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      Ten Hag points to key stat to show Man Utd were ‘absolutely’ better than City despite Rashford ‘offside’ at Old Trafford

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      CASEMIRO says Manchester United are “pumped up” to beat their arch-rivals this afternoon.Victory at Wembley will not only complete a domestic cup double for the Red Devils — but also deny their ‘noisy neighbours’ City a possible Treble.
      Erik ten Hag argued United were better than Man City when the sides met at Old Trafford earlier this seasonCredit: Getty
      Marcus Rashford has a goal ruled out for offside in the clashCredit: Getty
      And midfielder Casemiro said: “Of course, all of us and everyone connected with  United would love to win it.
      “We also know  it’s a one-off game, and a very tough one at that, but we are really pumped up to do it.”
      United manager Erik ten Hag knows how crucial it is to the club’s supporters to stop Pep Guardiola and Co from emulating their iconic 1999 Treble success.
      Dutchman Ten Hag said: “It is important for the fans, and it is important for us, so we will just give everything to win the FA Cup.”
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      The ex-Ajax chief, who tasted Carabao Cup glory in February, says they have the belief after gaining revenge for a 6-3 October loss at the Etihad by beating the champions 2-1 at Old Trafford.
      City fans still feel they were robbed in January when Marcus Rashford was flagged offside — but the ref allowed Bruno Fernandes to continue and net the equaliser.
      Yet Ten Hag argues the expected goals (XG) stat of 1.98 to 0.74 on the day proved they were the better side.
      He said: “No, if you see the XG  in that game it was absolutely our side’s.
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      “In the Etihad we didn’t show belief.
      “In Old Trafford we were determined to win from the first moment. It is up to us to show the same belief.”
      Ten Hag believes that victory over City would be a big step towards his goal of restoring the Red Devils to the very top.
      He said: “We had a good season — but this is a great chance to make  it a very good season.
      “We are in a good direction and have our chance in the summer to make new targets.
      “But the longer-term plan will stay the same. We want to restore  Manchester United.
      “When you see where we came from and the progress of the team —  third and winning the League Cup and in the final of the FA Cup — you can be happy. But in the summer, we start again.”
      It is clear that this occasion at Wembley is a massive one for  Ten Hag.He said: “I have played many cup finals in the Netherlands as a player and coach.

      FA Cup final – Man City vs Man Utd: Everything you need to know, including kick-off time and TV details
      “But Wembley is probably the world’s best stadium and to be there in a final is very exciting.
      “It’s a great opportunity and we fought so hard for it. They are a great opponent and we look forward to the test.”
      United will be without winger Antony as well as forward Anthony Martial.
      Ten Hag was holding out hope that Brazilian Antony would make it after injuring an ankle.
      But the injury is still too serious to risk playing him. Ten Hag said: “There’s still a chance but a really small chance.”
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      Injury-prone Martial suffered a hamstring issue in Sunday’s 2-1 final-day win over Fulham.
      Ten Hag said: “It will be a long one but we need more assessments.”
      Ten Hag is hopeful Antony will be fit for the finalCredit: Getty More

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      I lost 6-0 to Man City in the FA Cup final and I fear Man Utd could take a serious pasting at Wembley

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      YOUR mission, should you choose to accept it, is to face  Manchester City in an FA Cup final and deny them the Treble.That is the challenge Manchester United face on Saturday, and it’s the same one my Watford side faced four years ago.
      Troy Deeney faced Manchester City in the FA Cup final when playing for WatfordCredit: AFP
      But lost the game 6-0Credit: Getty
      That was the biggest match of my career. The manager and all of the team prepared impeccably, our attitude was spot-on, we had belief and confidence. We got stuffed 6-0.
      Facing Pep Guardiola’s City is a challenge like no other. They suffocate you, they frustrate you, they mentally exhaust you, they bully you and they end up demoralising you.
      On more than one occasion against City, I have literally found myself, out on the pitch, counting their players because I was genuinely convinced they must have more men than us.
      And they don’t seem to have any weaknesses.
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      You face other great teams and you know there are potential weak links.
      Play Manchester United and you know Fred might take one too many touches. Jump on that. Go up against Chelsea and Cesar Azpilicueta lacks height. You try to exploit those small margins.
      With City, there is none of that — and even more so now than four years ago.
      City were a more beautiful footballing side in 2019 than they are today.
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      But now, with Erling Haaland, they are the most complete team in the world.
      If you try to press this City team, they can go long to Haaland. Even their keeper, Ederson, has a sledgehammer of a left foot. Sit off them and it’s death by a thousand passes. World-class players everywhere, running at you from all angles.
      Players like Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes, who demand the ball and are so used to seeing plenty of it, get starved of action and they will feel that frustration, which is unique to facing City.
      United have far more quality than we had at Watford and I’d really like to tell you that I think this Cup final will be a great contest — but I don’t think it will even be close.
      Erling Haaland has made Man City the ‘most complete’ teamCredit: PA
      You can say it’s a one-off game. You can say that anything can happen in a derby. You can say United are in decent form. You can say that United beat City at home the last time they met.
      Try all you like to make a case for Erik ten Hag’s men but you will be ignoring just how good City are.
      Even Real Madrid got spanked at the Etihad in the Champions League. City are world football’s Galacticos now.
      Facing Guardiola himself as an opposition player is a funny experience, too.

