Benque defeated Port Layola 1-3 in Premier League. The fixture is part of the Opening - 9 stage in the 2022 season. The match was played at MCC Grounds in Belize City. The full-time result capped a Port Layola vs Benque meeting in Premier League with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Port Layola and Benque. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Premier LeagueRecorded meetings: 0 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
Benque defeated Port Layola 1-3 in Premier League. The fixture is part of the Opening - 9 stage in the 2022 season. The match was played at MCC Grounds in Belize City. The full-time result capped a Port Layola vs Benque meeting in Premier League with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Port Layola and Benque. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Premier LeagueRecorded meetings: 0 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
The 2026-27 season is about to begin in Europe with the UEFA Super Cup 2026 being the first important trophy at stake, with the teams, date, venue, kickoff time, and prize money already set. The 2026-27 European club season is set to kick off following the 2026 World Cup, with the UEFA Super Cup representing the first official hardware up for grabs on the continent. Everything is locked in for the marquee matchup between the two continental champions, including kickoff time, stadium location, and financial purses. The UEFA Super Cup is the annual single-leg showcase pitting the reigning winners of Europe’s top two club competitions: the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. First contested in 1973, the event has endured for over five decades, with Champions League victors holding a 30-20 historical edge over Europa League winners. Paris Saint-Germain enter as the Champions League representative after defeating Arsenal in the final, seeking to claim back-to-back Super Cup titles. On the other side, Aston Villa qualified as the Europa League champion after securing a decisive 3-0 victory over SC Freiburg in its final. When and where are PSG and Aston Villa facing each other? Following joint approval by European football governing bodies, the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between PSG and Aston Villa takes place on Wednesday, August 12, at 3:00 p.m. ET. With both Ligue 1 and the Premier League yet to start their domestic campaigns, this clash serves as the official 2026-27 opener for both clubs. ⚽️ Paris vs Aston Villa 📅 Wednesday 12 August ⌛️ 21:00 CET 🏟️ Stadion Salzburg#SuperCup pic.twitter.com/x6uPL3gdcK— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 10, 2026 The host venue is the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria. Opened in March 2003, the stadium hosted three group-stage fixtures during UEFA EURO 2008 and serves as the regular home of FC Red Bull Salzburg, an Austrian power with extensive European tournament experience. What is the UEFA Super Cup prize money? Following its Champions League triumph, PSG generated over €100 million across the entire tournament, while Aston Villa earned around €21.5 million during its successful Europa League run. However, as a standalone single-match exhibition, the Super Cup distributes a localized prize pool. Mirroring the distribution model of previous seasons, the 2026 UEFA Super Cup awards a base appearance fee of €4 million to both participating clubs. The club that lifts the trophy in Salzburg will claim an additional €1 million winner’s bonus. Who will referee the UEFA Super Cup? Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between PSG and Aston Villa. Coordinates through a joint refereeing development partnership between UEFA and CAF, Artan becomes the first African match official in history to lead the head crew in a UEFA Super Cup final. Artan generated global headlines in recent months after entry issues prevented him from officiating at the 2026 World Cup in the United States. In response, UEFA chose to recognize the referee’s elite credentials by entrusting him with one of the most prominent single-match finals on the European calendar.
Manchester United are interested in signing Leicester City midfielder Louis Page this summer. According to Danyal Khan from Sky Sports, the 17-year-old midfielder is keen on joining Manchester United this summer. We have previously covered reports claiming that Arsenal are interested in the talented young midfielder as well. The fact that he wants to join […] The post Manchester United target keen on Old Trafford move after fresh development appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Enzo Maresca is preparing for his first campaign as Manchester City boss (Picture: Getty Images) Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca says Jeremy Monga made the right choice in turning down Arsenal and moving to the Etihad from Leicester City instead. The 17-year-old has already got 37 first team appearances to his name for the Foxes, seven of which came in the Premier League. The winger was being pursued by both Arsenal and Manchester City this summer and revealed that he was very close to choosing north London as his next home. Speaking of interest from the Gunners in him, Monga told the BBC: ‘It was very strong because it was very close to me going there, very close.’ Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. On why he opted for Manchester City, he explained: ‘The main decision was probably the pathway and the club itself. ‘They’ve been so successful that it was a no-brainer when City call. It’s every child’s dream to win trophies and be at the top with the best. ‘Once I get the opportunity I just need to show myself, and once I do that, everything will take care of itself. I feel like, to me personally, I see myself at City more. I see myself in blue.’ Jeremy Monga had some very attractive options in front of him (Picture: REUTERS) City snapped up the teenager for £10m and he is hoping that the pathway is as clear as he believed it to be and he can make an impression on the first team this season. Monga has featured in pre-season, coming off the bench against a K-League XI last week, but was an unused substitute as City beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Sunday. Maresca feels the youngster made the right choice in choosing his summer move and feels Manchester City’s accumulation of silverware over the last 10 years makes them a more attractive prospect than their rivals. Monga appeared for Manchester City in Seoul last week (Picture: Getty Images) ‘Absolutely yes,’ he said of City being an extremely attractive proposition for young players. ‘What the club and this organisation has made in the last 10-15 years is unbelievable. ‘So it’s also for the young generation, for the young players, it’s a good reason why to join this club and I think Jeremy did the right choice.’ The new manager added of the teenager: ‘Jeremy is doing well. The important thing is they work without pressure. Just enjoy, work hard and then with spending days together, for sure they’re going to be better.’ England star Elliot Anderson has arrived at Manchester City (Picture: Getty Images) Monga will need some time to work his way into the first team, while another new signing, Elliot Anderson, is likely to go straight into the side after his big-money move from Nottingham Forest. Speaking of his new £116m midfielder, Maresca said: ‘When we make a decision it’s not just about how they are as a player – which is important – but we also look at the behaviour, the person, the human. ‘Elliot has all these kind of things. He’s a fantastic player, a very nice guy, humble, polite and it will be a pleasure for me to work with him.