The Sun UK 08032022

51Tuesday, March 8, 2022 ...............

LIVERPOOL v INTER MILAN

8PM, BT SPORT 2, LAST 16, LIVERPOOL LEAD 2-0 AFTER FIRST LEG INSTA-SLAM . . .
Salah was trolled
LING No Lov
for Kop after showing
DIAZ . . . off his ripped body
settled in
on social media
Luis’superb start Mo-del
out on his signature. Diaz is likely to game was Leipzig in the Champions
continue up front as fit-again Roberto League and we started to play better. By CHARLIE WYETT
Firmino will not be risked for the
Reds who lead 2-0 from the first leg. “Since the start of this season, some MO SALAH was
of the players came back from injuries
Liverpool have already won one tro- and some other things changed as trolled by pal and
phy and are looking for another three, well. I have also not had to play at
in total contrast to last season. centre-back any more which is good.” former Liverpool

It was a year ago yesterday when Klopp, meanwhile, whose team won team-mate Dejan
they lost 1-0 to Fulham for a sixth in Italy with two late goals, is cautious
successive home League defeat. ahead of tonight He said: “We got a Lovren after he
better result than we expected.
They were eighth in the table but showed off his
finished the season strongly to take “It did not look like we would win
third. This term, at home, Liverpool 2-0 as it was a tough tie. They won’t ripped abs and
have won 17 games and drawn five. come here as tourists. They will want
to chase the game but so will we.” bulging biceps.
Fabinho, 28, said: “I remember when
we lost against Fulham. The confi- LIVERPOOL (likely): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, The Egyptian starred
dence of the team was low. The next in Liverpool’s nervy 1-0 win
Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, Salah, Mane, Diaz. over West Ham on Saturday
and, 24 hours later, Salah
treated his 48.4million
Instagram followers to a top-
less pic of his impeccable
physique.

But the eye-catching photo
caught Lovren’s (pictured
above with Salah) attention.

The former Reds defender
trolled his buddy Salah,
saying: “Picture taken
20sec after your upper
body session. Not bad.”

Meanwhile, Jordan Hen-
derson hopes Salah will
soon sign a new Liverpool
deal.

Salah, along with Sadio
Mane, is out of contract in
2023 and refusing to budge
on his £400,000-a-week wage
demands.

In an interview with BT
Sport, Rio Ferdinand asked
skipper Henderson about the
star signing a new deal.

Grinning, the midfielder
said: “That would be nice.”

Owners FSG are expected
to seal an agreement with
Salah soon.

Henderson, 31, added:
“For me, he’s been phe-
nomenal for a number
of seasons. The num-
bers that he’s got —
goals, assists.

“But even his gen-
eral play, his work
rate for the team, his
leadership within the
group, he’s an out-
standing player and,
hopefully, he can
just keep going
from strength to
strength and help
us to be more
successful in the
future.”

Inzaghi: Get Inter ’em

INZAGHI . . . quick start INTER MILAN boss Simone By CHARLIE WYETT Salernitana 5-0 in Serie A
Inzaghi claims his team for a first win in five.
must score in the first half rule for 2021-22. Inzaghi
against Liverpool tonight. said: “It is important, I Centre-back Alessandro
would say essential, to Bastoni said: “I’ve faced
The Italians are looking score a goal in the first top players like Cristiano
to become only the second half but we know it will be Ronaldo, Karim Benzema
team after Manchester a very difficult match. and Vinicius Junior.
United to win a Champions
League knockout tie after “We face the best team “Salah, Mane and Jota
losing a home first leg 2-0. in Europe with Bayern are very strong and we’ll
Munich and Manchester need team spirit to win.
United lost to Paris City. It was great to play
Saint-Germain by two goals the first leg in Milan and “It will be a great game.
at Old Trafford in 2019 we are aware that this will I’ve already tasted English
before a 3-1 win in Paris. be even more difficult.” stadiums with the national
team in the summer.
But unlike that night, this Inter were unlucky to Luckily, the Wembley final
last-16 clash will not be lose the first leg by two ended well for us.”
decided by away goals — goals and on Friday beat
due to Uefa dropping the Midfielder Nicolo Barella
is once again suspended.

