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      Man Utd chiefs locked in blame game over expensive shambles that saw Ten Hag get new deal before being sacked

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      OLD TRAFFORD chiefs are locked in a blame game over who was responsible for their summer shambles.Manchester United have become a laughing stock over their treatment of former boss Erik ten Hag.Sir Jim Ratcliffe and David Brailsford have faced criticism for their flip-flopping decisionsCredit: AlamyErik ten Hag was brutally sacked just months after being handed a contract extensionCredit: ReutersThe club’s recruitment strategy has also faced scrutiny following another summer splurge of nearly £180million.Red Devils co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co were set to get rid of Ten Hag after the FA Cup final.They ended up extending his contract and employing a new coaching team around him following their Wembley win over City.But the Dutchman was axed after just nine Prem games this season with United languishing down in 14th in the table. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe former Ajax chief’s staff were also dismissed — all with sizeable pay-offs.It cost around £15m to sack Ten Hag alone, while they had to shell out another £10m to bring Portuguese Ruben Amorim in from Sporting Lisbon, including an extra fee so that he could cut short his notice period.READ MORE: ‘Amorim is joining a team in chaos, he’ll wish he never left Lisbon.’It has been a bumpy start for Ratcliffe, who bought a 27.7 per cent stake in United in February and was charged with running the football side of the club.United splashed the cash several new players this seasonCredit: GettyFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe British billionaire, 72, appointed a new senior management team, including Sir Dave Brailsford, Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox. Most read in FootballBut so far, the jury is out on their summer transfer deals.Ruben Amorim takes charge of first Man Utd training sessionThe likes of forward Joshua Zirkzee, at £36.5m, and £38.5m centre-back Matthijs de Ligt have struggled to find their feet.   Now, tough questions are being asked internally about who bears the most responsibility for what went wrong  with their planned squad revamp. More

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      Ruben Amorim is joining a Man Utd in chaos… the mess behind the scenes will make him wish he never left Sporting

