Football

PSG confirmed Diallo confirmed Versailles Police had arrested Diallo, 26, following an incident last Thursday.

The French club did not name the player who was attacked and are assisting police to "clarify the facts."

A club statement said: "Paris Saint-Germain can confirm that Aminata Diallo was taken into custody this morning by the Versailles Regional Police Service as part of the proceedings opened following an attack on the club's player last Thursday evening.

"Paris Saint-Germain condemns in the strongest possible terms the violence committed.

"Since Thursday evening the club has taken all necessary measures to guarantee the health, well-being and safety of its entire women's team.

"Paris Saint-Germain is working with the Versailles Police to clarify the facts. The club is paying close attention to the progress of the proceedings and will study what action to take."

Walter Mazzarri’s team, who had lost four of their last six matches including last weekend’s 3-0 reverse at Torino, were looking for a first home win in seven attempts, such is the extent of their decline since claiming the Scudetto under Luciano Spalletti last season.

Matteo Politano’s penalty – the club’s first league goal since December 16 – had spared their blushes before half-time after Antonio Candreva heaped more woe on the underperforming Azzurri with his first-half opener.

Mazzarri’s men were frustrated in their bid to complete the comeback, with last term’s star man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doing his best to grab a second-half winner – seemingly to no avail.

That honour eventually fell to Rrahmani as, six minutes into second-half stoppage time, the Kosovan centre-back capitalised on a defensive mix-up to fire Napoli up to sixth place in the table.

True to recent form, the Partenopei struggled from the get-go. Norbert Gyomber tried to catch out the home defence with a snapshot from distance in the 12th minute, but Pierluigi Gollini was alert to the danger and pushed the ball around a post.

Loum Tchaouna soon let rip with his left boot after being put through by Candreva, but again Gollini made the block.

Just before the half-hour mark Candreva fired Salernitana ahead in superb fashion. Domagoj Bradaric set him up before he put Politano on the ground and then beat Gollini with a fine finish.

Napoli took the hint and tried hard to bite back before the break, with Guillermo Ochoa keeping out Giovanni Simeone, Politano missing the mark from an excellent position and Gianluca Gaetano trying his luck from distance only for Salernitana’s Mexican goalkeeper to watch it sail wide.

Politano did level four minutes into stoppage time, though. Federico Fazio fouled Simeone in the Salernitana box and the Italy winger made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Jens Cajuste enjoyed a double chance to turn the game in Napoli’s favour when play resumed; first the Swede headed just wide from a corner, then he smashed off-target with his right foot with Ochoa beaten.

Kvaratskhelia forced a frantic save from Ochoa in the 72nd minute as Napoli pushed harder for the win, with the Georgian coming even closer in the last 10 as he arrived from the left flank to unleash a rocket that took a deflection off Gyomber and shaved paint off a post as it went out.

Ochoa continued to fight fires, next repelling Giacomo Raspadori, but right at the death he and Fazio would make a hash of clearing a cross, allowing Rrahmani to ping in a dramatic winner.

A remarkable opening address ahead of the World Cup opener between hosts Qatar and Ecuador on Sunday saw Infantino respond on a wide range of matters, claiming he had received "almost threats" around the subject of migrant workers' rights.

Infantino was reluctant to accept criticisms on the topic from Europe, explaining: "We know there are many illegal workers in Europe, living in conditions that aren't the best.

"In Qatar, of course, there are things that still don't work, but this moral lesson-giving is one-sided, it is just hypocrisy."

Amnesty International responded to Infantino's comments, stating it is unacceptable to dismiss the "enormous price paid by migrant workers".

Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International's Head of Economic and Social Justice, said: "In brushing aside legitimate human rights criticisms, Gianni Infantino is dismissing the enormous price paid by migrant workers to make his flagship tournament possible – as well as FIFA's responsibility for it. 

"Demands for equality, dignity and compensation cannot be treated as some sort of culture war – they are universal human rights that FIFA has committed to respect in its own statutes.

"If there is one tiny glimmer of hope, it is that Infantino announced that FIFA would establish a legacy fund after the World Cup.

"This cannot be mere window dressing, however. If FIFA is to salvage anything from this tournament, it must announce that it will invest a significant part of the $6billion the organisation will make from this tournament and make sure this fund is used to compensate workers and their families directly."

