06/01/2026

SPORTS TUESDAY | JAN 6, 2026

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Leeds boss Farke ‘disappointment’ after draw against Man United

Ű BY MARK WALKER

unbeaten run to seven games to climb eight points clear of the relegation zone, chased their first League win against their arch-rivals since September 2002. “Perhaps this says also a lot – if you are seven games unbeaten on Premier League level as a newly-promoted side and are even disappointed with just a draw against Man United, (with) many key players missing. “But I can’t help myself. “This feeling is there. I think it was definitely possible to win this game.” – The Independent

“So for that I’m very proud of the mentality of my players to show resilience again. “We showed another very competitive and really good performance. “I think football-wise was probably not our best day. “But nevertheless we found a way to be competitive again and for that there is even a slight disappointment that we didn’t take all three points, if I’m really honest.” Leeds pressed for the winner in the closing stages as Farke’s side, who extended their

League win over the visitors in over 23 years. Farke said: “First of all I have to say I’m proud of the lads because it was of course tricky circumstances for us. “We had to go over the line two and a half days ago to get a hard-earned clean sheet (at Liverpool). “And then without several key players for today to face a side of the calibre of Man Utd and by the way, everybody tells you how big this game is – the most important game in the recent history of Leeds United.

LEEDS boss Daniel Farke expressed “slight dis appointment” after his side’s 1-1 draw against fierce Roses rivals Manchester United at Elland Road. Brenden Aaronson fired Leeds ahead in the second-half of a full-blooded derby clash low on quality before the visitors equalised three minutes later through Matheus Cunha. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s first half header struck a post as Leeds were denied a first Ű BY PHIL BLANCHE Discontent with Devils hierarchy behind outburst GARY NEVILLE says Ruben Amorim “started to unleash” because he believed the Manchester United boss was “not happy” with the hierarchy at Old Trafford. Amorim stressed he is United’s manager rather than just their coach during the press conference following his side’s 1-1 Premier League draw at Leeds on Sunday that saw him raise doubts over his future. The Portuguese, who repeatedly raised the pros pect of leaving when his contract expires in 2027, had alluded to frustration behind the scenes in the build-up to the match and refused to clarify his recent comments about the club’s transfer plans. Amorim name-checked the former United cap tain after the Leeds match, saying: “If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticisms of every thing, we need to change the club.” Neville responded to Amorim’s outburst in his role as a Sky Sports pundit and drew comparisons with Enzo Maresca falling out with the Chelsea own ership, which ultimately ended with both managers being sacked. “Something’s happened there in the last week with the quotes that came out that mean that Amorim started to unleash a little bit, as Maresca did when he said, ‘I’ve had the worst 48 hours (at Chelsea)’,” said Neville. “It’s not quite that, but it’s something similar in a way which it’s not explicit what he meant. “Everyone was having to read between the lines what he meant, which looked to me like he was not happy with something within the hierarchy. “That’s the sort of thing that basically comes out of it. He’s mentioned my name in there as well, apparently. “I think that’s one of the things that managers tend to do towards difficult periods. They tend to sort of have a go at pundits and I’ve no problem with that whatsoever. “I’ve actually been quite supportive in the last few weeks of Manchester United’s performances against Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Newcastle, I thought they were very good. “But I couldn’t be supportive after the game against Wolves, if that’s what Amorim was referring to.” United spent over £200 million (RM1.16b) last year bringing in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens. There had been talk of a January swoop for Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, but Neville says he is not surprised “there is no money” for fur ther investment this month. “Amorim obviously wanted players,” said Neville. “He probably wanted a midfield player, another wing-back if he was going to cement that 3-4-3 sys tem. “It’s clear he needed another wing-back who can play in those wide areas – a specialist if you like – and Manchester United do need a central midfield player of force, of power, of presence. “They needed that last year, but they chose to strengthen up top. So maybe he was been told in the last week or two that he was not getting any players. “I genuinely don’t know what the situation was, but it’s was never going to go away. When press conferences of this ilk start, it was never going to be good.” – The Independent

McFarlane praises characters in Chelsea group after draw against Cityzens Blues check City

Man City manager Pep Guardiola reacts after Chelsea’s Fernandez scored the equaliser. – REUTERSPIC

He said: “We were extraordinary in all departments except we could not score the second or the third or the fourth. “In the second half they had nothing to lose and at the end they found the reward.” There was a small compensation for City with Rodri making a return after being sidelined for most of the past 16 months after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in September 2024. The Spaniard shone on his first start since October and said he “feels strong” after a series of setbacks with muscle injuries since returning from the serious knee problem. “For me it is a gift. What I have been through has been terrible for me so winning, drawing, losing for me right now everything is a gift,” said the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner. “To play, have the joy of the game and recover the smile, and the rest will come. The victories, the successes for the team. Right now it’s about staying fit and enjoying football.” Referring to yesterday’s draw, Rodri said: “First half was brilliant, enough to score three or four goals. In the second half we forgot a little bit how to play and they got control of the game. “It unbalances the team every single time a player goes out (injured) but of course the team has to adjust. “It is not an excuse, we have enough talented players to play but in the second half we lost face a bit.” – The Independent/AFP Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez (top right) scores past Man City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma during their EPL match yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

T EMPORARY boss Calum McFarlane paid tribute to the Chelsea players after they shrugged off a week of tur moil to snatch an unexpected draw at Manchester City. Enzo Fernandez scored a stoppage-time equaliser as Chelsea, despite the unsettling nature of manager Enzo Maresca’s sudden departure on New Year’s Day, put a dent in City’s title bid at the Etihad Stadium. Tijjani Reijnders had looked to have secured a hard-fought victory for the home side as they sought to cut the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal back to four points, but Chelsea were rewarded for a resilient display as the game ended 1-1. McFarlane, the U-21 coach suddenly thrust into the limelight as interim manager, is now expected to make way for Strasbourg head coach Liam Rosenior before Thursday’s (3.30am Malaysian time) trip to Fulham. McFarlane coped superbly as he pitted his wits against the vastly-decorated Pep Guardiola, although he was keen for the players to take the praise. “There’s a lot of change that’s gone on. Enzo was incredibly successful with this group and some of them were shocked by the decision,” McFarlane said. “So the character that they’ve shown in the last two days, and the character that they’ve shown today – Reece (James) is a big one, Tosin (Adarabioyo), Enzo (Fernandez), they’ve really dragged the group together.

“Everyone thought we were coming here to lose. No-one thought we stood a chance. “But we knew the character and the talent in this group and they’ve really dragged it through. I can’t speak highly enough about the characters in the group.” Rosenior is currently in charge of Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg and there is a school of thought that suggests McFarlane could now switch to the French outfit in his place. McFarlane said: “That’s the first I’ve heard of that, I have no idea. When I first took this job I was told that I would take the Manchester City game.” For City, the result was another blow after their goalless draw at Sunderland in midweek and leaves them six points behind the Gunners. There was also a further cost with Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias suffering injuries to join fellow defender John Stones on the sidelines. City boss Guardiola said: “We have a lot (of injuries). John Stones is missing for I don’t know how many months. “Ruben now will be out, Josko will be out and always we know Nathan (Ake) cannot play regularly. “It’s the situation but stay strong and we will find a solution. The spirit is there and will be there.” Asked if the solution could involve signing a defender this month, Guardiola said: “I don’t think so but we’ll see what happens.”