Sunday, October 31, 2021

Match of the Day 2: How Norwich keep making 'ridiculous' mistakes

Match of the Day 2's Mark Chapman, Dion Dublin and Chris Wilder discuss Norwich City's struggles and the "ridiculous" mistakes they keep making in the Premier League.

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Aaron Ramsdale admits texts from Arsenal legend are ‘surreal’ amid Peter Schmeichel praise

Leicester City v Arsenal - Premier League
Aaron Ramsdale deserved all the plaudits for his save against Leicester (Picture: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Aaron Ramsdale says it was a ‘special moment’ to be praised by Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel for his heroics against Leicester.

Arsenal recorded a 2-0 win over the Foxes on Saturday as Ramsdale put in a man-of-the-match display to keep a clean sheet.

One save in particular though had everyone talking after he pulled off an incredible one-handed acrobatic save to deny James Maddison from a free-kick.

The save prompted United legend Schmeichel to declare it the best save he’s seen in years, and Ramsdale couldn’t believe the reaction he got.

‘It’s like someone’s hacked his Twitter! It’s crazy and quite hard to explain,’ the 23-year-old told talkSPORT.

‘With Kasper being at the other end and Peter tweeting that, it was a special moment for me to see that when I came into the dressing room.’

When asked if he looked up to Schmeichel as a youngster, Ramsdale admitted: ‘I’ll be totally honest, no!

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale save James Madisons free kick during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Arsenal at The King Power Stadium on October 30, 2021 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Aaron Ramsdale had a game to remember against the Foxes (Picture: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

‘I knew all about him, I watched many, many highlights and save reel stuff on him.

‘I wasn’t much of a Manchester United fan when I was growing up and started goalkeeping I think he would’ve been retiring.’

Ramsdale’s prominent rise in north London since signing from Sheffield United last summer has seen him replace Bernd Leno as Mikel Arteta’s No.1.

He’s taken it all in his stride but admits getting support from the likes of Arsenal and England legend David Seaman is still ‘surreal.’

‘Even just being at Arsenal and now having the connection with David Seaman – I’ve got his number and get a text from him every now and then, it’s surreal,’ he added.

Ramsdale will be hoping for another clean sheet when the Gunners host Watford on Sunday.

MORE : Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta’s reaction to Aaron Ramsdale’s ‘incredible’ save

MORE : Ian Wright hails ‘magnificent’ Aaron Ramsdale after Arsenal’s win over Leicester

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Transfer rumours: Van de Beek, Conte, Pogba, Hernandez, Ceballos, Gouiri

Barcelona considering loan move for Van de Beek, Tottenham want Conte as boss, Real Madrid watching Pogba and Rudiger, plus more.

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Aston Villa 1-4 West Ham United: Dean Smith criticises Ezri Konsa red card and Aston Villa's 'poor start'

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith questions Ezri Konsa's red card and criticises Aston Villa's "poor start" after his side lost 4-1 against West Ham at Villa Park.

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Roma 1-2 AC Milan: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores his 400th league goal to set the visitors on their way to victory

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores his 400th league goal and wins a penalty as AC Milan claim a narrow victory over Roma in Serie A.

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‘I’m sorry’ – Thomas Tuchel sends message to Chelsea fans chanting his name in Newcastle win

Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea sit top of the Premier League table (Picture: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Thomas Tuchel apologised to Chelsea fans after their win over Newcastle… for missing their chant about him and his team.

Chelsea ensured they stayed top of the Premier League with a convincing 3-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday.

The travelling supporters to St James’ Park loved every minute of it and showed their appreciation for their German boss by chanting his song throughout.

The words to the chant sung by the Blues faithful goes: ‘We’ve got super Thomas Tuchel. He knows exactly what we need. Thiago at the back, Timo in attack. Chelsea’s going to win the Champions League!’

But it seems the travelling supporters sat up high in the stands at Newcastle failed to get their song heard by the man in charge.

