Premier League

RASMUS HOJLUND’s performance in the boring Manchester derby showed why Ruben Amorim is going after a new striker in the summer.The Dane struggled to lead the line against Pep Guardiola’s side, whose own lack of intent in the 0-0 draw could be punished in the race for a Champions League place.Rasmus Hojlund had just 15 touches of the ball in 71 minutesCredit: EPAHojlund endured a difficult derbyCredit: ReutersBut Hojlund struggled to impact the game and barely had any involvement throughout the 71 minutes he was on the pitch.Indeed, the stats reflect just how tough he found it at a sunny Old Trafford.The 22-year-old had just 15 touches and completed only seven of his nine attempted passes – a 78 per cent accuracy.The down-trodden striker also failed to register a single touch in City’s box.READ MORE MAN UTD NEWSHojlund also had ZERO shots at Ederson’s goal.He lost the ball four times before being replaced by Joshua Zirkzee with 19 minutes left of normal time.Zirkzee – who had 11 touches in the final embers – was more of a handful for the City back line and went close to an elusive opener when he tested Ederson from Patrick Dorgu’s cross.But Hojlund perhaps showed why he has to be replaced up front in the summer.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordSunday’s draw came days after centre-back Harry Maguire was launched up front to find a winner against Nottingham Forest.And although Maguire couldn’t find a leveller, he accumulated more xG in added time than Hojlund had in his last 15 appearances prior.Man Utd star brutally compared to ‘BABY ELEPHANT’ on live TVThe former Atalanta man, signed for £72MILLION in 2023, has just eight goals this term – with only three in the Premier League.The Red Devils are set to battle Arsenal for Amorim’s former Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres.United and City have been below their usual standards this season and the goalless draw at Old Trafford displayed that.Amorim fielded seven defensive players and relied heavily on Bruno Fernandes for the occasional promising pass.The Portuguese manager said: “Both teams aren’t fighting for the title – that changed the game. “You can make a funny game but that feeling of not losing a point and winning every game at home is not here.”But Gary Neville slammed that sentiment and said the derby was a bad advert for the Prem.Neville said: “The best City and Man United teams would be very disappointed with the way they’ve approached the end of that game.”It looks like it’s Sunday afternoon and they’re going to go for a roast dinner together now. “They’re micromanaged to an inch of their lives, so robotic and it’s symptomatic of a lot of games that we’re watching nowadays.”Gary Neville slammed Man Utd’s dull 0-0 draw with Man CityRoy Keane also ripped into all the hugging and chatting at full-time.Amorim has since responded: “I understand that Gary is critical about everything so I understand that part.”Then I understand that we are in the moment that we are doing the worst season in history.”So we are not in the best moments to give the best spectacle to every fan.”But the fans were up for it, with many chanting in reference to the 130 charges City face for alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.And Guardiola condemned the home fans for sick chants about Phil Foden’s mum.The Red Devils face Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals, with the first leg in France coming up on Thursday.Read More on The SunMeanwhile, City sit fifth, still a point behind Chelsea after the Blues played out a 0-0 draw of their own against Brentford. Newcastle can still overtake them if they beat struggling Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Monday night. More

MANCHESTER CITY boss Pep Guardiola waved to United fans as he received pelters from the Stretford End.The City manager, 54, had just watched his side labour to a 0-0 bore draw with Man Utd at Old Trafford.Pep Guardiola waved at the Stretford EndThroughout the match, United fans chanted in reference to the 130 charges City face for alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.As Guardiola made his way to the tunnel following the conclusion of the match, fans booed and sang: “Cheating b*******, you know what you are.”Not being able to help himself, the Spaniard stopped before reaching the tunnel.Guardiola turned towards the Stretford End, waving in their direction with both hands.READ MORE MAN CITY NEWSThe three-time Champions League-winning manager’s response was met by sarcastic cheers from the United faithful.Standing just in front of Guardiola, City star Bernardo Silva couldn’t help but smirk, while a fan on social media admitted: “That was the most entertaining part of the game!”The 0-0 draw saw City miss the chance to leapfrog Chelsea into fourth place in the Premier League.United, meanwhile, clambered back above Tottenham into 13th, after the North Londoners had beaten Southampton 3-1 earlier in the day.