Dorgu left out of Lecce line-up while waiting for Manchester United move
Patrick Dorgu has not been included in the Lecce starting XI for Friday evening’s Serie A match away against Parma at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, despite being with the squad while waiting to travel to the UK to sign for Manchester United.
Dorgu is available to coach Marco Giampaolo for the match between Parma and Lecce on Friday evening, but the United-bound wideman has been left among the substitutes on this occasion.
Dorgu ready to say goodbye to Lecce
Patrick Dorgu of US Lecce looks on during the Serie A match between Empoli and Lecce at Stadio Carlo Castellani on January 11, 2025 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
The Denmark international has lined up as a starter in every other Serie A match he has been available for this season. He has only missed one other game in 2024-25, which came against Torino four matches into the season when he was surviving a one-match suspension.
He has been replaced by Antonino Gallo in the starting line-up for tonight’s match against Parma.
Dorgu is expected to officially join Manchester United before the January transfer deadline on Monday.
Italian club Lecce has left out Nigerian striker Emmanuel Dennis, also known as Dorgu, from their starting line-up as they wait for his move to Manchester United to be finalized.
Dorgu has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League giants after impressing with his performances in Serie A. The 24-year-old has scored six goals in 19 league appearances so far this season, catching the eye of several top clubs.
Lecce has decided to leave Dorgu out of their line-up as they wait for the transfer to be completed, with the player reportedly keen on making the move to Old Trafford. The Italian club is said to be holding out for a substantial transfer fee for the talented striker.
Manchester United are in need of attacking reinforcements, and Dorgu could provide a much-needed boost to their forward line. The Red Devils will be hoping to wrap up the deal quickly so that Dorgu can join them and start making an impact in the Premier League.
Fans of both Lecce and Manchester United will be eagerly awaiting further developments in this transfer saga as they wait to see where Dorgu will be playing his football in the near future. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting transfer story.
Premier League champions Manchester City have made a late formal approach to FC Porto for midfielder Nico Gonzalez, according to emerging reports.
Txiki Begiristain and his recruitment colleagues have been active in the ongoing January transfer market, and having already spent in excess of £120 million on three new players, the club remain very much active in the final days of the window.
That ongoing search centres around the middle of Pep Guardiola’s operation, and having seen midfield struggles emerge throughout the season particularly in light of Rodri’s long-term injury, there is an awareness that investment must be made in the position.
So far, Manchester City have had little luck in bringing in a new central midfielder, having showing an interest in a short-term loan deal for Juventus’ Douglas Luiz, and holding admiration in Atalanta’s Éderson.
But with just a few days remaining in the market, it appears as though the pursuit of a new name in the central role is intensifying, with Txiki Begiristain now taking the search and conversation over to Portuguese football.
It is detailed that the Portuguese giants still hope to keep Gonzalez and are set to ask for an important transfer fee from Manchester City or else the player will not make the move to the Etihad Stadium this month.
Interestingly, it is pointed out that the 23-year-old Spaniard has a release clause in his Porto contract worth €60 million and his former club, FC Barcelona retain a 40 per cent sell-on clause as part of the deal that saw the player head to Portugal in 2023.
Additional reporting from Sky Sports News’ Lyall Thomas has further revealed that Manchester City are not prepared to meet the player’s release clause, and it remains to be seen whether Porto are open to negotiation.
Gonzalez has been at the Portuguese side for only one-year-and-a-half after joining Porto from Barcelona in July 2023, signing a five-year contract in the Primeira Liga for a reported fee of €8.5 million.
Should Manchester City manage to find an agreement with Porto, any such deal would represent a significant profit for the club, and make Gonzalez the latest player from Estadio do Dragao to represent the Etihad Stadium club, too.
In total, there have been four connections linking Manchester City with FC Porto, after Nicolas Otamendi, Fernando Reges, Danilo, and Eliaquim Mangala represented the two clubs with varying success when it came to their Premier League careers.
Manchester City has officially made their move to sign FC Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez, as the Premier League champions have formally approached the Portuguese club for talks.
Gonzalez, who has been impressing in the midfield for Porto, has caught the eye of City’s scouts and manager Pep Guardiola. The 23-year-old Argentine has been a standout performer for Porto this season, showcasing his technical ability, passing range, and defensive awareness.
City are reportedly keen on bolstering their midfield options and see Gonzalez as a player who can add depth and quality to their squad. The club is said to be in discussions with Porto over a potential transfer fee and contract terms for the talented midfielder.
Gonzalez’s potential move to City would represent a significant step up in his career, as he would have the opportunity to play for one of the top clubs in Europe and compete for major trophies on a regular basis.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing transfer saga as City look to secure the services of Nico Gonzalez from FC Porto.
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Manchester City, FC Porto, Nico Gonzalez, transfer news, football, Premier League, Portuguese Liga, transfer negotiations, player recruitment, sports news
Premier League champions Manchester City have made a late formal approach to FC Porto for midfielder Nico Gonzalez, according to emerging reports.
Txiki Begiristain and his recruitment colleagues have been active in the ongoing January transfer market, and having already spent in excess of £120 million on three new players, the club remain very much active in the final days of the window.
That ongoing search centres around the middle of Pep Guardiola’s operation, and having seen midfield struggles emerge throughout the season particularly in light of Rodri’s long-term injury, there is an awareness that investment must be made in the position.
