Sancho obligation triggered but doubt remainspublished at 15:53 21 April
15:53 21 April
Nizaar Kinsella BBC Sport football news reporter
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Chelsea have guaranteed they will finish above 15th in the Premier League which automatically triggers an obligation to buy winger Jadon Sancho.
The Blues would pay between £20m and £25m to Manchester United for the on-loan attacker after beating Fulham on Sunday afternoon.
However, they have a £5m clause to get out of the deal and senior officials have privately refused to rule out using it to get out of signing Sancho permanently.
The 25 year old has three goals and 10 assists in 34 matches for Chelsea this season.
Manager Enzo Maresca has explained a decision will be made at the end of the season.
'Small details' behind Wolves defeat - Eriksenpublished at 15:52 21 April
15:52 21 April
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Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen says "small details" were the reason behind Sunday's home defeat against Wolves, rather than any European hangover.
Ruben Amorim's side returned to action just three days after Thursday's dramatic 5-4 Europa League comeback in extra time against Lyon, but were far limper in a 1-0 Premier League defeat.
I think it was pretty easy to get over," Eriksen said. "I think obviously we changed a lot of the team from Thursday - we had our chances [on Sunday].
"No matter if we played Thursday or not, I think we had enough energy to win the game and, in the end, it was just small details. We weren't good enough in the last end.
"It is football in a nutshell. Sometimes if you have a good game but don't score any goals, then the opposition will always have a chance to take the lead and take the win. Unfortunately, they did that."
Despite the results, there were a couple of positives in the performances of 20-year-old Tyler Fredricson on his debut and 18-year-old Harry Amass on his first Old Trafford start.
"I'm happy for both," Eriksen said. "Obviously Harry has played a few games, but Tyler has trained with us a few times and performed [on Sunday]. I think he's a bright kid.
"I mean, they're both really working hard and earning their chance in the team. I think they can both be very proud of what they've achieved.
"They look very comfortable. I hope they enjoyed it and keep the memory apart from the loss. But for their own development I think they'll be very proud."
'Fire sale and reboot' - Man Utd fans on latest defeatpublished at 09:45 21 April
09:45 21 April
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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League defeat against Wolves at Old Trafford.
Here are some of your comments:
Garry: Deadwood on show again. Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen, Rasmus Hojlund etc and Kobbie Mainoo out of position. Wasteful up front and no midfield creativity. The young lads are semi-reasonable but we are not going to win anything with them. Roll on the end of the season. Fire sale and reboot.
Mike: The changes made to the team were inevitable and the youngsters did OK, but much more should be expected from the experienced players. This includes the subs, especially Mason Mount. Looks less like a Premier League player with each passing week.
JP: Typical lacklustre performance from this very average squad of players. One-night wonders in Europe do not make up for the disgraceful season fans have endured. No passion, commitment or hard work evident.
Iain: Given we had two kids starting and two older squad players that could be politely described as "having no legs", we actually made quite a few chances while being relatively secure at the back. Harry Amass looks an intriguing prospect and Tyler Fredricson had a very good debut. With bigger fish to fry elsewhere, these last few league games are a chance to give minutes to younger players, rest key players and maybe even nick a win here and there. Everything from now on is with a view to improve for next season. Sometimes you need to fall hard to realise how much work is actually required.
Mike: I wasn't expecting anything like Thursday's game but I did expect a little passion. First 10 minutes seemed to be going well but then we just sat back. Hojlund should have had at least two and he should have set one up. The youngsters played well but we just didn't want the win. In the second half, Wolves must have thought they could take all the points. Their game improved and even when we made the subs they just kept coming at us.
Peter: As I expected - the win against Lyon was a blip. How long is it going to take before the board admits that Ruben Amorim isn't the man to take United forward? Supporters will lose their patience if it goes on much longer. No improvement in any area - can't keep blaming the players.
Adam: This is why nights like when we played Lyon don't get my hopes up. It's hard to find positives from this season. To be fair, United seemed to have the better chances overall, but just couldn't do anything to actually finish the game off. Then we got punished by a decent free kick. Can we just defer the last few games, please, to save further anguish?
Luke: I thought we were better and more balanced before the substitutions. I love those kids on the left flank - they were superb. I'm just waiting for the summer to see who we bring in.
Man Utd players 'have to be hungrier to score'published at 09:39 21 April
09:39 21 April
Media caption,
Ex-Wales international Ashley Williams insists that Manchester United's players cannot complain about lack of service during the 1-0 defeat by Wolves on Sunday.
Hojlund 'lost' and 'absolutely devoid of any confidence' - Murraypublished at 08:35 21 April
08:35 21 April
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Former Premier League striker Glenn Murray says he empathises with Rasmus Hojlund because he is not getting the service he needs from his team-mates.
With Joshua Zirkzee out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, Hojlund is United's only senior fit striker. Yet he has scored just twice in the Premier League since his new boss Ruben Amorim arrived in November.
"I really feel for Rasmus Hojlund because I do believe there is a good footballer in there, but he is absolutely devoid of any confidence," said Murray on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast.
"It must be hard when you come to a club like Manchester United to remain positive when there is so much negativity around, especially as a forward.
"That formation is not set-up to make chances for Hojlund. There's a winger in Alejandro Garnacho that just wants to cut in and shoot, so he doesn't create chances for others, and then on the other side is Kobbie Mainoo who doesn't really get those balls in either.
"So I do feel for him. He's a young lad and he's a bit lost at the moment."
