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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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STEVEN GERRARD STARTS VILLA JOB WITH A WIN

Steven Gerrard admitted to feeling a mixture of pride and relief after two late goals got his managerial reign at Aston Villa off to a winning start.

Gerrard celebrated exuberantly when Ollie Watkins broke the deadlock after 84 minutes to put Villa in front against Brighton.

And the former Liverpool midfielder was jumping around his technical area again two minutes from time when Tyrone Mings lashed in another goal to seal a 2-0 victory.

It saw Gerrard become the first Villa manager to win his first Premier League game in charge since John Gregory in February 1998, and immediately put a four-point gap between Villa and the relegation places.

Gerrard, who left Rangers during the international break to replace Dean Smith at Villa Park, said: “I was feeling a combination of things. It was a mixture of excitement, relief and pride. I cannot be any more proud of the players. This was a big week, a big game for the team on the back of losing five.

“Some people were only around for a couple of days in the week. Everything we have asked them to do, in the main, they have followed instruction and delivered a really good performance in the end. I couldn’t be more proud.”

Gerrard prowled the touchline throughout the match, cajoling his players and offering guidance.

Asked about his management style, the 41-year-old said: “I want to be there on the side for my players. I want to coach from the side and I want them to see me and be visible. I want to help them, guide them, so they carry a game-plan out.

“Inside me is what was with me as a player, that will to win, that drive and energy.

“The buzz and highs as a player you certainly miss, and it’s why you want to stay in the game.

“You are trying to control your emotions but you are kicking every ball. I love competing and I love winning. You should see me in staff games – five-aside or six-aside. I want to win.

“I love seeing my players smiling and feeling good about themselves.

“I want to, at times, show emotion. I will always be authentic. If anyone doubts me then just watch me after those goals today. That’s real. That’s feeling coming out. But you can’t be like that all the time.”

Despite the win, Villa’s first after six successive defeats and their first at home since September 18, Gerrard was not getting carried away.

“We were tense at times and it wasn’t all perfect, but I thought we finished the game extremely strong,” said the Villa boss.

“We have a lot of things to build on, the issues we had in the game, and look at the debrief, and from that we will grow, but we will be stronger.”

Brighton had most of the ball and the better chances to score, before Watkins fired Villa in front.

Albion boss Graham Potter was frustrated to see his team take nothing from the game.

“I thought up until 83 minutes we did pretty much everything you can here apart from score in terms of controlling the crowd,” said Potter.

“We knew the environment we were going to face and how difficult that is, but I thought we controlled the crowd, we controlled the game. I thought we attacked better. I thought we created better chances.

“Then we left ourselves exposed a little bit and the turnover happens and we are 1-0 down. The last seven or eight minutes are disappointing.”

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PREMIER LEAGUE SIGNS US TV DEAL WORTH £2 BILLION

American broadcaster NBC has renewed its television deal with the Premier League in a new six-year agreement worth around £2 billion.

That figure is almost double what the company, the home of Premier League coverage in the United States since 2013, paid for their current contract back in 2016.

The new deal, understood to be worth $2.7 billion, goes some way to offsetting the £2 billion Premier League clubs have lost since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Over the next three years the Premier League will filter £1.6 billion down the football pyramid, having earlier on Thursday announced a further £25 million of Covid impact funding to clubs in Leagues One and Two and the National League.

The Premier League has already completed its international broadcast sales processes in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, but there are deals in the rest of the Americas and Asia Pacific still to be concluded and further increases in revenue will also see solidarity payments to EFL clubs go up.

“Interest in the Premier League is going from strength to strength and it is great to see the growing global demand to watch our matches and engage with the league,” said Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.

“Our international and domestic broadcast revenues over the next cycle will give stability and certainty to the game as a whole, which is particularly important as football recovers from Covid-19 losses.

“We are proud to provide more investment into our football pyramid than any other football league in the world.”

