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United Boss Ten Hag Concedes Liverpool Have Advantage of Mature Team

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - August 24, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts REUTERS/Tony O Brien/File photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - August 24, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts REUTERS/Tony O Brien/File photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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United Boss Ten Hag Concedes Liverpool Have Advantage of Mature Team

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - August 24, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts REUTERS/Tony O Brien/File photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - August 24, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts REUTERS/Tony O Brien/File photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Liverpool are a more mature side than Manchester United, with the advantage of a cohesive team of established players, United manager Erik ten Hag said ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash between the bitter rivals at Old Trafford.

"Liverpool are in a different phase of the life cycle," Ten Hag told reporters. "We are much more mixed and we have to build a new team."

United have not beaten Liverpool in the league since a 2-1 win at Old Trafford in August 2022 though Ten Hag's men did prevail 4-3 over former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp's side to win the FA Cup last season, according to Reuters.

Liverpool finished third in the league last season, five places and 22 points ahead of United, but Ten Hag said his side could take heart from their performance in the cup final.

"We can always win, last year we won (in the FA cup) in the second part of the season," the Dutchman said.

"(Liverpool) are a team who are clear in the relationship among their players. It's what (new manager Arne Slot) has inherited. It was built over the last few years."

Slot and Ten Hag have faced each other in the past during their time working in the Dutch top flight, with little to chose between them on paper.

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Both managers have two wins apiece against each other in the Eridivisie, with Sunday's match at Old Trafford their first head-to-head meeting since March 2022.

Liverpool have made a solid start to the season under Slot, who became their first manager since Graeme Souness in 1991 to win his two opening league games in charge with Sunday's 2-0 victory over Brentford.

United, on the other hand, dropped their first points of the campaign when they were beaten 2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion last Saturday.

"One of the reasons I came here is I knew beforehand it would be the most difficult thing I could ever do in my life, to come in (to) a club with a lot of problems," added Ten Hag, who took charge of United in April 2022.

"I inherited a history of six years and no trophy. We're still in transition. We have young players, academy players, and now we have to construct a team for the future."

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Advocaat Resigns as Curacao Coach ahead of World Cup

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw - John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C., US - December 5, 2025 Curacao coach Dick Advocaat inside the venue before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw Pool via REUTERS/Dan Mullan/File Photo
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw - John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C., US - December 5, 2025 Curacao coach Dick Advocaat inside the venue before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw Pool via REUTERS/Dan Mullan/File Photo
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Advocaat Resigns as Curacao Coach ahead of World Cup

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw - John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C., US - December 5, 2025 Curacao coach Dick Advocaat inside the venue before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw Pool via REUTERS/Dan Mullan/File Photo
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw - John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C., US - December 5, 2025 Curacao coach Dick Advocaat inside the venue before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw Pool via REUTERS/Dan Mullan/File Photo

Veteran Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, who led Curacao to their first World Cup qualification, has stepped down as manager months before the finals because of his daughter’s ill health.

Fred Rutten, 63, will take over and lead the Caribbean island nation to the World Cup, the Curacao Football Federation said on Monday, Reuters reported.

"I have always said that family comes before football,” Advocaat said in a statement. "This is therefore a natural decision. That said, I will greatly miss Curacao, its people, and my colleagues. I consider qualifying the smallest nation in the world for the World Cup one of the highlights of my career. I am proud of my players, staff, and board members who believed in us." The 78-year-old Advocaat described leading the island, which is part of the Dutch kingdom with a population of around 150,000, to the World Cup as the "craziest thing" he had achieved in a managerial career spanning nearly four decades. He would have become the oldest coach in World Cup finals history.

Gilbert Martina, president of the Curacao Football Federation, said: "His decision commands nothing but respect. Dick has made history with our national team. Curacao will always remain grateful to him."

Rutten, who won a single cap for the Netherlands in his playing days, has managed Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, and Schalke 04.

"It is a difficult time for Dick, and I wish him and his family strength,” Rutten said.

“Dick is an icon in world football. It is truly an honour to continue his work. I have spoken extensively with him and his staff and will continue along the same path. Curacao can expect the same dedication and commitment from me."