City had initially gone a goal ahead through Phil Foden inside four minutes, but the Portuguese side came roaring back.

Viktor Gyokeres equalised before half-time, while Maximilaino Araujo put the home side ahead within seconds of the restart. Gyokeres had his second from a penalty three minutes later, while Erling Haaland hit the bar from the spot in the second half.

The rout was complete with a Gyokeres hat-trick and another penalty with 10 minutes to go, and Amorim agreed after the game that it was a magical way to sign off 

"Looking at the game, it was written on the wall," he told reporters. "The opponent missing a penalty. There are days when things have to happen in a certain way.

"I couldn't ask for a better farewell. I'm very happy for this moment. It will still be better if we win in Braga, but I don't think I could ask for better.

"The result helped with the farewell. Everyone deserved this moment. We were very happy here in the [Jose] Alvalade [Stadium]. We've been through difficult times and to finish like this is special."

While Amorim has achieved incredible success at Sporting – winning two Portuguese titles and 10 games out of 10 this season – he said that he understands the need for a different approach at United.

"When I'm at the next club, the approach will have to be different. Not much is taken from here because we will have to play differently in the future," he said.

"Both are historic clubs. It will certainly be a different game."

He also vowed to ignore the press and pressure from social media to begin with.

"I'm certainly not going to read anything for six months. I did the same at Sporting. I'm not going to read anything or have access to anything. It's the only way to do my job." he said.

United were beaten 2-0 away to Arsenal on Wednesday, having initially held out through a goalless first half.

They were eventually undone by two corner routines, while the hosts came close to adding a third in similar fashion through Mikel Merino.

Amorim's side, meanwhile, failed to convert their own set-piece chances after seeing a Matthijs de Ligt header brilliantly saved by David Raya.

"The set-pieces changed the game, we could have been more aggressive towards the Arsenal box. Until the set-pieces, the game didn't have too many opportunities for both sides, the set-pieces killed the game," Amorim told BBC Match of the Day.

"They can put a lot of players near the goalkeeper and it's almost impossible to fight for the ball, but we have to manage to defend them and we already know we have to be better.

"We were committed and we lost to the set-pieces. If Matthijs can score in that moment, the momentum would be different.

"We tried to play, but they are a very organised team and it's hard to score. I felt the players were in control of the game, the set-pieces changed the game in the second half."

Manchester United defender De Ligt was in agreement with his manager, suggesting they performed well defensively aside from the goals conceded.

"In the defensive phase, the amount of chances we conceded without the set-plays [was good]," he told MUTV. "In the end, we played a little bit more offensive and conceded some chances at the end.

"But in general, we have to – and we will – offensively improve. We need to know what everyone is doing and we could have hurt them much more.

"We're still quite early with the new coach, but there are still positives. Overall, I'm really disappointed with the lack of points."

Their trip to the Emirates Stadium marked Amorim's fourth game in charge in all competitions. De Ligt is conscious that he has had little time and is sure improvements will come.

"We're on the road to improve as a team and I think the manager said it also. Maybe if we do it a certain way we have a bigger chance of getting results right now," he said.

"I think the way we are going now is obviously not perfect yet and everybody has to improve a lot and get used to the new system, but you can see certain things that are improving."

The Red Devils made a flying start to the Portuguese's tenure as Marcus Rashford netted in only the second minute at Portman Road.

But Omari Hutchinson's deflected equaliser restored parity and Andre Onana had to make a couple of big saves from Liam Delap to ensure Amorim started with a point.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Amorim said: "I think my players were thinking too much during the game, they were thinking not just with the ball, but, 'where am I supposed to be?'

"It is hard because the team has been together only two days, I think we needed more in the first half with the physicality, because they left us one against one up front so we have to use those moments to feel the opponent.

"I think we lost some balls without pressure and when you start a game like this, you score one goal, then you have to control the ball, you have to control the tempo of the game.

"We cannot do it at the moment but they tried, they really, really tried. I know for some guys it's hard to understand this but they're trying and they really want this."

Amorim conceded that United, who are 12th in the Premier League, need to be better in their game management moving forward.

"I think that is a concern because you can understand you don't need to coach them at this level (how) you have to keep the ball, put the momentum in to put the ball up front," he added.

