Despite initially looking like they had wrapped up all their transfer business for the January window, Manchester United managed to secure the services of Marcel Sabitzer on deadline day.
Signing target man Wout Weghorst on 13 January as a stop-gap loan replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, it was reported that the club weren’t expected to do any more deals before the end of the window.
Although the sudden signing might have seemed like it came out of nowhere, ten Hag clearly had him on his shortlist and for any fans still sceptical as to whether it was the right move, a recently surfaced clip of the Bayern Munich man speaking at Old Trafford will no doubt have gone down well.
Auch unser Captain Marcel #Sabitzer blickt mit großer Vorfreude auf das Match!
Speaking ahead of his former club RB Leipzig’s match against his new team in the Champions League over two years ago, the 28-year-old was asked if he felt nervous about playing in such an iconic stadium and big competition.
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While his nerves were evidently calm ahead of the game, the Austrian midfielder stated, “I’m just happy to be here because I used to see this stadium on TV as a kid and I always wanted to come here… being here as [the] opposition is something very special”.
The interviewer went on to ask how he felt being part of the squad expected to win the tie, to which Sabitzer responded: “In my opinion, United are a big name, a good team and therefore favourites as well”.
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Despite acknowledging the size and history of the club, the dynamic midfielder (who has often been used as a defender too) also insisted that he and his teammates “won’t hide from them” — yet another positive soundbite for United fans hoping he can carry the weight of the shirt and show up in big games.
Not only is the sort of thing Reds will be pleased to hear from the fairly impromptu signing, especially given the scattergun approach to the club’s recruitment strategy over the past decade, but Sabitzer is a key player in his national team and captained Leipzig during the most successful spell in their history.
It isn’t the only old video of a new United face fans have been enjoying recently either:
Moreover, the deal seems to have worked out for all parties. With Sabitzer looking for more game-time at the top level and having moved down another notch in the pecking order now the equally versatile João Cancelo has joined Bayern on loan, City looked to have done their neighbours a favour.
Issuing a statement on the club’s website confirming the move, Sabitzer said: “Sometimes in life you have to make quick and important decisions. From the moment I heard about this opportunity I knew it was right for me. I am a competitive player; I want to win and help the club achieve its aims this season.”
That kind of attitude is music to any fans ears.
They’ll also be looking forward to hopefully seeing worldies like this:
Throwback to when Marcel Sabitzer hit one of the most aesthetically pleasing goals the Champions League has ever seen 🤩
Pep Guardiola delivers gutting news as Man City are hit with Erling Haaland injury blow
Danny Jones
Pep Guardiola has passed on some gutting fitness news for Manchester City fans as star striker Erling Haaland is confirmed to be injured for several weeks and could even miss the rest of the Premier League season.
The title might be out of reach this year, and the Champions League knockout against Real Madrid was definitely hard for Blues to take, but with Man City into the semi-finals of the FA Cup, there’s still a very strong chance they could end 2024/25 with a piece of silverware.
However, they’ll have to make it through another two massive rounds at Wembley and seemingly the remainder of the season without Haaland and his goals, as the Catalan coach revealed that the club expects him to be out injured for “six to seven weeks.”
Not exactly how City fans would have wanted to see the rest of an already frustrating season play out.
🗣️ "We don't have another player with his skills."
Relaying diagnosis from the medical team, Pep said the hope is that the big Norwegian number nine could be back for the very tail end of the campaign, but at the very least, he “will be ready for the [FIFA Club] World Cup.”
He went on to add that “these kinds of things happen” and that he feels “sorry” for all of the other injuries that have befell his squad up till now, adding that they can only hope for a speedy recovery and for him to return as soon as possible.
The 24-year-old hasn’t had too many big injury problems in his career thus far, although his longest spell on the sidelines did come at the end of 2023 when a stress fracture kept him out until the new year.
This time around, Haaland suffered an injury to his ankle during the City’s FA Cup win over Bournemouth on Sunday following a challenge from defensive midfielder Lewis Cook.
He was forced in the second half and was seen leaving the Vitality Stadium on crutches after the game.
Erling Haaland seen leaving Bournemouth in a protective boot and crutches. 🤕
Having led the golden boot race for a good chunk of the season – as he’s become accustomed too since he arrived in England – City‘s sub-optimal season has seen him slink into second behind high-flying Mo Salah on 27, but he still has a couple dozen goals and a trio of assists to show for it.
Speaking of Salah, the soon-to-leave ‘Egyptian King’ has been the talisman for Liverpool this season, and his contributions could see them lift the trophy in Arne Slot’s first season as early as 13 April, depending on how fellow title rivals Arsenal fare in their next two matches.
As for how City round out their domestic campaign, reclaiming the FA Cup after last year’s derby disappointment looks like the main goal.
You can watch Pep Guardiola’s press conference ahead of the game against Leicester City at 19:45pm tomorrow (Wednesday, 2 April) in full HERE.
Masters Football isn’t just back – it’s coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
The much-loved Masters Football format made its glorious comeback in 2022, and since then, it’s been steadily rebuilding an audience of passionate fans, plenty of whom you’ll find here in the sporting city of Manchester – so it’s a good job the national tournament is heading our way.
That’s right, the official English Masters Football competition is coming to 0161 later this year and will be bringing a host of legendary North West talent from years gone by to take part.
Although the full squads and their team captains have yet to be announced, former professionals from Manchester United, Man City, Liverpool, Everton, and more will be lacing back up their boots.
Manchester Masters Football 2025 lands at the equally iconic AO Arena this September.
Credit: Publicity Pictures (supplied)
For anyone unfamiliar with Masters Football, which developed a die-hard following when it first ran between 2000 and 2011, is shorter, indoor-only six-a-side footy tournament similar to futsal.
Each team will feature eight retired players, and the games unfold in a round-robin format, with each match consisting of two eight-minute halves, meaning that both sides have a little over a quarter of an hour to score enough to make it past the other.
In addition to the quicker matches, they will battle it out on a 60m x 30m pitch – the same size of an international ice hockey rink – and whoever makes it through with the highest points will battle it out in a grand final to claim the Manchester Masters title.
As you can see, players set to star this year include ex-United and City defenders Wes Brown and Joleon Lescott, as well as Liverpool and Everton strikers Djibril Cisse and Yakubu Ayegbeni.
You can see some of the best moments from the year it officially returned to the UK down below:
The Manchester edition of the 2025 English Masters Football Tournament Series arrives at the AO Arena on Friday, 5 September.
Doors will open to the venue from 6pm, with the first match kicking off at 7pm, so you better have drinks and snacks in time for bums to hit seats.
As for tickets, there’ll be two chances at early access, first for Three+ mobile members at 10am on Wednesday, 2 April and then via the venue’s presale window at the same time the following day. General admission tickets will be made available, also from 10am, the following Saturday, 5 April.
Danny Jones -
1st February 2023 
