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Freddy Rincon brought fun and artistry to Colombian football and died far too young at 55
by Philippa Kaur 18 April 2022, 07:20
WEST Germany had won both of their first two World Cup group games at Italia 90, and with their place in the knock out rounds guaranteed, they were not at full tilt against Colombia.Even so, the Germans had no intention of being bamboozled by the Colombians, who gave them the run around for almost all of the ninety minutes.
The late Freddy Rincon with his best mate Carlos ValderramaCredit: AFP
Freddy Rincon was a star of a brilliant Colombia sideCredit: AFP
Colombia were constructed around the talent of central midfielder Carlos Valderrama, a frizzy haired footballing musician.
He was a player who always had the ball – and never had it.
Go to close him down, and suddenly the ball had vanished, transformed into a rabbit, or, more likely, at the feet of his lieutenant, Freddy Rincon.
Like a giant cat playing with a ball of wool, Rincon brought fun and artistry to the game.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}REAL LEGEND .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Wake held for Freddy Rincon as thousands pay respects to Real Madrid hero
With two minutes to go, entirely against the run of play, West Germany took the lead.
This was bad news for Colombia.
They only needed a draw. Now they were facing elimination. Valderrama and Rincon changed priorities.
Instead of their bewildering sequence of flicks and tricks, they now went direct.
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The two of them conjured up a move that undressed the German defence, and Rincon slipped in the goal that took Colombia into the knock out stage for the first time.
It was a highpoint in a glorious career – and of a life cut short too soon when he died last week in a traffic accident.
Rincon was a key part of an exuberant Colombia side that, by their own account, came of age in a 1-1 draw at Wembley against England in 1988.
Their goal came from centre back Andres Escobar – whose own goal against the USA in the World Cup six years later was to have such tragic consequences.
Freddy Rincon’s wake attracted many mourners, including fans and ex-team-matesCredit: Reuters
A wake was held for Freddy Rincon on Saturday after his sad death this weekCredit: AFP
The pressures of USA 94, and of being placed among the favourites by Pele, were too much for a team representing a country that was wallowing in the chaos of the drug cartels.
Outside the pressures of the tournament, they were a truly great team.
Argentina had never lost a World Cup qualifier at home until Colombia swept them aside with a 5-0 win in Buenos Aires.
In France 98 it was England who brought the curtain down on a great Colombian generation.
By then they were a team in decline. But Rincon was not a player in decline.
He still had much to offer, and reinvented himself in Brazil, in a deeper role.
No longer the rampaging attacking midfielder, he was now the holder, sitting in front of the centre backs and distributing the ball with quality.
In the Club World Cup of 2000, Manchester United were torn apart by the talent of Vasco da Gama’s Romario and Edmundo.
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In the final against Corinthians, Rincon ensured there would be no repeat.
He positioned himself between the two strikers, ensuring they could not combine, and gave his side the platform to win the game and claim the title.
Freddy Rincon has gone far too young, at the age of 55.
But he will live on in the hearts of all those who love their football with a refined touch. More
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Karren Brady: Twenty years on from Bend It Like Beckham women’s football is making its own legends
by Philippa Kaur 15 April 2022, 21:14
THE FILM Bend it Like Beckham was of historic importance to English football.It left its mark as surely as a muddy boot on a goalpost.
Bend It Like Beckham inspired major change and evolution in footballCredit: Alamy
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes leads the revolution in women’s footballCredit: EPA
Two decades ago it told the story of “Jess” Bhamra, a Manchester United-loving young girl from a traditional Sikh family who plays football against her parents’ wishes, highlighting misogyny in sport.
It stirred women’s interest in our game — so much so that, 20 years after the film’s release in April 2002, 3.4million women now play football, as reported by the FA.
The growth is phenomenal.
The Bend It phenomenon freed women’s imagination in a way perhaps that The Beatles did 40 years earlier, although the effects were very different.
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Instead of screaming hysteria, girls were drawn to team competition, to companionship, to fitness and to the skills that came as easily to them as to the boys.
The FA and other agencies, driven by the sudden, overwhelming interest at schools and in classes run by good coaches, are doing an exceptional job.
