For Erik ten Hag, the new start comes in the fixture that could have been his endgame. He could have bowed out against Manchester City at Wembley. Instead, reports of his demise proved exaggerated. Manchester United confounded expectations. He won the FA Cup and lost the sack race. Ten Hag’s reward was to keep his job, with a one-year extension triggered, and another Manchester derby in London, two months later and after making two summer signings.
There can be a sense of renewal to United, but also one that the past is inescapable. Ten Hag had hoped that injuries would be consigned to last season but Leny Yoro seemed to exhibit the characteristics of a 2023-24 United centre-back by promptly getting injured: the £52m teenager’s debut will be delayed for three months.
With Tyrell Malacia out and a further four doubts, he only has three senior defenders guaranteed to be fit to face the champions: the veteran Jonny Evans and the duo of Diogo Dalot and Lisandro Martinez, who both only returned to training this week. It is possible the Wembley back four includes the 36-year-old Evans and the 17-year-old left-back Harry Amass.
Which, it is safe to say, wasn’t quite what United had in mind for their injection of the new this summer. A first window under the co-ownership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos has brought the arrivals of chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth, defender Yoro and striker Joshua Zirkzee, a new coaching team around Ten Hag in Rene Hake, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Andreas Georgson and Jelle ten Rouwelaar.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Saudi revolution rolls on with Wembley showdown
It has cost a billion dollars, taken just 11 months, and this Saturday in front of 96,000, the boxing revolution will continue at Wembley Stadium. Last October, a boxing ring appeared from a depth of 26ft inside a black hole in the middle of the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital: the new capital of boxing. The ring was for Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou; the best two men in their respective sports, boxing and mixed martial arts. It was the launch of the boxing revolution.
Salvatore Schillaci, star of Italia '90, dies aged 59
Salvatore \"Toto\" Schillaci, an icon of Italian football and the top scorer at the 1990 World Cup, has died at the age of 59.
Tweaks could net Arsenal a Champions League trophy
In some of the difficult early seasons in north London, and even when things started to pick up and there was interest elsewhere, there was a particular motivation that drove Mikel Arteta.
City's riveting draw shows new league format has legs.
If the revamped Champions League was supposed to inject the competition with more drama, perhaps Uefa could still savour the scoreline in a stalemate.
Pelicot tells court rape suspects are 'degenerates'
The woman at the centre of the Monster of Avignon multiple rape trial accused her attackers of being “degenerates” as she gave evidence yesterday.
Casualties pass 1 million in Putin's war against Ukraine
The combined number of casualties on both sides in Russia's war against Ukraine has reached the ghastly one million mark, according to a media report. The tally of deaths in Europe's largest conflict since the Second World War rapidly overtook the estimated 140,000 that resulted from the wars in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and continues to mushroom.
Attack on Russian weapons store triggers massive blast
Ukrainian drone strike picked up by earthquake monitors
Train drivers accept pay deal to end strike action
Two years of misery caused by strike action for rail passengers has come to an end following a breakthrough in negotiations over drivers' pay.
Mother found Letby with crying baby, inquiry hears
A mother spoke emotionally as she described the moment she found Lucy Letby with her premature baby, crying and with blood around his mouth.
Lib Dems to investigate member accused of groping.woman at party conference
The Liberal Democrats are investigating a member accused of groping a woman at the party’s annual conference after the police said no further action would be taken.
