Category: Wolverhampton Wanderers

Diaby and Konsa strike as Villa see off Wolves to aid top-four push

March 30, 2024

Aston Villa ended a six-match winless run against Wolves in the Premier League as Moussa Diaby helped fire Unai Emery’s side back into fourth spot with a merited 2-0 victory in the West Midlands derby.

Diaby walloped home the opener on 36 minutes after a loose ball broke to him just outside the visiting box, before Ezri Konsa’s cross eluded Wolves keeper Jose Sa to nestle in the net via a post for the killer second.

Villa last defeated Wolves in the top flight back in December 2020, but the importance of these three points cannot be disputed in their quest for a top-four finish and a UEFA Champions League place next term.

Emery’s team are again three points ahead of Tottenham, who defeated Luton 2-1 earlier on Saturday, having played one more game.

Villa have 59 points from 30 matches, while Gary O’Neil’s Wolves remain 10th with 41 points from 29 after a disappointing trip to their local rivals.

Match Highlights

11′ VILLA HAVE THE BALL IN THE NET But the whistle had gone for an offside against Watkins as he tried to break the deadlock. His initial shot is saved by Sa before Douglas Luiz slammed home the rebound, but the groans are palpable among the Villa fans. No doubt Watkins was offside.

15′ GOLDEN CHANCE FOR WOLVES Ball breaks to Rayan Aït-Nouri all alone in the Villa box, but his finish is tipped wide by Martinez. Brilliant save at point-blank range, but that should be 1-0 to Wolves. Perhaps expected an offside flag that never came.

27′ VILLA PASS UP GREAT CHANCE Watkins this time well onside as he races in on goal, but scoops the finish into the side netting. Expected a goal there. And so did the Villa fans. Youri Tielemans with a lovely pass.

35′ GOAL! (DIABY) ASTON VILLA 1-0 WOLVES Thumping finish from the edge of the box from Moussa Diaby. No chance for Sa as the loose ball broke to him via the set-piece and he clatters the finish into the net to give Villa the lead.

66′ GOAL! (KONSA) ASTON VILLA 2-0 WOLVES Ezri Konsa chips the ball over Sa from Moussa Diaby’s pass looking for Duran in the middle. Was over the line before it came back out with Santiago Bueno in the goal for Duran to finish. And suddenly it is 2-0. Villa on their way surely to victory.

Key Stat

Villa completed their first home win over Wolves in the Premier League since a 3-2 success in December 2003.

Diaby and Konsa strike as Villa see off Wolves to aid top-four push

March 30, 2024

Aston Villa ended a six-match winless run against Wolves in the Premier League as Moussa Diaby helped fire Unai Emery’s side back into fourth spot with a merited 2-0 victory in the West Midlands derby.

Diaby walloped home the opener on 36 minutes after a loose ball broke to him just outside the visiting box, before Ezri Konsa’s cross eluded Wolves keeper Jose Sa to nestle in the net via a post for the killer second.

Villa last defeated Wolves in the top flight back in December 2020, but the importance of these three points cannot be disputed in their quest for a top-four finish and a UEFA Champions League place next term.

Emery’s team are again three points ahead of Tottenham, who defeated Luton 2-1 earlier on Saturday, having played one more game.

Villa have 59 points from 30 matches, while Gary O’Neil’s Wolves remain 10th with 41 points from 29 after a disappointing trip to their local rivals.

Match Highlights

11′ VILLA HAVE THE BALL IN THE NET But the whistle had gone for an offside against Watkins as he tried to break the deadlock. His initial shot is saved by Sa before Douglas Luiz slammed home the rebound, but the groans are palpable among the Villa fans. No doubt Watkins was offside.

15′ GOLDEN CHANCE FOR WOLVES Ball breaks to Rayan Aït-Nouri all alone in the Villa box, but his finish is tipped wide by Martinez. Brilliant save at point-blank range, but that should be 1-0 to Wolves. Perhaps expected an offside flag that never came.

27′ VILLA PASS UP GREAT CHANCE Watkins this time well onside as he races in on goal, but scoops the finish into the side netting. Expected a goal there. And so did the Villa fans. Youri Tielemans with a lovely pass.