So far, Manchester City have had little luck in bringing in a new central midfielder, having showing an interest in a short-term loan deal for Juventus’ Douglas Luiz, and holding admiration in Atalanta’s Éderson.
But with just a few days remaining in the market, it appears as though the pursuit of a new name in the central role is intensifying, with Txiki Begiristain now taking the search and conversation over to Portuguese football.
It is detailed that the Portuguese giants still hope to keep Gonzalez and are set to ask for an important transfer fee from Manchester City or else the player will not make the move to the Etihad Stadium this month.
Interestingly, it is pointed out that the 23-year-old Spaniard has a release clause in his Porto contract worth €60 million and his former club, FC Barcelona retain a 40 per cent sell-on clause as part of the deal that saw the player head to Portugal in 2023.
Gonzalez has been at the Portuguese side for only one-year-and-a-half after joining Porto from Barcelona in July 2023, signing a five-year contract in the Primeira Liga for a reported fee of €8.5 million.
Should Manchester City manage to find an agreement with Porto, any such deal would represent a significant profit for the club, and make Gonzalez the latest player from Estadio do Dragao to represent the Etihad Stadium club, too.
In total, there have been four connections linking Manchester City with FC Porto, after Nicolas Otamendi, Fernando Reges, Danilo, and Eliaquim Mangala represented the two clubs with varying success when it came to their Premier League careers.
English Premier League champions Manchester City have officially approached Portuguese club FC Porto over Argentine midfielder Nico Gonzalez. The 20-year-old has been a standout performer for Porto this season, catching the eye of many top clubs across Europe.
Manchester City’s interest in Gonzalez comes as no surprise, as they look to bolster their midfield options ahead of next season. The talented youngster has been compared to City’s very own Kevin De Bruyne, with his vision, passing range, and ability to dictate play from deep midfield positions.
Gonzalez has been a key player for Porto this season, helping them in their quest for domestic and European success. His performances have not gone unnoticed by City’s scouting team, who have been monitoring his progress closely.
It remains to be seen whether Porto will be willing to part ways with Gonzalez, but Manchester City are believed to be preparing a lucrative offer to tempt them into selling. With Pep Guardiola’s side looking to strengthen their squad in the coming months, Gonzalez could prove to be a valuable addition to their midfield ranks.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing transfer story as Manchester City look to secure the services of Nico Gonzalez from FC Porto.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City será el partido más atractivo de los playoffs de la Champions League 2024-2025. Este cruce entre los últimos dos campeones de Europa se lleva toda la atención entre los ocho juegos que definirán el resto de los clasificados a octavos de final donde ya esperan Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter, Atlético de Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lilles y Aaston Villa.
La Champions ofreció el último miércoles una jornada memorable con 18 partidos en simultáneo que definieron los ocho clasificados de manera directa a los octavos de final y determinó que potencias como Real Madrid, Bayern Múnich, Milan y Manchester City deban disputar una instancia previa de playoffs para ganarse su lugar.
Los equipos que quedaron ubicados en la clasificación de la fase de liga entre el 9° y el 24° puesto conocieron hoy su rival de 16vos, una nueva instancia de esta primera edición de la renovada Liga de Campeones.
Champions League 2024: así quedaron los cruces de playoffs
Atalanta vs Brujas
Borussia Dortmund vs Sporting de Lisboa
Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Bayern Múnich vs Celtic
PSV vs Juventus
Milan vs Feyenoord
PSG vs Stade Brestois
Benfica vs Mónaco
Champions League 2024-2025: clasificados a octavos de final
Liverpool
Barcelona
Arsenal
Inter
Atlético de Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen
Lille
Aston Villa
Sorteo playoffs Champions League 2025 minuto a minuto
LiveBlog: 3408
¡Real Madrid vs Manchester City y todos los cruces de playoffs!
El enfrentamiento entre Real Madrid y Manchester City en los octavos de final de la Champions League promete ser uno de los más emocionantes de la temporada. Ambos equipos cuentan con una gran calidad de jugadores y están en un excelente momento de forma, por lo que se espera un duelo apasionante.
Pero este no es el único cruce interesante que nos deparan los playoffs de la Champions League. Otros encuentros igual de emocionantes incluyen al Bayern Munich contra la Lazio, el Barcelona frente al PSG y el Chelsea contra el Atlético de Madrid.
Sin duda, los aficionados al fútbol están ansiosos por presenciar estos apasionantes enfrentamientos que determinarán qué equipos avanzarán a las siguientes fases de la competición. ¿Quién será el ganador de cada duelo? Solo el tiempo lo dirá, ¡pero sin duda serán partidos para recordar!
¿Cuál es tu pronóstico? ¡Déjanos tu opinión en los comentarios! #RealMadrid #ManchesterCity #ChampionsLeague #Playoffs
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Real Madrid, Manchester City, playoffs, fútbol, Champions League, partidos, resultados, clasificación, equipos, enfrentamiento, octavos de final, cuartos de final, semifinales, final, Liga de Campeones, UEFA.
