Man Utd news LIVE updates: Carabao Cup team, Pogba update, Asensio transfer, Juve relief
MANCHESTER UNITED face Swansea tonight after their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Huddersfield on Saturday and Express Sport brings you all the build-up and latest news from Old Trafford.
Swansea team: Nordfelt, Rangel, Van der Hoorn, Mawson, Olsson, Ki, Mesa, Clucas, Routledge, Ayew, McBurnie
Subs: Mulder, Naughton, Fernandez, Fer, Fulton, Narsingh, Abraham
Pogba transfer latest
16:37: Juventus will not be punished for their part in a payment made to Paul Pogba’s agent during his transfer to Manchester United.
FIFA had been investigating the £89.3million move, which broke the transfer record in 2016.
The crux of the investigation was how much Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola earned from the transaction.
Manchester United were cleared in the summer of any wrongdoing over the France international’s switch back to Old Trafford four years after he left.
And Juventus president Andrea Agnelli said in a shareholders meeting today that no action will be brought against the club.
"FIFA's investigation into Pogba has concluded without any implication for Juventus, who have been completely acquitted," he said.
Juventus have reached the Champions League final in two of the last three years.
And he revealed an increased revenue for the Italian champions of 20 per cent between 2015/16 and 2016/17.
"We've recorded a record profit of €42.6m. The focus for Juventus has always been on our football, but to develop the sporting side, what happens off the field is equally important,” he said.
"We're extremely proud of what the club have done - never in history have a side won six titles in a row - and now we are looking for something beyond legendary."
Spurs more likely for title - Burley
16.30: Tottenham are more likely to win the Premier League this season than Manchester United, according to ESPN pundit Craig Burley.
Former Chelsea midfielder Burley has been surprised by Tottenham this season, especially with the number of injuries they have suffered.
“I would say at the moment they are the biggest challengers to City,” he said.
“They’re the second best team in the Premier League at the moment behind the Blues.
“You’ve got wing-backs that can change side, don’t forget there’s no (Mousa) Dembele, there’s no (Victor) Wanyama yet, they’re still out injured, (Erik) Lamela is injured.
“Barring disaster, they’re certainly, in my opinion, in the title race.”
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Manchester United signed Paul Pogba from Juventus in 2016
Shaw must prove himself - Gale
15.25: Manchester United star Luke Shaw must show Jose Mourinho he is the best left-back at the club, according to Tony Gale.
Gale says Shaw needs to regain his confidence and tell his manager why he should get more game time.
“I think he’s a terrific player,” he said on Sky Sports.
“I just think he needs to get his confidence back and more importantly show a strength of character to say ‘I want to play here, this is my role, I’m the best player here, I don’t worry about all the things going on around me, I’m going to make this place my own’.”
Spurs are a better team - Robson
14.55: Tottenham are a better team as it stands than Manchester United, according to ESPN pundit Stewart Robson.
Robson says recent results for Spurs and United has changed his mind on who will challenge Manchester City for the title this season.
“At the moment I think Tottenham look like the team that can really challenge Manchester City,” he said.
“They’ve got I think a better all-round game, I think several of their players are more consistent than the Manchester United players.
“At the moment I think Tottenham are the better side.”
Man Utd travel to Swansea
14:10: Manchester United have been spotted boarding a plane to Wales ahead of their Carabao Cup clash with Swansea City tonight (7.45pm).
Jose Mourinho is expected to rotate his Manchester United squad ahead of the fourth round tie with Swansea, handing starts to several youngsters.
Scott McTominay is one such player who could get the nod, while Axel Tuanzebe was also spotted boarding the plane at Manchester Airport this morning.
11:53: Mikael Silvestre doesn’t think Mesut Ozil would cut it at Manchester United if he left Arsenal.
“I think he would have to change his attitude,” Silvestre told beIN Sports.
“I think it’s mainly when the team loses the ball.
“The first few seconds in reaction – that’s when the coaches want you to get up and try to recover as quickly as possible.
“Be that man to block and try to stop your opponent.
“And his transitions sometimes, he looks like ‘okay we lost the ball now and I’ve got to run back now because I’m Arsenal’, but sometimes it doesn’t look like he is interested, so at United he wouldn’t last long – especially with Jose [Mourinho].”
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Mesut Ozil has been linked with a January move to Manchester United
Reus battle
10:30: Manchester United and Arsenal are both battling for Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus.
The 28-year-old is currently sidelined with a cruciate knee-ligament injury but that has not stopped the Premier League duo showing interest.
Reus is out of contract in the summer of 2019 and reports in Germany claim Arsenal and United could both make a move for him in January or the end of the season.
Giggs defends Lindelof
08:28: Ryan Giggs insists Victor Lindelof will come good at Manchester United despite his poor display against Huddersfield.
