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Video: Manuel Ugarte scores with stunning last-gasp strike to seal priceless victory for Uruguay

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    Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte was the unlikely match winner as he smashed home a winner in the 101st minute of action to give Uruguay a 3-2 win over Colombia in World Cup qualifying.

    The Uruguayan has had an up and down start to his Old Trafford career with some poor performances to start off the season.

    Lately though, he seems to have found his feet and will hope that the arrival of his old manager, Ruben Amorim, will be the shot in the arm his United career needs.

    He was originally left out of the starting eleven and was only brought on in the 68th minute of play, being given a score of 7.1 on Sofascore.

    Before the goal, he had a quiet game, only having 10 touches of the ball and completing seven out of nine passes for a pass completion rate of 78%.

    The usually combative midfielder was not his usual self in this regard, only competing in one ground duel and winning his one aerial battle.

    Nonetheless, a very subdued performance was sparked into life in the dying embers of the contest.

    After conceding an equaliser in the 96th minute of play, Uruguay frantically launched the ball forward in Montevideo and former United man, Facundo Pellistri, won the ball and knocked it down for the onrushing Ugarte to smash the ball into the net from the edge of the area to send the arena into raptures.

    It was the defensive midfielder’s first goal for his country in his 27th appearance and incredibly, was his first strike since the 2021/2022 season with Sporting Lisbon.

    Whilst Ugarte’s main strengths are to press and win the ball back in the middle of the park, he will be hopeful that this crucial last minute goal will give him the confidence to launch his United career.

    The win for La Celeste means they leapfrog Colombia in second place in the league table and are now only three points off Argentina at the top of the tree.

    Ugarte will hope to gain a start in his nation’s next match when they travel to Brazil on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning UK time) in a mouth-watering tie.

    Featured image Ernesto Ryan via Getty Images

    Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.

    Man Utd transfers: Viktor Gyokeres snubbed for Bournemouth star as Ruben Amorim’s ‘first signings’ ranked

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      We can all enjoy/endure a steady increase in transfer rumours surrounding Manchester United as we approach the January window; even more than usual thanks to the arrival of Ruben Amorim, who will be handed the requisite leeway by dint of not having His Players to call upon.

      The transfer gossip-peddlers have predictably chosen to interpret that cliched caveat very literally thus far, with plenty of focus on the Sporting players Amorim may be looking to poach to get the band back together, having observed Erik ten Hag’s rudimentary transfer policy in his time at Old Trafford.

      But the hearsay net has been spread wide, with some of the players tipped to be his ‘first signing’ perfectly reasonable suggestions and others indicating profound delusion over the lure of a once-great football team.

      We’ve ranked 12 players linked with being the first through the door in the Amorim era from least to most likely.

      *Remember, this isn’t the chances of them ever joining Manchester Untied, just of them being the first signing*

      12) Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
      Absurd, obviously. Musiala could just about have his pick of any club in world football and already plays for one that’s in the Champions League and on top of the Bundesliga. Manchester United are a long way from even being on the radar for someone like him. But we need to consider when this rumour emerged.

      United fans were understandably excited on November 1 when Amorim was officially announced as their next manager, trawling the interweb for any story – hokum or otherwise – on their saviour, giddily clicking on links in the false hope that his arrival opened a portal to the mid-noughties when they had the clout to attract a footballer of such repute and hadn’t spunked hundreds of millions of pounds on average players in the interim to make his transfer an impossibility.

      11) Geovany Quenda (Sporting)
      It’s fair to say Diogo Dalot, Ten Hag-nail-in-the-coffin miss against West Ham aside, has been one of Manchester United’s better players this season, looking comfortable either on the left or right of defence. But there will be doubt over his suitability for the right wing-back role, and even if he thrives there, the grind and energy levels required to play that position will likely see United prioritise wing-back signings so that they have two players for the left and two for the right.

