Sports
4 Huge Mistakes Ruben Amorim Made in Man Utd 0-1 Everton
There was a sense of optimism among Manchester United supporters prior to their match against Everton on Monday. Ruben Amorim’s side were unbeaten in five Premier League games, and a victory at Old Trafford would have provided further evidence that they had turned a corner under their Portuguese coach.
Spirits were only boosted even further after Idrissa Gana Gueye was sent off for slapping his own teammate just 13 minutes into the tie. However, things then began to unravel, as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall curled a strike around Senne Lammens to break the deadlock.
With an hour still to play, supporters might have been guilty of assuming that it was just a matter of time until they found the back of the net. But for all their efforts, the Red Devils could not beat Jordan Pickford, as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat in disappointing fashion.
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Unsurprisingly, supporters are less than happy with what they saw from their squad against the Toffees. But United really were not helped by their manager, who made four bizarre decisions which cost them any chance of winning the game.
No Change in Formation After the Sending Off
Amorim has been wedded to his 3-4-2-1 formation since arriving at Old Trafford, despite admitting in the past that doubts over the team’s structure have even been shared by his players at points. But when Gueye was sent off, that should have been the excuse to take the handbreak off, especially after Dewsbury-Hall had scored.
However, there was no shift from Amorim on the sideline. Substitutions were made, but the team’s formation remained the same, with Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt sitting deep. Although players pushed forward late on, that should have happened way earlier in the game. It was a cowardly move from the United manager, and one that was only exacerbated by his other decisions.
Casemiro Should Have Been Substituted Earlier
After a drab 45 minutes, Amorim did elect to make a change at half-time, bringing off Noussair Mazraoui for Mason Mount, who played just behind struggling striker Joshua Zirkzee. That, in fairness, was the right call from the former Sporting Lisbon boss, as his team needed more creativity and spark, which Mount went on to provide in spades.
But with Everton sitting deep and United piling forward, there was no need to keep Casemiro on the pitch, especially with three defenders sitting behind him. Although the Brazilian is an effective enforcer, they needed more creativity to break down their opponents. Amorim, however, elected to wait until the 58th minute before he withdrew the 33-year-old for the more attacking Kobbie Mainoo. That change really should have been made 13 minutes earlier.
Diogo Dalot Should Not Have Been Brought On
If the decision to swap Casemiro for Mainoo came too late, then the other substitution that Amorim made in that moment was downright unnecessary. Diogo Dalot was brought on for Patrick Dorgu in the hope that he could provide more energy on the left flank.
Having the Portuguese international and Luke Shaw on the pitch at the same time really didn’t feel like it was needed with just 30 minutes left to play against 10 men. Although United lacked attacking options on the bench because of injuries, Amorim might have trusted 18-year-old Shea Lacey instead, rolling the dice by bringing on a young forward who has plenty of desire to help the team.
Gary Neville, who was commentating on the game, was certainly unimpressed with the substitution, calling Amorim out live on the air. Having first said that he was “not convinced” by Dalot coming on, he later went on to criticise United’s manager for persisting with three at the back and the 26-year-old at wing-back
“Ruben Amorim has a question to answer. Bringing Dalot on over there in front of Shaw?
“I don’t quite see it. You have five at the back, why? They still don’t win the first ball or second ball. Embarrassing.”
Amad Diallo Was Not Used Properly
In recent weeks, Amad Diallo has been one of United’s standout players. Having scored against Nottingham Forest, he put in an excellent display against Tottenham, setting up Bryan Mbeumo for the opener in that tie.
He’s typically lined up off the right, but the manager elected to play him on the left against Everton, partly out of necessity due to Matheus Cunha’s injury. Unfortunately, it was a decision which didn’t pay off, with him not looking completely comfortable and United looking unbalanced. Mount’s substitution at half-time led to Amad shifting back to his preferred flank. But the decision to deploy him as a wing-back, out wide and away from goal, raises additional questions, especially considering that he’s managed two assists and a goal in the four games prior to Monday night.
Despite being a charity event, one Premier League legend has been banned from participating in Soccer Aid following a “string of complaints.” The much-anticipated event has taken place every year for the last 20, and this year’s match – set for West Ham’s London Stadium on May 31 – boasts a star-studded lineup.
A host of high-profile ex-footballers and celebrities have been confirmed for the game, which will see Robbie Williams go head-to-head in the dugout with Olympic icon and world’s fastest man Usain Bolt to raise money for UNICEF. Jordi Alba leads the football debutants, alongside female stars Jen Beattie and Ali Krieger, all of whom will play for the Rest of the World team.
Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Theo Walcott, Toni Duggan, Joe Hart, and Steph Houghton are among the England stars, while history will be made as actor Owen Cooper becomes the youngest-ever player and first-ever teenager after his role in the hit Netflix series ‘Adolescence’. But while bigger names help raise more money for charity, one of the Premier League’s biggest stars finds himself alone on the ban list.
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Yaya Toure – a Manchester City legend and widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation after winning three Premier League titles – played 73 minutes in the 2018 Soccer Aid at Old Trafford and was set to feature for the Rest of the World again in 2020. However, he exited the squad in disgrace.
Toure was axed from the fixture after The Sun reported that he had offered to hire sex workers for his teammates at the five-star hotel in a message sent in the WhatsApp group chat. The Ivorian also posted a video of a naked woman in a bath in the chat, which included female players and stars from both teams.