52 ............... Tuesday, March 8, 2022 2GM

RYAN MIGHTY . . . Forest PREMIER LEAGUE
star Yates heads in the winner

FRANK To get your
Dream Team To get your To get your
ratings scan Dream Team Dream Team
here with your ratings scan ratings scan
smartphone here with your here with your
1-0Togetyour smartphone smartphone

Dream Team LOOK AWAY NOW . . .
ratings scan
here with your Everton’s Keane smashes
smartphone
the ball into his own net

FA CUP FIFTH RND AND THEN HE WENT PAST HIMHfnlFioAsirgrtaRhnRtPkYwr—ieLtKmhaAtmNhapEeganowrasdfuleslpeniwestwrbnlipetohvawsesetlhcfwihosirinimmtdfhl.iyrosTnEthivniteeshrrhtetrrioysikaneHlsli-egtblnihamortssyests. Picture: RICHARD PELHAM To get your
Dream Team
Cooper joy as To get your ratings scan
Yates sets up Dream Team here with your
Klopp clash ratings scan smartphone
here with your
smartphone

To get your To get your To get your
Dream Team Dream Team Dream Team
ratings ratings ratings
scan here scan here scan here
with your with your with your
smartphone smartphone smartphone

KANE v HENRY IN THE PREMKANEHENRY

By GRAHAM HILL N Forest..............2 GAMES270 258
Huddersfield.....1 176 175
RYAN YATES sent Forest GOALS110 136
RIGHT-FOOT GOALS38
into the FA Cup LEFT-FOOT GOALS27 31
1 6
quarter-finals for the party pooper!” Forest’s HEADED GOALS0.65 2
OTHER
first time in 26 years. 37 0.68
GOALS PER GAME 74
ASSISTS
Steve Cooper’s men had Championship rivals

to fight back from 1-0 Huddersfield saw their TOP ALL-TIME PREM SCORERSAlan Shearer

down to win it with 18-match unbeaten run in Wayne Rooney

first-half goals from Sam all competitions come to Andy Cole Goals
Sergio Aguero 176
Surridge and Yates. an end with a first defeat Frank LampardGoals 175
260 163
City Ground chief since November 27. 208 Harry Kane 162
187 150
Cooper now hosts his old Terriers boss Carlos 184 Thierry Henry
177 Robbie Fowler
club Liverpool, where he Corberan made six Jermain Defoe
Michael Owen
spent two years as their changes to the side which

academy manager before beat Peterborough on

leaving in 2013 to become Friday, as his second-

an FA youth coach. placed side aim for

And Jurgen Klopp’s return to the Prem.

Reds will not underesti- And they were thankful

mate Forest after their for a linesman’s flag after

home wins over Arsenal just 11 minutes when MSTAATTCSH

and Leicester in the Surridge converted a 2512657156454T0%ottTeounchhFaeoSYseumhPlloCilosnoPtosscwaSorsonsohepcnseVnospaecrstostrsseiadsodrisntgeioedntEvbeoxrto45n511202%02307

previous two rounds. Brennan Johnson cross.

Cooper said: “There Surridge angrily dis-

aren’t that many people puted the decision before

left at Liverpool from my Huddersfield opened the

time there. scoring two minutes later,

“When the game comes Tom Lees powering in a

round it will be amazing. header from a corner to

The possibility of playing follow up his double

Liverpool definitely added against Posh.

to the motivation here. But Yates created the

“Hopefully we’ll be leveller on 29 minutes as

ready for them his pass found Surridge —

but I’ll only be and the January signing

focused on from Stoke netted his first

Reading this Forest goal with a fierce

weekend — strike into the top corner.

sorry to be Pipa hit the post for

a bit of a Huddersfield and Forest

keeper Ethan Horvath

saved as Sorba Thomas IT MUST have felt just like old By PAUL Arsenal, having played a game more. The
same could not be said of the freezing
FA got on the rebound. times for Dele Alli — as he sat JIGGINS cold weather.