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Ronald Araujo was unveiled at Liverpool on Monday (Picture: Getty Images) New Liverpool signing Ronald Araujo used to get up early in the morning to watch their matches when his countryman Luis Suarez starred for the club. The Uruguayan defender has arrived at Anfield on a season-long loan deal from Barcelona, with a €55 million (£47m) buy option for the Reds. The 27-year-old has been at Barcelona since 2018, making 213 appearances for the Spanish giants and winning three La Liga titles. He has not always been a regular in the starting XI, but has featured regularly, making 38 appearances in all competitions last season. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. The Reds have brought him in as they reshape their defence following the departure of Ibrahima Konate to Real Madrid. Araujo is delighted to be at Anfield, partly because of the Uruguayan connection as he watched on from his homeland when Suarez was banging in the goals for the Reds from 2011-14. ‘Of course I did,’ he said of following Suarez when he was at Liverpool. Araujo will hope to partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back (Picture: REUTERS) ‘We loved watching the English Premier League and everyone in Uruguay gets up early in the morning to catch the games. ‘Of course as a kid I used to watch Luis playing all those fantastic games for Liverpool. We all know what he achieved, the history that he made within this club during his time here. So it’s fantastic. ‘From minute one, I’ve been sort of asked about that kind of comparison since I’ve arrived here. I get on really well with him, we’re quite close. ‘Just a few minutes ago I got a good luck message from him saying all the best, you’ve joined a great club and all the very best for your time here.’ Araujo (right) played for Uruguay against England at Wembley in March (Picture: Getty Images) The Reds have another friendly coming up against Como on Saturday before starting their Premier League campaign at Newcastle on August 23. ‘I can’t wait to get started. I’m very, very happy,’ said the new arrival. ‘I’m excited to be here at this massive club with lots of history. I’m excited to meet my teammates, excited to get started playing, and I’m very motivated and really up for getting going. ‘I think it was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career. I think it was a move that was necessary for me to take. As soon as I heard that interest from Liverpool, everything went into action really, really quickly. ‘As I say, I’m super-happy to be here and excited to get started. I’m glad about the interest and it was the right move at the right time.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Youri Tielemans has arrived at Manchester United from Aston Villa this summer (Picture: Getty Images) Harry Maguire has run the rule over Manchester United’s summer signings so far, tipping one in particular to be a ‘big player’ for the club this season. The Red Devils’ transfer business so far has seen Andrey Santos arrive from Chelsea, Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Karl Darlow from Leeds United. There are likely to be more arrivals before the transfer window closes, but Manchester United go into their penultimate friendly of the season with just the three new first team signings. Maguire has seen Santos and Tielemans in action in training and friendlies already and has liked what he has seen. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. He reckons the 22-year-old Brazilian has already made progress since joining the club, while he thinks 29-year-old Tielemans is primed to make a big impact instantly at Old Trafford after his £35m move. The centre-back played alongside the Belgian before leaving Leicester in 2019 and saw his quality up close even back then. ‘Andrey has been here since minute one of pre-season and he’s been amazing. You can really feel the progress he’s making already,’ Maguire told Manchester United club media. Andrey Santos was signed from Chelsea for £48m (Picture: Getty Images) ‘Youri, I played with him at Leicester for a few months so I know the ability and talent that he has. ‘He’s at an age now where he’s going to come in, I’m sure he’s not going to need settling in, he’s going to come in and be a big player for this club. He’s a top player, I know that.’ The England international also had praise for the character of Darlow, who is unlikely to play much football for Manchester United, but has come in to support first choice goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Tielemans was a shock arrival from Aston Villa this summer (Picture: Getty Images) The Wales international is out injured, but Maguire feels his presence is a positive one for the squad. ‘Karl is out for a little bit at the moment, but I know Karl, I’ve played against him numerous times over the years,’ he said. ‘He’s a great lad to have around the place, around the dressing room. ‘He can bring great leadership and value to the team on the pitch but also off the pitch as well.’ Harry Maguire with captain Bruno Fernandes after the draw with PSG (Picture: Getty Images) Manchester United’s pre-season preparations continue on Wednesday in Dublin against Leeds United, before a final friendly against AC Milan in Poland. Their Premier League campaign begins on August 22 against one of Maguire’s former clubs, Hull City. The defender has talked up an improvement on last season’s results, despite them being encouraging since Michael Carrick took charge in January. ‘There will be new ideas and different ways of playing. Last season, we played very well in certain matches, but we could have done better in others. We know that,’ he said. ‘The results and points were there, but we could have delivered better performances. We worked on it during the pre-season, and I think we’ll see better performances.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Frank Lampard’s Coventry will play in the Premier League for the first time since 2001 (Photo: Getty) A former Manchester United star is reportedly keen on returning to the Premier League amid interest from Frank Lampard’s Coventry City. After cruising to the Championship title, Coventry are preparing to play in the Premier League for the first time since in 2001, kicking-off the new season against champions Arsenal on August 21. And Lampard has splashed the case this summer transfer window, spending £86million on five players, including highly-rated English goalkeeper Carl Rushworth from Brighton. More signings will be needed to give the Sky Blues the best possible chance of avoiding relegation and, according to L’Equipe, they have made enquiries about Marseille’s Angel Gomes. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. The midfielder came through United’s academy but failed to break into the first-team before joining Lille, where he quietly impressed, leading to Lee Carsley giving him his England debut in 2024. Gomes only signed for Marseille last summer before spending the second-half of the season on loan at Wolves, though he was unable to stop their relegation. It is said that the 25-year-old wants another chance to prove himself in his homeland and while Marseille do not wish to sell him, they will not stand in his way if a suitable deal can be agreed. Angel Gomes joined Marseille on a free only last summer (Photo: Getty) Due to their financial situation, the French club need to sell this summer, and as one of their top earners, Gomes, who is under contract until 2028, is a top candidate to leave. Additionally, Sky Sports report that Marseille striker Neal Maupay, formerly of Brentford, Everton and Brighton, and defender Leonardo Balerdi, are also of interest to several Premier League clubs. Newcastle United were on course to sign Gomes’ current midfield partner Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to replace captain Brumo Guimaraes, who recently completed a £75m switch to Arsenal. Gomes made just 10 senior appearances for boyhood club Man Utd (Photo: Getty) However, it was reported on Monday that the former Tottenham star has declined the chance to return to England, in yet another transfer blow for the Magpies. In other news, rumours from Italy suggest Lampard is preparing an ambitious bid to reunite with former Chelsea and England centre-back Fikayo Tomori, whose future at AC Milan is unclear. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
