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Manchester United sack Solskjaer after heavy Watford defeat

Manchester United have sacked boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to promoted side Watford.

The Norwegian has been relieved of his duties after just shy of three years in the job, with Michael Carrick set to take charge of their forthcoming games.

The Red Devils say they will look to appoint an interim manager until the end of the season.

A club statement read: “Manchester United announces that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has left his role as manager. 

“Ole will always be a legend at Manchester United and it is with regret that we have reached this difficult decision. 

“While the past few weeks have been disappointing, they should not obscure all the work he has done over the past three years to rebuild the foundations for long-term success. 

“Ole leaves with our sincerest thanks for his tireless efforts as manager and our very best wishes for the future. 

“His place in the club’s history will always be secure, not just for his story as a player, but as a great man and a manager who gave us many great moments. 

“He will forever be welcome back at Old Trafford as part of the Manchester United family.”

He leaves United following a dismal run of five defeats in seven in the Premier League, which also included humbling defeats to rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.

United are down in seventh, already 12 points off Premier League leaders Chelsea.

After splashing the cash on Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane in the summer, results and performances have not been up to scratch.

Pressure on Solskjaer reached new levels after after a shambolic defeat at Vicarage Road.

Goals from Joshua King, Ismaila Sarr, Joao Pedro and Emmanuel Dennis put the Red Devils to the sword, while captain Harry Maguire was also sent off.

United’s next game is a Champions League group clash against Villarreal, before a trip to Chelsea on Sunday.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013, only Jose Mourinho (58.3%) has had a higher win percentage than Solskjaer’s 54.2%.

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Ronaldo set to sting Hornets after Portugal frustration

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Everton - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - October 2, 2021 Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo shakes hands with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before being substituted on REUTERS/Phil Noble EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Spectacular has quickly become the norm for Cristiano Ronaldo back at Manchester United.

Despite being criticised in some quarters, the 36-year-old has taken to rescuing United with late heroics like a duck to water.

The superstar has nine goals already this season but his Old Trafford comeback has come with plenty of frustration and a mixed bag of results.

After a heartbreaking stoppage-time defeat to Serbia saw Portugal miss out on automatic World Cup qualification, we look at Ronaldo’s campaign so far and judge whether Watford should fear a backlash on Saturday.

It has not all been plain sailing for CR7 since returning to Manchester.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United have looked a side short of rhythm or an idea of how they want to play and certain critics have blamed Ronaldo’s signing.

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: “I wouldn’t say it was a mistake but certainly some emotional impact was in there because he has been a fantastic player. 

“I believe Ronaldo can still score you the goals you need. Can he repeat it every three games, very high-intensity games? 

“When you buy a player like that, the secret is the balance of the team. 

“To play Ronaldo, he can win you games, but you need to create the balance around him.”

Despite United’s struggles, Ronaldo has come to Solskjaer’s aid on more than occasion. 

He has produced a series of barely believable moments to keep them riding high in the Champions League.

A stoppage-time winner against Villarreal and a fantastic header to secure a 3-2 win over Atalanta have been among the highlights. 

But it was the perfectly executed volley in the last minute at Atalanta to secure a 2-2 draw that encapsulated his impact.

When the chips are down and everything appears lost, Ronaldo is still able to conjure up magic out of nothing.

It is little surprise he was a key figure in the 3-0 win at Tottenham last month, when he scored his first league goal since the comeback win over West Ham in September.

The Portuguese veteran has also hit back at criticism of his displays.

Speaking recently, he said: “I know when the team needs my help defensively.

“But my role in the club is to win, help the team to win and to score goals — [the defensive side] is part of my job.

“The people who don’t want to see that is because they don’t like me but to be honest I’m 36, I win everything so am I going to be worried about the people who say bad things about me? I sleep good at night.

“I go to my bed with my conscience very good. Keep going with that because I will still close mouths and win things.”

There is no doubt it will be a frustrated Ronaldo taking to the pitch at Watford on Saturday.

That victory over Spurs was sandwiched by home defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City prior to the international break.

And his trip away with Portugal was far from successful.

After a draw against the Republic of Ireland and the defeat to Serbia, Ronaldo and his countrymen must now reach next November’s World Cup in Qatar via the play-offs. 

Playing one of the Premier League’s worst defences could prove just the tonic the former Real Madrid and Juventus icon needs.