"At the end of the game, we are around the box with two strikers, Josh (Zirkzee) has to understand he has to go to the box to have the crosses, so we are doing things not in the right moment. That is something we have to address. 

"Everyone talks about the 3-4-3 – that is not the problem, but the understanding of the game... we have to improve in this area."

United have won two and drawn one of their first three games since Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout.

The Portuguese's first home league match resulted in a 4-0 win over Everton on Sunday, with that the first of nine games in December.

That includes a trip to Arsenal on Wednesday, as well as visits to Manchester City and Tottenham in the league and EFL Cup respectively.

And Amorim accepts things will not always be as rosy as they are right now.

"We are going to have difficult moments and we will be found out in some games, I know that," he said.

"I know it is really hard to be a Manchester United coach and say these things in press conferences.

"We want to win all the time, no matter what, but we know we are in a different point compared to Arsenal.

"I would like to say different things, but I have to say again, the storm will come."

United have lost seven of their past nine Premier League away games against Arsenal and are winless in six visits to Emirates Stadium, losing the last three in a row.

Arsenal showed faith in boss Mikel Arteta in a tough start to his tenure and that decision has more than paid off in the years since.

"That is always important for a coach, to have that confidence," Amorim said.

"We have to acknowledge that Manchester United is a little bit different; all the attention [journalists] put here all the time, we will try to do things a bit faster.

"There is massive attention here and massive judgement every day."

Amorim has signed a deal that will keep him at Old Trafford until the end of the 2026-27 season, after the Red Devils agreed to pay the reported £8.3million release clause from his contract at Sporting CP.

He guided Sporting to two Primeira Liga titles during his time in charge and succeeds Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman was sacked following a defeat at West Ham on Sunday, which left United 14th in the Premier League.

The 39-year-old becomes the second Portuguese to manage the club after Jose Mourinho, who was in charge between May 2016 and December 2018.

Amorim has a notice period to serve at Sporting, meaning he will not take charge of United until November 11.

His first match in charge will therefore come after the international break, against Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will oversee United's next three games, against Chelsea, PAOK and Leicester City.

Since he was appointed in early 2020, Amorim has taken charge of 156 Primeira Liga games at Sporting, the most of any coach in the club's history (according to Opta's records).

Meanwhile, his 120 victories in the league give him a 76.92% win ratio, which is the best of any Sporting coach on record.

In 2021, Amorim guided Sporting to their first league title in 19 years, and he won the Primeira Liga again in 2023-24.

On Thursday, Amorim promised he would comment further on the matter after Sporting's match against Estrela da Amadora on Friday.

Amorim claimed his first Premier League win in charge of the Red Devils, with braces from Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee sealing a comfortable result. 

The win over Everton also saw Amorim earn the biggest margin of victory for a permanent manager in their first home match in the competition for the club.

However, the Portuguese was left wanting more from his players at full-time, having managed an expected goals (xG) of 0.73 from their 11 shots, compared to Everton's 0.65 with their eight efforts. 

"The result was good but we were pragmatic. It was not pretty but we were pragmatic. We did our job, which is to win," Amorim said. 

"You can feel that we have a long way to go. You can feel that in the first few minutes, when we were OK, but then Everton controlled the game. Then we got the goals in the right moment and that changed the game.

"You can't just focus on the result, you have to focus on the way the result appeared. Like before the game, we have so much to do, but it is better to work with victories. Let's focus on the performance more than the result.

"You can feel it during the game. It isn't a line of top performances, it is a rollercoaster of performances.

"We have some moments when we are good, but then we have moments when we have to suffer. We did it again, like in the Europa League. We need time to train and improve. It is better to work with victories."

For Everton, they have now failed to score a goal in each of their last four Premier League matches, with their last goal coming on October 26th (v Fulham).

The Toffees last had a longer run without a goal in the competition between August and October 2005 (six games).

It was also the fifth time Everton have lost a Premier League match by a margin of four goals or more under manager Sean Dyche, with the Toffees only losing more such matches under David Moyes (seven).

The Everton boss lamented his side's individual mistakes at Old Trafford, insisting it must improve ahead of facing fellow strugglers Wolves on Wednesday. 

