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Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Inside Man Utd's ‘stag do' Far East tour including clashes with fans, player protests and humiliating open-top bus trip
MANCHESTER UNITED endured a nightmare post-season tour in Asia including an embarrassing on-pitch display, a humiliating bus parade and unhappy players. Following the club's horror season, the decision to play two matches in the Far East to generate some extra cash was not a decision popular in the club. 9 Man Utd ended their post-season tour of Asia by lifting the Defining Education Challenge Cup Credit: Getty 9 The tour was a relaxed but sombre mood Credit: Reuters 9 The club's commercial activities saw them participating in a humiliating bus parade In fact, according to the Manchester Evening News, when the squad learned of that decision a delegation was sent to the club's football leadership on behalf of the first team to express their dismay. Some of the squad were said to be outright "fuming" about having to go on the six-day tour after a 60-game season, though with commercial duties taking up much of the agenda the trip effectively became a four-day event. Players were said to be concerned about having to cancel holiday plans, including one who complained about being forced to cancel a family trip scheduled for the half-term week. Club chiefs made a concession by bringing the departure time of their Malaysia flight forwards to Sunday evening, hour following the final game of the season against Aston Villa, after learning some players might try to "cry off" the 14,150-mile round trip to Malaysia. However, the actual mood in the camp on tour was said to be a better than anticipated despite the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham. Some commercial player events including fan meet-and-greets are said to have taken up to two hours to complete as the local supporters lapped up the chance to see Man Utd in the flesh, including on the humiliating open-top bus parade which happened in Kuala Lumpur before the first friendly against ASEAN All-Stars. Kit makers Adidas hosted a nocturnal poolside party at the W Hotel - where they stayed as part of their link with club sponsor, Marriott - following the 1-0 defeat to the All-Stars. Several guests are said to have attended the meeting, with many "admiring" the view of the Petronas Twin Towers in the background. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK That came after players were said to have been using gallows humour on the team bus back to the hotel, which had followed some booing from fans there. The rules on tour were more relaxed than a pre-season tour would be and players were given permission to head out on their first night in the city, with one star allegedly half-joking the trip would be "like a stag do". Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho show middle finger to fans during Man Utd's post-season tour in Malaysia However, while some were tempted to go out into the city to enjoy the night, a senior star instead advised them to stay in. Amad Diallo, Alejandro Garnacho and Ayden Heaven were seen out on e-scooters, which had to be paid for by fans, while Joshua Zirkzee opted to enjoy some Thai take-out with a security guard after not being impressed by the room service options. Club staff were also able to let their hair down in the trip, with some enjoying drinks on the 14-hour flight to the Malaysian capital. On the eighth floor of the hotel itself there was a vending machine which dispensed £40 mini bottles of Moet & Chandon champagne. The second leg of the tour saw them go to Hong Kong, but they were barely in the country 36 hours following an early-morning flight which then saw them spend an hour in their second W Hotel for lunch before getting on the team bus for training. 9 The squad stayed at the W Hotel in Kuala Lumpur as part of the club's partnership with Marriott Credit: Instagram / wkualalumpur 9 The five-star establishment had a vending machine dispensing £40 bottles of champagne Credit: 9 Although Joshua Zirkzee is said to have not been too impressed with the room service options Credit: Instagram / wkualalumpur 9 Adidas arranged for a poolside party event Credit: Despite the glitz and glam of the 5-star establishment, things were sour away from the hotel with Amad and Garnacho seen gesturing their middle fingers towards fans and the latter doing so towards a club camerman. Amad later revealed he had been subjected to insults about his mother from some fans. Meanwhile, Garnacho - on the tour after being told to "pray" he finds a new club following a public dressing down in front of team-mates by Ruben Amorim - did the gesture without any clear provocation. The 20-year-old was involved in a fan altercation while out in the city as the fan seemed to invade his personal space and also looked very unbothered during a shirt signing event. He was described as "surly" during the trip, with club staff shadowing him closely as he signed shirts and posed for pictures without ever breaking into a smile. 9 Alejandro Garnacho was in a 'surly' mood on the trip Credit: X 9 Amad Diallo was abused by fans who insulted his mother Credit: TikTok/@ahmdhakimi The Argentine was one of the last to board to team bus after the All Stars defeat and donned sunglasses as he ignored requests in the mixed zone. One eyewitness claimed he removed his shades after getting through the packed pen, while Amorim later chuckled in a press conference when a reporter asked if there was any chance of Garnacho staying at the club. Amorim, 40, is said to have told a colleague about how exhausting the post-season tour had been, especially in the humidity of Malaysia. Man Utd finished their tour by beating Hong Kong 3-1 off a brace from Chido Obi and a late header from Ayden Heaven. The club lifted the Defining Education Challenge Cup as a result of the win, but the trophy was so undervalued that a press officer carried it back to the dressing room. In the first game back in Kuala Lumpur, Man Utd stars had been delayed in collecting their silver medals when the referee and linesman had returned to the dressing room before being called back out. All in all the tour was estimated to generate around £10million for the club - which should at least leave the club's financial department a little happier- although you would imagine a post-season tour next year may not be on the cards. After the break a pre-season tour in Chicago is next, which is when the real work begins. Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Inside Man Utd's ‘stag do' Far East tour including clashes with fans, player protests and humiliating open-top bus trip
