BRUNO FERNANDES 'FIRST KICK' VAR AUDIO RELEASED AS MAN UNITED PUNISHMENT RECOMMEND

Bruno Fernandes was not cautioned despite appearing to kick Phil Foden while the Manchester City forward was on the floor, whereas Foden was sent off for his reaction towards the Portuguese midfielder.

Bruno Fernandes got away with a booking in the Manchester derby

Howard Webb has said Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes should have been shown a yellow card for appearing to swipe at Phil Foden, who was sat on the floor during the Manchester derby. Foden then reacted, kicking back and catching Fernandes with both feet in the lower abdomen, sending the Portuguese midfielder to the ground.

Referee Michael Oliver had no hesitation in producing a red card for Foden, who was left stunned, while Fernandes went unpunished despite kicking the City player first. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) could not recommend a yellow card because Oliver had already seen and acted on the incident.

Speaking on Match Officials Mic'd Up, chief refereeing officer Webb said: "So, taking those in order, Michael, I agree with the red card for Phil Foden for violent conduct. He kicks out with force into the upper body of Bruno Fernandes. We saw a player sent off for Aston Villa earlier in the season. Joao Gomes was sent off for a very similar thing, kicking with the studs into the body.

"And that's seen by the referee on the field, and that's the on-field call, a red card for Foden. Now, when you look at the footage, there is that petulant kick by Bruno Fernandes into the backside of Foden. It is more petulant than violent. To be violent conduct, it has to have excessive force or brutality, and when you look at that, particularly in full speed, it doesn't have those elements.

"So therefore, this would be a yellow card offence. And the VAR can't step in to recommend the referee looks at the screen to give a yellow card. Of course, if all of this is missed and nothing is given against Foden, then the VAR could step in so the referee could see Foden's actions for a possible red card, and they would capture Fernandes' yellow card action. But because the referee gave the red card on the field, that option is not open to the VAR."

Pro Ref, formerly PGMOL, have also released the VAR audio, with both the VAR and assistant VAR concluding that Fernandes kicked the ball rather than Foden himself.

Assistant VAR: "It was for a kick-out. It looks like he's given a foul and then the legs came up."

VAR: "Michael [referee], the penalty is checked and cleared. Just confirm your on-field decision in terms of discipline here, please."

Referee: "Red card, Phil Foden. Kick out into the body of Bruno [Fernandes]. The foul is by Bruno on Phil. I think he's in a tangle and when they are separating, I think Phil kicks him. But they will check."

VAR: "That looks like a clear red card to me. Secondary movement, watch broadcast. Okay, happy to confirm? Red card. Happy to confirm? Confirming the red card for Manchester City 47. A kick to the midriff with two feet."

"Just roll through to check that Bruno does nothing. I'm absolutely certain he doesn't. No, he kicks the ball; it's fine."

Assistant VAR: "No, the other one [Bruno's first kick]. That's not what they're talking about. That is the one they're talking about."

VAR: "Minimal, minimal. That's not for us; that's fine."

Assistant VAR: "Yeah, I agree."

At the time, a Premier League explanation read: "#MUNMCI – 23’ The referee's call of red card to Foden for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR."

Meanwhile, Roy Keane went as far as suggesting that Fernandes 'was the one who was violent' during the challenge. He told Sky Sports: "Bruno tackles him, fouls him, gives him a little boot on the floor, reacts and he's now sent off. Bruno catches him, Foden sent off, I guess it's classed as violent and to me, Bruno is the one who violent.

"I have to call it out, called it with Kyle Walker a few years ago when he went down after a head butt, we see violent differently. I don't think that's a red card for Foden, I don't. 'Did the referee get given a chance?'

"Foden is daft here but so is Bruno. If Bruno got sent off, we'd be saying, 'it was a daft, a bit silly.' Everyone's in a union, you've got to look out for each other. We saw Walker a few years ago do it with a head butt, Bruno has got to do better there. It's a big game, you've got to look after the opposition players as well. Foden, I don't think it's a red card."

Foden, who was sent off in the 23rd minute of the Manchester derby, now faces a three‑game ban, meaning the England international will miss Thursday night's Carabao Cup tie against Norwich City.

Premier League rules state that red cards issued in league matches carry over into other domestic competitions, including the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. Yellow cards, however, remain competition‑specific.

As a result, City’s clash with Norwich will be the first match Foden sits out under the suspension. He will also be unavailable for City's Premier League return against Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium this weekend, as well as the trip to Liverpool on October 11 following the international break.

- Bruna Reis

MANCHESTER UNITED CONFIRM 25-MAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SQUAD

Man United will return to the Champions League this season and they have named their European squad ahead of the competition starting next week.

