Sports

Sir Alex Ferguson’s Ex-Assistant Details How He Would Fix Man Utd’s Tactics

Published

10 months ago

October 4, 2025

admin

Ruben Amorim, as the weeks go by, looks less and less capable of managing a club the size and stature of Manchester United – and Rene Meulensteen, a trusted ally of Sir Alex Ferguson, has explained how he would personally ‘fix’ the tactics of the Red Devils. As expected, the footage of his detailed plan has gone viral.

Meulensteen, who also claimed that United are a ‘broken club’ on and off the pitch, spent a five-year period as Ferguson’s right-hand man between 2008 and 2013. As a result, success was typically a given at Old Trafford – and he departed the club at the same time as the Scot.

A fan of the club himself, it’s clear the Dutchman – who managed the likes of Fulham, Brondby and Maccabi Haifa during his career in the dugout – is running out of patience with the 40-year-old. He recently joined out-of-work boss Sam Allardyce on his No Tippy Tappy Football show and detailed how he, from his years of experience, would ‘fix’ the club.

Meulensteen’s In-Detail Breakdown of How Ruben Amorim Should Tweak his Tactics

Asked about where he’d play the current Manchester United players to get them performing to the best of their abilities, he said: “It’s never the system; it’s the players that have to play the system,” as he insinuated that Amorim, despite being regarded as one of world football’s best young managers, doesn’t play, or set up his team, to factor in the strengths of his players. “If the system doesn’t suit the players, you’re not very clever as a coach.

“One of the things that has happened with Manchester United is in midfield, you’ve got different options, you play Casemiro here with Fernandes or Ugarte here with Fernandes. And I think that’s one of the problems already, because if you put Fernandes that deep in the midfield, I don’t think he’s got the energy and defensive discipline to do so.

“I would definitely play him higher up, off the striker,” he said before reverting back to the ongoing problems in United’s engine room. Meulensteen believes that Crystal Palace and England youngster Adam Wharton would’ve been the perfect addition in the summer given Ugarte and Casemiro are not of the required level to play in the Premier League.

One of the sticking points over Amorim has been his willingness to not divert to his three-at-the-back system – and, to sedate the defensive issues, Meulensteen would revert to a four-man defensive structure, with two sixes and Bruno Fernandes as the supporting act to the centre-forward, which would get the best out of the club’s creator-in-chief. On the front three, he said:

“Now, look at these players that they brought in. Cunha, Sesko, Fernandes and Mbeumo – together, more than 50 goals,” he said, before saying that Cunha is best when driving inside and making a nuisance of himself in and around the box. That would allow Patrick Dorgu to burst up the left-hand side, thus playing to both players’ strengths.

Meulensteen placed importance on the two midfielders to screen and offer protection for the central defensive partnership, while allowing Fernandes and Cunha freedom in danger areas could be crucial moving forward. As a result, Sesko – who has netted one strike since his big-money arrival – would be given much more support as the lone frontman.

“The key is to ensure he [Sesko] gets service here and that we’ve got numbers in the box when the ball gets in there,” he said before pointing to the midfield duo. “And plus, you’ve got security here. So I would go, in this position, for that situation. Defensively, it’s nice and compact, and I would defend in a 4-4-2.” Out of possession, Fernandes and Sesko would act as a two-man strike partnership and the space between the lines would decrease.

Watch Meulensteen’s full breakdown of how he’d ‘fix’ Manchester United below:

Although Amorim, who enjoyed plenty of success with Portuguese outfit Sporting CP before moving to England, has admitted that he is not willing to stray from his system, he has recently said that many players from his side – who currently reside 14th in the Premier League table – believe that him being wedded to his 3-4-3 formation is the problem. He said:

“My players believe you guys when you say the problem of our team is the system. I get crazy about that. I don’t want to change your mind but my players, I guarantee you, they are listening to you, and they are putting that inside because we are not winning games.”