A few males may still laugh at women playing what they call “our game” and that prejudice lingers among men who should know better.
Kenny Shiels, the Northern Ireland women’s team coach, only this week described women footballers as “more emotional” than men — a comment made even more absurd by Atletico Madrid’s antics against Manchester City on Wednesday.
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Leading clubs having gradually, even grudgingly, accepted they have a major part to play in the advancement of the women’s game. They are now as switched on to it as floodlights.
At the moment this is a costly business. I do not know of a single WSL team that breaks even, let alone makes money, but it’s not always about money.
At West Ham we call ourselves United Women and that’s just perfect. Unity is all.
There are rewards, too. We reached the final of the Women’s FA Cup three years ago and today we are in the televised semi-final against City.
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady says women’s football will go on reaching new heightsCredit: Getty
Professional football is broadening all the time and if women have had difficulties in being taken seriously, the crowd prejudice against ethnic players was, and sometimes still is, shocking. Bend It was also important because the star is Sikh. This made it a double coup.
In the five years after Bend It was first shown, the percentage of black, Asian and minority ethnic professionals in England rose from 22 per cent to 33 per cent and today the figure stands at 50 per cent.
However, there are only ten British Asians who represent no less than 7.5 per cent of the population.
That’s one great big hole in the canvas. The other is the lack of black managers.
I am sure this will change. It is beginning to among women because several clubs have appointed top managers in women’s football.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}BREAKING COVER .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Harry & Meghan seen together in Europe for first time since Megxit
One of them, Emma Hayes, has won four championships, four FA Cups, been runner-up in the Champions League and been voted FIFA Best Coach while at Chelsea.
Women’s football is making its own modern legends. I hope the next 20 years progress as much as the last 20. More
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Lights went out in the tunnel and we were jumped… you couldn’t even see who was punching who, remembers Troy Deeney
by Philippa Kaur 15 April 2022, 19:53
THERE was something very old school about that brawl in the tunnel after Manchester City’s Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid.And it was impressive to see an old pro like Scott Carson in the thick of it all, ‘offering out’ an Atletico defender.
Tempers flared between Manchester City and Atletico Madrid on WednesdayCredit: Getty
At least one Atleti player appeared to spit at the City group as on-field scraps carried on up the tunnelCredit: Twitter
Troy Deney enjoyed seeing the aggro – and was reminded of scraps he has witnessed in his careerCredit: The Sun
Scott, like me, will be able to remember the days when a bundle in the tunnel was far more commonplace than it is now.
And I think it said a lot about City’s togetherness that their third-choice keeper, who knows he is never likely to play, is so fully involved with getting stuck in on behalf of his team-mates.
It made me suspect that they might go on and win the Treble, with that sort of team spirit.
Atletico looked like a team who knew City had better players than them and had set out to try to bully them.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}LIAM REGRET .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Gallagher ‘really upset’ with himself over now-deleted death threat to Savic
It looked quite cowardly the way Diego Simeone’s men targeted smaller players like Phil Foden rather than some of the bigger lads.
And while I’m no ‘Mr Squeaky Clean’, I have certainly never spat at an opponent as at least one Atletico player appeared to do.
But on and off the pitch, City showed they are no pushovers.
Especially when you’re away from the prying eyes of cameras, plenty can go on in the tunnel — before and after matches.
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To be honest, I found Pep Guardiola’s team more intimidating in the tunnel than any other opponent.
It’s not because they are aggressive — nothing like Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira trying to psych each other out before those classic Manchester United v Arsenal clashes.
That sort of stuff doesn’t bother me.
You line up in the tunnel against Burnley, and they’re all at least 6ft 2in and big units and they’re yelling out: “Let’s ’ave it”… and I’m fine with that.
I never thought I was going to have a nice, cosy afternoon gliding past Ben Mee anyway.
But when you line up against someone like Kevin De Bruyne and before the match he’s smiling, totally chilled — “Hello Troy, how are the kids?”… now that is intimidating.
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The guy’s about to metaphorically go to war with you and he’s whistling a happy tune because he’s basically saying: “I’m so good at football that I’m not even going to break sweat against you.”
