20/08/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | AUG 20, 2025

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Defiant Devils Amorim’s combative answer reveals new side to United manager

Ű BY RICHARD JOLLY

that one should have been a central midfielder. Or, more pertinently, a goalkeeper. Seven years earlier, after another August defeat, another Portuguese manager demanded “respect, respect, respect” in the same media theatre, but was sacked three months later. Amorim is not Jose Mourinho, though each is charismatic and quotable. Amorim was both taken aback by the scale of the media demands in the Premier League when he arrived and while also looking like a character created for such a stage. His employer said he can be combative in conversation. “He tells me to f*** off,” Sir Jim Ratcliffe said in March. Ratcliffe didn’t respond in kind when United’s results last season could have presented a case to sack him. But Amorim’s decisions will come under the microscope even more this year. It is judgement season for him. He surely knows as much. – The Independent much interrupted with injury. “It’s always a bit risky to bring such a player in, but this was the reason he was a free transfer, more or less a bargain. “Just with this important goal, that is worth three points, he’s paid everything back – but we didn’t pay for him! “He’s a great guy, a hard worker, pretty physical attributes for the Premier League.” Leeds dominated for long periods against Everton and Farke added: “Overall, in a tight game, a hard-fought win, but also a well-deserved win. “I think for a newly promoted side, it was an outstanding performance. “We were very dominant in the first half. Nearly 70% possession, 12 shots, I think 21 in total.” – The Independent

A N encouraging new begin ning in one respect was a false start in another. Ruben Amorim could declare that Manchester United were better than habitual title challengers Arsenal on the day without being accused of bias. Yet, after a £200 million (RM1.16b) outlay, after a pre-season for a manager who was denied one last year, Amorim’s opening day was not supposed to end with him being asked if he should have picked Tom Heaton. If the question was revealing, the manner of the answer was more so. Amorim is often disarmingly charming. He has smiled after many a setback and, after a 15th defeat in 28 Premier League games, has plenty of practice in explaining issues. He doesn’t usually snap. He did this time. “Why?” was his immediate reply. He was similarly snippy when it

Now they may reflect more on him. He will be judged on this season. And, had Bayindir dealt with Declan Rice’s corner better than he did, the assessments could have been very favourable. Amorim has made three major signings and the two who started, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, suggested that they both have the quality the team required and that Amorim has a gameplan to suit both. Even as they drew a blank, United offered the impression that they will score far more than the meagre tally of 44 goals they mustered in the Premier League last year. But it was also a choice to make each of those three big buys an attacker. Many others would argue

the thousands of other words they speak can be overshadowed by a few. A strong competitive instinct was required to propel him to the manager’s job at Old Trafford before his 40th birthday. Others have greeted blows less gracefully on many more occasions. Nevertheless, it felt illuminating. The timing of it could indicate a feeling that he is under more pressure. Amorim got a free pass last season from many a United fan, who spared him much of the blame for their lowest finish in half a century. Losses could be attributed to Erik ten Hag, the Glazers, John Murtough, Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund; to anyone except Amorim.

came to the goal Altay Bayindir conceded, suggesting the goalkeeper was fouled. Amorim was defending Bayindir; after seeming too critical of some of his players last season, there is a logic to that. He seemed to think his team had suffered an injustice, though the general verdict from neutrals was that there was no foul. He is allowed to say he knows more than his inquisitors; he does, after all. “I consider everything,” he replied, about his team selection. And in a wider sense, he can be forgiven for being grouchy for a few seconds; a manager’s life means every Premier League game is followed by a host of interviews and

