Sports
Where has Manchester United gone wrong?
Different question marks to whether Ole Gunnar Solskjær has what it takes to bring back Manchester United to winning ways have emerged recently. These questions keep recurring after week-in-week-out abysmal performances on the pitch.
Manchester United have only garnered 8 points after playing 6 matches, and 10 points adrift Liverpool. The current 2019/2020 English Premier League (EPL) table-toppers have maintained 100 percent impressive start, while Manchester City only lost one game in their 8 premier league games.
Before the kick-off of the EPL campaign, Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjær had added two players to its defensive line, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£45 million) and Harry Maguire (£80 million); as well as Daniel James (£18 million) to beef up the attack.
Hopes were high when United thrashed Chelsea 4-0 in Old Trafford in their first match. However, Chelsea had in all positive indices beaten United but they couldn’t get the result. In subsequent games, most of United players’ performances were simply below average.
It became more worrisome on Sunday when West Ham United mauled United 2:0 at the London Stadium. The Hammers seemed too good for United players after two stunning goals from Andy Yarmolenko and Aaron Cresswell.
United could have taken the lead during the first half of the game but Marcus Rashford whom Ole is trusting to be his frontman failed to hit the target, a couple of times. It has been a recurring phenomenon for the 21-year-old attacker to keep missing clear cut chances this season.
United are yet to replace the current Belgian all-time goal-scorer Romelu Lukaku after his £74 million move to Inter Milan. Ole is also relying on injury-prone Anthony Martial, and other young stars like James, and Mason Greenwood.
Clearly, Ole’s technical skills get everybody thinking ”if he has the competence to lead the Red Devils”. Playing Ashley Young ahead of Marcos Rojo after an impressive Europa League outing was questionable. Juan Mata playing ahead of Angel Gomes as the number 10 man seems to be a bad decision.
The best formation for United has been the 4:3:3 formation but Ole has decided to stick to a 2-man midfield even when the likes of Nemanja Matic hasn’t been good enough, while the Brazilian Fred has shown some glimpses of good performance after Europa League outing on Thursday. Ole should stick to the formation that gave him a series of winnings when he was the caretaker manager. The 4:2:1:3 formation has proven to be ineffective.
Unfortunately, after the West Ham defeat, many fans had taken on social media for Ole to be axed. They are running out of patience after the same mistakes keep repeating themselves every week. Ole hasn’t added a twist to his game plan and that he must do to achieve results.
“You get a bad result, you change. Two weeks ago I didn’t see anyone saying ‘we want Ole out’ and now it’s changing after two weeks. Come on man,” Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand said on Sunday.
The club has had top managers like Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho who have been successful in their careers. These managers ended up been sacked while the problems still remain.
It is imperative for United to fall back to track and cement its spot in top European football competition. This will entail having an independent sporting director who works with the manager to get good quality players.
According to a report by Transfer Markt, Manchester United have spent a whopping €486.33 million on transfers in the last five years. And the current United squad lacks the needed quality to compete with Liverpool and Manchester City. In other words, the club has not done justice to recruitment as mostof the players have been conspicuously inconsistent.
With Ed Woodward, the club’s Chairman handling transfer decisions it may be difficult to get the players United to need to take it back to the top. That is the major reason a sporting director is needed at the club to resolve football transfer woes.
”At Bayern, the people in charge are football men. I always appreciated that. “At Manchester United, on the other hand, Ed Woodward was installed as CEO – somebody with zero understanding of football who was previously an investment banker, Van Gaal said in an interview with Independent.“It cannot be a good thing when a club is run solely from a commercially-driven perspective.
However, there have been lots of positives ever since Ole took over the United team. The cordial relationship and communication between him and the players have been impressive. The mood in the dressing room has been all positive
Speaking on the club’s official YouTube channel, Scott McTominay said: “Ole comes in and it’s ‘boom’.“Everybody’s 10 feet tall, looking around. “We think we can play against anybody. “And I think that comes from the belief instilled in the players and confidence shown.”
The United boss has also shown some level of confidence in his squad. He said many times in press conferences that he is going to succeed in the club. However, some players wouldn’t be part of that group. During the transfer window, he was able to clear some United players who were not taking leaving up to expectation.
The United’s tradition of promoting young academy graduates to the senior team is gradually coming into fruition, with the likes of Gomez, Chong, Garner, and Greenwood making on the list. The club is almost adopting the old United style of counter-attacking football which has been missing in recent years.
At this point, the club must do everything within its powers to regain its position as one of the best football teams in the world. It took Liverpool years to fall back to become competitive again and United is gradually falling into that same trap.
MTN Nigeria, the official sponsor of the English Premier League (EPL) on SuperSport, successfully hosted an electrifying Manchester Derby watch party at Bay Lounge, Lekki, on April 6, 2025. Football fans gathered for a superb night of live-action football, engaging discussions, and exciting giveaways.
Building on the success of its previous Arsenal vs. Manchester United watch party, MTN Nigeria once again provided a premium viewing experience that brought fans together to celebrate their shared passion for football.
These fans enjoyed their match on a big screen among other football lovers. The Derby ended in a tense goalless draw that, while lacking in goals, was full of drama.
Fans erupted at every near-miss, debated tactical battles, and rode the emotional rollercoaster of a match that left City’s Champions League hopes hanging and reflected Manchester United’s season frustrations.
