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    Why has Emi Martinez changed his number to 23? Aston Villa goalkeeper explains his new shirt number

    EMI MARTINEZ is no longer Aston Villa’s No 1.But the decision has been fully of the goalkeeper’s own making.Martinez will no longer be sporting Villa’s No 1 shirtCredit: GettyMartinez joined Villa from Arsenal in 2020 for £20m, and has made 145 league appearances for the Villans.He has since excelled both at club level and for Argentina at international level.Martinez lifted the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, playing in every minute and winning the Golden Glove.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMartinez will now wear the No 23 shirtCredit: AVFCWhy has Emi Martinez changed his shirt number?Emi Martinez has said he changed his shirt number because 23 holds more resonance to him, both on the pitch and off it.Martinez wore the No 23 shirt as Argentina’s goalkeeper when they won the World Cup.And 23 was also the day his son, Santi, was born.Martinez said: “Well, it’s been, I think, four seasons with the number one. “I won all the trophies with the national team with the number 23. [It’s] the day my boy was born. Most read in Football”I want to bring silverware to the fans, to Villa. I’m really superstitious to be fair, so changing to 23, it’s a really special number.”Martinez wore the No 23 for Argentina at the World CupCredit: PAThe last player to wear the 23 shirt for Aston Villa was Philippe Coutinho.After a loan spell from Barcelona, Coutinho made his move permanent for £17m in May 2022.However after falling down the pecking order under Unai Emery, Coutinho agreed a drastic pay-cut to be able to leave Villa Park, albeit on loan.He now plays on loan back in Brazil for Vasco da Gama after a spell in Qatar for Al-Duhail. More

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    Amad Diallo goal celebration: Why does the Man Utd winger cover his eye when he scores?

    AMAD Diallo’s journey from a young talent in Abidjan to a key player for Manchester United is nothing short of extraordinary. Discover how his emotional goal celebration honours a late friend and why his career trajectory has captivated fans around the world.Amad Diallo has a special way to celebrate his goalsCredit: ReutersWho is Amad Diallo?Amad Diallo was born on July 11, 2002, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a winger or midfielder. He is currently with Manchester United in the Premier League and represents the Ivory Coast national team.Amad emigrated to Italy at a young age and began his football career at Boca Barco’s youth team. He was highly impressive in youth tournaments, which led to his move to Atalanta’s youth academy in 2015.read more on amad dialloAmad progressed through Atalanta’s youth ranks and made his Serie A debut in October 2019, becoming the first player born in 2002 to score in Italy’s top flight. He also made appearances in the UEFA Champions League during his time with Atalanta.In January 2021, Amad signed with Manchester United for a fee that could rise to €40 million. He had a promising start, scoring on his debut for the U-23 team and making his senior debut soon after. Most read in FootballHis time with United included loan spells at Rangers and Sunderland. Amad returned to Manchester United’s first team in December 2023 and scored significant goals, including a memorable FA Cup quarter-final winner against Liverpool in March 2024.He made his senior international debut for Ivory Coast in March 2021 and scored his first international goal in June 2021. He also represented Ivory Coast at the 2020 Summer Olympics.Why does Amad Diallo cover his eye when he scores?Amad is honouring his friend in his celebrationCredit: GettyAmad Diallo’s goal celebration, where he covers his right ear and left eye, is a tribute to his late friend and former Atalanta teammate, Willy Braciano Ta Bi. Willy Ta Bi passed away in February 2021 due to liver cancer.The celebration is a way for Amad to honour Willy’s memory. He said in an interview for Manchester United: “My first thought was… mamma mia!”I have scored a goal in a United shirt! I couldn’t believe it. “My second thought was for Willy.”Willy Braciano Ta Bi, my former team-mate, had died a couple of weeks earlier. “Willy was a good friend of mine, another Ivorian in the youth team at Atalanta, and he had always showed me a specific goal celebration and he said that when he scored his first goal for the Atalanta first-team, that was how he was going to celebrate.“So, as soon as I scored against Milan, that came into my mind. Celebrate like Willy.”So I did his celebration. I wanted to remember him like that.”I had to remember my good friend.” It was a very emotional moment for me, as well as being a great moment in my career.”Amad is not alone in his distinctive goal celebrations; many footballers have their own unique rituals. For instance, Bruno Fernandes often performs his “I can’t hear you” celebration by covering both of his ears, Marcus Rashford points to his head, Rasmus Højlund plays an air guitar, and Kobbie Mainoo salutes the crowd and blows kisses after scoring.READ MORE SUN STORIESHow many goals has Amad Diallo scored for Manchester United?As of August 2024, Amad Diallo has scored a total of 4 goals for Manchester United.He also netted 3 goals during his loan spell at Rangers and added 14 goals while on loan at Sunderland. More

