Manchester United stars are away with the international break in full flow and they’ll return with a match against Everton on their minds.
Ruben Amorim’s side drew 2-2 with Tottenham before players jetted off to represent their countries.
After a lacklustre start to the campaign United are sitting seventh in the Premier League, just four points off second place. They have not lost a top-flight fixture since late September.
The Toffees will be their opponents when a select group returns from international duty and one star who has jetted away with Portugal is captain Bruno Fernandes.
Bruno Fernandes on Cristiano Ronaldo error
United captain Fernandes is away with Portugal but was suspended when they faced Ireland on Thursday. Two goals from Troy Parrott gave the hosts a 2-0 advantage before half-time.
As Portugal tried to get back in the tie, record goalscorer Ronaldo was shown a red card in the 61st minute for a swinging elbow. Fernandes has come to the defence of the former United forward, but admits this “mistake” did cost Portugal.
“It was just a football moment,” said Fernandes ahead of his country’s match with Armenia. “Cristiano reacted in a way he didn’t intend and it cost the team. He knows he made a mistake but such moments happen.”
“Ireland defended well. We moved the ball too slowly. We need to be quicker and more direct. But we analyse mistakes the same way in wins or losses.”
Matthijs de Ligt’s woes continue
Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt has been solid at the back under Amorim this season but it appears Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman does not highly regard him. He has regularly been excluded from teams and squads by Koeman over the last 12 months but was recalled this week.
However, when the Netherlands faced Poland on Friday, De Ligt, signed by United for £40m from Bayern Munich in 2024, was limited to zero minutes from the bench – only adding to his international woes. His side drew 1-1 and Koeman unleashed on his defence, despite not utilising De Ligt.
In a sport that never stops evolving, the Six Nations has always been rugby’s sacred…
Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has been a surprising absentee from the starting lineup in recent…
Cristiano Ronaldo has been called out over what former players have described as a “strange”…
Wrexham legend Elliot Lee has appeared to aim a parting shot at manager Phil Parkinson…
Ademola Lookman’s blockbuster switch to Atletico Madrid has been met with widespread approval from former…
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has shown the human side of football after sending a heartfelt…