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      THE smiling face of Ruben Amorim and the promise of a bright new future is supposed to be giving everyone at Manchester United a lift.Unfortunately, the public face of the Red Devils hides a very different story behind the scenes. Ruben Amorim faces the biggest challenge of his career as he prepares to take charge of United’s first game this weekendCredit: GettyBut while the feeling is one of hope among fans, United are still plagued by a host of behind-the-scenes issuesCredit: GettyWoeful recruitment choices and budgeting problems have spelt disaster for United in recent yearsCredit: GettyOne which could have the new boss pining for Lisbon before he knows it.The ramifications of a disastrous summer for the club under new leadership are still being felt. Not least among the rank-and-file staff, who are seeing their positions eroded and, in the worst-case scenario, extinguished   altogether with 250 redundancies.They understandably wonder if they are collateral damage of decisions by the ex-manager and woeful recruitment.READ MORE ON MAN UTDEven Sir Alex Ferguson has not been safe with his £2million-a-year ambassadorial role axed.Those who championed new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival as having put a spring in everyone’s step have lost their bounce.He took control of 27.7 per cent of the club from the Glazer family last February, with the mandate to run the football operation while the American owners sat back and continued to milk the cash cow.He brought in trusted wingman Sir Dave Brailsford although, to this day, nobody at the club knows quite what his skills are or what he does, rather than telling everyone what is wrong.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSOne of his first complaints was the state of the IT department’s office at the training ground, which he did not realise was actually an MUTV studio.The handling of former gaffer Erik ten Hag has leapt to the top of the charts regarding bungling in 11 years since Fergie retired and the bar is already pretty high.A look at the build-up to Ruben Amorim’s first match in charge of Man Utd To cut a long story short, they wanted him out, couldn’t find anyone to replace him, asked him to stay, extended his contract, spent millions on a new coaching team at the Theatre of Dreams and then spent another £172.1MILLION in the transfer market.Just 11 games into the new season, the hierarchy decided they would once again return to square one at great expense, with pay-offs for all those going out and a release clause fee for the new bloke coming in.Now, questions are being asked internally at the highest level about how they got to this position, with fingers metaphorically pointed across the boardroom table.Sir Jim has effectively washed his hands of it all, having claimed when questions about Ten Hag’s future intensified, that it wasn’t on him to provide the answers as they had a new senior management team in place to do all that.That team includes Omar Berrada, the CEO poached from rivals Manchester City, who were not exactly tying him to the Etihad’s gates to stop him from going, and Dan Ashworth, the sporting director, who was good lower down the league on a budget.Then there is Jason Wilcox, the technical director, who is supposed to influence how United play now.If he’s already had input, goodness knows what he has been saying.Ruben Amorim leaves Sporting on a highBy Charlie WyettRUBEN AMORIM would have preferred to leave Lisbon in a blaze of glory after winning a third Primeira Liga title.Yet football does not work like that. And in what was surely his final game before taking charge of Manchester United, Amorim prepared to say his goodbyes at a half-empty Estadio Jose Alvalade in a League Cup quarter-final against Nacional.Sporting won 3-1 thanks to  second-half goals by captain  Morten Hjulmand and Viktor Gyokeres, who scored two.Luis Esteves pulled back for Madeira-based Nacional.The stadium  will be a good deal more lively on Tuesday when Manchester City are here for  a Champions League match — although Amorim should by then have his feet firmly under his desk at Old Trafford.Liverpool and Aston Villa were both interested in Europe’s most sought-after coach. Even City could have been a possible destination post-Pep Guardiola.Yet the United job is one Amorim, 39,  could not turn  down — even if not everyone saw it that way at Sporting last night.There is clearly a huge split in the Portuguese club’s fan base over their coach leaving at this stage of the season with many believing he should have seen the job through.Yet Amorim, along with the three-man coaching team who are expected to follow him, leaves a club in a much better state than when he arrived here in 2020.Inside the stadium, there was applause — albeit muted — when his name was read out before the game along with the line-ups.And there did not appear to be any jeers when Amorim shuffled out from the tunnel awkwardly towards the dugout.So, while his departure is hard to take for some, none of the fans will forget his legacy.This is a club which is back as the dominant force in Portugal. Even this term, Sporting have won their first nine league games, scoring 30 goals and conceding just two.They are also eighth in the Champions League table, which is one hell of an effort.In contrast, Lisbon was not exactly hit by League Cup fever last night.Amorim made lots of changes, which saw Sporting’s star man Gyokeres, the former Coventry striker, start on the bench.There was, however, a first appearance in six weeks for former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards. He is certainly one player who has been transformed by Amorim since arriving at the club from Vitoria in 2022 and will be sorry to see the coach leave.While he changed his team, Amorim stuck with his tried and trusted formation of a back three.It will certainly be something Manchester United’s fans will have to get used to over the  coming months.But looking at the Premier League table, none of them will be complaining about the change.All will undoubtedly have had a significant influence on the summer spending splurge, which failed to raise the team’s performance.The most bizarre transfer was the £36.5m paid to Bologna for Joshua Zirkzee.Ten Hag didn’t want him. He arrived a stone overweight and has scored ONE goal.Apparently a metatarsal problem showed up on Leny Yoro’s medical ahead of a £42m spend.Lo and behold, in his second game of pre-season, he got a metatarsal injury and has only just started training during the current international break.Then the question is why would Bayern Munich let go of defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui at a combined total of £51.3m up front, rising to a possible £59.5m, if they were that good?Only Manuel Ugarte, the £42.2m signing from Paris Saint-Germain, is looking close to being a United player, yet even he does not look a step up from Scott McTominay, who left for Napoli and is ripping it up.Eyebrows have been raised as to why Bayern let Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt goCredit: GettyLeny Yoro reportedly arrived injured and has just returned to trainingCredit: GettyThe spending means Amorim’s ability to do anything in the next transfer window will be restricted unless he can shift players, but who is going to buy anyone from Old Trafford right now?All this time behind the scenes, the ship is far from happy, with staff unceremoniously thrown overboard in a penny-pinching purge. It has even led to chefs pulling their hair out to try to cover matchday hospitality on reduced budgets and staffing levels.Long-standing employees feel like they have been cast aside like rubbish.The most alarming story came when a staff member with 25 years at the club behind him was told he was being given a commemorative watch for his service.He was then told to pick it up at main reception, where a security guard handed it to him in a polythene bag. That’s a picture to show the grandkids in the future.READ MORE SUN STORIESAn award-winning journalist is currently tasked with shadowing Sir Jim and his new regime for a book on how they turned United around. It may end up being a work of fiction.Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man UtdWHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers. The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for. More

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      Premier League managers slam the PGMOL amid David Coote scandal as Russell Martin demands ‘honesty’