Europa League: FCSB – Man. United, joi, 22:00, DGS 1
Europa League: Tottenham – Elfsborg, joi, 22:00, DGS 2
Înaintea duelului de pe Arena Națională, care se dispută cu casa închisă, în fața a aproximativ 55.000 de spectatori, FCSB ocupă locul 8, cu 14 puncte. De partea cealaltă, Manchester United se află pe 4, cu un punct în plus.
FCSB – Manchester United, ACUM, DGS 1. Confruntare de ”foc” pe Arena Națională
Galerie Foto
Min. 15: Ocazie United! Mainoo a fost găsit în careu, dar șutul mijlocașului englez a ajuns în brațele lui Târnovanu.
Min. 11: Ocazie uriașă pentru FCSB! Mihai Popescu a reluat puțin pe lângă poartă o centrare trimisă din lovitură liberă.
Min. 8: Cartonaș galben pentru Malacia, după o intrare tare asupra lui Florin Tănase!
Min. 5: Eriksen a centrat pentru De Ligt, însă lovitura de cap a olandezului s-a dus mult pe lângă poarta lui Târnovanu.
Min. 4: Început echilibrat de meci! Se dau lupte grele la mijlocul terenului.
UPDATE – A început partida dintre FCSB și Manchester United!
Campioana României este sigură de participarea în play-off-ul competiției, însă are șanse de a se califica direct în optimile de finală. Conform celor de la Football Rankings, formațiile care vor aduna cel puțin 16 puncte se vor număra cu siguranță printre primele 8 clasate.
Astfel, un succes în fața ”Diavolilor” de pe Old Trafford ar fi sinonim cu calificarea în optimi pentru FCSB. Gruparea roș-albastră poate prinde TOP 8 și în cazul unei remize. Cu 15 puncte, însă, ar sta la mâna celorlalte rezultate, pentru că mai mult ca sigur departajarea se va face la golaveraj.
În acest moment, FCSB este pe 8, deși e la egalitate de puncte cu alte 3 echipe, Lyon, Tottenham și Anderlecht, toate aflate deasupra bucureștenilor în clasament. Principalul criteriu de departajare este golaverajul.
Campioana SuperLigii are 10-7 (+3), Lyon 15-7 (+8), Tottenham 14-9 (+5) și Anderlecht 11-8 (+3). Al doilea criteriu e reprezentat de numărul de goluri înscrise. Aici se face diferența deocamdată între Anderlecht (11) și FCSB (10). În ordine, următoarele criterii sunt numărul de goluri înscrise în deplasare, numărul total de victorii și numărul de victorii obținute în deplasare.
FCSB – Manchester United | Charalambous: ”Este cel mai important meci din cariera mea de antrenor”
”Cel mai important lucru? Faptul că am ajuns în situația în care avem o șansă uriașă de a ajunge în optimile Europa League. Acest lucru ne dă energie pentru acest duel.
Avem jucători care pot evolua la cel mai înalt nivel, au demonstrat asta. Trebuie să facem totul perfect, doar așa putem obține ceva în astfel de partide. Trebuie să eliminăm greșelile și ne dorim cele trei puncte.
Pentru asta trăim, pentru astfel de meciuri, vrem să fim în cea mai bună formă pentru a putea emite pretenții. Ne place foarte mult această competiție, dar nu e suficient.
Manchester United este una dintre cele mai mari echipe din lume. Are foarte mulți suporteri. Pentru mine putem spune că este cel mai important meci din cariera mea de antrenor, dar, pe de altă parte, îl tratăm ca pe unul normal.
Îl cunosc pe Ruben Amorim de când o antrena pe Sporting. E un tehnician foarte bun, de top. Și ei vor dori să câștige meciul. Au jucători extraordinari, de asta evoluează la o echipă precum United”, a declarat Elias Charalambous, la conferința de presă.
FCSB – Manchester United | Ruben Amorim a dat verdictul: “O echipă foarte deșteaptă!”
La conferința premergătoare jocului, jurnaliștii români prezenți în sală l-au întrebat pe Ruben Amorim ce părere are că FCSB ocupă locul 8 în clasamentul general cu 36 de echipe, o poziție la care nici măcar cei mai optimiști fani ai roș-albaștrilor nu sperau.
Tehnicianul portughez a analizat-o “la sânge” pe campioana României alături de staff-ul său tehnic și a ajuns la concluzia că echipa antrenată de Elias Charalambous este una “deșteaptă”, în ideea în care știe să sufere de-a lungul meciului pentru a obține victoria.
“Nu e surprinzătoare poziția lor. Știm că FCSB e o echipă bună, poate marca mult din fazele fixe și poate câștiga meciuri dificile, chiar dacă fără prea multă posesie. E o echipă foarte deșteaptă și trebuie să jucăm foarte bine dacă vrem să câștigăm“, a declarat Amorim.
Programul complet al FCSB-ului în Europa League. Toate meciurile, în direct la Digi Sport
Live Video&Text | FCSB – Manchester United 0-0, ACUM, DGS 1. ”Finala” din ultima etapă de Europa League!
Salutare tuturor fanilor fotbalului! Astăzi vă aducem în direct ultima etapă a Europa League, unde FCSB se confruntă cu Manchester United într-un meci crucial pentru ambele echipe. Momentan scorul este 0-0, iar atmosfera este electrică pe teren.