As things stand, just six games into the 2025/26 campaign, United are languishing in the bottom half of the table and have just the FA Cup to focus on. Up next for the Red Devils is Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland before the dauting task of travelling to Anfield to face the reigning champions of England, Liverpool.

Sports

Carlos Alcaraz Debuts Unrecognisable New Look Ahead of US Open

Published

9 minutes ago

July 31, 2026

admin

Carlos Alcaraz has faced scrutiny from tennis fans, after his new Instagram post debuted a peculiar new haircut for the two-time Wimbledon champion.

The Spaniard has been out of action since sustaining a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open back in April, which has caused the world number three to miss out on some of tennis’ most prestigious tournaments, such as Wimbledon, which was won by Jannik Sinner, and the French Open, with that being taken home by German Alexander Zverev.

Alcaraz has still been busy even with the injury, as his most recent Instagram dump showed him hanging out with Spanish World Cup hero Ferran Torres, after the former Manchester City’s winger’s 106th-minute strike confirmed the Spaniards’ second World Cup and the current US Open champion was there to watch it unfold.

Photos also showed the seven-time major champion rehabbing, as he is expected to return to the court at the Cincinnati Masters 100 before defending his US Open title in New York later this month, with tough competition expected from Sinner and Zverev.

But it looks like Alcaraz will be bringing something new to the tournament, and it involves a haircut, as the Spaniard has picked an interesting style, to say the least, going into his defence.

Carlos Alcaraz’s New Look

The Spanish tennis star usually opts for simple haircuts, with the furthest he has gone in recent times being a buzz cut which he bleached on his way to victory at the Japan Open.

But this time round, Alcaraz will opt for Cornrows going into August, as the youngest Grand Slam winner of all time showed off his look to his adoring fans, who looked on in shock as to see the 23-year-old with this new choice of style.

Many fans were quick to comment on this ambitious look, with multiple fans taking to X to voice their opinion on the topic.

One fan wrote, “GRIM. Sorry that he can’t play tennis. But this hairstyle is detracting from it,” another wrote, “Wait, is that actually Carlos?! Completely unrecognisable! Didn’t see this arc coming at all.”

Another fan looked to have switched sides by announcing that they had “Just joined team Sinner!”, while another fan was looking to convince Alcaraz to go back to the hairstyle he had during the Japan Open: “Carlitos, baby nooo. Just buzz cut platinum blonde again.”

The Spaniard will be hoping this new hair do will help him, as he looks to win his third US Open in the space of five years. One fan even thought it could, with them joking on X: “I like it! Hope it helps him aerodynamically, LOL!”

🎾

Wimbledon History Quiz

You scored

out of 20

Sports

6 Argentina Players Could Be Banned For 2030 World Cup After FIFA Statement

Published

33 minutes ago

July 31, 2026

admin

Six Argentina players could be banned for the 2030 World Cup following a statement made by FIFA, according to reports.

Argentina’s players caused controversy with their behaviour on the pitch during this summer’s tournament. After their victory over England in the semi-final, Argentina’s players held up a political banner which read ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’, which translates to ‘The Falklands are Argentine.’

In the final, some of Argentina’s players completely lost their heads after their extra-time defeat to Spain. Full-back Nahuel Molina struck Rodri as he ran past him during the celebrations, while Lenadro Paredes grabbed the throat of Spain defender Eric Garcia and then sent Gavi to the ground.

FIFA Open Disciplinary Proceedings Against Argentina

Argentina's Leandro Paredes clashes with Spain's Gavi next to assistant coach Walter Samuel

FIFA have now opened disciplinary proceedings against the Argentinian Football Association. Their statement read: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against the Argentinian Football Association for potential breaches of article 13 paragraph 2 c) (Using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature), article 14 paragraph 5 (Team misconduct), article 15 (Discrimination and racist abuse) and article 17 (Order and security at matches) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code in light of discriminatory chants and gestures, late kick-offs, failure to comply with match and security protocols, the display of inappropriate messages by the team and spectators and the throwing of objects by spectators in relation to several matches of the representative team of Argentina at the FIFA World Cup 2026.“

They have also opened disciplinary proceedings against three Argentina players: Molina, Paredes and Thiago Almada.

