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      in Boxing

      Mike Tyson rejected Sylvester Stallone’s offer to fight in Rocky movie says ex-manager ahead of Netflix bout v Jake Paul

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      RORY Holloway and Mike Tyson’s paths first crossed in 1982 when the aspiring boxer was living in a juvenile detention home in upstate New York.Introduced by a mutual friend, when the soon-to-be heavyweight champion of the world was just 16, they soon became firm friends and began living together.Rory Holloway was Mike Tyson’s best friend and former managerHolloway met Tyson when he was just 16 before he became a global superstarCredit: Courtesy of Rory HollowayAccording to Holloway, Tyson refused to star in a Rocky film if he lost Sylvester Stallone’s famous characterFour years later, Tyson would ask Holloway to be his manager in the lobby of a Las Vegas hotel after defeating Trevor Berbick for the WBC title.Moments before that, Tyson would reject a leading role in Rocky – when Sylvester Stallone asked him if he would be interested in starring in the Hollywood franchise.In 1997 the pair parted ways – with Tyson’s senses distorted by the hangers-on in his life and the dissolution of Team Tyson.He accused his former promoter Don King of mismanaging his funds, while Holloway and John Horne were also sued for failing to protect his interests in dealings with King.Read more Mike Tyson newsThe matter was settled out of court, with Tyson receiving $14million.But, for Holloway, there was no bad blood. SunSport caught up with the ex-impresario who spoke candidly about his time managing the biggest sports star in the world.Holloway revealed how he had to react quickly to Tyson’s impulsive demands to please the boxing champ. For Holloway, managing Tyson was “totally chaotic.”Most read in Boxing’Is it fixed?’ Mike Tyson’s ex-trainer has serious questions about the Jake Paul fightIt started with that first act – snubbing Rocky and movie star fame.He told SunSport: “We’re chatting in the lobby after he became champ and Sylvester Stallone comes towards us.”He stops and says to Mike, ‘Hey Mike, great fight – congratulations. Maybe we need to talk about you being in the next Rocky movie?”Mike looked at him and nonchalantly replied, ‘Let me ask you something. In the movie, will you beat me?’ Stallone said, ‘Yeah, it’s Rocky.'”Then Mike said, ‘Hell, no. I wouldn’t even let you beat me for play.’ I thought that was crazy.”Despite turning down an opportunity at film stardom, Mike still had to wrestle with being a cultural icon.Holloway explained: “At that time, there were three Mikes. Jordan, Jackson, and Tyson. Out of the three, I think Michael Jackson and Mike Tyson were global phenomenons.”Tyson, because he was a young kid coming up from the background he did, created such an interest in the public eye.”You couldn’t go anywhere. Everywhere you’d go, time would stop. Back in Harlem, they’d have to shut it down if we visited because thousands of people would want to meet him.”That fame made life a little difficult. He wanted to be normal, but he couldn’t.”At times he was his own worst enemy. It was both difficult, but it was also a pleasure and an honour.”It was tough on Mike and it was tough on me – trying to wrap my arms around him and protect him.”The more money he got, the more difficult it got. And Mike had a very impulsive personality at that time.I always felt it was my job to protect him.”But sometimes you can’t protect people from themselves.””We could make plans, but the only thing that would count would be the next two minutes.”I had a lot thrust upon me. I was his closest friend, but at the same time I was his manager managing his fight career.”Sometimes it became difficult because the lines were blurred, and they started getting more blurred as we got older.”I always felt it was my job to protect him. But sometimes you can’t protect people from themselves.”Wherever Tyson went, huge crowds followed him, especially in HarlemHolloway revealed it was almost impossible planning Tyson’s training campsCredit: Courtesy of Rory HollowayTyson and promoter Don King celebrate Holloway’s wedding dayCredit: Courtesy of Rory HollowayHolloway remembered a moment that summed up Tyson’s behaviours.He continued: “We were preparing for a fight, and usually about 14 weeks before the fight I would set up the camp.”I had people who did that for me, so I’d told them once we were setting up in Flagstaff, Arizona.”These guys had 18-wheeler trucks. They brought all Mike’s equipment – all his rings, TV’s, and we’d rent out a whole hotel. They would give us the kitchen and I’d bring our private chefs.”Before Mike went out there he asked me if everything was set up.”He trained one or two days, then all of a sudden he was bored and told me, ‘I don’t wanna train here.’ I said to him, ‘What do you mean you don’t want to train here? We brought out almost a million dollars worth of equipment and we rented out a whole hotel!'”I’d tried my best to make it to his liking, even going overboard. But he didn’t want to train.”I thought to myself, we’ll give it a couple of days, he would settle down.”But I woke up the next morning and he was gone!””Next I know, Mike is in Vegas! He called me and I asked, ‘What you doing in Vegas?’Tyson’s impulsive nature made him difficult to manage said HollowayOnce Holloway got Tyson into the ring, he knew his job was done”And he said, ‘Bring all the stuff here! I want to train here’. So we had to bring all the equipment to Las Vegas, it cost us a fortune. We got to Vegas and after a few days there he said to me, ‘I don’t wanna train here, I want to go to Ohio!'”Holloway added: “It was crazy. But when he put his mind to something, you had to accommodate him.”Once I got him in the ring and saw him touch gloves with an opponent, it was like a weight had lifted off my shoulders.”I didn’t even care about the fight, I was just happy to have got him where I needed to get him.”In 1986, Mike created history at the Las Vegas Hilton when he knocked out Trevor Berbick in the second round of the WBC heavyweight title contestHolloway was there for the moment that would change both their lives.At the time he was working at a juvenile detention centre, and was in Sin City to support his friend.By the end of the night, Holloway would become part of Team Tyson.”That’s probably one of the most memorable times in my life,” Holloway said. “It was a historical fight, he becomes the youngest ever heavyweight champion, and I then met him in the hotel lobby.Tyson floored Trevor Berbick to become the youngest ever heavyweight championOn that night, Tyson made Holloway his manager”I told Mike I had to go to Albany because if I didn’t go back I wouldn’t have a job.”Mike held the belts up to me and said, ‘We used to eat baloney together, now we’re going to eat steak. Tell them you quit.”Working alongside Tyson during his hey day was legendary promoter Don King.King and Tyson would fall out over the belief King had stolen money from him.A legal battle which dragged Holloway’s name into the mud ensued, with Tyson eventually getting a $14million payment.Holloway insisted he has nothing but respect for King, who helped them all achieve a privileged position.”I never had a problem with Don,” Holloway divulged.Tyson stands with Holloway, left, John Horn, right, and promoter Don KingWithout Don King, Tyson wouldn’t have made a $500m fortune claimed Hollowayread more sport features”In the sport of boxing, I gathered as much information that I could from him from his experience.”He gave me business acumen, and he understood my position as Mike’s best friend.”Don had an influence on Mike to a certain extent. But Mike really relied on me to deal with Don, as the middle man. There were scrapes, little small issues, but he never really had a problem with Don.”Most of the issues were due to Mike, in my opinion. A lot of people try and say different things, but the fact of the matter for us was that promoter brought us almost $500million. That’s the bottom line.”He allowed us to change trajectory on how much fighters got paid. We revolutionised that and it wouldn’t have happened without Don. “Don was able to leverage the whole Mike Tyson brand. I know what he meant to us.”In 1992, Tyson was convicted of rape and sentenced to six years in an Indiana prison.He would serve three, before being released on parole. Holloway visited him every month to check on his friend.Tyson arrives in court in 1992 to face charges of rapeTyson was released after three years on parole”Mike was always in a very sombre mood (in prison)”, Holloway recalled.”I would drive from New York to Indiana every first week of the month and I would sit down with him for a few hours and talk.”We never discussed anything passed prison. We never discussed what he was going to do when he got out.”It made me come to the conclusion he wasn’t going to box again. He lost so much weight and he didn’t look like Mike Tyson. He must have weighed about 180 pounds.”His eating habits were different. We’d talk about life, our family, where we started and came from, going down memory lane.”Four months before he got out, I found out that he really wanted to fight.”Mike and I came from abject poverty.”All of a sudden you get all this wealth and it’s like a tap, you don’t see it cutting off soon.”When Tyson got out, a huge fortune awaited him. Although, he was already spending up to £50,000 on piece on his new fascination, Tigers.”I don’t know how he came up with this fascination for tigers,” Holloway laughed.”Next thing you know, we had tigers in the house, a leopard… next minute, he was asking about getting a giraffe and a hippo.”We were at the house and tigers were walking around like pets and laying in the garage.Mike Tyson loved owning exotic pets when he was at the top of the fight gameHolloway recalled tigers walking around his home like domestic pets”At one point he talked about buying the house next door, tearing it down and building a big moat with palm trees so the tigers could feel at home.”The background we came from, we never had anything growing up.”Mike and I came from abject poverty. All of a sudden you get all this wealth and it’s like a tap, you don’t see it cutting off soon. Every couple of months, he’s fighting and he’s getting $30million or $40million.”Holloway and Tyson went their separate ways in 1997, which still hurts Holloway today.”Nothing ever happened. It was one of those situations where we just grew apart,” he said.People see you doing good and they want to be in your position.”I was a target, I had that on my head.””When it happened, I think people made a bigger deal out of it than there was. Mike and I never had an argument. It’s just something that happened.”He and I will always have a connection, he’s the godfather to my kids, and I will always support him up close or from afar.”The rumour mill took a toll on me. People saying I allowed people to take advantage of Mike and take his money, that was tough.”Mike would know I would never let that happen intentionally.”Outsiders came in and drew a wedge between us, they had an objective.”People see you doing good and they want to be in your position. I was a target, I had that on my head.READ MORE SUN STORIES”When we went our separate ways, there wasn’t any beef and that never gave me closure. Life has to go on. But that’s something that always lingers inside of me, in my heart.”I had nothing but good times with Mike. He afforded me and my family things that I may never have had, and the journey was amazing.”Holloway and Tyson went their separate ways in 1997Credit: Courtesy of Rory HollowayHolloway admitted he misses his friend, TysonCredit: Courtesy of Rory Holloway More