‘Oh, I didn’t hear it, I’m sorry for that,’ Tuchel told Chelsea TV after the game when asked about his chant.

‘I was impressed we had so many supporters here [at St James’ Park].

Newcastle United v Chelsea - Premier League
Reece James scored twice against Newcastle (Picture: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

‘To calm the [home fans] crowd down like we did today is also an achievement. It was by quality and concentration — well done, to the players.

‘I’m happy that we could score three goals in front of our spectators in an away game.’

A brace from Reece James and a penalty from Jorginho were enough to see Chelsea take maximum points against Newcastle.

Chelsea’s full-backs have been contributing goals this season with Ben Chilwell and Marcos Alonso getting on the scoresheet and Tuchel is delighted to see his tactics paying off.

‘If it was so easy we would just demand it every three days! In general we rely on our wing-backs to arrive in the box. Chilly was decisive in the last matches. Azpi, Marcos were in earlier matches,’ he said.

‘Today it was Reecey, two brilliant finishes to secure the victory. It’s not easy but when you play as wing-backs it is necessary to be dangerous from your positions.’

MORE : Liverpool urged to complete January signing to keep pace with Chelsea amid Naby Keita concerns

MORE : ‘He was everywhere!’ – Ian Wright and Patrick Vieira praise Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher

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Liverpool urged to complete January signing to keep pace with Chelsea amid Naby Keita concerns

Jurgen Klopp
Will Jurgen Klopp be looking to strengthen in January? (Picture: Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Stan Collymore believes Liverpool need to sign a midfielder in January amid concerns of Naby Keita’s injury problems.

The 26-year-old limped out of Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Brighton on Saturday after just 20 minutes with a hamstring injury.

Keita now joins the likes of Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, James Milner, and Harvey Elliott on the treatment table with Jurgen Klopp short in midfield ahead of a jam-packed festive fixture schedule.

Liverpool could look to address their problems when the January transfer opens and Collymore believes Keita’s injury concerns need acting on if they want to avoid falling further behind league leaders Chelsea.

‘Naby, I’m worried, I’ve got to be honest,’ former Reds striker Collymore told Empire of the Kop.

‘On Empire of the Kop this season, there’s nobody that’s batted for him more than me but the questions I keep getting back from people when I see the videos posted on social media are: “Stan, we have to wrap him in cotton wool”, “Stan, he’s like glass”, “Stan, he doesn’t play the requisite amount of games because of injury” and he’s injured again.

Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League
Naby Keita picked up a hamstring injury against Brighton (Picture: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

‘The central hub of Liverpool’s midfield now needs every one of the technical staff, every one of the recruitment staff, to look at it and say: “Is there an argument that we need to bring somebody in, in midfield?”

‘I believe the answer to the argument is yes. Don’t now let this three point gap to Chelsea become six or nine because you haven’t addressed those issues.’

Following the draw with Brighton, Klopp confirmed he did not expect Keita to be involved in Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.

‘He told me, he showed me [the] hamstring,’ Klopp said.

‘So, I don’t know, we will see; obviously tomorrow [or] the day after tomorrow he will have a scan and then we will know,” the manager told Liverpoolfc.com post-match.

‘But if somebody feels the hamstring, it would be the first time that he is ready for the next game. So, I can’t see that.’

MORE : Paul Merson urges Kalvin Phillips to join Liverpool with Man Utd eyeing an alternative

MORE : Jurgen Klopp explains touchline blast at Virgil van Dijk after Liverpool’s draw with Brighton

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Garth Crooks' team of the week: Ramsdale, Varane, Rice, Cavani, Ronaldo

Who scored a goal like a meteorite? Who should Palace sign? Who misses out because Garth hates the position he played in? It's the team of the week.

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Women's FA Cup: Chelsea and Arsenal to meet in final in season-defining rivalry

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has the FA Cup final she wanted - and a thrilling Wembley showdown with Women's Super League rivals Arsenal promises to be a dream occasion for the neutral too.