The 2026/27 Champions League league phase starts next week

Manchester United have named their 25-man Champions League squad as they prepare for their return to the competition.

United kick off their European campaign next week with a home game against Sabah FK. The other seven sides the Reds will face in the league phase of the Champions League are Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Roma, Sporting, RB Leipzig, Villarreal and Como.

Teams competing in this season's Champions League had until Wednesday evening to submit their squads. There are a number of high-profile names not included on United's 25-man list, including Kobbie Mainoo and Leny Yoro. However, both will still be eligible to play in the Champions League.

Teams are required to submit an 'A list' of players who can play in the Champions League, which is the list that has now been confirmed.

There is no requirement to include any player on the 'A list' who was born on or after 1 January 2005 and has been eligible to play for the club for two consecutive years since turning 15 (or three years including a loan spell). Any player who falls into this category is added to a 'B list', and this is submitted to UEFA either on or before the day prior to a Champions League match.

The 'A list' that has been submitted to UEFA is now locked in for the league phase of the competition. However, should United reach the knockout rounds, they will have until 4 February 2027 to register a maximum of three new players.

United's 25-man Champions League squad:

Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow, Tom Heaton, Senne Lammens, Dermot Mee

Defenders: Patrick Dorgu, Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, Luke Shaw, Ayden Heaven

Midfielders: Carlos Baleba, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, Manuel Ugarte

Forwards: Amad, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Marcus Rashford, Benjamin Sesko, Joshua Zirkzee, Tynan Thompson

- Ross Jackson

BRUNO FERNANDES WINS PLAYER OF THE MATCHWEEK | PREMIER LEAGUE

 

BRUNO FERNANDES CLAIMS PFA PLAYER OF THE YEAR PRIZE AS MAN CITY FORWARD BUNNY SHAW WINS WOMEN'S AWARD

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has been named the 2025-26 PFA Players' Player of the Year after breaking the Premier League assists record. Meanwhile, Manchester City striker Bunny Shaw secured the women's prize for the second time, and Nico O'Reilly won the Young Player award on a memorable night that celebrated the outstanding performers of the season.

Record-breaking season for Fernandes

Fernandes was crowned the men's PFA Players' Player of the Year following an incredible individual campaign for Manchester United, as reported by Sky Sports.

He broke the all-time record for Premier League assists, setting up 21 goals to surpass Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. He also scored nine times to help Manchester United secure a third-place finish and earn a return to the Champions League under manager Michael Carrick.

Consequently, Fernandes is the first Manchester United player to win the prestigious trophy since Wayne Rooney in the 2009-10 season, adding this prize to the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award he won in May.

Getty Images Entertainment 

Pride in peer recognition

Reacting to the achievement, Fernandes expressed his delight at being recognised by his fellow professionals across the division. Fernandes said: "It is obviously a very proud moment. They are the ones you go on the pitch against and it's probably not easy to vote for someone you play against, so it is a very good moment."

In the women's game, Shaw scooped the PFA Women's Player of the Year award for the second time, claiming the trophy after scoring 21 goals to win a third straight Golden Boot and her first Women's Super League title with Manchester City.

Youth stars and merit awards

O'Reilly was named the Men's PFA Young Player of the Year after an outstanding campaign that saw him help England win World Cup bronze. O'Reilly said: "I had a great season. I'm very proud of the season I had. I won two trophies with my club and managed to play at the World Cup with my country. I'm over the moon how it turned out."

Meanwhile, Arsenal prospect Olivia Smith picked up the women's PFA Young Player of the Year title for the second consecutive campaign. Elsewhere, Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney received the PFA merit awards for their outstanding lifetime contributions to football.

AFP

What comes next for the winners?

Manchester United have a busy schedule ahead as Fernandes prepares to lead his team in their highly anticipated Champions League return. Manchester City and Shaw will focus on defending their Women's Super League crown when the new season kicks off.

- Moataz Elgammal

FOUR GOALS AND A COMEBACK! AC MILAN DEFEATS MANCHESTER UNITED IN INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

AC Milan closed out its preseason with a convincing 4-2 victory over Manchester United. The Rossoneri showcased their attacking power and capitalized on their opponent’s defensive mistakes.

AC Milan Completes a Convincing Comeback Against Manchester United

AC Milan closed out its preseason with a 4-2 victory over Manchester United at the Tarczyński Arena in Wroclaw in an international friendly that ultimately left the Italian side with plenty of positive takeaways. The Rossoneri had to respond twice, but ultimately imposed their attacking quality during a second half in which they found space and capitalized on their opponent’s mistakes.

