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    Man Utd flop Jadon Sancho makes bizarre claim about Enzo Maresca being reason he joined Chelsea but it doesn’t add up

    JADON SANCHO has revealed Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was a key factor in his decision to move to Stamford Bridge — but does his story check out?Sancho, 24, is seeking to reignite his career by ending his Manchester United hell after completing a season-long loan to rivals Chelsea.Jadon Sancho said Enzo Maresca was a key factor in his decision to move to ChelseaThe 24-year-old said he knew him from Maresca’s time with Pep GuardiolaSancho enjoyed his first Chelsea sessions this week during the international breakAnd the Blues have an obligation to make the move permanent for between £20-25m next summer if certain criteria are met.Sancho told Chelsea’s official website: “I think it’s the manager who really drew me to the project.”I knew him from his time with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. “He spoke to me on the phone about this project and what he was building here, and for a young player like myself it’s exciting and I can’t wait to get started.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHowever Sancho left Man City’s academy in 2017, long before Maresca was even in the picture.Maresca first joined the Citizens to lead their Elite Development Squad team to Premier League 2 glory in 2020/21.Before returning to work as one of Guardiola’s assistants in the treble-winning campaign of 2022/23.All of which doesn’t exactly align with Sancho saying he knew him from the manager’s time with Guardiola.Most read in FootballMaresca joined Man City three years after Sancho’s exitFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThat’s not to say that the two have never met, but Sancho’s claim about working together at City has raised eyebrows and questions.Whatever the truth behind his statement, Sancho seems to have a good grasp of what is required under the Italian tactician.Jadon Sancho compared to Brazil football legend by excited Chelsea fans as ex-Man Utd star has first training session, ChelseaFC.mp4The fifth different Chelsea boss since Todd Boehly’s reign started in 2021, let Raheem Sterling join Arsenal on loan after stating that he “prefers a different kind of winger”.Sancho revealed that Maresca’s deadline day phone call persuaded him to join Chelsea.The former Dortmund wideman added: “They’re signing me for a reason and to contribute to the team, and I’m ready to do that.”I enjoy his style of play. The wingers when they get on the ball, he loves them to go one versus one and be direct. “We play a lot of one-twos with the 10s and the striker, combination plays. It’s very attractive and it’s a style that I play.”Sancho will face stiff competition for minutes, battling with the likes of Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk, Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke for places in Maresca’s starting lineup.But he left Chelsea fans convinced they have their own Ronaldinho after clips emerged from his first training session on Wednesday. More

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    Man Utd flop Antony ‘to be offered remarkable escape route out of Old Trafford in days by former Red Devils manager’

