In the opening 20 minutes against Sevilla, Manchester United looked to be playing some of the most fluid football under Erik ten Hag yet and it seemed like the tie might already be over in the first leg.
However, following a dramatic display of complacency, a lack of concentration and admittedly some misfortune, a game that United should have buried by three or four goals somehow became a 2-2 draw in the dying minutes: a huge blow that was only worsened by even more injuries and further suspensions.
While Raphaël Varane also came off injured at half-time, the biggest blow came when fellow centre-half and one of the signings of the season, Lisandro Martínez, suddenly pulled up following an injury to his foot/ankle.
The World Cup winner looked to be in serious discomfort after planting his foot, having to be carried off the pitch by his Argentina teammates and leaving the ground not only in tears but on crutches, leaving United without both of their first-choice centre-backs.
The initial signs seem to suggest that Varane’s injury is no way near as severe as his teammate’s — simply a recurring issue following a recent knock — ten Hag admitted that although Martínez’s isn’t his Achilles as feared, “it doesn’t look good” and the team will now have to wait for a full diagnosis.
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Either way, it looks like fan-favourite and key player Licha could be out for a significant amount of time and during a crucial period for the club, with the FA Cup semi-final just over a week away.
Moreover, despite the return of Casemiro following his second red-card suspension and Christian Eriksen following a long-term injury, the centre-back pairing now join the likes of Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw on the injury list — again two key players, none more so than the in-form number 10.
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As injuries and a big FA Cup game weren’t worrying enough for United, the squad have now also created their own mess by giving themselves everything to do in the second leg against Sevilla if they still have designs on winning a second Europa League — and those injured aren’t the only ones who’ll miss it:
"A ridiculous decision." 😡
It's fair to say Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves don't agree with the yellow card, which means Bruno Fernandes will be suspended for Man Utd's second leg match in Sevilla.#UELpic.twitter.com/nIyTvCNnlo
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 13, 2023
As you can see, in a rather ridiculous decision by the referee — which was only amplified by Erik Lamela’s narrow escape from a red card for stamping on Casemiro’s leg — Bruno Fernandes received a booking for turning his back on a shot which ended up striking his arm and was judged to be handball.
Despite his furious protests, his yellow card now sees him suspended for the second leg away in Seville on 20 April, which also happens to land just three days before the semi against Brighton.
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So yeah, it’s going to be a tough couple of weeks for the Red Devils.
You can watch the highlights of Manchester United vs Sevilla down below:
Featured Image — Manchester United/Sevilla (via Twitter)
Sport
Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City are set to embark on somewhat of a spending spree this summer transfer window as the club’s higher-ups are looking to get business done before the 2025 Club World Cup.
With FIFA’s intercontinental club competition set to get underway in mid-June, the Blues don’t have too long to welcome in new players, but Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated their urgency regarding recruitment.
Despite having brought in four new acquisitions in a very short space of time last season, the 50-year-old argued that he wasn’t completely happy with the extent and speed of their business.
Giving a lengthy interview this week, CFG‘s founding chairman has imposed an internal deadline ahead of the lucrative knockout competition.
Speaking with club media, Khaldoon recognised that while there were incomings in January of this year, he believes they “should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do, adding that he believes it “cost [them].”
“I can tell you today, we have clearly identified who exactly [the targets are], in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option”, he continues.
More importantly, he goes on to add: “We’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
He also suggested the flurry of activity this past January was not just atypical of the administration, but felt the squad fell into a crisis state with the number of injuries, insisting they “had to act.”
City have already been linked with a hugely talented and highly-rated European target in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne‘s departure and a lack of strength in depth in midfield.
An initial bid is said to have been received already and will likely be the first of many City summer signings.
He also insisted that the players who joined last season weren’t scattershot, emergency transfers (perhaps barring the resigning of İlkay Gündoğan) but were the start of the rebuild and “gives [fans] an idea of what’s coming this summer.”
Another player linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium is Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored in big moments during their Europa League run this year, registering 32 goal contributions across all competitions throughout the 24/25 campaign.
Who would you like to see added to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer, then, Man City fans?
You can watch Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s interview in full down below:
Danny Jones -
14th April 2023 