FCSB și Manchester United au avut un parcurs excelent în această competiție și acum se vor întâlni într-o adevărată “finală” pentru a stabili cine va avansa mai departe în Europa League. Ambele echipe și-au pregătit cele mai bune strategii și sunt hotărâte să obțină victoria în acest meci decisiv.
Vom urmări evoluția jucătorilor pe teren, vom analiza fiecare fază a meciului și vă vom aduce cele mai proaspete informații în timp real. Nu ratați nicio fază importantă și urmăriți live acest meci de neratat între FCSB și Manchester United.
Rămâneți cu noi pentru a afla care echipă va ieși învingătoare din această “finală” din ultima etapă de Europa League! #FCSBvsManUnited #EuropaLeague #LiveTextVideo
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Live video, text, FCSB, Manchester United, Europa League, finala, ultima etapa, ACUM, DGS 1, rezultat 0-0, meci, fotbal, transmisie live.
Tottenham team news: Van de Ven startspublished at 18:54 Greenwich Mean Time
18:54 GMT
Tottenham v Elfsborg (20:00 GMT)
The big – and very welcome – news from the Tottenham dressing room is the return of Netherlands defender Micky van de Ven who has been out with an injury since 8 December.
There are three changes from the side that started the 2-1 home defeat to Leicester last Sunday.
Also coming into the side is goalkeeper Brandon Austin for the ineligible Antonin Kinsky and 17-year-old Mikey Moore for Dejan Kulusevski.
Van de Ven is in for Radu Dragusin.
Tottenham XI: Austin, Porro, Van de Ven, Davies, Gray, Bergvall, Bentancur, Sarr, Moore, Richarlison, Son.
Europa League LIVE: FCSB vs Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur vs Elfsborg, Rangers vs Union Saint-Gilloise – live text and score updates
Welcome to our live coverage of the Europa League matches featuring FCSB vs Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur vs Elfsborg, and Rangers vs Union Saint-Gilloise. Stay tuned as we bring you live text commentary and score updates from all three games.
FCSB vs Manchester United:
– Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
– FCSB starting XI: TBA
– Manchester United starting XI: TBA
Tottenham Hotspur vs Elfsborg:
– Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
– Tottenham Hotspur starting XI: TBA
– Elfsborg starting XI: TBA
Rangers vs Union Saint-Gilloise:
– Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
– Rangers starting XI: TBA
– Union Saint-Gilloise starting XI: TBA
Stay with us as we bring you all the action from these exciting Europa League matches. Let’s see which teams will come out on top tonight! #EuropaLeague #FCSB #ManchesterUnited #TottenhamHotspur #Elfsborg #Rangers #UnionSaintGilloise
Echipa de start a FCSB-ului! Cei 11 care o înfruntă pe Manchester United
Astăzi vă prezentăm echipa de start a FCSB-ului care va încerca să obțină o victorie împotriva gigantului englez Manchester United. Antrenorul nostru a pregătit o echipă puternică și motivată, care va da totul pe teren pentru a aduce acasă cele trei puncte.
Iată cei 11 jucători care vor intra pe teren în meciul crucial împotriva lui Manchester United:
Portar: Andrei Vlad
Fundași: Valentin Crețu, Ionuț Panțîru, Florin Ștefan, Iulian Cristea
Mijlocași: Olimpiu Moruțan, Darius Olaru, Dennis Man, Florinel Coman
Atacanți: Florin Tănase, Alex Chipciu
Acești jucători sunt pregătiți să lupte pentru culorile echipei noastre și să ofere o performanță de excepție în fața unei echipe puternice precum Manchester United. Suntem încrezători că vom obține un rezultat pozitiv și că vom face România mândră!
FCSB starting lineup, FCSB vs Manchester United, FCSB team news, FCSB players, FCSB match preview, FCSB starting XI, FCSB squad, FCSB lineup against Manchester United, FCSB starting lineup against Manchester United
Manchester United a rămas impresionată de atmosfera și suportul incredibil pe care l-a primit în seara meciului cu FCSB din București. Imaginile postate de echipa engleză pe rețelele de socializare arată fanii români în culmea entuziasmului, creând o ambianță de neuitat pe stadion.
Jucătorii lui Manchester United au fost impresionați de pasiunea și devotamentul fanilor prezenți la meci, care au cântat și au aplaudat în permanență, motivând echipa să lupte pentru victorie. Atmosfera din tribune a fost de-a dreptul electrică, iar suporterii români au arătat că sunt printre cei mai înfocați din Europa.
Echipa engleză a apreciat în mod special gesturile de ospitalitate și prietenie primite de la fanii români, care i-au făcut să se simtă ca acasă într-un mediu atât de diferit. Manchester United a promis că va reveni cu drag în România pentru alte meciuri și a mulțumit tuturor celor care au contribuit la atmosfera extraordinară din seara respectivă.
Imaginile postate de Manchester United de la București au captat magia și pasiunea fotbalului românesc, demonstrând încă o dată că acest sport poate uni oameni din culturi și țări diferite în jurul unei pasiuni comune.
Tags:
Manchester United, FCSB, București, impresionat, imagini, meci, fotbal, Europa League, fanii, Manchester United în România
Ruben Amorim’s side are in the Romanian capital to take on FCSB in their final fixture as they reach the end of a campaign in which they are so far unbeaten. Three draws mean that direct progression to the round of 16 is not totally secure, but win tonight and a smooth route will be theirs. A draw could well prove sufficient, too – yet defeat could open the door for others to usurp them.
