Manchester United's woes continue on another continent as it begins a postseason tour
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Manchester United began an offseason tour after its worst Premier League season in almost expected fashion, losing its first match against a Southeast Asian All-Star team 1-0 in Kuala Lumpur.
The reaction was swift on Thursday, and from one of the highest places in the land.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim suggested United could be relegated after watching the visitor lose, despite the fact it was probably affected by jet lag.
'Ouch. Man United failed to win another trophy,' Ibrahim, one of 72,500 fans at Bukit Jalil Stadium in the Malaysian capital, wrote on social media in a post translated from Malay.
'Looks like you're in for another tough season, hope you don't drop to the Championship,' he added, referring to England's second tier into which the bottom three teams in the 20-team Premier League drop into every season.
On Sunday, United finished 15th in the Premier League, its lowest ever ranking in the competition, just four days after a loss in the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur meant its European season ended without a trophy.
Myanmar's Maung Maung Lwin scored the only goal after 72 minutes on Wednesday for a team made up of top players from around the southeast Asian region.
'To face one of the world's top clubs and deliver such a performance, it was truly remarkable from the team,' All-Stars coach Kim Sang-sik said. 'We only trained for two days but the players looked like they had been playing together for 20 years. The team were well-organized and cohesive.'
United continues its tour in Hong Kong on Friday before matches in Sweden and the United States.
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New York Times
43 minutes ago
- New York Times
Manchester United's post-season tour: Autographs, drinks, swearing and a swift exit from Asia
It was close to 1am local time as Manchester United's players sat on their plane waiting for take-off on the tarmac of Hong Kong International Airport, a first post-season tour of the Premier League era wrapped up in super-quick style. Only two and a half hours earlier, they had finally got their hands on a trophy by lifting the Defining Education Challenge Cup at the Hong Kong Stadium 25 miles away, Chido Obi being given the honours after scoring twice against United's hosts, to cheers from several thousand fans still watching, at last bringing this painful campaign to a close with at least a sliver of cheer. Advertisement United's surgical entrance and exit to and from Asia reflected an acknowledgement by executives that there could be no excess slack to timelines. The players were, according to several sources, 'fuming' to be told of a trip across the globe after a 60-game season and so a swift return to families was essential. The flight out was arranged so that players travelled from the final match at Old Trafford straight to Manchester Airport. United had originally tried to make Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen join the travelling party too, given both still have until the end of June on their contracts. But each one pushed back, with Lindelof's wife heavily pregnant and Eriksen getting married. Had they not had those personal reasons, United would have expected them to fly despite being about to enter free agency. In that climate, the squad decided to enjoy themselves, with the drinks flowing and music blasting on the flight over, which took off around four hours after the final whistle against Aston Villa last Sunday. A club-wide night out was also organised for the Monday in Kuala Lumpur, straight after touching down, with staff joining players in dancing at a club in the city. Blowing off steam away from a football environment was something Ruben Amorim said could help his players come together a few weeks ago , although the Hong Kong leg was more sedate, with no repetition of the England team's famous 'dentist chair' revelry before reaching the semi-finals of Euro 96. The tension of United's trip appeared to be evident in a few instances of players flipping the finger to fans. Amad did so as he walked into the W hotel in Kuala Lumpur, following the first game, later apologising on social media in two posts a day apart but saying his mother had been insulted by an 'unhealthy individual'. The words used are not clear from video footage of the incident. Advertisement