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Man Utd stars urge Donny van de Beek into switching agent as two Premier League clubs hold talks

Donny van de Beek
Donny van de Beek could be on the move in January (Picture: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Manchester United players reportedly urged Donny van de Beek to switch agents in order to get his playing career back on track.

The talented midfielder has made just two starts in all competitions this season along with one substitute appearance in the Premier League.

Van de Beek was strongly linked with a loan move away last summer with a move looking likely to Everton, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer blocked the switch to avoid being left short in midfield.

Reports suggest the Dutchman has now recently dropped agent Guido Albers and taken on the services of Ali Dursun in a bid to help orchestrate his move.

Dursun also represents Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong, Van de Beek’s close friend and former team-mate at Ajax, as well as United centre-back Victor Lindelof.

According to the Daily Mail, the 24-year-old sought assurances from players in the dressing room over his future and they told him finding a new agent was the right thing to do.

Manchester United v Everton - Premier League
Donny van de Beek has featured just three times this season (Picture: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Having made just four league starts under Solskjaer since arriving from Ajax in the summer of 2020, Van de Beek is keen for a fresh challenge in January when the transfer window reopens.

The Daily Mail claim talks with Everton and Wolves have already taken place in recent weeks over a proposed loan move.

Linking up with new agent Dursun could now open up more doors for a loan move in the new year with the midfielder desperate for regular football in order to get back in the Netherlands team ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Earlier this month, former United right-back Gary Neville called on Van de Beek to seek an exit from the club after being outcasted by Solskjaer.

‘Why’s Donny van de Beek not being given a chance?’ said Neville.

‘There’s something about that. He’s not been given a chance for 18 months so you’ve got to come to the conclusion that Ole didn’t sign him or he doesn’t fancy him.

‘Neither is good for Donny van de Beek so I think he needs to go and play football somewhere.’

MORE : Gary Neville warns Jadon Sancho he’ll ‘end up like Donny van de Beek’ at Manchester United

MORE : Manchester United great Roy Keane would be perfect addition to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching staff, says Harry Redknapp

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Aston Villa 1-4 West Ham United: David Moyes' side push their top-four credentials as they thrash 10-man hosts

West Ham push their top-four credentials as they thrash 10-man Aston Villa to condemn them to a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat.

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Norwich City: What next for Premier League's bottom club as dreadful start worsens?

Do they lack ambition or are they just not good enough for the Premier League? Are there any answers for Norwich City?

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Man Utd win over ‘bang average’ Spurs is delaying Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking, says Gabby Agbonlahor

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces a tricky week ahead (Picture: Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Manchester United’s win over Tottenham is just delaying the inevitable when it comes to sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

That’s the view of former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor, who refused to get carried away with United’s latest display.

Having suffered a 5-0 defeat to rivals Liverpool last weekend, Solskjaer needed a response from his players in the trip to Tottenham on Saturday and his players delivered with a 3-0 win.

Solskjaer still retains the support from the board for now but with tough games against Atalanta in the Champions League and Manchester City in the Premier League to come next week, the Norwegian cannot afford to get complacent.

While Agbonlahor praised Solskjaer’s team selection, starting Edinson Cavani, he still feels it’s only a matter of time before the 48-year-old is given his marching orders.

‘The players played for him today, ‘Agbonlahor told talkSPORT. ‘From the first second of the game, they showed fight. They were fighting for Solskjaer.

Man Utd
Manchester United recorded a comfortable win over Spurs (Picture: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

‘This was the obvious formation to play; your defenders are struggling, if you’re struggling to keep clean sheets, what are you going to do?

‘You’re going to go five at the back, it’s not rocket science. I said it midweek, play five at the back, stop the goals going in and you have goalscorers in your team.