Watford have shipped 19 goals in 11 top-flight games, with Liverpool putting five past them at Vicarage Road.

Claudio Ranieri’s troops will be on red alert come 3pm on Saturday.

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RASHFORD RECEIVES MBE HONOURS FOR FEEDING KIDS DURING THE LOCKDOWN

Marcus Rashford has received his MBE from Prince William in recognition of his campaign to support vulnerable children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Manchester United and England striker collected the award in a ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, where he was joined by his mother Melanie.

Rashford, 24, successfully campaigned for the United Kingdom government to provide free school meals to vulnerable children during lockdown. He forced the government into two U-turns to extend their support during the summer and winter holidays and his campaign resulted in policy change.

Rashford, who was awarded the MBE last October, received the honour from the Duke of Cambridge in the first in-person investiture event since the start of the pandemic.

His mother Melanie has supported his drive for social change with her own work in local foodbanks in Manchester.

Rashford has since continued his food poverty campaign by creating a taskforce which works with major supermarkets and foodbanks in the U.K.

“There’s a lot of work to be done,” Rashford told reporters outside of Windsor Palace.

“We’re nowhere near where we want to be, or where we feel the kids deserve to be. We’ve just got to stick at it and keep going.”

The Manchester United star also wrote on Twitter: “An honour to spend the morning with you [Prince William].

“Thank you for making the day so special for me and mum. Very proud.”

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DOMINANT MANCITY CLAIM DERBY VICTORY WITH WIN AT OLD TRAFFORD

Manchester City delivered a dominant performance as an Eric Bailly own goal and a Bernardo Silva strike earned the champions their first Manchester derby victory in five Premier League attempts over their local rivals at Old Trafford.

Pep Guardiola’s side went ahead on seven minutes when Bailly diverted Joao Cancelo’s cross into his own net.

United briefly rallied when Cristiano Ronaldo’s shot was saved by Ederson and Mason Greenwood scuffed the rebound wide.

David De Gea made five big saves in the first half to deny Gabriel Jesus, Kevin De Bruyne, Cancelo, twice, and a Victor Lindelof deflection before City beat the Spaniard’s resistance again on the stroke of half-time.

Cancelo set up the second goal when his cross was turned in at the far post by Bernardo, who sneaked in at the far post behind a hesitant Luke Shaw.

The hosts improved in the second half but also lost Shaw to a head injury.

City, who move second with 23 points, almost scored again late on as Phil Foden clipped a post.

A fourth consecutive home match without a win drops United down to sixth with 17 points

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Ronaldo rescues Red Devils again

Cristiano Ronaldo once again proved Manchester United’s Champions League hero by scoring late on to rescue a crucial 2-2 draw at Atalanta on Tuesday.

The Portugal international completed United’s 3-2 comeback win against the same opponents from two goals down two weeks ago and also struck late on in September’s 2-1 recovery win against Villarreal.

Ronaldo’s latest rescue act arrived in the 91st minute at Gewiss Stadium when volleying in a sublime equaliser, having earlier struck to cancel out Josip Ilicic’s opener before Duvan Zapata put Atalanta back in front.

The draw keeps Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side top of Group F, level on points with Villarreal and two better off than Atalanta with two group games remaining, meaning their last-16 fate remains in their own hands.

After United had hit the post through a deflected Scott McTominay drive, Atalanta took the lead when Zapata pulled the ball back for Ilicic, whose shot squirmed under David de Gea – the goal allowed to stand after a VAR check for a possible Mario Pasalic offside infringement.

United lost Raphael Varane to injury before half-time, but the introduction of Mason Greenwood paid immediate dividends as he linked up with Bruno Fernandes, who in turn flicked the ball into the path of Ronaldo to fire home his first of the game.

Atalanta restored their lead when Zapata got in behind down United’s right, evaded a sliding challenge from Harry Maguire and finished past De Gea. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but VAR rightly overturned that decision after a two-minute check to determine Zapata was indeed onside.

That left United on the brink of a fourth successive away defeat in the European Cup for the first time ever, only for Ronaldo to once again bail out his side by firing a first-time shot into the bottom-left corner after a loose ball popped up into his path with time almost up.