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKGuardiola, 54, couldn’t help but react to United fans’ chantsCredit: AlamyAfter yesterday’s match, Guardiola slammed United fans for chants about Phil Foden’s mum.Sections of Old Trafford sang: “Phil Foden, your mum is a s**g.”‘They should be ashamed’ – Pep Guardiola slams Man Utd fans for sick chants aimed at City ace Phil Foden’s mumGuardiola said: “It was a lack of class.“We are so exposed in football — managers, owners and football players especially.”It is understood that senior figures within City were “shocked and disgusted” by the chants.Guardiola added: “I don’t understand the mind of the people involving the mum of Phil.’ASHAMED’“It’s a lack of integrity, class, and they should be ashamed.”Foden, 24, has this season been unable to replicate the form that saw him earn the PFA Player of the Year award last term.On the England star’s struggles, Guardiola said: “This season we dropped incredibly. Not just Phil Foden but all of them.“Last season, his impact was incredible.Read More on The Sun”With him and chances it’s normally bang, bang. Just not at the moment.”But the team is not playing at the level we had. And we were not at our level in this game.”Guardiola defended struggling star Phil FodenCredit: AP More

MANCHESTER UNITED captain Bruno Fernandes walked out for the Manchester derby with a very special fan.United played out a goalless draw in the Premier League with rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford in a game that is surely to be forgotten by history.Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes led his team-mates out with a very special fanCredit: GettyFernandes was joined by seven-year-old Man Utd super fan Bobby Moore from BelfastCredit: GettyBobby became Man Utd’s first ever wheelchair mascotCredit: GettyWhat will always be remembered, however, is what preceded the match as the two teams entered the pitch.Fernandes, 30, led the way for the hosts and was joined by seven-year-old Man Utd super fan Bobby Moore from Belfast.And Bobby made history as the Red Devils’ first ever mascot that uses a wheelchair.The adorable United enthusiast was discovered by the Portugal international after watching him celebrating his penalty in the first Manchester derby of the season at the Etihad.Read More on Man UtdThe playmaker led the Manchester giants to a stunning 2-1 comeback victory over City in December.Fernandes’ spot-kick cancelled out Josko Gvardiol’s opener before Amad Diallo’s dramatic last-gasp winner three months ago.But it was Bobby who stole the headlines with his passionate celebration of that major victory that won Fernandes over.So much so that the ex-Sporting Lisbon star invited him over to Man Utd’s training ground on Friday.Most read in FootballAnd then the United fan was asked to be the team’s official mascot for the big game with City.Every Man City player joined the Portuguese ace in honouring this adorable supporter by shaking his hand during the pre-match greetings.Brandon Williams opens up on struggles with ‘ridiculous’ Man Utd pressure and being ‘stabbed in the back’ by friendsMoore saw his favourite team holding its ground against the Citizens, who are chasing a top-five finish that will almost definitely seal Champions League qualification.United, on the other hand, will almost certainly need to win the Europa League to return to Europe’s elite competition next season. More

MANCHESTER UNITED could not win their final derby of the season with a 0-0 draw at home to Man City.Ruben Amorim’s men huffed and puffed but ultimately could not find a way through to goal at Old Trafford.Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd could only muster a 0-0 draw against Man CityCredit: PAUnited failed to hit the target at Old TraffordCredit: PAThe result leaves them 13th in the table, one point above Tottenham.But United are also four off 12th-place Brentford and seven from the top half.And any hopes of European football are now set to rest on their chances in the Europa League.So just who had a good game at the Theatre of Dreams today?READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd did anyone have a game to forget?Here, SunSport’s Ken Lawrence delivers his Man United player ratings…ANDRE ONANA – 5There are always more questions than answers over the form of the Cameroonian ‘keeper but this was a calmer display from him.Erratic or not, he reacted well to flick away a Casemiro header from a City corner that looked bound for his own net.