Football

Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce held his former club Manchester United to a 1-1 draw in the Europa League on Thursday, October 24, 2024. Mourinho received a red card in the second half, but his team managed to secure a point against a superior United squad.Erik ten Hag's United took an early lead through Christian Eriksen's 15th-minute goal. However, Fenerbahce equalized in the 49th minute when Youssef En-Nesyri headed home from close range after a cross from Allan Saint-Maximin.Mourinho was sent off after his team was denied a penalty in the second half. The Portuguese manager expressed his frustration with the referee's decision, stating that his players had performed admirably despite facing a stronger opponent."My boys played an amazing match," Mourinho told TNT Sports. "We played against a team that is at a superior level to us. We finished the game with a center-back playing at right-back and a right-back at left-back. We had to do a crazy puzzle, but our performance was extraordinary, and I couldn't ask for anything more from the players."Mourinho led United to the Europa League title in 2017 during his 2½ years at Old Trafford. He took the Fenerbahce job in the past offseason.Elsewhere in the Europa League, Richarlison scored a 53rd-minute penalty for Tottenham to beat Alkmaar 1-0. Tottenham's Son Heung-min sat out the match due to a minor injury.Anderlecht and Lazio stayed perfect with 2-0 victories, with both opponents reduced to 10 men. Anderlecht beat Ludogorets at home after Caio Vidal was sent off. Lazio took home three points from Twente when goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall was sent off in the 11th minute.Porto's Samu scored his fourth goal of the campaign, and Tiago Djaló added another one for Porto to beat Hoffenheim 2-0 for the Portuguese club's first win of the campaign.Václav Černý scored two goals to lead Rangers to a 4-0 rout of FCSB, while Lyon was upset 1-0 at home by Besiktas.Roma needed a penalty to beat Dynamo Kyiv 1-0 for its first Europa League victory under new coach Ivan Jurić. Summer signing Artem Dovbyk converted from the spot in the 23rd minute to get the Italian team in the win column after a draw and a loss in the second-tier competition.Ajax beat Qarabag 3-0 in Baku after the home team was reduced to 10 men in the 15th minute when midfielder Júlio Romão received a straight red card. Kenneth Taylor scored some 20 minutes later. In the second half, Wout Weghorst converted a penalty, and substitute Chuba Akpom put the result beyond doubt in the 77th. Two minutes later, Qarabag went down to nine men when Elvin Jafarguliyev also saw a red card.Eintracht Frankfurt, the 2022 Europa League winner, got a late goal from substitute Hugo Larsson to edge Latvia's RFS 1-0. PAOK came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw with Czech side Viktoria Plzen in Thessaloniki. Real Sociedad earned its first win, 2-1 away to Maccabi Tel-Aviv in a game played in Belgrade, Serbia due to the regional conflict.In the Conference League, Chelsea routed Panathinaikos 4-1 in Athens to make it two wins from two. João Félix scored twice, with the first one set up by Mykhailo Mudryk in the 22nd minute. The visitors added three more in the first 14 minutes of the second half through Mudryk, Felix's second, and Christopher Nkunku's penalty. Facundo Pellistri netted for Panathinaikos in the 69th.Jonathan Ikoné's two goals led Fiorentina past St. Gallen 4-2 in Switzerland, and Real Betis played 1-1 with Copenhagen. Iceland's Vikingur beat Belgium's Cercle Brugge 3-1 to record its first victory in Europe.

Manchester United's struggles under Erik ten Hag have drawn attention from former manager Jose Mourinho, who believes the club has the potential to succeed despite their recent setbacks. Mourinho, now in charge of Fenerbahce, will face his former club in the Europa League on Thursday.Mourinho expressed confidence in United's long-term prospects, stating, "They have a better team than the results are showing." He attributed their struggles to a lack of patience from the club's hierarchy during his tenure. "They kept faith with the coach, they support the coach, who is staying season after season," he said of Ten Hag's situation.Mourinho also highlighted the high quality of the Premier League, which he believes sets it apart from other European leagues. "The Premier League is a different level of quality, intensity, pace, tactical culture -- a different level of everything," he said.Despite United's recent struggles, Mourinho believes they remain one of the favorites to win the Europa League. "If I have to say now which are the two biggest candidates to win the Europa League, I think it's easy -- Manchester United and Tottenham," he said.Mourinho's comments come as United prepare to face Fenerbahce in Istanbul. The Portuguese manager expects United to field a strong team despite their recent setbacks. "One thing are the results that Manchester United are having and another thing is the potential of the team," he said. "The potential of the team is high."