The statement continued: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has received the report of the appointed Disciplinary and Ethics Prosecutor concerning incidents that occurred during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final (Spain v. Argentina) and, following the recommendation contained therein, has opened disciplinary proceedings – for potential breaches of article 14 paragraph 1 i) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (assault) – against Argentinian players Nahuel Molina (two counts, one completed and one attempted) and Leandro Paredes (three counts) and Argentinian official Roberto Ayala (one count).

“Disciplinary proceedings have also been opened – for potential breaches of article 14 paragraph 1 b) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (unsporting behaviour) – against Argentinian players Nahuel Molina (one count) and Thiago Almada (one count) and Spanish player Pablo Martín Páez Gavira (one count).”

⚽

World Cup History Quiz

You scored

out of 20

Six Argentina Players at Risk of 2030 World Cup Ban

Argentina after defeat to Spain at World Cup final

The Sun have now reported that six Argentina players could be banned for the 2030 World Cup.

They write that FIFA have the power to issue a ban to the Argentina players who were involved in the Falklands banner and the violence after the final.

Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso were all seen holding the Falklands banner and could be punished. While Molina, Paredes and Almada are in hot water following their actions in the final.

Argentina’s next FIFA match will come at the 2030 World Cup. La Albiceleste will host one match at the tournament in honour of the 100th anniversary of the first edition in 1930.

Because they are co-hosting, they will not have to go through qualifying. So, if suspensions are handed out, the next available match for players to be banned could be Argentina’s opening match of the 2030 World Cup.

Sports

Ilia Topuria’s Face 7 Weeks After Justin Gaethje Fight at UFC Freedom 250

Published

58 minutes ago

July 31, 2026

admin

Fans of Ilia Topuria have been left in shock after seeing the recovery of his face several weeks after his first professional loss to Justin Gaethje.

The Georgian fighter was defeated by The Highlight after he was stopped in his corner just after round four with his face looking worse for wear in the main event of UFC Freedom 250, held at the White House, which saw United States President Donald Trump sit cageside to watch all the action.

On the night, Ciryl Gane defeated Alex Pereira in the co-main event, Sean O’Malley knocked out Aiemann Zahabi, and Josh Hokit beat Derrick Lewis by TKO.

It was understood that Topuria had suffered multiple facial injuries during the fight, with doctors revealing that he had fractured two orbital bones and broke his nose after his brutal match-up with the former BMF winner, who demolished El Matador’s face on his way to championship glory.

Ilia Topuria’s Face Seven Weeks After UFC Freedom 250

Now, it looks as if Topuria has made a swift recovery, with the former featherweight champion not looking back as he has reportedly been vacationing in Alicante and Ibiza, as photos from the trip have been released.

In the photo, Topuria can be seen smiling with his barber Luis Bless, who shared the photo on his Instagram page, with many fans left impressed with the healing process that the 17-1 fighter has been through.

Fans were quick to take to social media to praise Topuria for this quick recovery, with El Matador’s fans excited to see him in the Octagon once again.

One user on X wrote, “Oh yeah HE LOOKS GREAT! When we getting a comeback match bruh?” while another wrote, “The rematch with Justin Gaethje will be legendary,” as fans look forward to a potential second clash between the two UFC lightweight giants.

Another fan compared El Matador to a famous Marvel superhero by jokingly stating, “Damn, Ilia got those Captain America healing powers, looking good champ!”

Many fans, however, expected Topuria to have made such a recovery in time, with one fan on X commenting, “It’s been over a month since he last fought. I’d hope he’d be healed up by now,” while another commented, “Why is everyone obsessing with his eyes? Yeah, he got beat up. He’s also 29 years old. He will heal quickly. He didn’t tear an ACL or Achilles.”

One thing is for sure that Topuria is vying to get back into the Octagon, with the lightweight division stacked with talent, including champion Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan, Paddy Pimblett, Charles Oliveira, and Max Holloway.