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Erik Ten Hag Faces Manchester United Judgement Day As Manchester City Eye History In FA Cup Final

admin — Fri, 24 May 2024 04:08:58 +0000

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag hopes to bolster his chances of avoiding the sack by ruining Manchester City’s history bid in the FA Cup final on Saturday. For the second successive season, Wembley will stage a Manchester derby in the showpiece fixture. Last year, City beat United 2-1 in the final on route to an incredible treble-winning campaign that included Premier League and Champions League glory. City remain England’s pre-eminent force, as they showed by clinching an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title last weekend.

United left Wembley still optimistic about the future despite that defeat 12 months ago because Ten Hag had ended their six-year trophy drought by winning the League Cup earlier in the season.

But the Red Devils return to north London shaken by a turbulent campaign that leaves the Dutchman fighting to save his job.

United finished eighth in the Premier League — their lowest final position since 1990 — and failed even to make it out of the Champions League group stage.

Ten Hag has blamed United’s woes on injuries, but that might not convince the club’s new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe to keep faith with him.

The Dutch coach reportedly caused friction among his squad after clashing with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, setting the tone for a series of embarrassing defeats against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Fulham, Copenhagen and Galatasaray among others.

United only made it to the FA Cup final after blowing a three-goal lead and surviving a penalty shootout against second- tier Coventry in a semi-final that underlined the flaws in Ten Hag’s erratic team.

England boss Gareth Southgate, former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino and Ipswich chief Kieran McKenna have all been linked with the Old Trafford job.

Ten Hag’s hopes of staying at United into a third season would be improved if they can spoil City’s bid to become the first English club to win both the Premier League and FA Cup two years in a row.

“I came here to win trophies,” Ten Hag said. “I’m just focusing on the job I have to do. That is first to win the game on Saturday and then keep going in the project.”

‘Fight until the end’

Beaten in six of the past seven Manchester derbies, United must lift the Cup for the first time in eight years to avoid their first season without European action since 2014/15.

A Europa League place is hardly the prize United fans dream of, but Andre Onana, the club’s goalkeeper, wants to repay their support with victory at Wembley.

Onana, who has endured an error-strewn first campaign at United, said: “It’s been a difficult season for them and for us.

“For me, it was difficult at the start and they were behind me so I’m very thankful. Let’s end on Saturday at Wembley. We will fight until the end.”

City’s dominant reign in the Premier League has extended to six titles in seven years, a dynastic spell that has led many pundits label them the greatest English team of all time.

Pep Guardiola’s men pipped Arsenal by two points after winning their last nine league games, leaving them on the brink of more history at Wembley this weekend.

“To do what we’ve done year in, year out, I don’t think many teams would be able to do that, especially in this Premier League,” City captain Kyle Walker said as he contemplated a potential second successive double.

Walker believes Guardiola’s drive and intensity are central to City’s seemingly unquenchable thirst for success.

“I think it starts from the manager, first and foremost. He’s addicted to winning. He is addicted and it rubs off on us,” he said.

Ominously for United, City playmaker Bernardo Silva said his side, who have won the FA Cup twice in the Guardiola era, are at their best when the stakes are highest.

“Sometimes at the beginning of the season when we don’t have that much pressure, the team relaxes when it shouldn’t and at the end of the season we always compensate for it,” he said.

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Coventry City’s Mark Robins Plots Mancheser United Downfall In FA Cup Semi-Final

admin — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 05:15:33 +0000

Mark Robins scored the goal that helped launch Manchester United’s era of dominance. Now he is plotting to deepen their misery in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday as Coventry boss. The 54-year-old scored against Nottingham Forest in the third round of the competition in 1990, a goal that turned out to be a turning point in the history of United and was widely credited with saving Alex Ferguson’s job. Robins also scored the winner in the semi-final against Oldham and United went on to lift the cup, the first of a cascade of trophies under Ferguson, who oversaw their last Premier League title win in 2013.

The former forward, who came through the youth ranks at Old Trafford, played just 61 times for United but he has a special place in the hearts of the club’s fans.