      Amorim clearly has great faith in Quenda, having promoted the 17-year-old to the first team and made him a staple in his side this season. There’s always a bloody release clause though, and while Sporting may well be willing to soften their stance in the summer, they’re currently of a mind that the £83m they’re asking for  ‘reflects his long-term value and potential in European football’.

      If United are going to spend that much on a Sporting player, it’s not going to be Quenda…

      10) Lorran (Flamengo)
      Us neither. He’s an 18-year-old attacking midfielder who’s been promoted to the Flamengo first team this season and has one goal and one assist in 17 appearances. Like 99 per cent of the people on social media now hailing him as The Next Vinicius, that’s the sum-total of our knowledge of Lorran, aside from what we’ve gleaned from the two dozen Welcome To Manchester United 2024 Best Skills And Goals videos that have emerged in the last month.

      Chelsea are of course also scouting the teenager, who has a release clause of €50m, which, whether United sign him in the future or not, they’re not about to spend in January on a player who in all likelihood won’t be ready for first-team action for some time yet.

      9) Jarrad Braithwaite (Everton)
      In an alternate but not all that distant reality, Branthwaite would currently be licking his wounds following an Old Trafford baptism of fire under the doomed Erik ten Hag and hoping – like the rest of his Manchester United teammates – that the manager was the problem.

      Had Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS not been at the helm in the summer, the Red Devils would have got to deadline day, panicked, and bent to Everton’s crazy demands for their centre-back.

      The new ethos of not paying over the odds for players, particularly young British talent, led United to instead sign Matthijs de Ligt for around half the £70m they would have had to stump up for Branthwaite.

      We won’t know for a while yet whether Eric Dier’s understudy has struggled because of Ten Hag, his system or the team’s general hardships, but there is a sense – particularly as Amorim wants to play a back three – that further centre-back recruits will be required.

      It makes sense for Branthwaite to be on that shortlist. He’s young, left-footed and has Everything You Want In A Centre-back. One for the summer though probably, as Everton surely won’t listen to offers in January; certainly not the sort of offers United will be prepared to put on the table given their financial constraints.

      8) Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea)
      We have little doubt having watched Nkunku’s fits-and-starts Chelsea career to date that if given a run in the team he would score plenty of goals. Cole Palmer aside, perhaps even including the Blues Starboy, Nkunku is the most natural and instinctive finisher in a squad bulging with attacking talent and potential.

      He just doesn’t offer the same things as Nicolas Jackson, who’s very much the man in possession of the No.9 spot in the Premier League XI and doesn’t look likely to cede that role any time soon. If anything, he looks set to strengthen his grip, with his ceiling for improvement as high as anyone’s in Enzo Maresca’s squad.

      There are already understandable rumblings of discontent from Nkunku, who – as the kids say – could Slap for a big side if given the game time.

      The problem for United – and we’re not ruling it out because up until very recently Chelsea has been a madhouse under the new owners – is that it would take a special kind of stupid for the Blues to sign off on Nkunku moving to a Premier League rival.

      They apparently turned down more money from Tottenham for Conor Gallagher and for the same reason would presumably only accept offers from abroad if the Frenchman angles for the exit.

      7) Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting)
      Definitely a transfer that could happen, though probably not in January, presuming Amorim is not a total snake.

      A high chance of them making a move in the summer for sure, when Sporting have said they will listen to offers around the £60m mark: a price too low for United not to consider as they a) would love a proper goalscorer, and b) won’t want rival clubs to steal him away, as they will surely try to do.

      Rasmus Hojlund has got a big six months ahead of him to prove to Amorim that they need not spend that cash on Gyokeres as they’ve already got a striker capable of producing consistent performances and banging in goals for fun. That’s surely the hope, though a report on Amorim’s plans for the United front three may well throw a spanner in the works.

