Football
Alejandro Garnacho and his brother blast Ruben Amorim after Manchester United defeat in Europa League final
Alejandro Garnacho and his brother expressed frustration with Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim following the team’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final on Wednesday night.
The loss, sealed by Brennan Johnson’s first-half goal in Bilbao, ended Tottenham’s 17-year wait for a trophy and capped a disappointing campaign for United.
Garnacho, who had featured prominently throughout United’s Europa League run, was left on the bench at the start of the final. Amorim chose to start Mason Mount and Amad Diallo in attacking midfield roles behind Rasmus Hojlund.
Garnacho was introduced in the 71st minute, replacing Mount, while Joshua Zirkzee came on for Hojlund. Despite Garnacho’s energetic performance, United couldn’t find an equaliser.
After the match, Garnacho appeared visibly dejected as Spurs celebrated their victory. Speaking to Argentine media, the 20-year-old winger didn’t hide his disappointment with Amorim’s decision to leave him out of the starting lineup.
He noted that the season had been difficult for the entire squad, mentioning that United not only lost the final but also failed to perform consistently in the league.
Reflecting on his role, Garnacho expressed his confusion and frustration. He pointed out that he had contributed in every round leading up to the final and had scored in major matches in the past.
Being limited to just 20 minutes in the final felt like a setback, especially after his efforts throughout the tournament.
His brother, Roberto Garnacho, echoed that sentiment on Instagram, taking a swipe at Amorim’s management. In his post, Roberto highlighted Alejandro’s previous key contributions, including goals in the FA Cup final against Manchester City and the FA Community Shield against Arsenal.
He criticized Amorim for giving Alejandro only 19 minutes of playing time in such a crucial match, suggesting the decision felt like a betrayal after all his hard work.
Alejandro also addressed speculation about his future, saying that while the game and season had an impact on his thinking, he planned to take some time over the summer before making any decisions.
His comments added fuel to ongoing rumors, especially since he nearly left Old Trafford in January. Both Napoli and Chelsea reportedly held talks with United, but deals fell through, with Napoli citing wage demands as a major obstacle despite United lowering their asking price to €65 million.
Roberto Garnacho had previously been critical of Manchester United’s leadership, having spoken out against former manager Erik ten Hag after United’s heavy loss to Crystal Palace last season.
With Garnacho now reportedly frustrated under Amorim, questions about his long-term future at the club are likely to intensify in the coming weeks.
Juventus are reportedly set to compete with Napoli for the signing of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer.
The 25-year-old is back at Old Trafford following a season-long loan at Chelsea, where he made a solid impact with five goals and 10 assists across 41 competitive appearances. He also found the net in Chelsea’s convincing 4-1 victory in last month’s Conference League final, though his efforts were not enough to convince the club to make the deal permanent.
Chelsea were initially expected to secure Sancho for £25 million as part of their loan agreement but ultimately chose to walk away from the obligation. As a result, they were required to pay Manchester United a £5 million penalty fee.
Despite being under contract with United, Sancho is not considered part of manager Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans. If he fails to secure a transfer in the coming weeks, the winger is expected to be left out of the club’s pre-season tour to the United States.
Juventus enter the race for Sancho
Napoli had previously emerged as the frontrunner for Sancho’s signature, with the player reportedly reaching a verbal agreement with the Serie A champions. However, a deal between Manchester United and Napoli has yet to be finalized.
According to Sky Sports News, Juventus have now entered the picture, exploring the financial and contractual terms of a potential move. The Turin-based side is seriously evaluating the opportunity to sign the England international, who has earned 23 senior caps.
Is Juventus the right fit for Sancho?
Juventus manager Igor Tudor is preparing for his first full season in charge after leading the team to a top-four finish last term. Known for deploying a 3-4-2-1 formation, Tudor’s system does not traditionally utilize wide wingers like Sancho.
If he joins Juventus, Sancho would likely compete for one of the two attacking midfield spots behind the main striker—a role that currently sees strong competition from Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and Nico Gonzalez. Unless one of these players is sold, Sancho might struggle to find regular playing time in Turin.
Napoli, on the other hand, could offer a more suitable environment for the former Borussia Dortmund star. With the club still looking to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed in January, Sancho may find more opportunities to thrive in his preferred position on the wing.
Nicolas Jackson endured a nightmare cameo as Chelsea collapsed in the second half against Flamengo during their FIFA Club World Cup clash, suffering a 3-1 defeat that puts their tournament hopes at risk.
Chelsea initially took the lead through Pedro Neto, whose composed finish through the goalkeeper’s legs gave the Premier League side a promising start. However, the momentum quickly shifted after the break.
Flamengo responded in ruthless fashion, netting twice in quick succession. Substitute Bruno Henrique capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home from close range, followed by another back-post finish from Danilo that stunned the Blues and put the Brazilian side ahead.
Matters worsened for Chelsea when substitute Nicolas Jackson was shown a straight red card just four minutes after entering the pitch.
His dangerous challenge saw his studs connect with Lucas Ayrton’s shin, leaving the referee with little choice but to send him off immediately.
Flamengo sealed the win with a third goal, as Wallace Yan added the final blow to a chaotic second half that Chelsea will want to forget.
The result means Chelsea must now beat African side ES Tunis in their next match on Tuesday to progress to the last 16. However, finishing second in the group could set them up for a much tougher path, likely facing the winner of Group C, which may include Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.
Flamengo’s victory strengthens their bid to top Group D and extends the unbeaten run of South American teams in the Club World Cup’s newly expanded format.
Flamengo vs Chelsea Highlight
Monterrey secured their spot in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, now known as the CONCACAF Cup.
Fast forward four years, and the team returned to the international stage at the Rose Bowl with only one player from that title-winning squad still in the lineup: veteran goalkeeper Esteban Andrada. The club had not lifted any silverware since that 2021 triumph, which made what happened next even more unexpected.
In a surprising twist, Monterrey opened the scoring against Inter Milan in the 25th minute, as Sergio Ramos delivered a perfectly placed header.
The Spanish defender, who joined the Mexican outfit earlier this year on a one-year deal reportedly worth $4 million, had cited the Club World Cup as a major influence in his decision to sign. His goal sent the Monterrey fans into wild celebrations.
However, their joy didn’t last long. Inter’s star forward Lautaro Martínez—fresh off a World Cup win—responded with a close-range finish following a perfectly orchestrated set-piece.
The Argentine’s goal silenced the Rayados-dominated crowd and brought the game level at 1-1 before halftime.
The second half saw both teams tighten up defensively, limiting each other’s chances as the game wore on.
Inter, still recovering from a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last month’s UEFA Champions League final, looked eager to reassert themselves. But it was Monterrey who rose to the occasion, matching their European opponents stride for stride and leaving the pitch with their heads held high after a gritty performance.
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan Highlights
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