Premier League
Behind-the-scenes work will be Ralf Rangnick’s key contribution to Man United, says Peter Schmeichel
BY SAZALI ABDUL AZIZ
In the two matches he has overseen as Manchester United manager, Ralf Rangnick has already introduced a more urgent, pressing style of play. Yet the most significant change the German will bring to the club, believes Red Devils legend Peter Schmeichel, will be off the pitch.
On the sidelines of the JSSL Singapore FA Cup at Our Tampines Hub on Saturday (Dec 11), the former goalkeeper noted in a chat with The Straits Times that Rangnick has a different profile from the four previous managers that have been at the helm since long-serving manager Alex Ferguson stepped down in 2013.
Rangnick, who previously managed German clubs like Schalke and RB Leipzig, was the head of sports and development at Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow before he joined United on Nov 29.
Said Schmeichel: “He has come in with a certain reputation of… how he structures a football department and how he sets up everything that we don’t see on the pitch and behind the scenes, how he develops coaches as well and how he leads.
“These are all incredibly important attributes and I think it is important for Man United at this moment in time to have somebody who’s good at that.”
After Ferguson retired, his replacements – David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked on Nov 21 – were managers in the traditional sense but struggled to replicate the Scot’s success over 26 years, when he won 38 trophies that included 13 English Premier League (EPL) titles.
This is why Schmeichel believes the “new direction” for the Red Devils’ backroom set-up under the guidance of Rangnick and technical director Darren Fletcher is the right way forward.
Noting the influence of the latter, the Dane, who played 398 games for United from 1991 to 1999 and won five EPL titles, three FA Cups and a Champions League crown, said: “In the last three games he (Fletcher) has been in the technical area, and I had the pleasure of being at the Arsenal game (a 3-2 win on Dec 3) and actually very close to the technical areas.
“And I was very impressed with Darren Fletcher… I never played with him but I know him quite well. And it gives me confidence that Darren’s been in the decision-making (of hiring Rangnick) because I believe he will know precisely what needs to be done.
“I can hope for these changes to be implemented at the club (and) hopefully it’s going in the right direction.”
On Saturday morning, Schmeichel, 58, spent an hour with 10 aspiring goalkeepers aged between 12 and 16, sharing tips and practising goalkeeping drills.
“It’s my first visit today in this fantastic venue,” he said. “It’s so great to see kids play football and kids being happy on a football pitch. We’ve got this wonderful tournament here – the JSSL Singapore FA Cup – and… kids are playing football, they’re back on the pitch enjoying this wonderful sport and this tournament, it’s an incredible event.”
The JSSL Singapore FA Cup kicked off on Dec 10 and will conclude on Dec 12 with the Cup and Plate finals. A total of 144 teams of vaccinated boys and girls, aged 12 to 17, are taking part in the four-a-side tournament.
-Straits Times
Liverpool will have to wait for a few more days to be crowned Premier League champions despite a 1-0 victory at Leicester City after Arsenal kept their slender hopes just about alive with a 4-0 romp at 10-man Ipswich Town on Sunday.
Trent Alexander-Arnold came off the bench to score Liverpool’s winner in the 76th minute at the King Power Stadium to restore their 13-point lead at the top with five games left.
While Liverpool can almost taste a record-equalling 20th English crown, Leicester’s defeat confirmed their relegation back to the Championship after just one season.
The Midlands club have now been relegated from England’s top flight a record 13 times.
Chelsea secured a massive win in their bid to qualify for the Champions League as they came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage with Pedro Neto scoring in stoppage time.
The win pushed Chelsea above Nottingham Forest in to fifth place, the last spot for qualification to the Champions League, although Forest play at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.
Chelsea have 57 points from 33 games, two behind third-placed Newcastle United and one behind Manchester City. Forest and Aston Villa are level with Chelsea on 57 points.
Wolverhampton Wanderers guaranteed their safety as they beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Pablo Sarabia’s stunning free kick wrapped up a fifth successive league win, the first time Wolves have achieved that in the top flight since 1970.
