I haven't seen many players with his physical performance. He reminds me of someone like Steven Gerrard. He can play anywhere, and I'm very happy to be coaching him. All coaches would like to have a Valverde on the team. He got rid of the bad taste in his mouth from the penalty the other day today, and his determination was evident in his celebration.
As first reported by The Athletic, Ratcliffe flew into Manchester for talks, which were said to be pre-planned. Ratcliffe had other meetings in addition to the one with Amorim. However, it is understood the 72-year-old is keen to help Amorim work through his current issues. Ratcliffe did not accompany chief executive Omar Berrada to Leigh this evening to watch the club's women's side reach the Champions League main draw for the first time.
As we prepare to welcome Chelsea FC to Old Trafford this weekend, Manchester United would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to ensuring that Old Trafford remains a place where everyone feels safe, respected and valued. "We are aware of the use of the 'rent boy' chant that has been heard at fixtures involving Chelsea in recent years. We want to be absolutely clear: this chant is offensive, inappropriate and has no place at our stadium or within our game."
Michael Carrick might be the obvious option if Ruben Amorim is to go. Obviously Michael Carrick still knows quite a few players that were there when he was there. So he's still got some good inside information. He obviously knows the club. But the key is that you need to have a guy that obviously has got a clear idea but puts some kind of a structure in place that the players buy into and that you get a spark from the players.
It would be quite surprising if they decided to move for the 62-year-old after having sacked him in the past in 2018. The Portuguese manager has managed Manchester United before, and he guided them to the EFL Cup, the Community Shield, and the UEFA Europa League win. He is currently out of a job after being sacked by Fenerbahce in August, and it will be interesting to see if Manchester United decide to bring him back to the club.
Chelsea are hoping to sign the Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi when his contract expires at the end of the season. The 25-year-old was close to signing for Liverpool during the summer transfer window, but the move collapsed on the final day of the window when Crystal Palace pulled the plug after failing to find a quality replacement for their captain. Liverpool are still very much in the race, and they are considered as the favourites to sign the defender.
Emery is viewed not just as a stop-gap, but as someone with a track record of turning clubs around. For example, since joining Aston Villa in October 2022, Emery has overseen a monumental rise, from battling relegation to challenging for European qualification. Villa also extended his contract to 2027 and beyond, reflecting their belief in his management style and structure.
Ugarte, meanwhile, has his limitations in possession but it's his lack of mobility that's most striking. The Uruguayan was overwhelmed by City's midfield, playing team-mates into trouble with passes that lacked purpose. United were all over the place in midfield as City ran a mock in the second half. That changed when Amorim introduced Kobbie Mainoo from the bench, but by then the result was done.
A man was pictured wearing a dark United away strip from the 2018-19 season, which prompted furious City fans to complain to the club. A City supporter contacted the club's fan support page to raise the issue, and attached a picture of the United fan behind one of the bars on the concourse. The club replied: "Thank you for making us aware of this. We can confirm that this individual has now been removed from their position."
Ratcliffe, who injected £300 million ($407.4m) of his own money into the club, said in March that United were in significant financial difficulties. "In super-simple terms, the club has been spending more money than it's been earning now for the last seven years, and it ends in a very difficult place," Ratcliffe said. "And for Manchester United, that place ended at the end of this year, the end of 2025, with the club running out of cash."