‘You could have played [Cristiano] Ronaldo, Cavani, [Mason] Greenwood or [Marcus] Rashford as your two strikers because they would have scored today.

‘Rashford comes on scores, you’re playing against a bang average Spurs team. Basically, for me, this is just prolonging what is going to happen.

‘Ole is going to leave Manchester United, but you’ve got to give him credit for getting the result today.’

Goals from Cavani, Rashford and Ronaldo in the trip to the capital leaves United fifth in the Premier League table.

MORE : Manchester United great Roy Keane would be perfect addition to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching staff, says Harry Redknapp

MORE : ‘You can abuse me after!’ – Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has perfect response as post-match interview is interrupted by fan

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Women's FA Cup semi-final: Arsenal beat Brighton 3-0 to set up final against Chelsea

Beth Mead scores one goal and creates two others against Brighton to send Arsenal into the delayed 2020-21 Women's FA Cup final against Chelsea.

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Women's FA Cup: Arsenal beat Brighton 3-0 to set up final against Chelsea

Watch highlights as Beth Mead scores one goal and creates two others against Brighton to send Arsenal into the delayed 2020-21 Women's FA Cup final against Chelsea.

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Aston Villa 1-4 West Ham United David Moyes says he is 'thrilled' with West Ham's 4-1 win over Aston Villa

West Ham United manager David Moyes says he is "thrilled" with his side's 4-1 away win at Aston Villa in the Premier League and praises their "fantastic" effort so far this season.

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Strikes so good they're scary - Scottish Premiership 'ghouls' of the month

With Halloween marking the end of October, there's no disguising just how scarily good these goals of the month are.

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FA Cup semi-final - Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion: Beth Mead scores to double Arsenal's lead against Brighton

Watch as striker Beth Mead's composed finish gives Arsenal a 2-0 lead against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Women's FA cup semi-final.

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta’s reaction to Aaron Ramsdale’s ‘incredible’ save

Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta had Aaron Ramsdale to thank after their latest win (Picture: James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was left in disbelief at Aaron Ramsdale’s ridiculous save in the their 2-0 win over Leicester.

The Gunners recorded a fifth win in seven league matches as goals from Gabriel Magalhaes and Emile Smith Rowe downed the Foxes.

But Arsenal had goalkeeper Ramsdale to thank for the three points with his man-of-the-match display keeping Leicester at bay with several fine saves.

However, his one handed acrobatic save from James Maddison’s free kick before getting across quickly to keep out Jonny Evans’ follow-up effort was on another level – even Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel described it as the best he’s seen in years.

And Arteta was equally impressed, believing the 23-year-old had no chance in saving it from the moment the ball left Maddison’s foot.

‘My reaction when I saw the ball leaving Maddison’s foot was ‘goal,’ he said.

‘I don’t know how it happened, it was incredible, and the timing of it was crucial.

Aaron Ramsdale
Aaron Ramsdale produced a stunning save to deny James Maddison (Picture: James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)

‘We invest money in talent and people we believe can be great for the future of the club. We make that decision based on that.

‘Aaron has had some encouraging performances, today he made some incredible saves.

‘He needs to continue to do that. In football you need to play 50 games for 20 years, and this is only the start.’

When asked about his save from Maddison after the game, Ramsdale replied: ‘Maddison is a top free-kick taker and I’ve come up against him a couple of times.

‘It was just one of those days that I was saving everything that was thrown at me and the lads were blocking [the rest of] them.’

Ramsdale joined Arsenal from Sheffield United in the summer for a fee of around £30m.

Having impressed Arteta, he’s now cemented himself as the club’s No.1 ahead of Bernd Leno, who could look to leave the club later in the season amid a lack of game time.

MORE : Ian Wright hails ‘magnificent’ Aaron Ramsdale after Arsenal’s win over Leicester

MORE : Peter Schmeichel hails Aaron Ramsdale save after Arsenal beat Leicester City

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Saturday's Scottish Premiership goals

Watch all the goals from Saturday's Scottish Premiership action as Aberdeen, St Johnstone and Dundee secure vital wins.

