Premier League

ALEJANDRO GARNACHO made an incredible nod to his hero Cristiano Ronaldo during yesterday’s match with Arsenal.The Manchester United starlet came on as an 84th minute substitute at the Emirates.
Alejandro Garnacho wore a throwback pair of bootsCredit: Getty
Cristiano Ronaldo wore the same boots in 2009Credit: PA
Garnacho, 19, only briefly overlapped with his idol Ronaldo in United’s first team.
But he has continued to idolise the 38-year-old since his departure for Saudi Arabia.
During yesterday’s match, Garnacho wore a pair of red Nike boots made famous by Ronaldo.
The Portuguese superstar wore the same boots during Man United’s Champions League demolition of Arsenal in 2009.
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Sir Alex Ferguson’s side had gone into the semi-final second leg clash in North London leading 1-0 from the first match at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo then inspired an incredible three-goal blitz at the Emirates, setting up Park Ji-sung for his side’s first before whacking home a free-kick from miles out for their second.
He then finished off an amazing counter-attack also involving Wayne Rooney and Park for United’s third.
Garnacho thought he had done his hero proud on 88 minutes yesterday, when he appeared to have swept the Red Devils into the lead yesterday.
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But his effort was brutally disallowed for a narrow offside, before two late Arsenal goals saw the Gunners win 3-1.
After the match, Ian Wright called for Garnacho to start over Antony for Erik ten Hag’s side.
He said on Premier League Productions: “I think Garnacho is a positive.
“I think they’ve got to find some way of getting a midfielder in their team who can get on the ball, control it and then use the pace of Rashford and use the pace of Garnacho.
“Because they’re playing on the counter-attack. I’m listening to Bruno Fernandes saying he was happy with the way it went, he thought they played well and dug in.
“Man United have got the kind of players [to attack more].
“We saw it with Garnacho, who I cannot believe does not start in front of someone like Antony.
“He [Garnacho] can come on in that game and, even if you’re playing in that style of football, he’s surely going to be better than what Antony is giving you at this particularly moment.
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“We saw it in that little cameo there what he did.
“For me, Man United are only missing a person to get the ball in midfield and control it and pass it so they can build up their movement off the ball.”
Garnacho, 19, thought he’d won yesterday’s matchCredit: Alamy
Ronaldo scored a sensational free-kick while wearing the bootsCredit: Action Images – Reuters More

IAN WRIGHT “can’t believe” that Antony is starting over Alejandro Garnacho for Manchester United.Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag has selected the Brazilian in all four of his side’s Premier League matches so far this season.
Alejandro Garnacho was called upon in the 84th minute on SaturdayCredit: Getty
Antony has failed to register a goal or assist in four starts this termCredit: Getty
Garnacho, meanwhile, has played just six minutes of United’s last two matches.
Marcus Rashford gave Man United the lead on 27 minutes at the Emirates yesterday, only for Martin Odegaard to level within 60 seconds.
United thought Garnacho had won it in the 88th minute, only for his effort to be ruled out for the narrowest of offsides.
Arsenal went on to steal all three points after dramatic stoppage time strikes by Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus.
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Garnacho was only introduced on 84 minutes by Ten Hag, but Wrighty feels he was United’s major positive from the defeat.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, the 59-year-old said: “I think Garnacho is a positive.
“I think they’ve got to find some way of getting a midfielder in their team who can get on the ball, control it and then use the pace of Rashford and use the pace of Garnacho.
“Because they’re playing on the counter-attack. I’m listening to Bruno Fernandes saying he was happy with the way it went, he thought they played well and dug in.
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“Man United have got the kind of players [to attack more].
“We saw it with Garnacho, who I cannot believe does not start in front of someone like Antony.
“He [Garnacho] can come on in that game and, even if you’re playing in that style of football, he’s surely going to be better than what Antony is giving you at this particularly moment.
“We saw it in that little cameo there what he did.
“For me, Man United are only missing a person to get the ball in midfield and control it and pass it so they can build up their movement off the ball.”
Antony is yet to register his first goal or assist of the season, despite starting all four matches for the Red Devils.
Garnacho has also failed to score or assist, in albeit in far fewer minutes.
The Red Devils are set to return to action on September 16, when they host Brighton at Old Trafford.
Ian Wright reckons Man United should play Garnacho moreCredit: AP More

EX-TOTTENHAM star Danny Rose has confessed he was shocked to see his former boss Mauricio Pochettino take the job at rivals Chelsea.The Argentine was appointed the Blue’s manager earlier this summer after 18 months at Paris Saint-German.
Danny Rose is shocked that former boss Mauricio Pochettino joined ChelseaCredit: Getty
The 33-year-old played under the Argentine boss for more than five seasons at Spurs.
An opening for Tottenham’s managerial role became available this summer after Antonio Conte departed.
However, Pochettino opted to sign a two-year deal with Chelsea and Spurs appointed Ange Postecoglou instead.
Former left-back Rose felt Pochettino would make a return to the North London club where he was in charge for just over five years.
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Rose told TalkSPORT: “Never would I have thought that Mauricio would be the manager of Chelsea.
“I was hoping and expecting him to go back to Spurs but obviously it didn’t materialise.”
During Poch’s time at Spurs, he led the squad through iconic moments one being them reaching the Champions League final in 2019.
Another encounter the 51-year-old experienced was with Chelsea in May 2016 known as the infamous ‘Battle of the Bridge.’
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The game saw 12 players booked at Stamford Bridge in a feisty clash that Rose was involved in and crushed Spurs’ hope of winning the Premier League title that season.
Rose added that the rivalry between the two sides only became clear after the event.
He continued: ” I didn’t know Chelsea hated Spurs so much. I never knew there was so much hatred. 
“It felt like a school football match, everyone trying to get yellow cards. 
“That season Chelsea were poor, they were mid-table.
“I remember hearing that week leading up to the game that it was the best they’d ever trained.”
Danny Rose played five seasons under Pochettino’s leadershipCredit: Getty More

