By: Muhammad Saeedon May 31, 2024/comment : 0HITC,
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HITC sources have confirmed that Chelsea have told Napoli they are not prepared to meet Victor Osimhen’s release clause, meaning as it stands they are looking elsewhere for a new striker.
The Nigerian has long been Chelsea’s preferred option but Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis’s refusal to accept anything other than his release clause worth around £115m – means a deal to take him to Stamford Bridge has not progressed.
It is understood De Laurentiis won’t even consider a deal that would see instalments paid, which Chelsea would have been willing to consider.
Photo by Cesare Purini/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
Paris Saint-Germain have long considered Osimhen as their prime attacking target to replace Kylian Mbappe – whose long-awaited move to Real Madrid will be made official following the Champions League final this weekend.
However, PSG are also showing some reluctance to sanction a deal that would be one of the biggest in football history.
The Saudi Pro League are long-term admirers of Osimhen and would be more than willing to pay his clause and make the Nigerian one of the highest paid players in world football, but it remains to be seen if he would be keen on a move to the Middle East at this point of his career.
Chelsea looking at other options including Benjamin Sesko
As for Chelsea – HITC understands that RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is a player they admire hugely but they have been made aware that the player’s preference is to join Arsenal.
Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres is another they have watched closely in recent months.
Chelsea are continuing to work hard on departures which include strikers Armando Broja and Romelu Lukaku, whilst Trevoh Chalobah and Conor Gallagher are also amongst those who have been told they can move on by the club’s hierarchy.
HITC understands that Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have been asked to be kept informed over the future of one Juventus star this summer.
A busy summer is also to be expected for Tottenham Hotspur, who finished fifth in the league table under new manager Ange Postecoglou, whilst playing some of the most exciting football in the division.
Defensive reinforcements could well be key for all three sides, particularly United, and it appears they are making checks on one young star in particular.
Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Dutch defender on radar of top PL clubs
Sources have told HITC that the three Premier League clubs have asked to be kept informed about 19-year-old Dutch defender Dean Huijsen from Juventus.
The 19-year-old made his debut for Juventus towards the end of last year before being loaned to Roma under Jose Mourinho – where he impressed for the second-half of the season.
Juventus are now considering what to do with the young defender, as they prepare for the arrival of new head coach Thiago Motta, who has hugely impressed after a very promising spell at Serie A side Bologna.
Motta wants to bring one player with him to Turin and that is Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori and that means Juve may have to make some room and one of those who could depart is the talented teenager.
Now HITC can confirm that a number of Premier League clubs are keen on the Dutch-born Spanish Under-21 international.
During the second half of the season, where the Spaniard spent his time at AS Roma, the defender made 14 Serie A appearances and he looks set for a bright future in the game.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United and Chelsea have previously asked about Huijsen, but now we can reveal that Liverpool, United and Spurs are also looking closely at the teenager.
All season long, the under-fire Erik ten Hag has spoken about the injuries within his squad and how that has been a reason behind the team’s struggles.
Against Manchester City, many of those players were back, so he didn’t have any excuses in that regard and they delivered for him.
One of them included a certain Lisandro Martinez. The defence has been worst hit when it comes to injuries for Manchester United.
But someone who is probably regarded as their best defender was back, and even though he was only probably pencilled in to play an hour, he managed a very fruitful and inspiring 73 minutes.
Jeff Stelling has claimed that a player like Martinez would go out and play on the pitch for Manchester United even if you ‘chopped his leg off’, as he told talkSPORT (27/05/24 at 8:50 am).
The World Cup winner is known as ‘The Butcher’ by the fans for a reason and his absence has been felt by those at Old Trafford.
Lisandro Martinez’s importance for Manchester United
“I am just going to say one thing, Lisandro Martinez, you could chop his leg off and he would still want to be out there in a Manchester United shirt,” said Stelling.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Lisandro Martinez next season
With or without ten Hag, you feel Martinez is going to be the most important player for Manchester United next season.
Forget about his own performances, he has this great quality of getting the best out of everyone around him.