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      RUSSELL MARTIN has told under-fire refs’ chief Howard Webb: You need to be more honest to make VAR a success.Southampton became the latest Premier League club to criticise PGMOL, in the wake of the David Coote scandal, following two controversial decisions in the 2-0 loss at Wolves this month.PGMOL chiefs have yet to conclude their investigation into David CooteCredit: PAFootage appeared to show referee Coote sniffing white powderThe video was from a hotel during Euro 2024Former top-flight whistler Mark Halsey called for an independent investigation into the referees’ body with the state of top-flight officiating at “an all-time low”.The panel that reviews PGMOL decisions claimed VAR made only TWO mistakes this season, before Webb later admitted awarding West Ham a penalty against Manchester United last month was also wrong.But Saints boss Martin, who held a meeting with Webb during the international break, said: “If we’re going to improve VAR and make it better, we need to have real honesty and accountability.”Martin was left frustrated after a Ryan Manning goal against Wolves was ruled out before Matheus Cunha put the hosts two up with an effort that he felt should have been chalked off.READ MORE TOP STORIESHe added: “I still have an issue with our goal and a foul on the second goal. I also have an issue with them coming out and saying it was a correct decision ultimately.“For it to come out as a correct decision in the match review is frustrating to me.”Saints join fellow promoted sides Ipswich and Leicester as well as Wolves themselves in fuming over controversial decisions given against them this season.Martin said: “We’ve been told a few times on decisions we’ve been on the wrong end of that it has to be a clear and obvious error.Most read in FootballRussell Martin believes only more ‘honesty’ will improve VARCredit: GettyNo referees have EVER been tested for drugs as David Coote faces end of Premier League careerEXCLUSIVE by Martin LiptonNO referees or match officials have ever been tested for drugs – as David Coote’s apparent “cocaine shame” is set to end his career.While all players and other athletes in British sport are subject to drug testing rules, including post-match and out of competition action, the regulations do not apply to match officials.That is the case globally across not just football and throughout the world rather than only in the UK.All sports follow the World Anti-Doping Authority code, aimed at preventing athletes gaining an advantage by using performance-enhancing substances.The Wada banned list also includes recreational drugs.But the Wada provisions, also followed by UK Anti Doping, which conducts tests across British sport, makes no reference to match officials.UKAD explains: “Any UK athlete subject to the anti-doping rules of their sport and non-UK athlete staying, training, residing, entering a competition,”Or named as a member of a team participating in a competition at any level within the UK is eligible for testing as part of UKAD’s national anti-doping programme.“Any athlete eligible for testing can be tested anytime, anywhere.”But the regulations do not apply to match officials – because of the “performance enhancing” provision of the world code.The PGMOL have revealed they are aware of the video of him sniffing a white powder.They told The Sun: “We aware of the allegations and are taking them very seriously. David Coote remains suspended pending a full investigation.”David’s welfare continues to be of utmost importance to us and we are committed to providing him with the ongoing necessary support he needs through this period.”We are not in a position to comment further at this stage.”“Ryan’s goal is open to interpretation. It’s the wrong decision because it’s not a clear and obvious error.  We are going to disagree on that forever.“For the second goal, they should take longer on analysing the foul from Craig Dawson because it’s a foul.Snorting ref David Coote set up drugs party in Travelodge before Man City game – & even sent half time text about it“I don’t want to be moaning about decisions all the time.“I’d love to go back to human error and balance out over the season.“But if you still make a mistake after that process  it becomes even more frustrating.”PGMOL chiefs confirmed yesterday that they have yet to conclude their investigation into suspended Coote.The shamed 42-year-old made derogatory comments in an X-rated video rant at ex-Reds boss Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.A PGMOL statement read: “We’re following an internal process and taking the allegations into David’s conduct very seriously as part of our ongoing  thorough investigation.“Whilst David remains suspended, his welfare continues to be important to us and he is aware of the support network available to him.”The FA have launched their own probe into Coote, while Uefa also suspended and are investigating the Nottinghamshire ref after footage emerged of him appearing to sniff white powder in a hotel at Euro 2024.Steve Cooper gave an unusual reason for not speaking outCredit: GettyThomas Frank reckons it’s unfair that refs face ‘crazy’ pressureCredit: RexLeicester boss Steve Cooper joked his dad — former top referee Keith — would show him the red card if he gave his opinion on Coote’s suspension.Asked if the revelations about Coote would knock managers’ confidence in referees, Cooper replied: “I can’t go into that.” He then joked: “I’m more worried about what my dad would say to me if I answered that!”Martin added: “Referee are humans. They all make mistakes the same way we do. My trust probably eroded a bit more after the decision at Wolves than it did in watching a human make a mistake on a camera.“Let’s have a bit of compassion and understanding. I’m sure he’s feeling very upset and embarrassed about it.“What they do outside of their  football career as a referee really has no impact in how much I trust them.”Brentford boss Thomas Frank said: “We need to think about the pressure on the referees. READ MORE SUN STORIES”No player or manager gets as much abuse on the pitch as a ref does – that’s crazy.“It’s like the mental bin where we get all our anger out and then go, ‘Ah, we feel good.’ It shouldn’t be like that.” More