"One player who has attracted a lot of criticism is Victor Lindelof but he certainly shouldn't be written off yet,” Giggs told Sky Sports.
“Some players come to the Premier League and bed in straight away and others can take six months or even a year, as it was for Patrice Evra, Jaap Stam and Nemanja Vidic, and they went on to be unbelievable players.
“You win together and lose together and you can't single out a player, especially when he hasn't been playing regularly.
“He's just got to knuckle down and come through this.”
Lindelof reprieve
05:45: The Sweden international was thrown on in the centre of defence at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday after Phil Jones picked up an injury.
But Lindelof had a day to forget - hesitating in the build-up to Aaron Mooy’s opener for the Terriers, then seeing a weak header pounced on by Laurent Depoitre for the second goal as the Red Devils lost 2-1.
United boss Jose Mourinho has been reluctant to use his £30.75m summer buy from Benfica in the Premier League this season, suggesting last month that the defender needed time to adjust to the English game.
And with Jones struggling to recover from the thigh muscle injury he picked up on Saturday and Eric Bailly still battling a groin problem, the Daily Star report Lindelof is set for another chance.
Marco Asensio eyes Old Trafford transfer
04:00: Real Madrid star Marco Asensio reportedly wants to join United.
The 21-year-old impressed for the La Liga champions on Sunday as Real cruised to victory against Eibar.
According to Spanish outlet Diario Gol, Asensio wants to be a focal part of Real’s attack.
They say the Spain international wants to hold talks with Real at the end of the season over his future.
Diario Gol however, claim United, Manchester City and PSG made moves for Asensio in the summer but the winger wasn’t interested.
Jose Mourinho threat
01:30: Jose Mourinho reportedly told his Manchester United stars they will be playing for their futures after their display against Huddersfield.
The Red Devils’ defeat has left them five points behind table-toppers Manchester City, who also boast a far superior goal difference.
Mourinho looked visibly frustrated on the touchline during the match, as his side dropped crucial points.
And now according to The Sun, the Portuguese tactician has left his players in no doubt about where they stand.
The report suggests some could be axed if they produced a repeat performance.
Monday October 23
Players confused at Jose - Moreno
23.00: Manchester United players are confused at Jose Mourinho’s change in tactics in recent weeks, according to ESPN pundit Alejandro Moreno.
Moreno says it is no surprise they lost 2-1 against Huddersfield, with Mourinho switching his approach from game to game.
“You see what the potential of a team can be and when you time and time again set a team in a defensive posture, now you go to Huddersfield you are supposed to be the team that carries the pace of the game, that has the onus of having to create chances,” he said on ESPN FC.
“Well, hold on a second, you’ve asked us for the last couple of weeks to be defensive.
“It’s not as simple as just to say ’today we are going to attack more than we are going to defend’.”
De Gea can win league - Pearce
21.30: Manchester Utd have a key ingredient to winning the league that Liverpool don’t, says Stuart Pearce.
Pearce believes goalkeeper is the big area of weakness for Liverpool, something a problem their rivals at the top do not have.
“If you’re going to win the league, you need a top goalkeeper,” he said on Sky Sports.
“De Gea at United and Lloris, you look at the top three in the division, they’ve all got outstanding goalkeepers that can be in a team that can win the Premier League.
“Liverpool haven’t got a goalkeeper that can win the Premier League.”
Giggs eyes Leicester City and Everton jobs
19:40: Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs says he is interested in the vacant manager's job at Leicester City and Everton.
Leicester sacked Craig Shakespeare last week and Everton dismissed Ronald Koeman today.
"I think you look at those two teams, Leicester being champions two seasons ago, Everton being a fantastic club with a fantastic history, for me these are clubs I would be interested in," Giggs told Sky.
"However, there are a lot of coaches out there who would be interested in those positions.
"I've said all along that I'd be open to clubs which share the ambitions of myself. I want to improve clubs and improve players, to enjoy working for them and for players to enjoy the challenge.
"There are clubs in the Premier League which would be good jobs but also in the Championship and League One. It's more about the philosophy for me than the stature of the club."
Kane fitness key - Pearce
16.55: Stuart Pearce says he will back Manchester United to beat Tottenham on Saturday if Harry Kane is not available for the clash.
Kane hobbled off late on in Spurs’ 4-1 win over Liverpool at Wembley yesterday.
“I think from a two-horse race it has become a three-horse race now, I really do,” Pearce said on Sky Sports.
“Tottenham look like the unstoppable side. The only thing that will curtail that is the odd injury somewhere.
“If Harry Kane’s not fit on Saturday, you might fancy United a bit more than Tottenham’s chances. Who knows?”
Swansea team news
16.45: Eric Bailly could return for the Carabao Cup but Phil Jones is a doubt for Jose Mourinho.
