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Maguire's Season Ends to Elbow Injury

A Collision with Romelu Lukaku will end Harry Maguire's season with an elbow injury

By Felix Short | May 19, 2022, 7:00 AM

Maguire made his fourth start of the Premier League season against Chelsea on Wednesday. (Michael Bradley/Manchester Guardian)

Manchester, England – Manchester United captain Harry Maguire left yesterday’s game with an elbow injury following a 38th minute collision with Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku. It is expected to keep him out of both of United’s final two games, effectively ending his season.

It may also mark the end of his time as a Manchester United player, as rumors have swirled all season that he is not part of Thomas Walker’s plans moving forward.

That’s already been clear by watching the club this season, with whom Maguire struggled to earn significant playing time. He will finish the season with thirty appearances, but only thirteen starts, and of those thirteen starts, only four came in Premier League games.

It’s actually a credit to Maguire for earning as many caps as he did, because he found a role as a substitute who could come in and shut down an opposing offense in the middle of a back three late in games. This was really the only role that Walker saw for Maguire throughout the season.

For much of the season, Walker relied on Raphaël Varane to pair with either Victor Lindelöf or Eric Bailly, who both offer more athleticism and versatility than Maguire. Walker has had Varane and Bailly as his starting pair twenty times this season, while Varane and Lindelöf have been paired nineteen times. Either of those pairings is expected for United’s final two games.

“Harry is a hard worker,” said Walker after last night’s game, “And he’s tough as nails. I have no doubt he’ll come back strong and ready to bully people.”

Maguire has been a controversial figure for United fans since he arrived from Leicester City in the Summer of 2019. The club spent £80 million for him, clearly an overpay, but Maguire did play 137 games for the club and wear the captains’ armband for most of them.

It is of course premature to call his United career a wrap, as he will still be under contract for Manchester United next season, but most sources have indicated that finding new center-backs will be a top priority for Walker this summer, whose defense was a bit too porous this season. That will likely mean that Maguire will be looking for a new home this summer.

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United Finish Season With Win at Selhurst Park

Manchester United came from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace in Season Finale

By Felix Short | May 22, 2022, 11:59 PM EST

Godwin Bada and Diogo Dalot help celebrate Eric Bailly's first goal of the season (Michael Bradley/Manchester Guardian)

London, England – Manchester United closed out the 2021-22 Premier League season with a 3-2 victory at Selhurst Park on Sunday, earning third place in the final league table, and sending them off to Paris with a win before their big Champions League final showdown against Bayern Munich next Saturday. But it wasn’t easy. Crystal Palace made the game as difficult as possible for United, taking a 2-0 lead in the first twenty minutes of the game, before United clawed their way back over the course of the last seventy minutes.

Crystal Palace’s Odsonne Edouard opened the scoring in the 16th minute. He was set up by Eberechi Eze in the center of the box. Edouard received the ball, turned and fired it past United keeper David De Gea, fooling defender Eric Bailly in the process. That 16th minute goal gave huge life to the crowd, which paid immediate dividends with another goal. Using the same play, Eze found Edouard in the box again, and again, Edouard turned and fired past De Gea. This time he fooled Raphaël Varane on his path to a twentieth minute brace.

But it wouldn’t take long for United to answer, inching one goal closer in the 27th minute. Manchester United’s Hannibal Mejbri found empty space between the lines, then lobbed a ball over the defense and into the empty space in the box in a spot that allowed Edinson Cavani to run under and fire on goal, smacking the ball across the face of Crystal Palace keeper Vicente Guaita.

That score would maintain into intermission, but there was a decidedly United feel to this game. That expressed itself in the second half when Manchester United tied the game in the 62nd minute. This goal came off the head of United Center-back Eric Bailly on a corner provided by Fred. It was Bailly’s first goal of the season and only the second of his United career.

The Red Devils added another just moments later. On the counterattack, Anthony Elanga found Hannibal Mejbri in the middle of the field, who dumped the ball to Amad who was overlapping. Amad collected the ball and fired hard and low past Guaita to give United the 3-2 lead in the 65th minute.

Eager to close out the victory, United went into full lock down mode for the final twenty-five minutes, adding two defenders and a defensive midfielder to help close out the game.

Crystal Palace earned their final opportunity of the game in the 76th minute, when Odsonne Edouard broke free, but his shot was deflected by Björn Hardley and went wide, peacefully bouncing out of bounds. From that point on, United was able to calmly close out the game, and earn their 23rd Premier League victory of the season.

Hannibal Mejbri was named man of the match for his two assist performance, a showing that capped off an electric debut season for the 19-year-old.