It’s the same with Liverpool, City’s opponents in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley today.
I can remember Sadio Mane smiling at me in the tunnel, telling me to look after Ismaila Sarr, my Watford team-mate, who plays for Senegal with Mane.
He was saying what a good boy Sarr is, and seemingly totally blase about the actual match.
You line up in the tunnel against Burnley, and they’re all at least 6ft 2in and big units and they’re yelling out: “Let’s ’ave it”… and I’m fine with that.Troy Deeney
That is far more unsettling than an opponent roaring at me or trying to make themselves look physically imposing.
In terms of post-match scraps, I can remember a couple of full-on incidents in my Watford days.
When Paul Ince was managing Blackpool, they nicked a late winner against us.
Ince had played for Inter Milan and spoke Italian — or at least he knew the swear words — and he’d apparently said something offensive to a couple of our Italian lads in their native tongue.
It all kicked off and fists were flying. I actually played peacemaker.
Kevin de Bruyne and Sadio Mane are happy to chat casually in the tunnelCredit: AFP
Deeney had to play peacemaker after a bust-up with BlackpoolCredit: Action Images – Reuters
It’s about the only interaction I’ve ever had with Ince — who was a great England captain — and I was telling him: “It’s like this, is it? Really? Or are we going to try to be grown-ups instead?”
The worst one I remember came when one of my team-mates made a bad tackle on an opponent who’d just come back from a year out injured.
We were winning comfortably, so it was probably an unnecessary challenge, and I could sense how angry the other side were.
I knew the team-mate in question was physical on the pitch but wouldn’t have fancied any aggro off the pitch and so, as captain, I made a point of trying to physically shield him as he went off.
De Bruyne and his City mates are more likely to wind you up by being so infuriatingly coolTroy Deeney
The old tunnel at Vicarage Road was very tight and we had to walk past the away dressing room to get to our own.
On this occasion, someone turned the light out in the tunnel and we were jumped on in the dark.
There were about 20 blokes involved and that scrap was quite nasty.
It was pretty much pitch black, so you couldn’t tell who was throwing punches against who!
That sort of thing was pretty common when I started out at Walsall but there aren’t so many of those sort of characters in the game who are keen to get physical.
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There aren’t really any modern equivalents of Keane, Vieira, Duncan Ferguson or Danny Mills.
Instead, like De Bruyne and his City mates, they’re more likely to wind you up by being so infuriatingly cool. More
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Man City vs Liverpool sees an irresistible force meeting an immovable object… and at Wembley we’ll find out which wins
by Philippa Kaur 14 April 2022, 20:09
WHAT happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?It probably goes to extra-time and penalties.
Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola’s two powerhouses collide again at Wembley on SaturdayCredit: Reuters
Six days after Manchester City and Liverpool could not be separated in an epic clash of the titans, the rematch has all the makings of a classic.
But this time something has to give. One way or the other, someone has to emerge victorious.
And at some point on Saturday evening, either Liverpool’s bid for the quadruple or Manchester City’s for the treble will be over.
For Jurgen Klopp, this will be a first FA Cup semi-final in his seventh season as Liverpool boss.
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In previous years he has never given the impression that it is a competition which features high on his list of priorities.
Even this season he has effectively fielded his reserve team to get past Shrewsbury, Cardiff, Norwich and Nottingham Forest.
But all of a sudden, this means more.
And anything less than a full strength side against City will only end in tears.
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Luckily for Klopp, he had the luxury of being able to rest Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara for Wednesday’s Champions League game against Benfica.
City, meanwhile, will limp down Wembley Way with their players still battered and bruised from their brutal encounter with Atletico Madrid.
And you have to wonder if that battle with the Spanish champions will tip the balance in Liverpool’s favour tomorrow.
Pep Guardiola claimed his team are in “big trouble” for Wembley after Kevin de Bruyne and Kyle Walker hobbled off injured in midweek and Phil Foden was kicked from pillar to post by Felipe.
Even with a squad as deep as the Atlantic, Pep has no-one who can replace the creative genius of De Bruyne.