UNICEF and ITV received a “string of complaints” about Toure’s message, and he was criticised at breakfast in the hotel on the following Friday morning. After it was concluded his “behaviour didn’t align with the values of the event and its cause,” the former Barcelona midfielder was removed from the lineup and forced to issue an apology on social media for his “inappropriate joke”.
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“I would like to apologise to everyone involved in Soccer Aid for an inappropriate joke I deeply regret,” Toure wrote on X once the dust had settled on his misconduct. “It was meant as a joke, however, I lacked thorough consideration for the feelings of all the other participants. That being said, I deleted the jokes within minutes and I immediately apologised to all inside the group.”
“We gather for a good cause and this deviates the focus of the game which is to bring everyone together to help children around the world. It’s sad to see an inappropriate joke I made attract the attention which should be fully devoted to the beauty of the charity game.
“Regardless of the circumstances, I want to take full responsibility. I am a grown man who should not be engaged in such jokes. I am very sorry for my mistake and wish everyone all the best with Soccer Aid on Sunday in raising awareness and funds for important causes.”
That year’s Soccer Aid fixture was played behind closed doors and saw England win 4-3 on penalties. Toure has not been invited back to play in Soccer Aid since but made a surprise appearance on Sky Sports on Sunday after watching Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Chelsea, where he came under fire for his comments about the current Premier League leaders.
Rafael Leao has just issued a come and get me plea to the Premier League, with Manchester United given a clear green light to go and complete the Portuguese’s transfer.
Leao has long been linked with a move to England and it looks like now is the right time, with his seven-year spell at AC Milan set to come to an end.
United have been linked with Leao before, but never managed to get a deal done and with the Red Devils in the market for a left winger this summer – as well as two central midfielders – now could be the perfect time to bring Leao in.
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Speaking on Portuguese TV, Leao was asked about the rumours swirling around his future at the San Siro.
He said: “I’m proud as I made history at AC Milan but now I want a new chapter. I’m looking forward to playing in another league.
“I did my best for Milan, the club gave me everything, but I’m feeling ready for a new team, new league and new challenge.”
The 26-year-old has already played in Portugal, France and Italy, with the Bundesliga or La Liga the only real competition for Premier League sides if he does want to experience a new league.
There was a suggestion that Milan would demand in the region of £60million for him this summer, but that price tag has dropped slightly, with Leao having just two years left to run on his current contract in Italy.
Milan are now understood to be willing to trade at around £43million, with United already making moves to sign him this summer.
Recent reports in the the print version of Corriere dello Sport, via Sport Witness, claimed that United have already initiated contact with super agent Jorge Mendes over a potential summer move for the winger.
It has always been a “dream” of Leao’s to play in the Premier League and he may well get his wish this summer.
United will not have it all their own way when it comes to negotiating a transfer, however, with a number of other club interested in signing Leao – namely Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham. Chelsea could also make a move given their desire to sign another left winger this summer.
Rafael Leao has not had the best of seasons with AC Milan
Former AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli once described Leao as an “artist”. He said: “Rafa is an artist. Artists are geniuses, they must be guided but they also need a bit of freedom. He is a player who can decide any game at any moment, but he knows he still has steps to take to become truly unstoppable.”
Leao has had his troubles at Milan, falling out of favour with Paulo Fonseca and with the Milanese fans, booed off by his own fans during a game with Atalanta earlier in the season.
Despite his troubles he still managed 10 goals and three assists in 31 games as the Serie A giants finished a disappointing fifth. Those stats are well down on the 25 goal contributions he made in 2024/25 and the 29 he made in 2023/24, suggesting his time at the San Siro has naturally run its course.
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Tottenham Hotspur might just have been forced to move a bit quicker in the transfer market after what happened at Liverpool on Saturday.
There was an element of surprise when Liverpool announced that Arne Slot had been relieved of his duties as manager at Anfield.
The Dutchman had guided the Reds to the Premier League title in his first season in charge, but followed it up this year with a disappointing fifth-place finish.
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And despite reports suggesting he had the backing of owners Fenway Sports Group ahead of the 2026/27 season, he was sacked, with the club citing that “change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward” in a long statement on his departure.
Slot is expected to be replaced at Anfield by outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, with the former Cherries manager the overwhelming favourite to take over in the Anfield dugout.
GIVEMESPORT understands that Liverpool have already made an approach to Iraola, who is the standout candidate to replace Slot and talks are expected to move quickly.
And that move to bring in Iraola could lead Spurs to hasten one transfer move.
Tottenham have had an agreement in principle in place to sign Marcos Senesi, following he conclusion of his contract at the Vitality Stadium, for some time, with journalist Rudy Galetti even stating earlier this week that it was a “done deal”.
However, a deal to take him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has not yet been confirmed by Spurs and there may be some nervousness in the fanbase now about getting the transfer over the line.
Konate exit could force Liverpool into the transfer market
Liverpool were one of the clubs linked with potentially hijacking the transfer this summer, given question marks over Ibrahima Konate’s future at the club. It has since been confirmed that he will be leaving, meaning the Reds will be in the market for another centre-back in this window.
And if Iraola is inserted as the new manager of Liverpool in the coming days, as expected, given their previous working relationship, the Reds may yet try to make a late move to hijack the Tottenham deal for Senesi.
Senesi is a free agent after leaving Bournemouth and can put pen-to-paper anywhere now, with his agent playing a key role in the 29-year-old’s future.
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