In a mailbag edition of his newsletter, Jonathan Wilson answers questions about Michael Carrick, VAR and the Premier League’s new teamsSign up for our free newsletter hereManchester United finally seem to have something that resembles stability in the dressing room under Michael Carrick. I feel with quality signings in defence and midfield, they could mount a decent challenge for the Premier League next season. How do you feel they will fare? – Sterling.There’s an odd sense that Michael Carrick’s level of achievement last season was at precisely the most awkward level for the board. United didn’t produce indisputably brilliant football under him but equally 12 wins and three draws in 17 games was good enough that they pretty much had to give him the job. But it’s one thing to turn out those kinds of results when the pressure’s off, you’re already out of both cup competitions and you don’t have any European football; it’s quite another to do it in the heat of a full season. United don’t have to have an especially amazing season to play 15 more games this season than they did in 2025-26.This is an extract from Soccer Desk, a newsletter from the Guardian US. Subscribe for free here. Continue reading...
Who will win the Carabao Cup this season? (Photo: Getty) Chelsea and Tottenham have both been drawn at home in the second round of the Carabao Cup, with their campaigns getting underway this month. The Carabao Cup kicked-off proper last weekend, with clubs up and down the EFL battling it out, all dreaming of reaching the final at Wembley in March. The second round of the competition is when things heat up as the 11 Premier League teams who did not qualify for Europe enter the draw. That means that, rather unusually, two of England’s biggest clubs, Chelsea and Tottenham are in the hat and will have to play an extra round compared to their typical rivals. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. By virtue of qualifying for the Champions League, holders Manchester City and last season’s finalists Arsenal will enter the cup in round three, as will Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool. The same applies for Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Sunderland and Brighton, who are competing in the Europa League and Conference League this season. Carabao Cup round two draw Man City beat Arsenal in last season’s Carabao Cup final (Photo: Getty) Northern section draw Stoke City v Hull CityNewcastle v West Bromwich AlbionBlackburn v Sheffield UnitedNottingham Forest v LeedsDoncaster Rovers v MiddlesbroughBarnsley v CrewePreston v EvertonBlackpool v LincolnSheffield Wednesday v WolvesBradford v BurnleyFleetwood v Shrewsbury Xabi Alonso will get an early taste of Carabao as Chelsea boss (Picture: Getty Images) Southern section draw Walsall v Leyton OrientIpswich v LeicesterCardiff v NorwichStevenage v ReadingCambridge v MillwallBirmingham v BrentfordSouthampton v West HamWatford v PeterboroughFulham v AFC WimbledonPlymouth/Exeter v CoventryChelsea v LutonTottenham Hotspur v Charlton When is the Carabao Cup second round? All second round matches are due to be played during the week commencing Monday, August 24. The nine Premier League clubs in European competition join in round three, with those fixtures beginning in the week commencing September 7. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Ashley Young is ‘gutted’ Danny Welbeck didn’t rejoin Manchester United (Picture: Sky Sports) Ashley Young says he is ‘gutted’ Danny Welbeck made a transfer move to Chelsea rather than former club Manchester United this summer. Chelsea have moved away from their purely youth-led transfer policy to add some much-needed experience to their dressing room ahead of Xabi Alonso’s debut season at the helm. After beating Arsenal to a £117million deal for Morgan Rogers, the Blues turned their attentions to Welbeck, a move that took many fans by surprise given the forward is set to turn 36 in November. Welbeck would go on to leave Brighton for Chelsea for a fee in the region of £5million, with the veteran attacker putting pen to paper on a two-year deal in west London. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. Just two days later, it was announced that 36-year-old Jordan Henderson had decided to terminate his contract at Brentford to follow Welbeck through the doors at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea supporters got a first glimpse of Welbeck in their colours last week as the ex-England international was given a 45-minute run-out in the side’s pre-season clash with Juventus. Young, who played alongside Welbeck for four years at Manchester United, has been impressed by Chelsea’s transfer business and is confident his old team-mate can make a big impact both on and off the pitch. Welbeck has put pen to paper on a two-year deal at Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty) The veteran forward made his unofficial Chelsea debut against Juventus (Picture: Getty) ‘Chelsea have made some good signings and they need some experience in that squad,’ Young told talkSPORT. ‘He’s a really good friend of mine, Welbs is. ‘I’ve been speaking to him the last couple of weeks.’ Welbeck should have been in England’s World Cup squad, says Young (Picture: Getty) Asked if Welbeck is excited for the season ahead at Chelsea, Young replied: ‘Yeah, of course he is. He’s delighted to be signing for Chelsea, especially at this stage of his career. ‘He’s proved himself time and time again. ‘Could he have been on the plane going to the World Cup? For me, I’m probably being biased in saying he should have, but he wasn’t. ‘He’s been fantastic and I’m gutted he hasn’t gone back to United, to be honest.’ {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Xabi Alonso says Chelsea are 'thrilled' to have Mykhailo Mudryk back with the squad","contentUrl":"https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2026\/08\/04\/3201686063122201576\/480x270_MP4_3201686063122201576.mp4","description":"Chelsea's new head coach Xabi Alonso says he wants to 'fight for important things' this season. This comes as he spoke to the media ahead of a friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong.","duration":"T4M44S","height":270,"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/08\/04\/18\/110436895-0-image-m-12_1785863746233.jpg","uploadDate":"2026-08-04T18:15:03+0100","width":480} To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page window.addEventListener('metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded', function(data) { if (typeof(data.detail) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === 'undefined') { return; } var player = data.detail.carousel.el_; var container = player.closest('.metro-video-player'); var placeholder = container.querySelector('.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder'); if (placeholder) { container.removeChild(placeholder); container.classList.add('metro-video-player--related-videos-loaded'); } }); Earlier this month, Old Trafford great Gary Neville – another of Welbeck’s former team-mates – criticised United for allowing the striker to leave for Arsenal back in 2014. According to Neville, the 2012/13 Premier Leag
Morocco international midfielder has agreed terms Barça to return with improved bid for RodriManchester City are closing in on signing Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, with the midfielder’s expected arrival clearing the path for Rodri to join Barcelona. The 18-year-old has agreed personal terms with City, but the club are still finalising the deal with Lille who value Bouaddi at €100m (£85m).City’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, wants to integrate the Morocco international into his first-team squad immediately. City meet Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday and start their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth on 23 August. Continue reading...