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Ronaldo set to sting Hornets after Portugal frustration

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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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Real boost for City and Chelsea in Haaland race

Manchester City and Chelsea have been handed a huge boost in the race to sign Erling Haaland.

Spanish giants Real Madrid have reportedly accepted the Norwegian is destined to move to the Premier League.

Haaland, 21, has a £64million release clause that comes into play at the end of the season.

And with Europe’s biggest clubs all interested in signing him, Borussia Dortmund expect to lose their star striker.

But The Sun say the feeling at the Bernabeu is Haaland will likely end up playing English football.

Real are clear favourites to sign Kylian Mbappe on a free when his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires next year. 

But their dream of pairing the two hottest young stars in football alongside each other in the Spanish capital appears to be over.

And that will be music to the ears of the bigwigs at the Etihad, Stamford Bridge and maybe even Old Trafford.

Like City and Chelsea, Manchester United have previously been linked with a move for Haaland.

Pep Guardiola heaped praise on the forward before the Citizens faced Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-finals last season.

He said: “To score that number of goals at his age is not easy. The numbers speak for themselves.

“When that happens it’s because he can score with the right, the left, via counter-attacks, in the box. He’s a fantastic striker, everyone knows it.”

Haaland has 13 goals in 10 games this season but has missed time with injuries and is expected to remain on the sidelines until next month, 

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GRAHAM FORD STEPS DOWN AS IRELAND CRICKET COACH

Graham Ford has stepped down as Ireland head coach.

Ford, who was appointed to the role in 2017, will immediately relinquish his coaching duties before departing from Cricket Ireland next month.

The 61-year-old oversaw Ireland’s introduction to the Test arena and their recent run to the T20 World Cup.

However, Ireland failed to progress to the Super 12 stage of the competition following a surprise eight-wicket defeat to Namibia.

“The last four years have been very special for me,” said Ford, who took charge of 102 Ireland internationals.

“I have enjoyed many happy days with a cricket squad made up of very special people.

“When compared with the other ICC Full Member nations, Cricket Ireland has faced many handicaps and challenges.

“Despite this, on several occasions the team has competed impressively with some of the top teams in world cricket and it has been a privilege for me to experience first-hand the character and togetherness of the Irish players.

“However, over a period of time these challenges and handicaps have taken their toll on me. After much consideration and discussion with my family, I realise that this is the right time for me to step away from Cricket Ireland.

“I’d like to end by thanking all the players and the support staff for their impressive attitudes and loyal support during the four years and I look forward to watching them achieve big things in the future.”

Ireland, who head for a tour of America next month before a white-ball series against the West Indies in January, will announce their interim coaching plans in the coming weeks.

Captain Andrew Balbirnie said: “Graham has been one of the best coaches I have ever worked with, and I feel very fortunate that I got to spend four years working with him, not just for the playing development side of my game, but for his incredible support during my captaincy to date.

“We have had our challenges over the last number of years as a squad, but his consistent positivity has been infectious and his determination to improve the skills of everyone in the squad has brought some of our young cricketers on leaps and bounds.

“I think more important than anything is that Ford is a brilliant person and one that will be greatly missed in and around the squad, and on behalf of the group of players we wish him nothing but the best in the future.”

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MAN CITY’S MENDY APPEARS IN COURT OVER NEW RAPE ALLEGATIONS

Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has appeared in court charged with two more counts of rape.

Mendy (27) now faces a total of six allegations of rape and one of sexual assault after initially being charged with five offences in August.

The French international has been in custody since August after a number of bail applications were refused by judges.

He appeared by video-link at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday afternoon charged with two further counts of rape.

During the five-minute hearing, which was delayed due to technical issues, Mendy, who appeared wearing a cream-coloured sweatshirt, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.

The court clerk told the hearing that Mendy was charged with two counts of rape, which are alleged to have taken place in Macclesfield in July and August this year.

The footballer was initially charged on August 26 with three counts of rape relating to an alleged incident in October 2020, one count of raping a woman in August this year and the sexual assault of a woman in early January 2021.

