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Tag: Harry Maguire

Ten Hag provides Maguire, Varane and Martinez update ahead of Forest fixture

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/joel-masibo-sports-africa/" rel="tag">JOEL MASIBO- SPORTS AFRICA</a>

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has provided an update concerning the availability of his three defenders ahead of Tuesday’s Premier League action against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.

England’s Harry Maguire, France’s Raphael Varane and Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez represented their respective countries at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar until recently.

Martinez and Varane were with their national sides last Sunday in the World Cup final and have not been included in United’s plan ahead of the meeting with the Tricky Trees on Tuesday night.

Speaking first on the already-returned United players who competed in the Middle East, Erik told Manchester United  media: ”The feeling is good. The players from the World Cup are back, are integrated again and you feel they are excited.

”[They had] massive impressions there [in Qatar], but now they are back, and you feel their energy.

”They are looking forward to the restart [of the Premier League].”

Maguire is expected to be back for the arrival of Steve Cooper’s men on Tuesday evening after guiding England to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Ten Hag  is also hopeful of Martinez and Varane also being back soon.

”We had some problems with illness like Harry Maguire, but he was back on the training pitch today so I’m happy with that,” the boss added.

”Returning from Rapha Varane and Licha Martinez, they are not there [back at United] but we hope on their comeback [soon].”

Placed fifth in the Premier League standings, Manchester United are seeking to secure a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League, the Red Devils beat Burnley 2-0 last week  to book a spot in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Rio Ferdinand says United erred in naming Harry Maguire captain

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/jarius-juma-sports-africa/" rel="tag">JARIUS JUMA - SPORTS AFRICA</a>

Rio Ferdinand believes naming Harry Maguire as Manchester United was done a bit too early and the armband should have instead been given to goalkeeper David de Dea.

“The fact that he has had the armband has given him that grace, which it would do,” the 43-year-old told Vibe with Five .

“I think he was given it too early. It’s a hard enough job coming into Manchester United, getting your feet under the table and starting to feel comfortable as it is without the added pressure of being captain.

“Being captain is a massive responsibility, there is history that goes with it, a big weight on your shoulders.

“You need to experience being there for a period of time to carry that weight. It was more important for Maguire to come in and concentrate on becoming a Manchester United mainstay than being captain.”

“The thing you can counter that [Maguire criticism] with is that there weren’t many captains at the club – who else are they going to pick?”

“David de Gea would have been my choice because of the time he’s been there and he knows what it takes to win.

“This is all with hindsight but you have to got to think about these times that might come with someone like Harry Maguire, new at the club in that sense. And that added pressure is weighing on him heavily at the moment.”

The 28-year-old was named United skipper in January 2020 by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, just five months after he moved to Old Trafford in a world-record £80million transfer from Leicester.

The Englishman’s leadership has been in the spotlight in recent months during a turbulent season for the Red Devils which has involved humiliating defeats by arch-rivals Liverpool and Manchester City, a change in the dugout and murmurs of unrest in the dressing room.

Many suspect Maguire’s form has suffered as a result of being captain as he has marshalled the United defence to a meagre tally of four clean sheets in 18 top-flight games this campaign.

Ferdinand admits there are a lack of leaders in interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s squad, but he believes De Gea would be a good choice for the armband having been on United’s books for over a decade.

Penalty after final whistle gifts Man Utd win over Brighton

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/xinhua/" rel="tag">XINHUA</a>

LONDON, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) — A penalty awarded by VAR after the final whistle gifted Manchester United a 3-2 win away to Brighton in the Premier League new season on Saturday.

The game had already seen more than its fair share of drama after Solly March had headed Brighton level in the 95th minute, when it had looked as if a Lewis Dunk own goal and a cool finish from Marcus Rashford would give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men three points after Neal Maupay had put the home side in front from the penalty spot.

Brighton hit the woodwork five times during the game before Maupay turned from hero to villain when Harry Maguire’s header following a corner hit his outstretched arm in the last action of the game.

Although the referee had already blown the final whistle, VAR awarded a penalty.

Then Bruno Fernandes, who had conceded the penalty that gave Brighton the initial lead, smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

“The point is to score goals, not hit the crossbar or post.”

“It sometimes happens to us as well. We can do much better, especially on the goals we conceded,” commented the Portuguese after the final whistle.

Everton go to bed as league leaders on Saturday night after a strike from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison’s penalty, given by VAR for handball, gave them a 2-1 win away to Crystal Palace in a game between two sides that had begun the season with two wins from their first two matches.

Chelsea fought back from 3-0 down away to West Brom to claim a 3-3 draw thanks to an injury-time goal from Tammy Abraham. Chelsea boss Frank Lampard benched much-criticized goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and replaced him with Willy Caballero, but his side trailed 3-0 at the break as Callum Robinson netted in the fourth and 25th minute and Kyle Bartley made it 3-0 in the 27th minute.

However, West Brom’s defense is also porous and after Mason Mount gave Chelsea a lifeline in the 55th minute, Callum Hudson-Odoi netted their second with 20 minutes left to play to set the stage for Abraham’s late equalizer.

Saturday’s last game saw Danny Ings’ fifth-minute goal against one of his former clubs give Southampton a 1-0 win away to Burnley for their first win of the season.

Maguire withdrawn from England squad after being found guilty by Greek court

Posted on by <a href="https://www.sportsnews.africa/byline/xinhua/" rel="tag">XINHUA</a>

LONDON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) — Manchester United defender Harry Maguire was withdrawn from the England squad for the upcoming two UEFA Nations League games in September after being found guilty of three charges by a Greek court on Tuesday.

A few hours earlier on Tuesday, Gareth Southgate named a 24-man squad for their Nations League games against Iceland and Denmark. The 27-year-old Maguire was selected by the Three Lions manager initially despite his trial being underway in Greece.

However, after the Manchester United captain was found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and repeated attempts of bribery on the Greek island of Syros, Southgate decided to drop Maguire from the squad.

“In light of this evening’s developments, I can confirm I have withdrawn Harry Maguire from the England squad for the matches against Iceland and Denmark,” Southgate was quoted by the English Football Association website.

“As I said earlier today, I reserved the right to review the situation. Having spoken to Manchester United and the player, I have made this decision in the best interests of all parties and with consideration of the impact on our preparations for next week.”

The Manchester United captain has been charged for aggravated assault and attempted bribery of an official. He was given a suspended sentence of 21 months after Tuesday’s trial even though he pleaded not guilty of any charge.

According to a British media report, Maguire was involved in a brawl last week while on holiday on the Greek island of Mykonos. He spent two nights in custody after he was arrested.

Maguire maintains his innocence. “Following the hearing today, I have instructed my legal team with immediate effect to inform the courts we will be appealing,” he said.

Manchester United believed that Maguire’s defense team was given little time to prepare. “It should be noted that the prosecution confirmed the charges and provided their evidence late on the day before the trial, giving the defense team minimal time to digest them and prepare.

A request for the case to be adjourned was subsequently denied,” read a club statement.

“On this basis, along with the substantial body of evidence refuting the charges, Harry Maguire’s legal team will now appeal the verdict, to allow a full and fair hearing at a later date.” England will travel to face Iceland on September 5 before heading to Copenhagen to face Denmark on September 8.

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