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    Armando Broja’s loan transfer from Chelsea to Ipswich on brink of COLLAPSING after injury is revealed in medical

    ARMANDO BROJA’S loan move from Chelsea to Ipswich is on the brink of collapse after his medical revealed signs of an Achilles injury.The two clubs agreed a deal for the striker to spend the season at Ipswich earlier this week.Armando Broja’s proposed move to Ipswich is at risk of collapsingCredit: RexBut SunSport has learned that the player’s medical has thrown up complications.Ipswich have not walked away from the deal completely but are understood to now be looking at other options. Broja’s medical problems are a huge blow for Chelsea, who are seeking to offload at least 15 players before the transfer window shuts on Friday.The Albanian international has been told he has no future at Stamford Bridge under Enzo Maresca.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHowever, the club may now struggle to sell him despite interest from Everton. Chelsea had also agreed a clause with Ipswich for them to buy Broja for £30m next summer if Kieran McKenna’s side stay in the Premier League. As a homegrown player Broja’s transfer fee could be registered as pure profit by Chelsea.This would help them comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules next year. Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSBroja’s Chelsea career has been plagued by injuries. The 22-year-old missed much of last season with a knee problem and failed to make an impact during the second half of the campaign on loan at Fulham. Chelsea were approached for comment.  Jamie Carragher says ‘players should stop joining Chelsea’ and ‘sign a four-year deal at a proper club’ in stunning rantChelsea ratings vs ServetteCHELSEA sealed their first win under new manager Enzo Maresca as they beat Swiss minnows Servette.Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke got the second-half goals to give the Blues a commanding lead in their Uefa Conference League play-off double header.But it was far from convincing with Chelsea BOOED OFF at half-time.Here’s how SunSport’s Jack Rosser rated the Blues stars…Filip Jorgensen – 7Made some very smart saves – especially late on as the visitors caused problems and came close to finding a goal to get back in.Axel Disasi – 6Kept things quiet down Chelsea’s right hand side having been started out of position at right-back. The Frenchman did not offer much going forwards but was more than solid enough defensively.Tosin Adarabioyo – 6An assured first start for the club since joining from Fulham on a free transfer. The defender was not caused any real problems and dominated in the air – a big reason Chelsea decided to snap him up.Benoit Badiashile – 6Solid enough defensively but looked awkward on the ball at times, especially when Chelsea were trying to pick a way through a solid midfield.Renato Veiga – 5Was given the task of moving inside from left-back and looked to struggle a lot at points, losing the ball cheaply on half way at one stage.Moises Caicedo – 5The midfielder was sent out in the holding role and hardly helped defensively by having Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Nkunku, a striker, ahead of him. Struggled to get a grip of midfield and dictate the game.Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 7A very encouraging full debut for the summer signing – neat and positive on the ball and created some good chances for those ahead of him.Pedro Neto – 6A first start for his new club and the winger made some very encouraging runs down the right hand side. Will take time to settle but looks a very good option.Christopher Nkunku – 6Rather fortunate to win the penalty as it looked a touch harsh but stepped up and converted well.Mykhailo Mudryk – 4The definition of all bark, no bite. The Ukrainian winger has pace to burn and a huge bag of tricks but neither help him make any significant impact on games.Continuing to play like that and Raheem Sterling might have a future here after all.Marc Guiu – 6Missed an absolute sitter to score his first goal for Chelsea.After working so hard through the first half, Guiu turned a tap in into a howler when putting what should have been an easy finish straight at the scrambling Servette keeper. More

