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      Man Utd fans call Erik ten Hag a ‘GENIUS’ for tactical masterstroke in Leeds win.. for ‘pulling a Marouane Fellaini’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED fans have called Erik ten Hag a “GENIUS” for his tactical masterstroke against Leeds.That’s after “pulling a Marouane Fellaini” to seal a huge 2-0 win at Elland Road.
      Erik ten Hag has been hailed for his tactical masterstroke against LeedsCredit: AFP
      United came close to defeat against Leeds on Wednesday as they fought back for a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.
      And Sunday’s rematch also looked to be heading for a stalemate with the score 0-0 after 80 minutes.
      However, Ten Hag ended up reaping the rewards of a tactical re-jig earlier in the half.
      In the 61st minute, he shuffled his pack by deploying 6ft 6in loan striker Wout Weghorst as an emergency No10.
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      This allowed Marcus Rashford to move into a central forward role, with sub Alejandro Garnacho taking up his preferred position on the left.
      And with just 10 minutes remaining, Rashford headed home a peach of a goal to give his side the lead.
      But United weren’t finished yet as Garnacho made sure of the result with a strike soon after.
      The result saw Ten Hag’s side leapfrog Man City into second place.
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      Wout Weghorst was deployed as a No10, allowing Marcus Rashford and Alejandro to shineCredit: Getty
      The tactical tweak reminded fans of Marouane Fellaini’s time at Old TraffordCredit: Reuters
      And supporters were left gushing over the decision to move Weghorst into a deeper role.
      Indeed, fans still fondly remember the days that 6ft 4in Belgian ace Fellaini was regularly deployed in the same position.
      Former United bosses David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho loved having a big target man between the lines of midfield and attack.
      And many took to Twitter hailing Ten Hag’s inspirational switch after bagging all three points.

      One declared: “Ten Hag pulled a Fellaini when Wout Weghorst played as a 10.”
      Another cried: “Weghorst as a 10 was a masterpiece by Ten Hag, the boy’s energy is phenomenal.”
      One yelled: “Credit to Ten Hag for a genius tweak to play Weghorst as a 10, who would have thought it will be the key to beat Leeds?”
      Another added: “Even Guardiola didn’t know Weghorst can play 10, Rashford 9 and Garnacho left makes a good combination.” More

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      ‘It’s pretty straightforward…’ – Man Utd legend Roy Keane gives brutally blunt view on City’s financial breaches

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      ROY KEANE has had his say on Manchester City’s financial breaches.The reigning Prem champions were found to have broken 115 league rules earlier this week.
      Roy Keane offered his opinion on Sky Sports
      Boss Pep Guardiola subsequently came out fighting – blasting City’s league rivals for already “condemning” his side.
      Asked about the breaches while appearing on Sky Sports, and the effect they could have on City’s players, Keane said: “I generally think most players I know are quite selfish… they just want to focus on the team performance.
      “Obviously it’s their own contract situation. From Man City’s point of view, the fans will have been delighted by Pep’s response in the media, he did come out fighting.
      “If Man City are innocent then everyone should relax. Pep should relax, people getting uptight – Man City have got to get back to trying to win football matches.
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      “I think from a dressing room point of view, if you were a player there today going into this game against Villa, you’re thinking all your focus would be on beating Aston Villa.
      “Obviously the people upstairs take care of the politics involved.
      “If they are found guilty then you have to be punished, it’s pretty straight forward.
      “Pep, like he said in that piece there… he’s obviously speaking to people above him – the chairman, the CEO and people that run the club – he said they’ve told him they’re innocent, then just get on with it.”
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      Weighing in on the matter, Gary Neville said: “There’s going to be a major loser here.
      “The Premier League are going to be found to be incompetent if they can’t land the charges and if they do land the charges it’s going to tarnish the last 10 years for many people.”
      On Financial Fair Play, Neville added: “It was pushed through by the established elite because they have the highest revenues and they don’t like the idea of being able to pump money into football.”
      And on City supposedly having the highest revenue in the world, Neville was not convinced.
      He continued: “I think where it’s become a bit unbelievable is that Manchester City have sailed above Manchester United, Real Madrid and other clubs like that on the revenue.”
      City fans booed as the Premier League anthem was pumped around the Etihad prior to their clash with Aston Villa this afternoon.
      It wasn’t all doom and gloom, however, as fans were able to witness an unlikely bromance being rekindled.
      Will Ferrell appeared on Sky Sports before the game, hugging his former Soccer Aid team-mate Keane as he did so.
      The duo appeared thick as thieves as they caught up on camera.
      Roy Keane caught up with old pal Will FerrellCredit: Getty More

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      Southampton ‘considering shock Jesse Marsch swoop as Nathan Jones replacement just SIX DAYS after Leeds sacking’