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      Pep Guardiola’s new Man City contract officially confirmed as TWO-YEAR deal as threat of punishment over charges looms

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      PEP GUARDIOLA has signed a two-year contract extension to remain manager of Manchester City.The 53-year-old’s existing deal was due to expire at the end of the season with the club in the midst of a legal battle with the Prem.Pep Guardiola has signed a new contract with Manchester CityCity chiefs Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano believed Guardiola’s time at City was not overCredit: Manchester City FCThe Catalan’s new deal will mean he will have spent more than a decade as City managerCredit: ReutersIt was previously reported that Guardiola would sign a new rolling one-year extension.But that is no longer the case, with the legendary Spaniard extending his stay until at least 2027.City announced the news on X.The club first teased the announcement with a short, zoomed in clip into the former Barcelona manager’s eye.Most read in FootballGuardiola said: “Manchester City means so much to me. This is my ninth season here.”We have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club. “That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.”Hopefully now we can add more trophies to the ones we havealready won. That will be my focus.”Most read in FootballIt will take his time at the Etihad up to 11 years.Guardiola joined City back in 2016 following the departure of Manuel Pellegrini.Pep Guardiola says Man City is not ‘in a dark place’ despite Sporting Lisbon loss Pep’s greatest of Haal timeBy Neil CustisERLING HAALAND hailed Pep Guardiola as the greatest manager of all time.Manchester City boss Pep has signed a new two-year deal to stay at the Etihad and now the Prem champions want to convince their star striker to follow suit.And Haaland — who has scored 105 goals in 114 appearances for City — saluted the Spaniard.The 24-year-old Norwegian said: “He is the best manager in the world.“I think we all know he’s probably the best that ever existed on the earth.”After arriving from Borussia ­Dortmund for £51million in July 2022, Haaland was a key part as City landed the Treble of Champions League, Prem and FA Cup in his first season.And last term he helped Guardiola’s men seal a fourth Prem title in a row.The prolific marksman puts all City’s ­success down to the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich chief.Haaland added: “I expected loads of things from him and he has been ­delivering up to this every single second, so I’m super happy and you can see that when I play.”Guardiola moved to City from Bayern in the summer of 2016 and has won six league titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, the Champions League and the Club World Club.He won three titles each at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, plus two Champions Leagues with Barca.City feared he may leave at the end of this season but instead the 53-year-old has signed a new contract to stay on.Etihad chiefs hope Pep’s commitment will boost their chances of Haaland agreeing a £100m package — as revealed by SunSport this week.Barcelona have been linked with a swoop for the hitman. But Haaland — due to be back in Prem action at home to Spurs tomorrow —  has 2½ years left on his £375,000-a-week-plus-bonuses deal.Meanwhile, Guardiola believes he will know when the time is right for him to walk away.He said: “I enjoy being here, I like my job.“I said many times, the moment I don’t have that feeling — even with a contract — I will call my chairman, my CEO and say the best thing for the club is for me to leave.“I don’t have that feeling right now, so I’ve extended.”This is the fourth contract extension he has signed with City.Pep admitted: “Every time I signed the contract I’d say it’s the last two years — and still we are here. So honestly, myself and my staff, we deserve to be here. We deserve the chance after four defeats in a row to bounce back.”City have struggled since the serious knee injury to midfield linchpin Rodri in September and face an uphill task to retain their title.Pep added: “This season we have won one [Community Shield] and maybe we are not going to win the other ones but this is not the problem.“The problem is what’s next, what decisions do we have to take to still be in there. Still be a good team.”He has won 18 trophies during his time in English football, including six Premier League titles — second in the all-time list behind former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (13).But there had been speculation regarding his future in recent weeks amid the club’s legal battle with Prem bosses.The hearing into City’s alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play has entered it’s 10th week.City are currently facing 115 charges relating to their financial dealings between 2009 and 2018.If found guilty, the Prem giants could face a significant punishment.They may even be expelled from the top division.But it is understood that Guardiola’s contract will NOT have a break clause.This means his new deal will not be affected by the outcome of the club’s hearing into the charges and if City were relegated.However, SunSport understands that it is unlikely that that the Cityzens would be dumped from all competitions despite the rules allowing for it to happen.With Guardiola agreeing to stay, he will be forced to lead City through the storm of whatever penalty – if any – they receive.In 2022-23, he helped City become only the second English side after Ferguson’s 1998-99 team to win the Treble — comprising the Prem, FA Cup and Champions League.Last term his side made history by becoming the first team to win four successive top-flight titles.The structure of Guardiola’s deal is the same as the contract he signed in November 2020 and November 2022.Guardiola has won 18 trophies during his time at the EtihadCredit: PAThe Spaniard matched Fergie’s Treble winning feat in 2022-23Credit: PAThe decision to extend also alleviates any potential problems of a managerial handover during a hectic summer that will see City compete at the Club World Cup in America.City – second in the table, winless in four, and four points behind leaders Liverpool – return to action at home to Tottenham on Saturday.Guardiola added: “I felt I could not leave now – simple as that. Maybe the four defeats was the reason why. I felt the club still wanted me.“Firstly because we won a lot, I feel love. But it’s a business and you have to win. I have a contract but I know if we don’t win I won’t continue.“The moment it’s done, the club will know it. And at this moment we didn’t feel it.“Every time I signed the contract I say it’s the last two – and still we are here. READ MORE SUN STORIES“So honestly myself and my staff, we deserve to be here. I’m not arrogant to say it, it’s the truth. We deserve the chance – after four defeats in a row – to bounce back and try to turn the situation.”This is the first time Guardiola has endured such a streak of losses – excluding penalty shootouts – in his managerial career. More