The hosts are among those looking to overtake their fourth-placed opponents, with FCSB starting the night a point and four rungs below Manchester United in the competition ladder. That makes it win or bust for the 1986 European Cup winners as they hope to avoid the two-legged playoff ties that the other 16 qualifiers will have to negotiate.
Follow all the updates from the National Arena in Bucharest in our live blog below:
FCSB vs Manchester United LIVE
Man Utd visit FCSB in their final Europa League group stage fixture | Live on TNT Sports with kick off at 8pm GMT
Seven weeks have passed since Rashford last played for the Red Devils and his wait continues.
The forward trained with his team-mates on the eve of their match against FCSB, but was omitted from the 21-man squad seeking to secure a last-16 spot in Romania.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday (29 January), Amorim said: “When I feel that it is the right moment, I will put any player to play and, I will say it again, we are a better team with Marcus Rashford.”
Ruben Amorim claims he will put 63-year-old goalkeeping coach in Man Utd squad before Marcus Rashford
18:30 , Mike Jones
Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim revealed that the reason for Marcus Rashford’s continued absence from the matchday squad is the lack of effort he is seeing in training and said he will put 63-year-old goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital on the bench before the England international.
Rashford, who has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford during the January transfer window, has not featured for United since a 2-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League back in December.
Despite rumours linking the club with the likes of Mathys Tel, Ruben Amorim says he is focused on improving the current members of the Man Utd squad.
“Our focus is to work with the players that we have,” Amorim added.
“I think it is clear we can improve as a team, all of us, if we have time to train and if we put some wins together. So, it will be so much easier.
“We had so many games compared to training, that is how, for me, it is the biggest problem to start [my job] in the middle of a season, especially, in that moment, with a lot of games.”
Amorim on United’s transfer policy
18:20 , Mike Jones
As the January transfer window is still open, Ruben Amorim was asked how Manchester United will deal with potentialy incomings and outgoings.
He said: “This window is always really, really difficult and we don’t want to make the mistakes of the past.
“We have to also understand the situation of the club. A lot of things are changing so we have to be careful in this type of window.
“You guys know the situation of the club at the moment, so it’s nothing new.”
United’s Europa League campain
18:15 , Mike Jones
Manchester United have won four Europa League games in a row.
They beat PAOK, Bodo/Glimt, Viktoria Plzen, and Rangers last time out.
Another victory would match their record run of five, set during the 2022/23 group stage.
Can Man Utd’s unexpected new coach turn Ruben Amorim players into ‘mad dogs’?
18:10 , Mike Jones
The football world wasn’t ready for Sir Clive Woodward when he joined Southampton as performance director in 2005.
Two years after masterminding England’s Rugby World Cup glory, Woodward arrived at St Mary’s to much ridicule, summed up by a newspaper cartoon which depicted two players lifting up striker Peter Crouch like a second row catching a rugby lineout.
Woodward later said, on seeing the cartoon: “My immediate thought was, ‘Can you do that? Can you actually lift someone up?’”
FCSB sit second in the Romanian top-flight on goal difference.
They are unbeaten in their last four Europa League matches, beating Midtjylland and Qarabag while settling for goalless draws against Olympiacos and Hoffenheim.
They have lost just one of their matches in this competition in 2024/25. However, that was a heavy defeat as they went down 4-0 at Rangers, the team United beat last time out.
De Ligt on United’s chances
18:00 , Mike Jones
Matthijs de Ligt added: “We are undefeated so far [in the Europa League], so good in that respect.
“There were a few matches that we drew and which we should have won.
“There’s always room for improvement, but I believe we are one of the best eight teams [in the league phase].”
Ugarte on United’s Europea campaign
17:55 , Mike Jones
The midfielder said: “I think it’s been quite positive. United must win every match because of the club we are.
“But I think we are doing well and the next match will be very important.
“From now on, it’s about doing everything we can, resting and eating well, so that we are in the best shape.”
The damning final truth of Antony’s Manchester United nightmare
Manuel Ugarte spoke about what it is like to play for Manchester United.
He said: “I talk to Facu [Facundo] Pellistri every day because he is a very close friend of mine.
“I talked to Diego Forlán and Edi [Edinson] Cavani in Uruguay. This is something that unites us and it’s quite beautiful.
“You realise every player who leaves the team keeps that passion and love for United and that says a lot about this club, its history, the passion of the fans and the players who have been part of this club.”
Shaw back in training
17:40 , Mike Jones
It looks increasingly likely that Manchester United will bring a left wingback into the squad during this transfer window as a deal fro Patrick Dorgu moves closer.
More good news for Ruben Amorim and co. is that Luke Shaw has returned to training and should be in contention to play soon.
He has been left out of tonight’s squad though as he is still not match fit but could play a role at the weekend.
(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
Amorim on rotating players
17:35 , Mike Jones
Here’s Ruben Amorim talking in the build-up to tonight’s match about how he will choose the players.
“We have to rotate some players,” he said. “Everybody is prepared – and it is crucial for us to stay in the top eight and to avoid the play-offs.
“Like I’ve said so many times, we need time to train. We need to rest some players also, so we need to win tomorrow.