ARSENAL fans have praised Gabriel Magalhaes for an “outrageous” move during the club’s Premier League clash with Manchester United.The Gunners soared to a 3-1 win over Erik ten Hag’s side on Sunday thanks to goals from Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus.
Gabriel’s positioning kept Garnacho offsideCredit: Sky Sports
The defender helped Arsenal to a 3-1 winCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Marcus Rashford opened the scoring midway through the first half before Odegaard fired his team level in the 28th minute.
United winger Alejandro Garnacho thought he’d won the match for the visitors when he slotted the ball past Aaron Ramsdale in the 88th minute, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review.

Garnacho was deemed to be offside – all thanks to a moment of brilliance from Gabriel.
The Brazilian managed to play the winger just a few inches off by holding his run while tracking back.
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And many fans quickly flocked to social media to praise him for the move that “won the game” for Arsenal.
One person tweeted: “Genuinely outrageous IQ by Gabriel to play him offside. Won the game for Arsenal with this move.”
Another wrote: “Brilliant awareness and body control from Big Gabi!”
A third added: “It was such quick thinking. The instincts of a true defender!”
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While a fourth person commented: “Underrated this, quality from him.”
Just a matter of minutes after Gabriel saved the game for the Gunners, Rice was able to fire them into the lead with a close-range strike.
Jesus then extended the advantage with an excellent solo effort.
Man Utd manager Ten Hag was left fuming after the final whistle and claimed that three decisions went against his side, one of which being the offside call.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Dutchman said: “It’s not offside [for the Garnacho goal], wrong angle.
“It’s a penalty on [Rasmus] Hojlund, and then we concede a goal, it’s a foul on Jonny Evans so clear and obvious.” More

MANCHESTER UNITED and Tottenham legend Dimitar Berbatov has named his perfect five-a-side team made up of former team-mates… and there is NO Cristiano Ronaldo or ANY Spurs players.The Bulgarian, 42, exclusively revealed to SunSport that he is concerned about Erik ten Hag’s side following their 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.
Dimitar Berbatov’s ultimate five-a-side team consists entirely of ex-Man Utd starsCredit: Getty
Cristiano Ronaldo did not make the cut for Berbatov’s teamCredit: PA:Press Association
But the worry he has for the Red Devils stems from a love for the club where he won two Premier League titles.
And while he also spent three seasons with Tottenham – winning the League Cup in 2008 – he has not selected a single Spurs team-mate in his dream five-a-side line-up.
That is because of the army of Man Utd superstars he featured alongside between 2008 and 2012.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side won league titles in 2009 and 2011, while also reaching Champions League finals in both of those seasons – before losing to Barcelona.
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And they also picked up a League Cup in between during what was a golden period for the club.
Yet perhaps the most high-profile name from that team, Ronaldo, has not made Berbatov’s ideal five-man side.
It is one of two major surprises in his selection – with the other being that he put HIMSELF as a DEFENDER.
That is despite Berbatov netting 56 goals in 149 games as a striker for Man Utd.
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Edwin Van der Sar was a no-brainer as Berbatov’s keeperCredit: PA:Press Association
Berbatov put himself as a defender alongside legendary centre-back Nemanja VidicCredit: Getty
How Berbatov’s dream five-a-side team would look
Making the cut alongside him is keeper Edwin van der Sar, centre-back Nemanja Vidic, midfielder Paul Scholes and striker Wayne Rooney.
Naming his team, the Betfair Ambassador exclusively told SunSport said: “Of course I’m going to put myself in there, I’m very good at five-a-side.
“Since I was f***ing eight or nine years old I was playing five-a-side back home.
“And let me tell you it helps a lot when you play five-a-side. It can develop your speed, quick-thinking, technique, touch, everything.
“Five-a-side they probably need to all be from United days. I played with so many good players there.
“Van der Sar probably in the goal.
Paul Scholes was named by Berbatov as the sole midfielderCredit: Getty – Contributor
“I will put myself in the back because five-a-side I play in the back. Myself and Vida [Vidic] probably.
“I will have Scholesy because his thinking is so quick.
“Up front it’s going to either be Wazza – I can say easily Ronaldo – but I’ll go with Wazza probably because Wazza was good also in tight spaces, quick with the feet.”
Ronaldo’s omission comes despite him contributing 26 goals and 12 assists during Berbatov’s first season at the club – the only campaign they played together.
Rooney managed 20 goals and 13 assists during the same 2008/09 season.
But Berbatov did offer some form of consolation to Al-Nassr’s Ronaldo, 38.
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He added: “If it’s six-a-side I’ll put Ronaldo in and we’ll be an offensive team.”
Dimitar Berbatov was speaking onboard Betfair’s 90 minute bus, which was outside the Emirates Stadium on Sunday surprising early leaving Arsenal and Man United fans, who are the worst supporters for leaving early according to a recent Betfair and YouGOV survey.
Wayne Rooney pipped Ronaldo to the lone striker roleCredit: Getty More