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      Ruben Amorim makes Leny Yoro decision with £52m star removed from squad after training with new Man Utd boss

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      RUBEN AMORIM pulled Leny Yoro out of Manchester United’s under-21 game this week, according to reports.The 19-year-old was due to make his first appearance of the season in a 4-0 win over Altrincham in the National League Cup on Tuesday.Leny Yoro was removed from the U21 squad after his first training session with Ruben AmorimCredit: GettyYoro is yet to make a competitive appearance for United after suffering an injury in pre-seasonCredit: GettyAmorim has been putting the players, available to him following the international break, through their paces at CarringtonCredit: GettyBut new United boss Amorim wanted Yoro to remain with the senior squad after watching the defender in his first training session on Monday.Yoro recently returned to Carrington after fracturing his metatarsal during pre-season against Arsenal on July 26.Training clips, released by United, showed Yoro, who signed for £59m from Lille in the summer, training at the right hand side of the back three.He was flanked by Jonny Evans in the middle and Luke Shaw on the left during the practice match.READ MORE ON MAN UTDAmorim appears to have taken an immediate shine to Yoro.The teenage talent could make his debut away at Ipswich Town on Sunday.Amorim is expected to bring in his favourite 3-4-3 formation, which saw him win two titles with Sporting Lisbon.The Frenchman was among the first players to meet the new boss when he arrived at the start of the international break.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAmorim, 39, did not have a full squad of first-team players to work with because many of his top stars were on international duty.He will be cautious with Yoro’s return, but he could be forced to throw him into action at Portman Road amid uncertainty surrounding other centre-backs.How Ruben Amorim will resurrect Marcus Rashford’s Man United career with subtle position changeUnited are going through yet another injury crisis at the back, after Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof withdrew from their national teams over the break.Harry Maguire hasn’t been spotted in training and looks to be ruled out of the trip to East Anglia.Maguire has been out for seven weeks with a calf injury he sustained in the first half of the goalless draw with Aston Villa on October 6.Ruben Amorim leaves Sporting on a highBy Charlie WyettRUBEN AMORIM would have preferred to leave Lisbon in a blaze of glory after winning a third Primeira Liga title.Yet football does not work like that. And in what was surely his final game before taking charge of Manchester United, Amorim prepared to say his goodbyes at a half-empty Estadio Jose Alvalade in a League Cup quarter-final against Nacional.Sporting won 3-1 thanks to  second-half goals by captain  Morten Hjulmand and Viktor Gyokeres, who scored two.Luis Esteves pulled back for Madeira-based Nacional.The stadium  will be a good deal more lively on Tuesday when Manchester City are here for  a Champions League match — although Amorim should by then have his feet firmly under his desk at Old Trafford.Liverpool and Aston Villa were both interested in Europe’s most sought-after coach. Even City could have been a possible destination post-Pep Guardiola.Yet the United job is one Amorim, 39,  could not turn  down — even if not everyone saw it that way at Sporting last night.There is clearly a huge split in the Portuguese club’s fan base over their coach leaving at this stage of the season with many believing he should have seen the job through.Yet Amorim, along with the three-man coaching team who are expected to follow him, leaves a club in a much better state than when he arrived here in 2020.Inside the stadium, there was applause — albeit muted — when his name was read out before the game along with the line-ups.And there did not appear to be any jeers when Amorim shuffled out from the tunnel awkwardly towards the dugout.So, while his departure is hard to take for some, none of the fans will forget his legacy.This is a club which is back as the dominant force in Portugal. Even this term, Sporting have won their first nine league games, scoring 30 goals and conceding just two.They are also eighth in the Champions League table, which is one hell of an effort.In contrast, Lisbon was not exactly hit by League Cup fever last night.Amorim made lots of changes, which saw Sporting’s star man Gyokeres, the former Coventry striker, start on the bench.There was, however, a first appearance in six weeks for former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards. He is certainly one player who has been transformed by Amorim since arriving at the club from Vitoria in 2022 and will be sorry to see the coach leave.While he changed his team, Amorim stuck with his tried and trusted formation of a back three.It will certainly be something Manchester United’s fans will have to get used to over the  coming months.But looking at the Premier League table, none of them will be complaining about the change. More

