Premier League
MANCHESTER UNITED CONTINUE CHASE FOR TOP-4 LEAGUE FINISH
Starting from tonight, the remaining games against Crystal Palace, West Ham and Leicester key are key to Manchester United’s Europe ambitions
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said that his Manchester United side are “getting closer” to the standards demanded at Old Trafford as they focus on reaching the Champions League.
United conceded a stoppage-time goal against Southampton on Monday to draw 2-2, ending a run of four straight Premier League wins but they are still unbeaten in 18 games in all competitions.
The result left the Red Devils in fifth place in the table on 59 points – four behind third-placed Chelsea who have played a game more – but they are assured of a top-four finish if they win their remaining games against Crystal Palace, West Ham and fellow Champions League hopefuls Leicester.
Solskjaer said his message to his players ahead of today’s trip to Selhurst Park was to keep on doing what they had been doing and “trust yourselves”.
“You’re at a club where it always boils down to the last couple of weeks, or two or three games in the season anyway,” he said at his pre-match press conference yesterday.
“We’ve done fantastic since we restarted. We started with the draw against Tottenham of course but then had a great run. That little bit of a setback is a test for mentalities.”
Asked if this was the best United team since former manager Alex Ferguson’s league title winners in 2013, Solskjaer said: “I don’t think that’s my job to say… but of course we’ve played some good football, some enjoyable football.
“Now it is about consistency. We know we’re privileged to play for this great club and there’s a certain expectation on how we should play football and we’re getting closer and closer to that type of team.”
The United boss also said he will not rest key players for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, with his focus solely on their clash against Palace.
“The team selection for Thursday is based on Thursday, not Sunday. Sunday is irrelevant, it does not come into my head at all,” he said.
United could be short on defensive options, with left-backs Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams racing against time to be fit.
Shaw twisted his ankle against former employers Southampton, while his replacement Williams suffered a head injury after colliding with Kyle Walker-Peters.
“Luke has got a swollen ankle, I’ll give him as much time as possible to recover, it was a twisted ankle.
“Brandon cut up his eye. I don’t really know, neither of them trained yesterday,” Solskjaer said.
Forward Anthony Martial is in the midst of a purple patch, scoring five goals in six league games since the season’s restart and Solskjaer was delighted with the Frenchman’s development.
“He’s definitely improving and enjoying his football, he’s stepped it up this season as an individual and more as a team player, and physically,” he said.
“I remember there were talks about our forwards last season being the least active and there were stats flying around but Anthony is working really hard for the team and he is a quality finisher.”
Crystal Palace are on a five-game losing streak, having scored just two goals and conceded 13.
Jeffrey Schlupp, James Tomkins and Gary Cahill are out injured, while Christian Benteke is suspended following his red card in the 2-0 loss to Aston Villa on Sunday.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
Thomas Partey, who formerly played for English Premier League soccer club Arsenal, has been charged with rape and sexual assault, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday.
Partey, a Ghana international, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the charges relating to three women and the offences reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, the statement said.
Partey’s management did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He is due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 5.
Partey, 32, was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for 50 million euros ($59 million) in October 2020 and became a key member of Arsenal’s first team.
He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing.
-Reuters
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Five players including England forward Marcus Rashford and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho have informed Manchester United that they wish to explore a future away from the Premier League side, a club source said on Friday.
Brazilian midfielder Antony, Dutch defender Tyrell Malacia and England international Jadon Sancho are also looking to leave the club, the source added.
Rashford, who has made more than 400 senior appearances for United, has fallen out of favour with manager Ruben Amorim, played for Aston Villa on loan while United had their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 15th in the standings.
Amorim had called Rashford’s work rate into question, saying he would rather put a goalkeeper coach on the bench than a player not giving their all.
Rashford said he was feeling fitter and better since joining Villa, where he scored two goals in 10 league appearances.
United also failed to qualify for the Champions League as they lost the Europa League final 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. Garnacho, who was a late substitute in the final, voiced his displeasure on social media after the loss.
“Up until the final, I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know,” he wrote in a post . “The final will influence (my decision), but the whole season, the situation of the club.”
Sancho was on loan at Chelsea, where he made 31 league appearances last season. Antony, who joined United from Ajax Amsterdam in 2022 for a reported initial transfer fee of more than $100 million, scored five goals in 17 LaLiga appearances on loan at Real Betis.
Malacia joined Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on loan in February.
-Reuters
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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes turned down the opportunity to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in order to keep playing “at the highest level”, he said on Tuesday.
The Portuguese midfielder admitted that he had considered the move, which media reports said was worth four times his current salary, after being contacted by Al-Hilal’s president.
“There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,” Fernandes, who is preparing to face Germany with Portugal, told reporters on Tuesday.
“It was a big offer, very ambitious. There was a waiting period for me to think about the future.”
Fernandes ultimately decided to stay at United and said he was motivated by his desire to continue playing at the top level and encouraged by his family and the club’s coach Ruben Amorim.
“I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so,” Fernandes added. “I spoke to the coach Ruben Amorim who really tried to talk me out of it. The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave.
“I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career.
“It would have been easy to move there but I want to keep myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions and I feel capable of it. I am happy with my decision.”
The 30-year-old Fernandes scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions for United last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time.
However, it was a season to forget for the team, as they finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest league finish in half a century, and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
-Reuters
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