By: Muhammad Saeedon May 29, 2024/comment : 0HITC,
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In previous years, Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer business has taken hits and resulted in many criticising the club for who they bring in.
No one is going to deny that since Mauricio Pochettino’s exit, the club has gone backwards and struggled to maintain its place as a Champions League club.
Antonio Conte was allowed to bring in Richarlison for a club-record transfer, including even niche signings such as the free transfer of Ivan Perisic.
Then during the recent summer transfer window, Ange Postecoglou was also backed with new players, even if he couldn’t do anything about the exit of Harry Kane.
The Euro 2024 hopeful spoke about another transfer that shocked him and that’s a certain Micky van de Ven.
The England playmaker added that if van de Ven didn’t get injured midway through the season, then he feels he would have been in the ’Team of the Year’, as he told talkSPORT (28/05/24 at 5:10 pm).
The Netherlands international was probably his side’s best player as they recorded a fifth-placed finish under Postecoglou.
The sheer pace of van de Ven was spoken about by Maddison, how he didn’t even know the player when he first arrived, how he turned out to be a ‘top player’ and a ‘great lad’ the more he got to know him.
Micky van de Ven’s transfer to Tottenham Hotspur
“He’s rapid,” said Maddison. “He’s absolutely rapid. I actually said to him as well when he came in, not straight away, but after a little bit, when I realised how good he was and how fast he was.
“I told him ‘you know I never heard of you’. I had never heard of Micky van de Ven. I said that to Micky. I wouldn’t say that at the start, obviously. Once I realised he was a top player. I couldn’t believe we had signed this centre-back.
“I was thinking ‘what’s his weakness?’ because he is good on the ball, good in the air, he’s tall, strong and rapid. I am thinking ‘where is the weakness?’ To be fair, I am still looking. I don’t want to get too carried away with him. I kind of love him and I want to as well because he is a top player and a great lad as well. Being a good person and a great lad in the changing room, just makes you appreciate him as a player even more and he’s a top lad. He has been a fantastic signing for us. Very disappointed that he had a big injury midway through the season because you would have been talking about someone who is probably in the Team of the Year.”
Photo by Santanu Banik/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Tottenham Hotspur already making moves
The 2024 summer transfer isn’t open yet, but deals are already being made by the powers that be at the club.
You feel this is just the start of Tottenham’s summer transfer business because a lot of work needs to be done.
There was no European football at the club this season, yet there was a struggle to see through the campaign and the ending was more of a fall towards the finishing line.
By: Muhammad Saeedon May 28, 2024/comment : 0HITC,
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Many will still be questioning what went wrong for Leeds United following their failure to return to the Premier League.
When Daniel Farke was appointed at the start of the campaign, the brief was simple, he had to make an instant return to England’s top-tier.
Even though Leeds United recorded 90 points during the regular season, they only managed a play-off finish, as their poor start and faulty ending meant that Ipswich Town and Leicester City took the automatic spots.
That’s when the dreaded play-offs awaited the Yorkshire club and like they always do, Leeds were beaten 1-0 by Southampton in the final on Sunday at Wembley.
To put it simply. The main players just didn’t turn up and it’s a right kick in the teeth for Daniel Farke because they failed in their biggest game of the season.
A lot of people, understandably so, start to question the team’s mindset, where was the fight? Where are the characters? And where are the leaders?
Neil Warnock put that question to Troy Deeney and he named two players who didn’t feature in the play-off final.
The former striker thinks Patrick Bamford, who was injured for the showpiece Wembley event, and experienced centre-back Liam Cooper, are the two and only leaders at the club, as he told Sky Sports Football (26/05/24 at 6:00 pm).
Cooper isn’t and was never going to be a starter for Leeds, but if Bamford had been fit, then there is every chance that he would have started.
Patrick Bamford and Liam Cooper for Leeds United
“Who would you say are their leaders,” asked Warnock.
Deeney responded: “I would say the lads who aren’t playing. I would say, Pat Bamford. I would say Cooper and people of that ilk.”