      READ MORE: Rasmus Hojlund must prove he’s Viktor Gyokeres, or Man Utd will sign Viktor Gyokeres

      6) Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Chelsea)
      His signing always felt like a bit of an odd one, seemingly joining Chelsea more as an assistant coach to Enzo Maresca than a player, as someone who knows what the manager wants and can impart his ethos and tactics from within while Maresca works on them from the top down.

      Dewsbury-Hall likely knew he wasn’t set to be a key cog in the midfield of a club that also has Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandez as options, but presumably also hoped for more than 43 Premier League minutes in the opening 11 games of the season.

      Perhaps even Maresca thought he would have called on him more often, but it’s all going rather well with Caicedo and Lavia in the middle, and if Dewsbury-Hall was indeed signed to ease the transition of styles, there’s a sense that his job is already done.

      Our suspicion is that he’s not quite good enough for Chelsea, and therefore probably not quite good enough for Manchester United, or at least where they want to be, and we can’t imagine stumping up what we assume would have to be a similar fee to the £30m Chelsea paid Leicester for Dewsbury-Hall would engender great hope for the future among the Red Devils fans.

      5) Karl Hein (Arsenal)
      We really like what we’ve seen and heard from Amorim so far. He wants the Manchester United players to have “fun” for the first time in over a decade, didn’t bow to Gary Cotterill’s ludicrous Little Englander demand, looks genuinely excited to be the new manager and has spoken eruditely about the challenges ahead. In short, he’s come across as a smart and passionate guy.

      No smart guy would arrive at Old Trafford and think the first thing they need to do is change the goalkeeper. Andre Onana has been very good this season, and even when supposedly bad last season he wasn’t actually that bad.

      We wouldn’t just question the intelligence but the sanity of someone who wants to replace statistically the second-best goalkeeper in the Premier League with a guy sent out on loan from a team that currently has the 16th-best as their No.1.

      The content of the story was nonsense, but United signing Hein from Arsenal is perfectly possible, as a back-up, with a view to him surpassing Onana as No.1 in the future.

      4) Danilo (Juventus)
      It doesn’t reflect hugely well on us so-called journalists here at Football365 that it came as a surprise to learn that a footballer who’s played close to every game in the last two seasons for – and is the actual captain of – Juventus, is still playing football at all.

      In our defence Danilo left the Premier League five years ago, at which point we stop caring about any player not making waves in the Champions League.

      He’s now 33 and out of contract in the summer but, judging by his three Serie A starts from 11 this season, is on something of a downward slope in career terms. That certainly doesn’t rule out a move to United, particularly as he would cost them close to nothing in January, but it would strike us as an unnecessary move if not quite entirely pointless given the experience the Brazilian would bring.

      3) Sverre Nypan (Rosenborg)
      A likely first signing for two reasons: he’s not going to cost a lot – around £10m supposedly – and the Norwegian season is about to finish, easing his path to Old Trafford in the January transfer window.

      He plays in central midfield, where Amorim will definitely need reinforcements; the hugely optimistic assumption that Manuel Ugarte will immediately return to his Sporting levels is not enough to offset concerns over his ageing competition for that role alongside Kobbie Mainoo.

      Nypan’s only 17 and we can’t see a £10m teenager arriving and slotting immediately into the Manchester United team, but Big Sir Jim and the INEOS lads have promised signings for the future and he fits that bill…if they can steal a march on Manchester City and Chelsea.

      2) Andreas Christensen (Barcelona)
      We can imagine the crestfallen reactions of Manchester United fans clicking on links tipping a Barcelona star to be the marquee first addition under Amorim and discovering that man is Andreas Christensen. Understandable but a tad unfair.

      He’s been injured this season but was more or less a mainstay for Barcelona last term, and an attractive signing in that he can operate both at centre-back and in defensive midfield. Probably quite cheap given his contract expires in 2026, he has lots of experience, both in the Premier League and in Europe, though with enough left in the tank as a 28-year-old.

      Christensen has also crucially played plenty of football in a back three, Amorim’s preference, having come into the Chelsea team after Thomas Tuchel took over from Frank Lampard before playing a key role in their Champions League win.

