Goal efficiency
How clinical and direct the player was in front of goal — volume, accuracy, and conversion.
Bologna · Euro Championship - Qualification · Midfielder · #19 · Scotland · 26 yrs
L. Ferguson plays as a midfielder for Bologna. L. Ferguson is a Scottish international, 26 years old, midfielder, currently at Bologna. L. Ferguson wears shirt number 19 for Bologna. L. Ferguson was born in Hamilton, Scotland on 1999-08-24. L. Ferguson is 181 cm tall and weighs 75 kg. L. Ferguson's Sportra profile tracks season statistics across Euro Championship - Qualification, Super Cup, World Cup, World Cup - Qualification Europe, and other leagues. L. Ferguson's page brings together career clubs, trophies, injury history, multi-competition stats, and related news headlines. On Sportra you can explore L. Ferguson season statistics, transfer history, trophies, injury updates, and related news across every competition tracked in the profile.
| Date | Type | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-07-12 | € 3.5M |  Aberdeen ABE |  Bologna BOL |
| 2018-07-01 | N/A |  Hamilton Academical HAM | Aberdeen ABE |
Season intelligence
Profile as Midfielder: pressure magnet. Archetype: Pressing forward. Season rating 6.4.
Scaled 0–99 from season output — map to fantasy, comparisons, or scouting cards.
Per-90 rates, efficiency ratios, and Sportra indices from season totals.
How clinical and direct the player was in front of goal — volume, accuracy, and conversion.
Playmaking output: assists, key passes, and custom chance-creation signals.
How often they draw fouls and stay out of trouble with cards.
Tackles, duels, and off-ball defensive contribution.
Shot-stopping, goals conceded, and penalty saves.
Minutes, availability, and how central they were to the team.
Every tracked category for this league and season, grouped by Sportra.
L. Ferguson plays as a midfielder for Bologna. L. Ferguson is a Scottish international, 26 years old, midfielder, currently at Bologna. L. Ferguson wears shirt number 19 for Bologna. L. Ferguson was born in Hamilton, Scotland on 1999-08-24. L. Ferguson is 181 cm tall and weighs 75 kg. L. Ferguson's Sportra profile tracks season statistics across Euro Championship - Qualification, Super Cup, World Cup, World Cup - Qualification Europe, and other leagues. L. Ferguson's page brings together career clubs, trophies, injury history, multi-competition stats, and related news headlines. On Sportra you can explore L. Ferguson season statistics, transfer history, trophies, injury updates, and related news across every competition tracked in the profile.
| Date | Type | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-07-12 | € 3.5M | Aberdeen ABE | Bologna BOL |
| 2018-07-01 | N/A | Hamilton Academical HAM | Aberdeen ABE |
Season intelligence
Profile as Midfielder: pressure magnet. Archetype: Pressing forward. Season rating 6.4.
Scaled 0–99 from season output — map to fantasy, comparisons, or scouting cards.
Per-90 rates, efficiency ratios, and Sportra indices from season totals.
How clinical and direct the player was in front of goal — volume, accuracy, and conversion.
Playmaking output: assists, key passes, and custom chance-creation signals.
How often they draw fouls and stay out of trouble with cards.
Tackles, duels, and off-ball defensive contribution.
Shot-stopping, goals conceded, and penalty saves.
Minutes, availability, and how central they were to the team.
Every tracked category for this league and season, grouped by Sportra.
Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham (Picture: Getty) Teddy Sheringham has questioned Manchester United’s decision to sign Youri Tielemans, insisting the midfielder is ‘not good enough’ for Michael Carrick’s side. The Red Devils made it a priority to bolster their central midfield this summer following the departure of Casemiro at the end of last season. United had been linked with the likes of Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, but saw their efforts gazumped by rivals Manchester City and Tottenham. Instead, the club turned to other Premier League proven talent, signing Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Tielemans from Aston Villa. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. The arrival of Tielemans for just £35million has been praised by many, with former United midfielder Nicky Butt hailing the deal as the ‘signing of the summer’. But Sheringham is not as convinced by the 29-year-old’s arrival, and believes his former club should have ‘broken the bank’ to sign their loftier targets earlier in the window. ‘Manchester United have already missed their opportunity to sign the other midfielder they needed because all the big players have gone now,’ he told MetBonus. Manchester United summer signing Youri Tielemans (Picture: Getty) ‘If you want the best, you have to go and pay for it. We’ve seen it over the years. Look back to Sir Alex Ferguson’s time in charge. ‘He went and broke the bank to go and get these top young players who were going to lead by example. ‘Is Youri Tielemans going to lead by example or is he going to go into United to have a bit of fun, enjoy the ride, feeling happy to be there? No. ‘He’s not going to change everyone’s view of Manchester United or demand more and take them back to the top. He’s going to make them OK, and that’s never good enough for a club like Manchester United.’ Andrey Santos has also signed for United this summer (Picture: Getty) Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has also shared his reservations about United’s decision to sign Tielemans, saying on The Overlap: ‘The thing with Tielemans, I was watching the Super Cup and I’d just seen that Man United were on ITV playing Leeds, so I put it on. ‘It just came to me a little bit – Tielemans was taking a corner, and it come to me, he’s a good player, don’t get me wrong. ‘But you’d almost feel like he should have been at United a few years ago, then gone to Villa – not being at Villa, then gone to United. ‘I’m not saying he’s had his best days, but it almost felt like the wrong way round. The last three years should have been at United, and then he gets sold to Villa.’ United are poised to sign their third central midfielder of the summer window, with reports indicating they are close to agreeing a deal for Carlos Baleba. The Red Devils have held a long-standing interest in the Brighton midfielder and have lodged an initial bid in the region of £60million plus £5m in add-ons. While that offer is below Brighton’s valuation, it is said that both clubs are keen to finalise a deal for the 22-year-old Cameroon international. 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
Carrick's strong start to life in the United dugout has led to a groundswell of optimisim among fans that he can oversee the club's first league title since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure.
Premier League legend Michael Owen (Picture: Getty) Michael Owen believes another Arsenal title win is ‘set in stone’ and has left Manchester United out of his Premier League top-four prediction. The Gunners clinched their first Premier League title since 2004 last season, eventually finishing seven points ahead of second-placed Man City after a turbulent title race. Mikel Arteta’s side, who also reached the Champions League final last term, underlined why they are favourites to lift the Premier League trophy yet again this season by thumping Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield on Sunday. Owen cannot see the ‘wheels falling off’ at Arsenal but says there are ‘question marks’ over every single one of their Premier League title 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. Legendary manager Pep Guardiola left the Etihad Stadium at the end of last season and it remains to be seen whether ex-Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca can maintain Man City’s extremely high standards, especially given World Cup winner Rodri has been sold to Barcelona. Liverpool sacked title-winning boss Arne Slot back in May and have put their faith in former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola to get the Reds challenging for major honours once again. Chelsea, who only finished 10th in the Premier League last season, also have a new manager after ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso agreed to take over at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal are hoping to retain the Premier League trophy (Picture: Getty) There is more stability at Manchester United, with Michael Carrick replacing Ruben Amorim back in January, but the prospect of Champions League football will test the Old Trafford squad. Tottenham have no such issues in their calendar and Owen believes Spurs can take advantage of their reduced schedule by claiming a surprising third-place finish in the Premier League. ‘Arsenal only have to stand still and they win the Premier League again,’ Owen said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast sponsored by Midnite. Michael Owen's top-six prediction Arsenal Chelsea Tottenham Liverpool Manchester United Manchester City ‘I can’t see anyone jumping out of the pack and getting 85 points whereas Arsenal are pretty much guaranteed to hit that number again. ‘They’re such a steady team with such a good goalkeeper and defence, I just can’t see the wheels falling off. ‘They’re just guaranteed to post a number, it won’t be a number that Man City or Liverpool hit in the past but I just can’t see anyone matching them. Manchester United boss Michael Carrick (Picture: PA) ‘There’s too many questions over the others teams, there’s questions everywhere this season with all the new managers bar Arsenal. ‘They will be steady and get mid to late 80s and I don’t think anyone can beat that. ‘I think there’s more question marks over this season than ever before, which is why I think Arsenal are just set in stone to win the Premier League. Enzo Maresca has replaced Pep Guardiola at Man City (Picture: Getty) ‘There’s question marks over every single team, big question marks, except for Arsenal.’ Explaining why he believes Man City are set to struggle in their first season without Guardiola, Owen added: ‘Who has done well following a long-term manager? ‘You think of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, the next manager was laughed out of town, and the same happened after Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United. Tottenham have been tipped to thrive this season (Picture: Getty) ‘It’s not an easy thing to do, following those great managers. I’m not sure how many success stories there’s been so it could be really difficult for Enzo Maresca. ‘And let’s get it right Man City aren’t an amazing team at the moment. There’s been a lot of change at that club and if Rodri goes that’s going to kill them.’ While Owen expects Manchester City to struggle, he believes T
Curtain-raiser can offer clues but it is no reliable pointer to a season – its winners have not landed the title since 2018The doubt for anyone when a long-strived-for goal has been achieved is hunger. Arsenal waited 22 years for their 14th league title and, compounding the yearning, finished second three times in a row before finally lifting the Premier League trophy in May. The physical exertions of last season were immense – as seen by Declan Rice’s clear exhaustion and Bukayo Saka’s intermittent contributions at the World Cup, where William Saliba picked up a back injury – but so too was the emotional strain.The first weeks of a new season after a major tournament, especially the World Cup, are often a little erratic anyway, but this feels like a particularly unpredictable start to a campaign. Nine of the 20 Premier League clubs have changed manager this summer. For the first time in 40 years, none of the five big managerial beasts of the Premier League era – Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger, José Mourinho, Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola – will be in charge of a club. There are unknowns and uncertainty everywhere, even at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta may be the longest-serving manager in the league but there are questions even there; it would be no great surprise if Arsenal were to start slowly. Continue reading...