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      in Boxing

      Inside Mike Tyson’s amazing car collection, from a classic Ferrari F50 to his new Mercedes-Benz G Class worth £136k

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      AS car collections go, few can compare to what Mike Tyson has been seen behind the wheel of through the years.The boxing legend, now 58, is preparing to fight YouTuber Jake Paul.Mike Tyson has been seen behind the wheels of the most amazing motorsTyson has a brilliant Mercedes-Benz G Class in his garage with a price of around £136kAn epic Rolls-Royce Cullinan costing £300k is also part of Tyson’s car collectionThe event will be live streamed on Netflix on November 15, with millions expected to tune in.Tyson, for his part, has revealed he expects to earn around £15.4million for a night’s work at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium.That could see Iron Mike dip into his pocket to add to an already staggering garage.Recently, he’s rekindled his love affair with Rolls-Royce by being seen with a stunning Cullinan worth £300,000.read more Mike Tyson newsThe ex-heavyweight champ also boasts a Mercedes-Benz G Class costing from £136,000.While in the past, his cars have been just as epic.Rolls-Royce Cullinan, £300kMike has made no secret of his love of Rolls-Royces, as you will find out as you continue reading.He is believed to own a Ghost and a Cullinan, with the latter being the flagship SUV of the brand.Most read in BoxingIt is one of the most luxurious cars on the market, which is why it carries that hefty price tag.When I met Mike Tyson his hands looked like BRICKS… I don’t see how he can lose to Jake PaulIt features a 6.75L V12 engine which produces 563 bhp and 850 Nm of torque.Rival Paul also owns one.Mercedes-Benz G Class, £136kIn recent times, Tyson has also been seen with a Mercedes-Benz G Class, or better known as the G Class SUV.It’s a car popular with Premier League footballers around the globe, with the likes of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Brazilian superstar Neymar all driving one.The G Class comes with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V-8 engine that makes 577 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque.The 0-62 mph varies from 4.5 seconds to 6.4 seconds, depending on the model.The Mercedes-Benz G Class is a favourite of Premier League footballersRolls-Royce stretch limousine, £165kKnowing he had the ‘Golden Child’ of boxing in his roster, promoter Don King was desperate to keep him sweet.To thank his client for his hard graft in becoming the most feared fighter on the planet, he gifted Tyson TWO cars in 1988.King added a black Rolls-Royce stretch limousine that would’ve set him back around £165,000.He also gave Tyson a Corniche.By 22, Tyson had Rolls-Royces coming out of his ears.Tyson once was gifted a brilliant Rolls-Royce limo that cost around £165kFormer promoter Don King lavished Tyson with gifts, including carsTyson was also given a stunning Rolls-Royce CornicheMercedes-Benz SL-Class 560SL, £70kAs the 80s became the 90s, Tyson began making friends in the showbiz world, attending glitzy Hollywood parties and enjoying his new-found fame as the ‘baddest man on the planet’.One of those pals, Tupac Shakur inspired his next impulse buy.Thanks to the rapper, who reportedly owned one, Tyson threw cash at a white 1989 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 560SL.A few months later Tyson’s world came crashing down – when a shock loss to James ‘Buster’ Douglas in Japan stunned the world in 1990.That summer though, he cheered himself up with a 1990 Mercedes Benz 500 SL that had a must-have accessory of its time fitted within its interiors… a mobile phone.In good condition some of these classic cars are fetching up to £70,000 at auction.In 1989, Tyson added a Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 560SL which can fetch £70k todayread more sport featuresLamborghini Super Diablo Twin Turbo, £180kIn 1996, Tyson bought his first ever Lamborghini – a yellow Super Diablo Twin Turbo with the prize money earned from defeating Bruce Seldon in Las Vegas.Again, it softened the blow of losing a friend – Tupac – who was shot dead in a drive-by shooting after attending that fight.It was the status symbol flash car of its day, and is now a collector’s item.We’ve spotted some online going for around £180,000. However, the highest price one has been sold for was around £750,000.While in 1996, Tyson was seen with a splendid Lamborghini Super Diablo Twin TurboBentley Continental SC, £380kIn-between his epic bouts with Evander Holyfield, he went back to luxury motors and got a taste for Bentley with a Continental T.When his bank account swelled by a£23m, the purse he eventually received for the Holyfield disqualification defeat, he blew his wad on another of their classy vehicles.This time, he splashed the cash on an SC worth a whopping £380,000.Incredibly rare, only 48 were ever made.In the late 90s, Tyson developed a love of expensive Bentley motorsFerrari ConnoisseurAfter he was sent to jail for a rape charge, serving three years behind bars, Tyson fought Frank Bruno and regained his WBC title in 1995.With his purse, he took himself to a Ferrari dealership and bought TWO of their supercars – a Ferrari F50 and a 456 GT Spyder.His GT Spyder was only one of two convertibles made by the Pininfarina factory –  the other was ordered by the Sultan of Brunei.Famously, Tyson did crash one of these Ferraris into a convenience store, which led to his “favourite arrest.”He recalled: “My favourite arrest I would have to say is when I bought a Ferrari.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I didn’t know how to drive the Ferrari and my car went through the glass window.”He added: “I had to get arrested for property damage.”After Tyson beat Frank Bruno he bought two Ferraris, including this F50A rare 456 GT Spyder was also an impulse purchase by Tyson More

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      in Boxing

      Inside Jake Paul’s insane car collection, from his stunning £456k Ferrari SF-90 Spider to a £165k Lamborghini Huracan