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    Brighton 2-1 Man Utd LIVE RESULT: Pedro’s last-gasp header snatches all three points for Seagulls in Prem thriller

    MANCHESTER UNITED have lost 2-1 to Brighton courtesy of a last-gasp header from Joao Pedro!Alejandro Garnacho thought he had earned the win for United before it was ruled out in a freak offside incident.But it is the Seagulls striker who has taken the headlines as the hosts make it two wins from two.RESULT: Brighton 2-1 Man UtdTV channel: TNT Sports 1Live stream: Discovery+Brighton XI: Steele; Veltman, Paul van Hecke, Dunk, Hinshelwood; Milner, Gilmour; Minteh, Pedro, Mitoma; WelbeckMan Utd XI: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Mount, Rashford; FernandesFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFollow ALL the action from AMEX with our live blog below…That’s all from the AmexIt’s been a triumphant afternoon for Brighton and Hove Albion – but already those questions are being asked again of Manchester United.The glory of last Friday’s late victory over Fulham seems a long time ago now as the Red Devils’ same old frailties in defence were exposed.And the problem with losing the early game of the weekend is that you then have to watch on as your rivals play and possibly take advantage.Still, you can follow coverage of all the 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League with SunSport, but from us here on the south coast it’s thank you and goodbye.Copy linkCopiedDanny does for United againDanny Welbeck got the ball rolling for Brighton this afternoon, turning in Kaoru Mitoma’s cross for the 100th goal of his club career.Twenty-nine of those were scored for Manchester United, but they seem a long time ago now with the striker having left Old Trafford a decade ago.And now Welbeck has five Premier League goals against the Red Devils, only netting more in his career against West Ham (6).The 33-year-old has scored more goals against United than any of their former players in the competition.Copy linkCopiedUnited’s 90th-minute nightmaresSince 2022-23, Manchester United have lost more Premier League games thanks to goals scored in the 90th minute and beyond than any other club (6).They had only lost two such games in the first 30 seasons of the Premier League. Copy linkCopiedMatch stats from the AmexSince the start of 2017-18 – Brighton’s first Premier League campaign – only Manchester City (8) have picked up more top-flight victories against Manchester United than the Seagulls (7).Copy linkCopiedFull time – Brighton 2-1 Man UtdThe final whistle goes and Brighton are two wins from two under their young manager Fabian Hurzeler.But for Manchester United, it’s a sense of déjà vu.Beaten by Brighton again, and once more wondering what steps to take with this unbalanced and underachieving squad.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 2-1 Man Utd90+7. Forget the heavy rain, these Brighton fans are walking on sunshine.They’re just seconds away from beating Manchester United AGAIN.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 2-1 Man Utd90+5. Joao Pedro has won it for Brighton deep in stoppage time!The Seagulls sensed victory at the death and swooped as Manchester United’s defence went missing.With their backs to the wall, the visitors fail to clear their lines from a corner and that presents the ball to Simon Adingra on the left of the penalty area.The substitute teases two opponents before stepping up a cross to the far post where Joao Pedro has been left all alone.One free header late and the roof comes off the Amex.Matthijs de Ligt and Scott McTominay look desperately at each other. Erik ten Hag looks desperately at his iPad. The Manchester United fans look desperately for the exit.Copy linkCopiedWinner!Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd90+2. Brighton are going for it here. Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd90. The board goes up for seven minutes of stoppage time.That’s more than enough time to win it.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd89. A late flurry of changes.Brighton’s new £40m man Georginio Rutter is on as well as Yasin Ayari and Simon Adingra; they replace Minteh, Mitoma and Gilmour.Antony is into the action too with the Manchester United man taking over from Amad.