“I think we played well,” said Mejbri after the game, “We had a bit of trouble early, but we really came back and fought hard. We deserved this win in my opinion. That’s really all I can say because we were the better team away from home, and we won. There’s no doubt that is deserving.”

Mejbri was joined in the midfield today by Nigerian 18-year-old Godwin Bada, who was making his senior team debut for the club. Bada looked nervous at times but showed his quality around the box. He took six shots and converted on none, but most would chalk that up to youthful exuberance. It’s clear that there is serious quality to his game.

The task may have been easier for Bada if he had Cristiano Ronaldo up top to put the ball into, but that wasn’t to be, as Ronaldo stayed in Manchester to rest and prepare for next weekend’s big showdown with Bayern Munich for the UEFA Champions League title. That game will take place Saturday in Paris and will conclude the European footballing season.

This victory also ends United’s Premier League season on an eight-game unbeaten streak, propelling them into a third-place final finish in the standings. Manchester United finishes the season with 78 points, even with both Chelsea and Leicester City, but ahead of both on goal differential. Crystal Palace finishes the season in 13th with 41 points

Manchester United: 3 Goal Scorers: Edinson Cavani (27'), Eric Bailly (62'), Amad (65') Assists: Hannibal Mejbri, Fred, Hannibal Mejbri Crystal Palace: 2 Goal Scorers: Odsonne Edouard (16'), Odsonne Edouard (20') Assists: Eberechi Eze, Eberechi Eze

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Cristiano Ronaldo Named Player of the Year

The Portuguese Star was the Only United Player Named to Team of the Year

By Felix Short | May 24, 2022, 7:00 AM

Cristiano's Magnificent Season Made Him the Clear Choice for Player of the Year. (Michael Bradley/Manchester Guardian)

Manchester, England – Cristiano Ronaldo was named PFA Player of the Year today. The announcement marked the legendary footballer’s third time winning the award for top player in the Premier League. He won it in back-to-back seasons with United in 2006-07 and 2007-08. In that second season, he won in large part because he tied the Premier League scoring record with 31 goals. This time, he won because he broke the record, scoring a mind boggling 34 goals in 36 games.

He surpassed Mo Salah’s incredible 2017-18 season in which the Liverpool winger scored on 32 separate occasions.

“Cristiano deserves this, undoubtedly,” said United manager Thomas Walker, whose scheme set Ronaldo up for such a magnificent season. “To me, he’s the greatest player in the world. It’s been the honor of my career to be able to work with him and to be able to win with him. We still have work to do this weekend, but we wouldn’t be here with Cristiano.”

Ronaldo has scored 51 goals in 49 games across all competitions this season. He will look to add to that total in this weekend’s Champions League Final match against Bayern Munich.

Ronaldo was also named to the PFA Team of the Season. He was Manchester United’s only player to receive that honor. League-winning-side Liverpool had four players named to the team in Goalkeeper Alisson, defenders Andrew Robertson and Virgil van Dijk, and forward Mo Salah. Chelsea also had multiple players in center-back Thiago Silva and full-back Reece James. The roster was rounded out by Spurs’ Hyueng-min Son, Brighton’s Neal Maupay, West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, and Aston Villa’s Phillippe Coutinho.

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Southampton, Norwich City and Brentford Relegated

They Will Be Replaced Next Year by Fulham, AFC Bournemouth and Sheffield United

By Felix Short | May 25, 2022, 7:00 AM

Cristiano's Magnificent Season Made Him the Clear Choice for Player of the Year. (Michael Bradley/Manchester Guardian)

London, England – After Sunday’s premier league finale slate, the league crowned its winner, Liverpool, and its slate of Champions League participants. The conclusion of one of the tightest races in years saw Leicester City, just one point off of Champions Liverpool, finish in fifth place, a Europa League sport. That means that Liverpool, West Ham, Manchester United and Chelsea will occupy the four champions league positions for next season.

But this weekend also finalized who would be going down, and this year, the unlucky winners of relegation will be Norwich City, Brentford and Southampton. Both Norwich City and Brentford made the jump to the Premier League last season, but were unable to make it anything more than a quick trip.

Southampton, on the other hand, are watching a ten-year run in the British topflight come to an end.

But the pain and disappointment of relegation can only be matched by the jubilee of promotion. This season, the three lucky teams will be Fulham, Sheffield United, and AFC Bournemouth. Just like Norwich City a year ago, both Fulham and Sheffield United will return to the Premier League after only a single season absence. Both teams were relegated during the 2020-21 season.

Bournemouth’s time in the championship wasn’t much longer. The Cherries have only been in the doldrums of the English Championship for two years, after being relegated following the 2019-20 season.