Gossip: Man Utd still in race to sign £70m Xavipublished at 08:27 21 April
08:27 21 April
Manchester United and Liverpool are among the clubs that have been monitoring Netherlands forward Xavi Simons, who has a contract at RB Leipzig until 2027. (Sport Bild - in German), external
Xavi could leave this summer but the German club will want about £70m if they are to sell the 21-year-old. (Sky Sports Germany), external
Chelsea's obligation to buy on-loan Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho has been triggered, after the Blues' win against Fulham ensured they will finish above 15th in the Premier League. (GiveMeSport), external
'We need to score goals'published at 17:06 20 April
17:06 20 April
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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the 1-0 defeat to Wolves: "We didn't score our opportunities. That's it. We need to score goals."
On Rasmus Hojlund and whether he needs support: "We need to continue to work but it is not just Rasmus, the whole team missed a lot of opportunities."
On whether it is one step forward and two steps back for Manchester United: "This season is going to end like this so we need to take the positives and work on what we need to improve. We have to look at everything, our squad, what we have to do in the market. We will see. We talk every day about next season and with time we will get what we need to improve the team."
Sutton's predictions: Man Utd v Wolvespublished at 10:46 20 April
10:46 20 April
Wolves have already beaten Manchester United once this season and, on current form, they are favourites this time too.
Vitor Pereira's side are flying with four straight wins, and we know how inconsistent United are.
I am going to give Bruno Fernandes a goal, because he has been one of the few United players who can hold their head up high with their performances this season, but at the moment Wolves look well-balanced, and they are the better team.
Was it the night that launched Amorim's reign?published at 17:08 18 April
17:08 18 April
Alex Turk Fan writer
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You would be forgiven if you mistook a Europa League quarter-final for a Champions League semi-final at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
I am only 25, but I have experienced plenty of magical moments in my time as a Manchester United season ticket-holder, even across the club's decade of decline.
Last season's FA Cup triumph over Liverpool comes to mind as the showreel's piece de resistance, but United 5-4 against Lyon may have topped it.
I have never seen the Theatre of Dreams like it. And that was what it was, just six minutes after Alexandre Lacazette's penalty turned it into the 'Theatre of Nightmares'.
There was utter despair at 4-2 down in the 114th minute. The curtains started to close on another disastrous season, and Ruben Amorim looked set for another hit on his credentials.
Then the emptying stands started to fill again when Bruno Fernandes' penalty offered a glimmer of hope against the 10 men of Lyon.
The unhinged bedlam after Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire completed a near-impossible turnaround in the 120th and 121st minutes highlighted why football is the greatest sport.
Was it the night that launched Amorim's reign? Even if United do not go on to lift the Europa League, the impact such nights can have must not be underestimated.
It feels so significant. The contrasting emotions between that Lacazette dagger and the madness that later erupted are incredible and could be the spark this vulnerable coach needed.
Amorim and many of those players have now experienced Old Trafford at its best, at its loudest. They now know what they will get back from success-starved supporters if they are the ones to stop the rot.
Wolves on Sunday feels like an after thought, as does the trip to Bournemouth a week later.
All eyes are already on 1 May, when United's still-unbeaten European run leads them to Bilbao.
Amorim on needing his young players, Onana's 'good game' and Wolves published at 13:34 18 April
13:34 18 April
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game at home against Wolves (14:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
When Amorim was asked if he will make changes after Thursday's dramatic Europa League comeback win over Lyon, he said: "I have to see. Players like [Diogo] Dalot are always ready, but today he is really tired. The guys who are at risk of injury, we will try to save them."
He said Victor Lindelof and Noussair Mazroui are both available after "personal issues". The two players had to leave Old Trafford during Thursday's Europa League win over Lyon, with Amorim stating: "I know football is really important but there are things that are more important. They will be ready to play the next game."
Asked if young players are ready to feature, the manager said: "It is not the best moment or the best season to put kids in to play because they need a strong base to really show what they can do. But, in this moment, you need to do it and sometimes you have some surprises. It is a difficult moment and not the right moment for the kids to play. But if we have to do it, we will do it."
Could Chido Obi feature more with only Rasmus Hojlund available as striker? "Yes. I think so. Chido when he played, he did quite well. Ayden [Heaven] just played – and I can be honest – because we had a lot of injuries in that moment. Today I think of him as my player. [Harry] Amass did really well [against Lyon]."
On Andre Onana's performance against Lyon after much scrutiny in recent weeks: "He did really well. He had a good game. He has to continue to have good games. I am really happy for him. It was a tough moment for him but now he has to move forward and be ready for the next games."
On Vitor Pereira's impact and the challenge posed by Wolves: "He is doing an amazing job. He has some really quality players. [Matheus] Cunha and these guys have real quality. They are fresh and we know it is going to be a tough match. We are going to need a lot from our supporters. I know that it is a bad thing to ask for anything in this season from our fans, but we need them on Sunday."
Could Cunha move to United? "I just gave the example because I remember Matheus has been scoring a lot of goals - just that."
Man Utd v Wolves: Did you know?published at 13:31 18 April
13:31 18 April
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Following their 2-0 win on 26 December, Wolves are looking to complete their first league double over Manchester United since 1979-80.
United have won all four of their home league games played on Easter Sunday by an aggregate score of 9-1.
If Wolves win this game, they would be level on points with Manchester United in the Premier League table. Before Vitor Pereira's first game in charge on 22 December, they trailed the Red Devils by 13 points.
Image source, Getty Images