35′ GOAL! (DIABY) ASTON VILLA 1-0 WOLVES Thumping finish from the edge of the box from Moussa Diaby. No chance for Sa as the loose ball broke to him via the set-piece and he clatters the finish into the net to give Villa the lead.

66′ GOAL! (KONSA) ASTON VILLA 2-0 WOLVES Ezri Konsa chips the ball over Sa from Moussa Diaby’s pass looking for Duran in the middle. Was over the line before it came back out with Santiago Bueno in the goal for Duran to finish. And suddenly it is 2-0. Villa on their way surely to victory.

Key Stat

Villa completed their first home win over Wolves in the Premier League since a 3-2 success in December 2003.

Aston Villa v Wolves – Premier League LIVE

March 30, 2024

Follow the Premier League live Football match between Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers with Eurosport. The match starts at 5:30 PM on March 30th, 2024.

Catch the latest Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers news and find up to date Premier League standings, results, top scorers and previous winners.

Football fans can read breaking Football news headlines, interviews, expert commentary and watch replays. Keep up with what’s happening in the Premier League, Champions League and other competitions.

Make Eurosport your go-to source for sports online from football to tennis, cycling, snooker and more. Enjoy the best of this season’s top sports competitions.

‘No truth’ to Man Utd rumours but Wolves boss O’Neil says speculation an ‘honour’

March 29, 2024

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media

‘No truth’ to Man Utd rumours but Wolves boss O’Neil says speculation an ‘honour’

March 29, 2024

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media

Man Utd keen to have talks with Wolves boss O’Neil – Paper Round

March 27, 2024

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

City and Guardiola bet it all on Haaland – The Warm-Up

May 11, 2022

Wednesday’s big stories

Haaland represents a huge risk for Guardiola

Erling Haaland’s goalscoring record indicates that he is a near-guarantee of goals. Since his debut, he has scored 154 in 199 games. And, yet, his signing constitutes a sizable risk for Manchester City and, most notably, Pep Guardiola.

Transfers

Haaland transfer confirmed with forward to join Manchester City, Dortmund to sign Adeyemi

17 HOURS AGO

The reason is two-fold. Firstly, and most crucially, for his acquisition to be deemed a true success, City must win the Champions League. Secondly, stylistically, he does not fit this Manchester City team in its current possession-first guise.

The Catalan has built his managerial career and success on ball possession. It has served him well. He has won everything – but last won Europe’s premier trophy in 2011.

Haaland, as a truly elite goalscorer, has shown a laser-like focus on hitting the back of the net, and little interest in playmaking. That is fine as, to state the obvious, he is a striker, whose primary job is to score goals. However, Guardiola has never seen that role’s sole purpose as just that. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sergio Aguero provide evidence of this fact.

So, why sign Haaland?

It looks like City are about to win the league for the fourth time in five years, but have, by their standards, struggled in cup competitions. They reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup, and the fourth round of the League Cup. Thus, the following conclusion can be drawn: over the course of the season, City’s pure weight of talent pays dividends in the league.

Guardiola’s cabal of midfield passers bludgeons a league into submission, but cup competitions – read the Champions League – are slightly different. One game of missed gilt-edged chances – say against Real Madrid in a first-leg semi-final at the Etihad – can – and this season did – prove fatal to City’s, and, more pertinently, Guardiola’s hopes of finally getting their hands on that Champions League trophy.

And, thus, like Sir Alex Ferguson did before him with Juan Sebastian Veron, Guardiola has bet the house on a player who is not necessarily suited to his style of play, but whose excellence could see City extend their domestic dominance to Europe.

However, for this to happen either City – read Guardiola – or Haaland need to adapt. It represents a huge risk.

Give the Ballon d’Or to the excellent, incomparable Sadio Mane

City, as stated above, will more than likely make it four league wins in five seasons. And, yet, if they don’t, Sadio Mane will have played a central and crucial role in wrestling that title from the Etihad club.

He was at it again on Tuesday night, craning his head back to arrow a Luis Diaz centre past Emi Martinez in Aston Villa’s goal to secure the comeback 2-1 win that draws them level with Manchester City at the top of the table having played a game more.