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Patrick Bamford and Liam Cooper next season
Cooper’s contract expires next month and you have to question if Leeds will offer him a new deal. The answer is probably no and that’s the road they should go down.
But questions should also be asked of Bamford. His form hasn’t exactly been consistently strong, nor has he been available on all occasions.
But sources have told HITC that Bayern Munich, who are set to appoint Vincent Kompany as their next manager, are targeting Archie Gray after their play-off final heartache.
By: Muhammad Saeedon May 28, 2024/comment : 0HITC,
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No one seems to be the wiser regarding Manchester United’s next manager.
Erik ten Hag can do no more. His team recorded an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League – Manchester United’s worst-ever during the Premier League era.
Everyone has seen the levels Manchester United can hit in the Premier League when Rashford is at his goalscoring best – he scored 17 goals last season, but only managed seven this term.
As for Martinez, he only played 648 minutes of Premier League football because of injury issues. As he proved in the FA Cup final, if he is starting, then the team is a different animal.
It was suggested that if Manchester United decided to change managers and appoint Ipswich Town boss, Kieran McKenna, then he wouldn’t be able to command the dressing room or those players.
Robbie Savage was trying to debunk this nonsense from a Man United fan, including how the likes of Martinez and Rashford simply wouldn’t listen to him.
The former midfielder stated all of that is ‘wrong’ as he believes McKenna, who was part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching staff, would have the authority and respect of the Old Trafford dressing room, as he told BBC’s 606.
Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martinez under Kieran McKenna at Manchester United
“Right now, Kieran McKenna is the Manager of the Season, ahead of any other manager,” said Savage.
On McKenna not being able to tell Martinez and Rashford what to do: “Why? Why? Why?” responded Savage.
“You tell me why a respected coach, who has earned it, he was at Manchester United, has done the hard yards, he has built his way up, he has got back-to-back promotions with Ipswich Town, a big football club, and if he got the job at Manchester United, don’t you think because he has managed Ipswich, he doesn’t get the respect? I think that’s wrong.”
Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Manchester United should keep Erik ten Hag
Just look towards London and Arsenal as an example. After two and a bit years, Mikel Arteta was nowhere.
In fact, ten Hag has done more during that period of time. Arsenal finished eighth twice, then fifth by losing out to Tottenham on fourth, before they could really motor and be where they are today.
The powers that be at Manchester United need to be brave and stick by ten Hag. Look at the young players coming through. That is a massive plus.
Man United is about winning trophies. He has two in two seasons. Now push the man to do much better in the Premier League. You need to go backwards before taking steps forward, perhaps the club have finished taking their backwards steps.
Yes, Mauricio Pochettino has left, but during his one season at Stamford Bridge, Gallagher was a regular and he played 50 out of 51 games and helped his team to a sixth-placed finish.
Chris Sutton didn’t mince his words about the Englishman because he feels, throughout this campaign, Gallagher has been the ‘biggest diver’ in English football, as he told BBC’s 606.
If Spurs do sign him, you feel a certain Postecoglou won’t tolerate such nonsense because Sutton hasn’t liked what he has seen from the player this term.
Conor Gallagher biggest diver in English football
“Tell you what? A bit of a different simulation game,” said Sutton.
“We are at the end of the season. We put out there on social media, we wanted to know who was the biggest diver of the season. It was the con man, Conor Gallagher. Numerous occasions there. I have got to call him out.
“I tell you. There are honourable mentions. Fabio Silva, the Rangers player, Charlie Savage, he needs to be careful, Rob (Robbie Savage). I tell you what? He threw himself to the floor, didn’t he? Just mark his guard, have a word. The con man won the trophy, Chelsea have won something this season, the trophy you don’t want to win, you are a great player, just stay on your feet, Conor Gallagher. The winner of this season’s (simulation game). You are so much better than that, Conor Gallagher, so much better.”
Gallagher has Premier League experience and is also an England international. He is hoping to make the cut for Euro 2024.
But in terms of his style, especially how he presses without the ball, this suits Postecoglou’s system down to a tee and you can see him fitting in like a glove.
