Trent Alexander-Arnold talks trust after Arne Slot appointed Liverpool head coach Liverpool FC
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been enjoying his downtime between the season finish and the Euros, but has already been speaking about “trust” in the club’s hierarchy over the new head coach.
The 25-year-old has only ever known Jurgen Klopp as his manager at Anfield, and tears on the final day when the German bid farewell spoke volumes of the significance of that relationship.
But change has already ensued with Arne Slot officially taking over as the new head coach, and the right-back is positive it will be a smooth transition.
“I hope so (that it will be a smooth transition), that’s all you can hope for,” Alexander-Arnold told Sky Sports while in Monaco to watch F1.
“I have trust in the club and who we have appointed.
“As a player, that is all you can ask for, to have trust in what the higher-ups have brought in, and I’m sure it will be a smooth transition.”
“I have trust in the club and who we’ve appointed.” ?
Alpine F1 investor Trent Alexander-Arnold discusses Arne Slot, and the Euros, ahead of the Monaco GP ???? pic.twitter.com/LB0pJMa9OI
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 25, 2024
The right-back will be late to report for pre-season this summer having been selected for England’s Euros squad, but there will need to be a balance between having a break and adjusting to new management.
It is a significant change for Liverpool, and the notion of trust from the players has been mentioned before by Virgil van Dijk.
“Not only the manager but there are multiple departments within the club that have a lot of staff members leaving and we are at the stage we have to trust the club in this project and this route they are taking, and we will see in pre-season how things will look,” the captain said.
“Change is sometimes a little bit scary as you are in the unknown but the only thing you can do is trust the club, and we will find out how it looks when we come back and report for pre-season.”
Slot has reportedly brought the start of pre-season forward by a week, with those not on international duty to reconvene in the first week of July.
Heartsore Johnson admits Chiefs just didnt show up
‘We couldn’t hold the ball, we couldn’t make more than five passes,’ said the Chiefs head coach.
Cavin Johnson has said he is “heartsore” at overseeing Kazer Chiefs’ worst ever finish in the Premier Soccer League era, after they lost 2-0 at Cape Town Spurs in the DStv Premiership on Saturday and missed out on a place in next season’s MTN8.
Amakhosi ended up in tenth place in the table, one place lower than they finished in the 2001/2, 2006/7 and 2018/19 campaigns.
The 36 points from 30 matches that Chiefs registered also equals their lowest ever points total, though they somehow managed to finish eighth with that total in the 2020/21 campaign.
“As a coach, very, very heartsore,” was Johnson’s response to reporters when asked for his reaction to coming tenth in the table.
It seems even less likely that Johnson will be head coach at Chiefs next season, after this dismal ending. The Chiefs interim head coach was non committal on his own future.
‘For the future, I’m going to have to see,’ he said.
Ernst Middendorp’s Spurs, despite already being relegated, were by far the better side at Cape Town Stadium, and could well have won by an even greater margin.
“We just didn’t show up at all,” admitted Johnson to SuperSport TV immediately after the game.
“We couldn’t hold the ball, we couldn’t make more than five passes. It is the end of the season, there is another season in six or seven weeks and we have to see how we fix it up.
“We have to get a lot of work done behind the scenes regrading players and technical staff and how we get together again to make sure we take the brand to another level, and compete next season.”
Middendorp, meanwhile, could enjoy a victory over his former side, though it was a bittersweet result, given that Spurs will play next season in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
‘Unbelievable’
The German head coach took over the side in mid-November, and managed to get five top flight wins this year, but still finished seven points off 15th place. In the end, losing 14 of their first 16 league games of the season was just too much for Spurs to overcome.
“The development here in the last five months has been unbelievable,” Middendorp told SuperSport TV after the match.
“I understand to take three points from your first 14 matches that’s too much (left to do), but we can be proud of Cape Town Spurs seeing the players perform today.”
DStv Premiership 2023/24: And the Golden Boot winner is
The 2023/2024 DStv Premiership season has wrapped up and we have a winner in the battle for bragging rights as the country’s top goal scorer.
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Tshegofatso Mabasa walked away with the mantle of Golden Boot winner after finishing the season on 16 goals.
Mabasa scored six times for Swallows before he completed his move back to Orlando Pirates for whom he found the back of the net on 10 occasions.
Stellenbosch FC’s Iqraam Rayners finished second with 15 goals, with Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Mamelodi Sundowns) third with 12 goals.
No one came close to the all-time PSL record of 25 goals held by Zambia’s Collins Mbesuma while playing for Kaizer Chiefs in the 2004/05 season.
LEADING SCORERS IN THE 2023/2024 DSTV PREMIERSHIP SEASON
Correct as at 25 May 2024
1. Tshegofatso Mabasa (Swallows / Orlando Pirates) – 16
2. Iqraam Rayners (Stellenbosch FC) – 15
3. Lucas Ribeiro Costa (Mamelodi Sundowns) – 12
4. Bradley Grobler (SuperSport United) – 11
5. Khanyiso Mayo (Cape Town City FC) – 10
6. Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns) – 9
T7. Sphiwe Mahlangu (TS Galaxy) – 8
T7. Chibuike Ohizu (Sekhukhune United) – 8
T7. Samir Nurkovic (TS Galaxy) – 8
T10. Devin Titus (Stellenbosch FC) – 7
T10. Ashley Cupido (Cape Town Spurs) – 7
T10. Gabadinho Mhango (Swallows) – 7
T10. Augustine Kwem (AmaZulu) – 7
T13. Oswin Appollis (Polokwane City) – 6
T13. Jaedin Rhodes (Cape Town City FC) – 6
T13. Lungelo Nguse (Golden Arrows) – 6
Borussia Dortmund to sign Jadon Sancho using UEFA Champions League funds report Man United News And Transfer News
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The UEFA Champions League final is set to play a key role in aiding Borussia Dortmund in their efforts to sign loanee Jadon Sancho from Manchester United on a permanent deal.
Following his fallout with manager Erik ten Hag, Sancho has enjoyed somewhat of a career revival by returning to the club that Man United signed him from in 2021.
With two goals and three assists in 14 Bundesliga games, Sancho has been particularly effective in Dortmund’s Champions League campaign, scoring a crucial goal against PSV Eindhoven in their 2-0 victory in the second leg of the last 16 and appearing in each of Dortmund’s starting lineups as the team has reached the final.
Given his positive impact during his loan spell, it appears as if Dortmund are intent on keeping him at the club on a permanent basis.
Still, it appears as if the Bundesliga side’s pursuit of Sancho could prove to be challenging given the interest that the winger’s performances have drawn from other European elite clubs.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane and current star Jude Bellingham have been pushing Los Blancos’ President Florentino Perez to sign Sancho.
Last week, The Peoples Person relayed that United may put a £55 million (€64m) price tag on Sancho.
Despite being a seemingly high fee, this has not dissuaded Dortmund from pursuing the 24 year old, particularly with the team set to run into a generous sum of money.
Fichajes report that Dortmund are set to pull out all the stops to sign Sancho on a permanent basis, and that the asking price is just €50 million (£42m) – less than previously reported.
Upon playing in the Champions League final, Dortmund are set to rake in €20 million should they manage to win against Real Madrid.
Intriguingly, they are set to run into even more money – €25 million to be precise – if Madrid emerge victorious due to a clause in Jude Bellingham’s contract after he departed the Bundesliga club last summer.
As a result, no matter which way the final goes, it appears as if Dortmund will be given a big cash injection to put towards Sancho’s transfer, allowing United to offload an unwanted player while boosting their transfer budget.
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Kaizer Chiefs identify prolific African striker to solve their goal-scoring woes?
