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Erik ten Hag enforces major Old Trafford change after first visit as Man Utd manager

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has made the unprecedented decision to swap the Old Trafford dugouts ahead of his coaching debut this weekend.

The Red Devils are set to host Spanish side Rayo Vallecano this weekend for what is their final pre-season tie ahead of their first Premier League match of the campaign against Brighton & Hove Albion. The game will give the Dutchman an excellent idea of what he still needs to work on building up to kick-off against the Seagulls and will give attending supporters their first taste of Ten Hag’s philosophy at Old Trafford.

Some keen eyed fans might potentially spot a major change to the stadium when they attend with the new Red Devils’ boss having chosen to make quite a major change.
As confirmed by a club statement, the two Old Trafford dugouts have been swapped around. This means that the home dugout will be on the west side of the halfway line, meaning that the hosts will be closer to the tunnel and the Stretford End. The away side will now be stationed on the other side and as a result closer to the travelling support.

Ten Hag’s visit to Old Trafford shortly after his official unveiling in May apparently played a considerable role in the switch with the Dutchman giving his approval to the swap itself having noticed that the away dugout was closer to the tunnel.

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It remains to be seen if the switch benefits the Red Devils at all but Ten Hag will certainly be hopeful of bettering the club’s fortunes following a wretched season last time out.
United are currently undefeated in pre-season having earned wins against Liverpool, Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace before they were held 2-2 by Aston Villa. Whilst they will play Vallecano on Sunday, the Red Devils also do battle with another Spanish side before that with a showdown with Atletico Madrid in Norway.
It is currently unclea how the squad will be split for the game but one man who certainly won’t be appearing is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese striker has been linked with a move to the Wanda Metropolitano this summer after handing in a transfer request to Man Utd.

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His agent Jorge Mendes has approached Atleti regarding a transfer but the club’s fans have taken an exception to any move having unfurled a banner opposing his arrival during a pre-season clash with Spanish minnows Numancia.

His absence is not suggested to be related but instead is training away from the squad with his fitness some way behind the rest of his teammates.

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El-Kanemi warriors attacked by armed robbers on Jos-Bauchi road

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El-Kanemi Warriors attacked by armed robbers

El-Kanemi Warriors players and officials were attacked by armed robbers on the Jos-Bauchi road, leaving several injured and valuables stolen.

 

 

Players and officials of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) club, El-Kanemi Warriors, were victims of an armed robbery on Saturday morning while travelling along the Jos-Bauchi road.

The team was en route to Maiduguri after their 2-0 defeat to Ikorodu City in a matchday 14 fixture in Lagos on Wednesday.

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Also read: Some Super Eagles players not good enough – Sports Minister

 

Reports indicate that the attackers left several members of the squad injured, with some requiring immediate medical attention. The robbers stole valuables, including mobile phones and cash, before fleeing the scene.

The injured players and officials were quickly transported to a nearby hospital in Bauchi for treatment. While the extent of their injuries is not fully disclosed, it is understood that the team is receiving the necessary care.

In light of the attack, El-Kanemi Warriors were scheduled to host Bayelsa United in Maiduguri on Sunday, but the match is now expected to be postponed by the NPFL due to the traumatic incident and the team’s current situation.

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This attack has raised concerns about the safety of players and officials during away games in the league, particularly in regions with known security risks.

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Chris Sutton criticises Kylian Mbappe after Real Madrid’s loss to Liverpool

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Kylian Mbappe criticised after Real Madrid loss

Kylian Mbappe faces harsh criticism from Chris Sutton after Real Madrid’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool, with questions over his form and impact.

 

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton has strongly criticised Kylian Mbappe following Real Madrid’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The French star’s struggles continued as he missed a crucial second-half penalty, leaving fans and pundits questioning his impact at the LaLiga giants.

 

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Also read: Kylian Mbappe fit for Champions League clash with Lille

 

Liverpool took the lead early on and sealed the victory when Cody Gakpo’s powerful header from a corner doubled their advantage.

Although Mohamed Salah also missed a penalty for Liverpool, his side’s commanding performance overshadowed the missed opportunity.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sutton did not hold back in his analysis of Mbappe’s performance. “At this moment in time, there is something missing for Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid, which will be a real conundrum for Carlo Ancelotti,” Sutton remarked.

The former Celtic and Chelsea striker added: “Let’s get it right. He had a stinker tonight. Missed the penalty and was miles off it. Him going there was supposed to take them to the next level.”

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Mbappe’s tough debut season at Real Madrid has raised concerns about his ability to adapt to the pressures of playing for the Spanish giants.

Fans and analysts alike are debating whether Carlo Ancelotti can reignite the spark that made Mbappe one of the most sought-after talents in football.

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Manchester City blow three-goal lead as Champions League drama unfolds

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Manchester City Champions League draw

Manchester City shockingly blow a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord, while PSG faces elimination after Bayern’s 1-0 win in the Champions League.

 

 

In a dramatic night of Champions League football, Manchester City’s struggles continued as Pep Guardiola’s side astonishingly blew a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord.

This setback came despite City being in firm control at the Etihad Stadium, where they sought to break a five-game losing streak in all competitions.

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Also read: Man City close in on €40m deal for Chelsea’s Kovacic

 

City had looked comfortable after Erling Haaland’s penalty just before half-time and a deflected shot from Ilkay Gundogan in the 50th minute.

Haaland added a second, making it 3-0, but Feyenoord launched a remarkable comeback starting with Anis Hadj Moussa’s goal in the 75th minute.

Santiago Gimenez scored again in the 82nd minute, and with just a minute left, Igor Paixao crossed for David Hancko to head in the equaliser, leaving Guardiola frustrated.

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“We concede a lot of goals because we are not stable,” Guardiola said after the match. “We lost a lot of games lately. We are fragile and of course we need a victory.”

The draw is a historic one for Feyenoord, marking the first time in Champions League history that a team has avoided defeat after trailing by three goals in the final 20 minutes.

The point boosts Feyenoord’s hopes of progressing, while City now sit two points outside the top eight, which ensures direct qualification for the knockout stages.

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Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain has put the French side in serious danger of elimination.

South Korean defender Kim Min-jae’s header before half-time was enough for Bayern, while PSG’s woes were compounded by Ousmane Dembele’s second-half red card.

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PSG now have just four points from five matches and sit in 26th place, a point behind the qualification spots for the knockout round.

“We need to win our last three matches, otherwise we risk being eliminated,” PSG coach Luis Enrique admitted after the match.

In other Champions League action, Barcelona secured a 3-0 win over Brest, with Robert Lewandowski scoring his 100th and 101st goals in the competition, making him only the third player in history to reach such a milestone.

Inter Milan, who remain undefeated, beat RB Leipzig 1-0 to top the group with 13 points, one ahead of Barcelona and Liverpool.

Arsenal continued their strong campaign with a 5-1 win over Sporting Lisbon, as Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Magalhaes scored in the first half, followed by a penalty from Bukayo Saka and a late header from Leandro Trossard.

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Atalanta thrashed Young Boys 6-1, with Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere both scoring twice.

Bayer Leverkusen cruised to a 5-0 win against Red Bull Salzburg, with Florian Wirtz netting a brace, and Atletico Madrid demolished Sparta Prague 6-0, with Julian Alvarez and Angel Correa each bagging two goals.

AC Milan edged past Slovan Bratislava 3-2, with Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao, and Tammy Abraham all getting on the scoresheet.

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The night of high drama saw both thrills and spills, with several clubs edging closer to securing their spots in the knockout stages, while others face mounting pressure to avoid an early exit.

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