Separately, Amad had raised his middle finger in the direction of Alejandro Garnacho during a packed elevator selfie with a couple of fans while Garnacho did the same to camera. Garnacho also showed the gesture at a signing event for supporters in the Adidas shop at the Exchange TRX mall in Kuala Lumpur, causing bemusement to the person taking the picture and as he walked off the pitch following the game against ASEAN All-Stars, the photographer there complained. The gesture, commonly understood to be an insult, was being used in this instance in an ironic, playful manner, sources say. Manuel Ugarte has been doing it in selfies with fans all season but club staff realised the issues, and the negative reaction, and advised players to refrain from doing so in future. There were no reports of it happening in Hong Kong and Garnacho signed several autographs before leaving the stadium. Before Friday's 3-1 win over Hong Kong, China, chief executive Omar Berrada posed for pictures alongside various dignitaries and exuberant Chinese dragons as red flames shot into the air at either end of the pitch. As in Kuala Lumpur, the crowd was not a sell-out, a combination once more of high ticket prices for certain seats and the lustre of this current team not being as compelling as previously. The most expensive seats cost HK$2,990, equivalent to £280, and ultimately, the 40,000-capacity was three-quarters full. In the same ground in 2013, for David Moyes' pre-season after Sir Alex Ferguson retired, the same seats were roughly £70. Nigel Lee, branch secretary of United's official supporters club in Hong Kong, said: 'The fact that we're doing a post-season tour right after the proper season ended speaks volumes for our financial situation. We knew the football isn't going to be great and later, when we saw the tickets… let's just say we felt the pricing was very ambitious.' Advertisement United had initially been expected to play at the Kai Tak Stadium, a new state-of-the-art arena with 50,000 capacity but Singaporean popstar JJ Lin had already been booked to play a concert the weekend before and officials felt there wasn't sufficient time to re-lay the turf. At the Hong Kong Stadium, a small section of Hong Kong, China, ultras kept a din going throughout, and they had reason to make noise when their team took the lead against the run of play, as Tom Heaton allowed Juninho's shot to slide through his hands. Those local fans doing the Poznan to celebrate was another surreal moment in this most bizarre season. Another came shortly after, when Bruno Fernandes was put clear by Tyler Fredricson's pass taking a wicked deflection only for United's captain to try a rabona finish – he had done the same with a pass against ASEAN All-Stars, with goalkeeper Ka-Wing Tse making a good save with his legs. Rasmus Hojlund's poor touch wasted a rebound chance, Jaydan Kamason had his effort cleared off the line, and Hojlund was again unable to get a meaningful connection after Garnacho's cross into the six-yard box. Trailing 1-0 at half-time despite outnumbering Hong Kong, China, by 15 shots to one, summed up this United side. The sporting merits of this tour came secondary to commercial needs but it would have been embarrassing if United lost to a side ranked 153 by FIFA, in between Guyana and Moldova. On the team bus back from Kuala Lumpur's National Stadium Bukit Jalil on Wednesday, there was gallows humour, with the gist being: 'only after the season we've had can we lose a post-season friendly and get booed off by our own fans.' Luckily for United, Obi made sure there was no repeat on Friday. Arriving as a second-half substitute, he equalised with a sharp turn and finish before glancing home Mason Mount's cross to turn the game around. Obi is raw, as some of his touches show, but his instinct for scoring at least provides some comfort after Liam Delap, United's top striker target, chose Chelsea. Advertisement Obi wanted a hat-trick, chasing down a defender and goalkeeper in the 90th minute, and just missing Amad's cross that was headed in by Ayden Heaven to apply a third. The two players United signed from Arsenal's youth system last summer had ensured a satisfactory end to the trip at least. Shea Lacey, whose appearances for United's youth teams have been limited on his return from injury, and Sekou Kone, did well with cameos in the first half. Lee, from the official supporters club, said: 'At half-time, it looked like it could be a worse embarrassment than the game against ASEAN All-Stars. It was obvious that the first-team regulars who started the game had a long, tiring season. I am glad the team got their act together in the second half and turned it around. Chido Obi looked impressive. 