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      How Ruben Amorim will resurrect Marcus Rashford’s Man United career with subtle position change and new-look starting XI

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      RUBEN AMORIM can not only solve Marcus Rashford’s form struggles but turn him into one of the Premier League’s best again. Yet Rashford must first buy into a fresh 3-4-3 philosophy, accept a subtle positional change and desert his love for the left-wing. Amorim is expected to quickly instil the same coaching philosophy that earned him two Primeira Liga titles at SportingCredit: GettyMarcus Rashford is set to flourish in a new role under AmorimCredit: GettyHe has worked with a number of senior stars ahead of the Ipswich gameAmorim’s first session provided plenty of insight into his plansWith many United players spending time away on international duty, including Rasmus Hojlund, Rashford would be wise to make use of the extra time spent on the training ground with new boss Amorim.The 27-year-old has endured some topsy-turvy years after he burst onto the scene in 2016, failing to hit the heights of his 2022-23 season where he scored 30 goals in all competition.Amorim, 39, is tasked with bringing Rashford’s magic touch back, with the forward scoring just once in 12 Prem games this season. But how will the new manager, with the confidence of Jose Mourinho and the flare of Pep Guardiola, bring the best of out of Rashford?READ MORE ON MAN UTDMarcus Rashford’s resurrection A player of Rashford’s quality shouldn’t be written off, but the United academy star must open his heart up to a 3-4-3 formation. Rashford must let go of his hopes of hanging out on the left-hand side, as Amorim will NOT use two out-and-out wingers, but will instead play with an attacking left-wing back.Amorim looks set to build two differently profiled so-called No 10s – and Rashford must become one alongside captain Bruno Fernandes.Fernandes’ talents mean he’ll pick up the ball-playing No 10 role, leaving Rashford as the driving central player, who runs off the No 9.Most read in FootballWinger Rashford must become a No.10 – but not necessarily a ball-playing oneMeanwhile, Rashford could also be reinvented as a central striker with two close 10s to support him, but Hojlund is more likely to thrive in this role.The England star is used to playing in a 4-3-2-1 formation or as a striker in counter attacking side, so things will have to change.But if Rashford buys into it early, and focuses on more assists than goals, the United will have a Carrington graduate playing an important role in the club’s future.A look at the build-up to Ruben Amorim’s first match in charge of Man Utd With Hojlund stretching the defence, a channel will appear for Rashford to run intoAmorim’s 3-4-3 formationAmorim has a clear identity. And it seems almost certain that the Portuguese tactician will bring in his winning 3-4-3 structure to M16.He likes his teams to play through the thirds and to dominate possession when moving the ball out from the back.Hojlund, a player United haven’t made the best use of, will likely be deployed at No 9.At Sporting, the formation and style has been built around a mobile, big, physical runner Viktor Gyokeres – and Hojlund can ease into that role.Fernandes, Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt, Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte all slot into their respective roles. United are set to adopt Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 formationAnd £52million summer signing Leny Yoro has been spotted training at the right hand side of the back three in training clips this week. What is more constant is that in his 3-4-3 formation, attacking wing-backs are key in all thirds of the pitch.Amorim has used two defensive midfielders to cover for his wing-backs – who push high up the pitch and stay wide to form a 3-4-2-1.This also allows his two attacking midfielders to drop into pockets behind a lone striker while still stretching the opposition’s backline.Wing and a prayerAmorim places his wing-backs right up in the attacking areas of the pitch, giving them full freedom of in the flanks.It will become a 3-2-5 in attack, where the wing-backs are expected to push up in different profiles.Alejandro Garnacho, Amad Diallo and even Antony could be eased into a wing-back role, as all three have the ability to take on their man in a 1 v 1. Amorim likes his teams to play through the thirds and to dominate possession when moving the ball out from the back.For the non-byline running full-backs, Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui can invert to play in the inside channel when attacking.Amorim likes to have his wing-backs playing high up the pitchWhile Dalot and Mazraoui are set to star in a more inverted role when playingAndre Onana’s gameErik ten Hag bought Andre Onana for £43.7m on the basis of his ability to play out of the back, but the Dutchman couldn’t find a way to utilise David de Gea’s replacement.Onana will be asked to play into the midfield’s feet, who are expected to take the ball on the half-turn and push up the pitch.In training this week, there were no long balls to be seen.It looks like the out-field players will be limited to only two touches before passing it in a zig-zag if they can’t turn, until a channel of space opens up. Goalkeeper Andre Onana should unleash his ball-playing abilitiesMuch has been made of Andre Onana’s ability to play it out from the back with his feetCredit: GettyMainoo main manKobbie Mainoo has the ability to be United’s main ball-playing central midfielder.With the Red Devils looking to start from defence, Mainoo’s role as a deep playmaker has become even more important.Just 18 months after his first run-out against Charlton Athletic in the League Cup, he was starting the final of Euro 2024. The 19-year-old has the ability to dip his shoulder.Mainoo fits in nicely next to all-action Manuel Ugarte, who prefers to be tasked with breaking up play. Ugarte will be well aware of the system used by Amorim having played 85 times under the Portuguese coach in Lisbon, where he started 61 matches.Kobbie Mainoo returned to training this weekCredit: GettyAmorim appears to have taken an immediate shine to Mainoo in training his week, with the pair spotted chatting on several occasions.But all players will expected to get up and down quickly and bust a gut to get back, which has not been witnessed in United games of late. READ MORE SUN STORIESBut the amount of sprinting required could spell the end for Casemiro, who at 32 years old seems to have lost his legs.Nonetheless, the Real Madrid legend has stepped up in his dressing room role in recent week.Amorim was always encouraging his players where to run to in training this weekRuben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man UtdWHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers. The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for. More