      FA Cup final – Man City vs Man Utd: Everything you need to know, including kick-off time and TV details
      He kills you with kindness. He’s always complimenting you. Perhaps he’s trying to soften you up. Or keep his team on their toes.
      I’d rather an opposition manager was snarling at me instead!
      And today City will have the supreme motivation of becoming footballing immortals.
      City completed English football’s only domestic treble when they defeated us in 2019 but this team can emulate the United team which did the ultimate Treble in 1999.
      That side, along with Arsenal’s Invincibles, are generally regarded as the best Premier League teams ever and City will stand alongside them if they win today and defeat Inter Milan in Istanbul next weekend.
      United have motivation, too. Stopping City winning the Treble would mean more to them than any other club, and if they complete a Cup double, having qualified for the Champions League, it will end up being an excellent first season for Ten Hag. But I’m not seeing it.
      Maybe it’s that I’m still haunted by the 2019 final. I’m still convinced we were in that game for half an hour. We had a decent penalty shout and Roberto Pereyra squandered a one-on-one with Ederson when it was still goalless.
      But you simply have to be ruthless when you get a chance against City.
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      To beat City, you must be ruthless, you must be impeccable and you will need to have fortune on your side.
      Good luck, United. You are going to need it. More

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      Newcastle on the brink of snapping up Gambian wonderkid Yankuba Minteh for £6m in first transfer of the summer

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      NEWCASTLE are close to making Gambian whizkid Yankuba Minteh their first signing of the summer.The winger is set to join the Magpies from Danish club Odense for £6million and is seen as a star for the future.
      Yankuba Minteh is on course for the Premier League aged just 18Credit: Getty
      Minteh, 18, is due on Tyneside over the next few days for a medical before he is expected to be sent out on loan next season.
      The youngster started his career at Steve Biko FC in Gambia, moving to Denmark last July.
      He made 17 appearances last season, scoring four goals and providing six assists.
      His arrival mirror’s the signing of Garang Kuol, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Hearts following his arrival from Australia’s Central Coast Mariners.
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      The Aussie struggled in Scotland, starting just one league game, and is set for another loan next term.
      He said: “People look at the game time as a negative, and obviously it’s not ideal.
      “At the end of the day, what I’m doing in training every day is what makes me a better player.
      “A lot of people look past that, look at the game time and they make it a whole negative story.
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      “I’m very happy that I came here – I’ve met some wonderful people and hopefully I can just keep developing.”
      Minteh’s capture is part of Newcastle’s recruitment policy to sign up some of the world’s most exciting young talent. More

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      Liverpool lead three-club race for Kenny Tete with Fulham star available for cut-price £10.5m transfer

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      KENNY TETE has zoomed onto the radar of Liverpool and two other unnamed Premier League rivals as Fulham stall on a new deal. An unrevealed La Liga club are also interested in the Holland right-back.
      Kenny Tete is wanted by at least four clubs after a great season for FulhamCredit: Rex
      Tete arrived at Craven Cottage from Lyon in 2020 and is entering the final year of his contract, with an option to extend for another 12 months. 
      The former Ajax youngster, 27, is valued at around £10.5million.
      The 14-cap star has played a key role in Fulham’s impressive return to the Prem, with one goal and five assists. 
      But Tete is injury prone and missed six games early in the campaign.
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      Fulham brought in Arsenal’s Cedric Soares on loan in January as cover.
      But Tete’s love for the Prem was clear when he joined the Cottagers
      He told FFCtv at the time: “It is a great feeling. I feel blessed to be here.
      “I heard of Fulham’s interest and I was bowled over.
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      “I spoke with people around me and knew quickly I wanted to leave Lyon and join Fulham.
      “The team is back in the Premier League now and I will give 100 per cent to keep us there.” More

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      Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris in shock career change as he becomes boss of new venture in stunning setting

