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    Man Utd confirm signing of former Arsenal wonderkid, 16, who scored TEN goals in one game against Liverpool

    MANCHESTER UNITED have announced the signing of ex-Arsenal wonderkid Chido Obi-Martin.Obi-Martin, 16, has put pen to paper with United after a goal-laden two-year stint in the Gunners’ youth system.Man Utd have announced the signing of teenage sensation Chido Obi-MartinObi-Martin scored a staggering 32 goals in 21 appearances with Arsenal’s Under-18sCredit: GettyThe highly-rated striker snubbed offers from the Gunners before leaving in the summer after amassing a staggering 32 goals and three assists in 21 appearances with the Under-18s.That led the Denmark Under-17 international to the Under-18 Premier League golden boot last term.The forward, though, really caught the eye by scoring a whopping TEN GOALS in one match against Liverpool.Obi-Martin also registered a seven-goal haul against Norwich, five goals against West Ham, four strikes in back-to-back games with Crystal Palace and Fulham as well as two more hat-tricks.Read More on Man UtdAnd the teenage sensation is looking forward to his new challenge at United.Obi-Martin said: “I’m very happy to sign with Man United, an amazing club.“It’s now time to focus and achieve all my dreams.”Obi-Martin is eligible to play for Nigeria but has also represented both England and Denmark at youth level.Most read in FootballThe ex-Arsenal centre-forward has played for the English and Danish Under-16 sides.The Denmark youth star scored twice as he helped his country reach the semi-finals of the Under-17 Euros in May.How would Southgate and Tuchel transform Man Utd flops and who is best for job?United have seen a number of youth stars break into the first team in recent years, such as Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. More

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    Erik ten Hag ignored being told to leave Man Utd ‘through the front door’… and now facing sack in crucial meeting

    ERIK TEN HAG ignored advice to leave Manchester United, it has been claimed.Ten Hag, 54, stood defiant following the FA Cup final win over Manchester City last season amid a whirlwind of speculation suggesting he would be sacked after a poor season in the league.Erik ten Hag was advised to walk away from Man Utd in the summerCredit: GettyIt comes after Sir Jim Ratcliffe failed to publicly back Ten Hag, with a meeting set to be held by club chiefs on TuesdayCredit: AlamyThe Dutchman was eventually handed a contract extension in July, but is now facing the chop after just seven league games this season – with the seventh to be played against Aston Villa tomorrow.Reports have revealed that United chiefs are set to meet in London on Tuesday, 48 hours after the team face Villa.That meeting could conclude that Ten Hag should be relieved of his duties at Old Trafford, a feeling given particular weight after Ratcliffe failed to publicly back the manager.However, Ten Hag was apparently advised to walk before he was pushed.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLLeon ten Voorde, a journalist who has been friends with Ten Hag for more than 40 years and still works with their hometown club Bon Boys, revealed on the De Ballen Verstand podcast: “I advised him to leave last summer. “He won the FA Cup, so you leave through the front door. “He’s had a lot of injuries this past year. “But then trainers think: ‘I can turn things around’.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe added: “How long does United think this can go on? “That question is now hanging over United and Ten Hag again. ‘We are MAD’ – Ten Hag tells raging Man Utd flops to channel anger of Tottenham humiliation into must-win Porto clash”In general, he is calm and relaxed. “But I can’t imagine that this leaves you completely unaffected.”Man Utd ratings vs PortoMAN UTD ended up with a 3-3 draw after throwing away a 2-0 lead away to Porto.Here’s how SunSport’s Dylan Terry rated the Red Devils’ stars performances in PortugalAndre Onana – 6/10Reacted brilliantly the first time he was called into action with a flying save, only for Porto to score the rebound.Porto then scored with their next shot on target too – Omorodion’s header – and Onana could do little about the excellent finish for Porto’s third.Made two great stops to keep Man Utd in the game.Noussair Mazraoui – 4Looked fairly stable in the first 45 minutes but waned as the game went on.All at sea at the start of the second half as Porto cut through the right-hand side of Man Utd’s defence with ease.Matthijs de Ligt – 4Looked imposing in the air as he dealt with Porto’s crosses from both sides, but then failed to get in front of Omorodion for the hosts’ second goal.Like most of the Man Utd side, his performance dropped as the game went on and he was bullied by Porto’s No9.Lisandro Martinez – 4Should have reacted quicker for the first Porto goal as Pepe got ahead of him to nod into an empty net – with Martinez static on the six-yard box.There is clearly not much of a partnership with De Ligt as Porto pulled them apart all evening.Diogo Dalot – 4Porto enjoyed a lot of success down Man Utd’s left-hand side and Dalot looked all at sea on several occasions.Had little help from Martinez but still looked exposed.Casemiro – 3Anonymous yet again in Man Utd’s midfield – the ball just passes him by.Could not even manage one of his customary fouls.Christian Eriksen – 5Looked leggy out of possession but produced an impressive run before laying it off to Hojlund for Man Utd’s second goal.Then failed to make much more of an impact and his delivery from wide areas left a lot to be desired.Bruno Fernandes – 4A damning indictment of Man Utd’s current predicament as Fernandes was shown a red card for a second successive game.Two high boots, two yellow cards, and another early bath for the Portuguese playmaker – who had worked tirelessly prior to his dismissal.Amad Diallo – 5Very quiet aside from one burst through the middle as Rashford received all of the ball over the other side.Replaced by Antony who arguably created even less.Rasmus Hojlund – 7Made his case for starting ahead of Joshua Zirkzee with a goal, firing beyond Costa at the near post.Held it up and then showed his strength and pace to run at Porto before the break – showing little rustiness in his first start of the season.Marcus Rashford – 8Rashford showed his directness for the opening goal, driving at the Porto back line and forcing the error from Costa.A constant threat in the first half as he assisted Hojlund’s strike.But he was then surprisingly hooked at the break, a decision that will need an explanation from Ten Hag.See how the Man Utd subs rated here More