“We have to face the game in a good way, fight for every ball, but to improve with the possession and we’ll try, tomorrow, with the starting XI, to have players with a lot of possession, to control the game, because it’s really important, especially in the beginning.”
Manchester United receive huge injury boost after star returns to training ahead of Europa League clash
17:30 , Mike Jones
Manchester United received a boost on the eve of their Europe League game in Romania with Luke Shaw returning to training, as well an appearance from under-fire Marcus Rashford.
Shaw had featured in Ruben Amorim’s first three matches in charge, only for the left-back to suffer his latest injury setback that has kept him out since the start of December.
Shaw’s return is timely as United pursue Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu to strengthen their left-back options before Monday’s transfer deadline.
Ruben Amorim’s team are going through a good spell and the Europa League has been one of their more positive competitions this season.
With the possibility of a last-16 place on the line expect the Red Devils to turn up and find a way past their opponent.
It won’t be pretty and at times they will have to suffer but individual quality should carry then over the line.
FCSB 1-2 Man Utd.
Man Utd eary team news
17:20 , Mike Jones
Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte is a doubt after suffering a knock against Fulham, while Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Jonny Evans remain sidelined.
Marcus Rashford remains at the club for now but is firmly out of favour.
Predicted Manchester United XI:Bayindir; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Collyer, Mainoo, Dalot; Diallo, Fernandes; Hojlund
FCSB early team news
17:15 , Mike Jones
Top scorer Darius Olaru is a key absentee for FCSB, who also have injury concerns over Mihai Lixandru and Octavian Popescu.
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage on the channel from 7.30pm GMT. Subscribers can stream via discovery+.
When is FCSB vs Manchester United?
17:05 , Mike Jones
FCSB vs Manchester United is due to kick off at 8pm GMT on Thursday 30 January at the National Arena in Bucharest, Romania.
(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
FCSB vs Manchester United
17:00 , Mike Jones
Manchester United will look to book their spot in the last 16 of the Europa League as they travel to Romania to face FCSB.
While languishing in the Premier League, Ruben Amorim’s side are unbeaten in this competition and look good bets for automatic progression, avoiding the scheduling pressures that a two-legged play-off tie would pose.
A win would cement a top eight finish while a draw might also be enough, but defeat would see them slip beneath their hosts in Bucharest.
FCSB start the final round of fixtures occupying the final qualification spot for direct progression and just a point behind their opponents.
FCSB vs Manchester United LIVE
12:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A busy night of Europa League action is in store as the competition reaches the end of the league phase. Eight last-16 spots are up for grabs as teams vie to ensure direct progression and avoid the two-legged play-off round that the rest of the qualifiers will have to endure.
Manchester United look strong bets to make the top eight – but plenty can and will change. They face FCSB, with kick off at 8pm GMT.
(PA Wire)
FCSB vs Manchester United LIVE: Latest team news and line-ups ahead of key Europa League clash
In what promises to be an exciting Europa League clash, FCSB will take on Manchester United at the National Arena in Bucharest. Both teams are looking to secure their spot in the next round of the competition, making this a crucial match for both sides.
Here are the latest team news and line-ups ahead of the game:
FCSB:
– FCSB will be without midfielder Ovidiu Popescu, who is out with an injury.
– Manager Bogdan Vintilă is expected to field a strong starting XI, with striker Florinel Coman leading the attack.
– FCSB will be looking to secure a win on home soil and take an advantage into the second leg.
Manchester United:
– Manchester United will be without midfielder Paul Pogba, who is sidelined with a thigh injury.
– Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is expected to field a strong line-up, with Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford leading the attack.
– Manchester United will be looking to bounce back from their recent poor form and secure a win in this crucial European tie.
Stay tuned for live updates and analysis as the two teams battle it out for a place in the next round of the Europa League. Who do you think will come out on top in this exciting clash? Let us know in the comments below!
Helmut Duckadam, the man who saved four penalties in the 1986 European Cup final, died last month.
The celebrated Romanian goalkeeper was a hero in his homeland, but he broke Barcelona’s hearts with his saves. The Catalans, managed by Terry Venables and featuring Bernd Schuster and Steve Archibald, were strong favourites to lift a first European Cup. The final was in Seville and, given Steaua Bucharest were behind the Iron Curtain in Cold War Europe, all but a handful in the 70,000-crowd supported Barcelona.
Duckadam shattered their dreams and, in the 38 years since Steaua’s triumph, only one other team from Eastern Europe — Red Star Belgrade (now known as Crvena zvezda) — have won Europe’s top competition.
Steaua Bucharest still exist. They play in a smart new government-owned 30,000 seater stadium not far from where Duckadam lived in the western parts of the city. They have passionate fans and play in the second division. Yet Duckadam and many Romanians consider Steaua Bucharest to be FCSB — Manchester United’s hosts on Thursday in the Europa League, a 53,000 sell-out with tickets going for 10 times their £10 ($12.40) face value.
Welcome to a seemingly never-ending argument about who owns the history of Romania’s most successful club. In Manchester, FC United of Manchester fans sing “Two Uniteds but the soul is one”, but in Bucharest it’s the battle for that soul which has caused so much angst and numerous legal disputes.
