Football
‘I cannot see…’ – Ruben Amorim gives update on Man Utd quit threat
Ruben Amorim insists he has no plans to leave Manchester United, despite acknowledging that the pressure will significantly increase if he fails to win the Europa League.
The Portuguese manager, currently under scrutiny for a poor Premier League run, remains focused on turning things around.
In a show of support and solidarity, Amorim personally covered the costs for 30 of his staff members and their families to attend Wednesday’s high-stakes all-English Europa League final against Tottenham in Spain.
Admits accountability after West Ham loss
Amorim shocked many United fans after Sunday’s disappointing defeat to West Ham by openly admitting that he could be replaced if he doesn’t reverse the club’s fortunes early next season.
Having secured just six wins from 25 Premier League matches since taking charge, Amorim did not shy away from taking responsibility.
“Since I arrived here I am always talking about the standards,” he said.
“I cannot see the team having these results — especially in the Premier League — and not say anything and not take the responsibility.
“It’s just that. I have a clear idea what to do. I understand the problems of the team and I am far from quitting.
“What I am saying is we need to perform this season and in the future or else they will change us.
“That is a normal thing. That was my feeling after West Ham and is still my feeling today.”
Final showdown raises stakes
While Amorim has attempted to play down the pressure surrounding the Europa League final clash with Tottenham—who haven’t lifted a trophy since 2008—he knows that a loss would only intensify scrutiny on his role.
“For sure, if we don’t win, that is clear . . . but I am not concerned about that.
It’s going to be really bad. I don’t want to use that as an excuse, it’s going to be really tough,” he admitted.
Personal gesture lifts spirits amid cost-cutting concerns
Amid a wave of cost-cutting measures spearheaded by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe—including the announcement of up to 450 staff redundancies—Amorim’s decision to pay for final tickets out of his own pocket was seen as a morale-boosting gesture during a turbulent time at Old Trafford.
“In this moment for our club sometimes it is hard when to give, when to take, to respect the people that are losing their jobs.
It is complicated for the club to start giving to other members of staff so it is a really hard position.
‘That situation was explained so my reaction was to help. It is not going to change my life.
So I wanted to help the staff be there and comfortable and be a better staff for the final.
Then they talk to the players and the players have the same reaction.
Everybody wants their families there, the staff there but it’s hard to manage things in our club. So it’s a simple thing.”
Three stars ruled out for Chelsea clash
Looking ahead to Friday’s Premier League fixture against Chelsea, Amorim confirmed that Leny Yoro, Matthijs De Ligt, and Diogo Dalot will not feature. However, he remains hopeful they could return in time for the Europa League final.
“I don’t know if they are going to be available.
We are going to try and push because it is a final and all the players want to play in that.
They will not go to Chelsea but there is a possibility we will get some of them back,” said the United boss.
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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