Manchester United journalist Andy Mitten has responded to claims made by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer about his final game as manager of the Premier League giants.
Solskjaer initially boosted spirits at Old Trafford following Jose Mourinho’s stint as manager but the club legend was sacked in November 2021.

“A couple of the lads were actually in tears…”

The 51-year-old was recently linked with a shock move to Bayern Munich but he has been out of work since leaving Man Utd during the 2021/22 campaign.
Solskjaer has not done many interviews since leaving Man Utd but he appeared on The Stick to Football podcast alongside Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Jill Scott earlier this week.
In his final game in charge, Man Utd were 2-0 down against Watford at Vicarage Road by half-time and ended up losing 4-1.
United’s former manager claimed via The Stick to Football podcast that he asked his players at half-time to put their hands up if they “don’t want to play”.
Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay were the players taken off at the break and they were replaced by Anthony Martial and Donny van de Beek. Harry Maguire was sent off for two bookings with 20 minutes to go, while Luke Shaw and Jadon Sancho went off for Diogo Dalot and Jesse Lingard inside the final ten minutes.
Related video: Manchester United club update, latest on sporting director, Erik ten Hag and more (Dailymotion)

Speaking via The Stick to Football podcast, Solskjaer said: “At half-time against Watford I knew, that’s it.
“So the team talk at half-time was about ‘Whoever wants to play can play, put your hand up if you don’t want to play’. Made a few changes, a couple of the lads were actually in tears, and they had a go.”
READ MORE: Five reasons Gareth Southgate would *actually* be good for Manchester United

Solskjaer “knew” he was getting sacked after the loss to Watford

He added: “Then after the game I knew, but I didn’t hear anything. But I still knew. The next morning you get a text: ‘I want to see you in my office’. So I knew.
“I’d just left my missus at the airport and then text her ‘I think I’ll be coming back with you’.
“I took about five minutes with Ed [Woodward] and then stayed and spoke to some of the lads and did an interview because I needed to do it properly.


“I’ve always seen managers leave it… like two months later they slag someone off… that’s not me. I’m like ‘No, I want to do it now, tell everyone I’m proud and privileged and move on’.”
READ MORE: Mediawatch… Are Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his crew really qualified to judge Erik ten Hag?
Respected Man Utd reporter Andy Mitten has since refuted the comments made by Solskjaer, though. He is of the understanding that all of his players “wanted to play” and it was the manager’s “decision” to take off McTominay and Rashford”.
“This suggestion that players put their hands up not to play the second half at Watford is not true,” Mitten tweeted.
“They all wanted to play. Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford were subbed. Ole’s decision. Rashford had been injured. Scott wasn’t playing well. That’s it.” 

Southgate ‘stance’ on becoming Man Utd’s new manager emerges amid Ratcliffe’s Ten Hag ‘axe plan’

According to reports, Gareth Southgate has given his ‘stance’ on replacing Erik ten Hag to become Manchester United’s new manager before next season.
The Dutchman did a brilliant job during his debut season at Man Utd as they won the Carabao Cup and finished third in the Premier League.

Ten Hag is facing the sack…

The former Ajax boss is coming under increasing pressure heading into this summer, though. This comes after Man Utd suffered disappointing exits from the Champions League and Carabao Cup.
Man Utd are still in the FA Cup but face Liverpool in the next round and they are currently sixth in the Premier League.
Ten Hag is among the favourites to be the next Premier League manager sacked and England boss Southgate is being linked with a shock move to Old Trafford.
This summer’s European Championships is expected to be Southgate’s last major tournament as England manager as his contract is due to expire before the end of this year.
Earlier this week, it emerged that Southgate is one manager being ‘assessed’ by Man Utd as they consider potential replacements for Ten Hag.
READ MORE: Mediawatch… Marcus Rashford fingered by the Mail as xG used to justify Ten Hag sack
A report from TEAMtalk has revealed Southgate’s ‘stance’ on joining Man Utd as Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ‘Ten Hag ace plan takes shape’. They explain.

‘TEAMtalk understands that his inclusion [on United’s shortlist] is more of a nod to the work he’s done with England, rather than him being a top target for the role.
‘Man Utd’s shortlist is extensive and includes some of the very best young coaches in the game and they are still considering their options.
‘Southgate has previously stated that no job in the game scares him and he would back himself to succeed no matter the size of the club. TEAMtalk can exclusively reveal that the Red Devil’s project appeals to Southgate and he would be very interested in taking up the role.
‘What’s certain, is that Ten Hag is on borrowed time and the process is already underway to find the next manager to take over at Old Trafford.’

