Premier League

MANCHESTER UNITED’S head of sports medicine and first-team doctor have quit the club.The Red Devils are in the midst of an injury crisis with ten senior players in the treatment room.Sir Jim Ratcliffe has lost another two members of Man Utd staffCredit: PADr Gary O’Driscoll is leaving the club in a ‘surprise’ decisionCredit: GettySir Jim Ratcliffe recently made a further 200 staff redundant as his brutal cost-cutting measures continued.But in a move not linked to the job losses, sports medicine expert Gary O’Driscoll and senior doctor Jim Moxon have left Old Trafford.The Mail report that O’Driscoll’s exit comes as a “huge surprise” after he joined from Arsenal a year-and-half ago.He is highly-respected in the medical field and is said to have made a positive impact while at the club.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLMoxon departs after two years at Man Utd to “pursue another opportunity”, having previously worked at Liverpool.Both are set to stay in their roles temporarily to allow chiefs to find replacements.Man Utd’s squad is thin at the moment as an injury crisis rips through the side.Lisandro Martinez and Amad Diallo are not expected back until next season with ACL and ankle issues respectively.Most read in FootballCheltenham Festival betting offers and free betsAltay Bayindir, Jonny Evans, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte complete the list of senior players sidelined.Ruben Amorim named six teenagers on the bench for the 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday in Ayden Heaven, Harry Amass, Elyh Harrison, Chido Obi, Jack Fletcher and Jack Moorhouse.Sir Jim Ratcliffe explains his plans for the new Man Utd Stadium Man Utd ratings vs Arsenal as De Ligt shows exactly why Red Devils signed him but Zirkzee is as frustrating as everIT was a performance that would have pleased Ruben Amorim but a 1-1 draw with Arsenal does little to paper over the cracks at Manchester United.On a day when the Old Trafford crowd protested the owners, the players stood up to show their remains life in a club that fans say is experiencing a “slow death”.There was a lack of clear-cut chances in the opening 45 minutes as both sides goalscoring troubles continued.A moment of magic was needed and Fernandes stepped up as he so often does.Arsenal’s wall was full of man mountains, but Fernandes found the power, dip and accuracy to beat David Raya with his free-kick – even if the wall was marched 11.2 yards back instead of the regulated ten.Mikel Arteta’s side came out swinging in the second-half with their makeshift No9 up top, and it took a brilliant effort from Declan Rice to level the scores.United were able to frustrate them and remain a threat on the counter but eventually had to settle for a point in a much-improved performance.Here is how SunSport’s Martin Blackburn rated the United performances. More

MANCHESTER UNITED fans have slammed an “unrealistic” feature in their new 100,000-seater stadium plans.The Red Devils unveiled stunning images of the £2billion “Wembley of North” that will replace Old Trafford.Man Utd have announced stunning plans to build a 100,000-seater stadiumCredit: PAFans have called the score ‘unrealistic’Credit: PAIncredible images show the ‘umbrella’ designCredit: PAThe new stadium could cost £2billion to constructCredit: PAUnited ambitiously want to have the stadium ready in five yearsCredit: PAUnited’s new home will feature an umbrella design and a new public plaza that is “twice the size of Trafalgar Square”.Architects at Foster and Partners also confirmed that there will be three towers to hold up the “umbrella” – with a sweeping glass and steel canopy acting as a roof for fans inside and outside the ground.United have ambitiously predicted that the stadium will be finished within five years.But fans have taken a sceptical view of a small feature seen in the computer generated images released today.