Derek Ferguson was sitting, sweltering on the sidelines last Saturday, watching his boy Lewis limber up for the new Serie A season in a friendly match against recently-relegated Pisa.
Marcus Rashford could make his Man Utd comeback today (Photo Getty) Marcus Rashford is expected to make his first appearance for Manchester United in over 18 months when they play AC Milan in their final pre-season friendly today. Rashford’s career at Old Trafford appeared to be over after he was axed from the first-team by Ruben Amorim in December 2025, before being shipped off on loan to Aston Villa and Barcelona. Surprisingly, the Spanish champions chose not to trigger the buy-out option in his contract and with no other top European club looking to sign him, the forward has returned to his boyhood club. Amorim’s replacement Michael Carrick has decided to give the England international a second chance and barring any late drama in the transfer window, he will be playing in Manchester again this 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. Rashford has only just returned to training after helping the Three Lions finish third at the World Cup and, ironically, his first game back for United will be against a side managed by Amorim. Despite being by far the best Carrington academy graduate of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, many at the time approved of the decision to let Rashford go amid concerns over his form and attitude off the pitch. Such concerns do not exist anymore it seems, as the Daily Mail report that the 29-year-old’s return has been ‘extremely well received’ by the rest of the Red Devils squad. Radhford is set for an awkward reunion with Ruben Amorim when Man Utd play AC Milan (Photo: Getty) The players are said to be impressed with their teammate’s work ethic on the training ground, a far cry from the player Amorim had made him out to be. Moreover, £35million summer signing Youri Tielemans has publicly expressed his delight with Rashford after playing alongside him during the loan spell at Aston Villa last year. ‘He’s got amazing qualities. And I mean, his touch, his acceleration, his finishing, you know, his qualities on the ball. But then I think what surprised me most with him was his commitment,’ the midfielder told Rio Ferdinand Presents. Youri Tielemans has reunited with Rashford after playing together at Aston Villa (Photo: Getty) ‘You know, there was such a big thing made out of him that he wasn’t committed or wasn’t in it for the right reasons or whatever. And you see the player coming in and it’s completely opposite from what you hear. ‘He was committed. He was doing the work. He was positive with everyone. You know, he was just a normal guy, you know. ‘And then he brings his qualities to the team and he just plays. And you can see in that PSG double leg how good he was and how he added at the time to the team. ‘And yeah, we [Villa] nearly got over the line against PSG and then won it. So, yeah, we were very happy with him.’ It has been confirmed Rashford will wear No.14 after his prized No.10 shirt was handed to Matheus Cunha last summer. Following the Milan friendly, United kick-off their season with a trip to newly promoted Hull City next Saturday. 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
You can’t help but feel the Argentinian with a penchant for red cards has arrived at his spiritual home with his move to Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid“He’s not that kind of player” is perhaps the greatest of the co-commentators’ meaningless banalities. Used shortly after a “nice guy” has scythed someone in half about a day after the ball has gone, it is by definition nonsense because if you have scythed someone in half about a day after the ball has gone, then you are indeed that kind of player.But I don’t recall ever hearing anyone saying “the thing is Clive/Brian, he is that kind of player”. I haven’t analysed every foul in Premier League history to tell if you those kinds of challenges are carried out by players all of us would consider to be “that kind of player” as opposed to the opposite – but the list of players with the most red cards suggests a pattern – Richard Dunne, Duncan Ferguson, Patrick Vieira with eight reds, Lee Cattermole and Roy Keane on seven, Vinnie Jones, Joey Barton and Alan Smith (obviously not that one) among those on six. Continue reading...