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      JAKE Paul is gearing up for the fight of his life.The YouTuber, who has made a credible career out of boxing, will face off against Mike Tyson on November 15 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.Jake Paul’s favourite latest whip is his Ferrari SF-90 SpiderPaul’s SF-90 spider sits alongside his stunning Ferrari 296 GTBThe YouTuber-turned-boxer has an epic car collection at his disposalThe event will be streamed globally by Netflix in what promises to be an intriguing bout.Paul, 27, has said he could bank up to £31million for the exhibition bout.”I’m here to make 40 million dollars and knock out a legend. I don’t give a f**k about anything else,” he said in a press conference back in August.That kind of money will allow the social media personality to expand his impressive car collection.Read more Jake Paul newsSunSport takes a lot at Paul’s amazing garage – starting with his new favourite whip.Ferrari SF-90, £456kAt the turn of the year, Paul took delivery of a brand new Ferrari.Arriving on a truck at his Puerto Rico home, he took to Instagram to share an image of his new purchase.He captioned the snap to “match the 296”. That note will become clear when we unveil his next car.Most read in BoxingCapable of doing 0-62mph in 2.5 seconds, it’s top speed is 211 mph.Ferrari 296 GTB, £330kJake Paul’s own coach admitted he CAN’T beat Mike Tyson in newly emerged footage ahead of mega Netflix fightYes, the 296 was a reference to another yellow Ferrari Paul owns.Now, the first thing you want to do when you splash the cash on a car worth over £300,000 is drive it carefully.Forget that. After waiting 18 months to get his hands on a Ferrari 296 GTB, Paul managed to break it after one day.Showing off and doing one too many doughnuts, the “low beam failure” warning popped up and the American was told to take it back to the dealer.Paul had to return his 296 GTB after doing one too many donutsLamborghini Huracan, £165kIn 2018, Paul treated himself to his first flashy supercar.His bright blue Lamborghini Huracan Performante ticked all the boxes, in that regard.However, he had to wait six months to get his hands on one, but when it arrived the social media influencer declared it his ‘dream car’.He soon shot a video revealing his ’emotion’ that driving a Lambo was about to become a reality.Boasting 631bhp, it’s capable of reaching 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed of 212mph.In 2018, Paul splashed the cash on his dream carThe Lamborghini Huracan costs around £165kFord Fairlane Skyliner, £52kAs classic cars go, few are classier than the Fairlane.Last year, Paul showed off his gorgeous motor alongside his beautiful girlfriend, Jutta Leerdam.The pair posed for a series of playful snaps riding in one that they shared on Instagram.The motor can sell for up to £52,000 in good nick.Paul showed off a classic Ford Fairlane Skyliner during a fun set of snaps on InstagramPaul’s beautiful girlfriend Jutta Leerdam also appeared in the snapsTESLA MODEL X, £80kWhen Paul lived in LA, he went for an electric car.But instead of driving a Toyota Prius, he opted for a much-more stylish Tesla Model X.Paul got his custom-wrapped by West Coast Customs Design – who famously looked after a host of celebs on MTV’s Pimp My Ride.The one-of-a-kind car also has carbon accents and sandblasted details, meaning it stands out from the crowd.Paul’s first Tesla was the model X worth £80kTesla Cybertruck, from £62kA fan of Tesla, Paul also recently invested in a stunning Cybertruck.The stunning stainless steel car has become a favourite of US celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga.Back in August, Vladimir Putin’s attack dog Ramzan Kadyrov flaunted a new Tesla Cybertruck which he claims to have received from Elon Musk, although Musk denied this.The Chechen warlord modified his, attaching a massive machine gun to the back and pledged to send it to the frontline in Ukraine.Paul shows off his ace Tesla CybertruckRolls-Royce Phantom, £360kIt’s not all fast or eco-friendly cars for Jake.The internet personality has also been seen showing off a classic Rolls-Royce Phantom in white.It was a make he was first seen driving back in 2018 alongside brother Logan, when the pair appeared at a celeb bash in a gold Ghost model.Smitten by the luxury of it, Jake added a £360,000 Phantom to his collection. And why not?Paul poses with his Rolls-Royce Phantom worth £360kToyoa Tacoma, £40kNothing beats going off-road.That’s why Paul also has a sturdy SUV in his Toyota Tacoma in white that would’ve cost him around £40,000.A standard Tacoma boasts a 2.7-litre I-4 engine producing 159 HP and 180 lb-ft of torque.Judging by his Instagram, it’s Paul’s go-to motor when he wants to have some fun.When Paul goes off roading he drives a Toyota TacomaFord Focus RS, from £22kAfter he scored success with West Coast Customs Design with his Model X, Jake returned with his cherished Ford Focus RS.Originally, he had it wrapped in black. But he wanted a change – and what he got was something completely different.It really is a showstopper and even has his name inscribed on the Continental tyres that were fitted new.Because of its colours, he nicknames the car ‘Rainbro’.A Ford Focus RS is another of Paul’s cherished possessionsPaul even had it specially customised by West Coast Customs DesignDodge Ram from £40kContinuing his love of trucks, Paul has also been spied behind the wheel of a Dodge Ram 1500.The all-American SUV is reasonably priced with a starting price of just £40,000 – and the boxing star made sure he got the Black Ops model, inspired by the American Armed Services.READ MORE SUN STORIESA powerful vehicle, latest models have a 3.6L V6 engine producing 305bhp.Maybe if he beats Mike Tyson, Paul will join the army?Paul has a fondness for trucks, owning this Dodge Ram worth £40k More

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      in Soccer

      Mikel Arteta must solve three tactical issues to save Arsenal’s Premier League title bid