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    Man Utd owners Joel Glazer and Jim Ratcliffe to hold crisis meeting just hours after Ten Hag’s must-win game vs Villa

    MANCHESTER UNITED’S hierarchy are scheduled to meet up just 48 hours after the crunch clash with Aston Villa, reports suggest.It comes amid growing uncertainty surrounding manager Erik ten Hag’s position at the club.Man Utd’s hierarchy including Sir Jim Ratcliffe are set to hold a meeting on TuesdayCredit: GettyClub chiefs including Sir Dave Brailsford, Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox will be in attendanceCredit: GettyCo-chairman Joel Glazer will also be flying in from the US for the London meetingCredit: GettyIt comes 48 hours after Man Utd’s game will Aston Villa, though it is not yet clear whether Erik ten Hag’s future is on the agendaCredit: ReutersTen Hag had the Porto and Aston Villa games to convince bosses he was the right manager to lead the team forward.The Red Devils drew 3-3 at Porto on Thursday, and will face Unai Emery’s Villans at Villa Park in a do-or-die clash tomorrow.And two days later, United’s executive committee are set to hold a meeting in London, according to The Athletic.This committee is comprised of the club’s newly-appointed decision makers; Omar Berrarda, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox, as well as Ineos chiefs Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLCo-chairman Joel Glazer will also be in attendance after flying in from the United States, while United’s chief financial officer Roger Bell and chief operating officer Collette Roche will also be present.There is also scheduled to be a stop closer to home in Manchester as well.However, it is not yet clear whether the club’s performance on the pitch will be an item on the agenda.Ratcliffe now owns 27.7 per cent of Man Utd, which he paid £1.3billion for earlier this year.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe Glazer family own 41.3 per cent, with the rest of the shares being held by private investors.Ten Hag was handed a contract extension in July before being backed with a new set of coaches and recruitment that included his former players.Porto vs Man Utd player ratings But with results currently failing to justify that decision, Ten Hag’s position may be in some peril without immediate improvement.It is understood that Ratcliffe will be in attendance at Villa Park on Sunday ahead of the meeting.The British billionaire failed to publicly back Ten Hag earlier this week, saying the decision over his future was “not my call”.Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: “I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach but at the end of the day it’s not my call.”It’s the management team that’s running Manchester United that have to decide how we best run the team in many different respects.”But that team that’s running Manchester United has only been together since June or July. “They weren’t there in January, February, March or April – [CEO] Omar [Berrada], [sporting director] Dan Ashworth – they only arrived in July.”They’ve only been there… you can count it in weeks almost – they’ve not been there a long time, so they need to take stock and make some sensible decisions.Manchester United executive committeeCo-chairman – Joel GlazerMinority owner – Sir Jim RatcliffeHead of sport Ineos – Sir Dave BrailsfordCEO – Omar BerradaSporting director – Dan AshworthTechnical director – Jason WilcoxCFO – Roger BellCOO – Collette Roche”Our objective is very clear – we want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it’s not there yet, obviously – that’s very clear.”The ultimate