Blind Backs ‘Control Freak’ Ten Hag to Deliver at Manchester United

02 November 2021, North Rhine-Westphalia, Dortmund: Then Ajax's head coach Erik ten Hag leads a training session for the team at at Signal Iduna Park ahead of a UEFA Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. (dpa)
02 November 2021, North Rhine-Westphalia, Dortmund: Then Ajax's head coach Erik ten Hag leads a training session for the team at at Signal Iduna Park ahead of a UEFA Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. (dpa)
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Blind Backs ‘Control Freak’ Ten Hag to Deliver at Manchester United

02 November 2021, North Rhine-Westphalia, Dortmund: Then Ajax's head coach Erik ten Hag leads a training session for the team at at Signal Iduna Park ahead of a UEFA Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. (dpa)
02 November 2021, North Rhine-Westphalia, Dortmund: Then Ajax's head coach Erik ten Hag leads a training session for the team at at Signal Iduna Park ahead of a UEFA Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. (dpa)

Ajax Amsterdam defender Daley Blind has described new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag as a "control freak" and backed the Dutchman to bring success back to the club if given time and resources to establish his own playing style.

Blind, who spent four seasons at United before leaving for Ajax in 2018, won three Eredivisie titles and two domestic cups under Ten Hag.

"He's really social," the 32-year-old told https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/daley-blind-says-new-united-boss-erik-ten-hag-is-a-control-freak United's website. "I think, also in Ajax, he knows everyone at the club is important. Everyone needs to be involved to get that winning feeling, that winning mentality.

"He is aware of that and wants to keep everything close. He's also a control freak and wants to be on top of everything. I think that's a special quality you need to have when being that good."

Ten Hag takes over at Old Trafford following a woeful campaign under interim manager Ralf Rangnick, with the team finishing sixth in the Premier League and missing out on Champions League qualification.

United have not won a trophy since the Europa League in 2017 and while getting his hands on silverware will be important for Ten Hag he must first establish a clear playing style, said Blind.

"I know this manager has the quality and I hope he gets the time to put everything his way and makes sure the team plays how he wants," he added. "I am confident he will be successful."



Liverpool Up for the Fight despite Man City Masterclass, Says Van Dijk

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said his side will not give up despite a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. Darren Staples / AFP
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said his side will not give up despite a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. Darren Staples / AFP
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Liverpool Up for the Fight despite Man City Masterclass, Says Van Dijk

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said his side will not give up despite a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. Darren Staples / AFP
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said his side will not give up despite a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. Darren Staples / AFP

Virgil van Dijk said Liverpool will fight back after a demoralizing 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, but manager Arne Slot conceded the English champions cannot look at the Premier League title race right now.

Five defeats in six league games have dropped the Reds down to eighth, eight points behind leaders Arsenal, AFP said.

City showed they are the major threat to the Gunners right now as goals from Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku closed Pep Guardiola's men to within four points of Arsenal.

"The reality is that we lost 3-0 and that is a big blow," said Liverpool captain Van Dijk.

"We are not going to give up whatsoever. We are in November and we are ready for a long season and a big fight."

Decisions did not go Liverpool's way as Van Dijk had a goal at 1-0 controversially disallowed for Andy Robertson standing offside in front of City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

However, Slot admitted that complaining about that call would only mask the difference in class between the sides at the Etihad.

"I will not say because of that we lost the game, because at 1-1 if City continued like they were playing, we would have struggled in the second half as well," said Slot.

Yet, despite their awful run, Liverpool are only two points adrift of Chelsea in third.

"We need to get results before we can think about that (the title race)," added the Dutchman.

"The best way to judge the league table is after 38 games but the next best is after 19 games when we have all played each other.

"The first focus is getting results, the last thing we should focus on is the title race. We need to improve and that's obvious."

A resounding victory allowed Pep Guardiola to celebrate his 1,000th game in management.

After a first trophyless season in eight years, a refreshed City look more like their old selves.

"Last season could not do that," said Guardiola. "We lost energy.

"I tried desperately to do anything, but I was not able to make a click to the team, to react and to do it.

"For many reasons we were not able to do, but it was a good lesson."

Arsenal's 10-game winning run and eight consecutive clean sheets in all competitions came to an end in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Sunderland.

Guardiola said the chance to close in on the leaders did not go unnoticed but said his players had to show they are title contenders again.

