Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag continues to endear himself to the players and the fans as a recent speech he gave Alejandro Garnacho in front of his family has left Reds surer than ever that they’ve got the right man in charge.
Garnacho signed a new five-year contract on 28 April, meaning that his future at United is now secured until June 2028, and the Dutch coach looks to be just as chuffed about the deal as supporters are.
Shooting a behind the scenes day surrounding the contract renewal, the 18-year-old was filmed heading into Carrignton to pen to paper along with some family, and what came after was a lovely moment between him and the manager.
Insisting to his loved ones that he “deserved this” new contract and “fought his way into the team”, ten Hag explained how this isn’t just a reward for his efforts so far but an expectation of what’s to come.
🎥 You have to watch this!
A day in the life of @AGarnacho7 signing his new contract, including a powerful speech from Erik to the family ❤️#MUFC
Erik ten Hag gives his Alejandro Garnacho a rousing speech after signing a new contract.
ten Hag goes on to say that Garnacho “has improved a lot” and has been “magnificent” since breaking into the first-team but that this is just the start and that, for all of his talent, he has to “work to go far”.
ADVERTISEMENT
Having previously been kept on the fringes of the team following reports of “attitude problems” earlier in the season, Garnacho looks to have come along way to being one of the most exciting and beloved players and, judging by ten Hag’s speech, he is clearly convinced he can go much further.
The 53-year-old goes on to say that he believes this new deal will be “an inspiration, a motivation to do even better”, adding that the club “needs players who can do incredible things” if they want to win games and trophies, as well as “win in a certain way” like he is trying to instil.
ADVERTISEMENT
No wonder United fans are loving this video: it isn’t just about showing faith in young talent as he did so well at Ajax, but he also intimates that he wants the team to play a certain type of football and it’s one that the supporters are already starting to see come together and enjoy.
Reacting to the clip, fans commented, “Finally we have the right manager, “hope the youth team see this as motivation/inspiration” and “this has Cristiano [Ronaldo]/Sir Alex [Ferguson] vibe written all over.”
Fresh from learning that he will soon be having a baby boy with his partner, Eva, it was clear that the recognition of his progress felt like a significant moment for his family too, as they all joined in with embracing the young Argentine and celebrating his new contract.
Former Manchester City player Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife
Danny Jones
Ex-footballer Joey Barton has officially been found guilty of assaulting his wife following his two-day trial in the capital this week.
Barton, who played for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and a number of other clubs, was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 25 March, following an incident back in June 2021.
The former midfielder left his wife, 37-year-old Georgia Barton (McNeil), with a bleeding nose and a bruise on her forehead following a drunken row at their home in London.
Barton is said to have grabbed and pushed her to the floor before kicking her in the head. Married in 2019, the two have four children and are thought to still be together.
The 42-year-old was still employed in professional football as the manager of Bristol Rovers at the time, but he was ultimately sacked in October 2023.
His wife called 999 at the time, telling police that he had hit her, but later retracted her statement.
Born in Huyton, Merseyside, the chief magistrate Paul Goldspring recognised that the one-time England has a history of violence.
He was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence, meaning he won’t serve time unless he commits another offence and has been ordered to pay £2,138.
Since dropping out of mainstream football, in particular, Barton has come under heavy criticism for allegations of racism, sexism and controversial right-wing politics; he even started an ‘anti-woke’ podcast called Common Sense with Joey Barton.
Back in June of last year, he was ordered to pay £35,000 in damages to settle a libel claim with presenter Jeremy Vine after a series of inflammatory comments made online.
The Radio 2 presenter sued Mr Barton earlier this year, after the former footballer wrote a series of posts suggesting Mr Vine had a sexual interest in children.
He also accused of threatening fellow former pro, Eni Aluko, after a torrent of abuse regarding her punditry online – the ex-England international even went so far as to say she no longer felt safe staying in the country.
The Hundred is calling for up-and-coming presenters to co-host this year’s tournament
Danny Jones
The Hundred 2025 is fast approaching and cricket’s fastest-growing tournament is once again asking for aspiring presenters to join their roster of co-hosts and help cover the action.
The fast-paced 100-ball format is entering its fifth year and next to T20, you find a more accessible and thrilling form of cricket, so it’s no wonder the competition is gaining a greater audience each year.
With that in mind, the need for a top-notch broadcast team is more crucial than ever but just like those who backed The Hundred in its infancy, they’re looking to invest in future creatives and on-screen talent.
Are you someone looking to get into presenting or know someone who is? Keep reading.
For the fifth year in a row, we want you to be part of #TheHundredRising! 🎤
So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty straightforward: The Hundred is looking for eight up-and-coming presenters to join their team of main venue hosts up and down the country.
Tasked with guiding and talking fans through an action-packed five weeks across all host cities, successful applicants will be responsible for building excitement and atmosphere inside the seven cricket grounds on each match day.
From player and pundit interviews to crowd engagement and interactive other activations with partnered brands, not to mention members of this year’s live music lineup, you’ll be a key part of putting out the top-quality sports and entertainment product they promise every year.
The best part of all is that no prior hosting experience is necessary – this is all about platforming you and The Hundred as a whole.
Successful applicants will be mentored by the main hosts at their respective venues and will attend a two-day workshop with special guests to get them ready to hit the stage this summer.
The ‘Rising Hosts’ scheme has been set up in tandem with their dedicated event production agency, Progress Productions, which will be in charge throughout the application and selection process.
Shortlisted applicants will then have their details shared with the ECB (English Cricket Board) who will be involved when it comes to making their final decisions.
It goes without saying that even if you just love sports or just want to find a way into the industry, this is an opportunity that is not to be missed.
Danny Jones -
3rd May 2023 