Dan Ashworth update

Man Utd’s apparent search for a new manager is ongoing while Ratcliffe attempts to bring Ashworth to Old Trafford from Newcastle.
Providing an update on United’s attempts to make Ashworth their new sporting director, The Athletic’s David Orntein has revealed that their pursuit of the Newcastle chief is a “complicated situation”.
Related video: Manchester United club update, latest on sporting director, Erik ten Hag and more (Dailymotion)

“I have no updates on Ashworth. The same for Jason Wilcox. Ideally, United would get Ashworth in first and then Wilcox, as the plan is for Wilcox to work under Ashworth. But Ashworth is a more complicated situation than Wilcox,” Ornstein said via a Q&A for The Athletic.
READ MORE: Mailbox… Are Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his crew really qualified to judge Erik ten Hag?
“United will probably give the Ashworth situation a bit longer and see if an agreement can be reached with Newcastle but if that doesn’t happen, perhaps they will bring in Wilcox sooner and Ashworth follows later.
“Another key role after that has been on the agenda — and naturally, the club will have candidates in mind — but I don’t know of an appointment being close.
“These are very early days and United/INEOS will be studying and discussing the vision, structures, roles, existing staff, new staff, waiting for people to start and plenty more besides… so it might be a while before everything falls into place.”

Edwards has ‘meeting’ to discuss Liverpool return; FSG learn what is required for director to ‘accept’

According to reports, former Liverpool director Michael Edwards had a ‘meeting’ with Fenway Sports Group chiefs in Boston at the end of last week.
Liverpool are searching for a new manager ahead of next season as Jurgen Klopp confirmed at the end of January that he would leave the club in the summer.
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FSG set for a busy few months

Before an appointment can be made in the dugout, the Premier League giants need to appoint a new director of football following Jorg Schmadtke’s exit earlier this year.
It has emerged in recent months that Liverpool are hoping to tempt Edwards into a return to Anfield. The 44-year-old held various roles at the football club but was their sporting director between 2016 and 2022.
The Englishman was lauded for the work he did alongside Klopp but he has been out of work since departing Liverpool at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
In recent years, Edwards has been linked with a return to the Premier League with Chelsea and Manchester United interested. But Liverpool are now back in the picture and it was revealed at the end of January that ‘further talks’ were expected with their former director.
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A report from The Guardian now claims ‘Liverpool’s owners met Edwards in Boston on Sunday in their attempts to convince the club’s former sporting director to shape the post-Klopp era at Anfield’. They explain.

‘Fenway Sports Group’s principal owner, John W Henry, and president, Mike Gordon, were among the senior executives who held talks with Edwards about returning to the club he left in 2022. The 44-year-old, a consultant at the sports advisory business Ludonautics, is regarded by FSG as the ideal candidate to lead Liverpool’s transition when Klopp steps down after nine hugely successful years as manager this summer. However, the club’s owners will need to offer a more powerful role than sporting director to tempt Edwards back.
‘He turned down an initial approach from FSG in January regarding resuming his career as Liverpool’s sporting director and is likely to want total control in a more far-reaching position, such as head of football operations, to accept the invitation to return.
‘Edwards would be expected to head the recruitment and analytics departments. He would lead the appointments of any new sporting director and Liverpool’s manager, with Xabi Alonso the front-runner to succeed Klopp. The club’s new football structure is expected to take shape in the coming weeks.
‘FSG’s concerted efforts to rehire Edwards demonstrates its conviction that he is the best person to shape Liverpool’s next era.’

READ MORE: The Injury Crisis and four more reasons why Liverpool won’t win the Premier League

Edwards “regards Richard Hughes very highly”

Journalist Ben Jacobs has indicated that Edwards is an admirer of Bournemouth technical director Hughes, who “won’t be off to Newcastle” following his exit from the Cherries in the summer.
“It’s true that Edwards regards Richard Hughes very highly. Bournemouth have confirmed Hughes will leave at the end of the season. Understand he won’t be off to Newcastle or Roma,” Jacobs tweeted.
Related video: Liverpool hold Michael Edwards talks over potential Anfield return - in new role (Dailymotion)

“It was always likely FSG would make another push for Edwards, but still unclear if he’s changed his mind after rejecting the initial approach. Face-to-face talks easy to facilitate after Edwards chose to attend the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston alongside Ian Graham.”

Klopp to reject ‘aggressive’ job offer with Liverpool boss to ‘disappoint’ two ‘desperate’ suitors

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will turn down approaches from the BBC and ITV to join their punditry teams for Euro 2024, according to reports.
Klopp announced in January that he will leave the Premier League giants at the end of the season.

BBC and ITV ‘desperate’ to land Jurgen Klopp for Euros

The German boss joined the Reds in October 2015 and has won seven major trophies, including the club’s first Premier League title in 2020.
He is expected to take a sabbatical from management and despite links to Bayern Munich, Barcelona and the German national team, nothing is likely to tempt Klopp to jump straight into another job.