    MANCHESTER UNITED flop Antony could be offered the chance to join Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce, according to reports.The Brazilian winger, 24, has endured a nightmare two years at Old Trafford since arriving from Ajax for £85.5million.Antony could be set for a loan move in the coming daysCredit: RexJose Mourinho is reportedly interested in bringing him to FenerbahceCredit: GettyLast season, he contributed just one goal and one assist in 29 Premier League games.And his overall tally in all competitions since moving to England stands at 11 goals and five assists in 83 appearances.Erik ten Hag has handed him just one minute of action in Man Utd’s opening three Premier League matches.Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo are all ahead of him in the pecking order.READ MORE ON MAN UTDAnd while the transfer window has closed across most of Europe, it remains open in Turkey until September 13.According to Sport Witness, Mourinho’s Fenerbahce are eyeing up a loan move for Antony.They hope to have a deal finalised by Wednesday evening as they look to make the South American forward their latest signing.Mourinho, who joined Fenerbahce in the summer, has already brought in the likes of Youssef En-Nesyri, Caglar Soyuncu and Allan Saint-Maximin.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAntony managed just two goal contributions in the Premier League last seasonAnd the addition of Antony could further his hopes of leading Fenerbahce to a first league title since 2014.Meanwhile, their rivals Galatasaray have sealed a loan deal for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.’Will you let me finish’ snaps Gary Neville live on Sky Sports as Man Utd legend refuses to answer Carragher’s questionThe Nigerian forward, 25, failed to secure a transfer to Chelsea or Saudi Arabia on Deadline Day.Now he is in Turkey as he joins the club on a temporary basis.Man Utd player ratings vs LiverpoolMANCHESTER UNITED had a horror show against Liverpool as they lost 3-0.Casemiro was so bad he was taken off at half-time.But were there any positive performances at Old Trafford?Andre Onana – 5Nothing he could do about any of Liverpool’s goals and made a few saves to prevent the scoreline from getting worse.Noussair Mazraoui – 5Came close to scoring in the first half and looked solid enough against Diaz although he did push up too high before Liverpool’s opener.Matthijs de Ligt – 4Left Diaz and Domink Szobozslai in acres of space for the opening goal but was left in a tricky spot thanks to Casemiro’s error. Booked for a shocking late tackle on Diaz.Lisandro Martinez – 3Lost Diaz for the second goal which meant the Colombian was able to score unmarked from the penalty spot.Also guilty of giving away the ball too easily and was not tight enough with his marking.Diogo Dalot – 4Was caught out pushing up too quickly for the first goal and did not do enough to stop Mo Salah’s cross in the build-up to Liverpool’s second.Looked dangerous in attack at times but too infrequently as he had plenty of defensive work to do since Rashford did not track Trent Alexander-Arnold.Casemiro – 2A horror show in the first half as he gave the ball away in the lead up to both of Liverpool’s goals.He was caught on the ball for the second after a shocking misplaced pass left his defence vulnerable for the opening goal. Hooked at half-time.Kobbie Mainoo – 4Fell victim to the Casemiro curse as he was shrugged off the ball in a terrible position, allowing Liverpool to add a third with ease.Bruno Fernandes – 5Was United’s most creative spark but that is not saying much. Tried to get his side going in the first half but looked short of ideas and inspiration after the break.Alejandro Garnacho – 4Still appears to be a little rusty and is yet to hit the heights he reached last season.Marcus Rashford – 3Nothing came off for the out-of-sorts forward who must be running out of chances before he is dropped.Joshua Zirkzee – 4Quiet up-front and had little influence on the wing as well, but missed a clear-cut chance with his head and should have turned in Rashford’s cross which he met at the far post.SubsToby Collyer (for Casemiro, HT) – 5A difficult game for the youngster to make his Premier League debut but he put himself about and won a few tackles.Harry Maguire (for De Ligt, 69mins) – 5Shored things up at the back as Liverpool took their foot off the pedal.Amad (for Garnacho, 69mins) – 5Provided a spark on the right and looked more lively than Garnacho.Christian Eriksen (for Zirkzee, 86mins) – N/ANot on long enough to make an impact. More

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    Man Utd full squad wages revealed with two stars tied at top and Ten Hag’s main man shockingly way down at very bottom

