It’s a strong starting XI from Man Utd tonight as they go in search of victory against Copenhagen in the Europa League.
And there’s just 20 minutes until kick-off with a semi-final spot against either Wolves or Sevilla at stake.
Man Utd XI: Romero; Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire, Williams; Pogba, Fred; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
And that is exactly what has happened to some of the players included in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad for the tournament in France.
There were players in the side from the likes of Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal.
But where are those aces four years on?
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GAME FACE
EA Sports will remove certain celebrations from the latest FIFA 21 game to prevent spreading “toxic” behaviour among gamers.
The renowned ‘shushing’ celebration is just one of the celebrations to be scrapped.
KEEPER OR GO-ER?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits he must sell one of David De Gea, Dean Henderson and Sergio Romero this summer.
Check it out here.
FAMILY FORTUNES
The Gunners have been linked with a £27million swoop for the Lille defender.
The Spaniard is keen on bringing a defender in to shore up his leaky back line.
SANCHO NO-GO
Borussia Dortmund have told Man Utd to FORGET about signing Jadon Sancho this summer.
It means Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will not be landing his top target for the wing after being quoted £108million last month.
‘VERY GOOD PLAYERS’
“There are young forwards, three of them, to be fair, and experienced players in the midfield and at the back.
COM TO OLD TRAFFORD?
But after missing that cut-off point, Sancho has teamed up with the Dortmund squad to head off for pre-season.
GUNNER IMPROVE
Manchester United has lost one of their last 23 games.
But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remained modest before the Copenhagen crash.
He said, “One in 23 is too much.”
‘I DON’T CARE’
Rio Ferdinand has asked United to reach an agreement with Jadon Sancho.
The Old Trafford veteran downplayed the claims that the Red Devils had enough for the players in place.
When asked who his former club should sign, he told BT Sport: “I think it’s the same player on everyone’s lips – Jadon Sancho. A bit of flair.”
When asked if he had a mandatory signing like United to Rashford, Greenwood and Martial, Ferdinand said, “I don’t care!
“You may have enough.
“Man United at the time, there were still four forwards who were struggling to play their component at any time of the season. That’s what you want.”
cul de sac
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will face old Stale Solbakken tonight.
Speaking before the game, the United coach said: “I know how Stale built it and what it’s all about.
“Of course I played against them when I was in Molde.
“I’ve known Stale for a long time, and Copenhagen has a wonderful history of getting in and out in Europe.”
‘YOU’RE GOING HOME’
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer issued a reprimand to his striker for the clash against Copenhagen.
The Red Devils boss was asked how he planned to keep his players busy during his time in Germany.
But he refused to get carried away, saying, “Let’s go to this bridge when we get there.
“Of course, we put plans in place but, for me, it’s only about this game now.
“You can’t think too much.
“It’s a knockout tournament. If you don’t play, you go home.
JAD ENOUGH
Jadon Sancho had already said goodbye to Dortmund, before meeting them this morning.
The Independent says the 20-year-old is so sure he would leave the club before pre-season education resumes.
But Manchester United has so far failed to reach a bundesliga deal.
PIRLO SAYS NO
Andrea Pirlo has no mercy as the new boss of Juventus as he prepares to beat seven stars, according to reports.
The legendary midfielder, 41, replaced Maurizio Sarri at the Allianz Stadium over the weekend.
And Pirlo wastes little time getting rid of the dead wood he doesn’t need, starting with former Chelsea striker Gonzalo Higuain and Manchester United striker Douglas Costa.
The report also adds that Sami Khedira and Blaise Matuidi are also on the verge of being fired with the two 33-year-old midfielders.
Defenders Mattia De Sciglio, Alex Sandro and Daniele Rugani can also be sold.
GREEN LIGHT
Mason Greenwood still needs to score head-to-head for Manchester United’s most sensible team this season.
When asked which area of his game he is looking to improve, he told Uefa: “I think in headed goals.
“I haven’t scored a header in the first team this season.
“It would be great to have one before the end of the Europa League.”
Have
Kai Havertz is pushing harder to move to the Premier League than Jadon Sancho.
Bundesliga stars are connected with one step to the English elite.
Havertz, 21, valued at £90million is subject to heavy interest from Chelsea while United are at loggerheads with Borussia Dortmund, who price Sancho, 20, at £108m.
According to Sky Sports, the couple is “the one who moves as fast as possible”.
Tell me how to believe it
Antonio Conte will attack Manchester United and raise Chris Smalling to his Team at Inter Milan.