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick took time out to talk to the media who cover the club at the Carton House Hotel in Maynooth on Wednesday. The pre-season 'sit down' is a long-established United tradition. There has only been a couple of occasions when the United boss of the day has refused to co-operate, once during Sir Alex Ferguson's time, the other in Jose Mourinho's.
PSG were crowned champions of the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, and Luis Enrique matched an impressive record held by legendary manager Alex Ferguson. PSG lifted the 2026 UEFA Super Cup after beating Aston Villa 2-1 in Salzburg to open the new European season with silverware. The result marked another milestone night for manager Luis Enrique, who continues to build one of the most decorated résumés in the history of European club soccer. With the win, Luis Enrique now has six European club titles to his name, moving him level with Alex Ferguson and Giovanni Trapattoni for third on the all-time list of most European titles won by a manager. Only Carlo Ancelotti, with 10, and Pep Guardiola, with seven, stand above that trio in the historic ranking, which also includes Bob Paisley, José Mourinho, Zinédine Zidane and Unai Emery with five apiece. Between his time at Barcelona and now PSG, Luis Enrique has built a legacy defined not just by the volume of trophies, but by his consistency on the biggest stage — a distinction that places him firmly among the most successful managers the European game has ever produced. Luis Enrique celebrates as he lifts the UEFA Super Cup trophy. (Getty Images) Luis Enrique’s perfect record in European finals What makes Luis Enrique’s case stand out even further is his perfect record in continental finals. The Spanish coach has now reached six European finals across his career and won every single one of them, a run that surpasses Zinédine Zidane’s own flawless mark of five finals and five titles. Between two different clubs and more than a decade apart, Enrique has never once lost on the biggest stage Europe has to offer. His six European finals, all won: Champions League 2015 (Barcelona) — beat Juventus 3-1UEFA Super Cup 2015 (Barcelona) — beat Sevilla 5-4 (after extra time)Champions League 2025 (PSG) — beat Inter Milan 5-0UEFA Super Cup 2025 (PSG) — beat Tottenham 2-2 (won on penalties)Champions League 2026 (PSG) — beat Arsenal 1-1 (won 4-3 on penalties)UEFA Super Cup 2026 (PSG) — beat Aston Villa 2-1
Man Utd have been told to approach Chelsea (Picture: Getty) Quinton Fortune has urged Manchester United to sign a new striker before the summer transfer window closes to support Benjamin Sesko and believes a Chelsea player could be the answer. Sesko endured a mixed first season at Old Trafford following his £73m move from RB Leipzig last summer, scoring 12 goals in 32 appearances. The Slovenia international endured a poor first-half to the campaign but improved after Michael Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim in the United hot-seat. Whether Sesko is the long-term answer for Manchester United remains to be seen, with Michael Owen recently admitting he had ‘doubts’ that will prove to be the case. 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. Ex-United defender Fortune says Carrick ‘needs another striker’ to ‘push for the Premier League and play in the Champions League’ and has named Nicolas Jackson as an ‘option’. Jackson is being linked with a permanent move away from Chelsea after spending last season on loan at Bayern Munich. Aston Villa and Newcastle United have both made approaches for the Senegal international, who Chelsea value at £65m, and Fortune believes Manchester United should also consider a move. Current Man Utd striker Benjamin Sesko (Picture: Getty) ‘I think United need another striker because I think Benjamin Sesko scored 12 goals last season and Bruno Fernandes got nine,’ Fortune told Premier Bet. ‘The team needs more but we do have to remember that Sesko is still a young player with a big responsibility coming to United and having to carry the team up front by himself. ‘In my time, we were very fortunate to have Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Teddy Sheringham, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole. Then Ruud Van Nistelrooy came later and Wayne Rooney, and a youngster could come into the team and look up to Van Nistelrooy or Andy Cole or Dwight Yorke or Teddy Sheringham. Chelsea value Nicolas Jackson at £65m (Picture: Getty) ‘Benjamin Sesko is having to do all that himself, and what if he picks up an injury? ‘So United need another striker, and if you are pushing for the Premier League and playing in the Champions League, you need a bigger squad.’ Fortune, who won the Premier League under Sir Alex Ferguson, added: ‘Nicolas Jackson is an option for Manchester United. ‘He’s coming off his loan at Bayern Munich and keeps getting clubs so he must have something. Manchester United boss Michael Carrick (Picture: Getty) ‘I see him as more of a goal poacher. If you look at the purest of the pure footballers, he’s not a striker to bring it down and play it like Dimitar Berbatov or Wayne Rooney or Dwight Yorke but that’s what I like about him too. ‘He’s just an out-an-out striker. He doesn’t really care about anything else apart from getting into the box and getting on the end of whatever service he’s provided, and there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s still the hardest part of the game. ‘He’s almost like Erling Haaland at times and he shouldn’t get involved in the play so much. Tell the other guys they can do all the hard work and I’ll score the goals. ‘Whether he’s right for United, I don’t know about that, but you don’t play for Chelsea and Bayern Munich if you haven’t got something about you. ‘I just think United need a little bit more. I do like Nicolas Jackson but think United need the best of the best. ‘If you’re going to buy a top-top striker, you must go and buy Erling Haaland or Harry Kane. Just be absolutely ruthless. Sign the player. Get them in the box. Give me the goals. No nonsense.’ 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
The lesser-spotted swap deal, always great fun isn't it? Here, we take a look at football's swap shop, shining a light of 10 of the most high-profile examples.
HARRY BAMFORTH: Mourinho fights back the tears,battling to keep his enigmatic personal persona intact. This is something he tries to do throughout the new three-part docu-series.
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Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham (Picture: Getty) Teddy Sheringham has questioned Manchester United’s decision to sign Youri Tielemans, insisting the midfielder is ‘not good enough’ for Michael Carrick’s side. The Red Devils made it a priority to bolster their central midfield this summer following the departure of Casemiro at the end of last season. United had been linked with the likes of Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, but saw their efforts gazumped by rivals Manchester City and Tottenham. Instead, the club turned to other Premier League proven talent, signing Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Tielemans from Aston Villa. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. The arrival of Tielemans for just £35million has been praised by many, with former United midfielder Nicky Butt hailing the deal as the ‘signing of the summer’. But Sheringham is not as convinced by the 29-year-old’s arrival, and believes his former club should have ‘broken the bank’ to sign their loftier targets earlier in the window. ‘Manchester United have already missed their opportunity to sign the other midfielder they needed because all the big players have gone now,’ he told MetBonus. Manchester United summer signing Youri Tielemans (Picture: Getty) ‘If you want the best, you have to go and pay for it. We’ve seen it over the years. Look back to Sir Alex Ferguson’s time in charge. ‘He went and broke the bank to go and get these top young players who were going to lead by example. ‘Is Youri Tielemans going to lead by example or is he going to go into United to have a bit of fun, enjoy the ride, feeling happy to be there? No. ‘He’s not going to change everyone’s view of Manchester United or demand more and take them back to the top. He’s going to make them OK, and that’s never good enough for a club like Manchester United.’ Andrey Santos has also signed for United this summer (Picture: Getty) Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has also shared his reservations about United’s decision to sign Tielemans, saying on The Overlap: ‘The thing with Tielemans, I was watching the Super Cup and I’d just seen that Man United were on ITV playing Leeds, so I put it on. ‘It just came to me a little bit – Tielemans was taking a corner, and it come to me, he’s a good player, don’t get me wrong. ‘But you’d almost feel like he should have been at United a few years ago, then gone to Villa – not being at Villa, then gone to United. ‘I’m not saying he’s had his best days, but it almost felt like the wrong way round. The last three years should have been at United, and then he gets sold to Villa.’ United are poised to sign their third central midfielder of the summer window, with reports indicating they are close to agreeing a deal for Carlos Baleba. The Red Devils have held a long-standing interest in the Brighton midfielder and have lodged an initial bid in the region of £60million plus £5m in add-ons. While that offer is below Brighton’s valuation, it is said that both clubs are keen to finalise a deal for the 22-year-old Cameroon international. 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
Carrick's strong start to life in the United dugout has led to a groundswell of optimisim among fans that he can oversee the club's first league title since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure.