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Stryjek 'was pretty confident' - watch Livi keeper's penalty save

Watch Max Stryjek's penalty save to deny Giorgos Giakoumakis in Livingston's 0-0 draw with Celtic and the goalkeeper's post-match reaction.

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Norwich City 1-2 Leeds United: Daniel Farke says Norwich lacked quality in their 2-1 loss to Leeds

Norwich City head coach Daniel Farke says his side were "unlucky" and that they lacked quality in their 2-1 loss at home to Leeds United in the Premier League.

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Ian Wright hails ‘magnificent’ Aaron Ramsdale after Arsenal’s win over Leicester

Leicester City v Arsenal - Premier League
Aaron Ramsdale starred as Arsenal beat Leicester at the King Power Stadium (Picture: Getty)

Ian Wright reserved special praise for Aaron Ramsdale in the wake of Arsenal’s 2-0 victory away to Leicester, labelling his stunning stop to deny James Maddison as ‘the save of the season’.

Gabriel Magalhaes and Emile Smith Rowe netted to give Arsenal a two-goal lead inside 18 minutes and the visitors held firm to secure all three points and move up to sixth in the Premier League table.

Summer signing Ramsdale produced a string of superb saves to come away from the King Power Stadium with a clean sheet, with the Foxes left frustrated after a strong second-half performance.

Peter Schmeichel – whose son, Kasper, was in goal at the other end of the pitch – said Ramsdale’s flying save to keep out Maddison’s 43rd-minute free-kick was the best he had seen in ‘years’ and both Mikel Arteta and Brendan Rodgers applauded the shot-stopper’s outstanding display after the clash.

Eyebrows were raised when Arsenal spent £30million on Ramsdale back in August, but club legend Wright believes the shot-stopper has silenced his doubters after taking over the reins from Bernd Leno as the Gunners’ number one.

‘We’re talking about someone that was ridiculed,’ Wright said on BBC’s Match of the Day.

Arsenal were ridiculed for paying the money for him just because he’s a 23-year-old goalkeeper who has had two seasons in the Premier League. I think it’s stood him in good stead.

‘His distribution is absolutely fantastic. The confidence he’s brought to this dressing room and [Alexandre] Lacazette as well. I love when Lacazette is playing because you know you’ve got a goalkeeper who can hit him. Just magnificent.’

Leicester City v Arsenal - Premier League
Ramsdale was named man of the match for his outstanding display at Leicester (Picture: Getty)

On Ramsdale’s save to deny Maddison shortly before half-time, Wright added: ‘This is the save of the season. That is magnificent.

‘He got the luck as well after it because Jonny Evans does well to follow that in, but he got the luck. God, that’s amazing!

‘Leicester had that period when they were really up against Arsenal in the second half, the kind of period where Arsenal may crumble under it because they are a young team still progressing and he made a brilliant save there as well to keep Arsenal in the game.

‘He looked massive.’

Asked whether Ramsdale was pushing Jordan Pickford to be England’s first-choice goalkeeper, the ex-Arsenal striker replied: ‘Without a doubt, especially with his distribution and he’s young.’

Arsenal have enjoyed a resurgence after a miserable start to the season, with Mikel Arteta’s men unbeaten in their last nine matches in all competitions.

The north London club could go as high as third in the table with victory over lowly Watford at the Emirates next weekend.

MORE : Mikel Arteta addresses William Saliba’s Arsenal future after impressing on loan at Marseille

MORE : ‘You can abuse me after!’ – Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has perfect response as post-match interview is interrupted by fan



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‘You can abuse me after!’ – Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has perfect response as post-match interview is interrupted by fan

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer thumbs up after Manchester United's Premier League win over Tottenham
Manchester United moved up to fifth with victory over Tottenham (Picture: Getty)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had an enjoyable evening as his Manchester United side bounced back from their humiliating defeat to Liverpool to run out comprehensive 3-0 winners away to Spurs.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with a stunning volleyed effort in the 39th minute before Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford netted to put the visitors out of sight in a dominant second-half performance in north London.