The Belgian’s absence would be a game-changer in a match of this magnitude.
And given the tortuous journey the supporters must undergo to make it to Wembley tomorrow, they deserve to see both teams at their brilliant best.
The Football Association are doing their utmost to fill the stadium after the geniuses at Network Rail decided to cancel all trains from the North-West over the Easter weekend.
But 100 free coaches is barely going to touch the sides of the travel chaos facing fans who have followed their teams all across Europe yet suddenly can’t get to Euston.
Their only consolation would be a match as good as last Sunday’s 2-2 Premier League draw at the Etihad which left the title race thrillingly balanced on a knife’s edge.
Whatever the outcome of tomorrow’s encounter, the losers will still be able to console themselves with the knowledge that they can still win the Premier League and the Champions League this season.
Chances are they will be meeting again in the Champions League final in Paris on May 28.
But the only thing that matters right now is the FA Cup.
Because we are finally going to get an answer to the irresistible force paradox which has baffled scientists throughout history.
TO HULL AND BACK
HULL CITY owner Acun Ilicali has laughed off reports that he is set to sign professional irritant Mesut Ozil on a free transfer from Fenerbahce.
Considering that Ozil never travelled further north than Watford during his eight years, there is absolutely no chance of luring him to Humberside.
Ozil is out in the cold in Istanbul after a predictable fall-out with his Fenerbahce boss.
His agent, Erkut Sogut, has just had his debut novel published about the murky world of football transfers.
So it’s just his most prominent client who has lost the plot, then.
UNAI THE GUY
IT was a very good evening indeed for Unai Emery when Villarreal knocked out Bayern Munich in this week’s Champions League quarter-finals.
Considering that his team contains four Tottenham cast-offs, Francis Coquelin and a midfielder signed from Bournemouth, it was arguably the result of the year.
And if Erik ten Hag can get the Manchester United job on the back of taking Ajax to the Champions League semi-finals three years ago, why isn’t Unai in the Old Trafford running?
DODGY DUO
THE wheels of justice turn very slowly in Switzerland but Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini will finally have their day in court this summer.
The dodgy duo have been charged with fraud, forgery, misappropriation and mismanagement over a £1.35million payment from Fifa funds to Platini way back in 2011.
And it will be interesting to hear the old shysters trying to talk their way out of this one.
Blatter presided over years of football corruption during his time as Fifa president and Platini was his alleged partner in crime as boss of Uefa.
Seven years after they were kicked out of football, the game is still paying the price for their sins.
So as we all prepare for a winter World Cup in Qatar, let’s hope Blatter and Platini will be watching from a prison cell in Zurich.
DRAGONS WITHOUT FIRE
WELSH FIRE have just announced their squad for cricket’s new Hundred season and it doesn’t contain a single Welshman.
Then again, the Oval Invincibles are anything but unbeatable and there is absolutely nothing authentic about the Manchester Originals.
It’s almost as though the reality of this artificial tournament doesn’t quite live up the hype. More
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Tottenham preparing huge security operation for South Korea tour with Son Heung-min set for hero’s welcome
by Philippa Kaur 12 April 2022, 20:20
SPURS are preparing a big security operation for their mini-tour of South Korea this summer.The star attraction will be Son Heung-min, who is the country’s skipper and enjoys God-like status back home.
Son Heung-min is incredibly popular with Tottenham and South Korea fans alikeCredit: AFP
Tottenham will this week announce the July date for their game against the K League All-Stars.
They will also face Spanish side Mallorca, who will include South Korean midfield star Lee Kang-in.
Tottenham’s players have spoken about the trip with striker Son.
Some have joked that they will discover what it feels like to be pop stars.
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Prem teams are already popular in South Korea — and that is without having the nation’s most famous footballer feature.
The number of South Korean fans who arrive at Spurs’ stadium on matchdays gives a flavour of what to expect.
And we can reveal this is why organisers of the trip will put in place a major security operation.
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Tottenham have four official Korean fan clubs, bespoke Korean language digital platforms and commercial partnerships.
After returning from Asia, they will spend time in London before a game in Israel.