Now he has another chance to influence the history of United by heaping the pressure on Erik ten Hag, who has had a dismal second season in charge.

Despite their woes, United will be firm favourites at Wembley to progress to a final against Manchester City or Chelsea, but the result is far from a foregone conclusion.

United are winless in their past four matches since their dramatic 4-3 quarter-final victory against Liverpool, with their hopes of Champions League football next season all but over.

The good news for Ten Hag’s men is that 1997 FA Cup winners Coventry have themselves stuttered in recent weeks, losing three of their past four games to slip off the pace in their bid to reach the Championship play-offs.

But Coventry will almost certainly get opportunities against a United team who concede a remarkable number of chances, with in-form striker Ellis Simms and Haji Wright posing a goal threat.

‘Top players’

Robins believes United’s problems are overblown and they remain “the biggest club in the world”.

“People, pundits, are talking in a derisory way about Manchester United and what they’re doing, how they’re performing,” he said.

“For people who are talking about Manchester United are this or that, or they concede lots of shots — you’re talking about a team that is full of talented players, top international players.

“We know they are clearly favourites to win this game, by a million miles, simple as that.”

Coventry are bidding to become the first second-tier club to reach the final since Cardiff in 2008.

Robins has done a remarkable job since returning for a second stint in 2017, taking the club from the fourth tier to the brink of the Premier League last season — they lost to Luton on penalties in the Championship play-off final.

That success has come against the background of a tumultuous spell at the club, who were effectively homeless for many years, sharing facilities with Birmingham City as recently as 2021.

They have already beaten Premier League side Wolves on the road to Wembley and Ten Hag pointed out that they could easily be a top-flight side themselves.

“We know the manager, a former United player, striker, his long period there, he’s doing a fantastic job there,” he said. “So, we know a lot about them.

“Of course they are dangerous, they are in the semi-final. It’s logical.

“Last season, they were that far away (a small margin) from being promoted to the Premier League. So they do a fantastic job over there.

“We have seen the game against Wolves, in the quarter-final, the mentality in the team is fabulous, so we have to play to our best levels.”

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Hat-trick Hero Cole Palmer Fires Chelsea To Last-Gasp Win Over Manchester United

admin — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 02:54:14 +0000

Cole Palmer scored twice deep into stoppage time to complete a hat-trick as Chelsea stunned Manchester United 4-3 on Thursday, all but ending their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Erik ten Hag’s men appeared set for a vital win after storming back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 in a breathless game containing a combined 47 shots. But boyhood United fan Palmer turned the game on its head, levelling from the penalty spot in the 100th minute and then netting the winner moments later in a frantic end to the game at Stamford Bridge.

United were still ahead at 99 minutes 17 seconds, the latest a side has ever led in a Premier League match they have gone on to lose.

The bitter defeat leaves sixth-placed United 11 points off fourth-placed Aston Villa with just eight games to play and facing a season outside Europe’s elite club competition.

But it lifts Mauricio Pochettino’s side to 10th spot in the table, keeping them in the hunt for a European place after an inconsistent season.

Pochettino said his team had started well but the way they conceded “affected the team in an emotional way”.

The Argentine, in his first season at Stamford Bridge, praised 21-year-old Palmer, who has been the club’s standout player since he joined in September.

“The impact is amazing,” he told the BBC. “He is doing a fantastic job. It is difficult to talk more about him. Today he showed the mentality and the quality.

“I said ‘Cole, two minutes more and to believe’.”

Lightning start

Chelsea came into the match without a win against Manchester United in 12 Premier League meetings but were ahead in just the fourth minute through captain Conor Gallagher.

Palmer doubled the home side’s lead with his first penalty in the 19th minute after Anthony felled Marc Cucurella in a torrid opening for the visitors.

But United were handed a lifeline in the 34th minute when Moises Caicedo inexplicably gave the ball away to Alejandro Garnacho, who burst forward and coolly slotted home.

Five minutes later they were all square when Diogo Dalot’s cross found Bruno Fernandes, who headed home at the back post.