"Early in the season there were too many mistakes and that was the same today. In the first 32 minutes I thought we looked a good outfit, we looked progressive," Dyche started. 

"We played well and opened them up. One mistake led to another mistake, and before you know it you're 2-0 down and then a third one straight after kick-off and that is my biggest gripe. It goes to show if you don't stay tuned in all the time it doesn't work for you and that was the case today.

"We've eradicated some mistakes from the start of the season. It is very difficult when you make such glaring individual mistakes. It is a very difficult task.

"This has to get parked quickly. I don't expect our team to make so many mistakes again. They are well versed in this scenario, it has been here for three or four years at this club.

"We are trying to break this pattern of work for a breakthrough, drop down, breakthrough, drop down. That is the next challenge by reacting in the next game. Every game is a big game, it is true for Everton."

The Portuguese celebrated victory on his first outing at Old Trafford as a Rasmus Hojlund double earned a comeback 3-2 win over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday.

Alejandro Garnacho's opener was quickly cancelled out by strikes from Hakon Evjen and Philip Zinckernagel before Rasmus Hojlund restored parity before the break. 

Hojlund then struck the winner five minutes after the restart to seal the win, scoring his eighth major European goal for United, with only Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney (nine each) scoring more for the Red Devils aged 21 or younger. 

Plenty of supporters stayed behind to chant Amorim's name as he spoke to TNT Sports after the game, and he is grateful for the adulation they are showing him.

"The first thing is that half of the stadium doesn't really know me," he said.

"I came from Portugal, I did nothing for this club yet so the fact that they make me feel at home it's so special, it's something special and I will keep this until the end of my career."

United have now won their last two European matches (2-0 vs PAOK Salonika under Ruud van Nistelrooy and 3-2 on Thursday under Amorim), more than they did in their last 11 under former boss Erik ten Hag (W1 D5 L5).

But there were cause for concerns for the new United boss. Bodo/Glimt were just the second team to have scored twice inside 23 minutes in an away major European game against them, along with Sporting Braga in October 2012 (2-0 after 20 minutes) – whose team that day included Amorim.

Though Thursday's hosts dominated proceedings, ending with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.63 from their 20 attempts compared to their opponents' 0.77 from their seven shots, Amorim is expecting improvements.

Amorim added: "Of course, I see what everybody sees. Good moments, some difficult moments, some confusion and in the end trying to hold the result. The lads ran until the end, and in the end we won.

"It was like a real ride. We started very well then suffered two goals in two transitions. I like the way our players keep trying to play our game. We had problems in the past where we gave away the ball too much. The mindset now is to keep the ball."

Amorim's first home league game will come against Everton on Sunday.

A dreadful error from Andre Onana led to Matej Vydra opening the scoring in Thursday's contest at Doosan Arena after 48 minutes.

But Danish striker Hojlund scored twice to earn the three points for the Red Devils and he has now netted five times since Amorim took charge at Old Trafford – four of which have come in Europe.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Amorim said of Hojlund: "He is improving. He is more near the goal now. He knows better the movement he has to do. 

"He could score more this evening, but he is scoring, working and controlling the ball better."

United have now won three, lost two and drawn one of Amorim's six games in charge with two of their wins coming in the Europa League.

Amorim is confident he has seen enough from his side to see signs of progress in the early stages of his tenure.

"We are improving in some details. We controlled the transitions very well," he added.

"We were aggressive when we lost the ball. We need to spend more time near the opposition goal."

Amorim felt his side looked particularly strong in the second half, especially with how quickly they moved the ball.

"The speed improved. I told the players we need more movement in front because they have to feel we are a danger

"We changed a little bit of our game and the players from the bench also helped. We improved not just the way we play, but also the speed of the game.

"We improved during the game. We controlled the game in the first half, but without any great chances. We lacked speed and movement and we didn't control the ball because the pitch was difficult to make the connections with the strikers. Viktoria didn't have chances either.

"In the second half, we gave a goal away but we reacted well. We pushed the opponents to their own half and we managed to score. The win is important at the moment and it's good to prepare for the next game."

That is the view of ex-Manchester City defender Danny Mills, whose former side were beaten 4-1 by Amorim and Sporting CP in the Champions League earlier this month.

