Serie A

MANCHESTER UNITED have been in contact with Thiago Motta, according to reports.Pressure has been mounting on Erik ten Hag following a poor run of form with just one win in seven games.Erik ten Hag is facing mounting pressure amid a poor run of form at Man UtdCredit: GettyReports suggest Man Utd have been in contact with Thiago Motta to replace himCredit: ReutersSunSport exclusively revealed earlier this month how Man Utd players expect Ten Hag, 54, to be sacked in the summer.The Sir Jim Ratcliffe led Ineos takeover of the club’s sporting operation has led to reports the Red Devils are looking for a new manager in line with their philosophy.The likes of England boss Gareth Southagte, Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann, former Chelsea boss Graham Potter and Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi have all been linked.READ MORE ON MAN UTDHowever, recent reports from Italy revealed Bologna boss Motta, 41, had emerged as a candidate to take the Old Trafford hot seat.And a new report from CaughtOffside suggests Man Utd bosses have been in contact with the former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona star.After a glittering player career, in 2018 Motta made waves in the football coaching scene when he announced his philosophy to be a 2-7-2.While on paper the formation sounds unorthodox, it is actually because Motta reads the his team sheet from left to right and includes his goalkeeper, rather down to up without.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAsked about his ideals, Motta said: “My idea it to play offensively. A short team that controls the game, high pressure and a lot of movement with and without the ball.”I want the player that has the ball to always have three or four solutions and two team-mates close by to help.Man Utd fans think wonderkid ‘on the verge of his debut’ after spotting ten Hag giving him ‘Mainoo treatment'”The difficulty in football is, often to do things simply but to control the base, pass and get free.”I don’t like the numbers of the field because they trick you. You can be super offensive with a 5-3-2 and defensive in a 4-3-3.”Depending on the quality of the guys. I had a game a while ago where the two full-backs ended up playing as the 9 and 10.”But that doesn’t mean I don’t like people like Samuel and Chiellini, born defenders…How Motta sees his ideal team on paper”The goalkeeper counts as one of the midfield seven. For me, the attacker is the first defender and the goalkeeper is the first attacker.”The goalkeeper starts the play, with his feet and the attackers are the first to put pressure to recover the ball.”Bologna have reaped the rewards of this style, sitting fourth in the Serie A and putting them in line for a shock spot in the Champions League.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut Man Utd are not the only club after Motta, with Barcelona, Inter Milan and Juventus all being linked.His contract expires at the end of the season but the report adds Motta has not made a decision on his future yet.Man Utd are LUCKY to be seventh in the table… one particular stat is terrible, say Dave KiddBy Dave Kidd
THE frightening thing about Manchester United’s season is that they should really be LOWER than seventh in the Premier League.
Even during their current run of one win in seven league matches, United’s results have been better than their performances.
Erik ten Hag’s team deserved to lose each of their last three drawn games against Brentford, Liverpool and Bournemouth.
On goal difference, United are ninth in the league, while only seven teams have scored fewer than their 47 goals.
And if we give any credence to ‘expected points’, then that stat would have them 15th in the table.
If Ten Hag’s men lose Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final to Championship side Coventry, it should not come as a major surprise.
Click here to read Dave Kidd’s column in full.
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FORMER Atalanta head of football Lee Congerton was ridiculed for signing Rasmus Hojlund… until the Dane went on to move to Manchester United for a huge profit.Hojlund, 21, had signed for Austrian side Sturm Graz in January 2022 after failing to hit the heights at FC Copenhagen.Rasmus Hojlund signed for Man Utd from Atalanta last AugustCredit: Getty Images – GettyLee Congerton brought Hojlund to AtalantaCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun GlasgowThe striker showed promise in ItalyCredit: GettyJust six months later Congerton had seen enough from the Dane to splash out £17million to sign him – to the disapproval of many observers around the club.”The reality is they destroyed me in Italy during that time,” Welshman Congerton, 50, told the Telegraph.”This foreign guy in Italian football has bought a player from Austria, born 2003, who had been a failure in Copenhagen.”After just one goal in his first 11 Serie A appearances, Hojlund eventually caught fire – netting in his next three.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHaving scored 10 goals for Atalanta in all competitions, he had shown enough promise for Man Utd to fork out £72m to sign him last August.Congerton continued: “If you take away the World Cup, 10 months later, we sold him for €85 million (£72m). That is Atalanta. It’s simple.”They know what they are. They rely on the academy and the scouting.”Having played at semi-pro level in Wales, Congerton has gone on to forge a successful career in executive roles.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERHaving worked with Frank Arnesen at Chelsea and Hamburg, Congerton went on to hold important positions at Sunderland, Celtic and Leicester.He then spent two seasons at Atalanta, before leaving last month for a gig with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.I’m a private chef to football stars, Man Utd’s Rasmus Hojlund is obsessed with baked treat – I make him two a weekCongerton proudly watched from afar as Atalanta, featuring many of his signings, stunned Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield last week.Following the conclusion of his Saudi adventure, whenever that may be, he would love another crack at working in England.He added: “Frank always said he could see me going to different places. I have adventure in me and have been fortunate that my wife has been like that too in terms of trying something new.”I could have stayed at each club longer but it was my choice. You get to three years and I think I need that stimulation. I like to grow things but am always excited by a new challenge.”Like his start at Atalanta, Hojlund took a while to get going at United, failing to score in his first 14 Premier League matches.He then hit an amazing hot streak, netting seven in his next six Prem outings.READ MORE SUN STORIESHis old side Atalanta, meanwhile, replaced him with West Ham forward Gianluca Scamacca.The 25-year-old has excelled since returning to Italy, bagging 14 goals thus far – including two at Anfield last week. More