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      BEFORE the start of the 2024/25 Premier League season it was believed that Arsenal and Manchester City would be the teams to beat in a title shoot-out.Then the loss of Rodri through injury put Arsenal as firm favourites in a lot of people’s minds.Mikel Arteta has a number of tactical issues that need solving to get the season back on trackCredit: ReutersArsenal’s squad profile has both advantages and disadvantagesCredit: RexIt is clear they are missing Martin Odegaard from their midfieldCredit: GettyHowever, the season has unravelled with the Gunners currently sitting outside of the top four and seven points adrift of leaders Liverpool and five behind second-place City.In a season that many fans would have hoped would finally be their time to end the two-decade title drought at the Emirates, disappointing results so far have seen fans show signs of discontent. The bombshell exit of Edu has not helped matters, with questions now quietly being raised around Arteta’s long-term recruitment and tactical plans. Below we take a look at three problems Arteta needs to solve to get Arsenal’s title charge back on track.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWhere are all of the ball progressors?While Man City were significantly weakened by the loss of Rodri this season it is fair to say Arsenal suffered a similar blow when captain Martin Odegaard was ruled out with an ankle injury. While he is back on the grass and getting closer to a return to full fitness, there is no doubt whatsoever that Arsenal have missed his passing and ball progression from central areas.Arteta has mainly used a midfield containing Declan Rice and summer signing Mikel Merino in recent weeks.They are two physically superb midfielders who are perhaps more comfortable behind the ball in areas where they can receive the ball and then circulate possession of it.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHere Arsenal play narrow and lack a midfielder who is world class on the ball without OdegaardAgainst Newcastle United last season we saw Leandro Trossard then used as a combination of a 10 and a second striker as Arsenal looked to attack in more of a 4-2-4 shape.Odegaard would typically play as the right-sided 8 in midfield with his ability to come deep to receive the ball, play line breaking passes and find pockets of space in the opposition half to receive the ball key in helping Arsenal to progress the ball into the final third.Mikel Arteta debunks claims referees and VAR have conspiracy against Arsenal after flurry of controversial decisions Odegaard is press resistant and capable of outplaying opposition midfielders in 1v1 situations.However, Arsenal simply do not have another player in their squad, other than the 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who has similar qualities.With Odegaard not being in the Arsenal team, we have seen more and more opposition teams look to sit in a deeper and more compact defensive shape in a mid-block. This essentially puts the onus on Arsenal to look to break them down and with no real central ball progression they are struggling to do so.Here we see how deep Arsenal split the two central defenders with Merino positioned just ahead of himOpposition teams are happy to force Arsenal to be more direct and over the top or to play wide where they can slide across and press in the wide spaces.There is a real need for Arsenal to find a way to bring more ball progression and the ability to break teams down.They are sitting too deepWhen Arsenal spent over £100million to secure Rice from West Ham, it was thought they had signed the perfect midfielder for a team that wanted to attack and play on the front foot with a lot of players pushed forward. By combining Rice with the likes of Gabriel and William Saliba as the two central defenders Arteta had three players with the combination of strength and mobility to play in space in transition.This essentially means the opposition would struggle to hurt Arsenal even if they were able to launch a counter attack when the ball was turned over.The expectation was that Arsenal would commit more players into advanced positions as they attacked in order to help them to break opposition teams down. Instead, Arteta has doubled down on signing physical players who excel in duels – see the addition of Merino in the summer.While Arsenal are physically imposing and are able to dominate duels both in and out of possession, this does take something away from how creative they can be. Here, we see Arsenal with Rice, Merino and Partey all sitting deep in the midfield as opposed to adding some depth and forward movements to take up more advanced positionsThis means that when teams sit in a deeper or even medium block and allow Arsenal to have possession ahead of them then Arsenal can struggle to break them down.With no midfielders that are completely comfortable pushing forward and into the final third in these situations we are seeing Arsenal rely on playing out quickly out to the wide areas.This especially happens on the right-side with Bukayo Saka, and opposition teams are ready and waiting to defend against this. By filling his team with players who are physically dominant there is a sense that Arteta has created a playing squad that are less mobile and versatile.Ethan Nwaneri came on to provide an attacking input and was effective in getting between the lines and causing problemsThere is no doubt Rice and Merino give Arsenal a solid base.But Arsenal could be more aggressive in terms of moving players into advanced attacking positions, with these duel monsters sitting to defend the potential transition.Teams know that Arsenal will attack down the rightSaka is ready to be considered a genuine world class talent.The England star has been unplayable at times and at the time of writing he has four goals and seven assists in 11 appearances in the Premier League and the Champions League. Arsenal have become reliant on passing to Bukayo Saka down the right flank as shown in their pass map against NewcastleSaka has been posing a threat and creating chances for fun, running teams ragged almost on his own.The problem with this is that teams who are well coached and organised know that Arsenal’s greatest threat will come down the right-hand side of the pitch. Here four opposition players look to pin down Bukayo Saka as soon as he gets the ballThis means that teams are isolating that side of the pitch and cutting off passing lanes that Arsenal could use to get the ball out to Saka. When they do get the ball to the right we are seeing opposition teams using two or even three players to press and contain Saka on that side.The pass map against Aston Villa is more varied with Odegaard taking some of the creative burden from SakaOn the left-side of the attack things do not seem to be working with Gabriel Martinelli acting as a more direct but less effective attacking threat when he takes possession.In central areas there are also no players who are making runs from deep to support the attack quickly. As soon as Saka takes possession on the right the opposition are very quick to press with more than one playerThis makes it easier for the opposition to then cut off and press the right-side of the attack to limit the threat of Saka.Arteta needs to find a way to create threat in the attack centrally and from the left in order to unlock Saka and allow him to attack in space where he is deadly.ConclusionArsenal are not out of the title race at this stage, but there are problems to be addressed. It very much feels as though Arteta has become almost too risk averse with players sitting to prevent the threat on the counter attack as opposed to being free to join the attack. READ MORE SUN STORIESIf Arsenal are to challenge at the top for the whole season then Arteta may have to take the breaks off and allow his team to play in a more aggressive style.This weekend’s clash against Chelsea will be key to that, and potentially his trust in exciting prospect Nwaneri.How Edu made Arsenal great againBy Jack RosserEDU GASPAR has been on a mission to ‘Make Arsenal Great Again’ ever since returning to the club he played for 2019.After a few wobbles early on – signing Nicolas Pepe will never reflect well – the Brazilian has, alongside Mikel Arteta, been crucial in the club’s transformation.Arteta was brought in as the new manager within months of Edu’s return to North London and the former midfielder stuck by the boss when the pressure was on two years into the job.Instead of making the knee-jerk decision to change manager again, the former Brazil international, joined forces with Arteta to institute a huge change of culture at The Emirates.Overpaid toxic influences such as Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were purged from the dressing room and Arsenal set about adding strong characters.Edu finally got the club competing in the transfer market again, with Martin Odegaard an outstanding capture for the club. In landing Declan Rice ahead of Manchester City last year Arsenal showed they couple compete for and sign some of Europe’s biggest talents once more.Arsenal have become one of the most attractive clubs in the Premier League and one of the most efficient in the market.While there have been big deals for the likes of Rice and Calafiori, there have been smart ones too – picking out value where others have lost hope.Kai Havertz appeared as a surprising signing after a dreadful season at Chelsea. But after Edu gave the German space and support to rebuild his confidence he has developed into a fine asset for Arteta.Edu does not only have a tight relationship with Arteta – who many fans will be glad signed a new deal before the sporting director’s departure – but the players too, always ready and waiting to check in, keep them going.London Colney and The Emirates will feel a very different place for all of them without Edu.Edu’s 35 signings rankedEDU oversaw the arrival of 35 players during his time at the club.Some worked out better than others.Here, SunSport ranks them from worst to best…35. Nicolas Pepe (£72m)34. Willian (Free)33. David Luiz (£8m)32. Runar Alex Runarsson (£2m)31. Mat Ryan (Loan)30. Fabio Vieira (£34m)29. Neto (Loan)28. Marquinhos (£3m)27. Nuno Tavares (£8m)26. Matt Turner (£5m)25. Cedric Soares (Free)24. Albert Sambi Lokonga (£17m)23. Pablo Mari (£5m)22. Dani Ceballos (Loan)21. Raheem Sterling (Loan)20. Jakub Kiwior (£17m)19. Jorginho (£12m)18. Riccardo Calafiori (£42m)17. Kieran Tierney (£25m)16. Takehiro Tomiyasu (£20m)15. Mikel Merino (£28m)14. Aaron Ramsdale (£24m)13. Oleksandr Zinchenko (£30m)12. Gabriel Jesus (£45m)11. Kai Havertz (£65m)10. Jurrien Timber (£38m)9. Gabriel Martinelli (£6m)8. David Raya (£27m)7. Leandro Trossard (£20m)6. Thomas Partey (£45m)5. Ben White (£50m)4. Gabriel Magalhaes (£27m)3. Declan Rice (£105m)2. William Saliba (£27m)1. Martin Odegaard (£30m)Click here to read more Arsenal stories. More

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      Inside the mad world of Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who is worth £2.5billion and owns TWO super yachts