Before a ball was kicked. Everyone knew the key players from each side. Crysencio Summerville was the danger man for Leeds and Adam Armstrong was the main threat for Southampton.
During the game, Daniel Farke introduced Dan James into the action for the toothless and abject Wilfried Gnonto.
Neil Warnock claimed that the Italian star was ‘played out of the game’ by his counterpart, Ryan Fraser, as he told Sky Sports Football (26/05/24 at 5:50 pm).
But who would have thought that in a 25-odd-minute spell, James did more than Gnonto and Summerville combined, yet they started.
It’s no wonder that Warnock told the Welsh speedster that he would have ‘loved’ to have managed him.
It’s easy saying it in hindsight now, but Leeds fans will be probably wishing James did start because he was their only good player on the day.
Dan James impresses for Leeds United in play-off final
“What about Gnonto? I thought Fraser played him out of the game,” said Warnock.
“I said to him before the game, Dan James, you know as a manager, I would have loved to have had you in my team. I said every time you get it, you want to attack it.”
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Dan James for Leeds United next season
You feel James could become an even more important player for the team next season, especially given the players that could leave.
Everyone remembers what happened at the start of the campaign, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the same happens again.
Their possible exits would open the door for James to become a more regular starter next season and it’s an area of the pitch Farke needs to sort out pretty quickly.
Arsenal are looking around and thinking ‘what next?’. They posted 89 points. Had the best defence in the Premier League (29 goals conceded) and took four points off Manchester City.
But it wasn’t enough to dethrone the all-dominant Manchester City and now many are questioning what happens next.
Naturally, the team look towards the summer transfer market and possibly looking to sign that much-needed striker.
Kevin Nolan is adamant that the Gunners need to bring in that type of player after signing Rice last summer.
The Englishman, who was part of David Moyes’ coaching staff at West Ham before leaving at the end of the season, threw forward the name of Newcastle United hitman, Alexander Isak.
Nolan feels a player like Isak could help Arsenal get the job done, in regards to becoming champions of England, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
Alexander Isak at Arsenal
“Isak at Newcastle is certainly another one,” said Nolan. “Them two (Isak and Toney) have been named quite regularly with Arsenal and them sort of being interested.
“Mikel Arteta has done a fantastic job. I am sure the next one is the important one. They got Dec (Rice) last year, they need another one this year and then I think they could get close to Man City.”
Photo by MARTIN KEEP/AFP via Getty Images
Alexander Isak’s importance to Newcastle United
The 24-year-old ended the Premier League campaign with 21 goals from 30 matches. This is despite Newcastle being one of the worst injury-hit teams this season.
Isak only recorded two assists, but everyone knows he is capable of much more because he is one of the best ball-carriers in the Premier League.
But given that Newcastle paid a club-record £63 million for his services, you have to question how much they would want if they were forced to part ways with him.
You would have to say beyond £100 million. That puts Arsenal on the back foot because FFP probably wouldn’t allow them to go to those levels again.
By: Muhammad Saeedon May 27, 2024/comment : 0HITC,
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Leeds United’s latest play-off final heartache will hurt more than ever before.
That’s six play-off encounters they have been involved in spanning close to three decades and they have all ended in defeat.
Some would say that’s typical Leeds United because they have a serious mental blockage when it comes to these games, as they proved during their 1-0 defeat to Southampton on Sunday.
When Dan James hit the crossbar, it sent a shudder down the spine of both sets of supporters because the game was coming to an end and it was a moment that could have changed everything.
The Yorkshire outfit, after falling behind to an early Adam Armstrong goal, just couldn’t play their natural game and Russell Martin was tactically outdoing Daniel Farke, again!
Southampton were the only team during the regular season to do the double over Leeds – and that showed at the home of football.
Neil Warnock made it clear that ‘the best team won tactically’ even if he thinks highly about the man in the Elland Road dugout.
Very little time was left and if the Whites had any luck, then that effort would have hit the back of the net, but in the end, it’s another season in the Championship for Leeds.
Leeds United lose play-off final to Southampton
“When James hit the crossbar, I looked down at Daniel (Farke) and I think he knew,” said Warnock.