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      HUGO LLORIS has had a shock career swap after becoming the boss of a beach restaurant in France.The Tottenham goalkeeper is one of the new bosses of the restaurant La Javanaise in Beaulieu-sur-Mer.
      Hugo Lloris is one of the new bosses of the restaurant La JavanaiseCredit: BackGrid
      The restaurant is located between Nice and MonacoCredit: BackGrid
      It is quite a career change for the Tottenham goalkeeperCredit: BackGrid
      The seaside commune sits on the French Riviera’s stunning coastline between Nice and the Principality of Monaco.
      The restaurant has two other areas at its disposal, the lounge and access to the beach.
      The food on offer for its guests pays tribute to the Mediterranean with some specialities from star chef Jean-Philippe Blondet.
      However, meals are not cheap as some main meals are priced well over £30 each.
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      The grilled lobster is the most expensive item on the menu and will set back guests £77 per serving.
      The business move could fuel rumours of an exit from Tottenham for Lloris, 36, as he has been tipped with a summer move.
      The Frenchman was linked with a move to nearby Nice and admitted that he is still “attached to the city”.
      He recently told radio station BFM Nice Cote d’Azur: “I am very attached to the city of Nice, as you know.
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      “I can’t speak about concrete things. The club has to finish the season first.
      “There are two goalkeepers of high quality, including one that I’m good friends with in Kasper Schmeichel.
      “You can understand that it’s difficult to speak about these kinds of subjects.
      “I’ll let fate handle things.”
      The 2018 World Cup winning goalkeeper joined Spurs from French club Lyon way back in 2012 and has one more year left to run on his contract.
      A great servant to the club, Lloris has played 447 games for Spurs, and was named captain by Mauricio Pochettino in 2015.
      He has the most Premier League appearances in the club’s history. More

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      Alan Shearer told he would have scored 1,200 goals if he played for Pep Guardiola by Man City legend

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      ALAN SHEARER has been told that he could have tripled his career goal tally if he had played under Pep Guardiola.The Premier League top ever goalscorer was told by former Manchester City star Fernandinho, 38, during an interview.
      Alan Shearer is the current top goalscorer in Premier League historyCredit: Getty
      Fernandinho has claimed that he would have tripled his goal tally under Pep GuardiolaCredit: Getty
      The midfielder won multiple titles under Guardiola before returning to his native Brazil in 2022 as he joined Athletico Paranaense.
      Guardiola, 52, has had some incredible effects on attackers in his career as he helped Lionel Messi become the star he is today before overseeing Robert Lewandowski’s incredible form at Bayern Munich.
      Since moving to City, Guardiola has aided the likes of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus.
      However, he has used his genius this season to get the best out of Erling Haaland.
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      The Norweigan striker has bagged 52 goals in only 51 appearances in all competitions and broke the record for the number of goals in a 38-game campaign in England.
      And Fernandinho is confident that he would have had a similar effect on Shearer, 52, if the two had crossed paths while the former England international was playing.
      He asked Shearer while being interviewed on The Athletic: “Let me ask you something: how many goals did you score in your career?”
      Shearer replied with his impressive goal record that saw him net 260 in the Premier League and other efforts that made him hit 409 in total for club and country in his career.
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      To which the Brazilian claimed: “I’m sure if you had Pep as your manager, you would score even more — double or triple that.
      “Pep makes you understand that football is more simple than you think.
      “He’s got the power to convince you, to show you, to prove to you on a daily basis in training sessions, in meetings, and especially during games, that everything he’s telling you is going to happen.”
      However, the veteran midfielder did claim that for most players to fit in under Guardiola, they need to be able to speak a few languages and be capable of playing in more than one position.
      Erling Haaland has hit 52 goals this season while being coached by GuardiolaCredit: PA
      He said: “Yaya (Toure) used to say, ‘There are two things you need to play for Pep Guardiola.
      “You need to speak at least three languages, and you have to be able to play in at least three different positions.
      “Understand that and you are one or two steps ahead of everyone else’…”
      Shearer then interrupted by saying: “Three languages?
      “I can do Geordie, and I can just about scrape by in English… And three positions? That would be me completely f*****.”
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      Fernandinho then responded by adding: “In every case, you can have one exception, OK?.
      “You can have one special player.” More

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      Gary Neville says Man Utd must start forgotten star against Man City to avoid 6-0 humiliation in FA Cup final