Mane has been nothing short of inspirational since he helped guide Senegal to Africa Cup of Nations success in February. And come May 28 Mane could have won the Africa Cup of Nations, the League Cup, the FA Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League.

Being in that position in May, and having contributed to it so vastly, makes Mane the standout candidate for the Ballon d’Or this.

Manchester United finally listen to Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho said the below in 2019 after taking Manchester United to second in the Premier League the previous season.

“If I tell you, for example, that I consider one of the best jobs of my career was to finish second with Man United in the Premier League, you will say, ‘this guy is crazy,'” Mourinho said.

“I keep saying this because people don’t know what is going on behind the scenes.”

It was a classic from the Mourinho genre. It seemed hyperbole then, and a deflection of his own shortcomings. And, yet, perhaps the Portuguese was right – not necessarily about it being one of the best jobs of his career; winning the Champions League with Porto, or the treble with Inter or conceding barely a goal with Chelsea in their first title-winning season under the Portuguese would constitute that.

However, there have been movements behind the scenes at United ahead of the appointment of Erik ten Hag that suggest an admission that something was in fact “going on behind the scenes”.

The club’s chief strategy officer, Hemen Tseayo, left the club on Tuesday, and, in doing so, joined Matt Judge, director of football negotiations, Jim Lawlor, chief scout, and Marcel Bout, head of global scouting in leaving the backroom structure as new CEO Richard Arnold looks to stamp his authority on the club.

A successful club needs a streamlined, well-oiled operation at the boardroom level. Manchester City have it, Liverpool have it and so too do, to a lesser extent, Real Madrid. PSG and United do not while the jury is still out on Barcelona given their recent upheaval.

If United can get the behind-the-scenes stuff right, then they will once again become a force to be reckoned with.

IN THE CHANNELS

Decent patter here from Danny Welbeck.

COMING UP

A serious selection of Premier League football. Leeds v Chelsea, Watford v Everton and Wolves v Man City.

Andi Thomas will be here tomorrow to pick through that.

Transfers

Guardiola refuses to talk about Haaland transfer until deal ‘completely done’

18 HOURS AGO

UEFA Europa Conference League

Mourinho admits ‘hurt’ over Spurs sacking but insists he is happy at Roma

A DAY AGO

City and Guardiola bet it all on Haaland – The Warm-Up

May 11, 2022

Wednesday’s big stories

Haaland represents a huge risk for Guardiola

Erling Haaland’s goalscoring record indicates that he is a near-guarantee of goals. Since his debut, he has scored 154 in 199 games. And, yet, his signing constitutes a sizable risk for Manchester City and, most notably, Pep Guardiola.

Transfers

Haaland transfer confirmed with forward to join Manchester City, Dortmund to sign Adeyemi

18 HOURS AGO

The reason is two-fold. Firstly, and most crucially, for his acquisition to be deemed a true success, City must win the Champions League. Secondly, stylistically, he does not fit this Manchester City team in its current possession-first guise.

The Catalan has built his managerial career and success on ball possession. It has served him well. He has won everything – but last won Europe’s premier trophy in 2011.

Haaland, as a truly elite goalscorer, has shown a laser-like focus on hitting the back of the net, and little interest in playmaking. That is fine as, to state the obvious, he is a striker, whose primary job is to score goals. However, Guardiola has never seen that role’s sole purpose as just that. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sergio Aguero provide evidence of this fact.

So, why sign Haaland?

It looks like City are about to win the league for the fourth time in five years, but have, by their standards, struggled in cup competitions. They reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup, and the fourth round of the League Cup. Thus, the following conclusion can be drawn: over the course of the season, City’s pure weight of talent pays dividends in the league.

Guardiola’s cabal of midfield passers bludgeons a league into submission, but cup competitions – read the Champions League – are slightly different. One game of missed gilt-edged chances – say against Real Madrid in a first-leg semi-final at the Etihad – can – and this season did – prove fatal to City’s, and, more pertinently, Guardiola’s hopes of finally getting their hands on that Champions League trophy.

And, thus, like Sir Alex Ferguson did before him with Juan Sebastian Veron, Guardiola has bet the house on a player who is not necessarily suited to his style of play, but whose excellence could see City extend their domestic dominance to Europe.