The Red Devils moved up to fifth in the Premier League table with the victory and the result and eased the pressure on an under-fire Solskjaer on the back of a miserable run of five losses in nine games in all competitions.

There had been intense speculation over Solskjaer’s future in recent days, with Antonio Conte heavily linked a potential replacement, but the Norwegian said he had been ignoring the ‘noise’ across a ‘difficult week’.

‘The most important thing for the fans and me and the players is that we connect together,’ he told BBC Sport.

‘It has been a difficult week for the players, the club, the fans, for me. I’ve stayed away from most of the noise. But you know what is happening out there and you know you have to put a performance up.

‘Every time you lose a game it is the worst feeling in the world as a coach or manager. We needed the whole week to work on this performance.’

Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo celebrate during Manchester United's win over Spurs
Veterans Cavani and Ronaldo scored either side of half-time (Picture: Getty)

An upbeat Solskjaer was even able to see the funny side as he was abused from the stands at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during his post-match interview with MUTV, shutting down the individual with style and grace.

‘Can I do this interview and then you can abuse me after, eh?!’ the United head coach fired back with a smile on his face.

Solskjaer reserved special praise for Scott McTominay in the wake of United’s win, naming the Scotland midfielder as his man of the match.

‘Man of the match for me, by a mile,’ he said.

‘That’s the Scott we’ve seen a few times before. He’s had his injury, he’s had his operation this season, but today I thought he was absolutely brilliant.

‘Won his tackles, drove forward, kept the ball simple, switched play, headed away a few set-plays, so absolutely top.’

Scott McTominay chats with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Manchester Unitedb beat Spurs
McTominay shone in United’s victory (Picture: Getty)

United switched to a back-three in the capital, with Raphael Varane returning from injury to start alongside Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, and Solskjaer was delighted with the response from his players.

‘There’s many things behind the tactics we used today,’ he added.

‘But one of course is solidity. We managed to get Raphael smack bang in the middle of the back four because we needed a clean sheet. We needed to control the game with the ball and we did.

‘We got Edinson and Cristiano playing together as a front two, we got the width from the wing backs, so today we felt that worked and what’s going to work.

‘Of course, when you change to a back three and don’t get a result you’re going to be scrutinised.

‘But we felt it worked, the coaches have done a very, very good job to put that in place.’

MORE : Gary Neville frustrated with Manchester United despite rousing Tottenham win

MORE : Roy Keane lays into ‘boring’ and ‘abysmal’ Tottenham Hotspur after Manchester United defeat



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Wilfried Zaha: Crystal Palace forward racially abused after win against Manchester City

Wilfried Zaha calls on authorities to take racism seriously after he was sent racist abuse following Crystal Palace's win over Manchester City.

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Lauren Hemp; 'People are going to see a bigger and better Man City'

Manchester City forward Lauren Hemp says that fans can expect a "bigger and better" Manchester City ahead of their FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

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Saturday, October 30, 2021

Gary Neville frustrated with Manchester United despite rousing Tottenham win

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Premier League
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got the win he needed on Saturday at Tottenham (Picture: Getty Images)

Gary Neville was encouraged by Manchester United’s 3-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, but was left frustrated that it has taken them so long to do ‘what you see from every other team in the Premier League.’

The Red Devils bounced back from their 5-0 loss to Liverpool last weekend impressively, with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford giving them a comfortable win in north London.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer changed things up for the trip to the capital, switching to a 5-3-2 formation, playing Ronaldo and Cavani up front together for the first time.

It worked going forward, but it also worked in defence as Spurs failed to produce a single shot on target over the match. United also looked considerably more solid than they did last Sunday, although Spurs offered considerably less threat than Liverpool.