The English side took an early lead through Harry Maguire, who rose to head home Bruno Fernandes’ corner. However, Milan found a response before halftime through Samuel Chukwueze, who received the assist from Gonçalo Ramos.

The equalizer was not the only major moment of the first half. Bruno Fernandes had the chance to restore United’s lead from the penalty spot, but Lorenzo Torriani read the shot correctly and made a decisive save to keep the score at 1-1.

Gonçalo Ramos Turns His Debut Into a Standout Night

The spotlight was firmly on Gonçalo Ramos, and the Portuguese forward lived up to the expectations. The Rossoneri’s new attacker was not limited to contributing to the build-up: he scored his first goal for Milan and was also directly involved in other goals.

After Patrick Dorgu restored Manchester United’s lead early in the second half, Milan responded once again. Alphadjo Cissé brought the game back to 2-2 and, just minutes later, Ramos had his moment.

The Portuguese forward found space inside the box to head home a cross from Samuel Chukwueze, making it 3-2. The play highlighted the connection between the two players throughout the match and gave Milan the lead for the first time.

United’s Defensive Errors Shift the Game

The English side took the lead twice, but could not hold onto either advantage, allowing Milan to find increasingly dangerous spaces.

United’s second goal came through Patrick Dorgu, who capitalized on a poor Milan backpass to make it 2-1. The Italian side responded immediately, and from the 2-2 mark onward, the match began to swing clearly in the Rossoneri’s favor.

Milan’s third goal once again featured Chukwueze, this time providing the assist for Ramos. The Nigerian was one of the most active players for the Italian side and took advantage of the gaps appearing in the English defense.

Shortly afterward, Ruben Loftus-Cheek burst into space on the right and received another service from Ramos before making it 4-2. The goal put the match beyond United’s reach and confirmed Milan’s attacking superiority during the decisive stretch.

Rashford Returns to United, but Milan Take the Positives

The match also featured a special moment for Marcus Rashford, who returned to the Manchester United lineup after a lengthy absence. The forward came on in the second half and showed some promising movement on the wing, although he was unable to change the course of the match.

His return was one of the main talking points for the English side, but the spotlight ultimately belonged to Milan. The Italian team found attacking solutions, capitalized on their opponent’s mistakes and finished the match with four goals against one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

- beiN SPORTS

PITCH INVADERS TAKE SELFIES WITH FERNANDES DURING MAN UTD FRIENDLY

Dublin (AFP) – Normal time in Manchester United's pre-season friendly against Leeds at Dublin's Croke Park on Wednesday ended in bizarre fashion when two young fans ran on to the pitch to take selfies with Bruno Fernandes.

A pitch invader takes a selfie with Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes during a pre-season friendly against Leeds at Croke Park in Dublin © Paul Faith / AFP

When security did not immediately intervene, at least three other pitch invaders joined in and play did not restart before referee Neil Doyle blew for full-time.

The match, the first game of association soccer at the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 2009, was played in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 80,000.

It ended 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes after Joshua Zirkzee gave United a 16th-minute lead before Leeds equalised just before the half-hour mark, with Brenden Aaronson scoring after good work from former United winger Daniel James.

Noussair Mazraoui scored the decisive spot-kick as Manchester United won 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out.

"First half we were really dangerous and could've had a number of goals," United manager Michael Carrick told ITV. "We played some really good football.

"They came back into the game, and in the second half there were a few changes and it was important to get some minutes in some of our lads.

"The young lads did well, it was everything we expected of them. Winning the game is always nice."

Fernandes missed from the spot before it went to sudden death, but after James Justin's effort struck the crossbar, Mazraoui saw United to victory.

Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford were among those watching on, not involved after only joining the training camp at the start of the week following the World Cup.

Before the match, Carrick said he was holding the trio "in reserve" for Saturday's friendly against former boss Ruben Amorim and AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland -- potentially Rashford's first appearance in a United shirt since December 2024.

"He's our player," said former United and England midfielder Carrick of Rashford, now back at Old Trafford after a loan spell at Barcelona.

"He's come back great, like any other player. I've known him a long time, he gives us something a bit different.

"He's been in great spirits since he's come back."

After several half-time changes, including a debut for United's new 18-year-old winger Tynan Thompson, Leeds should have gone ahead six minutes in when Joe Rodon's low cross found Harry Wilson, but the summer signing shot straight at Senne Lammens.

Fernandes was among six United players to come onto the field on the hour and, having seen one effort ruled out for offside, he hit the crossbar with a curling shot five minutes from time.