Manchester City appear to be closing in on one of Europe’s most exciting young midfielders, with Ayyoub Bouaddi now pushing to complete a move from Lille this summer rather than waiting another year. The 18-year-old’s reputation has risen sharply over the past two seasons, and his performances for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup only […] The post Just in: Midfielder agrees personal terms with Man City, wants immediate move appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Ronald Araujo is expected to complete his season-long loan move to Liverpool, and Darwin Nunez has wished him the best of luck at Anfield. The post Nunez confident ‘special’ Liverpool supporters will help Araujo thrive appeared first on SoccerNews.
Inter Milan could sacrifice Davide Frattesi before the transfer deadline as Cristian Chivu continues pushing for Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones. The Serie A champions have identified Jones as a priority addition, but completing the deal appears closely connected to creating both financial and squad space. Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source […] The post Club ready to sell midfielder in order to make place for Liverpool star Curtis Jones appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Michael Carrick during Manchester United’s pre-season camp (Picture: Getty) Manchester United have been told they have already secured one of the signings of the summer ahead of the new Premier League season. Michael Carrick has welcomed Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Karl Darlow to his first-team squad at Old Trafford this summer. Tynan Thompson, Kit Margetson and Cristian Orozco have also arrived at Manchester United but will join the club’s academy. United made Brazilian midfielder Santos their first signing of the summer in a £48m move from big-spending Chelsea. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. The Red Devils raided another Premier League rival in Aston Villa to sign Belgium international Tielemans for £35m. Hundreds of millions has already been spent on midfield reinforcements this summer, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes all sealing lucrative moves. John Obi Mikel rates Manchester United’s deal for Tielemans as the pick of the bunch, however, describing the signing as a ‘f****** steal’. Man Utd summer signing Youri Tielemans (Picture: Getty) ‘For me, it’s Youri Tielemans,’ the Chelsea legend said on The Obi One podcast when asked for his take on the most impressive midfield signing of the summer. ‘Honestly, how the f*** did Manchester United get him for £35m? That’s a f****** steal. I watched him before and during the World Cup, and you can see that this is a player. ‘Obviously, we all know how Tielemans plays, he can play as a six, an eight or a ten and when you have a player that can play anywhere, it gives you the variety to change the way you want to play. Tielemans is that guy. Tielemans during Man Utd pre-season (Picture: Getty) ‘He scores goals, he’s dangerous from set pieces, he’s brilliant on the ball, and he rarely gives it away. The only thing people can say is that he’s not the quickest, but he reads the game so well. ‘He is very intelligent with and without the ball. When I look at all the midfielders that have transferred to different clubs [this summer], the best one is Tielemans.’ Former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld has also praised Manchester United’s move for Tielemans. https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbdvh2TAoys/?hl=en ‘The problem with modern football is that sometimes we look too much at stats like assists and goals,’ he told Hajper. ‘Of course, Youri Tielemans creates assists and scores goals, and can shoot from outside the box and score free kicks, but he is so much more than that. ‘Tielemans is a link up player, and you have to watch him to understand why he is so important to his teams, not just look at his stats, because he is always trying to play the ball forward. Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel (Picture: Getty) ‘You have some midfield players who have a pass success rate of 98% but they are always playing the ball backwards. Tielemans is a guy who turns, opens up and plays the ball between the lines, and that’s very important for a club like Manchester United who need to break other teams down. ‘Even when he’s playing in a deep role, he’s playing it in an attacking way. He’s thinking about going forwards, always. ‘Sometimes he will lose the ball but that’s what happens when you take some risks in games to make things happen, and I think that’s something United need, and he has the mentality to be brave and positive under the big pressure of the shirt. ‘He will put in ultra big effort and say to his team mates, give me the ball and let me change the game for you. He will take the responsibility to take Manchester United forward.’ Carrick is still interested in bringing a third new midfielder to Old Trafford this summer before the transfer window shuts. United drew 1-1 with European champions PSG in a pre-season friendly on Saturday night. Manchester United have two more tun
Delap scores twice from spot in 3-3 draw with JDTManager made 11 changes against Malaysian championsChelsea’s problems mounted as their pre-season tour came to an end in a strangely fiery draw against the Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim. The omens do not look promising with a bloated choice of forwards, echoes of their inexperience and indiscipline last season, and fewer than two weeks for the new manager, Xabi Alonso, to reintegrate key players and work with the entirety of his squad before they kick off the Premier League season against Fulham – managed by his old friend Álvaro Arbeloa – on 24 August.Alonso, tasked with transforming a club that finished 10th in the Premier League last season into Champions League qualifiers, made 11 changes for the friendly against JDT. He rested players after beating Milan with a strong lineup only 24 hours earlier, 600 miles away. Continue reading...
