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Maguire hopeful for fresh start Reason for Devils optimism ahead of the new season

Ű BY DAVID CHARLESWORTH

under former manager Erik ten Hag, who stripped the England centreback of the captaincy and dropped him from the first team. A move to West Ham in 2023 collapsed as Maguire decided to fight for his place and he has found himself back in favour since Ten Hag was dismissed and replaced by incumbent boss Ruben Amorim last year. Indeed, a 12-month extension to his contract was triggered in January and United have reportedly rejected overtures from a number of clubs to keep Maguire, whose deal expires at the end of the season. Addressing the criticism he gets at United, the 32-year-old added: “I think there’s more scrutiny on Manchester United just because more people in the country hate them – and that’s just a fact.” – The Independent

H ARRY MAGUIRE believes Manchester United have a “fresh start” as they head into a new season seeking to atone for a dire past 12 months. United’s post-Ferguson malaise hit an all time low after a 15th-placed finish – their worst ever in the Premier League – and not even a run to the Europa League final, where they lost to Tottenham, could paper over the cracks. But the big-name signings of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, as well as a £50 million (RM290m) training ground upgrade, have given United a spring in their step to go into the new campaign. They welcome old rivals Arsenal in their Refs to crack down on players holding in the box P R EMIE R LEAGUE referees are likely to award more penalties this season in a tougher response to players who grapple and hold opponents in the penalty area. Howard Webb, chief operating officer of referees’ body the PGMOL, told reporters yesterday that feedback from a recent Premier League survey had highlighted “a few too many” clear holding offences going unpunished. He said VAR could intervene in situations of “extreme non-footballing action” where a player was clearly dragging another to the ground, even off the ball. “I would expect, if we’re sitting around this table this time next year, there to have been a few more penalties given for holding offences than what we’ve seen (last season),” he said. “But not a huge swing of the pendulum, because that’s really difficult to sustain over a period of time.” Webb said there would still be “some grey zone situations where the referee’s call stands, where the referee says ‘No, it’s a small touch, it’s not impacting his ability to move the ball, it’s mutual holding. That will stay the referee’s call. “When there’s no considerations to support the referee’s call, then we’ll expect VAR to get involved as well,” added Webb. Nottingham Forest were awarded a penalty, confirmed after a VAR check, last season in a 7-0 thrashing of Brighton & Hove Albion when Tariq Lamptey bundled Forest captain Morgan Gibbs White to the ground. A subsequent Premier League statement referred to “sustained holding with no attempt to play the ball”. The PGMOL has tried before to reduce holding but Webb said this time the approach would be more lasting. “This is not meant to be a two-week campaign, a six-week campaign, August and September and then forget all about it,” he explained. “If we went in like a steam train and gave every little bit of contact then it would be a six week campaign because we get told very quickly to ease off on what we’re doing. “We have to take the game with us, we have to be credible.” – Reuters N EWCASTLE U N ITED manager Eddie Howe has admitted the cold war with wantaway striker Alexander Isak is far from ideal as his side prepare to start the Premier League season without their prolific goalscorer. The 25-year-old Sweden international, who has netted 62 goals in all competitions since arriving for a club record fee in 2022, appears to be determined to leave Newcastle in this transfer window. British media reported that champions Liverpool had a bid of £110 million (RM638m) rejected for Isak, who scored 23 League goals last season as Newcastle finished fifth and

His signing is among a number of eye popping sums United have spent but consistent success under any manager has eluded them in the last dozen years since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure. Maguire said: “There has been a transition period, obviously, when Sir Alex was here and we had the best team by far and won all the trophies. But the reality is that we’re not the best team. “You’ve got to thrive off the pressure and you’ve got to play like you’re playing in a playground. I think that’s what we’ve struggled to find over the last 10 years.” Maguire has polarised opinion at Old Trafford and his days appeared numbered

season opener tomorrow (11.30am Malaysian time) and Maguire, appearing on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, said: “The lads are working hard and it’s a great atmosphere in the place. “We want to be successful, we’re doing everything we can to be successful. Sometimes we know it’s not been good enough for a recent (period) and we’ve not given our fans as much. “I feel like it’s almost a little bit of a fresh start and hopefully this start is a good start.” Maguire, who missed the start of a pre season trip to the United States for a personal matter, joined United six years ago from Leicester in an £80 million (RM464m) deal, a then world record fee for a defender.

Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres (centre). – REUTERSPIC

Viktor, Arsenal are perfect match: Henry

Ű BY JACK RATHBORN

acceptance that this is the squad and we’ve got to make the best of the situation. That’s always been my train of thought. We have moved forward and the atmosphere of the group has been very good.” There was some good news for Howe. According to the BBC , the Magpies are close to signing Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey in a deal worth about £40m. Ramsey, a former England U-21 international, has scored 17 goals in 167 appearances for Villa since earning his senior debut in 2019 and was a regular for Unai Emery’s side last season. – Reuters/Agencies Gyokeres will make his full debut on Sunday against Manchester United, with the Gunners travelling to Old Trafford to kick-start their title challenge after three successive runner-up finishes in the Premier League. – The Independent that sometimes it doesn’t click straight away. “What you want is people to be patient with him, and what is annoying right now is that people are not that patient anymore. “They want the guy to perform straight away, score goals straight away and make us win straight away, which doesn’t happen often. “I’m an Arsenal fan, I obviously hope he’s going to do well, bang goals for us, and guide us to a title, but he’s not going to do that alone. “We have seen that goals don’t always assure you a title. We’ve seen guys with mad numbers, but they didn’t win anything. “The team around them has to be good. From what I’ve seen from him and how he finishes, hopefully it’s going to be a great match and we can finally go back to lift that trophy. But as I’ve said, a lot of teams want to lift that.”

Arsenal legend Henry.

“That instinct and understanding to anticipate the cross (against Athletic), a great header with soft touch to guide it to the other side of the goal – he is a proper No. 9,” Henry said in his Insider blog. “He is not a Firmino type of No. 9 that’s going to drop into midfield. He wants to be in the box, in between the posts, and he said it himself – please put the ball in the box and serve me.

THIE RR Y HE NR Y believes Arsenal and Viktor Gyokeres are a “perfect match” due to the Swedish striker’s desire to operate inside the penalty area. Gyokeres signed for the Gunners from Sporting CP for £64 million (RM371m) to re-energise Mikel Arteta’s attack in what is set up as a “now or never” type season. And the 27 y e a r - o l d managed to get off the mark in pre season with a powerful header in the 3-0 win over Athletic Club, highlighting a key quality to impress

“You have a guy that’s a killer in the box – numbers don’t lie – and you have a team that create a lot of chances, so it

should be the perfect match, but you have to also understand

Thierry Henry

Isak standoff with Newcastle not ideal: Howe

we’ll have to find a way without him (at Villa Park).” Howe acknowledged that squad morale took a hit during pre-season when Isak trained alone at his old club Real Sociedad while Newcastle were on tour in Asia. “It was always going to be there when you’ve got a player that good, not part of your group. It’s difficult for the players to fully understand it,” Howe said. “But as time’s gone on, there’s been an

qualified for the Champions League. Isak has been training away from the squad and is unlikely to feature in Newcastle’s opening fixture at Aston Villa today (7.30pm Malaysian time). “It’s not been ideal, I don’t think it’s been healthy for us, I’m not going to deny that. That’s been a big, big challenge,” Howe told the BBC . “For me, Alex is one of the, if not the best, strikers in the world, so to miss him from your squad is a huge gap. The situation’s ongoing, but