CUP But the hosts took on the bench at the Tottenham surprise was the 3,000 travelling Toffees These two sides drew 0-0 at Goodison
fans did not join in. Park in Conte’s first game in charge in
QUARTER-FINALS a 37th-minute lead Hotspur Stadium watching his November.
Having booed their boys off at the
NMCvovarEtcPMLhtvaami2erv0cl,aher12Ft2cr.0o3ope,06nrpopmemoslt when Yates rose to team lose again. break, some of them headed for the exit That saw Everton sub Mason Holgate
MMCa’rhbcheo19lrs, o5e.15avpm when half-time sub Sergio Reguilon made get a straight red card on 90 minutes for
MSMoaartcnho2nC0,i3vtpym meet James Garner’s Only last night he was in the it 4-0 within a minute of the restart. a crude lunge on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
away dugout as his former team- after having been on the pitch for just
free-kick. mates ruined his return to N17. Everton are now just one point outside eight minutes.
the drop zone — with a worse goal differ-
Huddersfield threat- Everton were already 5-0 down when ence than Burnley in the spot below. The defender started last night as
Dele replaced Dominic Calvert-Lewin to Lampard made six changes to his starting
ened an equaliser with rapturous applause in the 69th minute. The Toffees have the worst away record line-up from Thursday’s 2-0 FA Cup win
in the division having picked up just six over Boreham Wood.
17 minutes left when But first-half strikes from Son Heung- points on the road this term.
min and Harry Kane on the back of Though Holgate was lucky not to get a
Danny Ward’s free-kick Michael Keane’s early own-goal opener And boss Lampard has now lost all of third-minute booking for leaving his foot
meant this as a contest was over long his three away matches in charge. in on Kane.
from the edge of the area before half-time.
No such problems for Tottenham boss The England captain and Son broke the
forced Horvath into a And how the Spurs fans loved it as they Antonio Conte, whose hot-and-cold side record for the most Prem goal combina-
taunted Everton boss and former Chelsea were simply scorching as they moved to tions when he set up the South Korean to
full-stretch save. foe Frank Lampard with chants of: within three points of fourth-placed complete their 4-0 rout at Leeds in their
“Lampard, Lampard, what’s the score?” last league fixture.
And the USA stopper —
And then the best of the lot: “You’re And they should have added another
preferred in goal despite just a s**t Steven Gerrard.” The only

Brice Samba’s return

from a three-match ban

— made an identical stop

from Ward moments later.

Djed Spencer and

Garner missed chances

to kill off the visitors

late on.

Corberan said: “It’s a

disappointing feeling

to not keep playing 13 11 6HARRY KANE has scored ANTONIO CONTE remains
13 Premier League unbeaten in all of his six
goals against Everton. Prem games against Everton
Only v Leicester (16) as a boss (W4 D2), keeping a
in this special EVERTON are without a win
in 11 Premier League games
competition. (D2 L9) — their worst run
since also failing to win 11
“I felt the

key moment of

the game was does he have more. in a row in 2003-04. clean sheet in all of them.

Pipa’s chance.”

2GM 53Tuesday, March 8, 2022 ...............