decision will lay in the hands of a three-person ownership committee of Ratcliffe, Brailsford and Glazer.However, it will come based on the recommendation of those working more intimately at the club, including chief executive Berrada, sporting director Ashworth and technical director Wilcox.READ MORE SUN STORIESMan Utd have won just three of their opening nine games in all competitions this season and sit 13th in the Premier League.Other managers linked include Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel, while it’s been reported that Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi has rejected an offer.Man Utd ratings vs PortoMAN UTD ended up with a 3-3 draw after throwing away a 2-0 lead away to Porto.Here’s how SunSport’s Dylan Terry rated the Red Devils’ stars performances in PortugalAndre Onana – 6/10Reacted brilliantly the first time he was called into action with a flying save, only for Porto to score the rebound.Porto then scored with their next shot on target too – Omorodion’s header – and Onana could do little about the excellent finish for Porto’s third.Made two great stops to keep Man Utd in the game.Noussair Mazraoui – 4Looked fairly stable in the first 45 minutes but waned as the game went on.All at sea at the start of the second half as Porto cut through the right-hand side of Man Utd’s defence with ease.Matthijs de Ligt – 4Looked imposing in the air as he dealt with Porto’s crosses from both sides, but then failed to get in front of Omorodion for the hosts’ second goal.Like most of the Man Utd side, his performance dropped as the game went on and he was bullied by Porto’s No9.Lisandro Martinez – 4Should have reacted quicker for the first Porto goal as Pepe got ahead of him to nod into an empty net – with Martinez static on the six-yard box.There is clearly not much of a partnership with De Ligt as Porto pulled them apart all evening.Diogo Dalot – 4Porto enjoyed a lot of success down Man Utd’s left-hand side and Dalot looked all at sea on several occasions.Had little help from Martinez but still looked exposed.Casemiro – 3Anonymous yet again in Man Utd’s midfield – the ball just passes him by.Could not even manage one of his customary fouls.Christian Eriksen – 5Looked leggy out of possession but produced an impressive run before laying it off to Hojlund for Man Utd’s second goal.Then failed to make much more of an impact and his delivery from wide areas left a lot to be desired.Bruno Fernandes – 4A damning indictment of Man Utd’s current predicament as Fernandes was shown a red card for a second successive game.Two high boots, two yellow cards, and another early bath for the Portuguese playmaker – who had worked tirelessly prior to his dismissal.Amad Diallo – 5Very quiet aside from one burst through the middle as Rashford received all of the ball over the other side.Replaced by Antony who arguably created even less.Rasmus Hojlund – 7Made his case for starting ahead of Joshua Zirkzee with a goal, firing beyond Costa at the near post.Held it up and then showed his strength and pace to run at Porto before the break – showing little rustiness in his first start of the season.Marcus Rashford – 8Rashford showed his directness for the opening goal, driving at the Porto back line and forcing the error from Costa.A constant threat in the first half as he assisted Hojlund’s strike.But he was then surprisingly hooked at the break, a decision that will need an explanation from Ten Hag.See how the Man Utd subs rated here More

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    Sir Alex Ferguson’s former coach reveals catch-up with Man Utd title-winning duo as they prepare to go head-to-head