Premier League legend Michael Owen (Picture: Getty) Michael Owen believes another Arsenal title win is ‘set in stone’ and has left Manchester United out of his Premier League top-four prediction. The Gunners clinched their first Premier League title since 2004 last season, eventually finishing seven points ahead of second-placed Man City after a turbulent title race. Mikel Arteta’s side, who also reached the Champions League final last term, underlined why they are favourites to lift the Premier League trophy yet again this season by thumping Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield on Sunday. Owen cannot see the ‘wheels falling off’ at Arsenal but says there are ‘question marks’ over every single one of their Premier League title 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. Legendary manager Pep Guardiola left the Etihad Stadium at the end of last season and it remains to be seen whether ex-Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca can maintain Man City’s extremely high standards, especially given World Cup winner Rodri has been sold to Barcelona. Liverpool sacked title-winning boss Arne Slot back in May and have put their faith in former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola to get the Reds challenging for major honours once again. Chelsea, who only finished 10th in the Premier League last season, also have a new manager after ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso agreed to take over at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal are hoping to retain the Premier League trophy (Picture: Getty) There is more stability at Manchester United, with Michael Carrick replacing Ruben Amorim back in January, but the prospect of Champions League football will test the Old Trafford squad. Tottenham have no such issues in their calendar and Owen believes Spurs can take advantage of their reduced schedule by claiming a surprising third-place finish in the Premier League. ‘Arsenal only have to stand still and they win the Premier League again,’ Owen said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast sponsored by Midnite. Michael Owen's top-six prediction Arsenal Chelsea Tottenham Liverpool Manchester United Manchester City ‘I can’t see anyone jumping out of the pack and getting 85 points whereas Arsenal are pretty much guaranteed to hit that number again. ‘They’re such a steady team with such a good goalkeeper and defence, I just can’t see the wheels falling off. ‘They’re just guaranteed to post a number, it won’t be a number that Man City or Liverpool hit in the past but I just can’t see anyone matching them. Manchester United boss Michael Carrick (Picture: PA) ‘There’s too many questions over the others teams, there’s questions everywhere this season with all the new managers bar Arsenal. ‘They will be steady and get mid to late 80s and I don’t think anyone can beat that. ‘I think there’s more question marks over this season than ever before, which is why I think Arsenal are just set in stone to win the Premier League. Enzo Maresca has replaced Pep Guardiola at Man City (Picture: Getty) ‘There’s question marks over every single team, big question marks, except for Arsenal.’ Explaining why he believes Man City are set to struggle in their first season without Guardiola, Owen added: ‘Who has done well following a long-term manager? ‘You think of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, the next manager was laughed out of town, and the same happened after Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United. Tottenham have been tipped to thrive this season (Picture: Getty) ‘It’s not an easy thing to do, following those great managers. I’m not sure how many success stories there’s been so it could be really difficult for Enzo Maresca. ‘And let’s get it right Man City aren’t an amazing team at the moment. There’s been a lot of change at that club and if Rodri goes that’s going to kill them.’ While Owen expects Manchester City to struggle, he believes T
Curtain-raiser can offer clues but it is no reliable pointer to a season – its winners have not landed the title since 2018The doubt for anyone when a long-strived-for goal has been achieved is hunger. Arsenal waited 22 years for their 14th league title and, compounding the yearning, finished second three times in a row before finally lifting the Premier League trophy in May. The physical exertions of last season were immense – as seen by Declan Rice’s clear exhaustion and Bukayo Saka’s intermittent contributions at the World Cup, where William Saliba picked up a back injury – but so too was the emotional strain.The first weeks of a new season after a major tournament, especially the World Cup, are often a little erratic anyway, but this feels like a particularly unpredictable start to a campaign. Nine of the 20 Premier League clubs have changed manager this summer. For the first time in 40 years, none of the five big managerial beasts of the Premier League era – Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger, José Mourinho, Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola – will be in charge of a club. There are unknowns and uncertainty everywhere, even at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta may be the longest-serving manager in the league but there are questions even there; it would be no great surprise if Arsenal were to start slowly. Continue reading...
Derek Ferguson was sitting, sweltering on the sidelines last Saturday, watching his boy Lewis limber up for the new Serie A season in a friendly match against recently-relegated Pisa.