"They dropped points finally," added the City boss.

"I said to the players 'guys, don't do it because yesterday Arsenal didn't win. Let's do it to believe ourselves'.

"We play against the champions of England. Show them that we are able to be there with them (Arsenal) this season and today I think we proved it."


Hamilton Upbeat Despite 'Nightmare' at Ferrari

Scuderia Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain competes in the 2025 Formula One Grand Prix of Sao Paulo at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace racetrack in Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 09 November 2025. EPA/Sebastiao Moreira
Scuderia Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain competes in the 2025 Formula One Grand Prix of Sao Paulo at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace racetrack in Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 09 November 2025. EPA/Sebastiao Moreira
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Hamilton Upbeat Despite 'Nightmare' at Ferrari

Scuderia Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain competes in the 2025 Formula One Grand Prix of Sao Paulo at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace racetrack in Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 09 November 2025. EPA/Sebastiao Moreira
Scuderia Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain competes in the 2025 Formula One Grand Prix of Sao Paulo at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace racetrack in Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 09 November 2025. EPA/Sebastiao Moreira

Lewis Hamilton did his best to stay upbeat for the future on Sunday after yet another wretched weekend in what he described as a "nightmare" year with Ferrari.

Both the seven-time world champion and his team-mate Charles Leclerc were forced to retire from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil, where he is an honorary citizen.

Hamilton was retired by the team after battling on for 40 laps in a damaged car following several incidents in the opening laps and a penalty, while Leclerc retired on lap six following a collision in which he was an innocent victim.

"It’s a nightmare," AFP quoted Hamilton as saying. "I’ve been living it now for a while and the flip between living the dream of driving for this amazing team and then the nightmare of the results that we’ve had.

"The ups and downs. It's challenging, but tomorrow I’ll get back up. I’ll keep training and I’ll keep working with the team.

"I really wanted to get them good points this weekend, but I’ll come back as strong as I can in the next race and try to recover.

"We are really having to fight through those hardships at the moment, but I believe there is something up ahead in my life and in my destiny.

"Truly, I still believe in this team and what we can achieve. I just have to keep pushing and never give up.”

Hamilton has added an unwanted record to his many spectacular successes this season by going 21 races without a podium finish, an all-time low among Ferrari drivers, and on Sunday suffered more bad luck at the start of the Interlagos race.

"I don’t really know what happened at Turn One, but obviously it’s not great to be hit and after that the car was just gone,” said Hamilton, who was given a five-second penalty for colliding with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto on the opening lap when he also in contact with Williams’ Carlos Sainz, the driver he replaced at Ferrari this year.

"But that’s how it has been this season. It's obviously a disaster, a stress and a disappointment for everyone in the team. but I'm trying to keep my head above water.

"I'm trying to remain positive. Charles did a great job in qualifying yesterday so there is some performance in our car and I agree that at this point I just have to believe that something will come out of all these hardships we’re going through."


Riyadh to Host World’s Top Golfers for PIF Saudi International 2025

Riyadh to Host World’s Top Golfers for PIF Saudi International 2025
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Riyadh to Host World’s Top Golfers for PIF Saudi International 2025

Riyadh to Host World’s Top Golfers for PIF Saudi International 2025

Golf Saudi announced the launch of the PIF Saudi International 2025 powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, to be held from November 19 to 22 at Riyadh Golf Club, featuring a lineup of the world’s top golf stars as part of Riyadh Season 2025.

Golf enthusiasts will have the chance to watch some of the game’s biggest names, including Joaquín Niemann, Tyrrell Hatton, and Dustin Johnson, compete in the final event of the International Series under the Asian Tour, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.

Golf Saudi aims to position the Kingdom as a global leader in the sport by organizing world-class tournaments such as the PIF Saudi International, developing high-standard facilities, and implementing best practices across all its events.

The championship marks the conclusion of nine major tournaments on the International Series calendar for the season, offering Asian Tour players a direct path to the LIV Golf League. The top-ranked player in the final standings will earn a spot in the 2026 LIV Golf League.

This is the second consecutive year the championship will be held at Riyadh Golf Club, the headquarters of Golf Saudi and one of the capital’s premier courses. Spanning 7,434 yards and built to world championship standards with a par of 72, the course has previously hosted major events such as the PIF Saudi Open, Aramco Team Series – Riyadh, and the Aramco Saudi Ladies International.