MANCHESTER UNITED endured a nightmare post-season tour in Asia including an embarrassing on-pitch display, a humiliating bus parade and unhappy players. Following the club's horror season, the decision to play two matches in the Far East to generate some extra cash was not a decision popular in the club. 9 Man Utd ended their post-season tour of Asia by lifting the Defining Education Challenge Cup Credit: Getty 9 The tour was a relaxed but sombre mood Credit: Reuters 9 The club's commercial activities saw them participating in a humiliating bus parade In fact, according to the Some of the squad were said to be outright "fuming" about having to go on the six-day tour after a 60-game season, though with commercial duties taking up much of the agenda the trip effectively became a four-day event. Players were said to be concerned about having to cancel holiday plans, including one who complained about being forced to cancel a family trip scheduled for the half-term week. Club chiefs made a concession by bringing the departure time of their Malaysia flight forwards to Sunday evening, hour following the final game of the season against However, the actual mood in the camp on tour was said to be a better than anticipated despite the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham. Some commercial player events including fan meet-and-greets are said to have taken up to two hours to complete as the local supporters lapped up the chance to see Man Utd in the flesh, including on the humiliating open-top bus parade which happened in Kuala Lumpur before the first friendly against ASEAN All-Stars. Kit makers Adidas hosted a nocturnal poolside party at the W Hotel - where they stayed as part of their link with club sponsor, Marriott - following the 1-0 defeat to the All-Stars. Several guests are said to have attended the meeting, with many "admiring" the view of the Petronas Twin Towers in the background. Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK That came after players were said to have been using gallows humour on the team bus back to the hotel, which had followed some booing from fans there. The rules on tour were more relaxed than a pre-season tour would be and players were given permission to head out on their first night in the city, with one star allegedly half-joking the trip would be "like a stag do". Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho show middle finger to fans during Man Utd's post-season tour in Malaysia However, while some were tempted to go out into the city to enjoy the night, a senior star instead advised them to stay in. Club staff were also able to let their hair down in the trip, with some enjoying drinks on the 14-hour flight to the Malaysian capital. On the eighth floor of the hotel itself there was a vending machine which dispensed £40 mini bottles of Moet & Chandon champagne. The second leg of the tour saw them go to Hong Kong, but they were barely in the country 36 hours following an early-morning flight which then saw them spend an hour in their second W Hotel for lunch before getting on the team bus for training. 9 The squad stayed at the W Hotel in Kuala Lumpur as part of the club's partnership with Marriott Credit: Instagram / wkualalumpur 9 The five-star establishment had a vending machine dispensing £40 bottles of champagne Credit: 9 Although Joshua Zirkzee is said to have not been too impressed with the room service options Credit: Instagram / wkualalumpur 9 Adidas arranged for a poolside party event Credit: Despite the glitz and glam of the 5-star establishment, things were sour away from the hotel with Amad later revealed he had been subjected to insults about his mother from some fans. Meanwhile, Garnacho - on the tour after being told to "pray" he finds a new club following a public dressing down in front of team-mates by The He was described as "surly" during the trip, with club staff shadowing him closely as he signed shirts and posed for pictures without ever breaking into a smile. 9 Alejandro Garnacho was in a 'surly' mood on the trip Credit: X 9 Amad Diallo was abused by fans who insulted his mother Credit: TikTok/@ahmdhakimi The Argentine was one of the last to board to team bus after the All Stars defeat and donned sunglasses as he ignored requests in the mixed zone. One eyewitness claimed he removed his shades after getting through the packed pen, while Amorim, 40, is said to have told a colleague about how exhausting the post-season tour had been, especially in the humidity of Malaysia. The club lifted the Defining Education Challenge Cup as a result of the win, but the trophy was so undervalued that a press officer carried it back to the dressing room. In the first game back in Kuala Lumpur, Man Utd stars had been delayed in collecting their silver medals when the referee and linesman had returned to the dressing room before being called back out. All in all the tour was estimated to generate around £10million for the club - which should at least leave the club's financial department a little happier- although you would imagine a post-season tour next year may not be on the cards. Read more on the Irish Sun After the break a pre-season tour in Chicago is next, which is when the real work begins. Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Ruben Amorim ‘demands Man Utd sign ANOTHER attacking midfielder after Matheus Cunha' in hint Bruno Fernandes will quit