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      Clive Tyldesley reveals possible LAST live UK game that ‘won’t be dull’ months after ITV axed legendary commentator

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      LEGENDARY commentator Clive Tyldesley has revealed his final match on UK television could be as soon as next month.Tyldesley has worked in TV and radio for the last 32 years, covering both domestic and international football.Clive Tyldesley has revealed his final game commentating on UK TV could be next monthCredit: RexHe was axed by ITV after commentating on Euro 2024 but vowed to stay in broadcasting.The 70-year-old quickly snapped up a new job with US network CBS but kept his role with Amazon Prime where he covers the Premier League.However, because Amazon’s deal with England’s top flight set to expire soon, his final game commentating for UK audiences is quickly approaching.Tyldesley’s final Prem match for the channel could be Brighton’s clash with Brentford during the Christmas period.Read More in FootballSpeaking on the Anfield Wrap podcast, he explained: “What actually could be the final game I ever commentate for UK television is Brighton-Brentford. That won’t be dull.”That’s on 27 December. Amazon Prime, this is their final year, so the Premier League going forward is going back to a two-man cartel of Sky and TNT.”Amazon did not enter the running for Prem broadcast rights from 2025-26 onwards.Instead, Sky Sports and TNT Sports won the process and will continue sharing the rights.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAfter announcing his new job with CBS back in July, Tyldesley explained: “All I can do is keeping reviewing my own standards, keep making myself available.”If someone like CBS – who have given me a four-year contract to cover Champions League for the USA – show that sort of confidence in me then I can only assure you I will repay that faith by working bloody hard and trying to be as good as I can be.”Fans hail mark pougatch’s classy farewell to clive tyldesley live on tv as itv commentator bows out after 28 yearsUltimate sports presenters rich listTV sports presenters make a mint.The biggest and best are signed up on yearly deals with the likes of the BBC, ITV and Sky for your viewing pleasure.Laura Woods is dominating the media landscape at the moment, leading TNT Sports’ coverage and ITV’s.Alex Scott and Jermaine Jenas are two of the fresher faces for the BBC’s sporting output.Then, it’s the old guard of Gary Lineker and Mark Chapman who also command hefty fees for their Match of the Day programmes.SunSport has taken a look at how those big names rank and compiled a list of the top 10 highest earning stars that grace our TV screens.With number one worth a whopping £29.4million more than number 10!Read the story and see the full list here. More