SPURS 5 EVERTON 0

KEANE (OG) 14; SON 17; KANE 37, 55; REGUILON 46 LAMPARD . . . taunted

SPANKED! KANE
From Back Page
Lampard faces relegation dogfight
can keep ticking off those
2-0 TWOEASY names.”
. . . Son
drills the Spurs fans taunted
ball home Lampard by chanting:
“You’re getting sacked in
4-0 3-0 ON THE LASH . . . the morning” as Everton,
Kane cracks home who stay fourth bottom,
SUITS YOU, SER after a quick break plunged deeper into trouble.
. . . Reguilon is 5-0
free to fire in FIVE STAR . . . The Toffees are a point
Kane sees his ahead of third-bottom
volley seal rout Burnley but now have a
worse goal difference.
when Kane played his pal through on 12 booking trying to cut Richarlison off at Dele’s appearance for the last 21 minutes PREM TABLE
minutes — but some rare hesitancy from or so in front of his old fans had little Lampard, who has won
Son let Anthony Gordon in to deny him the knee, the Three Lions captain made impact. NWBELBNBLACouSevWTrWaMerAeCLrMosreereoitiwyihowrtgnaecudrvnftasoseltnehsltoetsctvineetnoclthsetafrrseanUyhntoCodpnasHeVslateitnrmohaaPitdlrdlloymaelapalmltaocne222222222727262527282627252628277688P56784536517671911718110122W43355912541148612163024362813863D111111118181851459080939771323L122223324637323829404046405779644065F153513846443483036462135363223172811325A8918102822223373931324347484P34353636505578t339s just one of his five Prem
with a fine tackle. games since taking charge
no mistake when he slotted home the It was his first Premier League in January, said: “I am
But Son soon sharpened up to have a appearance here since he started for confident but that doesn’t
hand in Spurs’ opener two minutes later. third goal in the 37th minute. Spurs in their 2-2 draw with Liverpool on mean anything. I didn’t
December 19. walk into the building with
His pass down the left played in Ryan It came after another fine ball by a magic wand.
Sessegnon, whose cross to the near post Conte had insisted at his pre-match
was volleyed into his own net by Toffees Doherty, who is now thriving under press conference that he was not worried “The feeling at this club
defender Keane under intense pressure about fallen star Dele returning to haunt when I came here was we
from Kane. Italian boss Conte. him — after letting the England midfielder could be going down.
join Everton on deadline day in a deal
Son made it 2-0 in the 17th minute Everton’s frustration boiled over at the that could reach £40million. “It was up to me to
with a drilled finish from Dejan Kulusev- change that and I thought
ski’s pass. half-time whistle when midfielder Abdou- He said players he got rid off usually we had changed that. But
this is a test of that.
Son has been involved in 11 goals — laye Doucoure had to be pulled away “went down, not up”.
seven goals and four assists — in his last “We were well beaten.”
12 Premier League games. from confronting Hojbjerg. After this hammering, Dele will be Everton have lost seven
of their last eight league
And he should have added another Conte replaced Sessegnon with Reguilon hoping it is not down into the matches and face crucial
after being put through by Matt Doherty. home games against
during the interval and the Spaniard Championship. Wolves on Sunday and
But his shot was blocked by Everton made it 4-0 with his first touch when he Newcastle next Thursday.
keeper Jordan Pickford, celebrating his smashed in Kulusevski’s cross 43 seconds HOW THEY LINED UP Tottenham were 3-0 up
28th birthday and 200th top-flight appear- after the restart. at half-time thanks to a
ance, with Kane missing the rebound. TOTTENHAM: Lloris, Romero (Sanchez 52), Dier, Davies, Doherty, Michael Keane own goal
Kane hit the fifth with a fine volley and strikes from Son
Then after Cristian Romero earned a from Doherty’s 55th-minute cross. Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon (Reguilon 46), Kulusevski, Kane, Heung-min and Kane.
Sub Sergio Reguilon
The best Everton could muster was a Son, (Bergwijn 66). Booked: Son, Romero. scored with his first touch
Calvert-Lewin shot across goal. after going on at half-time
EVERTON: Pickford, Coleman, Holgate, Keane (Branthwaite 46), before Kane wrapped it up.
There was a lovely moment when the Victory moved Spurs to
whole stadium rose to applaud the Kenny, Doucoure, Allan, Van de Beek (Mykolenko 59), Calvert-Lewin within three points of
fourth-placed Arsenal and
introduction of Everton’s Ukrainian sub (Dele 69), Richarlison, Gordon. Antonio Conte is now eye-
ing the Champions League.
Vitaliy Mykolenko for Calvert-Lewin. The Tottenham boss
said: “Since my arrival I
22 EVERTON’S haul of just 22 points Saturday Man Utd (a) Prem NEXT 4 Sunday Wolves (h) Prem didn’t know if it could be
after 25 games in the Premier Mar 16 Brighton (a) Prem GAMES Mar 17 realistic, but now I think
League this season is their lowest Mar 20 West Ham (h) Prem Mar 20 Newcastle (h) Prem the two players (Rodrigo
total at this stage of a top-flight Apr 3 Newcastle (h) Prem Apr 3 Bentancur and Dejan
season in the club’s history. Crystal Palace (a) FA Cup Kulusevski) complete our
squad. Now my expecta-
West Ham (a) Prem tions have become higher.”

