WORST RUN SINCE 2016: WHY MAN UTD CAN'T BEAT WEST HAM
A late Soungoutou Magassa equaliser for West Ham denied Diogo Dalot's goal, leaving Manchester United in 8th place and winless in three league games.
Manchester United's struggles against West Ham continued, with the Red Devils managing just one win in their last six meetings.
At Old Trafford, West Ham's Soungoutou Magassa scored his first goal for the club in the final 10 minutes, leaving Manchester United to settle for a point.
That late goal cancelled out Diogo Dalot’s goal, pushing United down to eighth place in the Premier League.
Ruben Amorim’s team had a chance to move into the top five but failed to take advantage of Chelsea, Brighton, Liverpool, and Sunderland dropping points.
The point was vital for West Ham, keeping them close to Leeds United, who are in 17th.
In the first half, Manchester United controlled the ball and had more shots, but Joshua Zirkzee and Bruno Fernandes missed key chances.
In the 28th minute, Fernandes hit the post after a rebound, and Alphonse Areola saved Bryan Mbeumo's shot by tipping it over the bar.
United threatened but couldn't break through West Ham's solid defence.
Casemiro's shot from outside the box found Dalot, who scored in the bottom corner, giving Amorim's team the lead in the second half.
It was the Portuguese player’s first goal for Manchester United in a year and a half.
The home side kept dominating possession and looking for a second goal. Areola denied chances from Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
With less than 10 minutes left, West Ham equalised from a set piece against the play.
Substitute Andy Irving’s cross bounced around the box before Magassa scored into the bottom corner.
Fernandes could have won it for United late in added time, but he missed the target.
This draw means Manchester United has only one win in their last six Premier League games against West Ham and hasn’t won in the last three.
This is their worst run against West Ham since a four-game stretch between February 2015 and November 2016.
Manchester United plays Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are struggling at the bottom of the table, next Monday evening.
West Ham visits Brighton on Sunday afternoon.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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