    TWO STARS of Manchester United’s final title-winning side go from midfield partners to Championship rivals on Saturday.Red Devils legend Michael Carrick, 43, and Tom Cleverley, 35, go head-to-head nearly 150 miles away from the Old Trafford pitch they graced under Sir Alex Ferguson.Tom Cleverley and Michael Carrick (right) were midfield partners for Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man UtdCredit: PAThe two will come face-to-face in Championship when Boro travel to WatfordCredit: GettyEric Steele was United’s goalkeeper coach during Fergie’s last few seasons in charge and got to know both the current Middlesbrough and Watford managers both on and off the pitch.The 70-year-old, who also worked for Man City and England during his time at the FA, says he always felt that Carrick was destined for the dug-out.He told SunSport: “If you looked around the dressing-room then I’d have said you could see Darren Fletcher going into it, certainly Michael. The way he played, top player, the way he thought and cared about the game – so Michael more so than Tom.“The nice thing about working where we worked at Manchester United is that you got to meet a lot of good and nice people and Michael, as a Geordie, is naturally going to be a good lad.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL“I know his family well and his dad, Vince, all the way through Wallsend Boys Club for years. “They are good, genuine people who care and the thing that I like is that they have a love for the game or they wouldn’t be doing it.“Michael is very much inclusive with his staff, the decision-making, and has good people around him. He takes precedent when he’s going to step in.“He’s still very much a young coach finding his way. It’s been a tough upbringing so far at Middlesbrough but all credit to him.”Most read in ChampionshipFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSSteele now works as a radio pundit covering Derby County and that has led to him catching-up with both men recently.He said: “I met up with Tom before Derby played Watford in August and it was brilliant. My dad was a deaf footballer and I have epilepsy but I’ve scored against Man Utd and now I’m going to play against Messi”A great insight into how he wants to play, coach and it was a lovely surprise because he is a good guy. He’s got the game at heart and wants to do it his way.“I was really impressed with how he set the team up and changed things tactically in the second half.“Then, a week later I met up with Michael before Derby hosted Middlesbrough, so I’ve been in touch with both of them this season.“They’ve probably both been real students of the game which I perhaps didn’t realise just how much so at the time.”Carrick is, remarkably, the third-longest serving boss in the Championship having taken charge of Boro just under two years ago.He led them from fighting relegation to the play-offs during his first season but missed out on the top six last term by six points last term.Cleverley, meanwhile, took over permanently after a short stint as interim in the summer.His team go into this clash sitting eighth, a point and a position behind Boro.It was a brave move by him to accept the job as the Hornets’ 11th permanent boss since Javi Gracia departed in September 2019.Steele said: “Watford’s actual success, or failure, whichever way you want to look at it, the number of managers they have had is quite large. You must be constantly looking over your shoulder.“But when I spoke to Tom he was very much determined to do things his way. He knew the squad and he has a good blend of pace, power, and very fit physically.”Former Man Utd goalkeeper coach Eric Steele recently caught up with both menCredit: PA:Empics SportCarrick is eight years older than the man who will be in the opposition technical area today, but the combined ages of the pair is still short of the man that shaped their careers at the Theatre of Dreams.And the two former England internationals both know that the 82-year-old legendary Fergie is never far away if they need some more of his guidance.Steele said: “The great man is always there to support any of the players. Any of them that have gone into management or coaching know they always have the support of Sir Alex.“I’m sure he’ll have spoken to both of them when they got their jobs.“It’s unbelievable for them both. If they have any problems or any doubts, they know they can pick up the phone to one of the very greatest that the game has known.”Steele refuses to risk upsetting either one when pressed for a prediction, but he is just as intrigued as Sir Alex will undoubtedly be to see who comes out on top.He added: “It will be a really good contest when they face Boro. I just hope that it will be a good game.READ MORE SUN STORIES“Isn’t it great that you have two ex-Manchester United midfield players going head-to-head tactically.“It’s refreshing for me seeing these young managers coming in and I think it will be a great contest and may the best coach win.” More

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    Ex-Man Utd coach reveals ‘no one knew anything about Sancho’ and admits Chelsea star would ‘sneak off to London a lot’