MAN UNITED 3-2 LIVERPOOL: RED DEVILS QUALIFY FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE THANKS TO KOBBIE MAINOO'S SUPERB LATE WINNER - AFTER TWO ERRORS SAW BITTER RIVALS MOUNT SECOND-HALF FIGHTBACK

Maybe it was actually sweeter for Manchester United to win this way. To give their great rivals some hope and then snatch it away from them again

Michael Carrick and his United team are back in the Champions League and this was quite some way to do it.

Fifteen minutes in and United were two goals up and rampant. Liverpool scored seven at Anfield against Erik ten Hag’s version of United back in 2023 and, after those early goals from Matheus Cunha and then Benjamin Sesko, Carrick’s players must have sniffed some kind of ultimate payback.

Liverpool were hopeless and hapless. Full of possession and territory but all at sea once United’s red waves of counter-attack broke on their shores.

Oblivion beckoned and United and their supporters would have given anything at this stage to be able to dish out a proper hiding. They have suffered enough at the hands of their great rivals in recent times.

But if that wasn’t to be possible then maybe this was a perfect alternative. To drag Liverpool up from their knees and then catapult them back down into the dirt.

Twice in the first eleven minutes of the second half, United coughed up the ball to give Liverpool two goals and parity. It was a comeback that came from nowhere. 

It was the perfect start for United as Matheus Cunha struck inside six minutes at Old Trafford

Young substitute Amad Diallo was the first to err, Dominik Szoboszlai running clear to score. Then, almost immediately, goalkeeper Senne Lammens messed up a short goal kick and Cody Gakpo rolled the ball in to an empty net.

All of a sudden – and for a while – calamity looked as though it could  be United's. Liverpool were now the better team.

Harry Maguire made a great block to deny Gakpo and then Lammens hacked a ball off his line after a scramble at a set piece.

For both teams a draw seemed palatable as the clock ran down but Carrick’s United are running hot in a way that Liverpool are not.

Benjamin Sesko bundled Manchester United's second over the line just eight minutes later

The defending champions’ efforts at the back end of games have been pretty woeful this season. And so when Alexis MacAllister cleared Luke Shaw’s cross to the edge of the penalty area with 13 minutes left, it was no great surprise that Kobbie Mainoo was there to drive the ball back low and hard and in to the corner.

It was an emphatic finish and it seemed appropriate. For United’s football had been this way and Liverpool’s had not. Liverpool were much better in the second half but still needed two United mistakes to get them back in to the game.

Over the piece, they were pretty limp going forward. No cleverness, no element of surprise and certainly no pace.

United remain far from the perfect team but they do know how to make things happen and here – when they needed to – they absolutely did. At times they did here what Liverpool used to do to them. Soaked up pressure, stole the ball and then sprang forward devastatingly.

Dominik Szoboszlai halved the deficit for Liverpool after Amad's error early in the second half

Indeed, their start was breathtaking. Carrick’s team had been out of the blocks quickly against Brentford on Monday but this was Liverpool so this meant more.

United have pace to burn these days. Their opponents are not so blessed, especially with players like Mo Salah and Hugo Ekitike missing.

So we were treated to the sight of United sitting happily in their own half and watching Liverpool pass the ball around in front of them. Then, when they took possession themselves, they were able to break with menace. Liverpool couldn’t cope and were fortunate only to be two goals down by half-time.

United’s first goal came from a corner and though it carried a little luck, it was also the result of early pressure.

Liverpool only half cleared the ball to the edge of the penalty area and when Cunha’s first shot came back to him off Ryan Gravenberch, his second struck MacAllister and bobbled in to the corner past Freddie Woodman in the visitors’ goal.

Woodman has enjoyed himself since replacing Giorgi Mamardashvili towards the end of the Merseyside derby. He helped to win that game and did likewise against Crystal Palace a week later. But this was different.

Liverpool were up against it from the first whistle and by the time we had played 14 minutes, United had doubled their lead.

This one came after a long VAR check but was correctly awarded. Liverpool may have thought they had seen off the danger as Woodman blocked from Sesko. But when the ball was recycled and Shaw crossed to the far post, Bruno Fernandes’ header across goal was pawed out by the Liverpool keeper and that enabled Sesko to bundle it in.

The VAR check was for a handball against the scorer and there may have been one. But TV didn’t provide conclusive evidence and United had distance between themselves and their opponents.

It had been a frantic start but the game settled into a rhythm for a while thereafter. Liverpool had plenty of the ball but did nothing with it. By half-time, all Slot’s team had to show for their territory were two shots wide from 20 yards and one from Gravenberch that arrived from even further out and was saved by Lammens comfortably.