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The 2026-27 season is about to begin in Europe with the UEFA Super Cup 2026 being the first important trophy at stake, with the teams, date, venue, kickoff time, and prize money already set. The 2026-27 European club season is set to kick off following the 2026 World Cup, with the UEFA Super Cup representing the first official hardware up for grabs on the continent. Everything is locked in for the marquee matchup between the two continental champions, including kickoff time, stadium location, and financial purses. The UEFA Super Cup is the annual single-leg showcase pitting the reigning winners of Europe’s top two club competitions: the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. First contested in 1973, the event has endured for over five decades, with Champions League victors holding a 30-20 historical edge over Europa League winners. Paris Saint-Germain enter as the Champions League representative after defeating Arsenal in the final, seeking to claim back-to-back Super Cup titles. On the other side, Aston Villa qualified as the Europa League champion after securing a decisive 3-0 victory over SC Freiburg in its final. When and where are PSG and Aston Villa facing each other? Following joint approval by European football governing bodies, the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between PSG and Aston Villa takes place on Wednesday, August 12, at 3:00 p.m. ET. With both Ligue 1 and the Premier League yet to start their domestic campaigns, this clash serves as the official 2026-27 opener for both clubs. ⚽️ Paris vs Aston Villa 📅 Wednesday 12 August ⌛️ 21:00 CET 🏟️ Stadion Salzburg#SuperCup pic.twitter.com/x6uPL3gdcK— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 10, 2026 The host venue is the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria. Opened in March 2003, the stadium hosted three group-stage fixtures during UEFA EURO 2008 and serves as the regular home of FC Red Bull Salzburg, an Austrian power with extensive European tournament experience. What is the UEFA Super Cup prize money? Following its Champions League triumph, PSG generated over €100 million across the entire tournament, while Aston Villa earned around €21.5 million during its successful Europa League run. However, as a standalone single-match exhibition, the Super Cup distributes a localized prize pool. Mirroring the distribution model of previous seasons, the 2026 UEFA Super Cup awards a base appearance fee of €4 million to both participating clubs. The club that lifts the trophy in Salzburg will claim an additional €1 million winner’s bonus. Who will referee the UEFA Super Cup? Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between PSG and Aston Villa. Coordinates through a joint refereeing development partnership between UEFA and CAF, Artan becomes the first African match official in history to lead the head crew in a UEFA Super Cup final. Artan generated global headlines in recent months after entry issues prevented him from officiating at the 2026 World Cup in the United States. In response, UEFA chose to recognize the referee’s elite credentials by entrusting him with one of the most prominent single-match finals on the European calendar.
Manchester United are interested in signing Leicester City midfielder Louis Page this summer. According to Danyal Khan from Sky Sports, the 17-year-old midfielder is keen on joining Manchester United this summer. We have previously covered reports claiming that Arsenal are interested in the talented young midfielder as well. The fact that he wants to join […] The post Manchester United target keen on Old Trafford move after fresh development appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Enzo Maresca is preparing for his first campaign as Manchester City boss (Picture: Getty Images) Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca says Jeremy Monga made the right choice in turning down Arsenal and moving to the Etihad from Leicester City instead. The 17-year-old has already got 37 first team appearances to his name for the Foxes, seven of which came in the Premier League. The winger was being pursued by both Arsenal and Manchester City this summer and revealed that he was very close to choosing north London as his next home. Speaking of interest from the Gunners in him, Monga told the BBC: ‘It was very strong because it was very close to me going there, very close.’ Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. On why he opted for Manchester City, he explained: ‘The main decision was probably the pathway and the club itself. ‘They’ve been so successful that it was a no-brainer when City call. It’s every child’s dream to win trophies and be at the top with the best. ‘Once I get the opportunity I just need to show myself, and once I do that, everything will take care of itself. I feel like, to me personally, I see myself at City more. I see myself in blue.’ Jeremy Monga had some very attractive options in front of him (Picture: REUTERS) City snapped up the teenager for £10m and he is hoping that the pathway is as clear as he believed it to be and he can make an impression on the first team this season. Monga has featured in pre-season, coming off the bench against a K-League XI last week, but was an unused substitute as City beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Sunday. Maresca feels the youngster made the right choice in choosing his summer move and feels Manchester City’s accumulation of silverware over the last 10 years makes them a more attractive prospect than their rivals. Monga appeared for Manchester City in Seoul last week (Picture: Getty Images) ‘Absolutely yes,’ he said of City being an extremely attractive proposition for young players. ‘What the club and this organisation has made in the last 10-15 years is unbelievable. ‘So it’s also for the young generation, for the young players, it’s a good reason why to join this club and I think Jeremy did the right choice.’ The new manager added of the teenager: ‘Jeremy is doing well. The important thing is they work without pressure. Just enjoy, work hard and then with spending days together, for sure they’re going to be better.’ England star Elliot Anderson has arrived at Manchester City (Picture: Getty Images) Monga will need some time to work his way into the first team, while another new signing, Elliot Anderson, is likely to go straight into the side after his big-money move from Nottingham Forest. Speaking of his new £116m midfielder, Maresca said: ‘When we make a decision it’s not just about how they are as a player – which is important – but we also look at the behaviour, the person, the human. ‘Elliot has all these kind of things. He’s a fantastic player, a very nice guy, humble, polite and it will be a pleasure for me to work with him.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Ronald Araujo was unveiled at Liverpool on Monday (Picture: Getty Images) New Liverpool signing Ronald Araujo used to get up early in the morning to watch their matches when his countryman Luis Suarez starred for the club. The Uruguayan defender has arrived at Anfield on a season-long loan deal from Barcelona, with a €55 million (£47m) buy option for the Reds. The 27-year-old has been at Barcelona since 2018, making 213 appearances for the Spanish giants and winning three La Liga titles. He has not always been a regular in the starting XI, but has featured regularly, making 38 appearances in all competitions last season. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. The Reds have brought him in as they reshape their defence following the departure of Ibrahima Konate to Real Madrid. Araujo is delighted to be at Anfield, partly because of the Uruguayan connection as he watched on from his homeland when Suarez was banging in the goals for the Reds from 2011-14. ‘Of course I did,’ he said of following Suarez when he was at Liverpool. Araujo will hope to partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back (Picture: REUTERS) ‘We loved watching the English Premier League and everyone in Uruguay gets up early in the morning to catch the games. ‘Of course as a kid I used to watch Luis playing all those fantastic games for Liverpool. We all know what he achieved, the history that he made within this club during his time here. So it’s fantastic. ‘From minute one, I’ve been sort of asked about that kind of comparison since I’ve arrived here. I get on really well with him, we’re quite close. ‘Just a few minutes ago I got a good luck message from him saying all the best, you’ve joined a great club and all the very best for your time here.’ Araujo (right) played for Uruguay against England at Wembley in March (Picture: Getty Images) The Reds have another friendly coming up against Como on Saturday before starting their Premier League campaign at Newcastle on August 23. ‘I can’t wait to get started. I’m very, very happy,’ said the new arrival. ‘I’m excited to be here at this massive club with lots of history. I’m excited to meet my teammates, excited to get started playing, and I’m very motivated and really up for getting going. ‘I think it was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career. I think it was a move that was necessary for me to take. As soon as I heard that interest from Liverpool, everything went into action really, really quickly. ‘As I say, I’m super-happy to be here and excited to get started. I’m glad about the interest and it was the right move at the right time.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Youri Tielemans has arrived at Manchester United from Aston Villa this summer (Picture: Getty Images) Harry Maguire has run the rule over Manchester United’s summer signings so far, tipping one in particular to be a ‘big player’ for the club this season. The Red Devils’ transfer business so far has seen Andrey Santos arrive from Chelsea, Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Karl Darlow from Leeds United. There are likely to be more arrivals before the transfer window closes, but Manchester United go into their penultimate friendly of the season with just the three new first team signings. Maguire has seen Santos and Tielemans in action in training and friendlies already and has liked what he has seen. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. He reckons the 22-year-old Brazilian has already made progress since joining the club, while he thinks 29-year-old Tielemans is primed to make a big impact instantly at Old Trafford after his £35m move. The centre-back played alongside the Belgian before leaving Leicester in 2019 and saw his quality up close even back then. ‘Andrey has been here since minute one of pre-season and he’s been amazing. You can really feel the progress he’s making already,’ Maguire told Manchester United club media. Andrey Santos was signed from Chelsea for £48m (Picture: Getty Images) ‘Youri, I played with him at Leicester for a few months so I know the ability and talent that he has. ‘He’s at an age now where he’s going to come in, I’m sure he’s not going to need settling in, he’s going to come in and be a big player for this club. He’s a top player, I know that.’ The England international also had praise for the character of Darlow, who is unlikely to play much football for Manchester United, but has come in to support first choice goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Tielemans was a shock arrival from Aston Villa this summer (Picture: Getty Images) The Wales international is out injured, but Maguire feels his presence is a positive one for the squad. ‘Karl is out for a little bit at the moment, but I know Karl, I’ve played against him numerous times over the years,’ he said. ‘He’s a great lad to have around the place, around the dressing room. ‘He can bring great leadership and value to the team on the pitch but also off the pitch as well.’ Harry Maguire with captain Bruno Fernandes after the draw with PSG (Picture: Getty Images) Manchester United’s pre-season preparations continue on Wednesday in Dublin against Leeds United, before a final friendly against AC Milan in Poland. Their Premier League campaign begins on August 22 against one of Maguire’s former clubs, Hull City. The defender has talked up an improvement on last season’s results, despite them being encouraging since Michael Carrick took charge in January. ‘There will be new ideas and different ways of playing. Last season, we played very well in certain matches, but we could have done better in others. We know that,’ he said. ‘The results and points were there, but we could have delivered better performances. We worked on it during the pre-season, and I think we’ll see better performances.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Frank Lampard’s Coventry will play in the Premier League for the first time since 2001 (Photo: Getty) A former Manchester United star is reportedly keen on returning to the Premier League amid interest from Frank Lampard’s Coventry City. After cruising to the Championship title, Coventry are preparing to play in the Premier League for the first time since in 2001, kicking-off the new season against champions Arsenal on August 21. And Lampard has splashed the case this summer transfer window, spending £86million on five players, including highly-rated English goalkeeper Carl Rushworth from Brighton. More signings will be needed to give the Sky Blues the best possible chance of avoiding relegation and, according to L’Equipe, they have made enquiries about Marseille’s Angel Gomes. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. The midfielder came through United’s academy but failed to break into the first-team before joining Lille, where he quietly impressed, leading to Lee Carsley giving him his England debut in 2024. Gomes only signed for Marseille last summer before spending the second-half of the season on loan at Wolves, though he was unable to stop their relegation. It is said that the 25-year-old wants another chance to prove himself in his homeland and while Marseille do not wish to sell him, they will not stand in his way if a suitable deal can be agreed. Angel Gomes joined Marseille on a free only last summer (Photo: Getty) Due to their financial situation, the French club need to sell this summer, and as one of their top earners, Gomes, who is under contract until 2028, is a top candidate to leave. Additionally, Sky Sports report that Marseille striker Neal Maupay, formerly of Brentford, Everton and Brighton, and defender Leonardo Balerdi, are also of interest to several Premier League clubs. Newcastle United were on course to sign Gomes’ current midfield partner Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to replace captain Brumo Guimaraes, who recently completed a £75m switch to Arsenal. Gomes made just 10 senior appearances for boyhood club Man Utd (Photo: Getty) However, it was reported on Monday that the former Tottenham star has declined the chance to return to England, in yet another transfer blow for the Magpies. In other news, rumours from Italy suggest Lampard is preparing an ambitious bid to reunite with former Chelsea and England centre-back Fikayo Tomori, whose future at AC Milan is unclear. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
In a mailbag edition of his newsletter, Jonathan Wilson answers questions about Michael Carrick, VAR and the Premier League’s new teamsSign up for our free newsletter hereManchester United finally seem to have something that resembles stability in the dressing room under Michael Carrick. I feel with quality signings in defence and midfield, they could mount a decent challenge for the Premier League next season. How do you feel they will fare? – Sterling.There’s an odd sense that Michael Carrick’s level of achievement last season was at precisely the most awkward level for the board. United didn’t produce indisputably brilliant football under him but equally 12 wins and three draws in 17 games was good enough that they pretty much had to give him the job. But it’s one thing to turn out those kinds of results when the pressure’s off, you’re already out of both cup competitions and you don’t have any European football; it’s quite another to do it in the heat of a full season. United don’t have to have an especially amazing season to play 15 more games this season than they did in 2025-26.This is an extract from Soccer Desk, a newsletter from the Guardian US. Subscribe for free here. Continue reading...