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      WHETHER it is in England, his home of Greece, or even Portugal – Evangelos Marinakis is seemingly universally loved by football fans.The Greek shipping magnate, 57, has earned a staggering fortune of around £2.5billion through his company Capital Maritime Trading Corp.Evangelos Marinakis is one of football’s most colourful ownersMarinakis owns Nottingham ForestMarinakis has splashed his cash on toys like this super yachtHe has pumped that cash into his clubs, funding spending sprees for Nottingham Forest, winning multiple Greek titles with Olympiacos and last year he acquired a large stake in Portuguese outfit Rio Ave.It has been reported he plans to add a Brazilian club to his roster, which is why he lured Arsenal’s sporting director Edu on a reported triple your salary deal to oversee his football empire.But away from the game, Marinakis has his finger in other pies too.He runs a TV station famed for its soaps, sitcoms, political shows and the Champions League, as well as some of Greece’s biggest-selling newspapers.Read more football newsMarinakis hasn’t just spent his millions on football clubs, he is also the proud owner of two super yachts worth over £20million a piece.While back in 2021, he was in the news when one of his shipping boats saved 150 migrants from drowning in the Mediterranean Sea.SunSport looks into his mad world.Making moneyThe son of a politician, Marinakis made his billions after founding Capital Maritime & Trading Corp in 2005.Most read in FootballBy 2017, the company managed a mixed fleet of 70 ships.FA hit Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis with STADIUM BAN after furious tunnel blast at officialsThese included tankers, container ships and dry bulk carriers.A year later, they entered the LNG sector by purchasing ten ships capable of transporting liquified natural gas at the cost of a whopping £1.5billion.A year later, they merged their tanker fleet with DSS Holdings, who are bankrolled by New York private equity firm WL Ross & Co in a £1.3billion deal.Together, they have created one of the biggest listed tanker companies in the world.Marinakis continues to plough cash into his business, last year pumping £82million into the company to invest in seven platform supply vessels.One for giving back, Marinakis has put his money into the regeneration of his hometown Piraeus, including restoring playgrounds, building football pitches and helping the homeless by setting up soup kitchens.The man, who has a tattoo on his left arm that reads ‘Dream Love Create Fight Survive Win’, also has plenty of empathy.Piraeus is a port city, and the first entry for refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.Marinakis once had a group of people, including Olympiacos staff, welcome those coming off boats with food, clothes and toys for their children.It’s not the first time he has come to the aid of desperate refugees.On his left arm Marinakis has a tattoo that reads ‘Dream Love Create Fight Survive Win’Shipping magnate Marinakis boasts a fleet of impressive tankersIn 2021, one of his tankers saved a group of migrants from drowningIn 2021, an oil tanker belonging to the shipping tycoon came to the rescue of more than 150 migrants who were sinking on a 15-metre wooden boat in the Mediterranean sea.The crew raised the alarm, and with the native coastal guard launched a rescue mission to haul them to safety on the tanker.FootballIn 2010, Marinakis entered the football world by buying a stake in Olympiacos.Incredibly, they won the Greek league seven times in a row from 2010–11 to 2016–17.After lucky number seven, Marinakis set his sights on English football – adding Nottingham Forest to his football club portfolio.A man who isn’t afraid to shoot for the stars, he declared that he wanted the club to qualify for Europe within five years, as well to redevelop the City Ground and transform the team’s Nigel Doughty Academy.Forest were promoted to the Premier League in 2022 for the first time in 23 years, justifying Marikanis’ belief they were a sleeping giant ready to be woken up.Meanwhile, Olympiacos became the first Greek club to win a European competition, after they lifted the Europa Conference League last year – defeating Fiorentina in the final.His next project, after investing around £20million in Portuguese outfit Rio Ave to clear debts and upgrade facilities, sees him working with super agent Jorge Mendes. Fans are hoping for exciting times with bated breath.Marinakis celebrates Forest’s promotion in 2022During Marinakis’ time as Olympiacos president the club has won multiple league titlesOlympiacos became the first Greek club to win a European trophy last seasonread more sport featuresControversyOf course, with so much power and money, Marinakis is one of Greece’s most recognised businessmen.He is a major shareholder in the newsgroup Alter Ego Media, who own broadcaster Mega TV. Not only do they show sitcoms and Champions League football, they pride themselves on their news coverage and aren’t afraid to talk politics.But not everyone loves Marinakis. Back in March, a meeting at his home was the downfall of two Greek ministers who were forced to resign, following a night of drinking expensive whiskey and smoking luxurious cigars.According to Greek news outlet iEidiseis, who published the details of the gatherings, it wasn’t a good look to be wined and dined by the media magnate.There have been further controversies, including a match-fixing and bribery scandal that erupted in 2015 in the Greek league.Marinakis was one of 68 people named, however he denied the allegations and was cleared in court three years later.There was also a wild complaint against him that he was involved in the bombing of a referee’s bakery, which he vehemently denied any involvement with and didn’t even go to trial.Over the years, a number of controversies have followed MarinakisMarinakis was cleared of a match-fixing scandal in 2018PlaytimeBeing a billionaire comes with many perks.Marinakis divides his time between stunning homes in Athens and London.When he’s not there, you’ll likely find him on one of his super yachts.Marinakis boasts TWO – the Amore Mio and Amore Mio II.The former costs around £20million and has a yearly running cost of £1million.It can host up to 10 guests, as well as seven cabin crew in its nine cabins. It is 148 feet in length.The Amore Mio is worth around £20millionMarinakis also owns the slightly bigger Amore Mio II that has 15 cabinsThe Amore Mio II is slightly bigger at 170 feet, and was made by Abeking & Rasmussen in Germany at their Lemwerder shipyard.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt was little more expensive – costing around £25million – and boasts fifteen cabins.Don’t we all wish we could live in a Marinakis world right now. More

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      Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd move sees his wife become rivals with her best friend, business partner and fellow Wag

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      THEY were the dream partnership at Sporting.Hugo Viana, as sporting director, sold on the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Porro, Joao Palhinha and Manuel Ugarte for huge profits.Hugo Viana is getting ready to take the reins at Man Utd from Sporting LisbonSporting Liston sporting director Hugo Viana is joining Utd’s rivals Man CityAmorim and Viana’s wives run an interior design business togetherWhile in came Viktor Gyokeres, Morten Hjulmand, Pedro Goncalves and Francisco Trincao – who could fetch huge fees thanks to their development under the club’s boss, Ruben Amorim.Working as well as they did attracted the Premier League’s big hitters.Viana will join Man City, where he will replace the departing Txiki Begiristain at the Etihad next season.Intriguingly, Amorim now comes in as Man Utd boss and will rival his old pal at club level.Read more football newsBut, it’s not just those two that’ll feel a divide in Manchester.Incredibly, the pair’s wives are best friends and run a business together.Amorim’s relationship with Viana began when they played together.Former team-matesThe two were team-mates at Braga during the 2012-13 season.Most read in FootballAmorim and former Newcastle midfielder Viana also share ties to lower-league side Belenenses FC.Amorim confirmed by Man Utd but it’s a huge gamble and delay to start is bizarreIt’s where the incoming Red Devils manager cut his teeth as a player, while Viana took his first steps as a director at the Lisbon club in 2017.It was Viana who contributed towards Amorim’s rise at Sporting.Back in 2020, he was already two years into his role at Sporting when he hired Amorim as head coach.Viana was impressed by his pal’s single season at Braga – leading the club to a third placed finish in the league, as well as a domestic cup win.“I think one of the best things that Viana did was to bring the people that he trusts like Amorim,” Viana’s former team-mate Helder Barbosa told The Guardian.“He’s a young coach and the people start talking a lot about the money they spend but right now everybody talks that he was not a cheap coach but probably he’s the best coach in Portugal right now and he’s young, so they are closer than ever before.”Amorim and Viana were former team-mates at Braga togetherIt was Viana who was instrumental in Sporting hiring Ruben Amorim as bossread more sport featuresSuccessViana and Amorim formed a unique partnership at Sporting, where they helped the club win two league titles in four seasons.That success came through savvy recruitment.Amorim groomed players like Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Porro, Joao Palhinha and Manuel Ugarte.Those stars would earn big-money moves abroad – boosting the club’s coffers.Fernandes signed for Man Utd for a staggering £68million, while Pedro Porro cost Spurs £40million, Joao Palhinha fetched £20million, and Manuel Ugarte joined PSG for north of £50m, a similar fee to the one he joined the Red Devils for this summer.Big money for a club like Sporting, who spent it wisely thanks to Viana.The likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Morten Hjulmand, Pedro Goncalves and Francisco Trincao all came in, and under the guidance of Amorim their values have now risen to well beyond what was paid for them.That is especially relevant in the case of Swedish goalscoring machine Gyokeres, who was signed for around £17million – but looks likely to move on for £70million plus.Viana, wearing sunglasses, joined Amorim on the bench for a pre-season friendly in 2021Amorim was lofted in the air by the players after winning Sporting a league title in the same yearWivesIt’s not just Amorim and Viana who have a successful working relationship.Amorim is married to Maria João Diogo and the pair have a son.Maria has built her own business in interior design with a degree in telecommunications engineering.The couple got married in 2013 in front of 160 guests at a beautiful ceremony at the Palácio de S. Marcos church in Coimbra.Present for the nuptials were Viana and his missus, Raquel Gomes, who got hitched some ten years earlier.Maria and Raquel are also best friends, who run an interior design business together called Dois Tons.They aim to “create spaces with a unique identity” through their use of “color palette, textures and which are an extension of their history”.Their Instagram page shows off some of their creations, and has around 7,000 followers.Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man UtdWHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers. The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.Maria João Diogo, left, and Raquel Gomes are best friends and business partnersMaria and Raquel run interior design company Dois Tons togetherMaria and Raquel’s work features on the company’s Instagram pageAmorim and Viana leave Sporting with their heads held high and for pastures new.READ MORE SUN STORIESOne will be red, one will be blue. But how will their wives get on once they become noisy neightbours…?Let the rivalry begin. More