Amorim has been hired by Man Utd to replace Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman was sacked midway through his third season in charge at Old Trafford.

Having taken charge of his final games in Lisbon, a spell which included that famous continental win over Man City, Amorim started his work at United during the international break.

His first game at the helm comes this Sunday away at Ipswich Town and while Mills acknowledges the task of rebuilding United's team is a long-term project, he feels there is still a certain level of results Amorim needs to hit in the 2024-25 season.

"Amorim needs to figure out which players fit his mould and buy into his project," former England international Mills said to Stats Perform.

"That will take six months or so. Then he will need to move some players out and bring new ones in. 

"This season, though, they still need success. European football – Europa League – is probably mandatory. They must avoid the Conference League. 

"Without being disrespectful, third-tier European football isn’t good enough for Manchester United, so it has to be the Europa League or Champions League. 

"The Europa League is very achievable and not making it would be a huge disappointment. 

"There are still good players at the club and they have still got to aim for the Champions League, but [getting into the top four] will take good coaching, a big turnaround, and maybe a bit of luck."

Amorim is the seventh different manager to take charge of the club since Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013. 

The 39-year-old won three Portuguese league titles with Benfica as a player while he left Sporting as head coach after guiding them to two league titles and two Taca da Liga trophies.

Sporting also started this season by winning all 11 league games under Amorim before his departure.

"The appointment of Ruben Amorim is a good one," added Mills. "You have to look at the people involved [in the appointment] as well.

"Dan Ashworth hasn’t made too many wrong decisions as a sporting or technical director. Throughout his career, at West Brom, England, Brighton, and Newcastle, his recruitment has been very good. 

"Jason Wilcox, who sits under him, did incredibly well at Manchester City. He identified many young players who, if they didn’t become stars at City, went on to become stars elsewhere.

"Recruitment will be handled well in terms of managers, coaches, and players, but that takes time and it’s going to take at least two or three transfer windows. 

"I like that Amorim came in and said, ‘Right, that’s it. A new start’. He has moved away from the Ferguson era that people keep harping on about.

"Ten-plus years ago, we knew how good Manchester United were, but football moves on. Liverpool went through a similar phase after their success in the 1980s."

Amorim takes over at United with the club 13th in the Premier League with 15 points from 11 matches and having collected just one win from four matches in the Europa League. 

Mills believes there is plenty for United fans to like about the new boss' approach on and off the pitch.

"Football has evolved faster in the last 10 years than ever before and Amorim deals with the press well," he said.

"When Sporting beat Manchester City, he admitted they played well but got a bit lucky. People appreciate that honesty. 

"Fans and pundits are more knowledgeable now than ever before, thanks to the amount of football they consume and the opinions they hear, especially on social media."

After facing Ipswich, Amorim's first two home games will see Man Utd take on Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League and Everton in the Premier League.

He will then take the Red Devils to the Emirates Stadium for a huge clash against Arsenal on 4 December.

United reached this season's Europa League by winning the FA Cup under Ten Hag and they have that potential path again this season, while they are also still in the EFL Cup, a competition in which they will play Tottenham in the quarter-finals.

Winning the Europa League itself, meanwhile, would mean qualification to the Champions League.

But while there are multiple routes open to Amorim in his bid to secure a continental spot, the Opta supercomputer does not like his chances of doing that through United's league placing.

After their poor start to the season, United have just a 13.2% chance of finishing in the top six, and a 33.1% shot at reaching the top eight.

As things stand, they are most likely to finish between ninth and 11th, meaning they are on track for their worst-ever Premier League finish unless Amorim can lead a rapid revival.

Amorim, taking over at the Premier League club following the departure of Erik ten Hag, was speaking in his first interview with the club after a tour of their home venue. 

The Portuguese tactician had visited Old Trafford earlier in the week and met a group of supporters, as well as the women's team's vice-captain, England star Ella Toone.

"When you come [to Old Trafford], it's so different. You see the trophies, you see the tragedy that we have as a club. The history," said Amorim. 

The 39-year-old added the manner in which the club defied the odds to succeed under Matt Busby after the Munich air disaster in 1958 should be a particular source of inspiration.

"This kind of strength, I think it's important to put in our team. When the players come here, they should take the stadium tour all the time. I think this is very important to do," Amorim said. 

