Sport

These Manchester United and City footballers could play together at Euro 2020

The Euro 2020 tournament finals are better late than never in 2021 and, from the 24 competing countries, 10 different nations are represented by footballers currently playing for either Manchester United or Manchester City.

The Manc The Manc - 6th January 2021
Wikimedia Commons

The Euro 2020 tournament finals are better late than never in 2021 and, from the 24 competing countries, 10 different nations are represented by footballers currently playing for either Manchester United or Manchester City. 

Premier League stars will have to put domestic club rivalry and local bragging rights to one side when they go on international duty. Fitness permitting, these Red Devils and Citizens players may well take to the field for their respective countries during Euro 2020 (UEFA has kept 2020 as the official name).

Spain

La Roja have won two of the last three editions of the Euros, but the current Spanish side has a very different look to it to the dominant force they were in world football between 2008 and 2013. United goalie David de Gea is obviously first-choice between the sticks.

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He is joined regularly in Spain national squads these days by young City defender Eric Garcia, who has been of rumoured interest to Barcelona. Etihad holding midfielder Rodri and attacker Ferran Torres, signed from Valencia this past summer, should also see action at Euro 2020. Spain meet Poland, Slovakia and Sweden in one of the easier pools at the tournament.

Portugal

Over the last 15 years, in particular, there has been a strong Portuguese presence in the Premier League. As the reigning and defending European champions, they too are a team in transition as veteran national coach Fernando Santos has brought fresher faces through from the Euro 2016 triumph. He needs to as Portugal play world champions France and Germany in their group this time.

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Star United midfielder Bruno Fernandes can look forward to playing alongside City’s Bernardo Silva in support of the great Cristiano Ronaldo. In defence, meanwhile, Ruben Dias has been a revelation since signing for Pep Guardiola from Benfica with full-back Joao Cancelo also a Portugal regular.

Netherlands

Qualifying for major international tournaments has been something the Dutch have failed to do in recent years, but they will be at Euro 2020. The spine of their side should contain two Manchester-based footballers in Donny van de Beek from United in the engine room and City defender Nathan Ake at the back.

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The Clockwork Orange have a seemingly easy Euros pool on paper which pits them against Austria, Ukraine and play-off winners North Macedonia. This is why they are odds-on favourites with online football betting sites to top Group C at Euro 2020, and 10/1 chances to win the tournament.

England

Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden, Scotland and Wales all have at least one footballer playing for either United or City that should be heading to the Euros, but the most obvious nation is England. Gareth Southgate has a wealth of homegrown talent and options across the two clubs, as he prepares for group games with Scotland, the Czech Republic and old rivals Croatia.

From Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling starting wide in attack to Harry Maguire and John Stones in defence, as many as eight players from United or City could pull on the Three Lions jersey for the tournament. Southgate also looks sure to include youngsters like Phil Foden, Mason Greenwood and Dean Henderson in his plans for the Euros.

Sport

Despite the cynics, Man United mop up Premier League’s manager and player of the month awards for September

Danny Jones Danny Jones Man United manager and player of the month awards

As many disillusioned fans were expecting, Manchester United made a shaky start to the Premier League season. However, they look to have gathered some form and momentum over recent weeks.

So much so, in fact, that after having strung together four wins on the bounce – two coming in big games against long-standing rivals Liverpool and Arsenal, no less – they have won both September’s manager and player of the month awards.

The first to be awarded was Marcus Rashford, who despite missing out on Gareth Southgate’s most recent England squad through injury, has had a much improved last month or so.

Netting two goals and a pair of important assists to go with them, the 24-year-old looks to finally be breaking his duck and underlying confidence issues.

A big goal in the derby against Liverpool and in the 3-1 victory over high-flying Arsenal has no doubt helped lift his spirits.

Man United fans will be hoping this is just the start of a Rashford renaissance.

Moreover, even beyond his direct goal contributions, Rashford’s all-around play looks to be returning to pre-slump levels, playing a key role in the transition and a more fluid forward line.

