a historic win at Old Trafford.
      Red Devils fans have only just got over the 4-0 stuffing at the Amex late last season.
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      And United were miles off the pace as their flops failed to deliver the goods yet again.
      Some irate fans staged a protest against the Glazer ownership before the game.
      And United’s farcical transfer window has gone from bad to worse after it emerged they are trying to sign 33-year-old Marko Arnautovic from Italian minnows Bologna.
      Meanwhile, Ten Hag has told warring fans not to expect a quick fix on the pitch.
      He said: “It is a hell of a job. We have to work really hard, analyse then move forward.
      “We have to take the lessons and learn quickly from it. We don’t have time and we have to deliver.
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      “I think also with these players we could also have done it better.
      “I knew it could happen but I think we should have done better – that is clear but I know also it will not come overnight.” More

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      ‘It’s criminal’ – Man Utd legend Paul Scholes tears into Scott McTominay and Fred after Brighton nightmare

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      PAUL SCHOLES has described Scott McTominay and Fred’s performances against Brighton as “CRIMINAL.”The duo had a day to forget as Manchester United were beaten 2-1 at home by the Seagulls in Erik ten Hag’s first game.
      Fred’s performance against Brighton was blasted by Man Utd icon Paul ScholesCredit: AP
      Scholes also had harsh words for Scott McTominay as United lost 2-1 at homeCredit: AP
      Fred struggled as United’s anchorman at the base of a three-man midfield.
      And McTominay fared little better in a box-to-box role as the Red Devils were run ragged all over the pitch.
      Fans were left especially frustrated with the pair following United’s failure to complete a deal for Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong.
      And Old Trafford legend Paul Scholes, regarded as one of the best midfielders in history, had little sympathy for the duo known, at one time affectionately, as McFred.
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      The pundit, who also saw ex-teammate Roy Keane have a pop at United’s flops, blasted: “Fred constantly giving the ball away.
      “McTominay running with the ball in attack when he’s got Sancho, Rashford ahead of him.
      “Should pass the ball to Eriksen. It’s criminal.”
      United’s day got off to an awful start when Pascal Gross fired Brighton ahead after 30 minutes.
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      The German then doubled the visitors’ lead just nine minutes later.
      And United were BOOED off the pitch by their own fans at half-time.
      But Cristiano Ronaldo’s introduction early in the second half saw the hosts step up their efforts.
      And they pulled one back in the 68th minute when Alexis Mac Allister scored a calamitous own-goal.
      However, United struggled to compose themselves to find an equaliser.
      And the boos rang out again at the final whistle as Brighton secured victory.
      United legend Scholes knows a thing or two about starring in midfieldCredit: PA More

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      Man Utd 1 Brighton 2: Ten Hag suffers nightmare start as Gross double downs Red Devils despite Ronaldo’s introduction