Sport

NEIL LENNON is the
new boss of Cypriot
side Omonia Nicosia.

He has been handed
a deal until 2024
and takes over from
the former Blackburn
and Manchester United
defender Henning Berg.

SHORT

Go ’n get

Gbamin

EVERTON are being urged
to stand up to Russia —
and get on-loan midfielder
Jean-Philippe Gbamin back
from CSKA Moscow.

The Ivory Coast mid-
fielder joined the Russian
outfit last month, before
the invasion of Ukraine.

And the Toffees now
have the OK to fly
Gbamin, 26, back after
Fifa stopped dithering.

World football chiefs
have agreed to a “special
transfer window”.

Meanwhile, Colchester
will use their League Two
clash against Forest Green
to raise funds to help
evacuate Ukrainians from
their war-torn homeland.

54 ............... Tuesday, March 8, 2022 ALL THE

PREMIER LEAGUE

Dodgy 17PLAYERS WHO COULD
hip... LEAVE OLD TRAFFORD
and a THIS SUMMER

MANAGER . . . at Old Trafford THE futures of 17 Manchester By DYLAN TERRY

Ex-boss United players are up in the air at Sevilla and expected to
O’Farrell secure a permanent move away.
dies, 94 with the club facing a mass
DEAN HENDERSON is still
By NEIL CUSTIS overhaul in the summer. playing second fiddle to David

FRANK O’FARRELL would PAUL POGBA (right), JESSE de Gea and set to depart in
have recognised the task search of more first-team
facing Manchester United’s LINGARD, JUAN MATA and football.
managers since Sir Alex EDINSON CAVANI will all One of DIOGO DALOT or
Ferguson retired. leave on frees if new deals AARON WAN-BISSAKA will
cannot be agreed. likely leave as they
Taking the club back to
the glory days is the same Meanwhile, reports in battle for the right-back
thing O’Farrell, who died recent months have stated spot.
yesterday aged 94, was that CRISTIANO RONALDO
brought in for in 1971. could leave if United do not DONNY VAN DE BEEK has
make the Champions League. gone on loan to Everton and
Having lifted the 1968 may not feel his future lies at
European Cup, United’s They sit fifth in the Prem — Manchester United after a
fall from grace had been one point behind Arsenal in dismal 18 months of very few
dramatic. the race to reach Europe’s top opportunities.
table. United are also in the
O’Farrell was appointed last 16 of this year’s competition, PHIL JONES (left) sees his
in June 1971 to replace but are not expected to win it. contract expire at the end of
Sir Matt Busby, who had
returned for a short Forward MARCUS RASHFORD next season and, while he
second spell. is considering his future at his has returned from injury,
boyhood club. he remains low down the
Many remember an pecking order when it
exciting team in his early The England ace is comes to the centre-backs.
days in charge. thought to be unhappy Then there are four loan
with his lack of game time
They led the table in the under Ralf Rangnick. players, all of whom could
1971-72 season by ten leave — BRANDON WILLIAMS,
points at one stage, losing MASON GREENWOOD has ANDREAS PEREIRA, FACUNDO
just one of their first 14 been suspended indefinitely PELLISTRI and TAHITH CHONG.
games, and were top at since his arrest on suspicion of
Christmas. rape, assault and threats to kill.
ANTHONY MARTIAL is on loan
Yet Derby would win the
title in the end, with Blue DAVID AND GOLIATH
United finishing ten points . . . United keeper De
adrift in eighth. Gea kicks the ball in
frustration as City
After a poor start to the
following season, O’Farrell impose their superiority
was sacked in December during Sunday’s derby
1972 and replaced by
Tommy Docherty. rinse PERHAPS the prospect of By NEIL

