Manchester United's Failings Give Added Meaning to Transfer Window

 Anthony Martial scored 23 goals for Manchester United this season but he and his fellow strikers still spurn too many chances. Photograph: Getty Images
Anthony Martial scored 23 goals for Manchester United this season but he and his fellow strikers still spurn too many chances. Photograph: Getty Images
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Manchester United's Failings Give Added Meaning to Transfer Window

 Anthony Martial scored 23 goals for Manchester United this season but he and his fellow strikers still spurn too many chances. Photograph: Getty Images
Anthony Martial scored 23 goals for Manchester United this season but he and his fellow strikers still spurn too many chances. Photograph: Getty Images

A mystery, a conundrum, a riddle, wrapped in the enigma of a third-place Premier League finish and three lost semi-finals: Manchester United at the end of Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s first full season as manager.

Yet this is the United of the post-Alex Ferguson era. One characterization of the English champions in the seven years since he stepped away is that they have become used to mediocrity.

Having finished seventh under David Moyes in 2014, Louis van Gaal improved things slightly by ending up fourth and fifth before the high point of second place under José Mourinho in 2017-18. Solskjær took over midway through the next campaign as United ended up sixth but even this season’s third place means their average position in the table is just outside the top four.

Defeats in the semi-finals of League Cup, FA Cup, and Europa League were also a worrying trend Solskjaer will know he must address quickly. But despite the progress made during the 19-match run that helped United secure third spot, he must try to avoid United becoming akin to Mourinho’s second season at Old Trafford. The club’s recent history suggests it will not be easy.

On being sacked in December 2018 Mourinho repeated his favored line about United’s previous campaign. “I consider one of the best jobs of my career to finish second in the Premier League,” he said, before adding. “I keep saying this because people don’t know what is going on behind the scenes.”

Mourinho may have been referring to the failure of Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, and his football brains-trust to sign Harry Maguire from Leicester in the summer of 2018 or Internazionale’s Ivan Perisic a year before. Clearer is that what occurs in United’s financial department in the current window will again be a prime factor in whether Solskjær can move United on.

Against Sevilla, the contradictions of United were illuminated yet again. The Bruno Fernandes, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, and Anthony Martial strike force carry menace but have a propensity to spurn chances. They did so on Sunday, as they did against FC Copenhagen in the quarter-finals, and as they did on copious other occasions in the season.

Solskjær’s plan is all-out attack. The quartet’s goal-return was 23 for Martial, 22 for Rashford, 17 for Greenwood, and 11 for Fernandes. Seventy-three in all competitions is hardly shabby and puts even more of the spotlight on a defense that ended the season in nose-dive fashion due to Maguire and Victor Lindelöf’s pedestrian pace being exposed and some dodgy positioning by them and the full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Brandon Williams.

The obvious answer is to strengthen. But then the Jadon Sancho situation comes into play. The problem for Solskjær is the lack of money to purchase a center-back or left-back of, say, Kalidou Koulibaly or Ben Chilwell’s quality, should the circa £100m deal for the Borussia Dortmund forward go through.

The stance at United is that the financial drain caused by the coronavirus lockdown means there is not much cash left after a marquee buy like Sancho, the corollary being that Solskjær has to somehow pull an Andy Robertson-priced bargain (who cost £8m from Hull) from the hat when buying the defender he wants.

Despite this, a glance at rivals suggests he may still be the manager with the most generous budget. Across town, Pep Guardiola has moved to shore up his creaky Manchester City rearguard with the £41m buy of Nathan Ake, while also adding forward Ferran Torres for £24.5m - a total of £65m that may only be modestly increased by further signings.

At the champions, Liverpool, Jürgen Klopp has added a left-back, Konstantinos Tsimikas, for £8.1m, and while there could be further investment this is likely to be low-end unless they can strike a deal with Bayern Munich for Thiago Alcântara. Even for Chelsea, who were fourth, Frank Lampard’s £84m splurge on center-forward Timo Werner and winger Hakim Ziyech looks to be about the limit, and thus not approaching United’s expected outlay.

There is, though, an unpalatable truth for Solskjær and United supporters: even Sancho plus a center-back will surely not elevate a squad into the rarefied air of Liverpool, whose 19th title followed becoming European champions in the previous season. A lack of depth in quality in most positions is the glaring problem, as shown by Solskjær’s refusal to make any changes against Sevilla until three minutes from time.

Afterwards his take on recruitment was telling. “It is not about marquee, we need quality, the right player, the right personality. We might look at it today and see where we need to improve.”

If this was a message to Woodward, whether he pulls off all that is required during this transfer window remains to be seen.

(The Guardian)



Leverkusen vs. PSG Turns into Chaos After 5 Goals, Two Red Cards and Two Penalties in the First Half 

Football - UEFA Champions League - Bayer Leverkusen v Paris Saint-Germain - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - October 21, 2025 Bayer Leverkusen's Mark Flekken looks on after Paris St Germain's Willian Pacho scores their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - UEFA Champions League - Bayer Leverkusen v Paris Saint-Germain - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - October 21, 2025 Bayer Leverkusen's Mark Flekken looks on after Paris St Germain's Willian Pacho scores their first goal. (Reuters)
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Leverkusen vs. PSG Turns into Chaos After 5 Goals, Two Red Cards and Two Penalties in the First Half 

Football - UEFA Champions League - Bayer Leverkusen v Paris Saint-Germain - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - October 21, 2025 Bayer Leverkusen's Mark Flekken looks on after Paris St Germain's Willian Pacho scores their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - UEFA Champions League - Bayer Leverkusen v Paris Saint-Germain - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - October 21, 2025 Bayer Leverkusen's Mark Flekken looks on after Paris St Germain's Willian Pacho scores their first goal. (Reuters)

Five goals, two red cards and two penalties. The first half of Bayer Leverkusen vs. Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday was wild.