With Villarreal on their way to a 2-0 win over Young Boys, United found themselves third in Group F with seconds remaining in Bergamo and yet more questions inevitably being asked of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

While Ronaldo’s brace does not entirely lift the pressure off Solskjaer’s shoulders, it does at least mean United remain top of their group with two games – away to Villarreal and at home to Young Boys – left to play.

Solskjaer could have had few complaints had his side fallen to just a second defeat in their past 12 games against Italian opposition in the Champions League – Atalanta had an expected goals value of 1.55 compared to United’s 1.04 – but with Ronaldo on the field anything is possible.

Ronaldo became the first player to score in four successive Champions League appearances for United since Ruud van Nistelrooy in April 2003 with his opener, which was a well-worked team goal involving Greenwood and Fernandes.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner added an even better second from range and in the process overtook manager Solskjaer’s tally of goals in all competitions for United with his 126th for the club, doing so in 63 fewer appearances.

United were once again shaky in defence and midfield, with the likes Maguire, De Gea and Paul Pogba in particular having off-days – the latter being replaced 20 minutes from time with his side chasing a goal.

The Red Devils have now failed to keep a clean sheet in 14 of their past 15 Champions League matches and have conceded in 13 of their 15 matches in all competitions this term.

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MAN UTD EASE PRESSURE ON MANAGER SOLSKJAER WITH WIN AT TOTTENHAM

Manchester United eased the pressure on under-fire Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with an easy 3-0 win at Tottenham which saw the heat turned up on Nuno Espirito Santo.

Solskjaer is battling for his job after last weekend’s 5-0 humiliation by Liverpool, but as has been the case so often during his reign at United, his team delivered a result when he needed it the most.

A brilliant goal by Cristiano Ronaldo – his 11th against Tottenham, the most of any English opponent – and second-half strikes from Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford saw United coast to the points in north London and gave the Norwegian a bit of breathing space.

He will not be out of the woods just yet, though, with a Champions League trip to Atalanta and the Manchester derby to come in the next week.

While Solskjaer will have enjoyed his evening, the same cannot be said for Nuno as the Tottenham fans turned on their boss Nuno, chanting ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ and made their feelings clear at full-time with a loud chorus of boos.

The Portuguese seems like a man condemned and with his side toothless in attack and unable to muster a shot on target during the 90 minutes, patience in the fanbase is already running out.

Spurs could have gone into the top four with a win, but that never looked on the cards and with five wins and five defeats from their opening 10 games, a challenge for Champions League qualification looks beyond this team.

Both sides had chances to grab the upper hand in the opening 10 minutes as Son Heung-min had an effort deflected wide and at the other end Cavani’s shot was blocked by Eric Dier.

Tottenham began to grow into the game and should have taken the lead midway through the first half.

After United cleared a corner Lucas Moura’s clipped ball over the top found Son, but the South Korean poked over from close range having taken control of the ball well.

Five minutes later Spurs thought they had taken the lead as Cristian Romero turned in Dier’s header from a corner at the far post, but he was several yards offside.

It felt like it was the hosts who had the momentum, but United wrestled it away in the 39th minute with a moment of quality that was made and finished in Portugal.

Ronaldo cleverly peeled off Ben Davies’ shoulder and his compatriot Bruno Fernandes picked him out with a pinpoint cross.

There was plenty for the 36-year-old still to do, but his finish was superb, sending a low first-time volley across Hugo Lloris and into the far post as he continued his love affair of scoring against Spurs.

He was celebrating a second early in the second half after another emphatic finish, but he went slightly early with his run and it was ruled out for offside.

Tottenham fans were not happy with what they were witnessing and turned on Nuno when he substituted Moura in the 54th minute.

Boos rang loudly around the stadium followed by chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’.

The mood soured even more in the 64th minute as United doubled their lead.

Oliver Skipp was robbed of possession in the centre circle, Fernandes passed to Ronaldo, who played in an onside Cavani and his clipped finish was stylish.

United killed the game four minutes from time as substitute Rashford coolly slotted home after being played in by Nemanja Matic.

That incensed Tottenham fans even further and they chanted for Nuno’s sacking and the removal of chairman Daniel Levy.

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OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER TO REMAIN IN MAN UNITED AS UNITED STARS CONFUSED AND DIVIDED OVER HIS STAY

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly unlikely to be sacked by Manchester United this week – though the Red Devils players have been left confused by goings on at the club.