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      ERIK TEN HAG promised ‘a new season and a new story’ in his program notes.Unfortunately, it was the same old story as Manchester United served up another shocker at Old Trafford to go with the many they produced last season.
      Brighton stunned Man Utd with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford on opening dayCredit: Getty
      Erik ten Hag’s men could not win on the Dutchman’s first game in chargeCredit: Getty
      The first 45 minutes were probably worse than any under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as his reign unraveled or Ralf Rangnick.
      Behind to a pair of Pascal Gross goals at the break, boos rang around the ground.
      The idea to start Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes as interchanging false nines did not work.
      Indeed only when Cristiano Ronaldo came on in the second-half did they look to have any semblance of a threat.  
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      There was only 14 seconds on the clock when Brighton had their first effort with Leandro Trossard firing a shot into the side netting.
      United did have a good chance after six minutes when Scott McTominay’s blocked shot ricocheted to Fernandes eight yards out but he blasted it over.
      He was wasteful all half with the ball and started to lose his cool as he often does when calm heads are needed.
      In a break in play for an injury, Ten Hag tried desperately to rally his troops as he called them to his technical area.
      Cristiano Ronaldo was left frustrated after coming off the benchCredit: Reuters
      Ten Hag has plenty of work to do after his side were booed by the home fansCredit: Reuters
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      Brighton started well and were eventually rewarded when Pascal Gross scored after 30 minutesCredit: PA
      The goal was a wake-up call for United… but they weren’t paying attentionCredit: AFP
      They weren’t listening. Five minutes later on the half hour Brighton were in the lead.
      Trossard played a perfectly weighted ball into the run of Danny Welbeck who had stormed between United centre-backs Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez.
      His ball back across goal went between David De Gea and the retreating McTominay finding Gross at the far post to slide it home.
      Worse was to follow for United but what a goal it was in the 39th minute from Brighton with the move starting by the corner flag in their own half.
      A brilliant backheel by Trossard relieved the pressure with Moises Caicedo picking the ball up and bringing it out.
      Gross doubled Brighton’s lead just nine minutes laterCredit: Reuters
      United looked to be picking up where they left off last seasonCredit: Getty
      He fed it to Gross and on the ball moved to Adam Lallana and across the pitch to Solly March who let fly with a low shot.
      De Gea’s saved but the ball broke and Gross reacted quicker than Fred and fired in. The fans were furious.
      Brighton were playing like a team that won 4-0 against these opponents at the end of last season and United looked very similar to the one that played in the Amex that day.
      Graham Potter obviously delighted, United meanwhile needed Harry Potter to magic their way out of this mess.
      Or perhaps someone with superhuman powers and so eight minutes into the second-half Cristiano Ronaldo was called upon.
      Ronaldo was summoned off the bench early in the second halfCredit: Reuters
      A brief rally saw United level through an Alexis Mac Allister own-goalCredit: Getty
      Yet it was Brighton who could have been further ahead by then after a foul by Lisandro Martinez on Danny Welbeck in the area.
      Brighton appealed for a penalty, the referee and VAR said otherwise.
      Just past the hour Ronaldo set up the chance that should have brought United back into this game.
      His pass from the right was perfect for an unmarked Marcus Rashford in the middle of the box.
      His shot went straight at advancing goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to the dismay of the fans in the Stretford End.
      United tried to press for a second but Brighton held firmCredit: Reuters
      The result marked the Seagulls’ first-ever win at Old TraffordCredit: Reuters
      He was saved by a flag that signalled Ronaldo had been offside.
      But replays showed a goal would have stood as Ronaldo was onside.
      In the 65th minute Rashford could have made up for that when Fernandes’ cross found him at the far post but he volleyed over.
      Rashford’s confidence in front of goal was lost last season and it clearly has not come back.
      In the 67th minute United were back in it but it took a long VAR check to confirm the goal.
      A Fernandes corner into a packed six-yard box hit Diogo Dalot on the shoulder and as the ball bounced goalwards Alex MacAllister tried to hook it clear but only managed to whack it into his own net.
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      The check was to see if Dalot could be done for handball but the goal was given. Suddenly United’s tails were and Dalot had a long-range effort to grab an equaliser which Sanchez saved.
      Brighton would hold on for a deserved win. For Ten Hag the enormity of the job he has on was laid bare before a packed, unhappy, despondent, Old Trafford. More

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      ‘Not convinced’ – Roy Keane has withering verdict on Christian Eriksen after free transfer to Man Utd

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      ROY KEANE delivered a withering verdict of Christian Eriksen before Manchester United’s defeat to Brighton.The Dane joined Erik ten Hag’s revolution on a free transfer last month after leaving Brentford.
      Roy Keane does not believe Christian Eriksen is the answer to Man Utd’s problemsCredit: Reuters
      Keane has questioned whether Eriksen can do the business defensivelyCredit: Getty
      But Red Devils legend Keane is “not convinced” Eriksen can bring the glory days back to Old Trafford.
      The 30-year-old attacking midfielder was thrust into Ten Hag’s starting XI for his United debut on Sunday but produced little as they suffered a shock 2-1 loss on home turf.

      Eriksen impressed during a short spell at Brentford prior to his new switch.
      And before suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020, he starred for both Tottenham and Inter Milan.
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      But despite being seen by many as a good signing for United, Keane had a different opinion.
      The Irishman, United captain during Sir Alex Ferguson’s golden era, dismissed talk that Eriksen could be the club’s saviour.
      Instead, Keane questioned whether the playmaker was capable of putting in the extra yards to help United out defensively.
      And despite admitting Eriksen was “talented”, Keane was not buying into any hype prior to kick-off against Brighton.
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      The pundit said: “I think he’s a really good player. 
      “In the bigger picture, will he get United back competing for league titles? The answer’s no to that.
      “My biggest worry for players like Eriksen, the big problem for United over the last few years when they’re out of possession, especially against the better teams, they’re not great at getting back.
      “That’s not one of his strengths. He’s a talented player, but I’m not convinced he’s the answer, but a very good player obviously.” More