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      Amad Diallo could be handed shock position change as Ruben Amorim begins to put stamp on Man Utd team

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      AMAD DIALLO could be the first major winner of Rubem Amorim’s reign.The Ivorian right-winger is tipped to start ahead of big names in Amorim’s first match in charge of Manchester United at Ipswich on Sunday, with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho among those under pressure.Amad Diallo has quickly impressed new Man Utd boss AmorimCredit: GettyRuben Amorim has identified ‘character’ and team unity as prioritiesCredit: GettyAnd there’s also a chance Diallo will take on a new role for the Pem trip.United’s new Portuguese boss Amorim is already understood to have made major decisions about certain stars – after just a week of training.That includes some players he reckons won’t fit into his preferred 3-4-3 system, as used in four years at Sporting Lisbon.This weekend’s main selection concern is likely to concern the front three.READ MORE MAN UTD NEWSAnd it’s thought Diallo’s workrate, as well as his team ethic, give him the edge over widemen with arguably more flair but less consistency – such as Garnacho and Antony.So the former Sunderland loanee, 22, might finally be in pole position to hold down a regular spot on the right wing for the Red Devils.Amorim perhaps hinted as much by saying: “The team is the most important thing for me.”If you work as a team, then the talent individually is going to shine.” Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe 39-year-old rated “running back” and “character” as other priorities. Diallo played the whole game last time out for United, a 3-0 Prem home win over Leicester on November 10.A look at the build-up to Ruben Amorim’s first match in charge of Man Utd Ruud van Nistelrooy bowed out on that, giving him three victories and a draw in his four-match stint as interim chief.And Diallo’s hopes of retaining his spot have been boosted by another factor.Amorim prefers playing three in defence – whereas United’s full-backs are more used to playing in a four-man rearguard.Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui took those slots, right and left respectively, against the Foxes.Meanwhile, left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are finally in full training again after long-term injuries.But Diallo has impressed Amorim at Carrington with his hard graft.That means he might also be in contention for a starting position wide in midfield when the 13th-place Red Devils travel to Ipswich in 17th.Amorim’s new squad have been impressed with his Jose Mourinho levels of “confidence”.So the big question this weekend is: How much self-belief will he have to launch an instant shake-up with Diallo and all?READ MORE SUN STORIESMan Utd ratings v LeicesterHere’s how SunSport’s Martin Blackburn rated the Red Devils.ANDRE ONANA – 7Stood tall when Ndidi went through on goal and a decent tip round the post from Ayew as Leicester tried to get back in it.NOUSSAIR MAZROUAI – 6Lucky to escape tackle on Buonanotte without any punishment. Supplied the cross from the left which led to United’s second goal.MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 6Made a key second half clearance when the Foxes were trying to find their way back into the game. Fairly comfortable afternoon for home defenders.LISANDRO MARTINEZ – 7Spent the first hour at centre half then showed his versatility by switching to left-back when Dalot was forced off.DIOGO DALOT – 6Did a steady job keeping the Foxes at bay but then taken off on the hour – presumably due to injury as United had to reshuffle their defence.CASEMIRO – 7Better from the veteran Brazilian who helped United take command of the game before getting the chance to put his feet up late on.MANUEL UGARTE – 6Great challenge on Soumare showed what he is all about and some signs he is finding his feet. Will be looking forward to arrival of former boss Amorim.AMAD DIALLO – 7Delightful backheel for Fernandes to curl home the opener and could have scored himself. The Ivorian has had a good week.  BRUNO FERNANDES – 8Presented with a shirt to mark his 250th appearance before the game and will be getting more plaudits for his performance here. Involved in all three goals.MARCUS RASHFORD – 5Given the nod to start ahead of Garnacho but did not do enough to justify the faith of Van Nistelrooy. No surprise when he was replaced by the Argentine on the hour.RASMUS HOJLUND – 5A largely ineffective afternoon for the Danish forward before he was subbed late on. Nothing wrong with his work-rate but does he have the quality Amorim will want?– More