His departure was a RONALDO ‘INJURY’ humiliation at the Etihad Stadium CUSTIS
bitter one. He sued the EXPOSES CRACKS
club over unpaid wages UNDER RANGNICK exacerbated the hip problem. Old Trafford’s interim boss told the
and signed on at the Portuguese superstar he could make an
labour exchange while an After all, the mind can do things to impact off the bench.
out-of-court settlement,
believed to be around the body when it is out of kilter. You can only wonder at what shot through
£17,000, was sorted out. And Cristiano Ronaldo is said to have the 37-year-old’s mind at that moment . . . ‘Is
that what I have become? A supersub?’
O’Farrell, a train driver’s been absolutely raging after being told he
son from Cork, had previ- would not be in the starting line-up for Ronaldo told Rangnick that, yes, he could
ously taken Leicester to Sunday’s Manchester derby. make an impact — but from the start.
the 1969 FA Cup final and
1971 Second Division title. Rewind to the start of the week and his The manager was not having any of it,
mood could not have been more at odds his mind was made up on a tactical plan
After leaving Old Traf- with how he ended it — by boarding a to get something from the Etihad.
ford, he managed Cardiff, flight to Portugal rather than joining his
the Iranian national team team-mates in a city-centre hotel. Ronaldo was already due a rough recep-
and had two spells at tion having rejected Pep Guardiola’s over-
Torquay either side of a Ronaldo had actually started to believe tures at the last minute to return to United.
short period at UAE outfit that things could be moving in the right
Al-Shaab. direction at United. So just imagine how the City fans would
have revelled at his relegation to the bench.
A wing-half, he spent the Yes, he missed plenty of chances against
best years of his playing Watford but he was impressed with how Not only was he not a City player, he
career at West Ham and many were created. could not even get in the United team.
Preston, and won nine caps
for the Republic of Ireland. The draw away to Atletico Madrid had So by Friday a previous hip problem had
also been a boost for a player who wants flared up again.
O’FARRELL . . . title winner one more Champions League crown to add
to the five he already has. By the weekend he was off to Portugal.
Apparently, the warm weather back home
Training had been good and he was will help his hip.
enjoying the relationship he was starting to It was 14OC in the capital Lisbon at
strike up with Jadon Sancho. lunchtime yesterday, 8OC in Manchester.
But wasn’t it Rangnick who, after taking
So when he was told by boss Ralf charge, insisted players did all their rehab
Rangnick that he would not be in the at Carrington? Rangnick who hauled Paul
starting XI, his world came crashing down.

Rangnick told him he wanted fresh legs.
Yet having started five games in 15 days,
Ron had actually had a game-free midweek.

55Tuesday, March 8, 2022 ...............

MANC DERBY FALLOUT

CITY SPECIAL
. . . KDB enjoys
his first in derby

Kevin offers

tired excuse

KEVIN DE BRUYNE believes Manchester United

ran out of puff in Sunday’s demolition derby.

Old Trafford legends Roy Keane and Gary Neville

both suggested the Red Devils players gave up after

the champions scored their third in the 4-1 win.

But two-goal hero De Bruyne felt their rivals began

to struggle as they are not yet used to the pressing

game of interim coach Ralf Rangnick.