SIR ALEX FERGUSON made a surprise appearance at Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool at the Etihad on Sunday.
But at least the legendary former Manchester United boss was able to watch some decent football for a change.
Sir Alex Ferguson was sat in front of Gareth Southgate on SundayCredit: News Group Nrewspapers Ltd
WATFORD are giving fans a drop of at least seven per cent on their season tickets.
Although it looks as though they have already accepted which division they will play — as the online wallet states supporters will have 23 tickets for next season.
Watford might be preparing for life back in the ChampionshipCredit: PA
UEFA will this week send ‘eligibility’ letters to the football associations of England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland.
This means they will be able to properly start putting together their bids for Euro 2028 and later this month, Uefa will hold stadium workshops for venues interested in hosting matches.
Old Trafford would be used for Euro 2028 – but only during the group stagesCredit: Getty
A minimum of ten stadia, one holding at least 60,000, one or preferably two of 50,000, at least four with a minimum of 40,000 capacity and at least three holding a minimum of 30,000 people are needed.
But with the potential of 32 teams, more stadiums may be required.
Old Trafford will be one but incredibly it would only hold group games as it fails to meet major European final standards.
Wales are offering the Principality in Cardiff.
Scotland initially just Hampden Park in Glasgow but Murrayfield in Edinburgh is a possibility.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}PARTYGATE PROBE .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Boris Johnson & Rishi Sunak pay Partygate fines and apologise
Dublin could have the Aviva and Gaelic football venue Croke Park.
Northern Ireland will offer up Gaelic football venue Casement Park in Belfast although it needs redeveloping, while Windsor Park would be a second option. More
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Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino are both top managers and too good for Manchester United’s faded Disneyland
by Philippa Kaur 11 April 2022, 21:00
IMAGINE the scene, maybe 12 months from now.Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag are sipping cappuccinos together in a pavement cafe, as these elite coaches tend to do, and reminiscing about the time they were the shortlist for the Manchester United job.
Pochettino has been linked with the Man Utd jobCredit: REUTERS
Ten Hag is believed to be closing in on the job at Old TraffordCredit: GETTY
“We dodged a bullet there, heh Erik?” chuckles Poch, after United’s caretaker- interim boss Steve Bruce has been sacked with his team in the bottom half of the Premier League.
It is an unlikely scenario but one which United undoubtedly deserve.
We are told, on genuinely good authority, that United have offered the job to Ajax boss Ten Hag, rather than Paris Saint-Germain gaffer Poch, because they believe the Dutchman would “fit in better to their structure”.
You mean to say Man Utd are claiming to have an actual structure?
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UTD.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-1exhbll{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(237,245,242,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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Nobody who watched them shamble to defeat in Saturday’s underachievers derby against Everton would imagine it — nor anyone who’s observed United for most of the past nine years.
But, in fact, chief executive Richard Arnold does the important stuff, like bragging about the club’s social media reach.
And United will soon appoint a “deputy football director” to assist “football director” John Murtough and “technical director” Darren Fletcher.
Then there’s “head of corporate development” Matt Judge, who is busy in recruitment.
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Oh, and Ralf Rangnick will still be hanging about in the background being a tactical genius for six days a month.
Perhaps Ten Hag could report to Rangnick via a dotted line in the management structure.
Ten Hag is apparently being demanding and exacting in talks with United.
And well he might be, given that he would be leaving a club which is famed worldwide for knowing exactly what they are doing for a club infamous for knowing no such thing.
He’d be joining a club with fewer European Cups than his current employers, too.
There is something delusional and patronising about that line emanating from Old Trafford about Ten Hag “fitting in”.
As if he would become a cog in a well-oiled machine.
But what if Ten Hag came to his senses and decided, as his compatriot Louis van Gaal has advised, to find a “football club, not a commercial club”?
And what if Pochettino — strongly touted for the United job since a lunch meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson six years ago — decided he wouldn’t fancy trying to fit into United’s so-called structure anyway?
Money and ego may well dictate otherwise for Ten Hag, or for Pochettino.
But Poch for United could end up alongside Brian Clough for England as one of those “greatest managers we never had”.