Solskjaer is is under severe pressure at Old Trafford having seen the Red Devils be thrashed 5-0 by rivals Liverpool at the weekend.

He is the bookies favourite to be the next Premier League manager sacked with rumours swirling on Monday that he may not have made the end of the day.

The Athletic report that Solskjaer will be given the opportunity to turn fortunes around, starting at Tottenham on Saturday.

Though they add that United’s players have been left confused over the style of the play they have been adopting.

It’s claimed Solskjaer gave his players an instruction to press high on Liverpool but The Athletic add players were confused by the exact coordination.

Plenty of names are being mentioned as potential replacements for Solskjaer, including ex-Chelsea boss Antonio Conte and current Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers.

Though Solskjaer is not going to give up his job easily, saying: “I have come too far to give up. I am not built that way.

“The feeling we have had is we were getting where we wanted to be but in the last few weeks results haven’t come and we have hit a brick wall. We have conceded too many easy goals and that is a concern.

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MOHAMED SALAH NETS HATRICK AS RAMPANT LIVERPOOL CLAIM RECORD WIN AT MAN UNITED

Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick as Manchester United were ripped apart by relentless rivals Liverpool to leave Ole Gunnar Solskjaer under the most intense scrutiny of his near three years in charge.

The 202nd meeting of two of English football’s biggest rivals will live long in the memory after Jurgen Klopp’s men ran amok and recorded the club’s biggest ever win at Old Trafford.

Liverpool were as impressive as United were poor, with scintillating Salah’s treble complementing early goals from Naby Keita and Diogo Jota in a 5-0 rout in which substitute Paul Pogba was sent off.

Sir Alex Ferguson was seen shaking his head in disbelief after the fifth goal, with the visiting fans chanting Solskjaer’s name during an embarrassing display that will test the Old Trafford hierarchy’s support of their manager.

Never before in Premier League history had United gone into half-time four goals behind, but their consistently poor defence was punished by Liverpool as Keita and Jota scored before two Salah strikes.

A cacophony of boos met the half-time whistle and the Egyptian magician completed his hat-trick five minutes after the restart, with Pogba’s red card for a poor tackle on Keita compounding matters.

Liverpool were unable to add anymore and Cristiano Ronaldo saw a goal ruled out for offside in a second half that ended with empty seats and jeers, 10 years and a day since the 6-1 home loss to Manchester City.

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UCL: LAST-GASP CRISTIANO RONALDO HEADER COMPLETES STUNNING MANCHESTER UNITED COMEBACK

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s comeback kings did it again as Cristiano Ronaldo secured Manchester United a thrilling 3-2 victory in a breathless Champions League clash with Atalanta.

There was intense scrutiny on the 1999 treble hero and his players heading into the Group F encounter after Saturday’s embarrassing loss at Leicester compounded recent poor performances.

United were staring down the barrel of a fifth loss in eight matches and were booed by some fans as they trudged off at half-time trailing by two goals, only for Solskjaer’s side to storm back memorably at Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford struck on his first start since the Europa League final and Harry Maguire lashed home a leveller, setting up a box-office finish that Ronaldo delivered with a powerful header from Luke Shaw’s cross.

The victory provided a much-needed shot in the arm for United, who moved top of the group and welcome rivals Liverpool to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

The stirring second-half comeback displayed the best of Solskjaer’s side but they have plenty of room for improvement, notably at the back after Mario Pasalic and Merih Demiral capitalised on poor defending in the first half.

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HARRY MAGUIRE CLOSING IN ON MANCHESTER UNITED RETURN

Harry Maguire expects to be back in action for Manchester United in the near future.

The centre-back has missed United’s last two games with a calf injury and was unavailable for England’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary.

He is again set to be absent for Saturday’s Premier League trip to former club Leicester but hopes to return to training soon.

The 28-year-old told the club’s website: “It’s getting there. I still haven’t trained yet with the squad, but I am getting better, I am progressing as I should be.

“It is obviously a frustrating injury for me to get, but I am progressing, and I will be back on the pitch soon.”

Both of United’s first-choice centre-halves are currently injured with Raphael Varane having sustained a groin problem while on international duty with France. He is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks.

On a more positive note for United, Marcus Rashford and Phil Jones have both trained throughout the international break having stepped up their recoveries from long-term injuries. Both could come into contention for this weekend’s game at the King Power Stadium.