    JADON SANCHO’S stint at Manchester United failed because the coaching team knew “literally nothing” about him.That is according to ex-United first-team coach Benni McCarthy, who spent the last two years at Old Trafford working under manager Erik ten Hag.Chelsea star Jadon Sancho failed at Man Utd because of a ‘lack of communication and understanding’Credit: GettyEx-Man Utd first-team coach Benni McCarthy claims no one knew anything about SanchoCredit: GettySancho fell out with Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag before his move to ChelseaCredit: PASancho would also ‘sneak out’ to London during his time at Man UtdCredit: PASancho, 24, joined the Red Devils in 2021 after a staggering £73million move from Borussia Dortmund, where he thrived for four years but never managed to live up to his billing in Manchester.The winger ultimately fell out of favour last year after a public spat with Ten Hag, who claimed he left him out of the squad because of his performances in training.The player responded with a fiery post on social media claiming he was turned into a “scapegoat” amid the team’s turbulent start to the campaign.The England international refused to backtrack and that led to the Dutch tactician axing him from the first team entirely.Read More on Man UtdMcCarthy, 46, claims the main reason behind Sancho’s hapless United stint was down to a “lack of communication and understanding” between the forward and the coaching staff.And that led to Ten Hag as well as his assistants never really getting to know the now Chelsea star as a player.McCarthy said on the On The Whistle podcast: “Just a bit of communication problems, really, because Sanch is a very quiet guy.”No one knows literally nothing about Jadon. Jadon comes in, he does his job, he does his work, and then it’s just like, very quiet.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”[He’s] A great boy, great character, fantastic footballer, unbelievable the things that he can do. “For me, it was a real shame that it didn’t work out for Jadon at United, because I thought he was the type of player that would flourish in a United shirt. Man Utd flop Jadon Sancho makes bizarre claim about Enzo Maresca being reason he joined Chelsea but it doesn’t add up”But unfortunately, I think lack of communication and understanding, I think was was part of the downside that didn’t end up working with Sanch.”Sancho returned to Dortmund on loan in January and showed glimpses of his former self as he helped the Bundesliga giants make it to the Champions League final.The forward returned to United in the summer and reached an uneasy truce with Ten Hag but still couldn’t manage to convince on the pitch and thus joined Chelsea on loan with an obligation to buy.McCarthy believes Sancho may finally reach his full potential with the Blues, especially after an impressive start under new manager Enzo Maresca, as he is now closer to home.The South Africa legend suggested the fact the Camberwell native was far from home also contributed to his troubles at Man Utd as he revealed he would often “sneak out” to London.McCarthy added: “He’s closer to home because he did sneak out to come to London quite a lot.Sancho would ‘sneak out’ to London”So probably the fact that he was missing home, and, just wanted to be a bit closer to family and friends and his culture.”The London culture is quite strong, so I think Jadon maybe wanted more of that. So that’s why he kept on. He was in London quite a lot.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Now he is closer to home, so hopefully he can find that peace, he can find that bit of magic that he found when he went to Dortmund, and he gets the love that he deserves from the coaching staff, the players.”I think he will turn out to be a special player again. Because I think every single one that knows Sancho that would want him to be at that level, because it’s good for world football.” More

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    Man Utd legend jokingly blames himself for losing Villa sensation Morgan Rogers after watching him down Bayern Munich

    MICHAEL CARRICK revealed he congratulated Morgan Rogers on his Champions League success – a year after benching him.Boro took a punt on the then Man City youngster when paying £1.2 million for him in July 2023.Morgan Rogers starred as Aston Villa downed Bayern Munich on WednesdayCredit: AlamyMichael Carrick named him on the bench a year ago for Boro against CardiffCredit: RexAfter initially taking a few weeks to find his feet at the Riverside, the 22-year-old attacker’s form soon picked up and he left the North East club after just six months.Aston Villa snapped him up in February in a deal that could rise to £15m and he instantly shone on the Premier League stage to help Unai Emery’s side finish fourth.Now Rogers is starring in the Champions League and was one of Villa’s best performers in Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich.It marked a huge 12 month turnaround for the England U21 international as exactly one year to the day earlier he only appeared for the final three minutes of a 2-0 Boro win.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAfter watching his display against Bayern, his former Boro manager Carrick said: “I actually messaged him and said this time last year you were coming on as sub against Cardiff. It’s probably my fault [he left] for not starting him.“It’s fantastic to see. We’d have loved to have kept him longer, and I told him that at the time, but the way that he’s kicked on is a credit to him.“He was a joy to work with and try and help and he’s gone to a whole new level now. Just watching him on Wednesday, he looks so at home and comfortable in them surroundings.“He’s not fazed by it and he’s getting the recognition he deserves.”Most read in ChampionshipFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAs part of the deal that took him to Villa, Boro would receive a further payment if Rogers makes an England appearance.And Carrick backed him to achieve that, saying: “If he keeps doing the right things, for sure.Prince William wildly celebrates historic Aston Villa win against Bayern Munich “I do think that to get in the England squad you have to earn that over time and he’s certainly on track to take that next step as long as he keeps doing the right things. And, at the moment, he’s doing just great.”Carrick is hoping he can lead his current Boro players to the top-flight to play against Rogers.They travel to Watford on Saturday, managed by his ex-Man Utd team-mate Tom Cleverley, on the back of successive victories over Stoke and West Brom.Carrick said: “Of course it’s a test. Every game is a test. I know Tom very well. The work that he’s doing is good.“They’re a good team and we know we’re in for a tough game. But we’re going there confident within reason and we need to be near our best again to try and get the right result.” More