Marcus Rashford could make his Man Utd comeback today (Photo Getty) Marcus Rashford is expected to make his first appearance for Manchester United in over 18 months when they play AC Milan in their final pre-season friendly today. Rashford’s career at Old Trafford appeared to be over after he was axed from the first-team by Ruben Amorim in December 2025, before being shipped off on loan to Aston Villa and Barcelona. Surprisingly, the Spanish champions chose not to trigger the buy-out option in his contract and with no other top European club looking to sign him, the forward has returned to his boyhood club. Amorim’s replacement Michael Carrick has decided to give the England international a second chance and barring any late drama in the transfer window, he will be playing in Manchester again this 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. Rashford has only just returned to training after helping the Three Lions finish third at the World Cup and, ironically, his first game back for United will be against a side managed by Amorim. Despite being by far the best Carrington academy graduate of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, many at the time approved of the decision to let Rashford go amid concerns over his form and attitude off the pitch. Such concerns do not exist anymore it seems, as the Daily Mail report that the 29-year-old’s return has been ‘extremely well received’ by the rest of the Red Devils squad. Radhford is set for an awkward reunion with Ruben Amorim when Man Utd play AC Milan (Photo: Getty) The players are said to be impressed with their teammate’s work ethic on the training ground, a far cry from the player Amorim had made him out to be. Moreover, £35million summer signing Youri Tielemans has publicly expressed his delight with Rashford after playing alongside him during the loan spell at Aston Villa last year. ‘He’s got amazing qualities. And I mean, his touch, his acceleration, his finishing, you know, his qualities on the ball. But then I think what surprised me most with him was his commitment,’ the midfielder told Rio Ferdinand Presents. Youri Tielemans has reunited with Rashford after playing together at Aston Villa (Photo: Getty) ‘You know, there was such a big thing made out of him that he wasn’t committed or wasn’t in it for the right reasons or whatever. And you see the player coming in and it’s completely opposite from what you hear. ‘He was committed. He was doing the work. He was positive with everyone. You know, he was just a normal guy, you know. ‘And then he brings his qualities to the team and he just plays. And you can see in that PSG double leg how good he was and how he added at the time to the team. ‘And yeah, we [Villa] nearly got over the line against PSG and then won it. So, yeah, we were very happy with him.’ It has been confirmed Rashford will wear No.14 after his prized No.10 shirt was handed to Matheus Cunha last summer. Following the Milan friendly, United kick-off their season with a trip to newly promoted Hull City next Saturday. 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
You can’t help but feel the Argentinian with a penchant for red cards has arrived at his spiritual home with his move to Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid“He’s not that kind of player” is perhaps the greatest of the co-commentators’ meaningless banalities. Used shortly after a “nice guy” has scythed someone in half about a day after the ball has gone, it is by definition nonsense because if you have scythed someone in half about a day after the ball has gone, then you are indeed that kind of player.But I don’t recall ever hearing anyone saying “the thing is Clive/Brian, he is that kind of player”. I haven’t analysed every foul in Premier League history to tell if you those kinds of challenges are carried out by players all of us would consider to be “that kind of player” as opposed to the opposite – but the list of players with the most red cards suggests a pattern – Richard Dunne, Duncan Ferguson, Patrick Vieira with eight reds, Lee Cattermole and Roy Keane on seven, Vinnie Jones, Joey Barton and Alan Smith (obviously not that one) among those on six. Continue reading...
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick took time out to talk to the media who cover the club at the Carton House Hotel in Maynooth on Wednesday. The pre-season 'sit down' is a long-established United tradition. There has only been a couple of occasions when the United boss of the day has refused to co-operate, once during Sir Alex Ferguson's time, the other in Jose Mourinho's.