However, for this to happen either City – read Guardiola – or Haaland need to adapt. It represents a huge risk.

Give the Ballon d’Or to the excellent, incomparable Sadio Mane

City, as stated above, will more than likely make it four league wins in five seasons. And, yet, if they don’t, Sadio Mane will have played a central and crucial role in wrestling that title from the Etihad club.

He was at it again on Tuesday night, craning his head back to arrow a Luis Diaz centre past Emi Martinez in Aston Villa’s goal to secure the comeback 2-1 win that draws them level with Manchester City at the top of the table having played a game more.

Mane has been nothing short of inspirational since he helped guide Senegal to Africa Cup of Nations success in February. And come May 28 Mane could have won the Africa Cup of Nations, the League Cup, the FA Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League.

Being in that position in May, and having contributed to it so vastly, makes Mane the standout candidate for the Ballon d’Or this.

‘It was massive’ – Klopp on win over Villa as Premier League title race intensifies

Manchester United finally listen to Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho said the below in 2019 after taking Manchester United to second in the Premier League the previous season.

“If I tell you, for example, that I consider one of the best jobs of my career was to finish second with Man United in the Premier League, you will say, ‘this guy is crazy,'” Mourinho said.

“I keep saying this because people don’t know what is going on behind the scenes.”

It was a classic from the Mourinho genre. It seemed hyperbole then, and a deflection of his own shortcomings. And, yet, perhaps the Portuguese was right – not necessarily about it being one of the best jobs of his career; winning the Champions League with Porto, or the treble with Inter or conceding barely a goal with Chelsea in their first title-winning season under the Portuguese would constitute that.

However, there have been movements behind the scenes at United ahead of the appointment of Erik ten Hag that suggest an admission that something was in fact “going on behind the scenes”.

The club’s chief strategy officer, Hemen Tseayo, left the club on Tuesday, and, in doing so, joined Matt Judge, director of football negotiations, Jim Lawlor, chief scout, and Marcel Bout, head of global scouting in leaving the backroom structure as new CEO Richard Arnold looks to stamp his authority on the club.

A successful club needs a streamlined, well-oiled operation at the boardroom level. Manchester City have it, Liverpool have it and so too do, to a lesser extent, Real Madrid. PSG and United do not while the jury is still out on Barcelona given their recent upheaval.

If United can get the behind-the-scenes stuff right, then they will once again become a force to be reckoned with.

IN THE CHANNELS

Decent patter here from Danny Welbeck.

COMING UP

A serious selection of Premier League football. Leeds v Chelsea, Watford v Everton and Wolves v Man City.

Andi Thomas will be here tomorrow to pick through that.

Transfers

Guardiola refuses to talk about Haaland transfer until deal ‘completely done’

18 HOURS AGO

UEFA Europa Conference League

Mourinho admits ‘hurt’ over Spurs sacking but insists he is happy at Roma

A DAY AGO

City and Guardiola bet it all on Haaland – The Warm-Up

May 11, 2022

Wednesday’s big stories

Haaland represents a huge risk for Guardiola

Erling Haaland’s goalscoring record indicates that he is a near-guarantee of goals. Since his debut, he has scored 154 in 199 games. And, yet, his signing constitutes a sizable risk for Manchester City and, most notably, Pep Guardiola.

Premier League

‘He’s a real beast’ – Klopp believes Haaland is a ‘really good signing’ for City

5 HOURS AGO

The reason is two-fold. Firstly, and most crucially, for his acquisition to be deemed a true success, City must win the Champions League. Secondly, stylistically, he does not fit this Manchester City team in its current possession-first guise.

The Catalan has built his managerial career and success on ball possession. It has served him well. He has won everything – but last won Europe’s premier trophy in 2011.

Haaland, as a truly elite goalscorer, has shown a laser-like focus on hitting the back of the net, and little interest in playmaking. That is fine as, to state the obvious, he is a striker, whose primary job is to score goals. However, Guardiola has never seen that role’s sole purpose as just that. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sergio Aguero provide evidence of this fact.

So, why sign Haaland?

It looks like City are about to win the league for the fourth time in five years, but have, by their standards, struggled in cup competitions. They reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup, and the fourth round of the League Cup. Thus, the following conclusion can be drawn: over the course of the season, City’s pure weight of talent pays dividends in the league.