Kaizer Chiefs have put their name into the hat to sign a prolific Orlando Pirates striker target.
KAIZER CHIEFS WANT TO SPOIL THE ORLANDO PIRATES PARTY
Congolese striker Andy Boyeli has long been a target for Orlando Pirates. He’s got 17 goals for Power Dynamos in Zambia this term and got 18 in 2022/2023. Consistency seems to be one of his strengths.
“Kaizer Chiefs are closing in on the signing of Congolese striker Andy Boyeli from Power Dynamos,” Rwandan reporter Eric Ndagijimana said via X and reported here on The South African.
“Chiefs are said to have moved ahead of rivals Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns to sign Boyeli at the current end of the season. Boyeli has missed Power’s last two fixtures to fuel rumours of his potential exit from the club.”
“His contract at Power runs up to June 2025,” added Ndagijimana.
Nurkovic is still doing the things for TS Galaxy
31-year-old Samir Nurkovic, once a cult hero at Naturena, managed eight goals in 22 league appearances this term, a healthy return. The Serbian Nurkovic reported KwaZulu-Natal side Royal AM, his former employers, to FIFA after he was dismissed in October 2022. They terminated his two-year contract just two months in, and without compensation. The former Chiefs striker was injured for the majority of his time there and approached FIFA who ruled in his favour to the tune of R12 Million. SABC Sport reports that the figure Royal AM owes to the player includes his salary for the entire contract, representatives’ fees and interest accrued from delays.
TS Galaxy coach Sead Ramovic believes they are blessed to have ex-Kaizer Chiefs star Samir Nurkovic. Image: TSGalaxy/Instagram
Amakhosi finish tenth
After a 2-0 defeat at already-relegated Cape Town Spurs, Amakhosi must content themselves with a tenth-placed finish this season. That means they finish without the prospect of MTN8 football next season. In 30 games they only claimed nine wins with nine draws and 12 defeats. The twelfth of those came against Spurs. Meanwhile, arch-rivals Orlando Pirates secured CAF Champions League qualification and still have a Nedbank Cup final to prepare for next weekend.
Who do you think Chiefs should be targeting during the upcoming winter window?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com. You can also send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Meanwhile, you can follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest DStv Premiership news.
These teams qualified for the MTN8: First round matches confirmed
With the 2023/24 DStv Premiership season now a thing of the past, the eight teams that booked their places in next season’s MTN8 tournament have been confirmed.
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As the name suggests, only the top eight teams at the conclusion of the season qualified for next season’s lucrative MTN8.
Following the final whistles in Saturday’s matches, these teams finished first to eighth in the standings:
Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Stellenbosch FC, Sekhukhune United, Cape Town City FC, TS Galaxy, SuperSport United and Polokwane City.
That means the following matches are confirmed for Round 1:
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Polokwane City
Orlando Pirates v SuperSport United
Stellenbosch FC vs TS Galaxy
Sekhukhune United v Cape Town City FC
Kaizer Chiefs missed out
Despite having had the ‘easiest’ final match (on paper) against relegated Cape Town Spurs on thee final day, Kaizer Chiefs lost 2-0 to the Mother City side and dropped from eighth to 10th in the final standings to miss out on MTN8 qualification.
Orlando Pirates are the MTN8 defending champions.
The overall winner will bank R8 million with the seven other participating teams all taking home R800 000 for an overall payout of R13.6 million.
LATEST DSTV PREMIERSHIP LOG
Benni McCarthy to leave Man United on a high after FA Cup win?
Benni McCarthy landed another piece of silverware with Man United on Saturday as they beat City to lift the FA Cup. Is it time to say goodbye?
Man United upset City to lift their 13th FA Cup
It wasn’t quite a tactical masterclass from Erik Ten Hag but it was close. Stories of Ten Hag’s imminent exit from the club dominated social in the buildup to Saturday’s final. If it was his last game in charge, the former Ajax boss produced one of his best tactical displays in one of his biggest matches. Teenagers Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho scored the goals for a counter-attacking United side while Jeremy Doku grabbed what only proved to be a late consolation for City. It was United’s 13th FA Cup win, they’re now just one win behind all-time leaders Arsenal.
Benni signing off from United? Image: Goal
BENNI MCCARTHY IS A DECORATED MAN
Manchester United first-team coach Benni McCarthy is South African football royalty. He’s achieved some great things both as a player head coach and now in his new specialist role at Old Trafford. Let’s spin it back.
BENNI’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN FOOTBALL
BENNI THE PLAYER
First and only South African UEFA Champions League winner with Porto in 2004.
Two-time Premeira Liga winner with Porto.
Dutch Eredivisie champion with Ajax Amsterdam in 1998.
All-time leading scorer for Bafana Bafana with 31 goals from 80 caps.
Until 2023 when Lyle Foster made the switch to Burnley, Benni was the most expensive South African footballer of all time. He moved from Ajax to Celta Vigo for €6m in 1999.
Benni Scored 18 goals in 36 Premier League appearances in the 2006-07 season.
Champion of South Africa with Orlando Pirates in 2011-12.
Nedbank Cup and MTN8 winner in 2011, also with Pirates.
Benni would be a solid choice for the Bafana job at some stage. Image: The Sun
MCCARTHY AS A MANAGER
Led Cape Town City to MTN8 glory in 2018-19.
Guided AmaZulu into the CAF Champions League.
MANCHESTER UNITED FIRST-TEAM COACH
EFL Cup champion in 2023.
FA Cup champion in 2024.
With Erik Ten Hag likely to leave Old Trafford, it leaves Benni’s future in massive doubt.
What should Benni’s next adventure be?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com. You can also send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Meanwhile, you can follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest DStv Premiership news.
A compatriot of Christian Saile could arrive at Kaizer Chiefs next season. The name is Andy Boyeli from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
KAIZER CHIEFS TO SIGN ANDY BOYELI AHEAD OF ORLANDO PIRATES?
Like most hot targets in South Africa or the continent, Boyeli is reportedly chased by both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. The Congolese striker scored 17 goals for Power Dynamos in Zambia this season, while also delivering 18 goals in the 2022/23 term.
“Kaizer Chiefs are closing in on the signing of Congolese striker Andy Boyeli from Power Dynamos,” the Rwandan reporter Eric Ndagijimana said via X.
“Chiefs are said to have moved ahead of rivals Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns to sign Boyeli at the current end of the season. Boyeli has missed Power’s last two fixtures to fuel rumours of his potential exit from the club.
“His contract at Power runs up to June, 2025,” added Ndagijimana.
A LEGEND FROM ZAMBIA
Once upon a time at Kaizer Chiefs was a striker from Zambia named Collins Mbesuma. He is one of the club’s and the DStv Premiership‘s greatest ever strikers. Where is he now?
Mbesuma, known as “Ntofontofo,” spent only needed one season in 2005 to set a record that is yet to be broken in 2024. The left-footed striker smashed 35 goals in one season for Amakhosi, before moving to Portsmouth in England in January 2005. The Kaizer Chiefs legend later moved around the world to Marítimo, Portugal, Bursaspor, Turkey.
The Zambian star later made his way back to Mzansi. While he did not return to Kaizer Chiefs, he moved to every corner of the country until his retirement. Mbesuma played for Mamelodi Sundowns, Moroka Swallows, Golden Arrows, Orlando Pirates, Mpumalanga Black Aces, Highlands Park, the University of Pretoria, Maccabi FC and finally Pretoria Callies until his retirement in 2022 aged 38.
WHERE IS HE NOW?
The former Kaizer Chiefs star is still fully in the game. After working as a striker’s coach at Pretoria Callies in the lower Motsepe Foundation Championship, Mbesuma recently moved the DStv Premiership. The Amakhosi legend joined Sekhukhune United as a striker’s coach.
