Manchester United didn’t get this year’s European campaign off to the greatest start on Wednesday night after dragging out a disappointing result against FC Twente, and Christian Eriksen was the first to deliver a damning confession about the attitude in the dressing room at half-time.
The Danish midfielder grabbed the opening goal of the night – his third in the last three – but Man United were guilty of resting on their laurels and the Dutch side managed to pull a goal back with just over 20 minutes until the final whistle.
The 32-year-old ultimately turned out to be both the de-facto hero and ‘villain’ of the piece, as despite putting his team in front just after half an hour, he also lost the ball in the middle of the park, allowing opposition striker Sam Lammers to make it 1-1.
Placing himself in front of the media after the game, Eriksen didn’t hesitate to hold his hands up but even more concerningly than the nature of the performance was what he admitted to the fans about the United dressing room.
Not only did he roll out the standard “feel like a loss” line as you would expect before quickly admitting that the players said in the changing room that “it felt like they wanted it more than us” and despite insisting that this “can’t be right”, they were guilty of not capitalising on their lead.
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Eriksen’s goal itself was a wonderful strike but it was the lack of commitment and combativeness in the midfield, it seems, that saw them drop two points against a side most would expect them to beat.
Midfielder partner Manuel Ugarte, though still admittedly new to the club and the manager’s system, came out on social media to concede, “I’m the first to make self-criticism. It wasn’t a great match personally. We have to keep working.”.
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However, it was the words from the manager in the post-match that made Eriksen’s assessment even more damning as he essentially echoed the same sentiment as his player, stating that not only did they get “punished” for not scoring a second and that “They looked like they wanted it more.”
He went on to make it clear that Lammer’s leveller was “[a team goal]”, adding, “A player of Twente can dribble through the pitch without stopping. We can’t give a goal away like this.”
"In the second half we dropped a level and gave a goal away."
Although he assured supporters watching on that they are professionals and have already accepted that they cannot be satisfied with their own level of performance, this is by far from the first time the Red Devils have failed to take chances and kill games.
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It must also be concerning for fans to hear both the manager and a senior player confessing the same ‘unacceptable’ attitude in the dressing room. The result meant that this was ten Hag has notched just one win in his last nine games in charge of United – five of those being defeats.
Stockport County to introduce safe standing at Edgeley Park
Danny Jones
Stockport County will soon be introducing safe standing at Edgeley Park as part of the pending stadium development plans.
The Hatters may have just missed out on promotion to the Championship, but it’s still been an exciting few years for the club that has seen a fresh surge in young new supporters in addition to their passionate lifelong followers.
In more fantastic news for fans, County have announced that brand new safe standing sections will be installed across the ground.
Confirming the news on Wednesday, the club said: “After receiving all necessary approvals and working closely with safety authorities, we are set to install rail seating in two designated areas of the stadium.
Stockport County is thrilled to announce the introduction of safe standing areas at Edgeley Park ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 season.
Visit the club site for more details on this exciting new development ⤵️#StockportCounty
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) May 28, 2025
As detailed on the club website, there will be two new dedicated safe-standing/rail-seated zones – one in each main stand: the back five rows of seats in the Cheadle End’s upper tier and the back two rows of the Vitality Railway End.
With Stockport Council greenlighting plans for League One side to expand their home capacity, this reconfiguration is set to accommodate a total of 849 County fans and/or supporters.
Although this all depends on final approval from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), the aim is to deliver a “vibrant and dynamic environment for both home and away fans at Edgeley Park.”
The official statement goes on to explain that the push for safe standing is not just to provide more matchday options for those in attendance, but in hopes of further “enhancing the atmosphere and improving the overall matchday experience for those who prefer to stand.”
Couty has insisted that “The rail-seating system incorporates a barrier for every seat, ensuring that supporters are protected from a sudden surge or crowd movement.”
Safe standing is part of the larger Stockport County stadium redevelopment plans.
Addressing early concerns in a ‘What This Means for You’ section, they go on to add: “Season ticket holders currently in the affected rows will be contacted directly by the Club over the coming weeks with details on their options, including relocating to a seated area if they prefer not to stand.
“Information regarding new season tickets and matchday tickets in the safe standing areas will be released in due course.
“We believe this is another significant step forward for Stockport County and will further enhance the already incredible atmosphere at Edgeley Park. We look forward to seeing and hearing the renewed energy in these new sections.”
The safe standing plan is set to be introduced for the upcoming 2025/26 season, with the administration hoping to make this their last in the third tier. Do you see them going up next year?
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Press Shot (via SCFC)
Sport
Rio Ferdinand is stepping away from TNT Sports after more than a decade
Danny Jones
Manchester United legend and ex-England international Rio Ferdinand has announced he will be stepping away from TNT Sports, leaving more than a decade with the broadcaster.
Ferdinand has spent the best part of the last 10 years serving as a leading pundit and analyst, as well as hosting his own ‘Rio Meets’ online series – the interview format of which has been replicated on his YouTube channel.
However, after having been one of their main anchors both under the BT Sport and even more so since the inception of the rebranded TNT Sports Football umbrella, the 46-year-old has confirmed he has now quit their regular coverage following the Champions League final this weekend.
In a lengthy statement on social media, the ex-Man United defender, who also played for Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth and QPR, described it as a “difficult decision.”
Taking time to thank the network for their “tremendous support” over the years, especially those “behind the scenes, whose work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.”
The talented centre-back retired in May 2015 after more than 500 appearances and 81 national team caps, making an almost immediate switch into punditry and remaining a household name.
Rio has also remained a popular figure at Old Trafford and, indeed, across various parts of Manchester since leaving United in 2014.
For instance, his self-titled Foundation has carried out some truly transformational local outreach across various boroughs, as it has back in his home city of London.
Responding to the news, TNT Sports said nothing more than “Thanks for everything, Rio”; meanwhile, fellow former Red, Danny Simpson (who retired last year and also works as a pundit/presenter for MUTV) added: “You’re going to be missed, bro. Every time you’re on, you give us all the mad insight.”
However, he has promised he will remain in the media industry, continuing to work under the Rio Ferdinand Presents digital brand and pursuing “other business interests”.
With his ‘Rio Reacts’ and ‘Vibe with FIVE’ series regularly raking in millions of views, he might not be on the box during European nights but you’ll still be seeing plenty of him.
Danny Jones -
26th September 2024 
