Rashford must fight for Man Utd place, says Ten Hag

Rashford must fight for Man Utd place, says Ten Hag
Manchester United’s head coach Erik ten Hag reacts during their EPL match against Chelsea at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester on Dec. 6, 2023. (AP)
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Updated 08 December 2023
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Rashford must fight for Man Utd place, says Ten Hag

Rashford must fight for Man Utd place, says Ten Hag
  • “Rashford is an incredible, good player,” Ten Hag said on Friday
  • “You can’t do it with 11 players, he can’t play every game”

LONDON: Erik ten Hag says it is up to Marcus Rashford to force his way back into the Manchester United side after he was dropped for the midweek win against Chelsea.
The England international was left out of the starting line-up for the 2-1 win at Old Trafford after a string of disappointing performances, with his attitude questioned after last week’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle.
Rashford, 26, scored a career-high 30 times for United last season but has netted just twice in the current campaign.
“Rashford is an incredible, good player,” Ten Hag said on Friday. “You can’t do it with 11 players, he can’t play every game, he’s not in this moment in the form he was last year but I am sure he will get there.
“It is up to them (to get back into the side). The team will always line themselves up and the best players who form the best team will play.”
United face an in-form Bournemouth side at Old Trafford on Saturday, and Ten Hag has plenty to consider in his team selection with a must-win Champions League match against Bayern Munich to follow on Tuesday before they head to Liverpool next week.
“I think they have very good form, Bournemouth,” Ten Hag said.
“It’s a very good side, very well constructed, capable players, again you have to play your best.
“Everyone is killing everyone — you have to be 100 percent ready as a team for that game. That’s our job to do, to get there.”


Man United winger Antony wearing protective boot after injury

Man United winger Antony wearing protective boot after injury
Updated 25 October 2024
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Man United winger Antony wearing protective boot after injury

Man United winger Antony wearing protective boot after injury
  • United manager Erik ten Hag said it would take 24 hours to fully assess the severity of the injury
  • “It’s really unlucky for him,” Ten Hag said

MANCHESTER: Manchester United winger Antony is being assessed by doctors after injuring his left leg against Fenerbahce in the Europa League.
The Brazil international left the Ulker Stadium in Istanbul on crutches and wearing a protective boot Thursday night.
United manager Erik ten Hag said it would take 24 hours to fully assess the severity of the injury.
“It’s really unlucky for him,” Ten Hag said Friday. “I feel real compassion for him, when he worked so hard in training."
Anthony came on as a substitute in the 73rd minute of the 1-1 draw but left the field on a stretcher in the 89th after falling to the ground and holding his left leg.
The forward, who signed from Ajax in 2022 after United paid a transfer fee of $95 million, has made only one start and four substitute appearances this season.
United plays West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday when captain Bruno Fernandes will be available, having missed the Fenerbahce game through suspension.


Tottenham teen Moore compared to Neymar after Europa League starring role

Tottenham teen Moore compared to Neymar after Europa League starring role
Updated 25 October 2024
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Tottenham teen Moore compared to Neymar after Europa League starring role

Tottenham teen Moore compared to Neymar after Europa League starring role
  • Making just his second start for the first team, 17-year-old Moore shone playing down the left wing, regularly leaving AZ defenders floundering
  • Maddison: From minute 45 to 65, I thought we had Neymar on the left wing! He was brilliant

LONDON: Tottenham teenager Mikey Moore was compared to Brazilian ace Neymar after a standout role in the 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League on Thursday with Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou admitting it will be difficult to “keep the lid” on expectations.

Making just his second start for the first team, 17-year-old Moore shone playing down the left wing, regularly leaving AZ defenders floundering.

“From minute 45 to 65, I thought we had Neymar on the left wing! He was brilliant,” Tottenham skipper James Maddison told TNT Sports as he compared his teammate to Neymar, the world’s most expensive footballer when he moved to PSG from Barcelona for €222 million in 2017.

“Demanded the ball, fearless. That young fearless mentality, you never want to take that away from him,” added Maddison.

“He’s a lovely boy, takes on information and he has got bags of ability. So, I will be there as an older player, hopefully with some wise words, to help him along the way. He has all the ability. It is about knuckling down and keep working hard which he does to be fair to him.”

