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 TNT Sports (@footballontnt) 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
Manchester City opens brand-new store at the Trafford Centre
Daisy Jackson
Manchester City has opened the doors to its new Trafford Centre store just in time for the Black Friday shopping frenzy.
The club has launched the brand-new store in collaboration with retail partner Stichd.
The Manchester City store offers fans a bespoke City shopping experience, including this season’s PUMA kits, the Christmas collection (with a £5 donation to City in the Community (CITC) with specific products), and shirt printing.
Shoppers will be able to browse a range of sky blue shirts, hats, scarves, and gloves, as well as soft toys, mugs, and other collectibles.
There’s already a City store in the Manchester Arndale, which opened a couple of years ago, but its arrival at the Trafford Centre is a new development.
Other existing stores include sites in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, New York City, Seoul and Shenzhen.
Serena Gosling, Director of Retail and Licensing at Manchester City, said: “We’re proud to reveal our latest City Store in the iconic Trafford Centre, Manchester – our third location within the city.
“It provides another touchpoint for fans to interact with the club – at a venue that is a shopping favourite within the North West.
“We know the Trafford Centre attracts huge numbers of local shoppers, and tourists, so we are sure our newest store will provide a convenient location for fans, and of course, at this festive time of year, for those buying presents.
Manchester City opens brand-new store at the Trafford Centre. Credit: The Manc Group
“We look forward to welcoming everyone to the store.”
Will Rodnight, Head of Physical Retail, stichd, said: “We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Manchester City through the opening of this third City store in Manchester at the Trafford Centre.
“Our goal is to create an exceptional retail experience that reflects the passion of City fans. This new location adds another fantastic opportunity to connect with supporters in one of the UK’s most iconic shopping destinations, and we can’t wait to welcome them.”
Kate Pearson, Portfolio Leasing Director at Pradera Lateral – Trafford Centre’s Asset Managers, added: “We look forward to welcoming the new City Store to Trafford Centre. This bespoke new retail offering complements our current sportswear retailers whilst also adding a personalised experience for their supporters. We are excited to see their success once the doors open.”
Oasis and adidas drop yet more new merch in the Live ’25 collection
Danny Jones
The Oasis and adidas love affair isn’t over just yet; it isn’t going anywhere, as the legendary Manc band group and global sports apparel franchise are releasing another batch of merch as part of the smash-hit Live ’25 collection.
After shirts, shoes, jackets and bucket hats galore sold out all over the world, adidas is now toasting not only the end of the reunion world tour but “the year that was Oasis” with a second drop in the already iconic crossover.
If you passed through Manchester at all during their Heaton Park homecoming run, you will have no doubt seen countless examples of the ‘adidas Originals x Oasis’ football shirt collaboration alone, not to mention several other bits of fashion in the official Live ’25 fashion line.
Now, just in time for Christmas, there’s a whole new set being introduced into the range of casual wear.
Simply titled ‘Oasis Live ‘25 Drop 2’, the latest additions to the adidas Originals collection are releasing next month and, obviously, will be sold in stores and online.
While the pop-up stores that opened up here in the city centre all over have now shut up shop, Greater Manchester’s adidas locations on Market Street – which turned into an Oasis fan paradise this past summer – and Pear Mill in Stockport will still be stocking the various bits of Britpop clobber.
Although the most recent items will be exclusively available domestically for now, they will be rolled out overseas in 2026.
Considering how quickly most of it sold out last time, you can guarantee most of the options to fly off the shelves just as fast here in the UK.
Honestly, we’ve only just managed to get our hands on the standard black ‘jacquard jersey’.
As you can see, a good chunk of the second drop is that same footy shirt in different colours and other tees in different lengths/variations.
Scheduled to launch on Friday, 12 December, the ‘Oasis x adidas Originals Live ‘25 Drop 2’ will go on sale at 9am sharpish, so you’d best get ready for a scrap in that digital queue.
Naturally, fans, fashionistas and collectors can expect virtually identical costs for the majority of pieces (and buying in-person will obviously help keep the cost down), though it does look like some price points have been adjusted.
As for the Live ’25 tour itself, now that the dust has settled on the ‘Oasis Mania‘ take two, Liam himself has taken to social media to express his gratitude in the most Gallagher way possible…
Danny Jones -
14th April 2023 