With these promotions, Premier League fans can look forward to trips to Craven Cottage, Bramall Lane and Dean Court next season.

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United, Bayern Prepared for Showdown

Tomorrow's Champions League Final Showdown Will Match Europe's Best

By Felix Short | May 27, 2022, 7:00 AM

There will be plenty of stars on display in tomorrow's UCL Final. (Michael Bradley/Manchester Guardian)

Paris, France – Two months ago, Manchester United traveled to Paris to take on the front runners of the UEFA Champions League in the Quarterfinals. They pulled a surprise 2-1 upset, before knocking off the Parisian giants Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford a week later. Now, just two months later, they’ve returned to the city of lights in the hopes of winning the entire competition.

Standing in their way is the German giants from Munich. They’re led by a cadre of stars looking to repeat the feat they accomplished in May 2020 when they defeated that very same Paris Saint-Germain, 1-0. The man who scored the game-winning goal that night, Kingsley Coman, is back on the wing for Bayern. As are stars Robert Lewandoski, Thomas Müller, Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer.

This is a Bayern Munich squad that has a lot of experience in the biggest games in club football. But Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest players of all time, having one of his greatest seasons, has five Champions League trophies under his belt. His club, Manchester United, has also had to run through the gauntlet in the previous two rounds to make it to the Championship.

United dominated a group that included Villarreal, Young Boys, and Atalanta, before dispatching Sporting CP in the Round of Sixteen. But their domination ended abruptly in the quarterfinals when they were paired with Paris Saint-Germain. For vast stretches of the two legs, PSG looked the better, if not dominant, team, but United pulled away late in both games. That only secured them a bout with rivals Liverpool. Again, Liverpool looked the better team for much of the two competitions, until they were ousted late by key goals from Manchester United.

For the third straight round, Manchester United enters as the underdogs to Bayern Munich. Munich has been outstanding in the tournament to date, dispatching nearly everyone in their way. They dominated a group with Dynamo Kyiv, Barcelona and Benfica before crushing Shakhtar Donetsk, Sevilla and Inter Milan on their way to the championship. They’re also winners of the German Bundesliga and have been so for nearly a month. This has allowed them to keep all of their attention on this game.

But given their run this year, Manchester United will show no fear when they show up in Paris, once again, as the underdogs. The game begins at 8:00 PM, this Saturday, May 28th. ¬¬

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United Crowned Champions of Europe

Manchester United Won the UCL on Penalties After a Dramatic and Exciting European Finale

By Felix Short | May 28, 2022, 11:59 PM EST

Godwin Bada and Diogo Dalot help celebrate Eric Bailly's first goal of the season (Michael Bradley/Manchester Guardian)

Paris, France – Anyone who bet on Victor Lindelöf to be the hero of Saturday night’s Champions League Final against Bayern Munich certainly deserves to take a bow, as the unlikely hero scored the game-winning penalty of the UEFA Champions League to give Manchester United their first UCL victory since 2008.

After having been decided 1-0 each of the last three seasons, this years’ UCL Final featured two teams ready to play on the front foot and push the tempo to the excitement of the fans, and that’s exactly what they did, early and often, as the two sides put up goals in droves.

Bayern Munich struck first as Serge Gnabry became the first to put his mark on the final. In just the fourth minute, he received a pass from Leon Goretzka, inside the box. Gnabry had beaten his man, United fullback Luke Shaw, to the inside, and had a step on him that allowed him to fire a shot on the first touch. He was too close to goal for United keeper David De Gea to have a chance at a save and Gnabry didn’t miss the target, firing a screamer into the back of the net to give Bayern Munich the early lead.

United would respond just fifteen minutes later. On the counterattack, United’s Scott McTominay found Bruno Fernandes in the middle of the pitch. Fernandes spotted Cristiano Ronaldo breaking away, outpacing Bayern’s speedy left-back Alphonso Davies, and beating him to the inside position. Fernandes put the ball in the perfect spot for Ronaldo to collect it as he entered the box, with space to shoot. He fired across his body to the far post, across the face of Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer, and into the side-netting. This 19th minute goal was Ronaldo’s 16th goal of the tournament and the equalizer United needed to overcome Bayern hot start.

United took the lead minutes later, after a blunder by the German champions. In attack, United midfielder Paul Pogba tried to play a through ball into Cristiano Ronaldo, but it was intercepted by Bayern’s Lucas Hernández. Hernández, under immediate pressure, looked to pass to Joshua Kimmich, but with Paul Pogba still in between the two players, Hernández instinctively turned to pass back to Manuel Neuer. However, United were anticipating this, and as Hernández touched off his pass, Bruno Fernandes broke on the ball, intercepted it in front of goal. Manuel Neuer was off his line and in no place to make a save as Fernandes put United on top in the 32nd minute. This sloppiness out of the back had, at this point, caused two scares for Bayern, and resulted in a goal. But this wasn’t enough to break the German’s insistence on his use.