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      JESSE MARSCH is reportedly being considered for the managerial vacancy at Southampton.The American, 49, was sacked by Leeds earlier this week after failing to win seven consecutive games.
      Southampton are considering a swoop for MarschCredit: AP
      Jones was sacked by Southampton on SundayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But he is already in contention to return to the Premier League, with Southampton looking to recruit him as the replacement for Nathan Jones.
      Jones, 49, was dismissed by the Saints on Sunday morning after just 14 games in charge.
      SunSport revealed last week that the former Luton manager had lost the faith of many members of his squad.
      This came shortly after he infuriated his players by saying they were part of the reason he did not change his preferred playing style.
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      With Southampton currently rock bottom of the Premier League, club chiefs are eager to introduce a new manager as soon as possible.
      And according to The Athletic, Marsch is on the shortlist of potential candidates.
      Marsch’s experience working in the Red Bull system, like former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, appeals to Southampton.
      It is believed that the former Leeds boss will bring a familiar playing style to the club.
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      Steven Gerrard, Marcelo Gallardo, Arne Slot, Mauricio Pochettino, Nuno Espirito Santo and Rafa Benitez have also been linked with the job.
      Southampton are set to face Chelsea in the Premier League next Sunday. More

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      Fans loving bizarre bromance between Man Utd legend Roy Keane and Will Ferrell as actor recalls hilarious first meeting

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      ROY KEANE and Will Ferrell revealed their unlikely bromance while appearing together on Sky Sports.Ferrell, 55, is at the Etihad today to watch Manchester City take on Aston Villa.
      Will Ferrell hugs his old pal Roy KeaneCredit: Sky Sports
      Ferrell, 55, poses with the Sky Sports crewCredit: Getty
      The Hollywood actor recounted how he met KeaneCredit: Getty
      Prior to the match, the American popped down to pitchside to appear on Sky Sports.
      He engaged in a chinwag with host Kelly Cates, as well as pundits Gary Neville, Micah Richards and Keane.
      He appeared to enjoy seeing the latter most, giving him a big hug.
      The pair played at Old Trafford together for the Rest of the World during Soccer Aid in 2012.
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      And they still appeared thick as thieves 11 years on.
      Recounting their 2012 meeting, Ferrell said: “Roy and I had the pleasure to play together in Soccer Aid. Was that 2010 maybe?”
      Keane replied: “I can’t remember, I can’t remember last week! Are you still training and playing?”
      Ferrell then joked: “I’ll run around a little bit, kick the ball and try not to pull my hammy.”
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      Back in 2012, the Hollywood icon had joked about how he first introduced himself to former Manchester United hardman Keane.
      He said at the time: “No one told me ahead of time you’re not supposed to go up and hug Roy Keane, and that’s the first thing I did.
      “I walked up, hugged him, picked him up, and gave him a big old wet kiss on the cheek.
      “He said ‘nice to meet you too’…
      “He waved at me at breakfast on Friday morning, I believe he was waving at me. I believe it was really positive.”
      Despite being a Hollywood A-Lister, Ferrell has shown his down to Earth nature during his trip the UK.
      Ahead of attending pals Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham clash with Wealdstone, he was spotted chatting to fans while clutching a pint in a local pub.
      The Turf regulars couldn’t believe it when Ferrell walked in for a pre-match pint.
      Ferrell, 55, played in Soccer Aid back in 2012Credit: Getty More

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      Man Utd and Leeds release statements slamming both sets of supporters for vile chants regarding historic tragedies

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      MANCHESTER UNITED and Leeds have released a joint statement condemning chanting in relation to historic tragedies.It came as United won the match 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
      Fans were heard chanting about previous tragedies the clubs have enduredCredit: Rex
      Both clubs released condemning the actsCredit: Getty
      The short statement read: “Both clubs strongly condemn chanting from both sets of fans regarding historic tragedies at today’s game.
      “Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and we will continue to work together with our respective fan groups and the Premier League, and other authorities on eradicating it from football.”
      The chants in question were directed towards the Munich air disaster and Istanbul.
      The air crash in 1958 saw the majority of Man Utd’s team at the time killed.
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      A total of 23 people, including eight players, were killed when British European Airways Flight 609 attempted a third takeoff from the runway at Munich-Riem Airport.
      Istanbul relates to when Leeds faced Galatasaray in a Uefa Cup semi-final in 2000.
      Fan clashes before the game resulted in two Leeds fans losing their lives after being stabbed.
      It comes after Brentford’s Ivan Toney was the victim of racist abuse following his side’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
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      Toney scored a late equaliser in the fixture but was then targeted with racist abuse by vile trolls on his Instagram page after the game.
      In a statement, the Bees said: “We are disgusted and saddened that Ivan has had to deal with this yet again.
      “We will not tolerate it and we will do everything we can to pursue the individuals involved.
      “Ivan was subject to similar abuse in October last year, and the perpetrator is now facing the consequences in court.
      “How many times does this need to happen?
      “We call on football fans everywhere to relish the competition and rivalry that exists between us, but to respect and embrace our differences and celebrate the diversity that exists throughout the Premier League.
      “There is no room for racism.” More

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      Charlie Austin leaves Swindon crowd in stitches with hilarious comeback after confronting angry fan after Doncaster loss

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      CHARLIE AUSTIN left the Swindon crowd in stitches after a hilarious comeback to an angry fan.Swindon were on the end of a 2-0 loss to Doncaster to leave Town with just one win in their last four games.