“Its good thing that a number of teams in South Africa are appointing coaches for specific position,” said Callies chairman Moses Madala told iDiski Times in September 2023.
“That’s why many teams are failing. And he is a former player and training strikers is speciality and we must use them.
“We set trends and we put people in the market – players, coaches and managers,” Madala concluded.
OPEN LETTER to Benni McCarthy: Nows the time to leave Man United
Benni McCarthy can gladly sign off from Man United with another piece of silverware in the cabinet despite a largely disappointing season at Old Trafford.
Man United triumph over Man City to lift the FA Cup
It wasn’t quite a tactical masterclass from Erik Ten Hag but it was close. Stories of Ten Hag’s imminent exit from the club dominated social in the buildup to Saturday’s final. If it was his last game in charge, the former Ajax boss produced one of his best tactical displays in one of his biggest matches. Teenagers Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho scored the goals for a counter-attacking United side while Jeremy Doku grabbed what only proved to be a late consolation for City. It was United’s 13th FA Cup win, they’re now just one win behind all-time leaders Arsenal.
Managerial uncertainty leaves Benni McCarthy in limbo
With Ten Hag still highly likely to leave, where does that leave McCarthy’s future as first-team attacking coach? For all of Saturday’s joy and euphoria, it won’t be lost on the United board that the Red Devils finished eighth in the Premier League which is far below what’s expected. Yes, they won the FA Cup and yes, that gives them a spot in next season’s Europa League, but it can’t paper over the cracks. Ten Hag sounded resigned to his fate, but cited two cup wins and three appearances in finals as a decent record for a guy who was largely criticized. Ten Hag brought McCarthy on board, so their futures seem intertwined.
“I’ll go somewhere else and win more trophies because that’s what I do,”
Erik ten Hag is a dead man walking despite their FA Cup triumph against Manchester City. Image: Google
ORLANDO PIRATES SECURE CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL DESPITE A POOR RESULT
McCarthy’s old club, the Sea Robbers, could only manage a 1-1 draw against SuperSport but that was enough to secure second place ahead of Stellies, who lost 2-1 at Richards Bay. Pirates and Stellenbosch finished level on 50 points but the Buccaneers boast a superior goal difference. They also have a Nedbank Cup final against Sundowns on the horizon, next Saturday 1 June.
Where do you think Benni should test out his coaching mettle next season?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com. You can also send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Meanwhile, you can follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest DStv Premiership news.
Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Siphiwe Tshabalala believes it is not easy to succeed after Naturena. The world class facilities and professional culture at Amakhosi is rare.
WHY PLAYERS STRUGGLE AFTER LEAVING KAIZER CHIEFS
Speaking about life after playing for the Glamour Boys, Shabalala revealed that is is easy to lose motivation once a player exits the gates of Naturena.
“For quite some time players tend to struggle when they leave [Kaizer] Chiefs because of the environment, the facilities, it’s world-class, and the professionalism is the best,” Shabalala told iDiski Times.
“We can match the European standard, when you go there, there’s security at the gate, you go in with your own parking spot, your own locker room, gym, and clean clothes in your basket. It’s up to you if you want to train in sweatpants or shorts or tights. It’s the best environment. When you are done you leave it there, you go have a decent meal and then you go home,” the Kaizer Chiefs legend added.
“But when you leave that environment, you go to another team, with all due respect, now you start changing in a car. Now you realise the little things you took for granted, in the parking lot you’re dressing in the car. You bring your own socks, there’s no showers, no lunch – you end up not caring about the most important things. You can become complacent, you arrive late because so and so is doing it and it looks like it’s normal in this environment,” the former Kaizer Chiefs winger concluded.
GOALKEEPER CHASE
In other news, Amakhosi are reportedly battling Orlando Pirates for the signature of a top goalkeeper from Premeiro de Agosto of Angola.
the club known as Amakhosi have been linked with the likes of Stanley Nwabali from Chippa United, and Salim Magoola from Richards Bay FC. Over at Orlando Pirates, Mpontshane and Ofori are facing the end of contracts on 30 June.
According to newest reports, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates have cast an eye towards an Angolan international: Neblu from Premeiro de Agosto.
“I can confirm that Adilson Cipriano da Cruz, who is also known as Neblu, has triggered interest in the PSL,” a source told Soccer Laduma.
“The player’s handlers are currently in talks with at least three teams at the moment, and yes, they are big clubs in the league. Neblu is a top goalkeeper and at 30 years old he has reached maturity. He has been in the international team of Angola since 2012, either the A-Team or the CHAN side that he has captained for many years. His top performances at the recent AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire were proof of his remarkable progress although his impressive workd was overshadowed by his red card against Namibia.
Neblu was also available to offer himself: “I am ready for any good offers and I would like to play in South Africa,” he said.
Should Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates sign the Angolan? Let us know in the comments section below.
Sir Alex Ferguson joins in Manchester Uniteds FA Cup celebrations Man United News And Transfer News
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Manchester United pulled out a shock victory in the FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley on a gloriously sunny afternoon.
The weather reflected the mood of United’s fans as they had gone into the match with low expectations but were blown away by their side’s response.
The first half was a world-class performance where they limited City to very few chances and were lethal on the counter, scoring two goals and having a third from Marcus Rashford chalked off for offside.
One man who has seen more Manchester United victories than most is the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Scot won five FA Cups during his time at United, the final one being a 4-0 triumph over Millwall in 2004.
Despite retiring 11 years ago, the Glaswegian is still regularly seen attending United games and his reactions to his former side’s struggles have been widely captured by the world’s media.
Sitting behind new part-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and beside board member, Sir Dave Brailsford, Ferguson took in the action at the famous old stadium.
Where his reactions have been somewhat stony-faced to what he has had to endure this season, there was an incredibly heart-warming moment that any United fan would find hard not to become emotional at.
When the final whistle blew, Sir Alex, like any United fan around the world, was ecstatic with what he had just witnessed and joined in the wild celebrations.
Whilst United’s famous anthem, “Glory Glory Man United” was ringing out around Wembley Stadium, the camera focused its attention on the former manager, who was singing his heart out, beaming at his club’s success.
Sir Alex Ferguson singing ‘Glory Glory, Man United’pic.twitter.com/rnhXn30HmW
— Manchester United Die Hard Fans (@DieHardUtdFans) May 25, 2024
The team’s fall from grace must be particularly galling for the man who took them from the depths in the eighties and turned them into the juggernaut of the 1990s and 2000s that so many fell in love with across the globe.
The moment was therefore a beacon of hope for Sir Alex and fans around the world that it is always darkest before the dawn.
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REVEALED: How much Kaizer Chiefs might need to pay Pitso Mosimane
Pitso Mosimane is one of the two remaining candidates to take the Kaizer Chiefs job. Can they afford him though?
HOW MUCH MONEY WILL PITSO MOSIMANE DEMAND FROM KAIZER CHIEFS?
When he was in charge of Bafana Bafana, Pitso was taking home roughly R500k a month. Mamelodi Sundowns doubled his money in 2012 when he earned a cool R1 million monthly with the South African champions. In just under eight years at the helm, he won 11 pieces of major silverware.
JINGLES WAS EARNING GREAT GULF MONEY
With Al-Ahli Saudi, Pitso was earning a stratospheric R2.7 million a month and they weren’t even a top-flight side. Pitso also landed a huge settlement figure in the region of R22 Million when he was paid late after steering them to the Saudi Pro League. Now with Abha on a short-term deal, Pitso is desperately trying to keep his latest employers in the Saudi Pro League. We can only assume that Abha’s pockets are deeper than Al-Ahli Saudi’s. Will Chiefs need to restructure their entire wage bill to bring this man on board? Even assuming they get Itumeleng Khune and Keagan Dolly’s salaries off the wage bill, this is still an incredible stretch. Dolly and Khune’s combined salaries are believed to be R1.9 million a month.