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      How Ruud van Nistelrooy’s ‘donut solution’ starts Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd revamp early with signs of improvement already

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      MANCHESTER UNITED were out with the old and in with the Ruud in their first Premier League game since the sacking of Erik ten Hag.Interim boss Van Nistelrooy saw United put five past Leicester in midweek before the visit of Enzo Maresca’s high-flying Chelsea.Ruud van Nistelrooy made some tactical changes suitable for Ruben AmorimCredit: GettyRasmus Hojlund had a combative new roleCredit: GettyWhile Enzo Marseca made a baffling tactical changeCredit: GettyAnd a cagey first half between the team’s of the old Malaga team-mate’s, Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock from the penalty spot after Rasmus Hojlund was brought down in the area by Robert Sanchez.However, moments later Moises Caicedo sensationally volleyed home an equaliser, which ended up being decisive.Maresca’s Chelsea are far from the finished product, while United have Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim coming in to take charge from November 11.But what did Sunday’s Old Trafford clash show for two two sides going forward? SunSport’s tactics guru Dean Scoggins broke down all the tactics and tricks in the latest episode of Tactics Exposed… READ MORE IN FOOTBALL1. Ruud new set up is practice for new boss… but playing out still a big issueVan Nistelrooy has clearly been doing his homework on Amorim’s Sporting side.On paper, United lined up in a 4-2-3-1 or even 4-4-2 shape at times, but realistically what they did was move to 3-4-3 in possession, and that is Amorim’s formation.Man Utd started out in a 4-2-3-1But in possession they moved to a 3-4-3So Van Nistelrooy, maybe in a little audition to say, ‘I know what you’re going to do, Ruben’.But the most intriguing player was Diogo Dalot. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSSo Dalot, who has been the wingback or the fullback or even inverting as a fullback a lot of times for United, he effectively played as a right centre-back in the first half.He barely got forward, barely crossed the halfway line, took a couple of throws, got forward for a couple of corners. But that was about it. Manchester United vs Chelsea: Player Ratings Breakdown (2)And in a defensive set-up, when they turned the ball over, it was Dalot playing as the right centre-back.Matthijs De Ligt was the centre-back and Lisandro Martinez was on the left side. So there was a clear three there straight away.Meanwhile, Noussair Mazraoui was on the left and Alejandro Garnacho came in on that right-hand side and played as a nominal wingback in a 3-4-3, which we saw four or five times in the first half.Van Nistelrooy was quite brave and Garnacho played on that right-hand side, which meant that Fernandes and Marcus Rashford are then the two playing off of Hojlund. Dalot effectively played as a third centre-backI found it quite encouraging for United that after months and years of Ten Hag and not seeing anything, that in a week, Van Nistelrooy was able to implement something that will start off the Amorim era.He said at the start of the game, almost with a grin, ‘I haven’t spoken to Amorim, there’s been no contact.’ I don’t believe him because it really, really was like, ‘Here you go, mate, I want to be your No 2.’2. Midfield two starting to address the ‘donut’ in midfieldThis game also saw United playing with a solid two in midfield in Casmeiro and Manuel Ugarte.Previously United seemed to be playing with a donut in their midfield that left acres of space, like in the Liverpool and Tottenham games, where they are caught pressing upfield but the defence are not committed enough to come forward leaving this big open hole in the middle.It must have huge part of training in the week for United because we’ve seen before the Chelsea box midfield.So with the inversion of the fullback, they have four players in there. And what it meant was Casemiro and Ugarte had a really, really big job to do. And Ugarte, we’ve only seen him play well in fits and starts so far.But I thought there was a little bit where he showed for the first time what they’ve bought. He was combative and gave away lots of fouls. We’re going to expect to see more and more of that.But Casemiro and him in the absence of Kobbie Mainoo played as a two. A proper two. They weren’t ahead of each other, behind each other most of the time.Man Utd played with a solid two-man midfieldCasemiro and Manuel Ugarte were in there to close United’s donut midfieldYou’d see them either side of the centre circle. You saw them screening in front of the back four, back three at times. Getting up, up to support, but as a two.And it’s so important, especially against teams like Chelsea. And it was clearly drilled, showing how that 3-4-3 Amorim formation might look when they play a two-man midfield.They will play a two in there. And, you know, at times the guys up front and the number 10s will come back in to support them. And other times a fullback or a wingback will move infield to help them. But it will be a two. And this was the first pointer to that.Fernandes gets a lot of criticism at times where he does other people’s jobs for them. I don’t think we can criticise United over the last few weeks for not running.They are running. They’re just a bit erratic. And this was much more organised. Fernandes, communication-wise, worked very hard with that midfield to make sure they were working as a unit.They didn’t get overrun by a very impressive Chelsea midfield. You know, Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer and then whoever was inverting and they didn’t get overrun. So there was an improvement there. Definitely.3. United still struggle playing out from the backBut United had problem’s playing out from the backDalot would often invert but never got on the ballHowever, United struggled to find a consistent method of playing out against Chelsea. It will be a style they seek to play under Amorim.He uses the two midfield players and the two centre-backs to bounce passes in and out to the goalkeeper. And then he expects the goalkeeper or one of the two centre-backs to then find the number tens. It’s direct. Was there an improvement yesterday? No, absolutely not. But there was an improvement in their positions.They did this interesting thing where De Ligt went to the right and Dalot came inside to come and receive the ball, but they didn’t pass it to him. So they’re confused in what they’re trying to do.Dalot had more success getting on the ball out wideGary Neville correctly mentioned on commentary that playing out should be second nature, they should be doing it without thinking.If I’m getting pressed from the left, I’m going into midfield and he’s going to bounce it right. They should be drilling it time and time again on the training ground. And they’re just not showing it.Andre Onana is good with his feet and they will get better with it under Amorim, but it was confusing against Chelsea.Onana nearly gifted it to Nicolas Jackson when they nicked it was a Chelsea trap.But in the picture you can see that De Ligt was not close enough to Onana to be passed to. Everybody’s got a role in there. It’s not very complicated.It’s just like if you’re playing a move through midfield, it’s patterns of play. You know, and we practice it all the way through youth levels. Teams will practice it right from the way everyone will do it. Chelsea’s pressing traps against a confused United build-up almost saw them scoreThat’s where Leny Yoro can come in. We’ve not seen him yet. And he will be the right centre-back instead of Dalot in that setup, I think. Then De Ligt in the middle so that will make a difference. Mazraoui, I thought, had a really good game yesterday. Clearly, he could be either one of the two wingbacks. We might see more involvement from Harry Maguire, and hopefully they get Luke Shaw back fit as well, because he can do this. We’ve seen him do it in an England shirt. So there are players there who can do it. But for me, it’s drilling it.It’s gaining confidence in doing it time and time again, repetition. And then it will happen.4. All action Hojlund – but with more in the box he could be goldenHojlund proved to be a thorn in Chelsea’s sideHojlund proved his worth as a target man by winning fouls and duels but needs to have more touches in the areaEveryone has been talking about Viktor Gyokeres in the last week despite Man Utd not having the money to spend.But Hojlund, who they have already spent a lot of money on, showed some really good signs playing as a proper No 9 as they went direct into him.He wasn’t drifting into channels which is almost an excuse not to have the ball into feet, he’s had a week with Van Nistelrooy and he’s playing combatively.I’m a big advocate for selfless runners, but the No10’s are the runners in this formation, meaning he has to be the target and he was.He didn’t have enough touches in the box, but he did win a penalty after his only touch in there, showing they have to get him in the box. Hojlund drew fouls in the centre of the field, he got them out when they were under a bit of pressure because he won a free kick and he had a good ding-dong with Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana. For the penalty incident, he actually goes head-to-head with Caicedo outside of the area and then sells Chelsea with a lovely little peel-off run over the back. And if he’s going to contact people in front of the goal and then go round the back for another touch, he’s got a bit about him.His movement before the penalty saw him peel off of Moises CaicedoHojlund then won a penalty after his only touch in the areaI think