Steaua’s Duckadam tips the ball over the bar in Seville in 1986 (Peter Robinson/EMPICS via Getty Images)
When Duckadam died, his body lay for 24 hours in the National Arena where United will play Thursday’s fixture. Fans from both clubs went to honour him but, while the two clubs have mutual respect for a national hero, relations between them are all but non-existent and feelings acrimonious.
So which is the real Steaua Bucharest?
Google ‘Steaua Bucharest’ and you are sent to a page titled FCSB. “This article is about the club officially named FCSB,” it reads. “For the other team claiming to be the legal successor of the original Steaua Bucuresti and affiliated with the multi-sport club and the army, see CSA Steaua București (football). For other uses, see Steaua București (disambiguation).”
Click on the latter link and you’re sent to a page listing the many sports played by Steaua Bucharest. At the bottom, there’s a link to “FCSB, a football club formerly illegally named FC Steaua Bucuresti”.
The fixtures detailed on the FCSB page are from Romania’s SuperLiga. The accompanying Wikipedia listing takes you to: “Fotbal Club FCSB, formerly Fotbal Club Steaua Bucuresti and sometimes colloquially known simply as Steaua”. Wiki is open to misuse and their entry has been changed to: “The team now known as Fotbal Club FCSB pretended to be Steaua. However, it was not.”
Confused? You will be. So who exactly are Manchester United playing?
Back in August 2016, in the Champions League qualification play-offs, Manchester City confronted a team of whom few had heard. On UEFA’s official website the team was listed as ‘FCSB’, yet on the BBC the result was recorded as ‘Steaua Bucharest 0 Manchester City 5’. It wasn’t much of a story until a tweet went viral from that game, supposedly from the account of Romania’s top division.
“Here’s the thing @ManCityfans!” it read. “You support a club bought with oil money made illegally! You have no history! You just have money!”
As it was an unofficial account the tweet was quickly forgotten having served its purpose online, but the point about history is an interesting one.
“Here’s a simple explanation since it’s very complex,” the former Romania international Florin Gardos, once of Southampton, tells The Athletic. “The current owner of FCSB, Mr (Gigi) Becali, bought the club after 2000. In the late 1990s, clubs in Europe had to be owned by private owners. The club Steaua was originally owned by the Ministry of Defence. They had to sell it; he bought it. Then 16 years later, there was a court ruling saying that Mr Becali doesn’t own the logo or the brand and that everything would have to go back to the Ministry of Defence.
Florin Gardos in his playing days at Southampton (Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
“The Ministry of Defence owns Steaua and they created a senior club starting in the fourth league with amateurs. They rose to the second league and have been there for a few years. But because of the Romanian Sports Law rules, they can’t be promoted since they’re effectively owned by the government.
“There has been a separation of fans. A lot of fans are with FCSB, including me, because there was a club which changed their name overnight but they were the same. FCSB is the biggest brand in Romanian football with the best average attendance and huge crowds for European games.
“When I played, there was a study which said they had 5million fans in Romania. Now the fans are a bit separated. Most are with FCSB but I work as a pundit and I’m not allowed to say ‘Steaua’ on television. I have to say ‘FCSB’ all the time, initials which don’t mean anything on paper. And for the other club, it’s ‘Steaua’; they have the brand and the logo.”
Could the two ever meet?
“They could play in a cup, but Steaua can’t be promoted until they become a privately owned club. But I hear that people might be afraid to buy the 51 per cent (stake) because what happened to Becali could happen again. A lot of people don’t think that public money should go on a professional team.”
Gigi Becali is a 66-year-old Romanian businessman and nationalist politician who returned to politics last year. He has just been elected as a member of the Romanian Parliament for AUR, a conservative party with some controversial views on how the country should governed.
Becali originally obtained 51 per cent of Steaua shares and added a further batch of 15 per cent before his wealth was impounded by the National Fiscal Authority (ANAF) in 2005. He appealed, won and avoided paying back taxes because he transferred the assets of Steaua Bucharest to a new company, FC Steaua Bucharest. Becali had bought the Steaua name of the club which was founded in 1947, but was not allowed to sell it or transfer it.
The army also asked for $38million (£30.6m) for what they called the illegal use of the brand. They didn’t get it. Romania’s Ministry of Defence sued in 2011 claiming that the Army were the rightful owners of Steaua’s logo, colours, name and honours. In 2017, judges made Becali’s club change their name to FCSB.
Becali in his home in April 2007 (Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images)
Becali was a member of the European Parliament for three years until 2012. Outspoken, controversial and lampooned in the Romanian media as an uneducated Silvio Berlusconi-type figure for his background as a shepherd, Becali is wealthy and powerful. He thrived after the fall of communism in the 1989 Romanian revolution and was on the Shareholders’ Council at Steaua.
At least until 2020, FCSB’s website stated: “In 1998, the football team was separated from the Army’s club, based on decisions of FIFA and UEFA, that stated that no club supported by the government should participate in professional competitions. Also, in 2003, the club became totally private.”
On the website, the club referred to themselves as ‘Steaua’ throughout — referred because it is no longer online. FCSB are not allowed to say they are the owners of the historical record, yet UEFA recognises FCSB as the continuators of Steaua and credits them with winning the 1986 European Cup.
