Premier League

RUBEN AMORIM has backed Mason Mount to prove why he became a European Champion.The new Manchester United boss says the midfielder “wants it really bad” too.Mason Mount was in action against Bodo/Glimt last nightCredit: ReutersRuben Amorim is a big fan of the former Chelsea starCredit: XMount has had an unhappy time with injury since he moved to Man Utd from Chelsea with whom he won the Champions League in 2021.He cost United £55million in July of last year but there has been little in the way of returns with just seven league starts in that time.But on Thursday night the 25-year-old returned to the Red Devils first team in his first start for 90 days playing 59 minutes of their 3-2 win over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.Amorim saw enough in that time and in the short time he has had with him at the club’s Carrington Training base to convince him the forgotten can become a main man at Man United.READ MORE ON MAN UTDHe said: “The first thing is he is working really hard. And then you have to understand the human also. He wants this really badly. That is the most important thing.“I have to tell you I love that kid.“You can see in his eyes that he wants this so bad.“He has proven to all of you that he is a talented player. He was European champion.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS“So we believe a lot in him.”Of course, the main obstacle is steering clear of those injuries that ruined his first season.Ruben Amorim bizarrely SLAPS Man Utd stars in training as fans joke ‘I hope Luke Shaw doesn’t get injured’Indeed, injury problems throughout the squad that plagued Erik ten Hag’s second season as boss.Mount was confidently talking of putting that all behind him at the start of this campaign when his hamstring went in only the second league game at Brighton.Now he goes again but Amorim says it is not just about fitness but belief that will help take him back to the top.Amorim said: “I know he was suffering from injuries, he was not on the pitch, but now he’s trying to stay fit and we hope he can continue to be fit, to show all the talent that he’s shown, for example, in Chelsea.“He has to stay fit. And like all the guys in the team, they are quality players, they have to improve and believe in themselves.”He certainly saw that belief in Mount against Bodo on Thursday.It was his superb flick that helped to set up the winning goal as he found Bruno Fernandes to square for Rasmus Hojlund.’A PROPER FOOTBALLER’Amorim said: “He did a great job, and you see in some moments and details that Mason Mount is a proper footballer. So we believe a lot in him.”Having played in a 3-4-3 at Chelsea in the past Amorim believes the adjustment to the style he is trying to bring to Old Trafford will not be a problem for the midfielder.The Portuguese said: “He played in this system, so it’s perfect for him.”After an opening draw away to Ipswich, Thursday night was a confidence boosting victory for Amorim in his first game in charge of United at Old Trafford.He was blown away by the reception he got and is now aiming to take the momentum built from the comeback victory over the Norwegians into Sunday’s visit of Sean Dyche’s Everton.He said: “It’s going to be a different match with a lot of fighting, long balls, second balls. They have a quality coach that understands the league, that understands the moment of the opponent.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I hope for a win and I hope to see different things and to see my team improve.“I expect to see different things and better things.”Man Utd ratings vs Bodo/Glimt More

ARSENAL’S recent revival has coincided – not surprisingly – with the return of Martin Odegaard from injury.The Norwegian is Mikel Arteta’s captain and very much the leader of the team.Martin Odegaard is the key to Arsenal’s title challengeCredit: RexMikel Arteta’s team have not been the same while the captain has been out injuredCredit: GettyArsenal look a different side when he is in the starting XI, and they sorely missed him when he was out with an ankle injury.He makes them tick, and was at his very best last weekend in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest and in their 5-1 Champions League hammering of Sporting Lisbon.Ex-Chelsea legend and BBC pundit Pat Nevin could hardly contain his enthusiasm for the way he pulled the strings.He said: “The mutual understanding of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard was extraordinary, bordering on psychic. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“The latter was playing on a different level to anyone else and several levels above every Forest player.“‌Odegaard was sublime, almost balletic, seeing spaces, gliding into them and effortlessly making passes that his opponents couldn’t even imagine. It all reminded me of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva at their peak.“Arsenal with Odegaard back in the side look as good, if not better than ever, and this was without the rested Declan Rice and Kai Havertz.”Here are three ways he makes Arsenal a much more formidable team and why he holds the key to the Gunners’ title aspirations this season.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSRight-side combinationsArsenal’s form dipped while Odegaard was out injured, winning just three of their seven Premier League matches.Given the Gunners’ quality, opponents tend to sit deep and try to cut off the passing lanes into Saka – some even double or triple up on him.How Cucurella trapped Saka AGAIN with simple trick but Chelsea have critical Palmer problemBut with Odegaard in the team and playing as the right-sided central midfielder in Arteta’s 4-3-3, Arsenal are far more dangerous. Jurrien Timber combines with and makes a run behind the defensive lineThis creates space for Odegaard to receive the ball from Saka and then deliver a dangerous cross to the far post.Arsenal’s right side combine well and can break down deep defencesWhen Odegaard was out, we saw the likes of Thomas Partey, Mikel Merino, Rice and Jorginho played in midfield – but they lack the creativity and positional awareness of the skipper. The only player that possesses similar attributes to him is wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri, 17, hence calls for him to get more minutes.Odegaard is comfortable coming out wide and into the channels to overload the opposition and pull players out of position.It hands Saka more in space and therefore Arsenal are not reliant on one player to break down a deep defensive block.Odegaard comes out to receive the ball wide and Timber runs inside. These inter-changing movements are tough for opponents to cope with.Timber’s driving run and Odegaard’s clever movement out wide sees Arsenal progress the ballFinding space Odegaard is a midfielder who provides value for Arsenal both in the way he finds angles for playing progressive passes and in his positioning and movement to receive progressive passes.He scans constantly and moves into areas where he is tough to pick up.When Rice is on the ball, Timber moves inside to support.Odegaard shifts and positions himself centrally in a pocket of space to receive the ball and combine with Jorginho.These quick passes help Arsenal move the ball up the pitch with purpose and break down what is a compact Forest defensive shape.Odegaard scans what is behind him and knows he can move the ball beyond Forest’s midfield with a quick interchangeWhile the positioning and movement from Odegaard is very good, his technical level is sublime.The ex-Real Madrid star can receive passes in the final third and have the poise to release an attacking player like Saka into positions that hurt the last line of the opposition defence.Again, Rice is in possession and as he turns forward, the movement and positioning of Odegaard allows the ball to be played through and beyond the opposition midfield.When the 25-year-old playmaker is missing they simply do not have a player who can find these positions consistently and deep defences can frustrate themOdegaard has the awareness to move into a space where Rice can play a simple yet progressive passCreating space for SakaWhen Odegaard was missing from the Arsenal team we saw a downturn in the form of Saka. This was because teams were starting to try to double or even triple up on him.With Odegaard in the team and positioning himself higher, we see opponents pulled apart as they try to keep both him and Saka quiet.To account for the Norwegian’s positioning, they are not able to commit as many players to covering the threat of the England winger.Arsenal’s No8 can receive centrally and then drive at the heart of the opposition’s defensive line. A left-back or left-holding midfielder then has a dilemma. Close down Odegaard and leave Saka open or stay on Saka and give a player of Odegaard’s skill time on the edge of their box.A driving run creates space wide for Saka or Odegaard will keep goingAnd in the next example, Odegaard is in position to receive the ball in the channel. His positioning has attracted a defensive player to the ball and Saka is able to pick it up 1vs1 against the full-back, where he is simply unplayable. Getting Saka 1vs1 can win Arsenal gamesOn GaardOdegaard is perhaps Arsenal’s most important player. Not only is he the club captain and leader on and off the pitch, he is the key to providing the link between midfield and attack. READ MORE SUN STORIESWithout him the Gunners are one dimensional, much less dangerous and will not win the title.With him they have a far better chance, although Liverpool may disagree… More