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    Simone Inzaghi ‘REJECTS’ Man Utd offer after Sir Jim Ratcliffe lined up Inter boss to replace Erik ten Hag immediately

    MANCHESTER UNITED were turned down by Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi after lining him up as under-fire boss Erik ten Hag’s replacement, reports claim.Ten Hag, 54, has been enduring another turbulent campaign in charge of United, who are winless in their last four matches across all competitions.Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi turned down the Manchester United top jobCredit: EPAMan Utd chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe offered the manager’s position to Inzaghi with immediate effectCredit: PAMan Utd boss Erik ten Hag’s position has become increasingly untenableCredit: GettyThe Dutchman suffered a miserable 3-0 loss to Tottenham at Old Trafford, right after a shocking 1-1 home draw with minnows Twente in the Europa League and a goalless tie at Crystal Palace.And things got even worse on Thursday at Porto where the Red Devils surrendered a 2-0 lead and drew 3-3 thanks to a last-gasp equaliser by Harry Maguire, while Bruno Fernandes was sent off for the second time in just four days.Ten Hag’s position is becoming increasingly untenable and transfer insider Tancredi Palmeri revealed the Manchester giants’ chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe is holding “frantic talks” regarding the managerial position.Palmeri claims United could move for a new head coach during the upcoming international break, which starts on Monday.Read More on Man UtdAnd the Premier League giants reportedly offered the top job to Inzaghi, who won the Serie A last season and led Inter to the Champions League final the previous term.The Italian tactician was asked to take over with immediate effect but he declined.Palmeri tweeted: “Frantic talks underway at Manchester United to decide whether to proceed with a manager change during the break.”Manchester United in recent days offered the bench to Simone Inzaghi to take over immediately during the break but Inzaghi declined”.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSInzaghi’s Inter are currently fourth in the Serie A table with only two points separating them from leaders Napoli.The Nerazzurri won three and only lost one of their first six league matches.Erik ten Hag bemoans defensive lapses as Man Utd waste flying start in Porto The Italian champions are also impressing in the Champions League as they drew 0-0 at Manchester City – in an unofficial rematch after losing the 2023 final – and destroyed Red Star Belgrade 4-0.Simone Inzaghi’s managerial careerHere’s Simone Inzaghi’s full managerial career by the numbers:2016-21 LAZIOGames: 244Wins: 131Draws: 43Losses: 70Titles: Coppa Italia (2018-19), Italian Super Cup (2017, 2019)2021- INTER MILANGames: 166Wins: 108Draws: 31Losses: 27Titles: Serie A (2023-24), Coppa Italia (2021-22, 2022-23), Italian Super Cup (2021, 2022, 2023), Champions League final (2022-23)Nine managers Man Utd considered before keeping Erik ten HagERIK TEN HAG appears to be safe as Man Utd manager, but the Dutchman edged dangerously close to the sack.Here are nine managers Red Devils chiefs are reported to have considered for the job and what allegedly happened with each.Gareth SouthgateEnjoys plenty of support among Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos chiefs but made clear he wouldn’t talk to any clubs until after Euro 2024. There is yet to be any suggestion that contact was made with the England boss.Kieran McKennaTalks were opened with McKenna’s representatives before the FA Cup final, but the former Man Utd coach opted to sign a new deal with Ipswich after Ten Hag’s Wembley win.Roberto De ZerbiAllegedly sounded out before the FA Cup final with salary expectations discussed. But Ineos chiefs concluded ex-Brighton boss was not the right fit for the project.Thomas FrankBrentford boss met Man Utd representatives the day before the FA Cup final. The Dane also dined with Ratcliffe, Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard at the launch of a new Ineos car in February.Marco SilvaFulham boss reportedly met Man Utd representatives face-to-face two days before the FA Cup final, around the same time as Ten Hag was conducting his press conference.Mauricio PochettinoFell out of Man Utd’s thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.Thomas TuchelMade a very strong impression and came across well during a Monaco meeting. Personal terms were discussed before the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss decided to step back from the process.Ruben AmorimSporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.Roberto MartinezPortugal manager was considered in the early stages. More

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    Gareth Southgate vs Thomas Tuchel: How would rival bosses transform Man Utd flops and who is best man for the job?