'I was also surprised the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho and Casemiro played a full half. From past pre-season tours and the game in Kuala Lumpur, I thought we'd be lucky to see each of them play for 15 minutes. Robin van Persie came on for the final 10 minutes in the 2013 game here. 'It seemed like they were trying to make up for, or 'give face' to, the local supporters for an utterly disappointing season, and a very short stay – less than 36 hours.' The sweltering heat of Kuala Lumpur had inhibited efforts for a comeback but the climate in Hong Kong was much more forgiving. The light rain throughout invited Amorim to joke pre-match that the weather had made United feel more at home. Open training in those conditions was kept very light, with only a small group actually doing ball work in front of a crowd of a few hundred. Amorim tried to entertain them by booting a couple of balls high into the air and into the stands. The whole squad came out to sign autographs before going back indoors for recovery work. Advertisement Lee attended the session and an event hosted by Adidas in their Mongkok outlet on Friday a couple of hours prior to kick-off, where United sent Luke Shaw, Patrick Dorgu and Obi. 'In both events I felt the players were a lot more generous in giving autographs and photos than expected,' he said. Training in Kuala Lumpur gave a much better glimpse into Amorim's methods, the main drill being a full outfield 10 passing around mannequins to score past either Andre Onana or Heaton, who is expected to sign a new one-year contract. Amorim stood in the middle encouraging his players to recycle the ball round the back and centrally, with the wing-backs advancing to cross. It required several staff members to get the yellow inflatable mannequins onto the pitch because they were so heavy with water in their bases to weigh them down. Adelio Candido, Amorim's assistant, managed to carry one in each hand. Typically, United use metal mannequins which spike into the grass and are lighter, but the organisers had selected more expensive equipment in an attempt to please. When some flopped over due to not containing enough water, jokes on the sidelines inevitably compared them to some of United's efforts this season. Onana, Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot left Malaysia at half-time, flying to India via private jet to carry out a packed day with sponsors on Thursday rather than travelling to Hong Kong. They were excused from United duty a day earlier than the rest of their teammates. In Hong Kong, Amorim could not suppress a chuckle at a pre-game question directed to Amad on whether Garnacho's duties for United were coming to an end. Garnacho was United's brightest player in the first half, raising the atmosphere with his dribbling and crossing. Amorim was more forthright over Fernandes, insisting he feels his best player will stay amid serious interest from Al Hilal. Fernandes left the ground in the manner he had conducted himself this whole trip, with dignity and courtesy, signing autographs and posing for pictures. 'It would be so much fun to come here with titles,' Amorim said. 'The people are really lovely and respectful. We are grateful for everybody. We want to return with better results, with more people watching the game.' Advertisement As for his message now to his players? 'I was a player, you can disconnect,' he said. 'They know we underperformed badly this season. The important thing is that we have to be ready. We have to use every minute in every week of pre-season. We need to arrive in shape. We had meetings about that. That is the only way to take action. 'Everybody knows next season will be massive for everybody. I have been sending messages every week. They know next year, it is clear, we need to be so much better.' The translator communicated Amorim's words into Cantonese and then, in English, said: 'Thank you for coming to Hong Kong.' Amorim, who has taken on so much more media responsibilities than when in charge of Sporting CP, addressed the four English journalists who had travelled to cover this tour. 'Two months without you guys; I will miss you every day,' he said with a large dollop of sarcasm. 'See you in two months.'