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      GARY NEVILLE has claimed that Erik ten Hag must play Fred against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.Manchester United face their cross-city rivals at Wembley on Saturday as they look to win a domestic double and stop City from taking another step closer to completing a historic treble.
      Gary Neville has picked one player that must play in the FA Cup finalCredit: Getty
      Neville thinks that Fred could be key against Manchester CityCredit: EPA
      City have already claimed the Premier League trophy and are in the final of the Champions League, while United picked up the Carabao Cup earlier in the season.
      Neville, 48, has insisted for his former side to have the best chance of winning the historic trophy, there needs to be another ball-winner in the midfield.
      Fred has cut a forgotten figure at Old Trafford in recent weeks as he has played a reduced role after falling behind Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in the pecking order.
      But Neville thinks that the Brazilian could be key in the cup final as he would be able to give the club another man in midfield as well as give Bruno Fernandes more space further up the pitch.
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      The club legend also insisted that without Fed in the midfield, it could be an “issue” as he is worried about a 6-0 mauling.
      He said on The Overlap: “I don’t want Manchester United to play with Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, and Christian Eriksen in midfield.
      “The game where they won, it was Fred with Casemiro. I just don’t see how City won’t run amok if it’s Casemiro, Eriksen and Fernandes.
      “I feel not having that little bit of something to break the play up [could be key]. When he won the game at Old Trafford, I think he played with Fred and Casemiro, with Eriksen in front.
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      “Then they had [Marcus] Rashford, [Anthony] Martial and Fernandes to the right.
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      “The reason I think that works is because City don’t have a left-back going forward and Bruno can tuck in there, which means they almost have four in the middle.
      “Closing that off and letting City’s left-back have it – who that’s going to be, [Manuel] Akanji or [Nathan] Ake?
      “I feel like, for me, if Bruno gets into a little space and comes inside to defend, let City’s left side have it.
      “That’s what I’d like us to do. I’d like that extra [player]. If it’s [Scott] McTominay by the way, alongside Casemiro, it doesn’t really matter. I just feel that having that open midfield is going to be an issue.
      “You’ve got Eriksen, Fernandes and only Casmeiro thinks [about defending].
      “The other two do alright without the ball but they’re better on the ball than they are off the ball.
      “I think not having that extra man, I would be really worried about that, where it could be 6-0. They played at City, it was 6-1 but ended 6-3 and I think that was with McTominay, Eriksen and Fernandes, and they just got killed.”

      FA Cup final – Man City vs Man Utd: Everything you need to know, including kick-off time and TV details More

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      Roy Keane has stars in hysterics saying ‘you still call him Sir?’ after Neville reveals brutal Alex Ferguson punishment

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      ROY KEANE had his fellow co-presenters in stitches as he put down Gary Neville in response to Sir Alex Ferguson’s brutal punishment for the former right back.Neville was recounting the only time he’d lost to City on Sky Sports’ The Overlap.
      Roy Keane saw the funny side of Neville’s brutal treatmentCredit: The Overlap
      Jill Scott and Micah Richards saw the funny sideCredit: The Overlap
      Neville endured a torrid afternoon as United slumped to a 3-1 defeat against City at Maine Road in 2002.
      He recounted how in the build-up to the game he had boasted to the press that he had never lost a derby.
      He was also captaining the side because of a Roy Keane injury.
      But he made a costly mistake with the score level at 1-1 which allowed City forward Shaun Goater to score the first of two goals that afternoon.
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      City would go on to win the derby 3-1.
      It was the last Manchester derby at Maine Road before City moved to the Commonwealth Stadium, which is now named The Etihad.
      Neville recounted the brutal punishment handed down to him by Fergie, saying: “He was quite vicious at times, the boss.
      “So he sent me out for the second half and suddenly, I think after three or four minutes he subbed me off after half time.
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      “So I had to walk off with obviously all the crowd… Oh my God.”
      To which Keane interrupted: “And you still call him sir?” and shook his head.
      The other members of the Overlap episode, Micah Richards and Jill Scott erupted into laughter at Keane’s quip.
      Neville said that the moment was so brutal that he went home and drank to forget the incident.
      Neville said: “I got bottles of beer and sat at home on my own in Bolton and just drank.”
      The former right back said he was frozen out for 10 days after the Goater incident which included being left out of a Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
      The overlap team also discussed tomorrow’s FA Cup final.
      For United fans, their motivation to stop City from emulating their 1999 treble success is almost stronger than their motivation to actually lift the cup.
      In their two meetings this season, both sides won their home matches.
      City thrashed United 6-3 at home in a game that included an Erling Haaland hat-trick.
      But United got the better of City in January in a 2-1 win through goals courtesy of star men Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes.
      Roy Keane said: “Yeah, I am worried for United in a sense again with the squad and type of players they’ve got.”
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      But he offered some hope for United fans in saying: “But United in Rashford and Bruno Fernandes do have players that can hurt City if City are just off or let them off the hook.”
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