    MANCHESTER UNITED have not enjoyed the bright new era they had hoped for following the arrival of Ineos.Nine games into the season have yielded just three wins and left the new Old Trafford hierarchy with a huge decision to make on manager Erik ten Hag.Erik ten Hag’s future at Man Utd is in the balanceCredit: ReutersPossible alternatives such as Gareth Southgate have been touted as his replacementCredit: GettyThomas Tuchel is another credible option, but who would make the best fit?Credit: AFPIneos backed the Dutchman with a contract extension along with new players and coaches in the summer.But the lifeless display in last Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham appeared to be the final straw for many disenchanted fans.Reports after the game suggested Ten Hag had two games to save his job. The first of these ended in a 3-3 draw at Porto after going 2-0 ahead and down to ten men.The second comes at Aston Villa on Sunday and is likely to be the day of reckoning for the former Ajax boss.READ MORE IN MAN UTDIt poses the question though, who will replace Ten Hag if he is sacked? Two of the most leading candidates are Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel.The ex-England boss’ old partnership with Dan Ashworth is one reason for the Southgate links, while former Chelsea boss Tuchel turned down the job in the summer, as SunSport exclusively revealed.Both have impressive managerial records in their own right, with Tuchel winning the Champions League with Chelsea and Southgate leading England to two European Championship finals.But how would they apply their differing football philosophies to try to sort the mess at Old Trafford?Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe would have them play as a teamOne of the biggest criticisms of United has been a shocking lack of organisation in transition, with the defensive, midfield and attacking units often too disjointed to execute an effective game plan.Last season for example saw United’s backline exposed time and time again as the midfield pushed up to press while the defence sat back, leaving acres of space for the opposition to run into.Erik ten Hag bemoans defensive lapses as Man Utd waste flying start in Porto The positions and specific roles of the players in the team such as Bruno Fernandes, who likes to drift to where the space is, don’t help this situation.One thing Tuchel has excelled at previously is teaching players to play in a more compact block with little space between the units that the opposition can then exploit.United’s lack of shape before Tottenham’s first goal allowed for the defensive horror show to occurTuchel’s 5-2-3/3-4-3 shape proved very difficult to break down while also handing players a platform to spring attacks from, whether playing a high defensive line or lower block.United have signed defenders with decent pace and have one of the strongest sweeper keepers in European football in Andre Onana, which would allow Tuchel to fully make use of his high-line system.Southgate, however, went for a different approach during his Three Lions tenure, with England tending to sit deeper and stay as a more compact unit in matches against more even opposition.Given the quality that United have in the final third Southgate would need to be more expansive and attacking in his approach.Once again the disjointed shape allowed Spurs to have acres of spaceEither of the two coaches would certainly be more effective in terms of turning United into an organised block that is more difficult to play through or around for opposition teams.It is likely, however, that given the current playing squad at United, Tuchel would be better suited for the role.Building from the back is still not workingWhen Ten Hag first took over at United there was a clear sense he would be looking to put in place a shape and structure that helped the team to become effective at building out from the back.At Ajax, this method of bringing the ball out was seen as one of the cornerstones of his in-possession tactical philosophy, but this has struggled to transition into tangible terms.With the alarming lack of a true left-back, Diogo Dalot has been asked to fulfil the role this season but comes inside as an inverted full-back to play as an extra midfielder when United are in possession.In the match against Spurs, this prompted the North London side to push into higher positions and press man to man, forcing United into mistakes.But Dalot rotating into the midfield with nobody to fill the left-side space simply unbalanced United and made them very easy to defend against.Tuchel’s tactical intelligence would again come into play were he to take over from Ten Hag as United coach. Here, after Diogo Dalot rotates into midfield there is no passing option out wide on the left wing, limiting United’s ability to build upThe former Bayern Munich boss is capable of creating teams that can play out from the back and through the thirds in this manner, but he understands the details of how you work to achieve this matter. Against Spurs, Tuchel would have likely seen the value in playing more directly to bypass the man-to-man press Ange Postecoglou’s side