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAbove the stands is a huge wraparound scoreboard that reads that United are 3-0 up.Fans were not convinced the scoreline would ever be true given the club are currently in the midst of a disastrous season, sitting 14th in the Premier League table.One hilariously commented: “The most audacious thing from this new stadium project is the fact they’re assuming we’ll be 3-0 up at home.”Another added: “How unrealistic can you get Man Utd haven’t been 3-0 up since Fergie retired.”Most read in FootballCheltenham Festival betting offers and free betsThere will be a vast fan zone with shops, restaurant and bars underneath the ‘umbrella panels’Credit: PAThe government have backed the regenerationCredit: PAThe eye-catching stadium plans are part of a wider government-backed regeneration of the Trafford Park area.There will be a Wembley Way-like path up to the stadium that includes plans for a three-storey museum and canal-side shops and restaurants to all be part of a huge fan park.Sir Jim Ratcliffe launches scathing attack on struggling Man Utd squad saying some ‘not good enough’ and ‘overpaid’Approximately 17,000 homes are set to be built and the area will become a major hub of activity, creating 92,000 jobs.Architect Lord Foster said: “The stadium is contained by a vast umbrella, harvesting energy and rainwater, and sheltering a new public plaza that is twice the size of Trafalgar Square.”The outward-looking stadium will be the beating heart of a new sustainable district, which is completely walkable, served by public transport, and endowed by nature. “It is a mixed-use miniature city of the future – driving a new wave of growth and creating a global destination that Mancunians can be proud of.”For the designs to come to life, the current Old Trafford will be knocked down.The decision to demolish the club’s spiritual home has been made by the Regeneration Task Force chaired by Lord Coe and including legend Gary Neville and mayor Andy Burnham.United are currently in £1billion worth of debt and it is unclear how they plan on paying for the new stadium.The area’s modernisation could create over 90,000 jobsCredit: PA17,000 homes are predicted to be builtCredit: PAA three-story museum is set be added to the parkCredit: PA More

SIR JIM RATCLIFFE says sticking by Erik ten Hag last summer was a “mistake”.Manchester United’s co-owner apologised to fans for keeping the Dutch boss despite their worst league finish for 34 YEARS.Sticking by Erik ten Hag last summer was a mistake, according to Sir Jim RatcliffeCredit: AlamySir Jim Ratcliffe has apologised for the ‘errors’Credit: GettyHe also admitted it was an error bringing in sporting director Dan Ashworth.Ten Hag was given a one-year deal following a post-season review, after winning the FA Cup and finishing eighth.He was then sacked ten Prem games into this campaign, with United down in 14th.It cost the club £21.4million to get rid of him and hire Ruben Amorim as boss. Ashworth left in December after just five months, costing another £4.1m.READ MORE ON MAN UTDRatcliffe, 72, said: “Those decisions were errors. There were some mitigating circumstances, but they were errors. I accept that and apologise.“It wasn’t just the FA Cup final. The fans were of the view that we’d like to stick with him.“With Erik, there was an emotional response. We get criticised for being unemotional and there was a bit of emotion with that.“If you look at the time we made the decision about Erik, the management team hadn’t been in place more than five minutes.Most read in FootballCheltenham Festival betting offers and free betsRatcliffe has also claimed that appointing Dan Ashworth was a mistakeCredit: PA“It became clearer three months later. We corrected it and are in a different place today.”Ratcliffe has also insisted that while Amorim is “not perfect” he is the right man to lead the club forward.Ten Hag reveals problem with current players in first interview since Man Utd sackingHe told The Times: “I really, really like Ruben. He’s a very thoughtful guy. Every time I go to the training ground, I speak to Ruben.”I sit down and have a cup of coffee with him and tell him where it’s going wrong, and he tells me to f*** off. I like him.”Man Utd ratings vs Arsenal as De Ligt shows exactly why Man Utd signed him but Zirkzee is as frustrating as everIT was a performance that would have pleased Ruben Amorim but a 1-1 draw with Arsenal does little to paper over the cracks at Manchester United.On a day when the Old Trafford crowd protested the owners, the players stood up to show their remains life in a club that fans say is experiencing a “slow death”.There was a lack of clear-cut chances in the opening 45 minutes as both sides goalscoring troubles continued.A moment of magic was needed and Fernandes stepped up as he so often does.Arsenal’s wall was full of man mountains, but Fernandes found the power, dip and accuracy to beat David Raya with his free-kick – even if the wall was marched 11.2 yards back instead of the regulated ten.Mikel Arteta’s side came out swinging in the second-half with their makeshift No9 up top, and it took a brilliant effort from Declan Rice to level the scores.United were able to frustrate them and remain a threat on the counter but eventually had to settle for a point in a much-improved performance.Here is how SunSport’s Martin Blackburn rated the United performances. More