Gary Neville Inspires Young Footballers in IndiaFormer Manchester United legend Gary Neville recently visited India as part of the United We Play initiative, a collaboration between Apollo Tyres and Manchester United. The initiative aims to provide young footballers with access to world-class coaching and facilities.During his visit, Neville interacted with young players selected from Thailand, Nepal, and 18 cities across India. He shared his insights on the key elements for success in football, emphasizing the importance of skill, work ethic, and determination.Neville also stressed the value of education and personal growth beyond sports. He encouraged the young players to pursue their studies and develop as well-rounded individuals. "There is a life beyond sports," he said. "It's important to have options and to grow as great human beings."The United We Play initiative has grown significantly since its inception, with the number of participating players increasing from 5,000 in the first edition to 12,000 in the fourth edition. The organizers are committed to sustaining their efforts at the grassroots level to strengthen Indian football."We are committed to grow the game of football and help young emerging talent to express themselves," said Rajesh Dahiya, vice president of Apollo Tyres.Five boys selected from the program will have the opportunity to travel to Old Trafford for a match-day experience, training sessions with Manchester United soccer school coaches, and a chance to interact with the legends.Neville's visit and the United We Play initiative are a testament to the growing interest in football in India. By providing young players with access to expert guidance and facilities, these initiatives are helping to nurture the next generation of Indian football stars.

Former Manchester United legend Gary Neville will grace India with his presence to support the Apollo Tyres grassroots football programme, United We Play. Neville, renowned as one of the greatest right-backs in football history, will attend the grand finale of the programme's fourth edition in Chandigarh on October 18, 2024.Neville's illustrious career boasts eight English Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League triumphs with Manchester United. He spent nearly two decades with the club, making 602 appearances and becoming a symbol of loyalty and dedication. Neville also represented England with distinction, earning 85 caps over a 12-year international career.The United We Play programme aims to nurture young football talent in India by providing a platform to showcase their skills and introduce them to global training methodologies. Supported by Manchester United, the initiative has reached over 15,000 young footballers across 18 cities in India.Rajesh Dahiya, Vice President, Commercial, India and SAARC, Apollo Tyres Ltd, expressed his excitement about Neville's visit: "We are thrilled to welcome a player of Gary Neville's stature to India. His presence will inspire young footballers and offer valuable insights into his remarkable career."The fourth edition of United We Play was launched in Kolkata last year by former Manchester United and French footballer Louis Saha. The programme has expanded to include cities in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions, reaching out to young footballers in Kathmandu, Bangkok, Dhaka, and Dubai.Neville's visit to India is expected to motivate aspiring footballers and further enhance the impact of the United We Play programme. His presence will provide a unique opportunity for young players to learn from a footballing icon and gain inspiration for their own journeys in the sport.

Manchester United's dismal run continued on Sunday as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Aston Villa at Villa Park. The result extended United's winless streak to five games and piled further pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.Despite dominating possession, United failed to create clear-cut chances throughout the match. Bruno Fernandes came closest to breaking the deadlock with a free-kick that rattled the crossbar in the second half. However, the Red Devils have now failed to score in their last three Premier League outings.Ten Hag made several changes to his starting lineup, dropping Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt in favor of Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans. The Dutchman also replaced Marcus Rashford at halftime, a decision that raised eyebrows given Rashford's impressive performance in the first half.Villa, who had stunned Bayern Munich in midweek, were also unable to find their rhythm. They had a few half-chances but lacked the cutting edge to trouble United's defense.The draw leaves United languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table, having won just two of their opening seven games. Villa, meanwhile, missed the opportunity to move into the top four and remain in fifth place.Ten Hag's position is now under intense scrutiny. The club's hierarchy must decide whether to give him more time or make a change during the upcoming international break.