“When that hit the crossbar, I think he knew that it wasn’t going to be. He shouldn’t batter himself because he has done a brilliant job. He is a lovely man and I think he is a good manager.
“But I thought the best team won tactically. Look at that here, that’s a volley, no chance for the goalkeeper and any other way, it goes in. That’s in, it’s then a different game and they are on top. That’s football and you need a bit of luck, a referee decision or the smallest of things.”
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Big pressure on Daniel Farke
You can’t see the manager leaving, whether that’s moving on himself or getting booted out.
But this defeat does put huge pressure on him heading into the forthcoming campaign because nothing but promotion is expected.
Two of the relegated sides – Leicester City and Southampton – did their jobs, so Leeds can’t have any excuses, in that regard.
The issue for the club is that if you offered them a play-off finish next season, then fans wouldn’t probably accept it because they know what’s coming.
By: Muhammad Saeedon May 27, 2024/comment : 0HITC,
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Liverpool and West Ham United will begin the 2024/25 Premier League season with a new manager.
For the Hammers, it was probably predicted that David Moyes was going to leave, but not many expected Jurgen Klopp to say goodbye to Liverpool just like that.
He was mocked for suggesting the Euro 2024 hopeful because he has ‘changed his tune in about three days’ and how ‘football moves fast’, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
Jarrod Bowen to replace Mohamed Salah at Liverpool?
“Mo Salah, if you want me to condense it,” responded Brown on what Liverpool need to do next season. “If he goes out of the door. How would you replace him?”
Kevin Nolan responded in the background: “Jarrod Bowen.” To which host Darren Fletcher added: “Interesting Kev, Salah out and Bowen in.”
Brown also stated: “You have changed your tune in about three days, haven’t you, Kev?! Football moves on, doesn’t it?! Fast!” Fletcher added: “No Nolan and No Bowen at West Ham. You get rid of Kev, then Jarrod is going to. Love that. Kev is about to join the staff at Liverpool as well and taking Jarrod Bowen with him.”
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Will West Ham United keep Jarrod Bowen?
The thing is, even the most ardent of West Ham fans will argue that Bowen should be playing European football, even in the Champions League.
He isn’t getting that at the London Stadium next season, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if certain teams across the Premier League start to knock on his door for his services.
You feel this is the chance to try and lure him away because the Irons currently are in a weak position.
But, of course, from West Ham’s perspective, they can’t be selling their big names if they want to return to Europe, especially with a new manager in town.
By: Muhammad Saeedon May 26, 2024/comment : 0HITC,
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Leeds United suffered play-off final heartache when they were beaten 1-0 by Southampton at Wembley on Sunday.
There was so much hope and belief from the Leeds fans that they could get promoted back to the Premier League.
But they suffered the worst possible feeling. A defeat at the last hurdle and also the feeling that many of their players didn’t turn up in the play-off final.
The 22-year-old netted 19 league goals and supplied nine assists from his 43 league matches.
But from the off, Summerville looked off-colour and it didn’t help that he was booked early on in the game because he then didn’t play with that aggression with or without the ball.
The on-field referee booked the Leeds superstar after 43 minutes for seemingly lunging into a tackle in Southampton’s box.
It was a nothing challenge, but it somehow received a foul to the annoyance of Jon Newsome who labelled it ‘pathetic’, as he told BBC Sport.
Neil Warnock agreed during his punditry stint on Sky and he felt that he simply ’shouldn’t have been’ a yellow.
Crysencio Summerville and Leeds United lose the play-off final
“That’s pathetic,” responded Newsome. “All Crysencio Summerville has done is slide in and try to protect the ball. He’s not done anything.”
Neil Warnock added at HT on Sky Sports (26/05/24): “There are a couple of bookings that I think shouldn’t have been bookings. I thought early on, the lad who destroyed Brooks. I thought that should have been a certain yellow card.”
Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
Crysencio Summerville to leave Leeds United?
You worry for Leeds now. They are sitting in England’s second tier, with players that are still closer to Premier League wages than Championship ones.