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Poland holds a pivotal presidential runoff influenced by Trump, the far right and the war in Ukraine
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland is set to hold a presidential runoff election on Sunday between two candidates offering starkly different visions for the country's future. The winner will succeed President Andrzej Duda, a conservative who is finishing his second and final term. The outcome will determine whether Poland embraces a nationalist populist trajectory or pivots more fully toward liberal, pro-European policies. An exit poll by Ipsos will be released when polls close on Sunday at 9 p.m. local time, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. Final results are expected Monday. Whoever wins can be expected to either help or hinder the agenda of the centrist government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk thanks to the presidential power to veto laws. The vote comes amid heightened regional tensions driven by Russia's war in neighboring Ukraine, security concerns across Europe and internal debates about the rule of law. It follows a first round on May 18, in which Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski won more than 31% of the vote and Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian, earned nearly 30%. Eleven other candidates were eliminated. Opinion polls show the two men running neck and neck. Other factors add to the unpredictability. Nawrocki did much better in the first round than surveys had predicted, indicating that his strength was underestimated. On the other hand, large numbers of Poles abroad have registered to vote in the second round, which could help Trzaskowski. Nawrocki is a 42-year-old historian who was tapped as by the national conservative Law and Justice party despite a lack of political experience or party membership. But this is seen as acting in his favor, as the party, which governed for 2015-2023, seeks to refresh its image before a parliamentary election in 2027. Nawrocki's supporters describe him as the embodiment of traditional, patriotic Polish values. They believe U.S. President Donald Trump's support for him will strengthen Poland's ties with the United States and make the country safer. Trzaskowski, 53, is Warsaw's mayor and a close ally of Tusk. A deputy leader of Civic Platform, a pro-European Union party, he has been prominent in national politics for years. This is his second presidential bid after narrowly losing to Duda in 2020. Supporters credit him with modernizing Warsaw through infrastructure, public transit expansion and cultural investments. He is widely seen as pragmatic and focused on strengthening ties with other European nations. Nawrocki recently received a boost from Trump and other U.S. conservatives, who see the Polish election as part of a global battle between liberal and populist right-wing forces. His campaign has echoed themes popular on the American right, including skepticism toward EU bureaucracy and emphasis on Christian identity. His supporters feel that Trzaskowski, with his pro-EU views, would hand over control of key Polish issues to Paris and Berlin. Nawrocki also has been endorsed by the Trump administration and conservative Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Many European centrists are rooting for Trzaskowski, seeing in him someone who would defend democracy as it faces pressure from authoritarian forces across the globe. He has received the support of new centrist Romanian President Nicusor Dan — who recently defeated a far-right nationalist. Nawrocki has faced a number of scandals over the past months, but it's not clear that they are hurting him. In fact, they might have the opposite effect. Many right-wing voters don't believe the allegations and accuse the media of using its power to hurt him, creating what appears to be a rallying effect around him. Nawrocki himself has acknowledged that he took part in an organized brawl including football hooligans in 2009. A former boxer, he said he has taken part in various forms of 'noble male battle' in his life. Polish media have also reported on his connections to gangsters and the world of prostitution. Tusk accused Law and Justice party leader Jarosław Kaczynski of tapping Nawrocki despite questions about his past. 'You knew about everything, Jarosław. About the connections with the gangsters, about 'fixing girls,'' Tusk wrote on X. 'The entire responsibility for this catastrophe falls on you!' 1. Security and war in Ukraine: With Russia's war in Ukraine in its fourth year, Polish voters are acutely attuned to issues of regional security. Both candidates support continued backing for Ukraine, but to different degrees. Nawrocki believes that Ukraine should never join NATO, while Trzaskowski believes Ukraine should be allowed to join one day when the current war is over. 2. Rule of law and democracy: Trzaskowski has pledged to support the restoration of judicial independence and repair relations with the EU, which viewed changes by Law and Justice as anti-democratic. Tusk has tried to change some legislation, but has faced resistance from the the outgoing president, Duda. Nawrocki, while less outspoken than his party patrons, is seen as likely to preserve Law and Justice's changes that politicized the courts. 3. Women's rights: Abortion remains a divisive issue in Poland, especially after a near-total ban was imposed under Law and Justice. Trzaskowski supports loosening restrictions and has backed proposals to legalize abortion up to 12 weeks. Nawrocki opposes any liberalization and has campaigned as a defender of traditional conservative values.