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd87. Van Hecke cracks Martinez with a challenge on the knee, and unsurprisingly provokes an angry reaction from the Argentine.Casemiro is quickly in to play peacemaker as a yellow card is directed in the direction of the Dutchman.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd85. Both sides are pushing for a winner with five minutes remaining.There’s never been a Premier League draw between these two clubs, and they don’t want to start today.Garnacho tries his luck from distance with a shot that soars over.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd83. Dunk threatens from a corner that was won after Onana had hit Minteh with a thumping but fair challenge.The Brighton captain gets up with a header that flashes across goal and wide.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd81. Amad could have been in on goal again, but mistimes his break horribly and is a good three yards offside.In the words of Barry Davies, it didn’t need to be that way.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd79. Two more changes for Manchester United.Scott McTominay swiftly marks his arrival with a Cruyff turn, and he’s joined on the pitch by Matthijs de Ligt.Manchester United captains past and present make way as Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes are removed.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd77. No bookings for the first 75 minutes but then two in two minutes.This time it’s Kobbie Mainoo, whose name is noted down by Craig Pawson after the midfielder pulled back Kaoru Mitoma.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd75. The first yellow card of the game is shown the way of Amad.The Manchester United goalscorer is cautioned for a clumsy challenge on Danny Welbeck.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd73. James Milner has run his race like the old warhorse he is.Carlos Baleba takes over midfield duties.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd71. Alejandro Garnacho rolls into the empty net and Manchester United lead at the Amex Stadium!Or do they?!The VAR officials are looking at this one in detail amid protests from the Brighton defenders.Their initial complaints, however, should be focused on their shape that left them facing a 4-on-3 attack from a routine clearance.On the right, Bruno Fernandes takes advantage by timing his run expertly and playing a low delivery across goal.Joshua Zirkzee misses it, but following up is Garnacho to tap home.However. HOWEVER. The Argentine’s shot is directed back towards where Zirkzee is sliding, and connects with the striker’s knee just before it crosses the line.And it is offside!It’s unusual. It’s freakish. It’s quite funny. But it is offside.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd68. Superb covering from Veltman denies Dalot from sneaking through on goal.It had been a superb run from the back by the Portuguese full-back too.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd66. It’s Marcus Rashford that makes way.The forward is replaced by Alejandro Garnacho with just over a quarter of the game remaining.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd64. Erik ten Hag looked as though he was about to make a substitution before that goal – and it looks as though he’s going to continue with the change despite the update in score.Alejandro Garnacho is being prepared.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd62. Manchester United tails are up now, and they’re off and running down the right again with Amad.This time, however, Gilmour tracks the winger brilliantly and wins the ball back in style.That will be another £5m, Napoli.Copy linkCopiedBrighton 1-1 Man Utd60. Against the run of play, Manchester United are level!Amad wheels away to celebrate in front of the travelling fans, but much of this goal is down to the defensive misfortune of Jan Paul van Hecke.First, the Dutchman plays the winger onside after the rest of the Brighton back four had stepped up, and then, in his determination to get back and atone, he diverts Amad’s shot past Jason Steele.The video officials do take a look at the through ball from Noussair Mazraoui to the goalscorer, but quickly ascertain that the Ivorian is onside.All square at the Amex!Copy linkCopied More