Rival manager has opened the door to one transfer target leaving One is not enough One is not enough Ruben Amorim 'demands Man Utd sign ANOTHER attacking midfielder after Matheus Cunha' in hint Bruno Fernandes will quit RUBEN AMORIM has told Manchester United transfer chiefs to sign another attacking midfielder this summer after Matheus Cunha, reports suggest. The Red Devils look set to land Cunha, 26, after agreeing terms on a payment structure for the Wolves star's £62.5million release clause. 6 Ruben Amorim has told Man Utd transfer chiefs to sign another attacking midfielder Credit: Getty 6 Bruno Fernandes could be leaving this summer Credit: Getty 6 Matheus Cunha is set to join for £62.5m Credit: PA 6 Bryan Mbeumo has also been linked with a stunning transfer Credit: Getty However, with Bruno Fernandes mulling over whether to leave the club amid interest and a £100million offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, Amorim has urged club chiefs to sign another attacker. Fernandes, 30, was his team's top scorer and creator, with 19 goals and 20 assists in all competitions. Man Utd desperately struggled to score goals despite the Portuguese's exploits, and more firepower is at the top of the agenda this summer. That led them to buying 26-year-old Cunha from Wolves after his 15-goal Premier League season. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL RED-EMPTION Man Utd stars celebrate Defining Education Challenge Cup after win vs Hong Kong But according to sport journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking on the United Stand, Amorim has made it clear to transfer chiefs Christopher Vivell and Jason Wilcox that signing just one new recruit is not enough. Amorim has demanded that ANOTHER attack-minded midfielder - whether that be an advanced central midfielder or number 10 with good output - be signed in addition to the Brazilian. Jacobs then said that Man Utd are in the chase to land Brentford ace Bryan Mbeumo, but will need to fend off rival interest from Newcastle. He said: "Newcastle and Man United, I'm told are the main suitors for Bryan Mbeumo... Another 10 [as well as Cunha] could be possible." BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Earlier this week reports suggested the Bees had set a £50m price tag on the 25-year-old, who contributed 27 goals and assists to the Bees Prem campaign. Thomas Frank has hinted he is up for sale, but will only go for a "nice amount". Matheus Cunha gifts Wolves team-mates Joao Gomes and Andre a Rolex ahead of Man Utd transfer Frank told Viaplay: "It is clear that if he is to be sold, it must be for a nice, nice amount. It is a lot. Mucho. Really a lot. "Then it is clear that it is impossible to replace him one for one. It cannot be done. There is a reason why he costs x number of million pounds, and we do not have x number of million pounds to buy for. 'I would say that I would be surprised if a lot of big clubs don't look at him. I would be surprised with what he has to offer. How many wingers score 20 goals for a mid-table club? "And then with seven assists plus his work ethic. And his character. All these things mean that he has a lot, so he is a good player.' Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford 6 Transfers this summer will be led by Jason Wilcox Credit: Alamy
New York Times
2 days ago
- Business
- 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.'
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Jurgen Klopp's former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders set for shock move to become Pep Guardiola's new No2
Lijnders was also interviewed for a Championship job earlier this summer PEP IN HIS STEP PEP IN HIS STEP Jurgen Klopp's former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders set for shock move to become Pep Guardiola's new No2 JURGEN KLOPP'S former assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders is set to become Pep Guardiola's new No2 at Manchester City. Lijnders, 42, has been out of work since being sacked as RB Salzburg boss last December. Advertisement 4 Pepijn Lijnders was axed as RB Salzburg boss last December Credit: AFP 4 Lijnders, 42, worked as Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool assistant across several years Credit: Getty The Dutchman had accepted the gig after leaving Liverpool at the same time as pal Klopp. Lijnders had worked as the German's assistant over two spells across nine years. He coached the Reds for many seasons as they battled with Guardiola's City for the Prem title. According to The Times, Lijnders is now set to join his former rivals' coaching staff. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL RED-EMPTION Man Utd stars celebrate Defining Education Challenge Cup after win vs Hong Kong They claim that he will work closely with Guardiola following the exits of a trio of the Spaniard's backroom team. Juanma Lillo and Inigo Dominguez have both left City, while Carlos Vicens has departed to take charge of Portuguese Europa League outfit SC Braga. Lijnders was considered for the vacant Norwich City head coaching job earlier this month. The Canaries sacked Johannes Hoff Thorup, and opted not to give the gig to caretaker boss Jack Wilshere full time. Advertisement BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 4 Carlos Vicens is among the coaches to have left Pep Guardiola's coaching team Credit: Getty Lijnders was interviewed for the position, only for Norwich chiefs to choose Bristol City boss Liam Manning instead. The former Anfield assistant is set to join up with City for next month's Club World Cup. Advertisement 'I will quit' - Pep Guardiola gives Man City ultimatum over squad issue that is 'impossible for my soul' Ex-City centre-back Kolo Toure was also considered for the role. The Ivorian has been working with the club's Under-18s. Toure, 44, has experience as a first team coach under Brendan Rodgers at Celtic and Leicester. While he was also briefly in charge of Wigan Athletic. Advertisement