commit to.Under Southgate, we saw England be more expansive in terms of the way that they wanted to build the attack. There were, however, issues within the patterns of play as they moved the ball through the thirds and at times the players were still unsure as to how they were supposed to play.Here a lack of width makes it difficult for Andre Onana to play the ball out from the backUnited should have the players to be able to play out from the back in this manner, but there appear to be key details missing or a lack of execution from this plan under Ten Hag. Once again, Tuchel appears to be a better fix for these issues than Southgate.Tuchel would make United more balanced and effective in possessionThere is no doubt Ten Hag is in a difficult situation with the presence of Fernandes as, perhaps, the key player in their team. There is no doubt that on his day the Portuguese international midfielder is one of the best creative players in the Premier League. The issue this season, however, appears to be that he feels like he needs to do everything and at times he is getting pulled into positions that are unbalancing the United attack in general.This then feeds into the earlier point of United making it easy for the opposition to both defend and attack against them due to a lack of build-up options and a lack of bodies able to defend a transition.Fernandes, of course, is not the only player this applies to. While Dalot has looked competent moving into midfield, the deeper position of Joshua Zirkzee has seen United end up in some quite strange shapes in possession.United need a coach who understands that Fernandes is one of the key players in the team but also that the Portuguese international is more effective when he is playing in structure. Here, Fernandes pushes high which leads to Kobbie Mainoo trying to plug the gap, which unbalances the teamTuchel is not the kind of coach who would allow a player to constantly break out of position and role to the detriment of the overall team structure, and would likely start by trying to give players more defined tactical roles. Whether Southgate would be more effective in giving a player like Fernandes a more structured role is up for some debate. Look at the role of Jude Bellingham for England during the recent European Championships. While Bellingham was free to move and roam from the 10 position his performances dropped as the tournament went on and he would have benefitted from a more fixed position.With many United players liking to take up the same positions, it strangles them in terms of passing optionsThere is no doubt for us that United have added quality players to an already talented squad. They seem to be missing some real structure to their play in and out of possession though. This is, without a doubt, something that Tuchel could add.ConclusionThere is a growing sense that time at Old Trafford is running out for Ten Hag. His team have the beginnings of an idea and identity in terms of the way he wants them to play, but the details behind it still appear to be missing. READ MORE SUN STORIESGiven the analysis of Tuchel’s and Southgate’s coaching styles in reflection of the United squad, the choice between Tuchel and Southgate appears clear.Tuchel is a top tactical mind and appears to be the best fit for United, and the fact he remains available on the market could spark the club into action in the next few weeks.Nine managers Man Utd considered before keeping Erik ten HagERIK TEN HAG appears to be safe as Man Utd manager, but the Dutchman edged dangerously close to the sack.Here are nine managers Red Devils chiefs are reported to have considered for the job and what allegedly happened with each.Gareth SouthgateEnjoys plenty of support among Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos chiefs but made clear he wouldn’t talk to any clubs until after Euro 2024. There is yet to be any suggestion that contact was made with the England boss.Kieran McKennaTalks were opened with McKenna’s representatives before the FA Cup final, but the former Man Utd coach opted to sign a new deal with Ipswich after Ten Hag’s Wembley win.Roberto De ZerbiAllegedly sounded out before the FA Cup final with salary expectations discussed. But Ineos chiefs concluded ex-Brighton boss was not the right fit for the project.Thomas FrankBrentford boss met Man Utd representatives the day before the FA Cup final. The Dane also dined with Ratcliffe, Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard at the launch of a new Ineos car in February.Marco SilvaFulham boss reportedly met Man Utd representatives face-to-face two days before the FA Cup final, around the same time as Ten Hag was conducting his press conference.Mauricio PochettinoFell out of Man Utd’s thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.Thomas TuchelMade a very strong impression and came across well during a Monaco meeting. Personal terms were discussed before the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss decided to step back from the process.Ruben AmorimSporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.Roberto MartinezPortugal manager was considered in the early stages. More