we’re going to see a lot more from Hojlund under Amorim, given there are certainly similarities between him and Gyokeres in stature and pace.Man Utd aren’t giving him enough chances to score, but that might change with Amorim.However, we saw in the game that it is a system that doesn’t suit Rashford.It worked better with Fernandes but the creativity comes from the two players off the frontman, I think Hojlund has a place there, but for me Rashford was terrible against Chelsea.It wasn’t down to a lack of effort, but rather confusion over the system and where they wanted him to play.He doesn’t want the ball to feet or on the turn, he wants it in behind so I do feel a bit sorry for him from that perspective.But there was a moment in the second half where Marc Cucurella peeled off the back of him who was the left back inverting.It’s his man, and Rashford starts to sprint and then lets him go, a bit like Dalot in the Tottenham game, and he was very lucky that Chelsea didn’t score from that incident.Playing as one of the two No10’s did not suit Marcus Rashford, though he was poor defensivelyHe was lucky Marc Cucurella did not score after letting the Chelsea star run away from himA couple of times he chased back quite hard in the first half. But that was really because he’d given the ball away in the first place going the other way. He looks confused. He’s 27 years old now.He’s not the not the superstar kid anymore. He should be one of the leaders at Man United. And I feel he’s in real danger of being the sacrifice. I mean, I’ve seen more movement from a lamp post in a storm, to be honest. Given his salary you could see Man Utd selling him, but he’s a Man Utd boy and Amorim is very tactically flexible. He will play a 3-4-3, but it will be flexible.So against teams who play with a higher line, you know, there is a role for Rashford. But does he want and is he going to be willing to be a bit part player and not a starter in that 11? As it stands at the moment, he’s nowhere near it.5. Enzo Maresca’s baffling Cole Palmer decisionChelsea lined up with two right-backs in the teamReece James often inverted from left-backWe were very impressed by the way that Chelsea have started and setting up and the tactical changes Maresca has made against the likes of Liverpool.We previously showed a heat map of Palmer and where he’s getting all his joy, and that’s inside right, a bit narrower as a No 10 this year than he was under Pochettino, which was more from the right hand side.And then yesterday, it was as if Marseca thought ‘I know, I’ll move Palmer into a different position.’ Palmer is probably best player in the Premier League at the moment And Maresca started with Malo Gusto as the right back and Reece James as the left back, which meant that he inverted.Gusto and James played more of the time as part of the back three when they were in possession.Gusto has been playing as a left-back at times as well and they’ve moved it the other way. But Palmer should be the one who’s the right sided No 10.The rest of the back line shifted over for build-upWhen Gusto inverted Cole Palmer was pushed out of his most effective positionAnd what was happening was that’s where Gusto was playing and Palmer was the inside left 10.And he a few times got into this position on his left foot where De Ligt did very well as a defender to sort of push him wide and block off his shot. But you know full well from the other side, it would have been a little feint and a ball and then a bend for the back post. And it just stifled him a little bit and they changed it in the second half.You know, they brought Cucurella on, took Gusto off, and switched it back to where it should have been.And the game became a bit erratic and a bit confused with United’s formation going a bit all over the place in the second half as well.It was a bit un-Palmer-like and it’s early days to be saying that, but we’ve come to expect such high standards and he was a little bit anonymous.READ MORE SUN STORIESFor me, the golden rule, just play your best player where your best player should be playing.So if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.Chelsea player ratings vs Man UtdCHELSEA came from a goal down to rescue a point at Old Trafford.Robert Sanchez brought down Rasmus Hojlund with 20 minutes remaining and Bruno Fernandes rolled in what looked to be a decisive spot kick.But Chelsea hit back swiftly as Moises Caicedo’s sweet strike flew into the bottom corner.Here is how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield saw the performances of the Chelsea players in the 1-1 draw…Robert Sanchez – 3Made a few really good saves in the first half, and was much improved after a poor performance last time out against Newcastle.That was until he gave away a reckless penalty on Rasmus Hojlund, which was easily dispatched by Bruno Fernandes.His mistakes are starting to cost Chelsea time after time.Malo Gusto – 2Got in good positions in the first half, but was often wasteful when he got there.Was booked for a late challenge on Manuel Ugarte, before being hooked for Cucurella at half-time after an awful overall showing.Wesley Fofana – 6A strong performance at the back was marred only by the Frenchman letting Rasmus Hojlund escape him before winning a penalty for his side.Showed brilliant recovery pace throughout the game, and made some crucial challenges too.Levi Colwill – 6That was a strong defensive showing from the Chelsea number 6.For a player with a passing range as impressive as his is, it would’ve been nice to see him use it more as Chelsea looked for a goal.Reece James – 5Improved this week, but still showed signs of rustiness as he gave the ball away in dangerous positions a few times.More effective on the right side in Malo Gusto’s position, and more comfortable there as expected with Marc Cucurella on the left.Another 90 minutes in the tank is fantastic news for Chelsea fans.Moises Caicedo – 9Scored a certain contender for goal of the month with a sensational volley from the edge of the box to level the scoring for his side.Effective in breaking up play for the Blues once more, and showed why he is worthy of the £100m price tag Chelsea paid for him.Romeo Lavia – 8Another impressive midfield performance from the Belgian, who shows prowess beyond his years on and off the ball.Seems the perfect pivot partner for Moises Caicedo, and people need to start talking about how Manchester City let him go for peanuts.Noni Madueke – 6Unfortunate to hit the post in the 13th minute with a header following a corner.Worked hard defensively throughout the game too, but was unable to really put his creative abilities to the test.Cole Palmer – 7In the first half, his signature ‘Palmer touch’ got the away supporters off their feet, and he was Chelsea’s most creative outlet on the day.Unable to add another goal or assist to his impressive tally this season, but still had a solid showing.Pedro Neto – 5Showed flashes of brilliance on the left-hand side, and came close with a shot across goal in the second half.Was moved to the right-hand side in the second half, but it was much of the same from there.Nicolas Jackson – 5Pretty invisible up front for Chelsea today.Worked hard and tracked back well when required to, but fans were left confused as to why Christopher Nkunku was left on the bench.In fairness to him, could’ve had an assist if Enzo Fernandez could finish his dinner.SubsMarc Cucurella (for Gusto, 46 mins) – 5A solid showing on the left-hand side. Chelsea look a better team with him in the 11.Mykhailo Mudryk (for Madueke, 70 mins) – 4Tried to light things up on the left hand side, but his spark wasn’t enough to win the game for his side.Enzo Fernandez (for Lavia, 70 mins) – 2Missed an absolute sitter which would have won his team the game after coming on. Looks very short on confidence.Click here to read more Chelsea stories.Man Utd ratings vs ChelseaMARTIN BLACKBURN gives his verdict on the Red Devils against ChelseaAndre Onana – 5Will be disappointed not to keep out Caicedo’s equaliser.Almost put Casemiro in trouble with sloppy early pass tooNoussair Mazraoui – 6Key interception to prevent Neto getting in on goal late on and tried to support Garnacho where possibleMatthijs de Ligt – 6Good early block to deny Palmer.Late slip under pressure from Jackson almost proved costly.Lisandro Martinez – 6Lucky not to concede a pen with clumsy challenge on Colwill and lucky to escape a red for x-rated late tackle on Palmer.Diogo Dalot – 6Poor tackle on Pedro Neto earned a deserved booking and had a real battle with his international team-mate.Casemiro – 7Made a difference with super ball to Hojlund in lead up to pen – but could he have got more distance on clearing header that was despatched by Moises Caicedo.Manuel Ugarte – 6Rugby tackle on Palmer but Uruguayan showed signs he is starting to settle in after big money summer move.Alejandro Garnacho – 6Always a threat but wasted some great chances.Shot straight at Sanchez and shanked another effort after great work by Fernandes.Bruno Fernandes – 8Created United’s best two chances for Rashford and Garnacho and then kept his cool to score from the spot.Marcus Rashford – 6Hit the angle with volley on stroke of half-time and saw another shot saved by Sanchez.Better from the England man.Rasmus Hojlund – 6Did not touch the ball in the Chelsea box first half but when he finally did he won the penalty.SubsAmad Diallo (73′ for Rashford)A couple of nice touches but not much impact.Joshua Zirkzee (’84 for Hojlund)A couple of nice touches but not much impact.Victor Lindelof (’84 for Ugarte)Thrown on to keep things tight and did that. 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      Inside departing Arsenal sporting director Edu’s family life, from fiery wife to footballer son and those famous BBQ’s