Kaizer Chiefs and Keagan Dolly set to part ways? image: KickOff.com
And then there were two?
According to the newest report on Saturday 25 May, a meeting at Kaizer Chiefs has concluded that Pitso Mosimane and Alex Santos are the final two candidates. Sead Ramovic is believed to be out of the running.
“To tell you the truth, there are many meetings going on now at the club concerning the coaches. But the latest is that the likelihood of Pitso Mosimane and Alexandre Santos will be one of the coaches,” a source told Soccer Laduma.
“I am telling you that the committee looking at who the coach could be has narrowed their net to these two. Here is the catch or the problem. Who will be available at the start of the seasons? Will Petro de Luanda release Santos or will Abha Club hold onto Pitso if he avoids relegation with them in Saudi Arabia? It will all boil done to availability and also affordability,” the source added.
“You know coach Pitso normally comes with his team and we understand Santos also has other technical team members he wants to come with. That’s where the issue of affordability comes in. Which of the two will the club [Kaizer Chiefs] afford? But as it stands, the fight is between the two of them now,” the source added.
Pitso Mosimane to join Kaizer Chiefs. Image:
KAIZER CHIEFS FINISH TENTH
After a 2-0 defeat at already-relegated Cape Town Spurs, Amakhosi must content themselves with a tenth-placed finish this season. That means they finish without the prospect of MTN8 football next season. In 30 games they only claimed nine wins with nine draws and 12 defeats. The twelfth of those came against Spurs.
What do you think of Amakhosi’s season?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com. You can also send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Meanwhile, you can follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest DStv Premiership news.
Jonny Evans publicly backs Erik ten Hag to stay next season Man United News And Transfer News
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Manchester United’s veteran defender Jonny Evans has backed Erik ten Hag to stay at Old Trafford.
The Northern Irishman was a shock summer signing on a free transfer and he has surprised everyone in football, playing 30 times in all competitions this season and helping to hold together an injury ravaged defensive lineup at times.
The FA Cup triumph means that the 36 year old has now won every trophy there is to win at Manchester United.
The defender did not start the final with first choice pair Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane making a rare start together but he did come on for the final 17 minutes of action to help see out the game.
Evans waxed lyrical over his under-fire manager Erik ten Hag and claimed that he wanted him to stay at the club when asked whether the Dutchman would stay.
“I hope so,” he said. “He’s been amazing for me this season, bringing me back in, showing a lot of belief in me and playing me as much as he has.”
The defender also praised the manager’s performance over the last month which has seen three consecutive victories against Newcastle United, Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester City.
“I’ve only got good things to say about him and I think over the last month or so he’s shown incredible technical flexibility to be able to sit off counter attack, a style he doesn’t see himself coaching, but he’s done it and over the last month or so we’ve put in some much better performances.”
“He’s been amazing for me and I can only thank him for that. I have a great relationship with him and I hope he stays. I came back in the summer and he put his trust me, which is all you want from your manager.”
Evans was a lot more guarded about his own future and claimed, “we’ll talk over the next couple of weeks, see what the club say.” It was thought that Evans would be offered a new deal earlier in the season but more recent reports seem to suggest that he may part ways with the club.
It has also been rumoured that he might join the coaching staff and with Tom Huddlestone’s departure, there may be a player/coach position available in the under 21s.
Despite winning the FA Cup back in 2021 with Leicester, it clearly meant that little bit more to the boyhood United fan and he stated, “it’s difficult to get to a final, this was my first FA Cup final with United. When I left the last time I thought that chance was gone. But getting to an FA Cup final with Leicester and to do it again is incredible.”
“The further on in your career you get, you cherish it a lot more. Enjoyed that out there today, coming on and seeing out the game and the celebrations at the end.”
Finally, the Northern Ireland international lavished praise on United’s two goalscoring heroes, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.
“They were both outstanding today and over the course of the season. The both of them I have to say, their work rate. I always think with young lads, it’s always been a part of the history of this club, bringing in young lads from the academy, sometimes they repay you and they have done today.”
Evans will turn his attention to international duty where he is part of Northern Ireland’s squad that will take on Spain and Andorra at the start of next month, before taking a well earned summer holiday.
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19 Liverpool players facing big summer decisions Verdict on every LFC loan deal Liverpool FC
Liverpool sent almost a full squad of youngsters and fringe players out on loan in 2023/24. So who stood out and who struggled, and what comes next?
As with every season, it was a busy campaign for Liverpool’s loan department as a total of 20 players headed out to various clubs.
Many moved elsewhere in the UK, but there were also departures to Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands and Spain as those not in the first-team frame sought experience elsewhere.
But how did every Liverpool loanee perform in 2023/24?
Here we run through all 19 players who ended the campaign with another club – with the exception of Marcelo Pitaluga, who is midway through the season at St Patrick’s Athletic.
Sepp van den Berg – Mainz – Centre-back, 22
Appearances (Starts): 35 (31)
Goals: 3
Assists: 0
League finish: 13th in Bundesliga
Van den Berg’s final game on loan at Mainz saw him score a vital goal on the way to a 3-1 victory over Wolfsburg which ensured their place in next season’s Bundesliga.
It rounded off a productive campaign that saw the Dutchman cement himself as a key starter in defence, which could lead to a permanent move with reports of a purchase clause in the deal.
What happens next? Van den Berg could either join Mainz permanently or fight for a place at Liverpool.
Fabio Carvalho – Leipzig, Hull – Attacking midfielder, 21
Appearances (Starts): 35 (23)
Goals: 9
Assists: 2
League finish: 7th in Championship
After a difficult half-season at Leipzig that saw him start only three times and clock 360 minutes on the pitch, Carvalho made the brave decision to drop to the Championship, where he was vital for Liam Rosenior’s Hull.
The majority of his appearances for Hull came as a false nine, with the Portuguese scoring nine goals in 20 games for the Tigers before returning with a view to impressing Arne Slot.
What happens next? Back for pre-season at Liverpool, with potential for a first-team role.
Tyler Morton – Hull – Midfielder, 21
Appearances (Starts): 41 (35)
Goals: 3
Assists: 5
League finish: 7th in Championship
Carvalho joined a Liverpool team-mate at Hull, with Morton spending the entire campaign at the MKM Stadium and establishing himself as central to Rosenior’s plans.
The 21-year-old clearly grew in stature and confidence during his second stint in the Championship – with the combative midfielder also hoping to force his way into Slot’s squad next season.
What happens next? Pre-season with Liverpool before a big decision is made.
Nat Phillips – Celtic, Cardiff – Centre-back, 27
Appearances (Starts): 26 (21)
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
League finish: 12th in Championship
Phillips struggled to break into Brendan Rodgers’ side at Celtic, which saw the centre-back make the switch to Cardiff midway through the season.
That paid off in terms of game time, with Phillips starting 17 consecutive games and finishing the campaign with a goal in a 5-2 defeat to Rotherham.
What happens next? A permanent move elsewhere after eight years on Merseyside.
Owen Beck – Dundee – Left-back, 21
Appearances (Starts): 28 (28)
Goals: 2
Assists: 4
League finish: 6th in Scottish Premiership
After a frustrating season in 2022/23 that saw loans at Famalicao and Bolton fail, Beck was made to feel wanted again this time out – by both Liverpool and Dundee.
His brief recall midway through the season gave more experience working under Jurgen Klopp, but it was his key status at Dundee that was most valuable, excelling as attacking left wing-back.