    MANCHESTER UNITED’S wages for the 2024-25 season have been revealed – with Bruno Fernandes joining Marcus Rashford as the top earners.The Red Devils endured another difficult Premier League season last term as they finished eighth but will be determined to improve this time around. Bruno Fernandes signed a new Manchester United contract this summerCredit: GettyHis new £325,000-a-week deal puts him level with Marcus RashfordCredit: GettyErik ten Hag looked set to be sacked but won the FA Cup and then signed a shock new deal.And he has made the most of his backing to bolster his squad with various new arrivals in the summer transfer window.Joshua Zirkzee was the first man through the door before Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.Manuel Ugarte’s deadline-day switch from Paris Saint-Germain completed the first-team incomings – as Jadon Sancho headed to Chelsea on loan. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLSancho is among the top-paid players on the books at Old Trafford – but is still well short of the deals Rashford and Fernandes are on.Rashford’s contract is said to be worth a whopping £325,000 and runs until 2028.Fernandes, meanwhile, was tipped for a summer exit but, like his boss, performed a U-turn and put pen to paper again.And that new deal also saw the captain rewarded with improved terms, boosting his weekly wages up to £325,000 as well.Most read in FootballBest new sign-up offersSunSport exclusivesCasemiro completes the United salary podium on £300,000 with Mason Mount on £250,000.Antony reportedly earns £200,000 per week and new centre-back De Ligt (£195,000) pips fellow defender Harry Maguire (£190,000).Did Mazraoui Just Solve Man Utd’s Attacking Problems? | Tactics ExposedFurther back, Christian Eriksen and Luke Shaw are said to take home £150,000 a week with the trio of Lisandro Martinez, Andre Onana and Victor Lindelof all on £120,000.Summer signings Yoro (£115,000) and Zirkzee (£105,000) complete the list of players reportedly on six figures each week. Rising star Alejandro Garnacho will no doubt hope he can improve on his £50,000-per-week contract.The same goes for £20,000-a-week Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo (£29,000), too. It is still unclear exactly what Mazraoui and Ugarte are being paid by United. Ugarte allegedly earned just shy of £100,000 per week during his one year at PSG while Mazraoui pocketed £130,000 a week at Bayern Munich. The Red Devils cut some big earners off the wage bill in the summer by letting Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Scott McTominay leave. Casemiro’s wages are £300,000 per week at Old TraffordCredit: GettyMatthijs de Ligt’s contract is worth £195,000 per weekCredit: PAMason Mount earns £250,000 per weekCredit: GettyKobbie Mainoo (£20,000) and Alejandro Garnacho (£50,000) will both be due pay rises soonCredit: Getty More

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    Forgotten Man Utd flop Bebe joins NINTH club since bizarre Old Trafford transfer after ripping previous contract up

    FORMER Manchester United wonderkid Bebe has joined the 12th club of his career.The 34-year-old saw his previous contract at LaLiga side Rayo Vallecano ripped up last week.Bebe was signed by Man Utd for £7.4mCredit: Getty – ContributorBebe (right) played just seven times for UnitedCredit: GettyHe has now signed for Racing de FerrolCredit: AFPBebe had spent the last five years at the club, but his contract was terminated to help them reduce their wage bill.And it has not taken long for the player to find a new home, agreeing a deal with Spanish side Racing de Ferrol.The team from the north of the country came tenth in the second tier last season.It is Bebe’s ninth club since leaving Man Utd initially on loan and then permanently in 2014.READ MORE ON MAN UTDThe Portuguese-born Cape Verde international was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson four years earlier for a reported fee of £7.4million.He went on to play just seven times for United, scoring two goals.Bebe had loan spells at Turkish side Besiktas and in his homeland with Rio Ave and Pacos de Ferreira before signing for Benfica.But he failed to make an impact in Lisbon and soon departed for Spain.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSHe has been there ever since also playing for Cordoba, Eibar and Real Zaragoza.Bebe’s rise to the top is the ultimate rags to riches story as he lived in a homeless shelter for eight years as a teenager.It was there where he learned to play football before catching the eye of top scouts at the European Street Football Festival.Man Utd’s best XI of academy graduatesMan Utd player ratings vs LiverpoolMANCHESTER UNITED had a horror show against Liverpool as they lost 3-0.Casemiro was so bad he was taken off at half-time.But were there any positive performances at Old Trafford?Andre Onana – 5Nothing he could do about any of Liverpool’s goals and made a few saves to prevent the scoreline from getting worse.Noussair Mazraoui – 5Came close to scoring in the first half and looked solid enough against Diaz although he did push up too high before Liverpool’s opener.Matthijs de Ligt – 4Left Diaz and Domink Szobozslai in acres of space for the opening goal but was left in a tricky spot thanks to Casemiro’s error. Booked for a shocking late tackle on Diaz.Lisandro Martinez – 3Lost Diaz for the second goal which meant the Colombian was able to score unmarked from the penalty spot.Also guilty of giving away the ball too easily and was not tight enough with his marking.Diogo Dalot – 4Was caught out pushing up too quickly for the first goal and did not do enough to stop Mo Salah’s cross in the build-up to Liverpool’s second.Looked dangerous in attack at times but too infrequently as he had plenty of defensive work to do since Rashford did not track Trent Alexander-Arnold.Casemiro – 2A horror show in the first half as he gave the ball away in the lead up to both of Liverpool’s goals.He was caught on the ball for the second after a shocking misplaced pass left his defence vulnerable for the opening goal. Hooked at half-time.Kobbie Mainoo – 4Fell victim to the Casemiro curse as he was shrugged off the ball in a terrible position, allowing Liverpool to add a third with ease.Bruno Fernandes – 5Was United’s most creative spark but that is not saying much. Tried to get his side going in the first half but looked short of ideas and inspiration after the break.Alejandro Garnacho – 4Still appears to be a little rusty and is yet to hit the heights he reached last season.Marcus Rashford – 3Nothing came off for the out-of-sorts forward who must be running out of chances before he is dropped.Joshua Zirkzee – 4Quiet up-front and had little influence on the wing as well, but missed a clear-cut chance with his head and should have turned in Rashford’s cross which he met at the far post.SubsTom Collyer (for Casemiro, HT) – 5A difficult game for the youngster to make his Premier League debut but he put himself about and won a few tackles.Harry Maguire (for De Ligt, 69mins) – 5Shored things up at the back as Liverpool took their foot off the pedal.Amad (for Garnacho, 69mins) – 5Provided a spark on the right and looked more lively than Garnacho.Christian Eriksen (for Zirkzee, 86mins) – N/ANot on long enough to make an impact. More