Guardiola’s cabal of midfield passers bludgeons a league into submission, but cup competitions – read the Champions League – are slightly different. One game of missed gilt-edged chances – say against Real Madrid in a first-leg semi-final at the Etihad – can – and this season did – prove fatal to City’s, and, more pertinently, Guardiola’s hopes of finally getting their hands on that Champions League trophy.

And, thus, like Sir Alex Ferguson did before him with Juan Sebastian Veron, Guardiola has bet the house on a player who is not necessarily suited to his style of play, but whose excellence could see City extend their domestic dominance to Europe.

However, for this to happen either City – read Guardiola – or Haaland need to adapt. It represents a huge risk.

Give the Ballon d’Or to the excellent, incomparable Sadio Mane

City, as stated above, will more than likely make it four league wins in five seasons. And, yet, if they don’t, Sadio Mane will have played a central and crucial role in wrestling that title from the Etihad club.

He was at it again on Tuesday night, craning his head back to arrow a Luis Diaz centre past Emi Martinez in Aston Villa’s goal to secure the comeback 2-1 win that draws them level with Manchester City at the top of the table having played a game more.

Mane has been nothing short of inspirational since he helped guide Senegal to Africa Cup of Nations success in February. And come May 28 Mane could have won the Africa Cup of Nations, the League Cup, the FA Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League.

Being in that position in May, and having contributed to it so vastly, makes Mane the standout candidate for the Ballon d’Or this.

‘It was massive’ – Klopp on win over Villa as Premier League title race intensifies

Manchester United finally listen to Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho said the below in 2019 after taking Manchester United to second in the Premier League the previous season.

“If I tell you, for example, that I consider one of the best jobs of my career was to finish second with Man United in the Premier League, you will say, ‘this guy is crazy,'” Mourinho said.

“I keep saying this because people don’t know what is going on behind the scenes.”

It was a classic from the Mourinho genre. It seemed hyperbole then, and a deflection of his own shortcomings. And, yet, perhaps the Portuguese was right – not necessarily about it being one of the best jobs of his career; winning the Champions League with Porto, or the treble with Inter or conceding barely a goal with Chelsea in their first title-winning season under the Portuguese would constitute that.

However, there have been movements behind the scenes at United ahead of the appointment of Erik ten Hag that suggest an admission that something was in fact “going on behind the scenes”.

The club’s chief strategy officer, Hemen Tseayo, left the club on Tuesday, and, in doing so, joined Matt Judge, director of football negotiations, Jim Lawlor, chief scout, and Marcel Bout, head of global scouting in leaving the backroom structure as new CEO Richard Arnold looks to stamp his authority on the club.

A successful club needs a streamlined, well-oiled operation at the boardroom level. Manchester City have it, Liverpool have it and so too do, to a lesser extent, Real Madrid. PSG and United do not while the jury is still out on Barcelona given their recent upheaval.

If United can get the behind-the-scenes stuff right, then they will once again become a force to be reckoned with.

IN THE CHANNELS

Decent patter here from Danny Welbeck.

COMING UP

A serious selection of Premier League football. Leeds v Chelsea, Watford v Everton and Wolves v Man City.

Andi Thomas will be here tomorrow to pick through that.

Transfers

Haaland transfer confirmed with forward to join Manchester City, Dortmund to sign Adeyemi

A DAY AGO

Transfers

Guardiola refuses to talk about Haaland transfer until deal ‘completely done’

YESTERDAY AT 13:52

City and Guardiola bet it all on Haaland – The Warm-Up

May 11, 2022

Wednesday’s big stories

Haaland represents a huge risk for Guardiola

Erling Haaland’s goalscoring record indicates that he is a near-guarantee of goals. Since his debut, he has scored 154 in 199 games. And, yet, his signing constitutes a sizable risk for Manchester City and, most notably, Pep Guardiola.

Premier League

‘He’s a real beast’ – Klopp believes Haaland is a ‘really good signing’ for City

5 HOURS AGO

The reason is two-fold. Firstly, and most crucially, for his acquisition to be deemed a true success, City must win the Champions League. Secondly, stylistically, he does not fit this Manchester City team in its current possession-first guise.