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSHis shot–stopping, even if he didn’t have to deal with anything that challenging from a mainly tame City attack minus Erling Haaland, was tidy and decisive.But one save from Omar Marmoush was pure show-boating.Wife of Man Utd goalkeeper Andre Onana ‘robbed of £62K handbag and Rolex’ in horror theft as man, 25, chargedNOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 6Dependable, flexible, not brilliant but certainly never bad and playing as a right–sided defender produced a great tackle to deny Phil Foden.Spent most of the game taking responsibility for guarding the dangerous Omar Marmoush and made a pretty good fist of it.His strengths – why he was bought – are still more as a wing back because he has a bit of pace as well as intelligence but got no chance to show those qualities.HARRY MAGUIRE – 5Sometimes looks like he turns slower than a supertanker but he does love a tackle – like the belter early on that denied Omar Marmoush.Perhaps his biggest problem is that he’s not a footballing central defender – his weight of passing can be as unpredictable as the intended direction and he had a lot of the ball in this one.Hooked in favour of Victor Lindelof early in the second half clearly suffering from a niggle and with eyes on Thursday’s Europa League visit to Lyon.LENY YORO – 6 Has begun to show that he could be an inspired buy after settling down following his £52.2M summer arrival from Lille.The French international, remember, is still only 19 but he’s learning fast in a far more furious and competitive environment than Ligue 1.Long–term Ruben Amorim is bound to envisage him as the central figure in his back three alongside Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt.DIOGO DALOT – 6Loves the challenge Ruben Amorim sets as part of the 3-4-3 system that has seemed like a tactical foreign language to quite a few in the squadUp against a very tricky youngster in Nico O’Reilly, he had a tough time containing him at first but his far greater experience began to tell.Took up some really aggressive positions when United had the ball and his deliveries from wide right caused the City defence a good few problems.CASEMIRO – 4The 33-year-old has been looking more sprightly of late but once again he looked like a pensioner at times.His passing from deep was loose and often dropped those around him into brown stuff while his relationship with Manuel Ugarte alongside him was almost non-existent.Almost certainly on the way out at Old Trafford – certainly from the manager’s main picks – next season, although he still has two years of his £350,000 a week contract to run.MANUEL UGARTE – 4The last of ex-boss Erik ten Hag’s buys at £42.1million from Paris Saint-Germain and it’s still taking time for him to find his feet.In fact too often the Uruguayan’s feet just weren’t quick enough to cope with the fast transitions that his manager is demanding from his two central midfielders.Even in a deeply uninspiring encounter that was supposed to be a local derby  but lacked any fire he struggled to make any impact.PATRICK DORGU – 5 Hasn’t exactly been Danish dynamite since his £25M move from Lecce and the 20 year old still has plenty of learning to do.Yet the wing back certainly does give United a physical presence on the left, although he needs to calm down when his overlaps present him with shooting chances.One effort in particular mid-way through the first half was fourth division stuff. Young or not, inexperienced or not he has to up his gameBRUNO FERNANDES – 8 United’s Captain Marmite was named Prem Premier League Player of the Month for March just before kick–off.He was player of this match, too, where he never stopped working, even if he didn’t have much to beat in a dull, dull affairOften his vision is just too sophisticated for some team-mates who never will be able to lace the boots of a player who, as usual, covered every blade of grass.RASMUS HOJLUND – 3Took him 21 games to collect his eighth goal of the season for United, swiftly followed by one for Denmark, but in last week’s 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest looked as lost as ever again.As he once more did here although his turn and flick to send Alejandro Garnacho through right at the start showed real centre forward awareness.But the story, mainly, remains the same for the £72M striker who may not have set that price but will probably never live up to it.ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 7 At some stage, surely, he’ll gain more composure – when to shoot and when to pass to team mates better–placed.As maddening as the 20 year old can be he does have pace and aggression and just after 30 seconds was brought down by Ruben Dias’s desperate challenge on the edge of the City box.Ran at the opposition defence all the way through and whistled one superb strike just wide – a constant threat who may frustrate at times but still gets Stretford End bums off seats.SUBS :VICTOR LINDELOF (for Maguire 58) – 6Understood to be on his way this summer but looked decent.JOSHUA ZIRKZEE (for Hojlund 71) – 5Pulled out a great save from Ederson and still has fans’ backing.Read More on The SunMASON MOUNT (for Ugarte 71 ) – 5 Gaining fitness now and could figure as a starter in Lyon on Thursday. 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FANS declared “the curse is real” as Aaron Ramsdale was relegated from the Premier League for the THIRD time in his career.The goalie went down with his ship yet again as Southampton retreated straight back to the Championship after last year’s promotion.Fans said ‘the curse is real’ after Aaron Ramsdale was relegated with SouthamptonCredit: GettyIt’s not his first Premier League exit after going down with BournemouthCredit: Times Newspapers LtdRamsdale also suffered relegation while at Sheffield UnitedCredit: Jamie McPhilimey – The SunRamsdale himself reckons the drop was inevitable after a 3-1 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday.But the ace, who also suffered relegation with Bournemouth in 2020 and Sheffield United a year later, said the Saints squad are hell-bent on beating Derby’s pitiful record haul of 11 points.The South-Coast side still need two more points to achieve that as they became the quickest team to have the dreaded ‘R’ tag next to their name in the table.Ramsdale, 26, said: “We knew it was probably going to be inevitable at some point, we haven’t been good enough all season. We were dominated by the better team.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“We dug in in the second half but it is a sad day and one that this group of players will learn from.”We want to get as many points as we can until the end of the season. No-one wants that (Derby) record.”Ramsdale joined the likes of fellow keeper Ben Foster and Kevin Phillips in a hat-trick of relegations.The record is five and jointly-held by ex-Bolton striker Nathan Blake and Icelander Herman Hreidarsson – the latter of which went down with FIVE different sides.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSAnd fans were quick to declare that “the curse is real.”One said: “Ramsdale curse is real I’m afraid.”Disgusted Southampton fans stream out of St Mary’s 27 minutes into Tottenham clash after going 4-0 downAnother declared: “Relegationdale.”One noted: “You have to appreciate his consistency.”Another added: “He shouldn’t let it get him down.”Saints go straight back down having won promotion via the play-offs last season under Russell Martin.Ramsdale, who joined from Arsenal for £18million in the summer, added: “Some are experiencing relegation for the first time so there will be a lot of emotions from them over the next few days.“The lads who have been here before, we have to try and pick the young boys up. This group did incredible things last season.“Nobody will want to jump ship with seven games to go. We are tight and we have just got to pull each other through now.”Saints chief Ivan Juric replaced Martin after the former Scotland international was axed in December.The Croat feels the club got recruitment wrong and that his young squad were not physically up to the rigours of the Premier League.But he was blown away by the away fans applauding his relegated flops off the pitch at full-time.The ex-Roma chief said: “For me, it is something completely new.“It was something incredible the way they love their team, their squad, even the players that we are relegated (with), incredible for me, incredible.“They really deserve much, much more and every person that works at Southampton has to do it better and create something much stronger than we created this year.”Juric is not expected to be in charge next term, with Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl among the candidates to replace him.Yet he seemed open to staying on and helping the team fight out at the Championship, adding: “It is really good to be a coach in the Premier League and if I took the long way to come back here, I am ready.“Then I have to see with the club, with the ideas, with everything and what they think, what I think and whether we can do it or not.”Saints’ fate was sealed by Brennan Johnson’s double and a Mathys Tel penalty, while Mateus Fernandes struck a consolation.Read More on The SunAnge Postecoglou was impressed with two-goal Johnson ahead of Thursday’s pivotal Europa League quarter-final first leg with Eintracht Frankfurt.The Aussie added: “Whenever Brennan plays, he’s always a goal threat. He’s really important for us in the way we play. I was really pleased with him, not just his goals.” More