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    Chelsea fans convinced Jadon Sancho is the new Ronaldinho after seeing first training clips since Man Utd transfer

    CHELSEA fans are convinced they have their own Ronaldinho after watching Jadon Sancho in his first training session.The winger joined the club on a season-long loan on deadline day.Jadon Sancho impressed fans in his first training sessionCredit: InstagramThe winger found the bottom corner time after timeHe also looked sharp with one-touch passesCredit: InstagramSancho took some advice from his new boss Enzo MarescaCredit: InstagramHe even earned a comparison from RonaldinhoCredit: GettyHe was made an outcast at Manchester United after falling out with Erik ten Hag and Chelsea could make his move permanent for as little as £20million next summer.Sancho, 24, is yet to make his Blues debut but Chelsea fans are already excited at what is about to come after witnessing his first training session.The former England star was seen hitting the back of the net with strike after strike, finding the bottom corner with ease.His one-touch passing looked crisp too with one supporter comparing Sancho to a legendary Brazilian.READ MORE ON MAN UTDThey wrote: “We have our own Ronaldinho.”Another fan reacted saying: “He’s going to make a huge impact on the team.”A third added: “Exciting times. Jadon’s first session at Cobham is just the beginning. Can’t wait to see what he brings to the team.”And another commented: “He’s about to cause absolute mayhem.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSChanges to the Premier League for 2024/25NOTHING stays the same forever.And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.There’s also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the ‘multiball’ system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides – but not straight away.Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25.There is plenty of hope and expectation surrounding Sancho but his first task is to break into the team, and there is considerable competition.On the right flank he has competition from Chelsea’s player of the season last year, Cole Palmer.Chelsea confirm the signing of Jadon Sancho on loan from Man UtdWhile Noni Madueke has made a super start to the season with a hat-trick against Wolves.On the left Sancho will have to dislodge £54million summer signing Pedro Neto, with Mykahilo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku also available to boss Enzo Maresca. More

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    England wildcard Angel Gomes is Man Utd hero’s godson and reinvented himself in new position after quitting Old Trafford