United had just eight per cent of the possession

when they were meant to be chasing the game in the

final few minutes — leading some to suggest they had
downed tools.

De Bruyne said: “It’s By MARTIN BLACKBURN

difficult to say. When and have a good laugh
you play a pressing with them.”
style it’s very hard to
adjust to it. City’s derby triumph
saw them regain their
“Maybe it seemed like six-point lead at the top
they did give up a little, of the table.
because it’s very hard to
do it for 90 minutes as And KDB feels it is
a team. shaping up to be another
classic title race — just
“I watched the last ten like three years ago when
minutes from the bench City pipped the Reds by
and it felt like they were just a single point.
a little bit out, so the
spaces got a bit bigger. The Etihad playmaker,
30, added: “Yeah, I’d say
“But I wouldn’t it looks similar for the
necessarily say that they moment and it’s never
gave up — it’s hard to been that far away.
say that.”
“I would say Liverpool
De Bruyne revealed his were further away at
United-supporting mates that time than we were.
had travelled over for the
game from Belgium and “Both teams have been
tried to stop him sleeping doing so well but we
the night before. push each other. We’re
both great teams.”
In the end, though, it
was the Red Devils who The big rivals are due
got a rude awakening to clash at the Etihad on
thanks to another daz- April 10 — and it is
zling performance from already being billed as
the title decider.
the £54million midfielder. De Bruyne said: “It
He said: “Three of could be but it’s so far
them are United fans, so away. A lot can change.
they were trying to keep “We have an eye on
me awake all night.
them but we just do
“Now I can go home what we have to do.”

Pogba back from Dubai to do just that? move — but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s long- CRISTIANO
The rest of the United players, many of term planning had not reckoned for this
whom may not have been aware of his hip seismic signing. RONALDO From Back Page
problem, were bemused that Ron had not
joined up with them at Manchester’s five- He knew he couldn’t let him go to City, THIS SEASON from the matchday squad blamed on a hip problem.
star Lowry hotel on Saturday, fit or not. where he could be on over 20 goals by now Instead, the striker, 37, is understood to have flown
in a far superior team. FIRST 15 (All comps) LAST 15 home to Portugal.
A veteran of so many of these encounters GAMES GAMES
could surely have added something. Still, did he really need him back, with And last night neither the club nor his representa-
all the attention and showbiz that follows? 13 STARTS 14 tives could confirm where he was or whether he
Rangnick’s post-match explanation of would be at training today.
Ronaldo’s absence was telling. It is clearer now more than ever, that 10 GOALS 5
Solskjaer was making progress. The players were given a day off yesterday and
He said: “I have to believe my medical 119 MINS PER GOAL 257 are expected back at Carrington this morning.
department. Our doctor came to see me Second place in the Prem last season and
Friday morning and said Cristiano could into the Europa League final. 2 ASSISTS 1 Interim manager Ralf Rangnick has insisted the
not train because of some problems with players do all their rehabilitation in Manchester
his hip flexor and the same Saturday.” Ronaldo, meanwhile, was unknowingly 99 MINS PER GOAL OR ASSIST 214 rather than abroad if they are injured.
splitting the camp. United were hammered 4-1 on Sunday — and
And asked when Ronaldo and the flaky Ronaldo’s future is not the only one in doubt in the
Edinson Cavani would return, Rangnick He returned to a club he did not fallout from that dismal display.
admitted: “I don’t know. I was hoping to recognise, where standards among the Struggling star Rashford was also miffed at being
have them available for this game.” players were nowhere near the level when left out of the starting XI at the Etihad, with Rangnick
he left for Real Madrid in 2009. opting to go without a recognised striker.
The term “I have to believe my medical He has now started just two of the club’s last 11
department” suggests the evidence of his Yet, increasingly, he realised his own Premier League games — and only one of those
own eyes during training in the week powers were on the wane. absences was due to injury.
suggested something very different with Paris Saint-Germain are monitoring his situation with
regards to the player’s fitness. He despaired at some of the younger Kylian Mbappe set to join Real Madrid in the summer.
players and they felt intimidated by him, And England hitman Rashford, 24, is now more open
But if Ronaldo says he has a problem, the likes of Marcus Rashford retreating into to that move than ever before.
the medics have to believe him. their shells. The Manchester-born star had previously never even
considered the thought of leaving Old Trafford, having
It is questionable now how much of a Rangnick came in and in his first press come through the club’s academy. But he is known to
part he plays in the rest of the season. conference boasted of the attacking arsenal be very down about his current situation.
at his disposal. Rashford, whose contract expires in June 2023, feels
And you would not put a quid on him Ronaldo’s arrival has seen him pushed to one side.
being here next term. On Sunday, United didn’t even have a And he believes his World Cup hopes could be in
striker on the pitch. jeopardy because of his lack of game time at United.
The memories of that September after-
noon when he came back and scored twice The man brought back to score the goals
in a 4-1 win over Newcastle have quickly was sat in Portugal.
faded. Early goals suggested it was a good
The sorry soap opera that is the modern-
day Manchester United had attracted more
unwanted drama.