Who will win the Carabao Cup this season? (Photo: Getty) Chelsea and Tottenham have both been drawn at home in the second round of the Carabao Cup, with their campaigns getting underway this month. The Carabao Cup kicked-off proper last weekend, with clubs up and down the EFL battling it out, all dreaming of reaching the final at Wembley in March. The second round of the competition is when things heat up as the 11 Premier League teams who did not qualify for Europe enter the draw. That means that, rather unusually, two of England’s biggest clubs, Chelsea and Tottenham are in the hat and will have to play an extra round compared to their typical rivals. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. By virtue of qualifying for the Champions League, holders Manchester City and last season’s finalists Arsenal will enter the cup in round three, as will Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool. The same applies for Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Sunderland and Brighton, who are competing in the Europa League and Conference League this season. Carabao Cup round two draw Man City beat Arsenal in last season’s Carabao Cup final (Photo: Getty) Northern section draw Stoke City v Hull CityNewcastle v West Bromwich AlbionBlackburn v Sheffield UnitedNottingham Forest v LeedsDoncaster Rovers v MiddlesbroughBarnsley v CrewePreston v EvertonBlackpool v LincolnSheffield Wednesday v WolvesBradford v BurnleyFleetwood v Shrewsbury Xabi Alonso will get an early taste of Carabao as Chelsea boss (Picture: Getty Images) Southern section draw Walsall v Leyton OrientIpswich v LeicesterCardiff v NorwichStevenage v ReadingCambridge v MillwallBirmingham v BrentfordSouthampton v West HamWatford v PeterboroughFulham v AFC WimbledonPlymouth/Exeter v CoventryChelsea v LutonTottenham Hotspur v Charlton When is the Carabao Cup second round? All second round matches are due to be played during the week commencing Monday, August 24. The nine Premier League clubs in European competition join in round three, with those fixtures beginning in the week commencing September 7. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Ashley Young is ‘gutted’ Danny Welbeck didn’t rejoin Manchester United (Picture: Sky Sports) Ashley Young says he is ‘gutted’ Danny Welbeck made a transfer move to Chelsea rather than former club Manchester United this summer. Chelsea have moved away from their purely youth-led transfer policy to add some much-needed experience to their dressing room ahead of Xabi Alonso’s debut season at the helm. After beating Arsenal to a £117million deal for Morgan Rogers, the Blues turned their attentions to Welbeck, a move that took many fans by surprise given the forward is set to turn 36 in November. Welbeck would go on to leave Brighton for Chelsea for a fee in the region of £5million, with the veteran attacker putting pen to paper on a two-year deal in west London. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. Just two days later, it was announced that 36-year-old Jordan Henderson had decided to terminate his contract at Brentford to follow Welbeck through the doors at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea supporters got a first glimpse of Welbeck in their colours last week as the ex-England international was given a 45-minute run-out in the side’s pre-season clash with Juventus. Young, who played alongside Welbeck for four years at Manchester United, has been impressed by Chelsea’s transfer business and is confident his old team-mate can make a big impact both on and off the pitch. Welbeck has put pen to paper on a two-year deal at Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty) The veteran forward made his unofficial Chelsea debut against Juventus (Picture: Getty) ‘Chelsea have made some good signings and they need some experience in that squad,’ Young told talkSPORT. ‘He’s a really good friend of mine, Welbs is. ‘I’ve been speaking to him the last couple of weeks.’ Welbeck should have been in England’s World Cup squad, says Young (Picture: Getty) Asked if Welbeck is excited for the season ahead at Chelsea, Young replied: ‘Yeah, of course he is. He’s delighted to be signing for Chelsea, especially at this stage of his career. ‘He’s proved himself time and time again. ‘Could he have been on the plane going to the World Cup? For me, I’m probably being biased in saying he should have, but he wasn’t. ‘He’s been fantastic and I’m gutted he hasn’t gone back to United, to be honest.’ {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Xabi Alonso says Chelsea are 'thrilled' to have Mykhailo Mudryk back with the squad","contentUrl":"https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2026\/08\/04\/3201686063122201576\/480x270_MP4_3201686063122201576.mp4","description":"Chelsea's new head coach Xabi Alonso says he wants to 'fight for important things' this season. This comes as he spoke to the media ahead of a friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong.","duration":"T4M44S","height":270,"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/08\/04\/18\/110436895-0-image-m-12_1785863746233.jpg","uploadDate":"2026-08-04T18:15:03+0100","width":480} To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page window.addEventListener('metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded', function(data) { if (typeof(data.detail) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === 'undefined') { return; } var player = data.detail.carousel.el_; var container = player.closest('.metro-video-player'); var placeholder = container.querySelector('.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder'); if (placeholder) { container.removeChild(placeholder); container.classList.add('metro-video-player--related-videos-loaded'); } }); Earlier this month, Old Trafford great Gary Neville – another of Welbeck’s former team-mates – criticised United for allowing the striker to leave for Arsenal back in 2014. According to Neville, the 2012/13 Premier Leag
Morocco international midfielder has agreed terms Barça to return with improved bid for RodriManchester City are closing in on signing Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, with the midfielder’s expected arrival clearing the path for Rodri to join Barcelona. The 18-year-old has agreed personal terms with City, but the club are still finalising the deal with Lille who value Bouaddi at €100m (£85m).City’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, wants to integrate the Morocco international into his first-team squad immediately. City meet Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday and start their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth on 23 August. Continue reading...