      1) Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth)
      A bombing Hungarian left-back with a mullet playing for Bournemouth, they don’t come more hipster than that. But Kerkez has emerged from the footballing subculture this season, with his name being put forward among the best full-backs in the top flight no longer requiring a hand-knitted beanie to be doffed after a thoughtful sip of an oat latte, but a nod between sips of a pint of Stella.

      Fun and brilliant though Bournemouth are, he’s destined for bigger things. There will be significant competition for his signature, from Liverpool, where Arne Slot is reportedly unconvinced by both Kostas Tsimikas or Andy Robertson, and from abroad, with Serie A and La Liga giants said to be keeping tabs on his situation.

      But United seems like a really good option for Kerkez, particularly given how well suited he would be to Amorim’s system and the opportunity to fly forward as a left wing-back.

      “Hell of a lot of pressure…”: United coach who survived brutal Amorim axe breaks his silence

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        Last season’s FA Cup final triumph was the highlight of an otherwise dreadful campaign for Manchester United in which they finished eighth and were knocked out of Europe in the group stages.

        Changes were in order and while Erik ten Hag survived after a thorough review, his coaches were axed as INEOS brought in a whole new coaching staff to aid the Dutchman.

        Ruud van Nistelrooy, and Rene Hake joined as assistants while Jelle ten Rouwelaar came onboard as the goalkeeping coach.
        Andreas Georgson came from Lillestrom as a set-piece coach.

        However, results did not improve and eventually, Ten Hag received his marching orders. And after a four-match run as interim boss, Van Nistelrooy was also shown the door after Ruben Amorim arrived.

        Georgson on tough start

        And along with the former club striker, almost the entire coaching staff left with the exception of Georgson and Darren Fletcher, who has now outstayed four United bosses.

        It is clear to see that the Swedish coach is an INEOS hire rather than someone Ten Hag had an input in bringing in. And he revealed in an interview with Skanesport that it was Jason Wilcox who persuaded him to join.

        And it has been quite the storm so far. He was asked about the tough times he has faced and how the coaches have coped with all the external pressure put on the club the media.

        “We are struggling in 13th place in the league and the pressure around United is enormous! It puts a hell of a lot of pressure on players and coaches.

        “I don’t read much of what is written in the media and those of us who are part of the innermost core never really meet supporters or press. We are housed in a completely protected training facility where no media has access to us.

        “One effect of that is that a lot of what is written around the club becomes pure guesses and assumptions – therefore you don’t read much of what they write.”

        His role

        Fans would like to know his exact job role and the former Arsenal and Brentford coach explained in detail.

        “I am responsible for fixed situations, individual development and drive the work with our identity as a team together with the head coach.

        “My first special competence is set pieces and throw-ins and that is also what we have prioritized during the first period. That’s where I have a unique knowledge bank and a unique method – which has worked in all clubs.

        “Over time, we have also laid the foundations for the individual development program and our identity as a team, and slowly I have also started those processes, which is very fun.”

        Instructions for United players

        On whether the players enjoy his methods, he explained further, “Few think it’s fun to practice. But everyone knows that a third of goals are scored on set pieces.

        “I have to be clear to the players. “Less is more” is often true. I’d rather practice fixed situations with full attention for ten minutes than for two hours without commitment. These are details that can statistically decide five table positions up or down.”

        He also acknowledged that the team have struggled to score goals and thus he knows the importance of the group trying harder under Amorim to fix things.

        “It has turned out exactly as I hoped. A role that is clearly defined. Life is as involved as I hoped for. But we struggle to score goals and take points. My situation is sportingly trying.”

        Georgson has been highly-successful in his time in London as well as Southampton and hopefully, he can work in tandem with Amorim to ensure a good end to the season.

        Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25

        United interested in “midfielder of the future” who was handed record-breaking debut by Amorim – report

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          Not content with taking their successful manager, Manchester United could return to Sporting Lisbon to poach their record-breaking youngster Dario Essugo.

          When Amorim handed the then-16-year-old midfielder his debut from the bench against Vitoria de Guimaraes in 2021, he became Sporting’s youngest-ever debutant.

          And according to Spanish publication Marca, the “midfielder of the future” – now aged 19 – could be set for a reunion with the man who put so much faith in him.

          Essugo is currently on loan at La Liga side Las Palmas, where he is the “master and owner” of the team’s midfield.

          His formidable performances have reportedly given countless scouts reason to visit Estadio Gran Canaria, and in particular Marca note that “there is no Premier League team that has not gone to see Essugo play this season”.

          Closer to his temporary home, both Barcelona and Real Madrid are credited with a strong interest in him.

          Marca state that he has a €60m release clause in his Sporting contract, which runs until summer 2027.

          As per sofascore, Essugo is an active presence in front of the defence with an impressive average of 2.4 interceptions and 2.5 tackles per game.

          For comparison, Casemiro has recorded 0.5 interceptions and 3.1 tackles, and Manuel Ugarte 0.7 interceptions and 2.8 tackles.

          Since their partial takeover of United, INEOS seem hell-bent on bringing the stars of tomorrow on board, having added hot prospects like Chido Obi-Martin and Sekou Kone to the club’s ranks.

          They are building gametime and experience in the youth side but are seriously tipped to break into the first team in due course, with Amorim a devout fan of developing young talent.

          INEOS show no signs of slowing down the youth recruitment, with links to the likes of Sunderland’s Chris Rigg and Sverre Nypan of Rosenborg refusing to go away.

          Featured image David Ramos via Getty Images

          Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.

          Official: Club confirms they’ve reached “mutual agreement” for termination of ex-United star’s contract

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            Juventus have officially confirmed they’ve terminated the contract of former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.

            Pogba was handed a four-year ban in February for a doping offence but in October, this was reduced to 18 months after the player lodged a successful appeal.

            He will resume training in January and will be eligible to line up in competitive fixtures once again from March.

            However, despite this, it emerged that Juventus were no longer keen on keeping Pogba even after the Frenchman expressed a willingness to take a wage cut to remain in Turin.

            Juventus stance was re-affirmed by club director Cristiano Giuntoli, who insisted that the Old Lady had different plans and were working on releasing Pogba.

            The Serie A giants have now released a statement confirming as much.

            “Juventus Football Club and Paul Pogba announce that they have reached a mutual agreement for the termination of their contract as of 30 November, 2024.”

            “The club wishes Paul the very best for his professional future.”

            The former United man will now be free to join a new club when the January transfer window opens.

            Reacting to this latest development in his career, Pogba wrote on Instagram, “There are moments when things don’t go the way we want, but one thing is certain: the bond I have with you, dear fans, will remain unforgettable.”

            “You have given me so much, more than I can put into words, and I will always carry with me all the affection you gave me.”

            “You’ll be in my heart, always. Good luck @juventus.”

            Pogba has so far been linked with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr. It’s also believed that there is interest in his services from Major League Soccer.

            Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!

            Man United star openly addresses bizarre conspiracy theory about him – The Athletic

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              Manchester United’s left-back Tyrell Malacia has finally returned to action after an extended 18-month absence due to a persistent knee injury.

              In an interview with The Athletic, the Dutchman detailed the physical and emotional challenges of his rehabilitation while addressing the conspiracy theories that emerged during his time away.

              The 25-year-old last featured for United during a 2-1 win over Fulham in May 2023.

              A reliable presence in Erik ten Hag’s debut season, Malacia made 39 appearances, often stepping in for first-choice left-back Luke Shaw.

              However, discomfort in his left knee, which started as a minor issue, later evolved into a prolonged ordeal involving multiple surgeries and an arduous rehabilitation process.