For Pochettino, a move to United would represent a one-way ticket from frying pan to fire.
From one Galactico club in PSG to another in United.
From a fading Lionel Messi to a fading Cristiano Ronaldo. This is not what Pochettino does.
There is, however, one Premier League job perfectly suited to Pochettino’s strengths. And it is, of course, Arsenal.
This is a man who moulded an excellent crop of youngsters, whipped them like dogs and broke into the Champions League at Tottenham.
Poch could go from managing Messi to RonaldoCredit: REX FEATURES
United could look to clear out high earnersCredit: EPA
Arsenal, like Spurs eight years ago, have an excellent crop of youngsters and crave regular Champions League football.
And, as any Gooner will testify, they looked as if they needed whipping like dogs during defeats by Crystal Palace and Brighton.
The Gunners seem to have an unshakeable faith in Mikel Arteta. He probably “fits into their structure”.
He clears out high-earning sulkers like Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, he embraces the academy — and Arsenal, unlike United, do at least have a sense of direction.
But would Pochettino be better qualified than Arteta to get Arsenal back to the top table? Undoubtedly.
Poch once said that he’d rather work on a farm than manage Tottenham’s bitter foes — but in reality no football professional gives a hoot about club rivalries.
This bloke played for Argentina, so don’t pretend he’s not capable of cynicism.
Like Ten Hag, he is a damned good manager. Too good for that faded Disneyland up in Stretford.
Over the moon at rivalry
THE pre-match press box chat at the Etihad on Sunday was intense.
When I asked if it would be OTT to state that City versus Liverpool was the biggest Premier League match for years, the fella sitting beside me was adamant I’d be guilty only of understatement.
Given that these were the best two teams in England, almost certainly in Europe and therefore the world, and that football is perpetually improving, we were about to witness the best match in the history of the world.
Manchester City vs Liverpool was a Premier League showdown that lived up to the billingCredit: Getty
And given that football is the only sport, the biggest and best sporting event ever staged.
So the only rivals to this spectacle would be the moon landings or the fall of the Berlin Wall.
And either of those would have been more momentous had Ederson been fannying around in the background trying to clear his lines.
Let’s Pep up run-in
SOME po-faced pundits claim this title race is actually enhanced by Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp refusing to indulge in puerile mind games.What nonsense.
Everyone loves a ruck — from rubber-necking schoolkids in the playground, to keyboard warriors piling in on social-media spats, to the 94,000 who will pack out Wembley to watch Tyson Fury on Saturday week.
Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola refuse to take part in mind gamesCredit: Alamy
So come on, lads, give the people what they want and bin all this tiresome ‘mutual respect’ malarkey.
As someone once said: “I’ll tell you, honestly, I will love it. Love it.”
THERE were fulsome tributes paid to Neil Warnock after the arch promotion-winner and ref-botherer announced his retirement, aged 73.
Just like last year when Roy Hodgson retired, aged 73. And we all know what happened there. These men are addicts. Don’t believe a word they say about kicking the habit.
Sub fat chance
YES, yes, we know the introduction of five subs in the Premier League will favour the richest clubs, with the deepest squads.
But the news could actually be heartening for those of us who grew up loving players like John Robertson and Paul Gascoigne — geniuses who might not get a top-flight game these days because of their shape and the modern game’s ridiculous levels of athleticism.
Five subs might allow elite managers the luxury of cameo roles for a gifted chubster or two.
Perhaps they may even be allowed to have a fag on the go during their warm-ups.
Overweight drinkers and smokers need something to aspire to.
It’s called inclusivity.
WHO’S making up the new rules for Champions League qualification which will allow clubs who used to be good, but aren’t any more, to qualify anyway?
My money is on Finchy, David Brent’s mate in The Office, who, after narrowly losing a quiz night, decreed that the result should instead be settled by which man could throw a kettle over the pub.
PLENTY of stick for the fan who charged on to the pitch and halted a West Ham attack late on in their Europa League quarter-final against Lyon.
But it could have been worse.
