Manchester United are currently in the United States of America in the midst of 2018-19 preseason training. In their match against AC Milan last night in southern California, United have now commenced the International Champions Cup portion of their preseason exhibition schedule.
Currently, you have three members of the 2016-17 United squad playing their club ball in American MLS- Wayne Rooney (D.C. United), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L.A. Galaxy) and Bastian Schweinsteiger (Chicago Fire). Go here for more on how they’re doing now.
There is certainly no shortage of topics to discuss today in the wake of some uninspiring preseason results, so let’s take a spin through the latest news and notes items making the rounds on the internet this Thursday.
-The lead story today is obviously the message from club patriarch Sir Alex Ferguson. This is the first time that Fergie has spoken publicly since his surgery to treat a brain haemorrhage in May.
The larger than life 76-year-old posted the following video on the club website, confirming that he is okay and thanking the hospital for saving for saving his life.
He also said that he’ll be back at a game soon.
What wonderful and inspirational news this is to hear!
On Saturday 5 May, the football world was rocked by the news that Sir Alex Ferguson had undergone surgery for a brain haemorrhage.
Since then, the most successful manager in English football history has battled in a way only he knows how.
Today, we bring you a special message. pic.twitter.com/NgGejgM46e
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 26, 2018
-Antonio Valencia was handed the captaincy for this season, but with his having suffered an injury that will likely keep him out of the rest of the preseason tour, the captain’s arm band had to be transferred to someone new. Last night, in the 1-1 draw with Milan (United won eventually 9-8 on penalty kicks) it was worn by the man who replaces him, at least for now, at right back in Matteo Darmian.
This is noteworthy because it pretty much confirms that the Italian isn’t going anywhere between now and the two weeks left remaining until the summer transfer window closes. That’s very significant as entering this summer Darmian was right up there with Daley Blind among the players most likely to be leaving Old Trafford.
While Blind left and made a return to Ajax, Darmian is apparently here to stay.
Sticking with the back line, manager Jose Mourinho has said he wants two more signings in the fortnight between now and deadline day, and one of those signings would potentially be a central defender. That’s intuitive as the position is, without a doubt, the weakest link of the team.
One of the starters in the current central defense pairing, Chris Smalling, made a very bold and arrogant statement to ESPN. He says “the shirt is mine,” meaning that despite all the transfer rumors linking United to a very badly needed upgrade at the position, he’s here to stay in the starting XI.
“To be fair I think I’m used to that every year,” he said. “This club is always linked to centre-backs, whether it’s the club or agents or whoever, because the best come here.
“But no, I’m happy and when I’m fit I play, so I just want to carry on from last season and right now the shirt’s mine and I intend to keep it.”
As you can imagine, these comments haven’t exactly gone over all that well in the United fan base. Nor should they, as Smalling’s form was brutal at times last season.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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