Play swung wildly from end to end in a thrilling second period but Garnacho headed home a pinpoint cross from the outside of Antony‘s left boot to put United ahead in the 67th minute.

The visitors appeared set for all three points but the officials signalled there would be eight minutes of added time.

Chelsea were given a lifeline when Dalot lunged at Noni Madueke and referee Jarred Gillett’s on-field decision to award a spot kick was confirmed after a lengthy VAR check.

But the drama did not stop there.

United were caught out by a quick corner from Enzo Fernandez, who played it short to Palmer

The Chelsea man fired home past the despairing Andre Onana with the help of a deflection off United’s Scott McTominay to seal the win, sending the Stamford Bridge crowd wild.

“When the eight minutes got added on it gave us a lift — madness,” Palmer told TNT Sports.

The former Manchester City player has now scored 19 goals for Chelsea since he switched clubs on September 1.

“We need to try to win as many games as possible,” he said. “To win like that, there is nothing better.”

The bitter defeat leaves Ten Hag under mounting pressure at United in just his second season in charge, with new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe yet to decide whether to stick or twist.

Their only remaining hope of silverware is in the FA Cup — they face Coventry in the semi-finals later this month for the right to face City or Chelsea in the final at Wembley.

“Definitely a setback and now we have to deal with this and get up,” said Ten Hag. “We are resilient and you have seen that today.

“The quality of our football is really high, but football is about results and you have to bring it over time.”

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Gabriel Jesus, Declan Rice Score Late Goals As Arsenal Tit Back To beat Manchester United

admin — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 18:05:15 +0000

Declan Rice scored his first goal for Arsenal and Gabriel Jesus added the icing on the cake as Arsenal roared back from a goal down to beat Manchester United 3-1 at the Emirates on Sunday. Marcus Rashford gave the visitors the lead against the run of play in the first half but Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard equalised seconds later. The Gunners had a penalty award overturned following a VAR check and United were denied what could have been a late winner when substitute Alejandro Garnacho was ruled offside.

The home side kept up the pressure in eight minutes of added time and were rewarded when Rice controlled a corner and shot past Andre Onana with the help of a deflection off Jonny Evans.

There was still time for another goal as substitute Jesus burst forward, teasing Onana before putting the ball in the net.

The result leaves Arsenal fifth in the table after their third win in four games, two points behind leaders Manchester City, while United are 11th in the table.

Fast start

Earlier, Arsenal shot out of the blocks, pinning United back in the warm September sunshine.

The home side should have taken the lead in the 13th minute but new signing Kai Havertz miskicked horrendously from inside the area with the goal at his mercy.

Arsenal continued to dominate, pressing high and forcing United into awkward situations at the back.

The game exploded into life shortly before the half-hour mark when United took the lead against the run of play after a speedy counter-attack.

Christian Eriksen picked up a loose ball in midfield and burst forward, producing a perfectly weighted pass for Rashford, running down the left-hand channel.

The England forward, largely anonymous in the early stages, cut inside and past two defenders before unleashing a shot past the despairing dive of Aaron Ramsdale.

But the Gunners were level just a minute later when Odegaard, unmarked in the area, blasted home from just inside the box after being found by the impressive Gabriel Martinelli.

But for all the home side’s enterprising play, they mustered just one shot on target in the first half.

Arsenal were the quicker to settle after the break and were awarded a penalty just before the hour mark when Havertz tumbled in the box after being sandwiched between Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Casemiro but referee Anthony Taylor overturned his decision following a VAR check.

United boss Erik ten Hag gave new signing Rasmus Hojlund his first action in a United shirt, bringing on the Denmark forward for Martial in the 67th minute, also introducing former captain Harry Maguire for Lisandro Martinez.

Martinelli curled a shot just wide as Arsenal continued to look the more likely winners, but United looked dangerous on the break.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta made three changes, including bringing on Jesus for the lively Nketiah.

Garnacho appeared to have won the game for United in the 88th minute but VAR ruled he was marginally off-side.

United lost all six matches away to other members of the top seven last season, conceding 3.66 goals per away match on average and Sunday’s result spells more away-day misery.

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