Defending champion PSG went on to win 7-2 to top the standings on goal difference, but it was a breathtaking first half at the BayArena that stood out.

Luis Enrique's was 4-1 up at halftime in Germany, with the action relentless from the moment William Pacho gave the visitors the lead with a seventh-minute header.

What followed was chaos, with both teams reduced to 10 men and Leverkusen awarded two penalties.

Alex Grimaldo failed to score with the first — hitting the post in the 25th.

Eight minutes later Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich was shown a straight red following a VAR review of his elbow on Desire Doue. But PSG then saw Illia Zabarnyi sent off for a foul on Christian Kofane, who was through on goal. Zabarnyi had also conceded the first penalty.

This time Leverkusen made the chance count, with Aleix Garcia converting.

If that handed the home team a lifeline, it didn't last long as PSG went into overdrive.

Desire Doue's snap shot in the box restored the French giant's lead in the 41st and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia lashed another into the top corner off the post in the 44th.

In the third minute of first half added time, Doue got his second with a low curling effort.

The action didn't let up after the break.

Within five minutes Nuno Mendes had extended PSG's lead, only for Garcia to score his second and the goal of the match with a long range shot into the top corner to give the home crowd something to cheer.

Notably, Garcia's celebrations were muted and it wasn't to be the start of a fightback, with substitute Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha completing the rout for PSG.


Haaland Scores Again but Gonzalez Injured in Man City’s Win in Champions League 

Manchester's head coach Pep Guardiola (R) and striker Erling Haaland (L) react at the end of the UEFA Champions League match between Villarreal CF and Manchester City at the La Ceramica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)
Manchester's head coach Pep Guardiola (R) and striker Erling Haaland (L) react at the end of the UEFA Champions League match between Villarreal CF and Manchester City at the La Ceramica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)
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Haaland Scores Again but Gonzalez Injured in Man City’s Win in Champions League 

Manchester's head coach Pep Guardiola (R) and striker Erling Haaland (L) react at the end of the UEFA Champions League match between Villarreal CF and Manchester City at the La Ceramica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)
Manchester's head coach Pep Guardiola (R) and striker Erling Haaland (L) react at the end of the UEFA Champions League match between Villarreal CF and Manchester City at the La Ceramica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)

Another goal for Erling Haaland. Another midfield injury for Pep Guardiola.

Some things never change for Manchester City.

A 2-0 away win over Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday proved to be bittersweet for Guardiola, who saw prolific striker Haaland score his 24th goal in 14 games for club and country this season.

The Norway international now has 53 goals in 51 career games in the Champions League and has scored in nine straight games for City in all competitions. Haaland has already said he is in the form of his life.

“He's impossible to defend,” City midfielder Rico Lewis said.

However, a second win in three matches in the competition's expanded league stage came at a cost, with holding midfielder Nico Gonzalez hobbling off with an apparent right knee injury early in the second half.

Gonzalez has been filling in for fellow Spaniard Rodri, who is currently sidelined by a hamstring injury after missing most of last season with ACL damage.

Mateo Kovacic came on as a substitute for Gonzalez in the 56th minute, having only recently returned from an Achilles injury that led to the Croatia midfielder being sidelined for the last five months.

Bernardo Silva also scored for City, whose unbeaten run in all competitions stretched to nine games.

Guardiola's team also ended a run of five away games without a win in the Champions League.

Next up is a trip to Aston Villa on Sunday, when Haaland will look to score for the seventh straight Premier League game.


Arteta Praise for Gyokeres as Arsenal Striker Ends Goal Drought 

Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal greets the fans during the UEFA Champions League league phase match between Arsenal FC and Atletico Madrid, in London, Britain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)
Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal greets the fans during the UEFA Champions League league phase match between Arsenal FC and Atletico Madrid, in London, Britain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)
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Arteta Praise for Gyokeres as Arsenal Striker Ends Goal Drought 

Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal greets the fans during the UEFA Champions League league phase match between Arsenal FC and Atletico Madrid, in London, Britain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)
Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal greets the fans during the UEFA Champions League league phase match between Arsenal FC and Atletico Madrid, in London, Britain, 21 October 2025. (EPA)

One of the few clouds hanging over Arsenal this season has been the lack of goals from the big-money center forward Viktor Gyokeres but he erased some doubts with a timely return to form by scoring twice in a 4-0 defeat of Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

Gyokeres, who Arsenal signed for 64 million pounds ($85.89 million) from Sporting, poached his side's third and fourth goals to end a nine-game streak without netting for club and country.

The Swede was all smiles as he was substituted late on and manager Mikel Arteta said the 27-year-old fully deserved the ovation he received from the Arsenal fans.

"I think he deserved it because everything that we were seeing in terms of what he was bringing to the team and how much he was helping the team in many areas, apart from scoring goals in the last few weeks," Arteta told reporters.

"There was no debate about that. It was about keeping that belief in himself, that emotional state that he can enjoy and play freely. I look at his teammates as well, in the picture and the video, they are all so happy for him."

His opening goal was a messy affair as his weak shot dribbled into the net via a deflection while his second came from yet another Arsenal set piece with Gabriel heading a corner into the path of the Sweden international.

"He makes us a much better team. I think we've become much more unpredictable. He's so physical, the way he presses the ball, holds the ball, that's phenomenal," Arteta said.

"He's scored two very different ones today, and hopefully he starts to get some momentum and a good run of goals."

Gyokeres now has five for the season, including three in the Premier League, and was clearly relieved to be back on target.

"(It's reward) for the team, but of course, me as well," he said of the win that maintained Arsenal's 100% start in the Champions League. "I do my best all the time, work hard and contribute with different stuff. It'll come sooner or later."