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      ARSENAL fans have been rocked by the news that sporting director Edu is set to leave the club.The good times are back at the Emirates, as the Gunners have built a team capable of challenging Man City at the top.Arsenal’s departing sporting director Edu with his familyEdu has been married to Brazilian Wag Paul for 21 yearsIt has been reported that Edu will link up with Nottingham Forest in a more senior roleCredit: GettyPart of that has been down to the work of Edu, who was famously one of the Invincibles in 2004, who has helped transform the club with a host quality signings.The likes of Martin Odegaard, William Saliba, and Declan Rice have all arrived in North London during the Brazilian’s tenure.It’s reported Edu is looking at a bigger challenge – taking on a senior role at Nottingham Forest to become a chief executive to Evangelos Marinakis’ footballing empire, which includes Olympiacos and Rio Ave.The move could TRIPLE his wages.Read more football newsAway from the game, the ex-Brazil international has developed a cult following.He shares his family life on social media, with wife Paula and their three children taking centre stage on Instagram.While in the summer, those famous memes of him manning a barbecue had Gooners purring over Edu cooking up a huge transfer deal.Family manEdu’s Instagram is almost an ode to his family life.Most read in FootballEdu’s family life is played out on his social media, including wedding dayWhen it comes to party, Edu makes sure he celebrates with his familyAt Christmas time the Gaspar family enjoy a big get-togetherHe shares plenty of personal moments to his 435,000 followers, including his wedding anniversaries over the years.He’s been married to Paula for 21 years, sharing their wedding day to his fans.‘F—ing shut your mouth’ – Ian Wright in X-rated rant at giggling Alan Shearer after Newcastle stun ArsenalAnd the Gaspars love an occasion to celebrate.Back in January, they wore matching white outfits to celebrate the turn of the New Year.Before that, at Christmas, they showed off their family home – posing in front of their tree.Edu and Paula share three children together, that includes their only son Luigi, 20, and daughters Maria, 18, and Isabelli, 11.His wife has always got his back.When the wife got into botherBack in 2021, with the Gunners in a transitional period, things did not start well for Mikel Arteta’s side.The club had to suffer before there were signs of improvement, which meant fans had to be patient.However, tensions spilled over during a home game against Chelsea.With Arsenal trailing 2-0, one angry supporter confronted Edu by getting out of his seat and berating him from the steps.A video was shared on social media showing the tense moment.While Edu managed to remain composed throughout the abuse, Paula could not contain her frustration.After the fan had finished angrily making his point, Paula put her middle finger up at him as frustrations boiled over, demonstrating her willingness to stand up for her husband in the face of criticism.Clearly, Paula isn’t to be messed with.Paula Gaspar is the supportive Wag of EduWhen Edu received abuse from an Arsenal fan in 2021, Paula jumped to his defencePaula told the fan exactly where to go after seeing her husband get stickread more sport featuresFootballer sonFollowing in dad’s footsteps on the pitch is Edu’s son, Luigi.Also a midfielder, he began his career like his father at Brazilian club Corinthians.He joined at U7 level, before representing the club in futsal.When Edu joined Arsenal in 2019, his son linked with up with their academy.But three years later he departed the club by mutual consent.He joined fellow London side Watford in 2022, and has broken into their youth sides.They extended his contract until the end of the season.Luigi Gaspar joined Arsenal in 2019 from CorinthiansA midfielder like dad, Luigi now plays for Watford’s youth sidesEdu’s 35 signings rankedEDU oversaw the arrival of 35 players during his time at the club.Some worked out better than others.Here, SunSport ranks them from worst to best…35. Nicolas Pepe (£72m)34. Willian (Free)33. David Luiz (£8m)32. Runar Alex Runarsson (£2m)31. Mat Ryan (Loan)30. Fabio Vieira (£34m)29. Neto (Loan)28. Marquinhos (£3m)27. Nuno Tavares (£8m)26. Matt Turner (£5m)25. Cedric Soares (Free)24. Albert Sambi Lokonga (£17m)23. Pablo Mari (£5m)22. Dani Ceballos (Loan)21. Raheem Sterling (Loan)20. Jakub Kiwior (£17m)19. Jorginho (£12m)18. Riccardo Calafiori (£42m)17. Kieran Tierney (£25m)16. Takehiro Tomiyasu (£20m)15. Mikel Merino (£28m)14. Aaron Ramsdale (£24m)13. Oleksandr Zinchenko (£30m)12. Gabriel Jesus (£45m)11. Kai Havertz (£65m)10. Jurrien Timber (£38m)9. Gabriel Martinelli (£6m)8. David Raya (£27m)7. Leandro Trossard (£20m)6. Thomas Partey (£45m)5. Ben White (£50m)4. Gabriel Magalhaes (£27m)3. Declan Rice (£105m)2. William Saliba (£27m)1. Martin Odegaard (£30m)Click here to read more Arsenal stories.What’s cooking?When it comes to the summer, Arsenal fans are always hungry for new signings.Bizarrely, some have found a link to their transfer activity when Edu is manning a barbecue.Often, the retired footballer shares clips of him cooking up a treat for his family.Brazilian’s traditionally love grilled meats and fish, and Edu is no different.How Edu made Arsenal great againBy Jack RosserEDU GASPAR has been on a mission to ‘Make Arsenal Great Again’ ever since returning to the club he played for 2019.After a few wobbles early on – signing Nicolas Pepe will never reflect well – the Brazilian has, alongside Mikel Arteta, been crucial in the club’s transformation.Arteta was brought in as the new manager within months of Edu’s return to North London and the former midfielder stuck by the boss when the pressure was on two years into the job.Instead of making the knee-jerk decision to change manager again, the former Brazil international, joined forces with Arteta to institute a huge change of culture at The Emirates.Overpaid toxic influences such as Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were purged from the dressing room and Arsenal set about adding strong characters.Edu finally got the club competing in the transfer market again, with Martin Odegaard an outstanding capture for the club. In landing Declan Rice ahead of Manchester City last year Arsenal showed they couple compete for and sign some of Europe’s biggest talents once more.Arsenal have become one of the most attractive clubs in the Premier League and one of the most efficient in the market.While there have been big deals for the likes of Rice and Calafiori, there have been smart ones too – picking out value where others have lost hope.Kai Havertz appeared as a surprising signing after a dreadful season at Chelsea. But after Edu gave the German space and support to rebuild his confidence he has developed into a fine asset for Arteta.Edu does not only have a tight relationship with Arteta – who many fans will be glad signed a new deal before the sporting director’s departure – but the players too, always ready and waiting to check in, keep them going.London Colney and The Emirates will feel a very different place for all of them without Edu.He has been seen with a cigar in mouth turning over some steaks and sausages ahead of huge deals that have been completed.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt’s an impressive barbecue fitted with plenty of upgrades, just like the squad he helped build.One wonders if it will be heading to Nottingham with him.Edu puts his BBQ skills to good use with a cigar in his mouthArsenal fans linked their transfer activity with Edu manning his bbqEdu’s barbecue is certainly well stacked More