What happens next? Hard to say, but don’t rule out a permanent move to Scotland.
Luke Chambers – Wigan – Left-back, 19
Appearances (Starts): 18 (17)
Goals: 1
Assists: 3
League finish: 12th in League One
Having spent the first half of the season splitting time between Liverpool’s first team and U21s, Chambers was granted a move to Wigan that allowed him to settle as a regular at senior level.
He shone immediately, starting regularly at both centre-back and left-back, with manager Shaun Maloney summing it up: “To make it really simple, we signed him in January and he’s made our starting XI better.”
What happens next? Turning 20 in June, Chambers will hope to form part of Slot’s long-term plans.
Calvin Ramsay – Preston, Bolton – Right-back, 20
Appearances (Starts): 6 (3)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
League finish: 3rd in League One (lost playoff final)
Another wasted season, this time strangely so.
There was a sense that Ramsay joined Preston too soon, with the right-back still short of fitness, while a mid-season swap to Bolton saw little improvement as he failed to force his way into the matchday squad.
What happens next? Though he is still young, Ramsay has dropped below Conor Bradley in the pecking order and may need to consider leaving Liverpool.
Harvey Davies – Crewe – Goalkeeper, 20
Appearances (Starts): 32 (31)
Clean sheets: 8
Goals conceded: 46
League finish: 6th in League Two (lost playoff final)
It may have been a formative season for Davies, who arrived at Crewe as No. 1 goalkeeper but, after a series of mistakes, saw himself dropped and was unable to reclaim his place.
He still made 32 appearances in his first season in senior football, however, and that experience of adversity could prepare him for the rigours of life at Liverpool.
What happens next? With the goalkeeping staff departing it could either be a positive, fresh start for Davies under new staff or a summer in limbo.
Vitezslav Jaros – Sturm Graz – Goalkeeper, 22
Appearances (Starts): 21 (21)
Clean sheets: 7
Goals conceded: 20
League finish: 1st in Austrian Bundesliga; also won Austrian Cup
Jaros’ switch to Sturm Graz in January could hardly have gone better, arriving as new No. 1 and gaining experience in the Europa Conference League.
There was then the small matter of a league and cup double, first triumphing over Rapid Wien to lift the Austrian Cup and then finishing above Pepijn Lijnders‘ new club, Red Bull Salzburg, as champions of the Austrian Bundesliga.
What happens next? If Caoimhin Kelleher leaves, don’t be surprised if Jaros is retained as No. 2 at Liverpool.
Billy Koumetio – Dunkerque, Blackburn – Centre-back, 21
Appearances (Starts): 10 (9)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
League finish: 19th in Championship
Koumetio was unable to gain a foothold at either USL Dunkerque in his native France or Blackburn in the Championship, in another difficult season out on loan.
He only played 48 minutes for Blackburn’s first team – admittedly in an impressive display in the valiant defeat to Newcastle in the FA Cup – with almost double that coming for their U21s against Nottingham Forest.
What happens next? A permanent exit seems likely.
Dominic Corness – Yverdon – Midfielder, 21
Appearances (Starts): 21 (7)
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
League finish: 9th in Swiss Super League
Corness made a brave decision to head to Switzerland to join Yverdon-Sport last summer, going out of his comfort zone to experience a new culture in his first spell on loan.
Though injury ended his season early, it was a hugely positive time for the midfielder, who featured 21 times for Yverdon and no doubt gained admirers from elsewhere.
What happens next? A loan in the Championship could await.
Adam Lewis – Newport County – Left-back, 24
Appearances (Starts): 30 (28)
Goals: 2
Assists: 6
League finish: 18th in League Two
Lewis joined Newport County for a second successive season, having seen his previous campaign curtailed by injury, with the left-back picking up where he left off.
Now 24, he appears to have found the right level for this stage in his career, asserting himself as a key player for the Welsh club.
What happens next? This Is Anfield understands Lewis’ contract at Liverpool expires this summer, which could lead to a permanent move to Newport.
James Norris – Tranmere – Left-back, 21
Appearances (Starts): 20 (10)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
League finish: 16th in League Two
Norris’ introduction to life at nearby Tranmere was difficult, with the young left-back substituted three minutes before half-time on his first start, but fortunes improved after manager Ian Dawes was sacked.
With a more qualified coach taking Dawes’ place in Nigel Adkins, Norris eventually fought his way back into the side, starting the final five games before returning, clearly matured, with a goal in Liverpool U21s’ playoff defeat to Tottenham.
What happens next? Having experienced life in the Football League, it could be an opportunity for Norris to step out on a long-term basis.
James Balagizi – Wigan, Kilmarnock – Midfielder, 20
Appearances (Starts): 14 (4)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
League finish: 4th in Scottish Premiership
Bad timing has been a trend throughout Balagizi’s transition from academy prospect to senior player, with a host of unfortunate injuries blocking him from involvement under Klopp.
That was also the case in loans with Wigan and then Kilmarnock, with the attacking midfielder struggling to impose himself at either club.
What happens next? Another loan is paramount, with Balagizi turning 21 in September.
Luca Stephenson – Barrow – Midfielder, 20
Appearances (Starts): 34 (20)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
League finish: 8th in League Two
A sleeper success in League Two, Stephenson never looked out of place in a side full of much older players at Barrow, particularly as he did so in a variety of roles from midfield to right-back.
The 20-year-old slotted in comfortably as a tenacious midfielder and was able to show his quality on the ball in a side battling for promotion.
What happens next? Like Balagizi, another loan is likely, with a step up in level almost certain.
Jakub Ojrzynski – Den Bosch – Goalkeeper, 21
Appearances (Starts): 11 (11)
Clean sheets: 1
Goals conceded: 22
League finish: 19th in Eerste Divisie
When Ojrzynski made the move to Den Bosch in the Dutch second tier, the club’s technical director Yousuf Saijad described their goalkeeping ranks as being in a “transition phase....
Hilarious video shows upbeat mood in Manchester United camp after FA Cup glory Man United News And Transfer News
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Manchester United delighted all their fans yesterday afternoon with an outstanding display against Manchester City to win the club’s 13th FA Cup title.
In what has been a challenging year in many ways, yesterday’s result will not paper over the cracks but it will certainly put a substantial amount of gloss on the season.
The build up to the final was dominated by reports that manager Erik ten Hag will be sacked and the decision had been taken over three weeks ago.
However, United have denied talking to the representatives of other managers and The Athletic report that INEOS will carry out an end of season review next week, which will focus on the future of the manager.
The manager also came out fighting, emboldened by his cup win, admitting that he was in the dark over his future but challenged the United board to sack him, claiming he will win trophies elsewhere if they don’t want him.
There have been many reports that United’s poor season has been down to the players having lost faith in the manager and that the atmosphere in the dressing room is poor.
There have been public fallouts with players like Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and now seemingly Casemiro, after leaving him out of the cup final.
In addition, there have been awkward moments on social media with Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo both apparently challenging the manager’s decisions.
However, a video emerged last night of the club’s cup final celebrations which suggests that this may all have been blown out of proportion.
Scott McTominay #MUFC pic.twitter.com/JQzBzNcMWg
— MUFC Scoop (@MUFCScoop) May 25, 2024
In the hilarious video, Bruno Fernandes is preparing to speak with Erik ten Hag on the stage but the camera pans to Scott McTominay who shouts “Bruno!”.
Ten Hag looks in the midfielder’s direction and addresses him, “So, Scott, Bruno asked me if I wanted to speak. Normally he speaks only and he keeps going.” The comment was met with raucous laughter, especially from McTominay.