Those alleged offences relate to four women over the age of 16 and are alleged to have taken place between October 2020 and August 2021 at his home address on Withinlee Road, in Prestbury, Cheshire.

Mendy appeared alongside his co-accused, Louis Saha Matturie (40), who has also been charged with two additional counts of rape and one of sexual assault.

The court heard that Matturie, of Eccles, Greater Manchester, is accused of sexually touching a woman in Sheffield in 2016, raping a woman in March this year and another count of rape in Macclesfield in July.

He now faces six counts of rape in total and one of sexual assault.

District Judge Margaret McCormack told the defendants: “The charges that you face will be sent to Chester Crown Court and you will appear there tomorrow morning and that’s to tie in with existing matters.”

No application for bail was made at Wednesday’s hearing. Both men are due to go on trial on January 24, 2022.

Mendy has played for Manchester City since 2017, when he joined from Monaco for a reported £52 million.

He was suspended by the club after being charged by police, pending an investigation.

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ROGER FEDERER OUT OF AUSTRALIAN OPEN AND UNLIKELY TO BE FIT FOR WIMBLEDON

Roger Federer has confirmed he will not feature in next year’s Australian Open – and says he would be “extremely surprised” if he plays at Wimbledon.

In an interview with Swiss publication Le Matin, the 40-year-old added that he does not anticipate returning to competition until next summer.

The 20-time grand slam winner is recovering from a series of knee operations.

Federer, who has not played since he lost his quarter-final match against Hubert Hurkacz at Wimbledon on July 7, said: “I will be able to resume running quietly in January and resume sessions on the court with complex support in March or April.

“Today, I therefore estimate my return to competition in the summer of 2022. I would be extremely surprised if I could play Wimbledon.”

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WESTHAM ACCEPT SUPPORTER BAN FOR EUROPA LEAGUE

West Ham have accepted a Uefa sanction banning their fans from traveling to the Europa League game at Rapid Vienna.

The Hammers were charged with crowd disturbances and for their fans throwing items in their draw with Genk.

In a statement West Ham said they “reluctantly” accepted sanctions but “also wish to place on record our disappointment at the extremely short notice of the measures.”

The game against Rapid Vienna takes place on Thursday 25 November.

The Premier League club, who were also fined a total of 34,500 euros (£30,000), said that they were working to identify the fans responsible for the disturbance.

“West Ham United condemn the behaviour of this group of individuals,” the statement added.

“We are working to identify them following their actions, which have now ultimately led to our supporters – the vast majority of whom behaved impeccably in Belgium – being punished and resulting in David Moyes’ team being forced to play in Austria without the backing of the club’s fans.”

The Hammers also “strongly” urged their fans not to travel to Vienna for the tie.

“Fans will not be granted access to the Allianz Stadion and any attempt to enter the stadium could lead to further sanctions for the individuals and the club in the future,” they added.

West Ham are top of Group H with 10 points after four games.

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PREMIER LEAGUE CHAIRMAN RESIGNS AMID NEWCASTLE TAKEOVER SCRUTINY

Gary Hoffman has resigned from his role as Chairman of the Premier League.

The Premier League boss will step down from the role at the end of January 2022.

It follows on from backlash from Premier League clubs after the recent Newcastle takeover.

Mike Ashley’s £300m sale to the consortium consisting of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, PCP Capital Partners and the billionaire Reuben brothers was finally given the green light last month.

It was a deal which had remained in limbo for more than a year, and one that has attracted a host of criticism as a result of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record

Hoffman said in a statement: “It has been a privilege to lead the Premier League through the last two seasons – when the spirit of English football has been more important than ever.

“Now, I have decided the time is right for me to stand aside to allow new leadership to steer the League through its next exciting phase.”

Hoffman’s departure is expected to add further weight to the arguments over a need for an independent regulator in English football, with MP Tracey Crouch’s extensive review expected to be published next week.