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    Man Utd’s freak goal to take lead against Brighton ruled out after Joshua Zirkzee caught out in bonkers offside

    ALEJANDRO GARNACHO’S goal was ruled out thanks to a freak Joshua Zirkzee offside.The Manchester United winger thought he had tapped in an easy finish to put the Red Devils in front against Brighton with 20 minutes to go at the Amex.Alejandro Garnacho thought he had put Man Utd in front at BrightonCredit: TNT SportsThe goal was ruled out because Joshua Zirkzee was offsideCredit: TNT SportsHowever, the ball ricocheted off Zirkzee’s knee ON the line – with the striker having already slid in and missing the initial pass across by Bruno Fernandes.And so even though the ball was clearly going in, the goal was chalked off in bizarre fashion because the summer signing was ahead of Garnacho at the time of the shot.Had Zirkzee made contact with the ball once the ball had fully crossed the line, the goal would have stood.But the Dutchman could do nothing to prevent the inadvertent intervention.Zirkzee – who scored the winner on his debut against Fulham last week – reacted immediately as if he knew he had messed up the Garnacho goal.So when the Argentine wheeled away in celebration, his United team-mate got to his feet and stood perplexed and dejected inside the goal. And fans quickly flooded social media with reaction.One said: “You can’t blame Joshua Zirkzee there. Every striker would stick his leg out there, it’s intuition. He just got unlucky.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAnother wrote: “Such a shame for Garnacho. Can’t fault Zirkzee for his reaction.”A third joked: “Justice for Coventry,” in reference to the controversial FA Cup semi-final finale as United survived thanks to a toe-nail VAR offside call. Hilarious moment Man Utd and England ace Kobbie Mainoo MOCKS injured team-mate Leny Yoro as he struggles to get into carBut a fair few want the offside rules to be changed because Zirkzee’s accidental mishap had no advantage for the attacking team.One explained: “It’s the right decision but just feel common sense should be applied here. There’s no impact on the outcome, the ball was going in the net, there’s no defence, no goalkeeper unsighted. The destination had not changed.”A second typed: “That’s actually pretty stupid the rule should be changed to allow that as a goal especially as no player had a chance of stopping.”And it proved a costly touch from Zirkzee.The incident happened at 1-1, with Amad Diallo’s deflected strike cancelling out ex-United man Danny Welbeck’s opener.But in the fifth minute of injury time, Joao Pedro was given acres of space at the back post to head in a dramatic winner to snatch all three points.Zirkzee was spotted talking to Ten Hag as they walked off the pitch after full-time, seemingly explaining what happened. Garnacho thought he had done enough before the inadvertent interventionCredit: PAThe Argentine initially wheeled away in celebrationCredit: GettyBut he was ultimately left disappointed when VAR intervenedCredit: GettyThe Dutchman was clearly offside after his initial slideCredit: TNT SportsThe decision was confirmed on the big screensCredit: Getty More

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    What is Eberechi Eze goal celebration? Crystal Palace midfielder’s cross symbol explained

