Erik ten Hag played a key role in Ralf Rangnick’s sudden departure from Manchester United – ESPN’s Insider Handbook latest reports. PLUS: Man City stars are delighted to have lost Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus this summer.
Move in: Liverpool receive FA support | Why Man City are glad to lose Sterling, Jesus | Team Ukraine set to return to UCL
Ten Hag’s role in Rangnick’s downfall at United
Manchester United and Ralf Rangnick have agreed to sever ties at the end of the season in part because of Erik ten Hag’s reluctance to work with the German in his proposed consulting role, sources told ESPN.
Rangnick spent the second half of last season as caretaker manager at Old Trafford and will take over as a consultant for two years from this summer.
But just a week after the end of the campaign, United announced Rangnick will leave the club and focus entirely on his role as manager of Shirt National team.
Sources told ESPN that United instigated the termination of the contract in consultation with Ten Hag, although Rangnick was displeased that he was not given a formal handover with the new manager.
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Rangnick, according to sources, was expecting to meet Ten Hag in person for a detailed meeting but the new United boss opted instead to speak only by phone.
Sources also told ESPN that United bosses have become increasingly exasperated by some Rangnick’s public comments in press conferences, especially many 10 new contracts are needed this summer. Sources added that United had asked Rangnick to sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of his departure.
Rangnick oversee a disastrous spell in charge of the first team after being appointed in November, winning just 11 of his 29 games. His reign ended with a 0-1 defeat first Crystal Palace On the final day of the season, and United announced their departure in a statement a week later.
It read: “We would like to thank Ralf Rangnick for his efforts as interim manager over the past six months.
“By mutual agreement, Ralf will now focus solely on his new role as head coach of the Austrian national team and will therefore not take up an advisory role at Old Trafford.
“We want to wish Ralf the best of luck in the next chapter of his career.” – Rob Dawson
1:32
Julien Laurens shares his frustration with the way Paris police treated Liverpool fans ahead of the Champions League final.
Liverpool get FA support for Champions League chaos
Liverpool has engaged in private conversations with the Football Association to discuss how English football’s governing body can actively support the club’s agreements with UEFA following policy and security issues ruined last month’s Champions League final with Real Madrid in Paris, sources told ESPN.
Liverpool supporters were held in a huge crowd, with some being pepper sprayed by riot police as they were held outside the Stade de France amid claims by French authorities ‘thousands of fake tickets’ ‘ causes delays in turnstiles.
The kick-off match, which ended in a 0-1 defeat for Jurgen Klopp’s team, was delayed by 35 minutes due to problems outside the stadium, and there were reports of supporters being attacked as they Try to leave the yard to the nearby train station.
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UEFA has set up an independent investigation, with Liverpool also gathering statements and evidence from supporters affected by the problems at the match, but there has been anger and frustration among the clubs. supporters of the club when there was a lack of public support or intervention from the English FA in the days and weeks since the final.
England’s FA still must issue a public statement regarding the events in Paris, but speaking to reporters this week, FA chairman Debbie Hewitt said dialogue had taken place with Liverpool.
“We talked a lot with Liverpool, with the club and asked them how we can best help them,” Hewitt said. “The important thing for me as FA president is [Liverpool CEO] Billy Hogan and Liverpool feel we are doing everything we can to assist with data collection and ensure that they are unbiased. To date, Billy feels we are doing just that.
“When situations arise, the most important thing is that the facts are collected and collected in the most independent way possible. And that is Uefa’s responsibility – it’s their league, not the FA’s. It is important that they can satisfy that facts were collected in a completely independent manner.
“Sometimes in those situations our best role isn’t necessarily that of the public speaker, especially when it’s not our league. It’s about doing what we can. behind the scenes to make sure both of those things happen.”
Liverpool have not publicly detailed the extent of the FA’s involvement, but sources told ESPN that private conversations “offering support” have taken place between senior figures at Anfield and within the FA. – Mark Ogden
0:47
Julien Laurens shares her thoughts on Cole Palmer’s “perfect fit” in Pep Guardiola’s system at Manchester City.
Man City’s faith in Cole Palmer could see Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus gone
City of Manchester did not rule out the prospect of allowing both Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling leave this summer because of their faith in the 20-year-old striker Cole Palmersources have told ESPN.
Arsenal is leading the chase for Jesus, while Chelsea have made Sterling their top target under new owner Todd Boehly.
Man City sources say that Jesus is likely to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer but they do not rule out allowing both to leave.
Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez Coming to strengthen the striker, but Pep Guardiola and his staff also have high hopes on Palmer and believe the England Under-21 international can prepare for his breakthrough campaign.
Palmer made 11 first-team appearances, scoring three goals, but missed most of the second half of last season through injury. He will become part of Guardiola’s squad to tour the United States this summer and then compete for a spot at City’s top right next season.
Man City will allow Jesus to join Arsenal if they meet the £50m valuation. Sterling, meanwhile, is interested in a move to Chelsea, but there are doubts at the Etihad as to whether the Stamford Bridge club will make a significant offer for a player with just one year left on his contract. – Rob Dawson
Ukrainian clubs prepare to return to the European arena
The Polish city of Lodz will host Dynamo Kyivmatch of the second qualifying round of the Champions League against Fenerbahce next month due to the ongoing military conflict in Dynamo’s hometown forced the 16-time champion Ukraine to hold the match in a neutral country.
Dynamo will become the first Ukrainian club to play in a European league since the Russian invasion in February, but although the fight is now largely confined to the eastern regions, UEFA continues. emphasizes that all teams from this country play their home matches outside of Ukraine. .
Lodz, 560 miles from Kyiv, hosted Ukraine’s Nations League match against the Republic of Ireland at the Stadion Miejski Widzewa Lodz earlier this month, and now the 18,000-capacity venue will also host the first leg of their qualifying match. Dynamo with Fenerbahce of Turkey on July 20.
Dynamo and champions Shakhtar Donetsk will play in the Champions League this season, with Dnipro-1 in the Europa League and Zorya Luhansk and Vorskla Poltava compete in the Europa Conference League.
All Russian teams continue to be banned by UEFA, and UEFA has confirmed that clubs from Ukraine and Belarus will not play each other due to their political allegiance to Russia. – Mark Ogden