Neville was clearly pleased to see his former side get the three points, but cannot see why it has taken them 10 games of the Premier League season to find a system that works for them.

‘I’m stunned that it’s taken six, seven, eight weeks of really bad performances and inept attitude to defending without the ball,’ Neville told Sky Sports.

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Premier League
Ronaldo scored the seventh goal of his second spell at Manchester United (Picture: Getty Images)

‘Why has it taken the manager to be on the brink of the sack? Why has it taken the 5-0 defeat by Liverpool to get into a shape and look like they’re half intent to work without the ball?

‘What we saw today, to be fair, was what you see from every other team in the Premier League. Every other team in the Premier League do. Burnley do, so why don’t Manchester United have to do it?

‘I don’t know why it’s taken so long for the coaching staff to demand that from the players or the players to step up and do it but it shouldn’t have to take that much. But they’ve done something today that they’ve not done all season, that’s look half a team without the ball.’

‘Today was a decent start but it doesn’t let anybody off the hook. It’s a start but nothing more than that.’

The switch to 5-3-2 from 4-2-3-1 has immediately paid dividends and Neville feels Solskjaer should stick to it, partly because it steadies things up in central defence, but also because it seems to get the best out of Ronaldo and Cavani.

‘I think whichever pair of centre-backs they put together in the back four at the moment aren’t capable,’ he said. ‘I thought Varane did a great job of bolstering the back line.

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Premier League
Raphael Varane returned from injury to the Manchester United starting XI on Saturday (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I thought it made the midfield players a lot more confident to press and win the ball back.

‘But the big difference was Cavani and Ronaldo being close to the midfield and back four.

‘They were about 30m from from the back four all game and the last few weeks it has been about 45/50m – you could drive a bus through them.

‘There’s been a massive change this week, but why has it taken really bad performances to get to this point? It shouldn’t’ have had to take that with that quality of player and manager they have.’

MORE : Gary Neville warns Jadon Sancho he’ll ‘end up like Donny van de Beek’ at Manchester United

MORE : Ole Gunnar Solskjaer names Scott McTominay as his man of the match after Manchester United’s win over Spurs

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Sergio Aguero taken to hospital after concerning injury during Barcelona’s draw with Alaves

FC Barcelona v Deportivo Alaves - LaLiga Santander
Sergio Aguero was replaced in the first half of the game at the Camp Nou (Picture: Getty Images)

Sergio Aguero was forced off during the first half of Barcelona’s draw with Alaves on Saturday night and sent to hospital for tests after suffering a chest injury and apparent breathing difficulties.

Aguero was making his first start at the Camp Nou but there were worrying scenes as he went to ground late in the first half holding his chest and throat.

The medical team rushed onto the field, bringing a stretcher with them, but Aguero returned to his feet and was able to leave the pitch under his own strength, replaced by Philippe Coutinho after several minutes of treatment.

However, concerns remained and the 33-year-old was taken to hospital for further tests to see what the problem was.

Reports from El Chiringuito suggest the former Manchester City striker is ‘fine’ and the trip to hospital was just a precaution, but it was a worrying scenario nonetheless.

Barcelona had B-team coach Sergi Barjuan in charge of the first game since Ronald Koeman was sacked as manager.

Memphis Depay scored the first goal of the game after 49 minutes but the lead did not last long, with Luis Rioja levelling things up just three minutes later.

The draw leaves Barca down in ninth in La Liga, eight points behind league leaders Real Madrid, having picked up just 16 points from their first 11 games.

Aguero was making just his fifth appearance for Barca since his summer move from Manchester City.

After nearly a decade of prolific scoring in the Premier League, Aguero has scored once so far for Barcelona and will hope to be fit again as soon as possible to improve his scoring record in Spain.

MORE : Barcelona legend Rivaldo talks up Antonio Conte as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s replacement at Manchester United

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