              Malacia initially felt discomfort in his knee towards the end of the 2022-23 season but managed the pain to complete United’s campaign and represent the Netherlands in the Nations League.

              A summer of rest proved insufficient, and the problem persisted. Surgery was deemed necessary, and despite initial optimism, complications delayed his return.

              Scans revealed fragments of cartilage around the meniscus, requiring a second operation and further setting back his recovery.

              The protracted nature of Malacia’s absence fueled baseless conspiracy theories on social media, ranging from suggestions of his demise to ludicrous claims about his personal life.

              Despite the noise, Malacia remained silent, focusing instead on his recovery. “As long as my family and I know I’m good, it’s enough,” he said, explaining why he didn’t address the speculation earlier.

              United’s medical department was criticised for its handling of his recovery, which was exacerbated by the club’s injury crisis last season. Malacia, however, is not critical of the care he received.

              He acknowledges the need for additional specialists, which led him to seek external rehabilitation support in the Netherlands and Spain.

              Beyond his injury, Malacia has endured personal challenges, including his father’s illness and the loss of his grandmother, whom he considered a second mother.

              Balancing these struggles with a stalled football career tested his mental resilience. Yet, Malacia’s positivity and faith have been his pillars of strength. “I’ve been smiling every day,” he shared, crediting his family and faith for helping him through tough times.

              Now, with a return to Man United’s first team in sight, Malacia is determined to contribute to the club’s success. “Even with bad things in life, you shouldn’t see them as bad things. See them as a lesson and outgrow them,” he said.

              Raj is a seasoned digital writer and editor with a deep-seated passion for football. With over four years in the digital space, he has contributed to Sportlens, ManUtdNews, and is now proudly writing for The Peoples Person. His work is driven by a commitment to capture the essence of football, delivering content that speaks to the heart of fans worldwide.

              Juventus considering January move for out-of-favour United star, but he hopes to play under Amorim – report

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                Juventus are interested in Manchester United central defender Harry Maguire ahead of the January transfer window, as per reports.

                After a promising start under Thiago Motta, Juve have suffered a hiccup in the race for the Serie A title, having drawn two of their last four league games. They currently sit sixth on the table, but only two points behind leaders Napoli.

                However, long-term injuries to Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal have severely weakened their backline, and if Juventus don’t find a solution swiftly, they risk losing more crucial points in Serie A as well as the Champions League.

                According to Corriere dello Sport, strengthening the defence in the winter window “will be an absolute necessity” for the Old Lady, with club chiefs understood to be exploring many options.

                It is claimed that out-of-favour United centre-back Maguire is being considered to bolster the club’s squad in January.

                Juve are not expected to spend big during the winter window. The situation makes Maguire a very attractive option, as the Englishman’s contract at Old Trafford is due to expire at the end of the season.

                The experienced defender’s ability in possession and physicality makes him a suitable fit for the Italian league which is less intense than the Premier League. ‌

                The 31-year-old struggled for regular minutes under Erik ten Hag, but it is believed that he hopes to have more space under Ruben Amorim, who prefers to field three centre-backs in his lineup.

                A defender of Maguire’s profile could thrive under Amorim as a central centre back, who isn’t tasked with defending wide areas, something that has always troubled the ex-Leicester City star.

                The Peoples Person recently relayed a report suggesting Maguire is focused on impressing the Portuguese head coach and believes he can even earn a contract extension.

                Juve are also monitoring Maguire’s England teammate, Eric Dier, who has found himself on the fringes at Bayern Munich following Thomas Tuchel’s departure.

                Meanwhile, Maguire’s United teammate, Victor Lindelof, has also attracted interest from Italy, with AC Milan reported to be keen on securing his services.

                Vishal has covered football for over five years. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person. Big fan of ball-playing center-backs!

                “I had to go to the bathroom to cry”: Ex-United Women star opens up on hitting “rock-bottom” at the club

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                  Former Manchester United Women star Irene Guerrero has revealed that she used to cry in the bathroom during training sessions at the club.