PSG were crowned champions of the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, and Luis Enrique matched an impressive record held by legendary manager Alex Ferguson. PSG lifted the 2026 UEFA Super Cup after beating Aston Villa 2-1 in Salzburg to open the new European season with silverware. The result marked another milestone night for manager Luis Enrique, who continues to build one of the most decorated résumés in the history of European club soccer. With the win, Luis Enrique now has six European club titles to his name, moving him level with Alex Ferguson and Giovanni Trapattoni for third on the all-time list of most European titles won by a manager. Only Carlo Ancelotti, with 10, and Pep Guardiola, with seven, stand above that trio in the historic ranking, which also includes Bob Paisley, José Mourinho, Zinédine Zidane and Unai Emery with five apiece. Between his time at Barcelona and now PSG, Luis Enrique has built a legacy defined not just by the volume of trophies, but by his consistency on the biggest stage — a distinction that places him firmly among the most successful managers the European game has ever produced. Luis Enrique celebrates as he lifts the UEFA Super Cup trophy. (Getty Images) Luis Enrique’s perfect record in European finals What makes Luis Enrique’s case stand out even further is his perfect record in continental finals. The Spanish coach has now reached six European finals across his career and won every single one of them, a run that surpasses Zinédine Zidane’s own flawless mark of five finals and five titles. Between two different clubs and more than a decade apart, Enrique has never once lost on the biggest stage Europe has to offer. His six European finals, all won: Champions League 2015 (Barcelona) — beat Juventus 3-1UEFA Super Cup 2015 (Barcelona) — beat Sevilla 5-4 (after extra time)Champions League 2025 (PSG) — beat Inter Milan 5-0UEFA Super Cup 2025 (PSG) — beat Tottenham 2-2 (won on penalties)Champions League 2026 (PSG) — beat Arsenal 1-1 (won 4-3 on penalties)UEFA Super Cup 2026 (PSG) — beat Aston Villa 2-1
Man Utd have been told to approach Chelsea (Picture: Getty) Quinton Fortune has urged Manchester United to sign a new striker before the summer transfer window closes to support Benjamin Sesko and believes a Chelsea player could be the answer. Sesko endured a mixed first season at Old Trafford following his £73m move from RB Leipzig last summer, scoring 12 goals in 32 appearances. The Slovenia international endured a poor first-half to the campaign but improved after Michael Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim in the United hot-seat. Whether Sesko is the long-term answer for Manchester United remains to be seen, with Michael Owen recently admitting he had ‘doubts’ that will prove to be the case. 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. Ex-United defender Fortune says Carrick ‘needs another striker’ to ‘push for the Premier League and play in the Champions League’ and has named Nicolas Jackson as an ‘option’. Jackson is being linked with a permanent move away from Chelsea after spending last season on loan at Bayern Munich. Aston Villa and Newcastle United have both made approaches for the Senegal international, who Chelsea value at £65m, and Fortune believes Manchester United should also consider a move. Current Man Utd striker Benjamin Sesko (Picture: Getty) ‘I think United need another striker because I think Benjamin Sesko scored 12 goals last season and Bruno Fernandes got nine,’ Fortune told Premier Bet. ‘The team needs more but we do have to remember that Sesko is still a young player with a big responsibility coming to United and having to carry the team up front by himself. ‘In my time, we were very fortunate to have Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Teddy Sheringham, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole. Then Ruud Van Nistelrooy came later and Wayne Rooney, and a youngster could come into the team and look up to Van Nistelrooy or Andy Cole or Dwight Yorke or Teddy Sheringham. Chelsea value Nicolas Jackson at £65m (Picture: Getty) ‘Benjamin Sesko is having to do all that himself, and what if he picks up an injury? ‘So United need another striker, and if you are pushing for the Premier League and playing in the Champions League, you need a bigger squad.’ Fortune, who won the Premier League under Sir Alex Ferguson, added: ‘Nicolas Jackson is an option for Manchester United. ‘He’s coming off his loan at Bayern Munich and keeps getting clubs so he must have something. Manchester United boss Michael Carrick (Picture: Getty) ‘I see him as more of a goal poacher. If you look at the purest of the pure footballers, he’s not a striker to bring it down and play it like Dimitar Berbatov or Wayne Rooney or Dwight Yorke but that’s what I like about him too. ‘He’s just an out-an-out striker. He doesn’t really care about anything else apart from getting into the box and getting on the end of whatever service he’s provided, and there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s still the hardest part of the game. ‘He’s almost like Erling Haaland at times and he shouldn’t get involved in the play so much. Tell the other guys they can do all the hard work and I’ll score the goals. ‘Whether he’s right for United, I don’t know about that, but you don’t play for Chelsea and Bayern Munich if you haven’t got something about you. ‘I just think United need a little bit more. I do like Nicolas Jackson but think United need the best of the best. ‘If you’re going to buy a top-top striker, you must go and buy Erling Haaland or Harry Kane. Just be absolutely ruthless. Sign the player. Get them in the box. Give me the goals. No nonsense.’ 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
The lesser-spotted swap deal, always great fun isn't it? Here, we take a look at football's swap shop, shining a light of 10 of the most high-profile examples.
HARRY BAMFORTH: Mourinho fights back the tears,battling to keep his enigmatic personal persona intact. This is something he tries to do throughout the new three-part docu-series.
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