“Eric Bailly may be in line to make his first United appearance since before the latest international break, as Mourinho revealed in Friday's press conference that the Ivorian could return "next week”,” it read on United’s website.
“However, Phil Jones must be assessed after leaving the field early in Saturday's loss, while we could be without Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Marcos Rojo, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“For the hosts, Kyle Bartley (knee), Renato Sanches (thigh) and Wilfried Bony (thigh) are ruled out through injury, while Leroy Fer will miss the game through suspension.”
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Criticism right - Pearce
14.50: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is right to criticise his players for their performance against Huddersfield, says Stuart Pearce.
Pearce reckons Mourinho has proved that being critical of players has worked in the past.
“The last three, four years, he’s been more forthright in his criticism of players when he sees it necessary to do so,” he told Sky Sports.
“The players have reacted very very well over the last months and years at United when he has criticised individuals, Luke Shaw being one of them.
“He’s come out and criticised them, (Juan) Mata as well, he’s criticised them, but they’ve come out and rolled their sleeves up.”
Fregapane signs
14.35: Manchester United have signed England Under-15 international defender Rocco Fregapane from Huddersfield.
“Well done Rocco who today signed for Man Utd and is off on England duty next week for the Under 15s,” his father Sam Fregapane wrote on Facebook
“We are so proud of you.”
Fregapane’s departure is part of a huge reshuffle in the Huddersfield academy as they upgrade from category two to four status.
Sutton slams Mourinho
10.55: Jose Mourinho has been showed up by his Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola this season, according to Chris Sutton.
“Pep Guardiola is in a different league to Jose Mourinho,” Sutton told the Daily Mail.
“While Manchester City continue to set the pace in the Premier League, every other team — Mourinho’s Manchester United included — is playing catch-up.
“This week has exposed the flaws in Mourinho’s approach… adopting a cautious approach puts you under pressure to win every game against lesser opponents.”
Johnstone to Villa
08.15: Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is hell-bent on securing a permanent deal for Sam Johnstone.
Goalkeeper Johnstone, 24, re-joined Villa on a season-long loan from Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
Bruce said: “We will do everything in our power to get him here permanently.
“He is going to find it difficult at United to break through because of what they have got so we are hopeful.”
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Jose Mourinho has been exposed tactically this season, says Chris Sutton
Cahill warns United
08.00: Chelsea captain Gary Cahill has warned Manchester City and Manchester United they will not have it all their own way in the title race.
"Last season we were eight points behind Man City and we managed to claw it back," Cahill said.
"I'm not saying it is going to happen, but we need to calm down and get back to it.
“We are champions of last season, in the middle of October, there are loads of games to play.
"Man City have loads of tough games to play, Man United and everyone else have massive games to play. I still think it is open.”
Mourinho unsettled Dier
06.30: Mauricio Pochettino has hit out at Jose Mourinho’s past pursuit of Eric Dier.
Manchester United wanted to sign England international Dier during Mourinho’s first summer in charge in 2016.
But Spurs refused to do business with the Old Trafford club and locked Dier into a new contract.
And Pochettino has admitted to not knowing the full details of the transfer saga.
“I found out that United have made an approach and the player is being destabilised,” he said. “His people have been putting pressure on him, although United are not promising anything.
“Mourinho and I had finished our interviews at Old Trafford [after the 1-0 defeat by Manchester United, December 2016] and the players were doing their warm-down on the pitch. When Jose was done with the press, he stood by the entrance to the tunnel and regarded the returning players.
“He greeted Moussa Sissoko and hugged Dier. They passed by me en route to the dressing rooms, laughing, speaking in Portuguese. Maybe it is a common Mourinho tactic, but he put Eric in a compromising position. You cannot do that after a defeat.”
Title jibe
05:30: Tom Ince believes Manchester United have not got what it takes to win the Premier League title.
Jose Mourinho was left seething after his side suffered a shock defeat to Huddersfield on Saturday and questioned the attitude of his superstars.
And now Ince is convinced United lag behind Tottenham and current leaders Manchester City.
“When you look at United, they’re obviously a top quality side but they don’t really play with the same fluidity as Spurs or Manchester City,” he said.
“They build up the game quite slow, they like to get it out wide and we felt that if we could win the ball the back and try to exploit the space in behind – the space the full-backs leave because they go so high – then we were able to do that.
Mourinho warning
05:00: Jose Mourinho must stop trying to play mind games with Antonio Conte because he is not Manchester United’s biggest problem.
That’s according to Jamie Redknapp, who claims Mourinho should be focussing more of his energy on how to close in on Manchester City at the top of the table.
“Mourinho seems to be wasting too much energy in picking fights with other managers. He doesn’t need to do this,” Redknapp told the Daily Mail.