      Charlie Austin confronted a fan after Swindon’s 2-0 loss to DoncasterCredit: Twitter
      The fan was giving Austin stickCredit: Twitter
      But the former Premier League ace produced a brilliant comebackCredit: Twitter
      Following the match, former Premier League striker Austin went over to the fans after being beckoned over.
      The fan in question then proceeded to give Austin, who has scored three goals since arriving at the County Ground in January, some stick.
      However, not one to mince his words, Austin had a brilliant response for the fan.
      He said: “What you gonna do mate, is go home and in half an hour have a pint and a Chinese.”
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      The 33-year-old then walked off to cheers of: “Charlie, Charlie Austin.”
      Fans online were also backing Austin’s corner.
      One fan wrote: “Fair play to him, deserves to defend himself. Not every game can we dominate. Lots of unsteadiness with changing players and coaches.
      “Have a good evening @chazaustin10. Just shows you give two win or lose.”
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      A second said: “I saw this from the Don Rogers. @chazaustin10 stuck up for the squad, fair play to him.
      “Yes, we didn’t get a result, but our own fan base shouldn’t be turning on our team. Support through and through, good times and the bad.”
      A third commented: “Fair play to Charlie, i’d be calling out my team mates too if i were him. Too many didn’t look interested today, it looked an effort just to go through the motions.”
      Another added: “Well done Charlie for putting the fan in his place x.” More

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      Man Utd player ratings: Rashford steps up to save the day once again while Maguire continues to struggle

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      MANCHESTER UNITED bounced back from a disappointing draw with Leeds earlier this week to earn a 2-0 win over the Whites thanks to Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.The scoreline did not directly reflect the game itself, with Leeds causing numerous problems for Erik ten Hag’s men, but United did enough to steal all three points on the day.
      Rashford led United to a 2-0 winCredit: Getty
      Rashford opened the scoring late in the game with a header following Luke Shaw’s superb cross before Garnacho sealed the win just a few minutes later.
      Here’s how SunSport’s Emillia Hawkins rated the performance.
      David De Gea – 6
      When called upon throughout the game, De Gea made some good saves to keep the score level.
      But, a huge error in the early stages of the second half almost led to a Leeds opener when he passed the ball straight to Crysencio Summerville, who could not make the most of the opportunity.
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      Diogo Dalot – 6
      After a shaky first half, Dalot grew in confidence after the break which helped to strengthen United’s defence.
      He even came close to breaking the deadlock in the 64th minute when his long-range strike rattled the crossbar.
      Harry Maguire – 4
      It was another disappointing day at the office for the England defender.
      Maguire was sloppy in possession of the ball and almost cost his team a goal on two separate occasions – giving the ball away once before escaping penalty appeals.
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      Luke Shaw – 7
      The most composed player in United’s defence, Shaw did well to break down some potentially dangerous Leeds attacks.
      His ability to play out from the back also enabled Rashford and Sancho to push forward.
      Tyrell Malacia – 6
      The right-back struggled to contain the threat of Summerville on the wing, which led to a few mistakes.
      But as the Red Devils looked to attack, he was quick to offer support to Rashford.
      Marcel Sabitzer – 7
      Sabitzer was dragged out of position on a number of occasions, leaving a gap in midfield as a result.
      But he did well to make some strong challenges in a bid to break down play.
      Fred – 6
      The midfielder made some strong challenges in midfield, but he sometimes drifted too far forward, leaving Sabitzer on his own to deal with any counter attacks.
      Jadon Sancho – 7
      Sancho is slowly but surely beginning to find his form again after a long spell out of action.
      He provided an energetic outlet on the right, forcing fouls from Junior Firpo.
      Bruno Fernandes – 6
      He struggled to make the most of his chances, especially during the first half.
      Marcus Rashford – 8
      Just as Man Utd looked as though they were beginning to settle for a draw, Rashford popped up – as he has done so many times already this season – to score a crucial goal.
      He has posed a problem to every team he has come up against this year, and today was no different.
      Wout Weghorst – 5
      He struggled to make an impact in attack with a lack of involvement throughout the game.
      When he was in possession, the small window of opportunity for a potential goal frequently slammed shut due to a sloppy pass or a lack of pace and intensity.
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      Substitutes
      Alejandro Garnacho (for Sancho, 61) – 8
      The young star made his presence known as soon as he stepped onto the pitch and earned a goal as a result.
      Lisandro Martinez (for Malacia, 61) –
      Like Garnacho, Martinez changed the game as soon as he came on to replace Malacia. More