Plenty remember Mido, Ilan, Benni McCarthy, Marco Boogers and Savio Nsereko coming on up front for the Hammers. More
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Neil Custis: Man Utd’s best bet for the future is to finish EIGHTH… luckily they are bad enough to make it happen
by Philippa Kaur 10 April 2022, 20:08
THE position Manchester United need to finish in now is well within their grasp.Even this team could not make a hash of it. Eighth spot and no European football next season is there for the taking.
Manchester United turned in yet another lacklustre display against EvertonCredit: REX
The Red Devil’s abysmal display at Goodison summed up their entire seasonCredit: REX
And they’d be wise to save themselves another headache and miss out on the Europa LeagueCredit: REX
That place is currently held by Wolves, who are two points behind the seventh-placed Red Devils having played a game more.
But United can make that up easily the way this team is playing. The very last thing they need is that seventh-placed Europa Conference League place.
Nobody at Old Trafford will admit it but they really do not want the Europa League either.
Yes, that night in Stockholm in 2017 when they won it against Ajax was a good one.
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But does anybody remember the rest of that campaign?
There is still something odd about the club celebrating any result in Europe outside the elite competition of the Champions League, no matter how far they have fallen.
And they have really fallen — and there is still some way yet to go. There is worse to come between now and the end of May, a lot worse, have no doubt.
Seven games left, among them trips to Liverpool and Arsenal, while Chelsea still have to visit Old Trafford.
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Mind you, would you bet a quid on them beating rock-bottom Norwich at the Theatre of Nightmares on Saturday?
For a long time, there has been talk of the need for a clearout, a new identity to the team and a manager being given time to enact all that.
Erik ten Hag is the man to do it and he will get a major boost if his midweeks are free from trips to the likes of Kazakhstan in November — I am still thawing out.
That extra time on the training ground will be vital as he gets to know the players and they get to know his methods.
An exhausting pre-season trip to Thailand, in sweltering humidity, and then Australia is hardly going to provide that.
David Moyes began life as the new boss of United on the back foot due to a red-eye record tour of Thailand, Australia, Japan and China.
One which still had the players asking “What time is it?” come November.
Still, needs must when the big bucks are on offer for the biggest club in the world and the brand needs to be seen in all corners.
Ajax boss Erik ten Hag will be at the Old Trafford helm next seasonCredit: GETTY
While the lack of European football may be viewed as another step back for some, it could well lead to two or three steps forward.
Look at this season and how Arsenal have benefited from being out of the Europa League.
Meanwhile, Leicester’s endless campaign of Europa League and then Europa Conference League has already added 12 games to their rota and counting.
In the meantime, the Foxes have been dragged back into mid-table mediocrity.
Arsenal have begun to grow again under Mikel Arteta, with a recent run of six league wins from seven evidence of that before defeats to Crystal Palace and then Brighton on Saturday.
United need to do what Arsenal have done: take a step back, accept where they are and grow again, rather than rail against everyone and everything at the dying of the light.
United are stuck in a darker tunnel now than at any time in over three decades.
But with a club this size, there should always be light at the end of it.
Another Europa League campaign would cause more problems for the Red DevilsCredit: GETTY
Ten Hag said something very interesting when he talked about his task of taking Ajax back to the top when he took over at the club.
He said: “In Amsterdam, there is also the superiority. The ‘We are Ajax!’ mantra. I see the benefits of this, don’t get me wrong but I also see the danger.”
Indeed, for United, the history brings expectation but also the extra pressure that goes with it.
There has also been a belief since the early post-Sir Alex Ferguson years that things will right themselves just because this is Manchester United.
The club needs to start again, rather than believe they will begin next season in a title race.
Is there the patience for that, though? Well everyone has run out of patience with this lot.
Beaten by an Everton side that had increasingly looked like being doomed to the drop.
Anthony Gordon’s deflected shot off Harry Maguire in the 27th minute was the difference.
In truth, there was a much bigger difference between a side who wanted it and one who gave up caring the moment Atletico Madrid ended their Champions League dreams.
That is why there will be no return to European football’s elite competition next season.
As manager Ralf Rangnick said after the game at Goodison: “The players should be eager to play Champions League but as long as we play like today, they don’t deserve it.”