United, meanwhile, continued to carry intent and menace. Indeed when Bryan Mbeumo broke down the right to cross low, Fernandes should have done better than drill a first-time shot wide of the near post from twelve yards. Had that one gone in to make it 3-0, we would have been spared all the subsequent drama and excitement.

Cody Gakpo then levelled terms after a wayward pass out from goalkeeper Serge Lammens

As it was, when Liverpool did find a way back in to the game it was completely unexpected. Carrick made a change at half-time as Amad replaced Sesko and one of the young forward’s first contributions was to pass the ball straight to Szoboszlai.

The Hungarian still had half of the field to navigate but with United defenders backing off, he turned past Maguire comfortably and pulled his left-foot shot across Lammens and into the corner from 14 yards.

One mistake was careless and shouldn’t have been cause for panic. The second, coming in the 56th minute, was unforgivable. This one came from the modern obsession with short goal kicks and blew up in United’s face as Lammens passed straight to MacAllister and he worked the ball to Szobozslai who squared calmly for Gakpo to score.

Utter embarrassment suddenly beckoned for United and for a while it looked possible. Liverpool were the better team for twenty minutes and half chances were theirs. They needed to take one, though, and that they didn’t eventually cost them. Mainoo’s finish really was fabulous.

Liverpool pushed again at the end. It would have been hard to begrudge them a point. But the right side of the fine margins continue to elude them and a cameo from young winger Rio Ngumoah wasn’t enough to save them.

This was league defeat number eleven for Slot’s team. Sunderland and Leeds – both promoted last season – have lost only one more each. Both United and Liverpool will in all likelihood both play Champions League next season but they way they feel about that will be quite different.

- IAN LADYMAN

MAN UNITED LEGEND SAYS ALEJANDRO GARNACHO'S ATTITUDE WAS A 'DISGRACE' AT OLD TRAFFORD

Alejandro Garnacho has struggled to impress at Chelsea since leaving Manchester United last summer

Man United legend says Garnacho’s attitude was a ‘disgrace’
Garnacho has been criticised for his attitude at Man United

Getty

Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has branded Alejandro Garnacho’s attitude during his time at Old Trafford a "disgrace", stating that selling the player was the best decision the club could have made.

The 21-year-old departed for Chelsea last summer in a £40m deal after falling out of favour under then-head coach Ruben Amorim, and has since struggled to make an impact at his new club.

Garnacho recently faced his former side, failing to impress as United secured a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night. Following the match, social media activity from his former teammates seemed to support Butt's claims.

United defender Luke Shaw shared an image on Instagram of him pushing Garnacho, prompting Bruno Fernandes to respond with a GIF reading “that’s a violation”, while Joshua Zirkzee commented "nice one mate".

Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, Butt was unequivocal about the young forward.

"The best thing for me that Manchester United did was sell him because, forget his ability, I don’t think he’s that great anyway," he stated. "However, his attitude for me was a disgrace when he was at United.

“That’s why that happens when people post things like that (Shaw on Instagram). If you are in a changing room and you leave and completely disrespect your team-mates and football club."

Butt, who served as Manchester United’s head of academy from 2016 to 2019 and then head of first team development until 2021, reflected on how such behaviour would have been disciplined in his playing days.

"He’d have been taken out every single day in training. He’d have been put in his place very quickly with the likes of the players we got brought up with. Swatted down, taken out," he explained.

"He would’ve been treated really badly if he behaved like that, but he’d have learnt from it and got better."

The former treble winner elaborated on his experiences with Garnacho, suggesting the player became too big for his boots too quickly.

"Garnacho was always a bit standoffish. He had a high opinion of himself," Butt revealed. "I thought he had an edge about him and when he went into Manchester United’s first team, and I will say what I think because I was there looking at it, he got above his station way too quick."

He added: "He got a superstar status way too quick... but he got superstar status so quickly and then scored the bicycle-kick – which was a phenomenal goal – and then it went like that.

“Someone in that football club should have been swatting him down. They might have been and he’s just ignored them."

- Press Association Sport Staff

CHELSEA VS. MANCHESTER UNITED | POST MATCH ANALYSIS | BRUNO FERNANDES & MICHAEL CARRICK REACTION

DEPLETED MANCHESTER UNITED 'LACK QUALITY', SAYS RUBEN AMORIM

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said his side "lacked quality" to break down a Wolves team without a Premier League win all season in the latest blow to their chances of Champions League football next season.

Wolves snapped a 12-game losing streak with a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.© AFP

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said his side "lacked quality" to break down a Wolves team without a Premier League win all season in the latest blow to their chances of Champions League football next season. Wolves secured just their third point of the campaign and snapped a 12-game losing streak as Ladislav Krejci's header cancelled out Joshua Zirkzee's deflected opener in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. United were missing captain Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo through injury, while Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo are absent due to the Africa Cup of Nations.