                  Guerrero permanently left United in the summer to join Club América Femenil.

                  She arrived at United in the summer of 2023, off the back of Spain’s triumph in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Her start to life at the club was hampered by a knee injury she suffered, causing her to miss the first part of the season.

                  When she returned, Guerrero found minutes hard to come by, only managing seven appearances across all competitions. Only one of these came as a start.

                  In an interview with Marca [via Morning Star], Guerrero admitted that she struggled mentally while at United due to the limited playing time.

                  She said, “I did everything in my power to get a chance, but when the weeks go by and you don’t get it, you see how small you are. When I returned to training in January [after the injury], I had minutes in some games between January and March, but then there is a period where I don’t play at all.”

                  “I fully understand that a coach may like one profile of player more than another and that’s absolutely fine, but being denied the opportunity to show your level or potential and then see if it fits into your game model or not …”

                  “It was difficult for me to accept at that time. I asked myself. ‘Why are you coming to sign me, pay a transfer fee and give a player in exchange if you don’t count on me later?’ Mentally reconciling that was not easy. The support I had from my family and my partner helped me to see the positive side and get down to work. When I hit rock bottom I started to approach it in a different way.”

                  She added, “I had moments of weakness, of not understanding why I had left a place where I was doing well and believed I could compete to go to a club where they were denying me as a footballer. I learned another facet of football, but I took with me very good team-mates who made me feel at home and an experience that forges you as a person and as an athlete.”

                  “I remember days when, halfway through training, I had to go into the bathroom to cry, wash my face and come out as if nothing had happened. I tried not to let anyone notice and not to affect the team, but I had a very important, very hard mental limit.”

                  “I also went through moments of sending everything to hell, especially when I got home and said to my partner, ‘I want to go home, I don’t want to be here. I’m not enjoying myself, I’m not happy and I feel like everything I’ve sacrificed to come to another country is not worth it. The reward for the effort and work I’m doing on a day-to-day basis is zero.’”

                  The 27-year-old explained that she focused on working harder, training with the team and going to the gym.

                  According to Guerrero, she wanted to be strong both mentally and physically, in an effort to prove that she wasn’t defeated.

                  Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!

                  PL top-four rivals jump ahead of United in the race for Chelsea ace signed in the summer – report

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                    Manchester United’s new head coach Ruben Amorim has already declared to the club’s co-owners that his system requires players who can handle high intensity.

                    And that means plenty of big-name stars could be on their way with Christian Eriksen reportedly set to be cut loose as early as January despite his impressive form this season.

                    And Casemiro is another player who is unlikely to prolong his stay in Manchester. It is clear that the Portuguese wants young and hungry players to play in his 3-4-3 system.

                    Recently, The Peoples Person relayed that Chelsea’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could be on the move after failing to impress at Stamford Bridge since his summer move from Leicester City.

                    Dewsbury-Hall future

                    The Englishman was a United target in the summer as well but Enzo Maresca decided to take him from the King Power to London and the 26-year-old was expected to be a pivotal cog in Maresca’s plans.

                    However, Dewsbury-Hall has not managed a single start in the Premier League so far, seeing a total of 43 minutes of action in the English top-flight.

                    He has made 10 appearances in all competitions, scoring once. Chelsea fans will not be too pleased to see him leave so soon after the manager brought him to the club.

                    Apart from the 20-time English league champions, Tottenham Hotspur were also said to be eyeing the Chelsea ace but as relayed by Teamtalk, Aston Villa have jumped the queue and have opened talks with the player’s camp.

                    Villa are hoping to buy the midfielder and the Blues are open to the sale so long as they receive the full £30 million they paid the Foxes in the summer.

                    Villa in front

                    For now, the Villans are looking to pay a total of £18.2 million, with £12.4 million upfront plus another £5.8 million in potential add-ons.