As ever, the same old “blah, blah, blah” about it not being good enough came from inside the camp.
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The same old understandable criticism from the fans had already begun on social media long before the final whistle.
Just let it all end, celebrate eighth and start again.
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Harry Redknapp: With Dias injured Guardiola has lost his Van Dijk… and that gives Liverpool the edge over Man City
by Philippa Kaur 9 April 2022, 19:59
PEP GUARDIOLA has a cast of stars to make every manager in football green with envy — and Jurgen Klopp isn’t far behind him.We’ll see the vast majority of them at the Etihad this afternoon when Manchester City and Liverpool go toe to toe.
Pep Guardiola could really miss his integral defender Ruben Dias against LiverpoolCredit: Getty
But it’s so close to call that, ironically, I think the deciding factor could actually be the one man who WON’T be out there for a game many are calling the title decider.
Barring a miracle — or unless Pep is pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes — Ruben Dias will again be missing because of his hamstring injury.
And he makes such a huge difference to the City defence, I have a sneaking feeling that without him Liverpool will nick it.
Although I don’t go along with those who say the Premier League will definitely be heading to Anfield if they do, by the way.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}NEW CLASICO .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}City vs Liverpool no game for the faint-hearted as rivalry reaches fever pitch
If City win and the gap stretches to four, I think it’d be too much for Liverpool to make up. But if — as I suspect — it goes the other way, it will still be so tight nothing is decided.
Both of them will go for the win — they never do anything else — but for Pep it is a case of stick or twist?
Going into it with a one-point lead means it’s almost like winning the first leg away from home and knowing you don’t have to go for it.
City don’t play that way, I know, but in the back of their mind will be the thought a draw isn’t a bad result. Liverpool, on the other hand, don’t have an option.
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They’re so marvellous — ten league wins on the run, going back to that draw with Chelsea at the start of January — and a forward line that’s been absolutely fantastic.
I imagine Pep will go with Aymeric Laporte and John Stones in the middle and the movement of those guys up front is so difficult to stop when they’re buzzing about.
When Liverpool were without Virgil van Dijk for so long, they were a different side. Dias has the same influence at City.
He’s the leader of that defence, the one who organises and I can see Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota causing all sorts of problems on the counter.
This one is the be all and end all for both managers. It is the only thing that matters.Harry Redknapp
They’re all so sharp, they can pop up anywhere and you always think City — without Dias — give you the odd chance. You can’t afford to do that with Liverpool.
Like I said, though, if they end the day two points clear at the top, then nothing is decided.
With seven games left, it only takes one slip and it’s different again. We saw when Crystal Palace beat Arsenal how easily things can change.
When you look at their run-ins, you’d say City have the easier of the two. Liverpool have United and the Merseyside derby next and while they’re better than both, you can’t take anything for granted.
Spurs have to go to Anfield, too, and the way Antonio Conte has them playing these days makes them very dangerous opponents.
And don’t be thinking this game will have a big bearing on next week’s FA Cup semi-final, when City and Liverpool are at it again.
Liverpool have an embarrassment of attacking riches ready to cause havoc at the EtihadCredit: Getty
Virgil van Dijk is Liverpool’s leader on the pitch and sets the tone for the teamCredit: AFP
This one is the be all and end all for both managers. It is the only thing that matters. There’s not a chance Guardiola or Klopp will do anything but play their strongest sides today.
There’s no doubt you’re talking about the best two sides in Europe — by some distance. What a Champions League final that would be.
Having said that, City won’t have it all their own way against Atletico Madrid in Spain for their second leg next week.
Atletico boss Diego Simeone will believe they can overturn that one-goal defeat at home.
You saw in the first leg how they were kicking the likes of Jack Grealish and Phil Foden. It will all be going off in Madrid.
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Simeone will have them really fired up and City are in for a real scrap. I just hope they come through to face Real or Chelsea in the semis — and I think they probably will.
As for this afternoon, well that’s another story. But if you’re thinking of trying to get hold of me, don’t bother — I won’t be budging from in front of my telly. More

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