Manchester United

There’s so much about Paul Scholes that we are yet to understand. We’ve been studying the specimen for over 25 years, but as soon as we think we’re close to a breakthrough with regards to how this terrestrial animal has eyes going every which way, we are mystified by some new behavior.

The midfield instigator was roaming around the confines of the Etihad Stadium today with 50,000 spectators training their inquiring eyes upon him, and he delivered this . . . this thing.  

Portugal’s excellent 2019 continued yesterday with an impressive 4-2 away victory over Serbia in UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying. The future looks incredibly bright for the defending European champion with Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Gonçalo Guedes, Nélson Semedo, João Félix and João Cancelo (all 25 or under) all playing their part. 

But the main story, as always, was 34-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored what would prove to be the match-winner in the 80th minute. It was Ronaldo’s 159th international appearance and his 89th goal.    

Perhaps beginning with AC Milan’s historic Centro Sportivo Milanello and continuing to this day in previously undreamt of places like Atlanta and Utah, training facilities for the world’s most prestigious clubs have grown in importance as the most ambitious of organizations attempt to align the best in first-team training, sports science and academy development with a physical representation of an overarching ideology. 

Manchester United was held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Southampton at St. Mary's on Saturday. It was a match that was crucial for United to get back in the race for a top four spot. The Red Devils failed to capitalize or even trouble the Saints after Kevin Danso received his second yellow card of the afternoon in the 73rd minute. It seemed to be that same old story for United — what little preseason optimism left is now gone. What’s worse is that Manchester United has only won three Premier League games in its past 16.

Maybe, just maybe, Ole Gunnar Solskjær doesn’t trust Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood as much as he led on.

The Norwegian had stated he trusts the attackers he has available in his squad. Yet, there could be a chance of a former player coming back to Manchester United.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic said a few days ago that, “If Manchester United needs me, I’m here.”

Is a return to Old Trafford on the cards for Zlatan? Solskjær wouldn’t mind it.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær is finally getting his wish of getting the “deadwood” out of Manchester United. The Red Devils had a few high profile players leave the club this summer, with both Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku going to Inter, Ander Herrera going to PSG and Antonio Valencia returning to Ecuador to finish his career. Matteo Darmian looks set to leave as well, returning to Italy. Now that Harry Maguire is in the team and Axel Tuanzebe is staying with the club after his loan at Aston Villa, United has a ton of defenders available.

Manchester United suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday to Crystal Palace, which notched its first win of the new season. 

The defeat at home would not have been as embarrassing if the @ManUtd Twitter account did not play with fire ahead of the match.

Before the game, the club tweeted out this shot at Chelsea.