Not only that, a host of players are going to return from their loan spells in the summer. The squad is going to be bloated for the wrong reasons.
Leeds will also probably need to raise money. That’s where you look towards someone like Summerville because he is their biggest asset.
Sources have already told HITC that there is Premier League interest in his services and it wouldn’t be a surprise if that interest increases now that Leeds will remain in England’s second tier for another campaign.
Many would point towards one or two results this season for the Gunners. Their defeats over the winter period to the likes of Fulham and West Ham United.
Or those losses to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa. They were the only team to do the double over them.
But Arsenal fans will want the club to dip into the transfer market again and sign that much-talked-about striker.
Before the season started, this was a talking point. Arteta brought in Kai Havertz. And now those noises continue with the season finished.
Kevin Nolan thinks Ivan Toney could be heading to the Emirates and how he could be a ‘big plus’ for Arteta, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
Sources have told HITC that Toney, who was banned until January for betting offences, will leave Brentford at the end of the campaign.
“They will be really pleased with what they have done, the back half of the season as well,” said Nolan. “The amount of points. They didn’t drop many, did they?!
“That’s the biggest one (centre-forward in the summer transfer market). I think the recruitment is going to be massive. If they get a centre-forward in and the right one for them, then I feel that.
“I honestly think Ivan Toney could be a big plus for them. I think with what they have got in and around to have someone who can sort of give them something different. I think he could be the one. I know the money could be ridiculous.”
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
Ivan Toney’s Brentford form
There have been some who have suggested Toney is ‘world-class’. When he played the entire season last time out, he scored 20 goals from 33 matches.
As mentioned, he missed the first half of this campaign, and upon his return, he started scoring and enjoying himself again.
But it was short-lived. He netted four in his first five matches. But February was the last time he found the back of the net.
That form is understandable because he has no rhythm and it will be interesting to see if Gareth Southgate names him in his final England squad for Euro 2024.
But the fact of the matter is, his form is out of the window and you question if that has affected his value or how those from the outside view him.
Celtic had won the Treble under Ange Postecoglou and Rodgers, to the surprise of some, returned to win the title again and added the Scottish Cup to the cabinet also.
There have been many great performances from Celtic players against Rangers this season, from Hampden to Parkhead.
But one man James McFadden was keen to highlight was Daizen Maeda and the issues he causes in the Glasgow derby.
Just go back to his brilliant opening goal inside the first minute at Ibrox during that 3-3 epic!
The former Scotland midfielder thinks James Tavernier is scared of the Celtic winger because he ’spooks’ him ‘every time they play’, as he told BBC Sport.
From Postecoglou to Rodgers, they like to play Maeda on Tavernier’s side because they know his attacking threat.
“Every time they play, Maeda spooks Tavernier,” said McFadden. “There’s question marks over Tavernier defensively.
“That’s because he’s so good going forward. I don’t think he’s a bad defender, but Maeda has his number.”
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Celtic and Rangers next season
No one is going to argue, Celtic have had their issues this season. Many still remember chants of ‘sack the board’ during the defeat to Hearts over the winter.
From recruitment issues to Rodgers trying to get used to this squad. They have shot themselves in the foot on a number of occasions.
But when it mattered most, they stepped up, won the big games and won the trophies that matter.
It doesn’t bode well for Rangers next season because you feel Celtic will go to another level and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they don’t win the title much easier.
Yes, Manchester United had ended the season strongly, including winning their final game at Brighton 2-0, but they finished eighth in the Premier League table.
That was their lowest-ever finish of the Premier League era and there were even suggestions the under-fire Erik ten Hag would get sacked, regardless of the result in the final.
Despite that, Manchester United fans were positive and they were backing their team to lift the trophy, especially given that some big-name players were back from the treatment room, including Lisandro Martinez.
Pre-match, predictions were flying in left, right and centre. Some thought an upset could be on the cards here, others thought it would be a Man City win, but it would be tight.
Paul Merson, on the other hand, was pretty clear about what was going to happen and he shared it on Twitter.