"We have a lack of fluidity and then lack of quality and then lack of creation of chances, and then we suffer a goal from a set-piece," said Amorim.

"These details are important to win these games in difficult moments."

 United remain two points outside the top four in sixth.

But they could have been well on course for a return to European football's top table next season had they not failed to win four of their last five home games.

Amorim, though, remains confident his side will end the season strongly once they have their key players back fit and available. 

"I think we are in one situation that you have a lot of players out in the same time.

"Of course when you play Casemiro and (Manuel) Ugarte in the middle, you know that is different to when you have Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount or Bruno, that is normal. We just need to recover our players, the players from AFCON to return and then the fluidity is going to be different.

"I'm really confident when we recover all the players that we are going to be a strong team, there is no doubt in my mind."

- Agence-France Presse

MANCHESTER UNITED ALL-TIME ASSISTS | BRUNO FERNANDES MILESTONE

 

MAN UNITED COMES BACK TO BEAT CRYSTAL PALACE AS ZIRKZEE STUNNER ENDS GOAL DROUGHT

Glyn KIRK

Joshua Zirkzee scored in the Premier League for the first time in almost a year to spark a comeback 2-1 win for Manchester United at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The Dutch forward hadn’t scored in England’s top flight since a double against Everton on Dec. 1 last year. But he ended his drought with a stunning strike in the 54th minute at Selhurst Park to level the game after Jean-Philippe Mateta put Palace ahead from the penalty spot in the first half.

Mason Mount struck the winner nine minutes later as United ended Palace’s 12-game unbeaten home run in the league.

Zirkzee produced a moment of individual brilliance to fire United back into the game when collecting the ball in the box, spinning and scoring from a tight angle. It was only his eighth goal in all for United since joining from Bologna last year and his first this season.

He was in United’s starting XI following injuries to forwards Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha and delivered one of his best moments in his time at the club.

Mount scored the decisive goal following a free kick - firing low from the edge of the area after a layoff from Bruno Fernandes.

Mateta had given Palace the lead with a twice-taken penalty in the 36th. The France international was adjudged to have double-kicked his original spot kick and was directed to retake as per the rule clarification that came in after Julian Alvarez’s accidental double touch in a shootout against Real Madrid last season helped to eliminate Atletico Madrid from the Champions League.

- James Robson

MAN UNITED STAR SPOTTED 'LIKING' POST MOCKING RUBEN AMORIM FACES SUSPENSION

One Manchester United defender was spotted 'liking' a post that ridiculed manager Ruben Amorim for his tactical decisions

Patrick Dorgu liked a social media post criticising Ruben Amorim(Image: Poppy Townson - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Patrick Dorgu faces a one-match Premier League suspension if he picks up another yellow card. It comes as the defender seemingly 'liked' a social media post mocking Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. The Denmark international's Instagram account engaged with content criticising Amorim's decision to deploy Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro as a midfield partnership.

The post, published by 'mufcunion', featured a comment from X stating: "Any coach that sees Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes as a viable pivot is one that isn't serious."

The Instagram post's caption declared: "Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro CANNOT play together," which received a 'like' from the 21-year-old full-back's profile. Dorgu must now navigate his own challenges as he treads carefully ahead of Sunday's clash with Crystal Palace.

Should the left-back be shown a yellow card against the Eagles, he would be ruled out of United's home encounter with West Ham on Thursday. Amorim is yet to address Dorgu's social media activity, though many would suggest he has more pressing concerns given United's current form.

The Red Devils currently sit in 10th position after sliding down the table following a series of disappointing results. United had enjoyed significant momentum earlier in the campaign, defeating teams such as Liverpool, Brighton, and Sunderland during an impressive winning streak.

However, stalemates against Tottenham and Nottingham Forest halted this progress before it completely collapsed following their 1-0 defeat to Everton.

Despite Idrissa Gueye receiving his marching orders in the 13th minute following a confrontation with team-mate Michael Keane, United failed to make the most of their numerical superiority and succumbed to a 29th-minute effort from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

A fresh test now lies ahead against fifth-placed Palace, with United needing to deliver their finest performance against last season's FA Cup champions. With the Red Devils entirely committed to domestic matters, having failed to secure European qualification this campaign, Amorim requires his full squad at his disposal as he seeks to guide the club back up the league standings.

Ahead of the Palace encounter, Amorim said: "They are a different club [to us] and they are doing things better than us so that is quite simple."

"We play in a different way and they are just doing things better than us. They are doing things really well and they play more in transition than us. We have to look at all of these things when we compare our teams but of course, in every position, we can do so much better."