Postecoglou admitted he faces a challenge to rein in anticipation of what Moore can deliver for the London club.

“It’s pretty hard for me to keep a lid on it now ain’t it? He was exciting. There is no point denying it,” said the manager.

“I love the way Mikey is taking it all in his stride, he works hard every day. He wants to develop, he understands that this is a journey.”

However, Postecoglou cautioned: “We have to be really careful about how we use him and when we use him, that is the key for us, particularly in these early stages.”


Mourinho sees red as Fenerbahce hold Man United

Mourinho sees red as Fenerbahce hold Man United
Updated 25 October 2024
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Mourinho sees red as Fenerbahce hold Man United

Mourinho sees red as Fenerbahce hold Man United

ISTANBUL: Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands as his new side held his former club Manchester United 1-1 on Thursday to extend the English giants’ wait for a Europa League win.
United have drawn all three of their European games this season and a point does little to ease the pressure on under-fire manager Erik ten Hag.
Christian Eriksen fired a depleted United in front on 15 minutes, but Fenerbahce had the better of the chances and got their reward when Youssef En-Nesyri equalized early in the second half.
A point leaves United languishing in 21st of the 36-team table and with their chances of securing a top-eight finish to progress directly to the last 16 fading.
Fenerbahce are in 14th on five points, with a top-24 finish enough to qualify for the playoff stage.
United were without 10 players, including captain Bruno Fernandes, due to suspension or injury.
Ten Hag said the players available to him were still capable of getting the job done but their failure to do so means United have not won a European game for a full year.
In Fernandes’ absence, defender Noussair Mazraoui started in an unfamiliar attacking midfield role and had a part to play in an impressive opening goal.
Manuel Ugarte dispossessed former United midfielder Fred to launch a counter-attack that involved Alejandro Garnacho and Mazraoui before Joshua Zirkzee teed up Eriksen to blast home from the edge of the area.
Marcus Rashford was inches away from doubling the visitors’ lead with a low shot that clipped the outside of the post after a jinking solo run.
However, for the third time in three Europa League matches, Ten Hag’s men failed to build on taking the lead.
Ugarte has struggled to establish himself since arriving in a £50 million ($65 million) deal from Paris Saint-Germain in August.
But the Uruguayan showed the defensive awareness that attracted United’s interest with a brilliant goal-saving challenge to deny Dusan Tadic a tap in.
United also needed an excellent double save from Andre Onana to parry two En-Nesyri headers to protect their lead at half-time.
It was wiped out within four minutes of the restart as more sloppy defending allowed En-Nesyri to head in Allan Saint-Maximin’s inviting cross.
Fenerbahce were furious moments later when penalty appeals for a foul on Bright Osayi-Samuel were waived away.
Mourinho took his protestations too far as he was dismissed by experienced French referee Clement Turpin.
United had the better chances to snatch all three points in the closing stages as Dominik Livakovic was forced into saves from Mazraoui and Rasmus Hojlund.
There remains plenty of time for United to dig themselves out of trouble with five more favorable looking Europa League fixtures to come against PAOK, Bodo Glimt, Viktoria Plzen, Rangers and FCSB.
However, whether Ten Hag will still be in charge for all of those fixtures remains a major doubt after winning just four of United’s opening 12 games of the season.


Felix double fires Chelsea in Conference League rout

Felix double fires Chelsea in Conference League rout
Updated 24 October 2024
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Felix double fires Chelsea in Conference League rout

Felix double fires Chelsea in Conference League rout
  • Portugal forward Felix has struggled to make an impact since returning for a second spell with Chelsea in August
  • He ended his six-game barren run in the first half against out-classed Panathinaikos and netted again after the interval