    LUCKY for Angel Gomes that he did not find playing holding midfield as “boring” as Marcus Rashford – or the Lille star may never have had his shot with England.Gomes, 24, is the eye-catching name in the new-look Three Lions squad named by interim boss Lee Carsley for the upcoming clashes with the Republic of Ireland and Finland.Angel Gomes’ performances with Lille earned him a first ever England call-upCredit: GettyGomes reinvented himself after leaving Manchester United in 2020Credit: AFP or licensorsGomes has a lot of history with England interim boss Lee CarsleyCredit: Instagram / @angel.gomes10England ace Gomes won the Under-21 Euros with CarsleyCredit: GettyMost fans will vaguely remember the Londoner as the pint-sized No10 who became Manchester United’s youngest debutant since Duncan Edwards in 2017 – before leaving on a free three years later.That is unless they take a keen interest in Ligue 1 or the England Under-21s, of course.For that is where respective managers Paulo Fonseca and Carsley have repurposed Gomes into a deep-lying playmaker who controls the ball in front of the back four.He was a revelation in that role alongside Liverpool’s Curtis Jones as Carsley’s England won the Under-21 Euros without conceding a single goal last summer.Read More on FootballSpeaking ahead of that tournament, Gomes revealed he revels in playing No6 even more than his old position behind the strikers – and deems it far less dull than ex-United team-mate Rashford did.Gomes said: “One hundred per cent, I enjoy it more.“Deep down, I’ve always been a No10 but always appreciated and enjoyed players behind me, the deep-lying midfield: Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta, [Paul] Scholes, [Andrea] Pirlo. “I’ve always admired them growing up. Because I’ve played higher I know what’s required when playing lower. I can distribute and help the team build which I actually enjoy.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS“It’s funny because I was speaking to Rashford at St George’s Park [in June 2023] and when we were younger, believe it or not he was a No6 when he was growing up.“You wouldn’t expect that! It was around the Under-15s or 16s. He did it for a couple of games and then moved back up to his natural position.England appoint Lee Carsley interim boss“We were speaking about that, and he was saying, ‘Do you not find it boring though? You can’t attack’.“I said, ‘No I don’t, but if I had your pace and attributes then I would find it boring!’”Cristiano Ronaldo once advised a young Gomes to “try to score” during a training session.But the godson of CR7’s former United team-mate Nani has always preferred assisting over putting the ball in the back of the net.Gomes, who joined United at the age of six and is eligible to play for Portugal through his former footballer father, likes the “calculation” of finding the right angle for a precise pass.Carsley pointed out the importance of having players who are used to winning things at international level when naming his squad last week.Gomes’ Lille evolutionGomes falls into that category, having triumphed alongside Phil Foden at the Under-17 World Cup in 2017 as well as last summer with the Under-21s in Georgia.Expectation weighed down on him after making his United bow aged just 16 years and 263 days, claiming that his wonderkid tag at the time was “obviously not something I wanted”.He only made 10 United appearances before making the surprise decision to leave, explaining that he “had to follow my heart… I felt that, if I had stayed, there wouldn’t have been a lot of opportunities for me”.There is a sense of irony to those words now given United’s struggles in holding midfield – but then again, no one saw him in that role when he departed Old Trafford.It was at Lille, where he pitched up after leaving his boyhood club, that he eventually converted to that position – having been tried in pretty much every other midfield role.“Demanding” and “very detailed” Fonseca played a key role in the youngster learning his new position, speaking in Portuguese and English to Gomes who he viewed as “the most intelligent player in my team”.Gomes’ Carsley linkThe 51-year-old left Lille for AC Milan this summer where English trio Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham will hope for similar developmental guidance.Gomes, who celebrated his birthday on Saturday, has become a regular starter for his club.He suffered a scare when clashing heads with defender Amadou Kone against Reims last month, prompting a trip to the hospital, but thankfully he was OK.Gomes’ biggest headache has been catching the attention of viewers back home.He explained: “It’s difficult. Whoever watches knows how well I’ve played in games but a lot of people don’t. A lot of people go off who’s scored or assisted.“When I play deeper, chipping in [with goals and assists] isn’t the be all and end all. If we win and I play well then that’s great for me.READ MORE SUN STORIES“It’s difficult because all eyes are on the Premier League and rightly so. That’s the pinnacle, the highest level at the moment.”Luckily, Gomes has a manager in Carsley who is well aware of how exciting he can be.ENGLAND AWAYANGEL GOMES is one of a vast number of Englishmen flourishing abroad with the days of our talents being afraid to leave our shores well and truly gone.From Jude Bellingham to Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson to Ivan Toney, interim boss Lee Carsley has continental players coming out of his ears.ENGLAND ABROAD XI: Nathan Trott (FC Copenhagen); Ben Godfrey (Atalanta), Eric Dier (Bayern Munich), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Lyon); Angel Gomes (Lille), Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid) Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AC Milan); Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Samuel Iling-Junior (Bologna); Harry Kane (Bayern Munich). More