When asked whether his side possessed an edge due to their absence from European competition, the Portuguese manager added: "I said the same thing last year when we were in Europe and I say the same thing this year: there [is an] advantage and disadvantage of not being in Europe. There are no excuses. We have to always win games.""

 -  Abbie Meehan

 

BRUNO FERNANDES CAN LEAVE MAN UNITED ON ONE CONDITION AS TRANSFER RELEASE CLAUSE EMERGES

Bruno Fernandes recently confirmed he intends on staying at Manchester United, but other reports understand there is a transfer clause in his deal

Bruno Fernandes has been open about his future at Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)

Bruno Fernandes would be allowed to leave Manchester United if a club meets a release clause of £56.68million, according to reports. Fernandes, 31, was subject to interest from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in the summer.

The Portuguese midfielder went on to reject their approach, despite the lucrative salary which would have been waiting for him in the Middle East. He reaffirmed his commitment to United in a recent interview with reporters.

The Unitedskipper made it clear he will not think about his future at Old Trafford until the 2026 World Cup has been and gone. However, it's been reported a clause in his contract provides a route out of the club if another club meets it.

According to BBC Sport, Fernandes' current deal, which expires in the summer of 2027 but includes the option of an additional year, includes a clause which would allow him to depart England. Any club outside of the country would be allowed to snap him up if they tabled an offer of £56.68m.

At present, there is no suggestion he is looking for an exit, as he made clear to reporters. When asked if he is thinking about his future, he said: "As I've always said, I feel good here. I want to achieve my dreams still, but obviously I can't talk by the side of the club.

"I've seen a lot of news. I've seen a lot of people talking that I had an agreement to go already next season. If the club has done that agreement, it wasn't made with me.

"So I haven't spoken with anyone. I could tell you that there are still people talking to me and saying that they will be very eager to have me next year, of course.

"But from my side, that's not talked about. Because my agent also knows how I work, so if he wants to talk to me, it will be after the World Cup. Because until then, I won't speak to anyone."

Fernandes will make his 300th appearance for United when they face Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday evening(Image: Manchester United)

Fernandes did go on to admit other clubs in Europe also expressed an interest in his services as well as Saudi Arabia. When it came down to formal offers, none were tabled to United, who are keen on retaining the midfielder's services, while also willing to provide an avenue for him to depart, should he choose to.

The ex-Sporting Lisbon midfielder offered an insight into a discussion he had with United CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox. He added: "I spoke with both, obviously. I think the first time I spoke was already in Malaysia, because that was when everything started.

"I had a conversation with Omar and I told him, 'Look, this is what is on the table. I know the club might be looking at this in a way. I will be looking at it in a different way.

"'So I just want to know from your perspective, from your side, what's the point of view, what you guys want to do. And then from there on, I will do my things.'

Fernandes has won the FA Cup and the League Cup with United(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

"And obviously, the first one, Jason said, like Omar said, 'We won't say no. But obviously, it's the thing that we want you to stay at the club. But if you want to go, we won't say that it's not the offer for us, because obviously it's massive money.' As I said this many times, the club's last biggest sale was £20million, probably from Daniel James.

"I'm not very sure. Scott [McTominay] went above that. But to go from that to the big amount that Al-Hilal was, like they could offer £80m, £100m. They were like more than eager to pay for the player to go."

Having arrived on the red side of Manchester from Sporting for £47m in the summer of 2020, Fernandes has contributed 100 goals and 87 assists in 299 appearances for the club.

- Patrick Austen-Hardy

MORE PENALTY MISERY FOR MANCHESTER UNITED AND BRUNO FERNANDES IN BRENTFORD LOSS

Bruno Fernandes failed from the penalty spot again as Manchester United were beaten 3-1 at Brentford.

Igor Thiago’s first-half double put Brentford in command before United were handed a lifeline by Benjamin Sesko’s first goal since his £73million move from RB Leipzig.

Substitute Mathias Jensen sealed matters in the fifth of eight minutes of stoppage time after Fernandes had wasted a golden chance to equalise with the contest having moved into the final quarter.

Bryan Mbeumo, back at Brentford after ending a six-year stay with the Bees in the summer, was dragged down by Nathan Collins in front of goal.

But Fernandes, who missed the target from 12 yards at Fulham last month, was wasteful as Caoimhin Kelleher went to his left and saved with a strong hand.

Brentford had won only once in the Premier League and started the day just outside the bottom three, but an excellent team performances was typified by the excellent Jordan Henderson and Mikkel Damsgaard in midfield and Thiago’s clinical finishing.