Liverpool were wasteful at Leicester with numerous chances going begging and Mohamed Salah suffering a frustrating afternoon including hitting both posts with an early shot.
Salah hit the woodwork again moments before the ball came out to Alexander-Arnold who fired a left-footed shot through the crowd to give his side the points — ripping off his shirt and celebrating wildly with the travelling fans.
“We just keep going, mentally we’re really strong,” manager Arne Slot, whose side could be crowned champions if Arsenal lose at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, told Sky Sports.
“They enjoy playing football and it helps when you are playing for something special. Today (Alexander-Arnold) knows when it matters most he can just bring a bit more which is something all the top, top players have.”
DISTANT SECOND
If Arsenal avoid defeat by Palace, Slot’s side will seal the title if they beat Tottenham Hotspur at home next Sunday.
“We will focus on Tottenham and looking forward again to a home game and I think the stadium will be full,” Slot, who can become the first Dutch manager to win the English title, said. “It’s a nice game to look forward to.”
Liverpool have 79 points with Arsenal a distant second on 66. Arsenal may have their eyes now on a Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain, but they showed against Ipswich they will not hand over the title to Liverpool.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring early on and Gabriel Martinelli made it 2-0 after a delightful flick by Mikel Merino.
Ipswich were reduced to 10 men before halftime as Leif Davis crudely raked his studs down the back of Bukayo Saka’s calf and the second half was academic.
Trossard grabbed his second in the 69th minute and Ethan Nwaneri added a late fourth to leave Ipswich stuck in 18th place on 21 points. They will be relegated if they drop points again or 17th-placed West Ham United pick up one more point from their remaining five games.
Chelsea were heading for a damaging defeat at neighbours Fulham as the hosts led with Alex Iwobi’s 20th-minute goal.
Substitute Tyrique George equalised with an instinctive shot in the 83rd minute, his first Premier League goal, before winger Neto swivelled and unleashed a thunderous strike in stoppage time to send the away fans wild.
Manchester United reached the Europa League semi-final with an astonishing comeback win against French club Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday but their Premier League woes returned against Wolves.
They are in 14th place and have now lost eight Premier League home games this season, their most defeats at Old Trafford in a league campaign since 1962-63.
“Wolves scored in the only opportunity they had. we had many chances, and we didn’t score. If you don’t score goals, you are not going to win games,” manager Ruben Amorim said.
-Reuters
Egyptian outlet, Ahram, has reported that Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract with Liverpool, extending his stay at Anfield beyond the 2024-25 season as he prepares for what could be the final chapter of a storied career with the club.
While the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, British media reports indicate the 32-year-old forward has signed a two-year extension, keeping him at the club until at least 2027.
Salah, who joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017, has become a modern-day icon at Anfield.
The Egyptian international has scored 243 goals in 394 appearances—third on the club’s all-time scorers list—and has helped the Reds secure seven major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League titles.
“I had my best years here,” Salah told the club’s website. “Hopefully it’s going to be 10. I signed because I believe we can still win big trophies together.”
He has maintained his prolific form this season, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions. His 27 Premier League goals currently lead the division.
During his time with Liverpool, Salah has won the Premier League Golden Boot three times, been named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, and claimed two FWA Footballer of the Year awards.
Now entering the latter stages of his career, Salah remains focused on adding more silverware to his collection and further cementing his legacy at Liverpool.
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Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga, who became the second-youngest Premier League player when he made his senior debut in Monday’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle United, had to wear a blank shirt because it is sponsored by an online cryptocurrency gaming platform.
Britain’s Gambling Act 2005, which underwent a review in 2020, prohibits players under 18 from wearing kits displaying gambling sponsors. Monga, an England U16 international, made his senior debut at 15 years 271 days old.
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri remains the youngest Premier League player in history, having debuted in the competition when he was 90 days younger than Monga.
Leicester, who suffered an eighth straight loss in the league without scoring a goal, are 19th in the standings, 15 points below the safety zone.
-Reuters
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