RUUD VAN NISTELROOY walking into the Leicester job must have managers further down the leagues tearing their hair out.This week at the Northwest Football Awards, for example, Dave Challinor of Stockport was named manager of the year ahead of Pep Guardiola.Ruud van Nistelrooy’s selection for the King Powercould be seen as another blow to high-achieving EFL bossesCredit: PADave Challinor has transformed Stockport in under three yearsCredit: RexNow that may be because organisers felt he would probably turn up to get his gong, unlike Guardiola.Still, two promotions in 2½  years to lift the area’s poor relation from the National League to League One — where they sit fourth — is incredible.Yet that and a managerial background  at Colwyn Bay, AFC Fylde and Hartlepool would sadly never put him on a Premier League club’s radar.It never does.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLVan Nistelrooy was on that radar at the Foxes in the summer after one season managing at PSV Eindhoven before they went for Steve Cooper.Now after a further four games as interim Manchester United boss and he is in at the King Power and Cooper is out.To be fair, Michael Carrick did not do too badly on the back of his three games as caretaker at Old Trafford in 2021.He racked up two wins and a draw and, by the next October, was manager of Middlesbrough.Most read in FootballMichael Carrick has thrived as Middlesbrough chief after his brief stint as Red Devils’ interim bossCredit: GettyFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSBig names excite fans and Van Nistelrooy has one, literally.At PSV, he won the 2023 Dutch Cup and was runner-up in the league  but walked out amid a dispute with the board over lack of backing in the transfer market — an early red flag.Emotional Ruud van Nistelrooy given incredible ovation at Old Trafford with Man Utd interim still unclear on his futureAfter a year out, this summer he became part of a coaching set-up with Erik ten Hag that oversaw the club’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season.Then came those four games as caretaker.Coincidentally, the first was a 5-2 Carabao Cup win over Leicester.Except it was the Foxes’ second team as Cooper prioritised that  weekend’s relegation six-pointer at Ipswich, which they  drew 1-1.Van Nistelrooy followed it with a creditable 1-1 draw against Chelsea, a 2-0 victory over PAOK in the Europa League,  then a 3-0 win over — guess who? — Leicester again.So hardly the most taxing run of games and that draw with Chelsea was an absolute shocker of a game. Still, he briefly lifted the club  and the reception he got from the United faithful obviously struck a chord with the Foxes hierarchy watching from the directors’ box.That love-in was more to do with his 150 goals for the club way back when, rather than any managerial masterpiece.At a time when image is everything, however, the Dutchman  comes across very well.Van Nistelrooy showed his fiery side to Alex FergusonCredit: GettyJust look at how  Lee Carsley was dismissed  as a potential England boss because of how he handled the media glare.If Van Nistelrooy turned on the charm — like he did in his United press conferences — during his  interview for the Foxes job, you can see why  he got it.That is not to say the  ex-striker, 48, will not do well —  as he leans on the experience of  working with some greats.Like the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, who he gave a volley of abuse to when his boss did not bring him on  in the 2006 League Cup final.There is clearly a fiery side to the man.Worryingly for Foxes chiefs, the story goes that it was not just down to  a lack of support from above that saw Van Nistelrooy leave PSV just before the season ended.Stories in Holland claim  there was  a player revolt behind the scenes…If all the paperwork is done, his first  game as Foxes gaffer  could be at Brentford on Saturday.READ MORE SUN STORIESMeanwhile, Challinor, 49, is set to host Brackley in the FA Cup.It seems if he wants to manage in the top flight, he will have to get there with Stockport. More