The Catalan has built his managerial career and success on ball possession. It has served him well. He has won everything – but last won Europe’s premier trophy in 2011.

Haaland, as a truly elite goalscorer, has shown a laser-like focus on hitting the back of the net, and little interest in playmaking. That is fine as, to state the obvious, he is a striker, whose primary job is to score goals. However, Guardiola has never seen that role’s sole purpose as just that. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sergio Aguero provide evidence of this fact.

So, why sign Haaland?

It looks like City are about to win the league for the fourth time in five years, but have, by their standards, struggled in cup competitions. They reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup, and the fourth round of the League Cup. Thus, the following conclusion can be drawn: over the course of the season, City’s pure weight of talent pays dividends in the league.

Guardiola’s cabal of midfield passers bludgeons a league into submission, but cup competitions – read the Champions League – are slightly different. One game of missed gilt-edged chances – say against Real Madrid in a first-leg semi-final at the Etihad – can – and this season did – prove fatal to City’s, and, more pertinently, Guardiola’s hopes of finally getting their hands on that Champions League trophy.

And, thus, like Sir Alex Ferguson did before him with Juan Sebastian Veron, Guardiola has bet the house on a player who is not necessarily suited to his style of play, but whose excellence could see City extend their domestic dominance to Europe.

However, for this to happen either City – read Guardiola – or Haaland need to adapt. It represents a huge risk.

Give the Ballon d’Or to the excellent, incomparable Sadio Mane

City, as stated above, will more than likely make it four league wins in five seasons. And, yet, if they don’t, Sadio Mane will have played a central and crucial role in wrestling that title from the Etihad club.

He was at it again on Tuesday night, craning his head back to arrow a Luis Diaz centre past Emi Martinez in Aston Villa’s goal to secure the comeback 2-1 win that draws them level with Manchester City at the top of the table having played a game more.

Mane has been nothing short of inspirational since he helped guide Senegal to Africa Cup of Nations success in February. And come May 28 Mane could have won the Africa Cup of Nations, the League Cup, the FA Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League.

Being in that position in May, and having contributed to it so vastly, makes Mane the standout candidate for the Ballon d’Or this.

‘It was massive’ – Klopp on win over Villa as Premier League title race intensifies

Manchester United finally listen to Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho said the below in 2019 after taking Manchester United to second in the Premier League the previous season.

“If I tell you, for example, that I consider one of the best jobs of my career was to finish second with Man United in the Premier League, you will say, ‘this guy is crazy,'” Mourinho said.

“I keep saying this because people don’t know what is going on behind the scenes.”

It was a classic from the Mourinho genre. It seemed hyperbole then, and a deflection of his own shortcomings. And, yet, perhaps the Portuguese was right – not necessarily about it being one of the best jobs of his career; winning the Champions League with Porto, or the treble with Inter or conceding barely a goal with Chelsea in their first title-winning season under the Portuguese would constitute that.

However, there have been movements behind the scenes at United ahead of the appointment of Erik ten Hag that suggest an admission that something was in fact “going on behind the scenes”.

The club’s chief strategy officer, Hemen Tseayo, left the club on Tuesday, and, in doing so, joined Matt Judge, director of football negotiations, Jim Lawlor, chief scout, and Marcel Bout, head of global scouting in leaving the backroom structure as new CEO Richard Arnold looks to stamp his authority on the club.

A successful club needs a streamlined, well-oiled operation at the boardroom level. Manchester City have it, Liverpool have it and so too do, to a lesser extent, Real Madrid. PSG and United do not while the jury is still out on Barcelona given their recent upheaval.

If United can get the behind-the-scenes stuff right, then they will once again become a force to be reckoned with.

IN THE CHANNELS

Decent patter here from Danny Welbeck.

COMING UP

A serious selection of Premier League football. Leeds v Chelsea, Watford v Everton and Wolves v Man City.

Andi Thomas will be here tomorrow to pick through that.

Transfers

Haaland transfer confirmed with forward to join Manchester City, Dortmund to sign Adeyemi

A DAY AGO

Transfers

Guardiola refuses to talk about Haaland transfer until deal ‘completely done’

YESTERDAY AT 13:52