SHORTS Romero ends transfer speculation TOTTENHAM captain Cristian Romero has ended uncertainty over his future by signing a new long-term contract at the club. The 27-year-old Argentina centreback, who had been heavily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid earlier this summer, was named as Spurs’ new skipper last weeky following the departure of Son Heung Min. Romero had entered the final two years of his previous deal, but has put pen to paper on new terms running until 2029. Romero first joined Spurs in 2021 on loan from Atalanta before the transfer was made permanent a year later. The 27-year-old has been critical of the club previously, pointedly saying last December that the spending of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea every year were “things to imitate” because then Tottenham “could easily be competing for the title every year” with the “structure” they have in place”. Full-back Djed Spence has also signed a new deal at Spurs. Versatile fullback Spence only signed fresh terms last October until 2028, but has been rewarded for a fine breakthrough campaign at Tottenham. Spence made 35 appearances in the 2024 25 campaign, after eventually being handed his full debut in December – two-and-a-half years after he first joined the club. Battle to sign Donnarumma MANCHESTER UNITED and Manchester City are set to go head-to-head in the transfer market for Paris Saint-Germain’s unsettled goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Italian has confirmed his intention to leave the French capital this summer after being sidelined. Donnarumma was a key player for PSG as they clinched the Champions League title last season, but following the arrival of French international Lucas Chevalier, his time in Paris appears to be coming to an end. Both halves of Manchester, red and sky blue, are reportedly interested. Ruben Amorim’s squad is in desperate need of a top-notch goalkeeper, with Altay Bayindir’s weaknesses laid bare in their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal and Andre Onana making numerous errors last season. Meanwhile, City seemed to have found their future No. 1 this summer in James Trafford, who they re-signed from Burnley this summer. However, with Ederson rumoured to be of interest to Turkish heavyweights Galatasaray, Pep Guardiola remains keen on bringing in the 26-year-old Italian.

Leeds boss Farke hails Nmecha’s ‘ice-cold finish’ Ű BY MARK WALKER

deserved 1-0 victory at Elland Road. Farke said: “I was a bit worried. He’s on the sheet for taking penalties, but as a substitute, he needed more touches and I was thinking of stepping in there and taking the ball off him. “Thank God I calmed myself down and he prove me right with an ice-cold finish. He deserves today to be in the spotlight after not the easiest of periods in these last few years.” Nmecha struggled with injuries in his last two seasons in the Bundesliga and has gone under the radar since becoming the first of Leeds’ eight summer signings so far. “He’s been excellent,” Farke said. “He’s won caps for Germany, but his last couple of

DANIEL FARKE revealed he almost took the ball off Lukas Nmecha before the substitute’s late penalty secured Leeds a winning return to the Premier League against Everton. Summer signing Nmecha, a free transfer from Wolfsburg, held his nerve to bury his 84th-minute spot kick – just six minutes after stepping off the

bench to replace Joel Piroe – to clinch Leeds a

s e a s o n s were pretty

Leeds United’s Lukas Nmecha celebrates scoring their first goal during the English Premier League match against Everton yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

Toffees boss Moyes slams penalty decision

THE have explained why Leeds United were given a controversial penalty in the closing stages of their victory over Everton. All eyes were on Elland Road yester as the newly-promoted Whites opened their campaign in style by claiming all three points. Lukas Nmecha scored the winner from the penalty spot, burying his effort right in the bottom corner. It followed a controversial decision from referee Chris Kavanagh to award the spot-kick for a handball by Everton defender James Tarkowski. Leeds midfielder Anton Stach Premier League

because you lean, your arms can go away. “Of course you’re allowed to lean in football, unless somebody pulls out one of these rules that when you lean it’s a penalty. “It took a deflection… I don’t know whether Tarky would have had to have his arm chopped off (for it not to be a penalty). “It was a poor decision… I think VAR had the chance to get that decision right and fair and I felt as though it wasn’t fair. “The crowd probably were the ones who were a bit intimidating. We can’t do anything about it now but it’s a poor decision.” – Express Newspapers

It read: “The referee’s call of penalty for handball by Tarkowski was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that he leaned into the ball with his arm.” Everton boss David Moyes was left incensed by the decision, with the Scot seen putting his hands on his head on the touchline. After the final whistle, he stormed onto the pitch to confront Kavanagh about the penalty decision. In his post-match interview with Sky Sports , Moyes said: “I think the goal is completely wrong and really harsh, so it’s difficult to lose on that. “I went and spoke to the referee and they seem to think that

fired a hopeful strike towards goal, which took a deflection and struck Tarkowski’s arm. The latter was in the process of moving his arm behind his back in a bid to avoid contact with the ball. Kavanagh’s initial decision to award a penalty was briefly checked by VAR, but the original call was upheld. Nmecha stepped up and found the back of the net, with Leeds holding on to secure victory in their Premier League opener. Shortly afterwards, the official Premier League Match Centre account on X (formerly Twitter) posted a message to explain why the penalty was given.