“It seemed obvious that Antonio Conte was the intended recipient when Mourinho moaned last week that some managers ‘cry and cry’ about fixtures.
“Why is Mourinho bothering to wind up Conte? He should be worried about Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, who are threatening to run away with the Premier League.
“After enjoying an excellent start, Mourinho has given himself an unnecessary problem."
Sunday October 22
Tottenham break record
19:55: Tottenham have set a new attendance record, breaking the previous set by Manchester United.
80,827 fans watch them beat Liverpool 4-1 at Wembley.
United had held the record since March 2007 when 76,098 watched them play Blackburn.
Huddersfield deserved win
17:57: Huddersfield deserved their shock 2-1 win over Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United yesterday.
That’s according to BT Sport pundit and former midfield enforcer Steffen Freund.
“They couldn’t create a lot of chances, they looked vulnerable on counter attacks,” he said.
“The defence wasn’t so organised, especially individual mistakes like from (Victor) Lindelof can turn games.
“Overall it was a deserved win (for Huddersfield).”
Ibra a formidable coach
14.47: Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be a formidable manager, according to his agent Mino Raiola.
"He will always be in my life if he is a football player, carpenter, investment banker, director or coach," he added.
"It does not matter. But ****, God help the one who gets him as a coach.
"I want to see the player saying Zlatan does not know what he is talking about.
“If there is a meeting when Zlatan finds someone who thinks he's better than him, I want a hidden camera.
Ibrahimovic has 'five or six' more years
13.50: Zlatan Ibrahimovic will play for at least five or six more years and give all his earnings to Mino Raiola, the agent has joked.
"He has so much in him," Raiola told Swedish newspaper Expressen.
"I think minimum another five or six years. I won't let him stop, he has to work for me now.
"I have been working for him for several years, now it's my turn. My children are grown up and I need money.
"We have agreed that he is only working for me for five years now. So we're flipping it now. The salary comes to me and he gets the commission.”
Jose to blame - Keown
11.55: Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho deserved to see his side lose against Huddersfield yesterday because of his team selection, says Martin Keown.
Keown believes leaving Marcus Rashford and Henrikh Mkhitaryan out of the starting XI went a long way to costing the Red Devils the points.
“Mourinho, I can’t help thinking leaving Rashford on the bench and Mkhitaryan, he’s got really what he deserves,” he said.
“He’s taken away some of the freedom from this team, put the handbrake on them.
“It’s not a tap you can turn on and off and they couldn’t respond today with enough to beat a Huddersfield team.
“That is a little bit of an embarrassment for Manchester United.”
Lindelof losing Mourinho’s trust
10:30: Victor Lindelof is losing Jose Mourinho’s trust already says Owen Hargreaves.
The Swede endured a nightmare game in United’s 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield yesterday and was a t fault for the second goal.
“He’s really struggled,” Hargreaves told BT Sport. “Obviously at Benfica he played incredibly well in the Champions League, some great performances.
“But we saw him struggle against Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup and today he was involved in both goals.
“He was thrust into action when Phil Jones went off injured and he’s come on and really, really struggled.
“For Mourinho you have to earn his trust and I think today he’s lost some of that with his performance.”
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Paul Pogba could be back as early as December
Mourinho demand
06:00: Jose Mourinho will reportedly ask Gareth Southgate to take Marcus Rashford’s injury concerns into consideration next month.
He has enjoyed a strong start to the season, scoring seven goals in 14 appearances across all competitions.
He came off the bench in yesterday’s match against Huddersfield and despite halving the deficit, he was unable to prevent a 2-1 defeat.
Rashford’s attentions will soon move back to international duties when England face Brazil and Germany at Wembley next month in two crucial World Cup preparation games.
But The Mirror claim the United boss will ask Southgate to play Rashford only in the first game against Germany.
Pogba update
05:30: Paul Pogba could make a return to Manchester United action in early December.
That's according to sources close to United boss Jose Mourinho, was is desperate to get Pogba back in his side.
The French midfielder has not played since limping off with a hamstring injury in the Champions League against Basel on September 12.
However, sources close to Mourinho say the Manchester United manager is optimistic Pogba, 24, could be back in action inside eight weeks.
That would mean the £89million ex-Juventus ace resuming full training next month – and being in first-team contention going into the club’s hectic festive schedule.
Spanish star eyed
05:00: Manchester United will need to see off Italian giants Juventus if they want to land Atletico Madrid central defender Jose Gimenez.
Express Sport understands Jose Mourinho is keen on signing the Uruguayan international who had a £60 million release clause inserted into his contract when he extended it until 2021 last summer.
The 22 year-old will be a top target for Mourinho but now Juventus who were monitoring him during the last transfer window have rekindled their interest.
Gimenez has struggled to hold down a first team place for the La Liga outfit this season and Atletico could do business without the release clause being activated.