Rutten will take charge of the Curacao squad for the first time in March, when they travel to Australia for a mini-tournament with the host country and China.

Curacao begin their World Cup campaign with a Group E match against Germany in Houston on June 14.

Sports

Tudor Sees Harsh Reality of Tottenham’s Plight 

Tottenham's head coach Igor Tudor reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP)
Tottenham's head coach Igor Tudor reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP)
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Tudor Sees Harsh Reality of Tottenham’s Plight 

Tottenham's head coach Igor Tudor reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP)
Tottenham's head coach Igor Tudor reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP)

If Igor Tudor needed hard evidence as to the size of his task at Tottenham Hotspur, he got a filing cabinet's worth in Sunday's 4-1 home defeat by Arsenal in the north London derby.

There had been a slight lift in the mood amongst Tottenham fans ahead of the game, a feeling that Tudor might be able to initiate a "new manager bounce" against an Arsenal side showing signs of nerves in the Premier League title race.

Instead, a dominant Arsenal strolled to three points with their biggest league win at their arch-rivals since 1978.

Tudor was left in no doubt that his side are in a relegation battle that ‌could see them ‌drop out of the top flight for the first time ‌since ⁠1977.

"Where is the ⁠goal? What is the level? So today, totally different worlds. I need to be honest. Two totally different psychological and physical worlds," the straight-talking Croatian said of the contrast between the two sides.

"A lack of confidence is very evident in the team. I'm very sad and very angry and everything but in one way it is also good to understand where is our goal. What is the goal of this club?

"What is the goal of this team? What ⁠is this goal of this coach, these players, this staff? To ‌become serious. Serious, not just a group of ‌20 players.

"Each of us look in the mirror and really try, really start to change the habits. ‌Working hard is the only way."

With 11 games remaining, Tottenham are in 16th place, ‌four points above the relegation zone. But their form is shocking, even compared to the two clubs directly below them, Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.

They have not won a Premier League game in 2026 and have only won twice at home in the league this season.

Based on the ‌last 12 games, Tottenham are bottom of the table -- five points worse off than West Ham and Forest, who both look ⁠better-equipped for a relegation ⁠scrap.

Apart from a brief spell when Randal Kolo Muani equalized on Sunday, Arsenal toyed with Tottenham and could have won by an even larger margin.

Former Juventus and Lazio coach Tudor, who replaced Thomas Frank this month, was correct to point to the crippling injury list that left him with 13 senior outfield players on Sunday while suspended captain Cristian Romero will complete his ban at Fulham next weekend.

That is a match Tottenham dare not lose.

"It was too much Arsenal for us in this moment with the problems we have," Tudor said. "Also it's nice to understand where we are because you prepare in the best possible way then there is the game to show you reality.

"I said to the players, stay quiet, come on Tuesday and restart after these three or four training sessions to work harder than we did until now. To change our habits, to change the state of mind which is now as a team."

Sports

Liverpool Boss Slot Encouraged by Mac Allister’s Return to Form 

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in Nottingham, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in Nottingham, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP)
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Liverpool Boss Slot Encouraged by Mac Allister’s Return to Form 

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in Nottingham, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in Nottingham, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP)

Liverpool manager Arne Slot believes Alexis Mac Allister is regaining his best form following the attacking midfielder's last-gasp winning goal at Nottingham Forest.

Mac Allister struck deep in added time at the City Ground on Sunday to secure a 1-0 win for the Premier League champions.

The Argentina international sealed victory by pouncing on a loose ball from close range just minutes after he had a goal ruled out by VAR.

"I think what he needed is what he showed in the last six, seven or eight games - a run of games where he's getting back to his usual level that he showed so many times last season," said Slot.

"And he had that level also in the first half of the season but it went a bit with ups and downs, as the team went in terms of performances with ups and downs.

"But I see much more consistency recently -- not only in Macca's performance but in the team performance and many individual performances.

"But I think it's always nice for a player to score, especially if it's in extra time of extra time."

The Dutch boss, whose side are now just outside the Champions League places on goal difference alone following a run of poor results, added: "We needed this goal, we needed that win to be on the right side of things once in a while because we've been so, so unlucky this season.

"And for the first time, at least it felt to me for the first time, we've been a bit lucky this season."