Manchester United have just been done a big favour by Arsenal
Manchester United’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League rely heavily on the success of their rivals.
After finishing rock bottom of the Champions League group, Manchester United‘s hopes of fifth place getting them into the Champions League looked slim.
With UEFA co-efficient rankings being the deciding factor in whether United will be hearing the famous anthem next season – the top four looks unlikely right now.
Both Tottenham Hotspurs and Aston Villa look well placed to take that final place, but the hope for United would be that Villa’s European commitments impact them and give Erik ten Hag‘s side a chance – but realistically we need to win every game now.
So fifth looks far likelier than fourth and with that in mind, United have just been handed a massive helping hand.
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Manchester United handed boost by Arsenal
On Tuesday night, Arsenal overcame a 1-0 deficit to take Porto to penalties before winning the shootout. This is a massive boost in United’s hopes as Arsenal being knocked out would’ve been detrimental.
Arsenal likely won’t be the only team this week to hand United a boost in their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League with the likes of Liverpool and Aston Villa looking like favourites to go all the way in their respective competitions.
The new Champions League format with co-efficient playing a huge part in which leagues get the extra places is something which could hand United a lifeline as Champions League money would be huge for this summer.
With Napoli’s exit to Barcelona, United and the Premier League will have been handed a real favour.
While Arsenal has given United a helping hand, it’ll rely still on other rivals doing further favours. But even then, it’s up to United.
Favours will only get Erik ten Hag so far, he needs to win games
While Ten Hag will be desperate for his league rivals to help him out and effectively save his bacon by making Champions League qualification possible.
But as he may hope for this, he needs to actually do himself a favour as he’s eight points off Villa and six behind Spurs who have a game in hand.
With just 10 games left this campaign, United can’t afford to drop too many more points if they want any chance of stealing fifth place from Villa or Spurs.
Fabrizio Romano ‘100 per cent’ convinced £60m attacker wants to join Manchester United
Fabrizio Romano is ‘100 per cent’ convinced that Michael Olise would jump at the chance to join Manchester United from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.
When the reports emerged a few weeks ago claiming that the Frenchman is a diehard Manchester United supporter, suddenly his non-celebration back in January 2023 made that little bit more sense.
After banging a stunning free-kick past David de Gea in stoppage time – Crystal Palace snatching a late draw against Erik ten Hag’s side – Michael Olise barely even cracked a smile. Now, we know why.
The former Reading ace – Football London reports – is a Man United supporter, and would choose the Red Devils over a host of other clubs should they make a move this summer.
And all the signs suggest that, make a move, they will. According to The Standard, Ineos have identified Olise as one of United’s top priorities, with a new right-winger a priority for a club likely to listen to offers for the under-performing and increasingly seldom-seen Antony.
West Ham United v Crystal Palace – Premier League
Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Manchester United lead Michael Olise race
“I’m sure that the player would be really keen on joining Manchester United,” Romano now tells The United Stand. “That’s 100 per cent guaranteed.
“But (Man United) won’t be the only club.”
No, but they’ve certainly got an advantage over the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and co. Furthermore, with a reported release clause in his contract of around £60 million, Crystal Palace will be powerless to prevent Olise from securing a dream move if – or when – United come calling.
An Antony replacement
This may be wishful thinking, perhaps. But with United’s new decision-makers planning to attack the market from the very first minute, and with that release clause meaning no negotiations will be required with Palace, do not be too surprised to see Olise become the first signing through the door in a new era at Old Trafford.
Interestingly – and surely not coincidentally – United are also keen on the man who brought Olise to Selhurst Park for just £8 million. Palace director Dougie Freedman is a leading candidate for a recruitment role under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
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Pep Guardiola doesn’t want to focus on anything but his own Manchester City side this weekend – telling his players that if the Liverpool crowd at Anfield begin to influence the referee, they must simply perform better to try and win.
The build-up to City’s title showdown with Liverpool on Sunday has been dominated by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s claim that their successes ‘mean more’ than City’s due to the ‘financial situations’ of the side. While Guardiola opted to remain silent on the comments, Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias hit back, with Jurgen Klopp defending his player.
Guardiola insisted that criticism of City is normal, saying he or his players cannot control what others think of the club. “We are in a world that the people have an opinion,” he said. “What the right back from Liverpool has said, a lot of people think. It’s not new, not necessary to say much.
“It’s normal. We have a public job, the job cannot be done without opinion of external people, it’s normal – good ones and bad ones. Not a problem, we have to deal with that. Otherwise cannot be in that world. At the end, inside the ropes, we know who we are and we have to do it.”
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The manager had previously sought to play down the impact of the Anfield crowd and atmosphere on Friday, but was later asked whether he felt that referees can sometimes be influenced by officiating at Liverpool. Guardiola wouldn’t endorse the question, but simply told his players to ensure that any outside influence does not have a bearing on the result.
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“When it happens, we have to perform better. We cannot control what happens in this stadium with referees,” he said. “It is not the first time, won’t be the last, have to perform better. We have to overcome the situations. “It’s a big achievement to try to fight for four titles in a row, no club has done it ever. This is the challenge we have to face and give absolutely everything.
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Otherwise would be difficult to win on Sunday. But whatever happens, we should perform well and whatever happens still we have many, many games to play.
“Last Wednesday was in and out [knockout], next Saturday will be in and out of the FA
Cup. This is really important game for the title challenge. Many things can happen.”
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