Looking ahead, this draw presents an opportunity for Newcastle United, as they could overtake City for fifth place if they secure a victory against Leicester City, who are battling relegation, on Monday; highlighting the competitive nature of the league and the dynamic possibilities for all teams involved.
Nwadinma Gregory, one lucky attendee who walked away with an MTN broadband MiFi, said “The energy at the MTN Nigeria watch party was absolutely incredible! Watching the Manchester Derby with fellow fans, experiencing every goal, every near miss and every thrilling moment together made it unforgettable. MTN really knows how to bring football lovers together for an amazing experience!”
One of the biggest talking points was Kevin De Bruyne, who recently announced this would be his final season at Manchester City.
Fans took the opportunity to reflect on his remarkable legacy. Mickhael Ehi, an attendee, shared his thoughts on De Bruyne’s impact and contribution to the team, highlighting the significance of his career at the club: “Seeing De Bruyne in what might be his last Manchester Derby was bittersweet. He’s been a Premier League legend: the assists, the vision, the leadership. Even if he wasn’t at his peak today, you could feel the respect from the crowd. Players like him don’t come around often.”
Lakinbofa Goodluck, MTN Nigeria’s PR Manager, highlighted the brand’s dedication to enhancing football experiences:
“At MTN Nigeria, we are committed to enriching the experiences of our customers and football lovers. The Premier League is more than just football; it’s about community, passion, and unforgettable moments, and we are proud to bring that to our fans.”
With the EPL season still in full swing, MTN Nigeria will continue to create unique engagement opportunities for fans, ensuring they stay connected to the game they love.
…reaffirms MTN Nigeria’s support following ‘draw’ with Zimbabwe.
MTN Nigeria, the official telecommunications partner of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), has reiterated its unwavering support for the Super Eagles following their spirited draw with Zimbabwe in the World Cup qualifier match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
Building on the momentum from their recent victory against Rwanda, MTN Nigeria had expressed strong backing for the national team ahead of the crucial fixture. Tobe Okigbo, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Corporate Services & Sustainability Officer, stated before the game, “We are confident in the team’s ability to make Nigeria proud and qualify for the World Cup.”
Despite the draw, MTN Nigeria’s CEO, Karl Toriola, maintained a positive outlook. “While tonight’s outcome wasn’t what we hoped for, we remain steadfast in our support for the Super Eagles. This result is just part of the journey towards World Cup qualification, and we believe in the team’s resilience and ability to succeed,” Toriola said.
The match showcased the Super Eagles’ grit and determination as they found their rhythm against the Zimbabwean side. Nigeria scored the first goal, demonstrating their prowess and fighting spirit, although the match ultimately ended in a draw. This result has added to the excitement of Nigeria’s path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
MTN Nigeria, which signed a deal with the NFF in 2021 as the Official Telecoms Partner, has been a constant pillar of support for Nigerian football for over two decades. The company’s commitment extends from grassroots to national levels, investing significantly in the development of local football.
“Our support for the Super Eagles and all national teams is part of our long-standing tradition,” Toriola added. “We are building a sustainable legacy of collaboration, growth, and development in the football space. Tonight’s result doesn’t change our belief in the team’s potential to make all Nigerians proud on the global stage. We believe in our Eagles.”
As the Super Eagles regroup and prepare for their next qualifier, MTN Nigeria has called on all Nigerians to rally behind the team. The company emphasized that this is a crucial time for unity and continued support, expressing confidence that the Super Eagles will overcome this challenge and strive towards securing a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Sports
Portugal Football Club Signs on 19-Year-Old Nigerian- born Footballer, Yaqub Usman-Malah
Reporter: Sandra Ani
Brito Sporting Club of Portugal, a football club founded in 1956, has signed an official contract with a United Kingdom-based highly-talented, young Nigeria-born footballer, Yaqub Usman-Malah.
The official unveiling of the young promising footballer was carried out on Saturday, January 4, 2025.
Yaqub, born in Nigeria in 2006, is a budding Nigerian talent with unquantifiable promise and potential.
Prior to his official contract with Brito Sporting Club of Portugal, he was a student and a trainee player with the Brooke College Football Academy in the United Kingdom.
At Brooke College Football Academy, Yaqub had an impressive goal average of 17 goals in 32 matches with no injuries in 116 training days, cumulating into 2, 270 minutes of on-field action.
A clear testimony of his outstanding performance at the Academy was provided by the lead coach of the Under-17B team Yaqub played with.
The lead coach, Tomasz Wasylik, described Yaqub as a ‘well-liked person’ and a role model to his teammates due to his professionalism and unmatched work rate.
The Lead Coach further stated that Yaqub has played in National School Cup competitions against other colleges and programmes in the 2023/2024 session and is a good ‘tactical player’, ‘technically good” and can ‘play in multiple positions on the field’.
It is expected that Yaqub will live to the potential and promise identified by Coach Tomasz Wasylik of the Brooke College Football Academy and achieve greatness in his new club.
“While looking forward to the display of his unarguable skills and boundless stamina, we wish Yaqub a successful career and a place in the halls of football greatness across the globe,” Yaqub’s father, Mr Usman Malah said in a statement issued to the media, on Wednesday 8, 2025.
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