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Poland holds a pivotal presidential runoff influenced by Trump, the far right and the war in Ukraine
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland is set to hold a presidential runoff election on Sunday between two candidates offering starkly different visions for the country's future. The winner will succeed President Andrzej Duda, a conservative who is finishing his second and final term. The outcome will determine whether Poland embraces a nationalist populist trajectory or pivots more fully toward liberal, pro-European policies. An exit poll by Ipsos will be released when polls close on Sunday at 9 p.m. local time, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. Final results are expected Monday. Whoever wins can be expected to either help or hinder the agenda of the centrist government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk thanks to the presidential power to veto laws. An unpredictable vote at a time of tensions The vote comes amid heightened regional tensions driven by Russia's war in neighboring Ukraine, security concerns across Europe and internal debates about the rule of law. It follows a first round on May 18, in which Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski won more than 31% of the vote and Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian, earned nearly 30%. Eleven other candidates were eliminated. Opinion polls show the two men running neck and neck. Other factors add to the unpredictability. Nawrocki did much better in the first round than surveys had predicted, indicating that his strength was underestimated. On the other hand, large numbers of Poles abroad have registered to vote in the second round, which could help Trzaskowski. The candidates Nawrocki is a 42-year-old historian who was tapped as by the national conservative Law and Justice party despite a lack of political experience or party membership. But this is seen as acting in his favor, as the party, which governed for 2015-2023, seeks to refresh its image before a parliamentary election in 2027. Nawrocki's supporters describe him as the embodiment of traditional, patriotic Polish values. They believe U.S. President Donald Trump's support for him will strengthen Poland's ties with the United States and make the country safer. Trzaskowski, 53, is Warsaw's mayor and a close ally of Tusk. A deputy leader of Civic Platform, a pro-European Union party, he has been prominent in national politics for years. This is his second presidential bid after narrowly losing to Duda in 2020. Supporters credit him with modernizing Warsaw through infrastructure, public transit expansion and cultural investments. He is widely seen as pragmatic and focused on strengthening ties with other European nations. A global ideological war Nawrocki recently received a boost from Trump and other U.S. conservatives, who see the Polish election as part of a global battle between liberal and populist right-wing forces. His campaign has echoed themes popular on the American right, including skepticism toward EU bureaucracy and emphasis on Christian identity. His supporters feel that Trzaskowski, with his pro-EU views, would hand over control of key Polish issues to Paris and Berlin. Nawrocki also has been endorsed by the Trump administration and conservative Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Many European centrists are rooting for Trzaskowski, seeing in him someone who would defend democracy as it faces pressure from authoritarian forces across the globe. He has received the support of new centrist Romanian President Nicusor Dan — who recently defeated a far-right nationalist. Nawrocki's scandals Nawrocki has faced a number of scandals over the past months, but it's not clear that they are hurting him. In fact, they might have the opposite effect. Many right-wing voters don't believe the allegations and accuse the media of using its power to hurt him, creating what appears to be a rallying effect around him. Nawrocki himself has acknowledged that he took part in an organized brawl including football hooligans in 2009. A former boxer, he said he has taken part in various forms of 'noble male battle' in his life. Polish media have also reported on his connections to gangsters and the world of prostitution. Tusk accused Law and Justice party leader Jarosław Kaczynski of tapping Nawrocki despite questions about his past. 'You knew about everything, Jarosław. About the connections with the gangsters, about 'fixing girls,'" Tusk wrote on X. "The entire responsibility for this catastrophe falls on you!' The key issues at stake 1. Security and war in Ukraine: With Russia's war in Ukraine in its fourth year, Polish voters are acutely attuned to issues of regional security. Both candidates support continued backing for Ukraine, but to different degrees. Nawrocki believes that Ukraine should never join NATO, while Trzaskowski believes Ukraine should be allowed to join one day when the current war is over. 2. Rule of law and democracy: Trzaskowski has pledged to support the restoration of judicial independence and repair relations with the EU, which viewed changes by Law and Justice as anti-democratic. Tusk has tried to change some legislation, but has faced resistance from the the outgoing president, Duda. Nawrocki, while less outspoken than his party patrons, is seen as likely to preserve Law and Justice's changes that politicized the courts. 3. Women's rights: Abortion remains a divisive issue in Poland, especially after a near-total ban was imposed under Law and Justice. Trzaskowski supports loosening restrictions and has backed proposals to legalize abortion up to 12 weeks. Nawrocki opposes any liberalization and has campaigned as a defender of traditional conservative values.