                    If Chelsea stick to their guns regarding the price, this could allow United and Spurs to once again get back in the transfer race with a loan approach considered most likely.

                    Dewsbury-Hall can play all across the midfield and even out wide, and would be a fantastic and underrated addition for Amorim’s system.

                    Last season, he scored 12 times while registering 15 assists in the Championship, as the Foxes climbed back up to the Premier League.

                    Whether United will offer a straight loan deal or whether they will include an option or obligation to buy remains to be seen.

                    Feature image Mike Hewitt via Getty Images

                    Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25

                    “This I can guarantee”: Amorim makes big five-word promise to United fans that he will implement “since day one”

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                      Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has promised fans that “they will see an idea” of the type of football he wants to implement at the club, as early as his first match against Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town on November 24.

                      Amorim arrived at United on Monday to officially take over from interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has since departed.

                      A day later, Amorim was pictured meeting some of his United players including Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Leny Yoro, Mason Mount and Toby Collyer.

                      Amorim had his first sit-down with club media and delved at length into what supporters can expect to see when his maiden starting XI takes to pitch against the Tractor Boys in slightly more than a week’s time.

                      The 39-year-old said, “I think you will see an idea. You could like it or not, I don’t know, but you will see an idea. You will see a positioning. You will see something that we want to reach that kind of level. You will feel that.”

                      “We have to know that it’s like two trainings before the first match. This is the best league in the world. But if I have to say something to you, [it’s that] you will see an idea. This I can guarantee.”

                      “A lot of people now talk about the 3-4-3 and the 4-3-3 and all that stuff. But when I think as a player or as a team-mate of Manchester United, it is not a system or formation – it’s like the character of the players, the way they see the club. So we have to focus on that before everything [in terms] of how we play, how we press. The most important thing for me, at this moment, is to create the principles, the identity and the character that we had in the past.”

                      Amorim stressed that it’s important for United to immediately win their games despite needing time to get his ideas across the board.

                      “To win time is to win games but the most important thing for me is identity. So, since day one, we didn’t start training, we didn’t have the players. But, since day one, we will start with our identity. Of course, we are going to prepare [for] the games, but we will focus a lot in our game model.”

                      “How to play, how to press, these small things, small details. You cannot go 100 per cent on every detail because it will be confusing for the players. So if I have to say one thing, my main goal, my first goal, is identity.”

                      When asked to summarise his football philosophy in one word, Amorim said, “Team.”

                      “If you work as a team, then the talent individually is going to shine. But if I have to explain the importance of everything, it is the character – the way we fight, the way we play, and we must have an identity. We have to. If our players take the shirt, they will know that it is the Manchester United team.”

                      “Everybody thinks the same – running back, playing, enjoying [it]. This is what drives me. I can say the popular thing, which is to win. Everybody wants to win and I want to win with my players, with the fans but with an identity and one idea, that is the thing that I am focused on all the time.”

                      Amorim revealed that chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth each played a crucial role in his decision to seal a switch to Old Trafford.

                      According to the Portuguese coach, he instantly felt a connection to the club and believes his ambitions and aims align with those of the hierarchy.

                      Amorim also highlighted United’s illustrious history and the existing hunger for success as other factors that motivated his passion to take over the reins of the team.

                      On his recent trip to the Theatre of Dreams, he stated, “When you come here, it’s so different. You see the trophies, you see the tragedy that we have as a club. The history, the way that someone that saved us at the moment. So you can understand the history, after the crash, then we were European champions.”

                      “This kind of strength, I think it is important to put in our team. When the players come here, they should make the same tour with the same guy all the time. I think this is very important to do. It is one thing that you have to feel: that this is Manchester United and it’s normal.”

                      “If you are a lot of years without winning, you start losing that. So you have to be very clear on the message that you want to put on the players.”

                      He emphasised the importance of getting the players to to the same things so that they can regain the feeling of being on top.

                      Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images

                      Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!

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