LONDON: Joao Felix ended his goal drought with a brace as Chelsea powered to a 4-1 win against Panathinaikosin Athens in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday.
Portugal forward Felix has struggled to make an impact since returning for a second spell with Chelsea in August.
Yet to start a Premier League game following his move from Atletico Madrid, the 24-year-old seized the chance to prove a point to Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.
Felix’s only goal in seven previous appearances this season came on his debut at Wolves on August 25.
He ended his six-game barren run in the first half against out-classed Panathinaikos and netted again after the interval.
Mykhailo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku were also on target as Chelsea made it two wins from two games in the tournament.
Before kick-off, Panathinaikos paid tribute to their defender George Baldock, who drowned in his swimming pool in Athens aged 31 earlier this month.
In Panathinaikos’s first home match since Baldock’s death, his team-mates warmed up wearing the Greece international’s number 32 on their shirts, while fans held up green cards with the same numerals during an emotional minute’s silence.
Maresca made 11 changes from the side that lost at Liverpool last weekend, but still fielded a strong side that was far too dynamic for Panathinaikos.
Felix put Chelsea ahead in the 22nd minute, starting the move with a cushioned header to Mudryk before sprinting into the six-yard box to slot home from the Ukrainian’s cross.
After setting up Chelsea’s opener, Mudryk bagged the second himself in the 49th minute with a fierce strike from Neto’s cross.
Felix scored again in the 55th minute, putting the result beyond doubt with a 20-yard drive that took a wicked deflection into the net.
Nkunku’s 59th minute penalty, awarded for Daniel Mancini’s foul, underlined Chelsea’s superiority.
Facundo Pellistri got one back for Panathinaikos with a close-range finish in the 69th minute.
Beaten by West Ham and then Olympiakos in the last two Conference League finals, Fiorentina survived a scare in their 4-2 win at St. Gallen.
The Swiss side took a shock lead through Felix Mambimbi’s 23rd minute goal but Lucas Martinez equalized in the 50th minute.
Jonathan Ikone struck for Fiorentina four minutes later before St. Gallen’s Lukas Gortler levelled in the 62nd minute.
Ikone restored the lead in the 69th minute and Robin Gosens’s stoppage-time goal secured the Serie A team’s second successive victory in the competition.
The champions of the Republic of Ireland were too strong for the champions of Northern Ireland as Shamrock Rovers routed Larne 4-1.
The first competitive meeting between the two sides was played at Belfast’s Windsor Park because Larne’s Inver Park stadium is not big enough to host Conference League matches.
Rovers were on top from the start as Graham Burke’s incisive run teed up Joshua Honohan, who drilled home from eight yards in the third minute.
Johnny Kenny headed in Burke’s cross to increase the visitors’ lead in the 24th minute.
Tomas Cosgrove’s 30th minute own goal put Rovers in command and Chris Gallagher’s reply three minutes after half-time was swiftly erased as Burke completed the thrashing in the 53rd minute.
Hearts also have six points after beating Omonia Nicosia 2-0 at Tynecastle.
Alan Forrest and Blair Spittal were the scorers as Hearts ignored their position near the bottom of the Scottish Premiership to build on their opening victory against Dinamo Minsk.
It was a second consecutive win for new Hearts boss Neil Critchley, who replaced the sacked Steven Naismith.


Luton striker Adebayo targeted with ‘cowardly’ racist abuse

Luton striker Adebayo targeted with ‘cowardly’ racist abuse
Updated 24 October 2024
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Luton striker Adebayo targeted with ‘cowardly’ racist abuse

Luton striker Adebayo targeted with ‘cowardly’ racist abuse
  • Adebayo had also been subjected to racist abuse last season while playing in the Premier League
  • Luton’s statement added: “There is no room for racism“

LONDON: English Championship side Luton called out “cowardly” racist abuse aimed toward Elijah Adebayo on social media on Thursday, daring the culprit to face the striker in person.
Adebayo had also been subjected to racist abuse last season while playing in the Premier League.
Luton said the latest incident that occurred during the Hatters’ 2-1 defeat to Sunderland on Wednesday, in which Adebayo scored, had been reported to both the police and social media company Meta.


“To the individual who cowardly dropped into Elijah’s DMs (direct messages): We know who you are and you know who you are. You’re not a faceless account, one which we have sadly become accustomed to reporting in recent years,” Luton said in a strongly-worded statement.
“But as if you have the balls to come to Kenilworth Road and say it to his face. We dare you. If you do, you will be faced with everyone at Luton Town Football Club, standing side-by-side with Elijah.”
Premier League players have been taking the knee before matches in October in support of the “no room for racism” campaign.
Luton’s statement added: “The question remains: how much longer will our players, our heroes — fellow human beings for crying out loud — be targeted because of the color of their skin? There is no room for racism.”