Manchester United's co-owner, Jim Ratcliffe, has cast doubt over Erik ten Hag's future at the club, admitting that the team is not performing as expected under the Dutch manager. Despite having a chance to dismiss rumors of Ten Hag's potential dismissal, Ratcliffe's comments have raised concerns about the manager's job security.United's dismal start to the season, with only two wins in six Premier League matches, has put Ten Hag under immense pressure. The team's 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham and their failure to hold onto a two-goal lead in their 3-3 draw with Porto in the Europa League have further intensified the scrutiny on the manager.Ratcliffe, who took charge of United's football operations in February, refused to guarantee Ten Hag's future, stating that the decision would be made by the club's management team, including sporting director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Omar Berrada. He emphasized that the team has only been together for a short period and needs time to make sensible decisions."Our objective is very clear, we want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it's not there yet, obviously," Ratcliffe said.Ten Hag's tenure at United has been turbulent, with the team finishing eighth in the Premier League last season. Despite leading United to an FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in May, the club's poor start to this season has raised questions about his ability to turn things around.Ratcliffe's comments have added to the uncertainty surrounding Ten Hag's future. The manager will be hoping to turn things around in United's upcoming Premier League match against Aston Villa on Sunday. However, the pressure on him is mounting, and the club's hierarchy will be closely monitoring the team's performance in the coming weeks.

Erik ten Hag's Manchester United endured a rollercoaster ride in their Europa League clash with Porto, salvaging a 3-3 draw thanks to a late Harry Maguire equalizer. The result came amidst mounting pressure on Ten Hag, whose team has struggled in the Premier League this season.Ten Hag's plea for patience until the end of the season highlights the challenges he faces. Despite winning the League Cup and FA Cup in his first two seasons, United's poor start to the current campaign has raised concerns. The Red Devils languish in 13th place in the Premier League and have drawn their opening two Europa League games.The match in Porto started brightly for United, with Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund giving them a 2-0 lead within 20 minutes. However, Porto fought back with goals from Pepe and Samu Omorodion before halftime. Omorodion put the home side ahead early in the second half, and United's woes were compounded by Bruno Fernandes' red card.Maguire's header from a corner rescued a point for Ten Hag, but the performance raised questions about United's defensive solidity. The English giants have failed to win any of their last four away European games despite scoring three times in each of them.Ten Hag acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, "We will get there, don't judge us in this moment. Judge us in the end of the season. We will improve, we have two seasons where we achieved finals. Just wait, we will develop and progress this team."Maguire, who has lost his starting spot to Matthijs de Ligt, defended his manager, saying, "When you go on a bad spell players come under pressure and also the manager does. He's experienced enough and been at this club long enough so I'm sure he knows how to deal with it."The upcoming international break could provide a crucial opportunity for Ten Hag to reassess his team's performance and prepare for the challenges ahead. United's next match is against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

Manchester United's struggles continued as they were held to a 3-3 draw by Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Despite taking an early 2-0 lead, Erik ten Hag's team conceded three goals and saw Bruno Fernandes sent off for the second consecutive game.United started brightly, with Christian Eriksen setting up Marcus Rashford for the opening goal in the seventh minute. Eriksen was also involved in the second goal, finding Rashford who assisted Rasmus Højlund for a powerful strike.However, Porto responded with two goals in quick succession from Pepê and Samu to level the score before halftime. After the break, Samu scored again to give Porto the lead, but United fought back with a late equalizer from substitute Harry Maguire in the first minute of injury time.Fernandes' red card in the 81st minute for a high boot on Nehuen Perez compounded United's misery. The Portuguese midfielder had also been sent off in a 3-0 loss to Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.Ten Hag expressed frustration with his team's performance, saying, "We started the game very good, we dominated, we scored two good goals but then we lost control. The middle part was no good and then we finished very good. ... We got the equalizer so it is good for the spirit."The draw leaves United with two draws in the Europa League group stage and without a win in their last four games in all competitions. They will face Omonia Nicosia in their next Europa League match on October 13.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, two of the Premier League's most storied clubs, will clash at Old Trafford on Sunday, September 29, in a highly anticipated match. Both teams have had mixed starts to the season, with United sitting in 11th place with 7 points and Tottenham in 10th with the same number of points.United's recent form has been inconsistent, with a 1-1 draw against FC Twente in the Europa League followed by a 2-1 victory over Sheriff Tiraspol. Tottenham, on the other hand, have shown more promise, winning their Europa League opener 3-0 against Qarabag FK.The match will be a test of both teams' attacking prowess. United have struggled to find the back of the net consistently, with only 6 goals in their first 5 Premier League matches. Tottenham, meanwhile, have been more prolific, scoring 9 goals in the same period.Key players to watch in this match include Cristiano Ronaldo for United and Harry Kane for Tottenham. Ronaldo has scored 3 goals in the Premier League this season, while Kane has netted 4. Both players will be looking to add to their tallies and lead their teams to victory.The match is expected to be a close and competitive affair, with both teams desperate for a win to improve their league standings. United will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing draw in the Europa League, while Tottenham will be aiming to continue their winning ways.