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    Man Utd re-sign former star in shock free transfer 21 years after he left the club

    MANCHESTER UNITED have signed former academy player Tommy Rowe.The midfielder has joined in a player-coach capacity in a role previously held by Tom Huddlestone and Paul McShane.Tommy Rowe has joined Man Utd as a player-coachCredit: GettyRowe, 35, played for Doncaster in League Two last season, scoring four goals in 36 games.He haS 650 career appearances to his name for the likes of Peterborough, Bristol City and Stockport, having left Old Trafford in 2003 when he was released as a youngster. Fast forward 21 years and Rowe has returned to the club where he could feature for the Under-21s side.However he will work primarily as a coach with United saying he “will create various unique development opportunities for United’s Academy players by coaching from within training sessions and driving daily standards on and off the pitch”.READ MORE ON MAN UTDRowe could feature in the EFL trophy – just as Huddlestone did last season.The competition allows five over-age players to feature, as does Premier League 2.Huddlestone fulfilled the same player-coach role and made 24 appearances for the U21s before leaving this summer.United have been drawn in the same EFL Trophy group as one of Rowe’s former clubs, Doncaster, as well as Huddersfield and Barnsley.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAnd they got their campaign off to the best possible start with a 3-2 win over Barnsley.The Red Devils have won two of their opening three games in Premier League 2, having finished 12th in the league last term.Erik ten Hag warns Manuel Ugarte could take MONTHS to get fit in further blow to Man Utd fans after Liverpool hammering More

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    Bruno Fernandes should be STRIPPED of the Man Utd captaincy to ‘free him’, says former Premier League boss

    ERIK TEN HAG has been urged to STRIP Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United captaincy in order to “free him.” Fernandes inherited the armband from Harry Maguire last summer – at the start of Ten Hag’s second season in charge. Bruno Fernandes watches on in defeat to LiverpoolCredit: GettyThe Dutchman is now in his third campaign at Old Trafford and suffered a horror 3-0 defeat at home to Liverpool over the weekend. United came under criticism with captain Fernandes among those in the firing line. And former Premier League manager Alan Pardew claimed the midfielder would actually benefit without the responsibilities of being captain. Pardew said on talkSPORT: “Today, it was never Fernandes because they never had the ball enough. READ MORE ON man utd”Defensively, he’s not been called upon. How can he lead the team? It’s a very difficult one for him.”I actually think it would be better for him as a footballer to take it off him. “I think it might free him up a bit, let him be a bit more free-minded. He’s probably worrying about the back four, worrying about the wingers. “You don’t really know how to deal with it. I don’t know, I think it’s a hamper to him.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFernandes’ midfield partner Casemiro was hauled off at half-time against Liverpool after his error led to the visitor’s opener. But Fernandes showed his leadership by rallying behind the Brazilian, SunSport can reveal. Fernandes told the squad everyone had to take responsibility for a performance which many pundits think could spell the beginning of the end for manager Ten Hag.Man Utd Player Ratings Casemiro’s Nightmare Against Liverpool More