This type of interaction seems to suggest that the manager is far from a hate figure in the dressing room and he was heavily involved with the players’ celebration.
In fact, there was a touching moment when he refused at first to lift the trophy but the players on the end of the line, led by Jonny Evans, insisted that he picked it up in front of the fans. Scott McTominay also declined the chance to carry the cup down from the famous Wembley stairs onto the pitch, giving that honour to Ten Hag.
Whatever happens with the Dutchman, he will always have an FA Cup to his name and will leave England with a minimum of two trophies in two years, to go alongside his Carabao Cup victory last season.
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Pitso to Kaizer Chiefs pipe dream: How much money hed be paid
Pitso Mosimane is being considered for the Kaizer Chiefs job alongside Alexandre Santos. What kind of salary would Jingles demand?
Kaizer Chiefs next manager: Shortlist down to two names?
According to the newest report on Saturday 25 May, a meeting at Kaizer Chiefs has concluded that Pitso Mosimane and Alex Santos are the final two candidates. Sead Ramovic is believed to be out of the running.
“To tell you the truth, there are many meetings going on now at the club concerning the coaches. But the latest is that the likelihood of Pitso Mosimane and Alexandre Santos will be one of the coaches,” a source told Soccer Laduma.
“I am telling you that the committee looking at who the coach could be has narrowed their net to these two. Here is the catch or the problem. Who will be available at the start of the seasons? Will Petro de Luanda release Santos or will Abha Club hold onto Pitso if he avoids relegation with them in Saudi Arabia? It will all boil done to availability and also affordability,” the source added.
“You know coach Pitso normally comes with his team and we understand Santos also has other technical team members he wants to come with. That’s where the issue of affordability comes in. Which of the two will the club [Kaizer Chiefs] afford? But as it stands, the fight is between the two of them now,” the source added.
Pitso Mosimane celebrates. Image: @safootclassics/X.
How much money will Pitso Mosimane demand?
When he was in charge of Bafana Bafana, Pitso was taking home roughly R500k a month. Mamelodi Sundowns doubled his money in 2012 when he earned a cool R1 million a month with the South African champions. He took them to in just under eight years at the helm and won 11 pieces of major silverware there.
Jingles’ adventure on the Gulf
With Al-Ahli Saudi, Pitso was earning a stratospheric R2.7 million a month and they weren’t even a top-flight side. He did steer them to the Saudi Pro League though. Now with Abha on a short-term deal, Pitso is desperately trying to keep his latest employers in the Saudi Pro League. We can only assume that Abha’s pockets are deeper than Al-Ahli Saudi’s. Will Chiefs need to restructure their entire wage bill to bring this man on board?
The Kaizer Chiefs Naturena Village in all its glory. Image: Ernest Makhaya
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON CHIEFS’ PITSO PURSUIT?
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Chiefs needs to bring in Pitso Mosimane Khanye after Amakhosi denied top 8 spot
Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye(38) believes Amakhosi should bring in a coach like Pitso Mosimane if they are to compete.
The Glamour Boys finished 10th in the DStv Premiership after going down 2-0 to Cape Town Spurs. The Soweto Giants needed a win to secure a top 8 finish but found themselves trailing before half-time. Saturday’s match defined Chiefs’s season, which has been poor and disappointing.
Khanye said on iDiskiTV that Chiefs needed a high-profile coach like Pitso for next season. Amakhosi hired Molefi Ntseki before the start of the season but the former Bafana Bafana coach lasted just four months. Cavin Johnson was tasked with the role thereafter on an interim basis but failed to get going.
“They have to bring a high-profile coach like Pitso who can bring along his technical team and ask for a budget,” Khanye added. And the majority of Kaizer Chiefs players would have to leave as they failed the team.”
He said Johnson’s mistake was accepting the Chiefs coaching job.
Kanye believes Pitso is the right man for Chiefs
“He’s done nothing to Kaizer Chiefs, Even if you bring another coach, the same thing will happen. There are a lot of things that need to change. Not everyone can wear the Chiefs jersey. There’s a lot of expectations, you need to identify players who can fit into the culture at an early age.”
Khanye says if Pitso Mosimane were to join Chiefs, he would need a budget from the management,
“If they can bring Pitso, he will bring his technical team and report only to ‘Bra’ Kaizer(Moutang). They will have to give him the budget he needs to turn their fortunes. Restructure development and bring Farouk Khan and back the club’s culture,” he said.
Junior Khanye wants Farouk back
“Pitso can’t do anything with these players, even if you bring in Pep Guardiola, he can’t work with the current players,” Junior Khanye lashed out at Kaizer Chiefs.
“Expect another seven years of the same thing if they don’t change.”
Having finished 10th, Amakhosi won’t take part in next season’s MTN8 competition. The Glamour Boys have now gone nine full years without any silverware to show.
Chelsea to go head-to-head with Manchester United for Bradley Locko Man United News And Transfer News
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Chelsea are showing serious interest in Manchester United left back target Bradley Locko.
United put in an outstanding defensive display yesterday to resist Manchester City and win the FA Cup 2-1 against their cross-city rivals.
However, this season has seen the club concede a mammoth 85 goals in all competitions and there is much work to be done on the defensive department despite the sweet ending to the season.
Erik ten Hag’s men have played the majority of the season with no recognised left back with both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia suffering long-term injuries.
This has meant that Players’ Player of the Year, Diogo Dalot, has had to fill in at left back, and despite doing an admirable job, will surely be moved to his more natural position of right back next season.
It has been reported that the Red Devils will certainly aim to bring in a left full back this term and they have recently been linked to Stade Brestois 29’s Locko.
The French defender has been described as “the perfect modern fullback profile. He’s incredibly balanced both as an inverted fullback and as a more bombing fullback” and would provide strong competition for Luke Shaw.
However, GIVEMESPORT claim that Premier League rivals are aiming to spoil United’s party when it comes to the Ligue 1 player.
They report that “Chelsea have pinpointed Brest star Bradley Locko as a target ahead of the transfer window reopening for business in the coming weeks.”
The Blues “have been keeping tabs on Locko, according to GMS sources, as they are strongly considering whether to acquire a new left-back to provide stiff competition for Ben Chilwell.”
It has also “emerged that Brest have put him up for sale and are willing to entertain bids in the region of £25million as they feel they can profit from his eye-catching performances over the course of the campaign.”
This sort of fee would be of little trouble to either United or Chelsea, especially for a player as sought-after as Locko.
United’s FA Cup win against City yesterday was not only for bragging rights but it also provided the Red Devils with Europa League football next season.
A consequence of this was United taking Chelsea’s place and knocking them down to the third tier UEFA Europa Conference League.
This could be vital for United’s summer business as offering European football will surely attract more players and especially if they are going head-to-head with the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle United for the same targets.
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He made the difference: Pep Guardiola says Lisandro Martinez is among top five centre-backs in the world Man United News And Transfer News
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hailed Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez as one of the best defenders in world football.
Guardiola lauded the United star after the Red Devils ran out 2-0 victors at Wembley in the FA Cup final.
First-half goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo were all United needed to secure silverware and sink the reigning Premier League champions.
One of the team’s best performers during the game was Martinez, who was paired next to Raphael Varane at the heart of the Red Devils’ backline.
Martinez has struggled this season with multiple injuries that have kept him from nailing down a consistent run of appearances.
The World Cup winner has been a big miss for the club and his absence was sorely felt.
Against City, he showed why he’s so highly rated. During the time he was on the pitch, the Argentine made five clearances and one interception.
He successfully delivered 18 of the 20 passes he attempted and won the one aerial duel he was required to contest.
Unsurprisingly, his technical ability was on full display and he was a big asset to United in their efforts to advance the ball and build play from the back.