MANCHESTER UNITED co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has issued his verdict on head coach Ruben Amorim amid the club’s poor run of form.The Red Devils currently sit 14th in the Premier League table with just 34 points from 28 games.Sir Jim Ratcliffe insists Ruben Amorim is the right man for the job at Man UtdCredit: PAAmorim has managed just 11 wins since joining United in NovemberCredit: ReutersSince Amorim arrived four months ago they have managed just 11 wins in 26 outings.However, United chief Ratcliffe insists he is still the right man for the job – despite the rocky start.The British billionaire told the Times: “I think he’s done a great job in the circumstances, frankly, with the squad that he’s had available. The fact he came in mid-season.”Everybody expects miracles overnight. It’s not the way, not real life in my view. I mean, you saw the performance yesterday [Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal].read more on Man Utd”It was, I thought, a really impressive performance. They could not have worked harder. They couldn’t have been more committed.”And if you looked at the names on the bench, there weren’t many you recognised, were there? Half the squad’s missing for Ruben.”If you look at the top eight players in terms of salaries in Manchester United, 50 per cent of those are not available to Ruben.”You’ve got Mason Mount, you’ve got Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford has gone, and Jadon Sancho. And he’s got a bunch of other injuries as you know, so I think he’s done a fantastic job.Most read in FootballCheltenham Festival betting offers and free bets”I think coaches are emotional and Ruben’s no exception to that. And he’s a young coach. And he’s not perfect. You know, he’s not a guy who… he’s got to be good on the stage, but we want him to be good on the grass. And part of that is life on the stage, isn’t it?”You know, you’re a young guy, you’ve come into the Premier League for the first time in your life, you’ve come in mid-season, it’s not your natural language.Roy Keane fears Man Utd will get WORSE and reveals biggest red flag that could spell the end for Ruben Amorim”You have to give the guy a bit of a break. I mean, give me a hard time, I have no problem with that. But give Ruben a break. I think he’s a good guy, he’s working hard and I think he’s doing a great job.”Asked if he thinks Amorim is the man to lead Man Utd back to glory, Ratcliffe concluded: “Yeah I do, honestly.”I really, really like Ruben. He’s a very thoughtful guy. Every time I go to the training ground, I speak to Ruben.”I sit down and have a cup of coffee with him and tell him where it’s going wrong, and he tells me to f*** off. I like him.”Ratcliffe also took part in a chat with the BBC where he admitted that some United players are “overpaid” and he defended his controversial cost-cutting tactics.Man Utd ratings vs Arsenal as De Ligt shows exactly why Red Devils signed him but Zirkzee is as frustrating as everIT was a performance that would have pleased Ruben Amorim but a 1-1 draw with Arsenal does little to paper over the cracks at Manchester United.On a day when the Old Trafford crowd protested the owners, the players stood up to show their remains life in a club that fans say is experiencing a “slow death”.There was a lack of clear-cut chances in the opening 45 minutes as both sides goalscoring troubles continued.A moment of magic was needed and Fernandes stepped up as he so often does.Arsenal’s wall was full of man mountains, but Fernandes found the power, dip and accuracy to beat David Raya with his free-kick – even if the wall was marched 11.2 yards back instead of the regulated ten.Mikel Arteta’s side came out swinging in the second-half with their makeshift No9 up top, and it took a brilliant effort from Declan Rice to level the scores.United were able to frustrate them and remain a threat on the counter but eventually had to settle for a point in a much-improved performance.Here is how SunSport’s Martin Blackburn rated the United performances. More