It seems like the United no. 10 is benefitting from a new way of playing or, perhaps more accurately, a new manager who clearly sees him as a key player in his system.

It’s clear that Erik ten Hag‘s approach hasn’t just benefitted the likes of Rashford and, say, Sancho but the team looks more well-organised as a whole. Earlier this month, Bruno Fernandes gave fans a bit more of an insight into the Dutch coaches ‘strict rules’ and discipline.

Not only have they kept clean sheets in three out of the last six games across all competitions but there has been a noticeable improvement in both passing and possession stats since he arrived, whilst still being able to sacrifice some of the ball for a more counter-attacking set-up went the game calls for it.

That being said, it is a long old season and many fans will still need some convincing that the squad is good enough to take them back to a competitive level.

Even the man himself isn’t getting too carried away just yet.

Nevertheless, both the panel of experts and those deciding via public vote seem to think his efforts over the last month are worthy of recognition, earning manager of the month alongside his once again firing forward.

This is the first time a United player and manager have scooped the monthly double since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s award in February 2019, who also won it alongside Rashford.

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Accolades aside, ten Hag’s patience and pragmatism should serve the team well over the next few weeks, as United still have a challenging run-in.

As well as the Manchester derby on Sunday, their next four games include a home fixture against a growing Newcastle side, Conte’s high-flying Spurs and a Chelsea squad with more than enough quality to end their bad run of results.

Manager and player of the month aside, it’s about getting points on the board and his weekend is massive for Man United’s 22/23 campaign.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Sport

Football fans slam rail services after complaints of no derby day trains from London to Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones No trains from London for Manchester derby

With derby day approaching, Manchester United and City fans are making their arrangements big fixture and while local Mancunians should be fine, people travelling from elsewhere look to be in a bit of bother.

More specifically, United and City fans living in London (yes, we know the joke) will have some trouble making their way up for the game if they’re travelling by public transport due to the ongoing rail strikes.

Sports writer Barney Ronay shared an exasperated tweet explaining how there are seemingly “no trains to Manchester from London for City v United this Sunday”, arguing that the overall “fan experience is so terrible now some are having to give up”.

He goes on to identify this as symptomatic of the “horrendous state of infrastructure killing away days” and even went so far as to diagnose the modern matchday as almost “masochistic”.

Plenty of fans who travel to see their respective clubs echoed his thoughts, commenting that the regular drama of “changed dates/hotels not refunding etc it is becoming too expensive for many” and that even outside of reasonable strike action, matchday services are difficult to plan around.

Many of those commenting on the thread also clarified that despite tickets being displayed as ‘sold out’ or ‘unavailable’ online, this often isn’t true and it’s more a case of there being no seats left to reserve.

However, just as many were quick to respond that this offers little help to those who need to have a reliable plan for commuting back and forth, even more so when it comes to midweek games or those scheduled on a Sunday like this week’s Manchester derby.

Moreover, others rightly noted that very few people are in a financial position where they are able to buy an expensive face-value ticket on the day on the half-chance they might be able to squeeze onto a packed train and stand for more than two hours.

As was to be expected, plenty of people also took to ridiculing the tweet and the two clubs, advising to simply “support your local team” and so on. It was also pointed out that a United fan travelling to the match from London, for instance, isn’t exactly what most fans would dub an ‘away day’.

Nevertheless, even those travelling on ‘proper’ away days couldn’t help but agree with the overarching point, with many citing that they regularly spend upwards of £100-150 just getting to their destination.

Any travelling football fan will know – especially those coming to and from London – it’s an expensive habit this football lark and even after you make it to wherever the game is that day, you’re still forking out more for food, drink and perhaps even additional transport to the ground.

Beyond those strictly hoping to catch the Manchester derby, most seem to agree with the strikes and suggested that more needs to be done to combat “the government’s assault on living standards, terms and conditions, pensions” which are subsequently impacting matchday travel year-round.

As for those still looking to try and make the journey into Manchester for derby day, the likes of Avanti West Coast are releasing their train schedule later today (Thursday).

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

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