Diogo Dalot, Manuel Ugarte and Matheus Cunha returned after United’s win over Chelsea with boss Ruben Amorim’s hand forced by injury and suspension.

Noussair Mazraoui was injured, Casemiro ruled out by his Chelsea red card, and Amad Diallo unavailable due to a family bereavement.

It meant summer signings Cunha, Mbeumo – who received a warm reception on his Brentford return – and Sesko lined up in the United attack for the first time .

Brentford profited from the first main action after eight minutes as Cunha went to ground and Henderson spotted Thiago’s run.

Thiago advanced to crash a shot high off the post past Altay Bayindir, and the subsequent VAR check showed the Brazilian had been played onside by Harry Maguire’s back foot.

Cunha drove wide from 20 yards as United sought to recover from the early setback.

But Bayindir had to make two fine stops in the space of a minute, palming out Sepp van den Berg’s point-blank effort and acrobatically tipping over a Collins header after Henderson had found space.

Brentford were swarming all over United and doubled their lead after 20 minutes.

Maguire played Kevin Schade onside this time and Bayindir could only divert his cross into the path of Thiago, who squeezed the ball over the line despite the desperate effort of the United goalkeeper to salvage the situation.

Sesko fired straight at Kelleher, but the Slovenian striker did not have to wait long to open his United account.

Mbeumo competed with Kelleher under Patrick Dorgu’s cross and the ball fell kindly for Sesko.

Kelleher kept out two attempts – a header and a stabbed shot – but Sesko slammed home at the third attempt and the goal stood after VAR had checked Mbeumo’s challenge on the goalkeeper.

Cunha’s low drive was collected comfortably, but the second half was a more sedate affair until Schade got the better of Dalot and Dango Ouattara was denied by Bayindir.

United’s frustration grew after Collins was spared a red card, despite not appearing to try and play the ball when holding back Mbeumo, and Fernandes missed from the spot.

Jensen’s thunderous drive finally saw off United as jubilant Brentford fans directed cries of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” at Amorim.

- Phil Blanche, PA

BRUNO FERNANDES HAS REACHED A MILESTONE AT MAN UNITED

 

BRUNO FERNANDES MEME | PENALTY MISS

 

BRUNO FERNANDES PENALTY KICK MEME

 

BRUNO FERNANDES MEME

 

'COME ON!' - RUBEN AMORIM SLAMMED OVER 'STAGGERING' DECISION AFTER MANCHESTER UNITED DRAW WITH FULHAM

Ruben Amorim before Man Utd’s clash with Fulham (Picture: Getty)

Ruben Amorim has been criticised for a ‘staggering’ decision he made for Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Fulham in the Premier League.

United, who lost 1-0 to Arsenal on the opening weekend, recorded their first point of the new season at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

A Rodrigo Muniz own goal gave United the lead on the hour mark before Emile Smith Rowe levelled on 73 minutes.

Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty in the first half, smashing his spot-kick well over the bar.

As was the case against Arsenal, Manchester United’s £74m summer signing Benjamin Sesko once again started on the bench before being introduced after half-time.

Explaining why Sesko did not start against Fulham, Amorim said in his pre-match interview: ‘Benjamin has been with us for two weeks, he’s trying to understand everything.

‘We need to be patient a little. We just want to win the match and try to help all our players.’

Benjamin Sesko came on as a second-half substitute (Picture: Getty)

Andy Gray was ‘flabbergasted’ and ‘staggered’ by Amorim’s decision, however, and said he could not understand why Sesko did not start.

‘I don’t get it. I am flabbergasted,’ the ex-Scotland striker said on beIN SPORTS.

‘I moved to clubs for big money during my career and trust me, I didn’t need three or four weeks to understand the team.

Emile Smith Rowe celebrates after scoring for Fulham (Picture: Getty)

‘Sesko is an international footballer, played in the Bundesliga, he cost more than £70m… are you telling me he can’t go into that Manchester United team as a centre forward and play there?

‘Come on! I must have missed something, seriously. If you’re a United fan, you want Sesko up there with Mbeumo and Cunha.

‘He’s had a pre-season in Germany, he’s fit and ready to go. I’m staggered, I don’t get it.’

The stalemate at Craven Cottage means both Fulham and Manchester United are still searching for their first wins of the new season.

‘It was an even contest in the second half but in the last 15-20 minutes Fulham were the better team,’ Clinton Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live. ‘Their substitutions had a better impact on the game.

‘A draw is probably a fair result. United might disagree because of the penalty miss from Fernandes and the [Matheus] Cunha chance in the first half but all in all a fair result.’

Manchester United return to action on Wednesday night against Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup, while Fulham take on Bristol City.

- Louis Sealey