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      Leeds 0 Man Utd 2: Marcus Rashford the hero again as on-fire forward scores late winner to keep slim title hopes alive

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      ERIK TEN HAG had a face like thunder as his United team seemed intent on making it just one win in five Premier League.Yet in the end, against one of Manchester United’s greatest rivals, it was all smiles from the Dutch coach.
      Marcus Rashford heads Man United in frontCredit: Reuters
      Rashford celebrates his openerCredit: Reuters
      First, when Marcus Rashford, despite not playing that well, made it 13 goals in 15 games with an 80th minute header.
      But the biggest, widest grin came five minutes later when Alejandro Garnacho wrapped up this entertaining but low-quality match with the second.
      The United teenager was guilty of sulking after being taken off in the 2-2 draw with Leeds in mid-week and was told by Ten Hag that he “had to score” in the game.
      But Garnacho’s arrival here as a sub was a total success and when he scored the second to seal an important win for United.
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      Ten Hag clenched both fists and punched the air, while grinning in the direction of Garnacho.
      There is nothing strong with the odd strop as long as players learn from it.
      Equally, Rashford delivered a reminder of what a season he is having to finally break Leeds’ resistance even though the managerless home team looked more likely to score.
      Michael Skubala, the Leeds  interim coach, applauded the team off the pitch and they certainly fought hard despite wasting some chances.
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      Alejandro Garnacho wheels away in celebrationCredit: Reuters
      The teenager fires past Illan MeslierCredit: Getty
      Ten Hag, although still hit with injuries, decided to freshen up the team by resting Raphael Varane and starting Lisandro Martinez on the bench, although he came on after an hour.
      This meant Harry Maguire was handed only his ninth start of the season in all competitions and fifth in the Premier League. 
      Jadon Sancho, meanwhile, made his first start since Chelsea away October 2022 although is still nowhere near at his best.
      Yet United still looked weak in midfield and this was illustrated with 20 minutes left when Fred backed out of a tackle with Junior Firpo who then had space to surge forward.
      As you would expect for a game between these two clubs, the atmosphere was pretty tasty.
      Leeds’ fans cheered every challenge won by a player in a white shirt and jeered each time a man in red touched the ball.
      There were a hell of a lot of meaty challenges which went unpunished by Paul Tierney who was trying to let the game flow. Yet it was remarkable that in the first half, only Junior Firpo, Weston McKennie and Fred were booked.
      One of the biggest roars of the first half came when the otherwise impressive Crysencio Summerville sunk his foot into the leg of Bruno Fernandes but he escaped a caution.
      Crysencio Summerville spurned a glorious chanceCredit: AFP
      Illan Meslier denied Bruno Fernandes in the first halfCredit: AP
      Earlier, Summerville could have sent this place into meltdown but lifted a shot over the bar when he should have done a bit better.
      Marcus Rashford and Sancho were having little joy against Firpo and Luke Ayling. At one stage, the United boss called over Sancho to deliver some positional instructions.
      Maguire did well enough alongside Luke Shaw although at times, still looked a bit nervous. The England centre-back was guilty of one poor mistake by losing the ball to Jack Harrison but then redeemed himself with a key tackle.
      Fernandes claimed handball when his shot deflected off Robin Koch and United’s best chance of the half fell to the Portuguese midfielder.
      Fernandes nicked the ball off Wober and looked certain to score but he had too much time to think about the shot. Equally, though, Illan Meslier did well to stick out his right leg to save.
      Just 90 seconds into the second half, United keeper de Gea delivered his first important stop to push away a decent effort from Summerville
      Leeds striker Patrick Bamford was left unimpressed when Jack Harrison attempted to score with a side foot rather than square the ball. Bamford then made way for new signing Georginio Rutter who was handed a home debut after three away days for his new club.
      Alejandro Garnacho, having just replaced Sancho, played his part in a move which led to Dalot smacking a shot against the bar
      Summerville was gifted another chance but was denied by the right foot of de Gea and what a big save that proved to be.
      Rashford found space between Firpo and Wober to meet Shaw’s left-wing cross and after a brief VAR check for offside, the England forward was able to celebrate yet another goal.
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      Garnacho then showed his individual class by tearing clear of Wober before smacking a shot past Meslier via the near post.
      Rashford’s last kick before being was subbed was to get the ball in the net but it was ruled out after a VAR check – but United’s fans were happy with just the two goals.
      The match was filled with feisty challengesCredit: Getty More