56 ............... Tuesday, March 8, 2022 2GM

Sunthesun.co.uk/sport And’s Nou deal Horner attacks
..not a new deal Merc’s ‘bullies’
Sport
ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN By ANDREW DILLON CHRISTIAN HORNER By BEN HUNT
Kane the is preparing to say goodbye fall through. Chris- reignited his row with
legend to Chelsea after closing in tensen has repeatedly Mercedes by accusing Max Verstappen pipped
on a move to Barcelona. turned down a new them of “bullying” to Lewis Hamilton to the title
Blues contract as he get Michael Masi axed. on the very last lap.
The Dane (right), 25, wants to play at the Masi has lost his role
has agreed a five-year Nou Camp. as F1 race director after Red Bull boss Horner
deal to go to Barca at an FIA investigation. feels Merc put extra
the end of the season. Chelsea could It follows the stunning pressure on the FIA to
also lose defenders finale to last season when, have Masi removed.
Sources in Spain even Antonio Rudiger and after Masi’s intervention,
claim the defender ‘will Cesar Azpilicueta on He said: “Was it right
have to fail a medical’ frees in the summer. Turn to Page 45
for the free transfer to

OLD TRAFFORD EXCLUSIVE

HARRY AHEAD OF HENRY RON
LAMPS: I’M NO MAGICIAN

By PAUL JIGGINS Tottenham.....5 THE
Everton...........0
HARRY KANE topped
Thierry Henry in the The England star said:
all-time Prem scoring “Thierry was one of
charts as Frank the greatest Premier
Lampard said he has League strikers we’ve
no magic wand to save seen. To go above him
Everton from the drop. is a nice milestone.

Spurs striker Kane “I’ve got plenty more
netted twice to over- years in me. Hopefully I
take Henry in sixth
spot and move just one Turn to
behind Lampard, who Page 53
has 177 Prem goals.

WHY ALWAYS ME? . . .
Ronaldo got the hump

after his derby axe

HOT SPUR . . . LEGEND
Harry Kane after By NEIL CUSTIS Missing Cris is
facing United exit
making it 3-0 CRISTIANO RONALDO’S
Rashford open
Picture: RICHARD Manchester United to leaving too

PELHAM future is in serious

doubt after missing y(7HA3A7*MQSMMT( |||+=!"'

Sunday’s derby.

And a frustrated Mar-
cus Rashford (below) is
now open to a move away
from Old Trafford for the
first time in his career.

Ron was fuming
after being told on
Friday that he was
axed from the start-
ing line-up to face
Manchester City.

His team-mates were
then shocked when he
did not turn up for
Saturday’s club
meal — with
his absence
Turn to P55

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