Punditry is an option that has been mentioned, but even that seems extremely unlikely, with the Daily Mail reporting that Klopp will reject advances from the BBC and ITV to analyse this summer’s European Championships in his native Germany.
The report from Mike Keegan states that both of the broadcasters are ‘desperate’ to land the Liverpool boss, with a ‘battle sparked’ between the two.
Unfortunately for them, they will be ‘disappointed’ by Klopp’s response, with the ex-Borussia Dortmund boss ‘expected to turn offers down – and instead head to the tournament as a Germany fan’.
Understandably, ITV and the BBC both believe the ‘charismatic’ German ‘would be a must-watch, marquee signing and would give their coverage the edge in the traditional battle for viewers’.
The BBC have been the more ‘aggressive’ of the two, although they are ‘highly likely to fail in their mission’, the report claims.
Related video: Klopp on Salah's availability, and seeing Liverpool legends again (Daily Mail)

It is added that Klopp has already secured his tickets for all three of Germany’s group games, starting with the tournament opener against Scotland.
READ MORE: Who will replace Jurgen Klopp as next Liverpool manager? Pochettino on list
Amidst the 56-year-old’s desire to take a break and regain some energy after nine grueling years at Anfield, ‘he will be keen to switch off’ and joining a punditry team in the United Kingdom is unlikely to appeal to him.
Things are expected to get even more intense between now and the end of the season as Liverpool chase an unprecedented quadruple.
The Reds host Manchester City in a massive clash in the Premier League title race on Sunday and have Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday evening.
The title race with City and Arsenal is expected to go down to the wire, while Klopp’s side are looking to win the FA Cup and Europa League with the Carabao Cup trophy already secured.
When Klopp eventually returns to management, he will probably take on the Germany job and has already confirmed that he will never manage another club in England.
READ NOW: Five excellent reasons why Liverpool won’t win the Premier League title

Tottenham explode past Barcelona in another major transfer battle with Man Utd out of race for elite Swede

Tottenham are reportedly set to devastate Barcelona for the second time in a matter of months amid claims Ange Postecoglou’s side will land Roony Bardghji ahead of the LaLiga giants and amid claims Manchester United have dropped from the race.
The Kuwait-born winger has made a real name for himself this season and established himself as one of European football’s brightest prospects after scoring an impressive 10 goals in just 29 appearances despite only being 18 years of age. Having helped his side FC Copenhagen into the Champions League knock-out stages – their run eventually coming to an end on Wednesday night as reigning champions Manchester City swatted them aside 6-2 on aggregate – Bardghji put his name in the headlines with a brilliant winner which effectively knocked Manchester United out of the group stages of the competition.

That form has earned the Sweden U21 winger plenty of admiring glances with the likes of United (and with a name like Roony, how can they resist?!), Tottenham, Brighton and Manchester City all listed as having an interest.
IN DEPTH: Who is Roony Bardghji? The Football Manager wonderkid and Man Utd conqueror attracting Europe’s elite
But reports in Spain have also now suggested Bardghji’s name has been spoken about in Barcelona circles. And with the LaLiga giants willing to cash in on former Leeds man Raphinha this summer, the teenager could prove a more than suitable replacement.
News that Barca are keen on another Swedish talent rekindles the battle that recently erupted between the Spanish giants and Tottenham recently for another top young talent in Lucas Bergvall.
Expected to sign for the LaLiga giants, Spurs stole in at the 11th hour to pocket a deal for the 18-year-old Djurgardens midfielder to crush officials at Barca.
Related video: Disappointing to keep conceding late goals - Ange (Dailymotion)

Tottenham tipped to beat Barcelona for Bardghji

And with Bergvall recently scoring an incredible goal to floor fans, it’s easy to see why they were so disappointed to miss out.
Now it seems a repeat of that battle is to erupt once again, with Tottenham seemingly the favourites of all the Premier League contenders to snap up the young star.
Speaking to FotbollDirekt, top transfer journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has talked up Barca’s chances of a deal.
“He is a Barcelona player in terms of the way he plays and I know they like him. All the top clubs want Roony Bardghji,” he said.
“I think that Spanish clubs will go after him and I think that Barcelona in particular will try to sign him – not least because they missed out on Lucas Bergvall.”
However, Danish outlet Tipsbladet believe Postecoglou is also determined to win the race for Bardghji too.
Describing him as a ‘explicit request’ of the Aussie boss, the north London side are believed to have already registered their interest with his agent.

FC Copenhagen, for their part, are not in a position to reject a big-money offer for his services and are believed to have placed an asking price of around €20m (£17m) on the winger’s head, though the price could yet rise if an auction ensues.

Man Utd drop from race for winger

Financially, Spurs do appear better placed to win the race too, and it’s claimed they are set to devastate Barcelona for a second time in a matter of months by winning the race for Bardghji.
Spurs also hold a key advantage with a strong Swedish contingent forming in their particular corner of north London. And with Dejan Kulusevski helping persuade Bergvall to sign, he could yet play a part in helping convince Bardghji to join him too.
UNited, meanwhile, are believed to have dropped out of the race to sign the teenager, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s energies going instead into the capture of a more proven name in the form of Michael Olise.

TEAMtalk revealed on Wednesday that Olise is very much a top target for United this summer with a deal to bring him in from Crystal Palace likely to cost in the region of £60m.
Olise, who joined the Eagles in summer 2021 for a mere £8.1m, has nine goal involvements (six goals and three assists) from just 11 appearances in the Premier League this season.
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