A week before 2020’s Covid lockdowns, The Athletic went to see Duckadam and his wife at their home. He offered whiskey and we sat in the sunshine by a football and a pair of goalkeeper gloves bearing his initials and the No 86.
He was wonderful company as he explained how the win in 1986 came a few weeks after the Chernobyl disaster, when domestic football was suspended, how Valentin, the son of (former communist dictator) Nicolae Ceausescu, fixed it for his team to train under floodlights amid electricity cuts, and how they knew little of Barcelona, bar watching a VHS video, smuggled to them by a journalist, of Venables’ team beating Goteborg on penalties in the semi-final.
Duckadam is beaten in the final, only for Pichi Alonso’s goal to be ruled out (David Cannon/Allsport)
Steaua wore a white kit with no badge which they’d been given the night before. Duckadam wore modern gloves for the first time in a game and guarded them so closely that he slept with them. Barcelona’s players said nothing to him after the game, but when Steaua played City in the 2016 Champions League qualifier, their officials Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano told him that the people of Barcelona would never forgive him. Pep Guardiola confessed that he never thought Barca would lose that game.
Yet the trophy which Duckadam’s heroics secured was, according to him, held by the wrong club.
“I work for FCSB,” was how Duckadam explained his role as a club ambassador of a team who most Romanians recognise as Steaua Bucharest. But legally, they’re not. “It’s not fair that the smaller team has the trophies which we won.” He didn’t want to speak ill, but it was clearly a deeply emotive and divisive issue.
“Duckadam was the only one from the players who won the European Cup to be of that view,” Adrian Popa, a current Steaua player and one of very few to have played for both clubs, tells The Athletic. “He was a paid employee of FCSB. He worked for Becali, a very powerful and influential man in Romania. Most of his team-mates work at Steaua.
“It’s clear and simple. The courts have decided who is Steaua Bucharest and who isn’t. Steaua are the historical club that won the European Cup in ’86 and FCSB, who I used to play for, are a company. They are two different entities. They pretend they are Steaua or that they continued the old club, but it’s not true. The history and the name belong to Steaua Bucharest, who I now play for.
“We’re not affected by them (FCSB). I play for Steaua Bucharest, the greatest-ever Romanian team — not FCSB. The judge has decided that the history and name is ours.”
Steaua fans celebrate the 37th anniversary of the European Cup success during a game against Otelul Galati in 2023 (Vasile Mihai-Antonio/Getty Images)
Asked to describe the relationship between the two clubs, Popa adds: “There is no relationship. We can’t call it a war but we can say that they don’t respect court decisions. They are also very powerful in the media and all the structures. Steaua belongs to the country; it wasn’t legal to buy.”
“Players and former players are divided, but respect each other,” says Gardos. “And even worse, if I post something on social media about the subject, the fans who support the team from the second league swear and speak bad of me. Fifteen years ago, everyone was in the same stadium and I was loved. Now, the fans are separated and much more radical.”
Both Gardos, who retired in 2023, and Popa are 36. “At the moment, we don’t have the right to progress to the top league because of the legislation in Romania (preventing state-owned clubs from playing in the top division),” says Popa. “We are the only country in Europe with this kind of legislation. There would have to be changes if we are to be allowed to play in the first league.
“I would love to play against them (FCSB). There was a game in the third division during Covid so behind closed doors. Their second team and our first. They sent some of their first-team regulars. It was 1-1.
“I really hope that we get a chance to be promoted. We are in second place. If the law is changed, we can be promoted. It would be a dream for me to play in the first league with Steaua — I would play one game and then I would retire from football.”
Popa (right) challenges Dinamo Bucuresti’s Lamine Ghezali in a Liga 2 playoff game in May 2023 (Flaviu Buboi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“I started coming to Steaua (now FCSB) when I was eight and I later played for them (from 2012-17 when they were still called Steaua Bucharest),” adds Popa. “I respect that I played my best moments in football with them, but this is life. For many years, I thought the whole thing was a misunderstanding, but when the decision from the court came it was clear to me who was who.
“FCSB have a lot of fans because when they play in the first league and play European games. Fans want to see Manchester United and not teams from the second league, that’s normal. But we are Steaua.”
(Top photo: Getty Images)
FCSB or Steaua Bucharest: Who are Manchester United’s Europa League opponents?
As Manchester United gears up for their Europa League clash, many fans may be wondering about their upcoming opponents. The Romanian team FCSB, formerly known as Steaua Bucharest, will be facing off against the Red Devils in the next round of the competition.
FCSB, founded in 1947, has a rich history in Romanian football and has been a dominant force in the country’s league for many years. The team has won numerous league titles and has also had success in European competitions.
Steaua Bucharest, as they were previously known, achieved their greatest success in 1986 when they won the European Cup, now known as the Champions League. The team’s iconic red and blue colors and passionate fan base have made them a well-known and respected club in European football.
Manchester United will undoubtedly face a tough challenge when they come up against FCSB in the Europa League. With a talented squad and a history of success, the Romanian team will be looking to make their mark on the competition and cause an upset against the English giants.
Fans can expect an exciting matchup between these two teams as they battle it out for a place in the next round of the Europa League. Stay tuned for what is sure to be an action-packed game between FCSB and Manchester United.
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FCSB vs Steaua Bucharest: Manchester United’s upcoming Europa League clash
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