The former Arsenal midfielder wrote confidently ‘can’t see anything but a Man City win’ and proceeded to back them to win 3-0. Those in red were 2-0 up before the break!
As you can imagine, fans in the comments section let him know about it because he got it horribly wrong, with captain Bruno Fernandes lifting the FA Cup trophy aloft after the full-time whistle.
Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho help Manchester United win FA Cup
“FA cup final day!! Can’t see anything but a Man City win.. 3-0,” wrote Merson pre-match.
Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager
Now the questions will be asked, is this going to be enough to save ten Hag’s job? You sense, from the Manchester United fans, they want to keep the Dutchman on board.
Yes, many acknowledge that the Premier League form wasn’t good enough. But many feel they will take positive strides again next season.
Not only that, Man United will be in the Europa League. You feel, as of this moment in time, it’s a more realistic competition to win for the club than the Champions League.
One thing that also can’t be argued about is how ten Hag has helped the club’s younger players, including the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, who scored the winner in his first-ever Wembley final.
Given that the under-fire Erik ten Hag guided Manchester United to an eighth-placed finish – their worst-ever of the Premier League era – then you can understand why his players have suffered so much backlash this term.
One man who hasn’t been shy to voice his frustration and anger at the team’s performances has been Roy Keane.
Given how he is regarded at Old Trafford, his voice is then heard louder than others and it then doesn’t help when he is a regular on TV.
There probably hasn’t been anyone better who has worn that captain’s armband than Keane, with Bruno Fernandes now tasked with that after he replaced Harry Maguire in that role at the start of the season.
After the full-time whistle, when the players were heading up to collect their medals, Keane admitted that he has been ‘proved wrong’ by the Portuguese star.
The outspoken pundit added that ‘his leadership was outstanding’ on top of ‘we always mention how brilliant he is as a player’, as he told ITV Sport.
It was Fernandes’s quite stunning first-time assist to Mainoo that put Manchester United 2-0 ahead just before the break, and in the end, proved to be the winning goal.
Bruno Fernandes’s assist as Manchester United secure FA Cup final glory
“I think they had a bit of confidence from the last two games against Brighton and Newcastle, where they were back scoring goals,” said Keane.
“But they showed character. I have been critical of Bruno (Fernandes) over the years and I am happy to be proved wrong. His leadership today was outstanding. We have always mentioned how brilliant he is as a player.
“We are quick to criticise and Manchester City didn’t have a great day. But it’s about Man United. You have to enjoy these moments. Wembley is only good if you win. We hear everyone say ‘it’s great going to Wembley’. When you win. When you lose, it’s not good.”
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Will Erik ten Hag get sacked after FA Cup final win?
That’s the million-dollar question. There has been a lot of talk pre-match, with some suggestions that ten Hag has already been told he will go, regardless of what would have happened in the final.
Now that he has won – his second successive trophy – it remains to be seen what comes out of it.
By: Muhammad Saeedon May 25, 2024/comment : 0HITC,
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Manchester United produced a performance for the ages to secure a memorable FA Cup final victory over Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday.
There was a lot of noise around Erik ten Hag’s future heading into this showpiece final, but he let his Manchester United players do their talking on the field of play.
Pep Guardiola’s side had just secured a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title, whilst their neighbours had recorded their worst-ever finish in over three decades.
Manchester United needed a performance of a lifetime to overcome this trophy-winning machine and they did it with two teenagers – Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo – scoring the crucial goals.
Jeremy Doku did provide a scare in the end for the Manchester United fans with a late goal, but it wasn’t enough for the champions of England to secure the double.
As you can imagine, Gary Neville, who was pessimistic heading into the game and shared that he wasn’t going to be at Wembley to watch it, was delighted at the win.
At first, he posted a small clip on his Instagram story where he was just looking at the camera and chuckling.
But then he singled out Mainoo on Instagram by posting a picture of the midfielder in a Man United hat, with the winner’s medal around his neck and the caption ‘well played you’.
Kobbie Mainoo helps Manchester United win the FA Cup
David Beckham responded in the comment by saying ‘brilliant’, added with a heart emoji and Patrice Evra simply wrote ‘dope’.