    EBERECHI EZE’s journey from a tough Greenwich upbringing to Premier League stardom is a testament to his passion and resilience.His distinctive goal celebrations and personal stories reveal a deeper connection to his faith and roots.Eberechi Eze is using his beliefs to celebrate his goalsCredit: GettyWho is Eberechi Eze?Eberechi Oluchi Eze is an attacking midfielder who plays on the left wing for Crystal Palace in the Premier League and the England national team.He was born on June 29, 1998, in Greenwich, London, to Nigerian Igbo parents.Eberechi grew up in a deprived area of South London, where he developed his passion for football by playing extensively in local pitches with friends.His football journey began in various English academies, including Arsenal, Fulham, and Reading. read more on Eberechi EzeHe eventually joined Millwall, where he progressed through the youth ranks but was released at the end of the 2015-16 season.Afterwards, Eberechi signed with Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in 2016, marking the start of his senior career.Eberechi’s breakthrough came during the 2019-20 season with QPR, where he scored 14 goals and was named the club’s Player of the Year. His impressive performances led to a £17 million transfer to Crystal Palace in 2020. Most read in FootballHe has made a significant impact for the Eagles, becoming a key player and making over 120 appearances.Despite an Achilles tendon injury in 2021, he bounced back and had an outstanding 2022-23 season, finishing as the club’s top scorer.Internationally, Eberechi was initially undecided between representing England or Nigeria.After playing for England at various youth levels, he made his senior debut for the England national team in 2023.He later represented the country at UEFA Euro 2024.Why does Eberechi Eze make a cross shaped gesture with his fingers after scoring a goal?Eberechi make a cross-shaped gesture with his fingers after scoring a goalCredit: GettyEberechi Eze makes a cross-shaped gesture with his fingers after scoring a goal as a way of paying homage to his Christian religion.The gesture represents his belief in Christianity, and it’s a way for him to express gratitude and acknowledge his faith publicly after scoring a goal. Many athletes use personal gestures or celebrations to reflect their religious beliefs, and for Eberechi, the cross is a simple but meaningful way to honour his faith on the pitch.He also sometimes takes off his shoe to celebrateCredit: GettyHe also used to celebrate his goals with removing his football boot and showed it off after scoring.This celebration is a tribute to his partnership with New Balance and a nod to his Greenwich upbringing.His boot design is deeply personal, symbolising his connection to the South East of the capital.The blue color of the boot represents his first junior team, and celestial constellations pay homage to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.What religion is Eberechi Eze?Eberechi Eze is a devout Christian. He often speaks about his faith, emphasising how important it is in his life.In an interview with GQ he said about his faith: “It’s massive. God is at the centre of my life: in everything I do, and everything I think about, I try to put God first. “For me, that’s a huge anchor to have because it balances everything else in my life. “It allows me to balance my relationships with the people around me, with my job, with everything.I know I keep saying it, but I can’t explain how grateful I am to have God in my life because I don’t know how I would navigate my way through situations and life in general. “I try to be as grateful as I can and to walk in that peace that God has given me.”READ MORE SUN STORIESHow many goals has Eberechi Eze scored for Crystal Palace?Eberechi Eze has scored a total of 26 goals for Crystal Palace.In his entire professional career, including his time at Queens Park Rangers and Wycombe Wanderers, he has scored 51 goals across all competitions. More

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    What is Kobbie Mainoo’s goal celebration?

    KOBBIE MAINOO is an emerging star at Manchester United whose journey from youth academy prodigy to first-team standout is capturing widespread attention.From his iconic goal celebrations to his crucial performances for both club and country, his story is one of exciting talent and unyielding determination.Kobbie Mainoo celebrated his goal by saluting and blowing kisses to the fansCredit: GettyWho is Kobbie Mainoo?Kobbie Mainoo is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. Born on April 19, 2005, in Stockport, England, Kobbie is of Ghanaian descent. He began his football journey with Cheadle & Gatley Junior Football Club before being scouted and joining Manchester United’s academy at the age of seven.His rise to prominence came through Manchester United’s youth system, where his talent quickly shone.read more on Kobbie MainooIn May 2022, he signed his first professional contract with the club. He made his first-team debut in January 2023 during an EFL Cup match, followed by his Premier League debut in February 2023. Despite suffering an injury during the 2023-24 pre-season, he made a strong comeback, scoring crucial goals and earning praise for his performances.Kobbie has also made strides internationally.Most read in FootballAfter representing England at various youth levels, he made his senior debut in March 2024. He was part of England’s squad for UEFA Euro 2024, where he played in several matches, including the final against Spain.What is Kobbie Mainoo’s goal celebration?Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo celebrated a goal by jumping on the advertising boardCredit: AFPKobbie’s iconic goal celebration, which he shared with teammates Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Højlund, became memorable during a match against West Ham in February 2024. After Alejandro scored, he jumped onto an advertising board, mimicking a celebration inspired by his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo. Although he had initially planned to perform the celebration alone, Kobbie and Rasmus spontaneously joined him on the board.Kobbie said in a post-interview: “I always ask Garna before the game what’s the celebration gonna be if he scores. “And he said he wasn’t gonna tell me.”So he was like: ‘I’m not telling you, I’m not telling you.’ So I’m like: ‘Okay.’ “I saw him jump up on the advertising board when he scored and me and Rasmus just jumped up there with him.”He wanted it for himself! But we jumped in there and it was a nice picture. “All of us young guys, with Amad as well, we have a lot of fun together and we’ve definitely grown close this season.”Kobbie celebrates scoring his goal by salutingCredit: The TimesIn April 2024, Kobbie celebrated a goal during Manchester United’s 3-3 draw against Liverpool at Old Trafford.It involved him saluting the crowd and blowing kisses after scoring a goal.This was his first-ever home goal for United, and the celebration reflected his excitement and joy in the moment. However, after the match, Kobbie apologised for his celebration, admitting that he “got ahead of himself” due to the euphoria of scoring such an important goal in a high-stakes fixture.He said: “Yeah, it felt good so I got ahead of myself. Sorry.“An unbelievable feeling, my first professional goal at Old Trafford, and to do it in this fixture is also amazing.“At the end of the day, we don’t walk away with the three points so I can’t be too happy.”His goal celebrations are often accompanied by his Manchester United teammates. READ MORE SUN STORIESBruno Fernandes covers both ears with his hands, Rasmus Højlund pretends to play the guitar, and Marcus Rashford points at his head to mark their goals.How many goals has Kobbie Mainoo scored for Man Utd?Kobbie Mainoo has scored a total of 5 goals for Manchester United across 36 appearances. More