Another impressive aspect of Martinez’s game was how well he locked down the dangerous Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker barely had a sniff all match bar the one time he hit the woodwork.
After the final whistle, Guardiola spoke to reporters and pinpointed Martinez as someone who made the difference for United.
The Spanish coach said, “Lisandro Martínez is top 5 centre-backs in the world.”
“He made the difference on this game by playing passes through our defence.”
Pep Guardiola: “Lisandro Martínez is top 5 centre-backs in the world”.
“He made the difference on this game by playing passes through our defence”. pic.twitter.com/4QeRp9zgSE
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 25, 2024
Martinez was forced off in the 73rd minute with what looked like another injury. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious and he returns to action as soon as possible.
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Brazilian media have confirmed Casemiro was not injured signs point towards an issue with the manager Man United News And Transfer News
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Manchester United secured a famous 2-1 win against fierce cross-town rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday. In the process, the Red Devils took revenge for what had happened in the final of the same competition last year.
The goals came from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, two of the young shining lights this season as manager Erik ten Hag’s gameplan worked a treat.
Unlike what happened during the Premier League season, the 20-time English league champions defended deep and narrow, hardly allowing any space for Pep Guardiola’s team to play through.
For once, the Dutchman had the option of playing Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez at the back and the duo certainly delivered. He also took the brave call of starting Sofyan Amrabat as the defensive midfielder.
Casemiro not part of the matchday squad
The Moroccan was error-prone in the last league game of the season against Brighton and many had called for Casemiro to start in his stead.
But news broke that the manager was contemplating dropping the Brazilian, who has not enjoyed the best of seasons this term. He has made himself available but his displays, both in his usual position and as centre-back have left a lot to be desired.
The former Real Madrid superstar has suffered a spate of injuries which seem to have slowed him down while the former Ajax coach’s tactics have also not suited the 32-year-old.
Casemiro has struggled while tracking back and has made quite a few errors with and without the ball, especially with his rash sliding tackles all across the pitch.
Sobre Casemiro:
Ten Haag disse antes do jogo que Casemiro não estava no time titular porque não estava 100%.
A informação que tínhamos é que isso não é verdade.
Depois, no aquecimento Casemiro informou ao técnico que se contundiu já no campo de Wembley.
— Joao Castelo-Branco (@j_castelobranco) May 25, 2024
Ten Hag announced that the five-time Champions League winner was injured and hence had to left out of the matchday squad. But as per journalist Joao Castelo-Branco of ESPN Brasil, Casemiro was not injured.
“Ten Hag said before the game that Casemiro was not in the starting lineup because he was not 100%. The information we had is that this is not true.
“Then, during the warm-up, Casemiro informed the coach that he was injured on the Wembley pitch,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
There was some confusion as the hard copies journalists got at Wembley mentioned the Brazil international as a substitute but the official team list put up by the club on social media did not have his name.
Brazilian was not injured
This seems to indicate that some issues cropped up between the midfielder and his manager. Casemiro might not have been too enthused with the idea of starting a final from the bench and hence opted out of the squad as a whole.
The pair were not seen talking or smiling after the win with only a curt handshake seen between the pair. Usually Casemiro is much more jubilant, especially when emerging victorious. He was quite downbeat during the post-match scenes.
If that is the case, it could signal the end of the veteran star. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not the biggest fan of the amount spent to bring him in and his performances have certainly not justified his massive wages.
Saudi Arabia are said to be lurking. If United can recoup close to half of what they paid, they are likely to sell. Maybe they now have got one more reason to go through with this plan after all.
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Official: Plymouth Argyle confirm managerial appointment of Man United legend Wayne Rooney Man United News And Transfer News
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Championship club Plymouth Argyle have officially confirmed that Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney will be their new manager.
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Wayne Rooney as our new Head Coach.
Welcome to Argyle, Wayne.#pafc
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) May 25, 2024
Rooney succeeds Ian Forster, who was sacked in April after an extremely poor run of results.
The job is Rooney’s first managerial role since he was relieved of his duties by Birmingham City in January after he lost nine of the 15 games he took charge of.
When Rooney took over the reins at Birmingham City, they were in the Championship play-off spots but were relegated to League One earlier this month.
Aside from Birmingham City, Rooney also previously managed at Derby County and in Major League Soccer at D.C. United.
Rooney will be joined at Argyle by first-team coaches Kevin Nancekivell and Simon Ireland, and goalkeeping expert Darryl Flahavan.
Further staff additions will be made in due course.
United’s record goalscorer said, “Taking this role at Plymouth Argyle feels like the perfect next step in my career – and I would like to thank the Chairman and Board for the faith they have shown in me.”
“This is an opportunity to be part of an exciting project. I look forward to helping to build a squad of players to play expansive football – and to entertain the Green Army.”
“I have experienced first-hand how talented the existing group of players is here – and also the incredible atmosphere at Home Park. The club is on an exciting long-term journey, with a progressive plan in place. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of it.”
“I can’t wait for the Championship season to start in August.”
Argyle chief executive Andrew Parkinson and chairman Simon Hallett also expressed their delight at having Rooney onboard.
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Man United to conduct season review next week before deciding on Erik ten Hags future Man United News And Transfer News
Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
Ten times the player I was at 19: Paul Scholes heaps ultimate praise on Kobbie Mainoo after FA Cup heroics Man United News And Transfer News
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Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has lauded Kobbie Mainoo after his heroics for the club in the FA Cup final against Manchester City on Saturday.
United beat the Premier League champions 2-1 at Wembley to lift the FA Cup.
First-half goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Mainoo were enough to secure the trophy for the Red Devils and end what has been a disappointing season on a relatively high note.
Mainoo’s goal in particular was a thing of beauty. A brilliant cross-ball from Marcus Rashford found its way to Garnacho, who then passed the ball to Bruno Fernandes inside the City box.
Fernandes produced a scintillating no-look assist for Mainoo, who opened up his body and expertly tucked the ball into the back of the net.
YOU COULDN’T WRITE IT
Academy graduate, Kobbie Mainoo scores in the #EmiratesFACup Final for @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/d68cAKvaE8
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 25, 2024
Even beyond the goal, Mainoo was brilliant and performed well against world-class opposition in the middle of the park.
The Carrington academy graduate completed the one dribble he embarked on, successfully delivered 21 of the 25 passes he attempted and registered 31 touches of the ball – very impressive considering United had 26% possession.
(Stats obtained from Sofascore)
Mainoo has been one of the few beacons of hope for United and the fans this season and as a result, has drawn comparisons to legends of the game such as Clarence Seedorf and even Scholes.
However, according to Scholes himself, Mainoo is much better than he was at the same age.
Scholes wrote on Instagram, “Read a few comparisons between me and this kid last week…don’t waste your time.”
“Don’t waste your time, he is 10 times the player I was at 19.”
Scholes added, “Just love the way he receives the ball, the calmness, the awareness of what’s around him and of course big goals in big games…this boy is special..and he’s a f—–g Red. Laters.”
Paul Scholes on IG about comparisons to Kobbie Mainoo: “Read a few
comparisons between me and this kid last week…don’t waste your time, he is 10 times the player I was at 19…” #mufc pic.twitter.com/FkI6iAOLdn
— Nathan Salt (@NathSalt1) May 25, 2024
It’s certainly big praise from Mainoo from one of the best to have ever done it.
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Kaizer Chiefs fail to enter top 8; Junior Khanye reacts
Junior Khanye said his former team Kaizer Chiefs needed a wake-up call after failing to finish in the top 8 of the DStv Premiership this season.