United’s lead wouldn’t hold until the half though, as in the final moments of the first half, Bayern Munich found their equalizer. Three minutes into injury time, with United’s defense ready for the intermission, Bayern’s Marcel Sabitzer broke off a counter down the sideline. Having caught United off guard, Thomas Müller broke toward the box, beating Luke Shaw to a world-class cross from Sabitzer, and heading the ball hard and low, past De Gea.

The game entered half deadlocked at two, as entertaining and even as any neutral fan could have hoped for. Understanding that the first half was a bit too hectic, both coaches talked about closing ranks at halftime.

Then United immediately scored off another blunder by Bayern Munich. Once again, after a turnover in the box, a Bayern fullback, this time Alphonso Davies, pushed the ball back to Neuer to initiate the offense. And once again, United was ready to pounce with pressure. This time the ball did make it to the veteran Neuer who, sensing the pressure, immediately tried to send it long. But Cristiano Ronaldo got a foot on the ball, stopping its progress and deflecting it toward Bruno Fernandes, who was also part of the pressure. Fernandes took no extra time to get a shot off firing the ball into the top right corner of the net, where Neuer had no chance to make a save.

With a narrow lead, United manager was preparing to put in a more defensive line up in the hopes that he could melt away a 3-2 win. Those thoughts were smashed within ten minutes however, as Bayern Munich clawed back to even. United’s Victor Lindelöf was now the man to make the mistake, slipping on the dirt while attempting to make a pass that caused an errant ball and for him to fall off balance. Bayern immediately started their attack, with a five-on-three advantage after Lindelöf’s trip. United’s Paul Pogba tried desperately to get back, but just before he could make a play on Leon Goretzka, the Bayern midfielder got a pass off to Robert Lewandowski, who was not going to miss his only shot of the game.

The game was now tied in the 57th minute, with both teams uncomfortable with the craziness of the game, but dead set on emerging victorious. The last thirty minutes provided as entertaining as anyone could hope for with both teams and almost every player looking for the game-winner.

Cristiano Ronaldo emerged from a block of Bayern defenders in the 82nd minute to hit the winner, but his shot went off the cross bar, and he was called offsides anyways. The crowd released their collective breath as a wild, final ten minutes began. Julián Álvarez had a chance to win it in the 89th minute, but he took the shot from a tough angle, and hit it off the side netting. Alphonso Davies had a chance for Bayern Munich in the 91st minute, but his shot went off the right post and bounced away. And in the final moments, as Manchester United made their final push, the ball found its way, again, to Cristiano Ronaldo, in the 94th minute, like a slow-motion dream, with a chance for the greatest player of his generation to win it all. He fired a shot across the face of goal to win the champions league. Except Manuel Neuer, perhaps the top keeper of the last decade, was in net, as he caught the ball in flight before it could send Ronaldo off as the hero.

This game was going to overtime. This Champions League final had proven to be as even a game as anyone could’ve hoped for. 3-3. 51%-49% possession. Even on expected goals.

Overtime wasn’t nearly as exciting as both teams tightened up. United seemingly played better in the first fifteen minutes, with Fred earning a chance in the 104th minute, which was saved by Neuer. Seeing his offense fade, Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann decided to swap out his star center-forward in hopes that fresh legs could earn his team the winning chance they needed in the final fifteen. Bayern did play better but couldn’t get the goal as the game headed to penalties.

Andrej Kramarić, good. Cristiano Ronaldo, good. Leroy Sané, missed. Bruno Fernandes, good. Thomas Müller, good. Marcus Rashford, good. Serge Gnabry, missed.

Then Alex Telles stepped up, a man who was subbed on in the 117th minute just because he was a better penalty taker than Luke Shaw. He had a chance to win it all for Manchester United. To be the hero. Then—he hit the top cross bar. Corentin Tolisso made shot number five for Bayern, which then set up Julián Álvarez to be the hero. He fired low and hard to the right, but Manuel Neuer made the game-saving stop to keep Bayern on track.

At this point, every shot was do or die. Alphonso Davies, good. Scott McTominay, good. Leon Goretzka, good. Fred, good. Then, captain Manuel Neuer stepped up to take the eighth shot for Bayern and he missed it wide right. This set up Victor Lindelöf with a chance to send United home as the winners. Lindelöf went right, Manuel Neuer went the opposite direction. Neuer didn’t get up. He didn’t have to; he could hear the jubilation from the Manchester United supporters.