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    Rio Ferdinand leaves fans baffled as they spot what he did to Erik ten Hag live on TNT Sports before Brighton vs Man Utd

    RIO FERDINAND left fans baffled by his behaviour towards Erik ten Hag live on TNT Sports. The former Manchester United defender teamed up with Joe Cole on punditry duties at Brighton for the Red Devils’ trip to the Amex.Rio Ferdinand told Erik ten Hag he smells good live on TNT SportsCredit: TNT SportsThe Manchester United boss clearly appreciated the commentCredit: TNT SportsBut before the game even got underway, viewers took to social media to react to Ferdinand SMELLING Ten Hag. In the pre-match interview, Ten Hag discussed his team selection, Jadon Sancho’s exclusion and any further business in the transfer window.Host Lynsey Hipgrave thanked the gaffer for speaking to the crew in the pouring rain at the Amex before Ferdinand chipped in with his praise.He said: “Hey, you smell good today, very good, I like it.”READ MORE ON MAN UTDThat prompted laughter from Hipgrave and Cole as Ten Hag gave Ferdinand a cheeky nudge with his arm and smiled, clearly appreciating the compliment.Then after the United boss headed off to make his final preparations for the tough clash on the south coast, the TNT team continued the discussions about Ten Hag’s aroma.Hipgrave asked: “What is it?”Ferdinand replied: “He smells nice. He’s taking care of himself.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAnd Cole added: “It’s always a good sign, that.”But viewers watching from home were slightly more confused by the interaction.Rio Ferdinand sends Leny Yoro surprise message after Man Utd transferOne tweeted: “Why did Rio Ferdinand seem surprised that Erik ten Hag smelled nice?”Paddy Power added a screenshot of Ten Hag looking at the camera at the Amex.Another replied: “Rio is some weirdo.”And a final user asked: “What is going on?”Ten Hag took his team to Brighton off the back of a late winner against Fulham in the Premier League curtain-raiser.And he named the same starting XI to face the Seagulls – meaning match-winner Joshua Zirkzee stays on the bench, while Sancho was not in the squad despite making the trip. Ten Hag explained: “Jadon is here. I had a choice to make. We had some issues, we need a full squad.”He’s one of them and needs to compete for his position, we’ll have a look. It’s a long season.”Ten Hag added: “The start of the season is always very hard and it is about points. If the mentality is not right then you will not collect points.READ MORE SUN STORIES”We know at the start of the season not everything will go 100% [right] so the mentality has to save you to carry the points.”The team did well. Not everything went well [last week] but the subs won us the game and the squad did well. We need starters and we need finishers.”Joe Cole suggested it is ‘always a good sign’ when someone smells goodCredit: TNT SportsTen Hag named an unnamed team at the AmexCredit: Reuters More