Amakhosi succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Cape Town Spurs on Saturday afternoon. Cavin Johnson’s men needed a win against a relegated Spurs side but were outplayed for most of the match. Former Chiefs winger Junior Khanye blamed the players and management for the team’s poor season.
“You cannot approach a game as if you don’t care,” Khanye said on iDiskiTV.
“Why would you approach a game and allow a relegated team to build from the back? They allowed the defenders(Spurs) to build from the back instead of having their strikers press and force mistakes.
“In the first 20 minutes, Spurs held possession and had the momentum. They had the belief that they could beat these guys because Kaizer Chiefs were just not effective with the ball,” said Junior Khanye.
Amakhosi finished 10th in the league and won’t play in next season’s MTN8.
“They have to bring a high-profile coach like Pitso who can bring along his technical team and ask for a budget. And majority of Kaizer Chiefs players would have to leave as they failed the team,” Junior Khanye added.
“I’m very disappointed in Cavin Johnson since he took over, I had high hopes for him because I know him and I know he understands South African players in terms of scouting.
Junior Khanye says it might take years for Kaizer Chiefs to fix problems
“He can get the best out of South African players but he disappointed me at Chiefs. He had so much time since Afcon to redeem himself. If he was Dance, you would have seen the club adopt his style of play,” he said.
Khanye said Johnson’s mistake was accepting the Chiefs coaching job.
“He’s done nothing to Kaizer Chiefs, Even if you bring another coach, the same thing will happen. There are a lot of things that need to change. Not everyone can wear the Chiefs jersey. There’s a lot of expectations, you need to identify players who can fit into the culture at an early age.”
If they can bring Pitso, he will bring his technical team and report only to Bra Kaizer. They will have to give him the budget he needs to turn their fortunes. Restructure development and bring Farouk Khan and back the club’s culture,” he said.
Amakhosi fails to enter top 8 yet again
“Pitso can’t do anything with these players, even if you bring in Pep Guardiola, he can’t work with the current players. Expect another seven years of the same thing if they don’t change,” Junior Khanye lashed out at Kaizer Chiefs.
Paul Scholes hails Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat likens him to Gennaro Gattuso Man United News And Transfer News
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Much was written about Erik ten Hag being a “dead man walking” heading into Manchester United’s FA Cup final encounter with Manchester City at Wembley.
However, the Man United manager and his Red Devils woke up in some fashion to stun Pep Guardiola’s men, delivering a tactically astute performance to beat the favourites 2-1 and take home the club’s thirteenth FA Cup trophy.
Apart from his tactics, which have largely been underwhelming over the course of the season, the Dutchman has received backlash for his decision-making in the transfer market, with the majority of his signings failing to impress at Old Trafford.
However, at Wembley, Sofyan Amrabat stepped up to show just why Ten Hag was so keen to reunite with his former FC Utrecht talent.
The combative midfielder’s physicality and positional awareness proved key in helping United maintain compactness in the middle of the park and forced City’s chief playmaker Kevin De Bruyne to move out wide to find any breathing space.
Legendary midfielder Paul Scholes took note of the Moroccan’s midfield exploits on Saturday afternoon. On his Instagram story, he praised the midfield engine by writing: “Like a prime Gattusso [sic] today.”
source: Instagram
The way Amrabat covered the ground and outmuscled City players makes the comparison with AC Milan legend Gennaro Gattuso certainly feel apt.
However, whether that would be enough to convince the club’s hierarchy to turn his loan move into a permanent transfer remains unclear.
United reportedly negotiated a £21.4 million purchase option when they loaned the player from Fiorentina last summer. Ahead of this summer, the 27-year-old is attracting plenty of interest from the Premier League.
While Scholes hailed Amrabat, another United midfield legend, Roy Keane, praised Bruno Fernandes in his post-match analysis for ITV Sport.
Keane has been critical of Fernandes’ leadership skills over the years, but the former United skipper insisted he was happy “to be proved wrong” on Saturday.
Akin to Amrabat, the current United captain did not stop running until the final whistle. More importantly, he showed his creative genius by finding Kobbie Mainoo with a cheeky pass in City’s penalty box. The academy sensation made no mistake from close range and doubled his side’s lead.
All and all it was a great day for United’s midfield!
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You had trouble managing a team!: Erik ten Hag jabs back at Roy Keane after FA Cup final Man United News And Transfer News
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Manchester United emerged 2-1 victors against fierce cross-town rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday. It was their 13th title, leaving them only one behind Arsenal.
The Red Devils took the perfect revenge for what had happened last year with the young kids Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo producing the goods on the day.
Prior to the game, there were a lot of rumours swirling around regarding manager Erik ten Hag and a potential sack. If it were to be the end, it was a glorious one with a second trophy in as many seasons.
The Dutchman has rightly been criticised for his stylistic choice this campaign but he employed the perfect gameplan against Pep Guardiola’s team on Saturday.
Vocal critics
The team defended deep and narrow, hardly allowing any space to break the lines and City fumbled, and United capitalised on some slack passing.
The Dutchman deserves plaudits after a season in which he has been constantly attacked by sections of the media while pundits have even called for his head.
“You had trouble to manage a team”
Erik Ten Hag wasn’t a fan of Roy Keane’s management career it seems…#FACupFinal | #EmiratesFACup | #MCIMUN pic.twitter.com/N1YKxxpZDq
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) May 25, 2024
Roy Keane has also been vocal against the manager and his words recently. But after the game when the duo met, Ten Hag gave back as good as he got.
The former skipper playfully told the Dutchman that there were question marks raised against him and his players but the pundits were wrong to do so after seeing the performance put in by the players.
Keane-EtH exchange
Ten Hag jabbed back and said that Keane was not too great with his coaching exploits thus far. Keane laughed it off and even argued back that he had won the Championship with Sunderland.
Not many can make Keane laugh off things and it was nice to see the banter between the pair. It also showed that Ten Hag was not in a defensive mood especially after securing a famous win.
INEOS reportedly are yet to take a decision but reports have indicated that the hunt for a new manager is on. Ten Hag keeps insisting that all is well.
He was vocal in his post-match press conference as well and even had a snarky exchange with Gary Lineker. Ten Hag seems to be going out with a bang.
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The one remarkable stat says all about the magnitude of Man Uniteds FA Cup final victory over City Man United News And Transfer News
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Manchester United upset the betting books in remarkable fashion when they won the FA Cup final against Manchester City 2-1.
Not only was the form guide not kind to them, but the outside noise around the club made it impossible to look beyond one winner only, and that was City.
If just that narrative wasn’t enough to put into perspective what United have managed to achieve today, perhaps another stat will.
Rodri, the City defensive midfield lynchpin, has had his unbeaten streak at City broken by United which stood at an unbelievable 74 games.
That means, that for almost two full league seasons, Rodri hadn’t lost a game when he put on a Manchester City shirt.
Considering how much Arsenal’s invincible season is still celebrated as a major accomplishment, this stat is remarkable.
In an even sweeter moment for United, this win was sealed by a homegrown player in Kobbie Mainoo, who City had been trying to lure to their club for a while.
Perhaps poetically, both of United’s goalscorers were effectively academy teenagers, even if Garnacho came to the club at the age of 16.
Rodri is widely recognised as the best defensive midfielder in the world and this fact shows that City are unbeatable when he’s in the team.
Even City, as a whole unit, were unbeaten for the last 35 games in all competitions, minus the penalty shootout loss against Real Madrid which counts as a draw in the books.
United weren’t just underdogs for this game. Considering the whole narrative, they were perhaps less fancied than Coventry City when they played United in the semifinal.
Ultimately, Ten Hag and his squad will feel vindicated about their messages that this is a good team when players are available.
After all, vindication doesn’t come much better than stopping a 74-game unbeaten juggernaut!
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