The defense deemed the wishes left over through Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last summer and sent him to Rome on loan for a season.
He has shone in Serie A and has played 30 league games and has three and two assists.
His defense saw him nicknamed “Smalldini” in reference to Italian legend Paolo Maldini.
Rome desperately needs to remain the former Fulham, who will miss his Europa League name this month, but which has been discouraged by the value of 21 million pounds demanded by United.
STAT ATTACK
Here are some statistics before the United-Copenhagen showdown.
SANCH-GO
It goes …
Jadon Sancho travels to Switzerland with his companions. Have.
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) August 10, 2020
LATEST NEWS
Manchester United has missed the one to point to Jadon Sancho.
And the Ace of England has been named in the pre-season team of Borussia Dortmund and will fly to Switzerland with them.
The Bundesliga team had in the past told United that they were looking for an agreement to stand until 10 August.
But the Red Devils refused to fulfill their 108 million pound order.
And as of this morning, nothing had been announced and Dortmund announced the winger was part of their squad travelling to Switzerland to prepare for next season.
Lucien Favre will put his players to the test at an educational camp in the Swiss city of Bad Ragaz.
Mit diesem Kader ?? pic.twitter.com/J23duYosxZ
– Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) 10 August 2020
COP OUT
Copenhagen head coach Stale Solbakken has admitted that his team will want to be “perfect” to beat Manchester United.
He said: “To do this, we have to play perfectly.
“We want some luck. We might want a United that doesn’t pull all the cylinders.”
“We have to be the best defensive.
“We have that or two or three opportunities we have in a game like this.”
POG HAIR
Paul Pogba has worked more on the court to make up for lost time, revealed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Speaking to the club’s website, he said: “I’ve answered a lot of questions about Paul, and we’re very happy that he’s coming to play.
“He’s fit, he loves his football.
“Of course you have to make up time and try to do it.
“Also, he trains, he has a wonderful personality in and around the place, and hopefully we can see him lift this trophy [as] he has done before.”
Come and get me
Manchester United has put a booking plan in place if Jadon Sancho’s at Old Trafford fails.
This comes in the form of Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman, according to the Evening Standard.
Coman is unlikely to appear in Munich next season, with Leroy Sane joining the Bundesliga champions.
And as a result, Manchester United is contemplating a loan deal, Bayern Munich prefers to sell directly.
D-DAY
It’s a huge day for Manchester United, as Dortmund’s deadline for getting an offer for Jadon Sancho expires tonight.
The German team is back in pre-season this week and expects Sancho to be there.
Dortmund is also willing to move on from its requested value of 108 million pounds at this time and would be disappointed if United implied the value they would be willing to pay, says Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports.
However, he also stated that United will never be in a more powerful position to point to Sancho, as all clubs have been excluded from the market due to the coronavirus.
He added that United was looking for Sancho, Sancho was looking for a signing for United and some other Champions League season to Dortmund, as it was not enough to convince him to stay.
GOOD MORNING FANS UNITED,
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have to let one of his goalkeepers pass – Dean Henderson does not facilitate the Position of No. 1.
David De Gea is under pressure after a series of errors, while Henderson has had two successful seasons on loan at Sheffield United.
Neither he nor De Gea needs to be substitutes and Sergio Romero will be the third choice.
Before United’s Europa League quarter-finals against Copenhagen night, Solskjaer said: “It will be difficult to keep three of them, so let’s see what the resolution is.
“I have to be the world’s top privileged technician with our goalkeeper department.
“Sergio, David and, with Dean Henderson coming back, there are three top keepers.
“The Europa League also demonstrated how vital Sergio was to us, and David has been performing.
“We’ll see what we do in the future.”
Solskjaer shared his optimism that Paul Pogba will signal a new contract at United.
Pogba’s existing agreement at Old Trafford expires next summer, however, SunSport reported last month that it was close to accepting some other five-year extension.
And Solskjaer added: “Since he returned from the injury, it has been a pleasure.
“He’s worked very hard, he’s satisfied and he’s playing well.
“We are going to see the best of Paul in the next couple of seasons, I’m sure.
“And I can’t wait to see him grow up with this team.
“He will have to be one of the leaders, one of the great figures, because he is achieving his best moment as a footballer at 27.
“I’m looking ahead to run with him.”
Eventually, Tahith Chong could head to the Bundesliga with Man Utd in a position to let the winger register on loan at Werder Bremen.
Chong reportedly, 20, held talks with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Friday after appearing in United’s Europa League against LASK.
According to the Daily Mail, Bremen is ahead of signing a two-year loan deal to Chong.
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