“I have no words,” said United manager Thomas Walker, “I have no words.” That was all Walker got out to the sideline reporter before he joined his team in a mosh pit of celebration on the field.

Victor Lindelöf was the hero.

Manchester United: 3 Goal Scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo (19'), Bruno Fernandes (32'), Bruno Fernandes (48') Assists: Bruno Fernandes Bayern Munich: 3 Goal Scorers: Serge Gnabry (4'), Thomas Müller (45'+3), Robert Lewandowski (57') Assists: Leon Goretzka, Marcel Sabitzer, Leon Goretzka

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The 2021-22 Manchester United F.C. Season


From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia

The 2021-22 season was Manchester United’s 30th season in the Premier League and their 47th consecutive season in the topflight of English football. The club finished third in the Premier League and were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the fifth round, the FA Cup in the Finals, and were the winners of the UEFA Champions League.

In June, Manchester United signed Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho, Real Madrid center-back Raphaël Varane, and Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who returned to the club after 12 years away, having left for Real Madrid in 2009 for a world record transfer fee.

On July 1st, the club announced the hiring of LOSC Lille manager Thomas Walker to take over as manager of Manchester United.

This season, Manchester United won its first trophy since 2017.

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Manchester United Final 2021-22 Roster

Attackers



Midfielders



Defenders



Goalkeepers



On Loan

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Net Profit: £315,983,688

Total Profit: £749,770,000 Merchandizing: £367,310,000 Prize Money: £256,080,000 Transfer Fees: £54,900,000 Match Day Tickets: £37,170,000 Season Tickets: £34,310,000 Transfer Fees: Juan Mata (£5,900,000) Jesse Lingard (£15,400,000) Daniel James (£25,000,000) Andreas Pereira (£8,600,000) Total Expenses: £433,786,312 Player Salary: £219,698,312 Transfer Fees: £155,810,000 Scouting Costs: £30,460,000 Player Bonuses: £24,335,000 Stadium Maintenance: £1,640,000 Youth Facilities: £1,350,000 Travel Costs: £493,000 Transfer Fees: Jadon Sancho (£73,000,000) Raphaël Varane (£34,000,000) Julián Álvarez (£18,600,000) Cristiano Ronaldo (£12,860,000) Godwin Bad (£8,500,000) Daniel Hanssen (£4,200,000) Dave Howie (£3,800,000) Ove Hanssen (£800,000) Selim Ali (£450,000)

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Ronaldo Named Player of the Tournament

Cristiano Ronaldo's Sixteen Goal Champions League Earned Him Player of the Tournament Honors

By Felix Short | May 29, 2022, 7:00 AM

Cristiano Ronaldo won his sixth UEFA Champions League Last Night, and His Second with United. (Michael Bradley/Manchester Guardian)

Paris, France – Cristiano Ronaldo was, unsurprisingly, named player of the tournament following yesterday’s victory in the UEFA Champions League Final over Bayern Munich. Ronaldo scored United’s opening goal in the 19th minute of that game and had two chances to win the game in the final five minutes of regulation. He also started United off on the right foot by converting his penalty which helped United win in such a dramatic fashion.

But it was his tournament-long performance that won him this trophy. Ronaldo scored sixteen goals over the course of eleven games, just one shy of the tournament record—a record that he owns—and paired that prolific goalscoring output with four assists.

“He carried us to this point in a lot of ways,” said United manager Thomas Walker after last night’s game, “He is a one-of-a-kind player, and it’s an honor to be able to coach him.”

Ronaldo’s stamped his mark on this tournament back in Manchester United's tournament-opening win against Villarreal in Spain. That night, Ronaldo scored four goals on a Villarreal defense that had stonewalled Manchester United in the Europa League final just a few months earlier. From there, he was off, scoring two against Atalanta, and one in each of their games against Young Boys.

In the knockout stages, Ronaldo scored a goal in every game United played. He scored twice in the decisive second leg against Paris Saint-Germain which sent Manchester United to the semifinals. He was simply phenomenal in every game. What’s notable is that Ronaldo played neither in United’s Old Trafford leg against Villarreal nor in Gewiss Stadium against Atalanta because United had already clinched a knockout stage birth. He was instead used at that time to help get their Premier League season on track.

The other players in contention for this award were Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller. They finished with eleven and ten goals respectively, including a goal each in the title game loss to United. Still, neither came close to matching Ronaldo, who won his sixth champions league title last night.

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