Marcus Rashford wasn’t selected and, even though he won the FA Cup, he will have the summer ahead to lick his wounds because there will be mixed emotions.
But many England fans are hoping Southgate sees sense, selects Mainoo and probably even starts him in midfield alongside Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice.
By: Muhammad Saeedon May 25, 2024/comment : 0HITC,
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Erik ten Hag’s time at Manchester United could be coming to an end and it looks like Tottenham Hotspur might be proven right when it comes to the Dutchman, at least, according to Peter Schmeichel.
After the sacking of Jose Mourinho, the club were interviewing candidates for the role in North London and Erik ten Hag was one of those names on the list.
However, according to GOAL, the reason that Tottenham Hotspur pivoted from offering the Dutchman the job before eventually giving it to Nuno Espirito Santo was because the former Ajax boss failed to impress with his lack of communication skills being an issue.
The Lilywhites instead pivoted to the appointment of former Wolves boss Nuno but the Portuguese manager was at the club for less than six months before being replaced by Antonio Conte.
“We have been talking about Erik’s position for a very, very long time,” the former goalkeeper said. “We have seen everybody else at the top of Manchester United left the club, new people have come in.
“Without saying that I want Erik to lose his job, I would be very surprised if he is a manager next year, to be honest, because the way they have been going about, the first couple of months in charge, it very much point to they want a completely new and a clean start and they want it to be their project and with obviously a manager who in the last three-four weeks, you know, has been criticised very heavily for one thing, especially the way he has been communicating. I don’t think that’s what they are looking for.”
Spurs right to avoid Dutchman
The report from Goal stated that the North London club believed that Ten Hag lacked the charisma to lead out one of England’s biggest clubs.
This season for United, the Dutchman has struggled to deal with the myriad of injury problems that the Red Devils has faced this campaign and, if reports are to be believed from The Guardian, the former Ajax boss will be out of a job soon.
With Spurs appointing Postecoglou, who has all of the charisma and character needed to succeed at a top club, there may be a sense of told you so from the Tottenham hierarchy.
Ten Hag had a successful first season but has struggled to capture the imagination of the United faithful with his teams struggles on the pitch making it hard.
It’s unclear who the club are targeting this summer but a move for a new midfielder may well be high on the agenda with the future of Danish ace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg unclear.
One target that the North London club have been linked to is Englishman Conor Gallagher, who has had a superb season at Stamford Bridge under Mauricio Pochettino.
Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Cundy on Gallagher
Apart from Cole Palmer, academy graduate Gallagher has had a brilliant season at Stamford Bridge but the future of the midfielder has always been unclear.
Former Chelsea midfielder Jason Cundy believes that the Englishman could well be a good fit in North London, due to how Postecoglou plays. Any move to Chelsea’s rivals would cause controversy at Stamford Bridge.
“He (Conor Gallagher) is not going to get in Arsenal or City,” Cundy said on talkSPORT.
“What Conor brings is absolute enthusiasm, his work-rate and hard work is unrivalled. I think you could perhaps say in terms of that high press, in terms of what he gives you, I don’t think there are too many hard-working midfielders in the country than him.
“His energy levels are obscene. He keeps going, So, someone that wants, anyone who wants to play a high press, I can see him, Newcastle are interested, Spurs are interested, especially the way Postecoglou wants to play, I can see that. The Chelsea fans will go insane, by the way, if he goes to Spurs.”
Gallagher the ideal man for Spurs
The future of Hojbjerg, as mentioned, is unclear and if Chelsea are open to selling the academy graduate then a move to North London may well be ideal.
Alongside Yves Bissouma, Gallagher would form an energetic partnership with the former Brighton & Hove Albiion midfielder and HITC have reported that the Englishman, who has just a year left on his contract, will have to seek a move away from the club if his contract is not renewed this summer.
Due to the financial difficulties in West London, Gallagher, who is an academy player so any sale would be profit on the books, has always seemingly been made available for transfer with Chelsea always willing to listen to offers.