Manchester City appear to be closing in on one of Europe’s most exciting young midfielders, with Ayyoub Bouaddi now pushing to complete a move from Lille this summer rather than waiting another year. The 18-year-old’s reputation has risen sharply over the past two seasons, and his performances for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup only […] The post Just in: Midfielder agrees personal terms with Man City, wants immediate move appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Ronald Araujo is expected to complete his season-long loan move to Liverpool, and Darwin Nunez has wished him the best of luck at Anfield. The post Nunez confident ‘special’ Liverpool supporters will help Araujo thrive appeared first on SoccerNews.
Inter Milan could sacrifice Davide Frattesi before the transfer deadline as Cristian Chivu continues pushing for Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones. The Serie A champions have identified Jones as a priority addition, but completing the deal appears closely connected to creating both financial and squad space. Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source […] The post Club ready to sell midfielder in order to make place for Liverpool star Curtis Jones appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Michael Carrick during Manchester United’s pre-season camp (Picture: Getty) Manchester United have been told they have already secured one of the signings of the summer ahead of the new Premier League season. Michael Carrick has welcomed Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Karl Darlow to his first-team squad at Old Trafford this summer. Tynan Thompson, Kit Margetson and Cristian Orozco have also arrived at Manchester United but will join the club’s academy. United made Brazilian midfielder Santos their first signing of the summer in a £48m move from big-spending Chelsea. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. The Red Devils raided another Premier League rival in Aston Villa to sign Belgium international Tielemans for £35m. Hundreds of millions has already been spent on midfield reinforcements this summer, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes all sealing lucrative moves. John Obi Mikel rates Manchester United’s deal for Tielemans as the pick of the bunch, however, describing the signing as a ‘f****** steal’. Man Utd summer signing Youri Tielemans (Picture: Getty) ‘For me, it’s Youri Tielemans,’ the Chelsea legend said on The Obi One podcast when asked for his take on the most impressive midfield signing of the summer. ‘Honestly, how the f*** did Manchester United get him for £35m? That’s a f****** steal. I watched him before and during the World Cup, and you can see that this is a player. ‘Obviously, we all know how Tielemans plays, he can play as a six, an eight or a ten and when you have a player that can play anywhere, it gives you the variety to change the way you want to play. Tielemans is that guy. Tielemans during Man Utd pre-season (Picture: Getty) ‘He scores goals, he’s dangerous from set pieces, he’s brilliant on the ball, and he rarely gives it away. The only thing people can say is that he’s not the quickest, but he reads the game so well. ‘He is very intelligent with and without the ball. When I look at all the midfielders that have transferred to different clubs [this summer], the best one is Tielemans.’ Former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld has also praised Manchester United’s move for Tielemans. https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbdvh2TAoys/?hl=en ‘The problem with modern football is that sometimes we look too much at stats like assists and goals,’ he told Hajper. ‘Of course, Youri Tielemans creates assists and scores goals, and can shoot from outside the box and score free kicks, but he is so much more than that. ‘Tielemans is a link up player, and you have to watch him to understand why he is so important to his teams, not just look at his stats, because he is always trying to play the ball forward. Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel (Picture: Getty) ‘You have some midfield players who have a pass success rate of 98% but they are always playing the ball backwards. Tielemans is a guy who turns, opens up and plays the ball between the lines, and that’s very important for a club like Manchester United who need to break other teams down. ‘Even when he’s playing in a deep role, he’s playing it in an attacking way. He’s thinking about going forwards, always. ‘Sometimes he will lose the ball but that’s what happens when you take some risks in games to make things happen, and I think that’s something United need, and he has the mentality to be brave and positive under the big pressure of the shirt. ‘He will put in ultra big effort and say to his team mates, give me the ball and let me change the game for you. He will take the responsibility to take Manchester United forward.’ Carrick is still interested in bringing a third new midfielder to Old Trafford this summer before the transfer window shuts. United drew 1-1 with European champions PSG in a pre-season friendly on Saturday night. Manchester United have two more tun
Delap scores twice from spot in 3-3 draw with JDTManager made 11 changes against Malaysian championsChelsea’s problems mounted as their pre-season tour came to an end in a strangely fiery draw against the Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim. The omens do not look promising with a bloated choice of forwards, echoes of their inexperience and indiscipline last season, and fewer than two weeks for the new manager, Xabi Alonso, to reintegrate key players and work with the entirety of his squad before they kick off the Premier League season against Fulham – managed by his old friend Álvaro Arbeloa – on 24 August.Alonso, tasked with transforming a club that finished 10th in the Premier League last season into Champions League qualifiers, made 11 changes for the friendly against JDT. He rested players after beating Milan with a strong lineup only 24 hours earlier, 600 miles away. Continue reading...
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