"It's normal if you go a lot of years without winning, you start losing that feeling. So I think we need to put all the players doing the same thing, to regain that feeling.

"We haven't won the Premier League for a long time. But if you ask, United is the biggest club in England.

"So this is part of history, it is not now. So we have to address that, to show that and to try to win again."

Asked what his footballing philosophy is, the former midfielder said it all comes down to being a team. 

"The team is the most important thing for me. And if you work as a team, then the talent individually is going to shine," he said. 

"But if I have to explain the importance of everything, it is the character, the way we fight, the way we play, and we must have an identity.

Amorim officially took the reins as United head coach on Monday, with Ruud van Nistelrooy having served as interim boss after Erik ten Hag was sacked last month.

The 39-year-old enjoyed a wildly successful four-year spell in charge of Sporting CP, which began in March 2020, two months after the Lisbon giants sold Fernandes to United.

Amorim delivered two Primeira Liga and two Taca da Liga trophies during his time at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, recording a 71% win rate through 231 matches at the helm (164 wins, 34 draws, 33 losses).

In the Primeira Liga, they won 77% of their games under him (120/156), the best win ratio of any team across Europe's top 10 leagues since he took charge.

Amorim's first game in charge of United will be a Premier League trip to Ipswich Town on November 24, and Fernandes has faith that he can change their fortunes.

"I hope he does the same here because you know sometimes a person can change the energy of a space, if it's the right moment," Fernandes told United's media channels.

"We hope this is the right moment for him to come and bring his energy, bring his qualities and his knowledge of football, because he's done something really, really special at Sporting.

"If someone doubts that, it's about just looking at the past. Sporting was to be about 20 years without winning the league, and he got back to win the league, and he won it two times in four years with a really youthful team, in a moment of change.

"So hopefully he can do the same here for us and [hopefully] it's going to be a successful time for all of us."

Amorim will become the youngest coach to lead United since a 33-year-old Wilf McGuinness took charge of them on Boxing Day 1970 against Derby County, and Fernandes believes one of his main strengths is his man-management style.

"Obviously for me, what stands out as I said to you is the connection he has with the players," Fernandes added.

"I've seen many, many moments where players were struggling and he kept his faith in them. He always goes to the press conference and defends his players. 

"He had a really youthful team so they needed that and hopefully when he comes here he can do the same again with the youth.

"Us players with the most experience, we have to help him to get that and get the best out of every player at this club."

"It's the best team that we have faced by far. But a test is every game. If you saw the last game [against Everton], it was really tough," Amorim told reporters on Monday.

Despite the size of the task facing Amorim and his new club, he suggested that his players should not be scared of what awaits them.

"It's important to be brave [on Wednesday], when I say it's brave it's not pressing all the time higher. It's not the same. You have to understand the game, the moments of the game. We need to have the ball, that is a key point.

"We want to have the ball, we want to dominate some moments of the game, because you know these matches it's hard to control all the game. We have to be brave and play the game."

Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, was complimentary about his opposite number ahead of Wednesday's match, which will be Amorim's third in the Premier League.

"You can see his fingerprints [on the club], you know what he wants to do straight away, I think he’s been very clear," he told his pre-match press conference.

"He’s been very successful with Sporting, it’s remarkable after so many years what he achieved there, especially in the way he did it and the way his teams have been playing.

"He brings energy to the club, to the players, new ideas and that’s always something that’s positive but we have to focus on what we have to do."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Arsenal – Bukayo Saka

Saka ranks second to Mohamed Salah for goal contributions in the Premier League this season, having scored five times and registered 10 assists.

Having registered 10 assists in 13 league matches for Arsenal, Saka is the fourth-quickest to reach double figures in assists in Premier League history.

Manchester United – Bruno Fernandes

Fernandes has scored four goals and provided four assists in the seven matches in all competitions since Erik ten Hag's departure from Manchester United.

The 30-year-old has created 12 chances in his last four league appearances, which is a Premier League high for that period.

MATCH PREDICTION: ARSENAL WIN

Arsenal have beaten Manchester United in each of the last three league meetings between the pair, while they have also won five of their last six home games against United.

Mikel Arteta's side come into this match having won each of their last three matches in all competitions by an aggregate score of 13-3.

They are second in the Premier League table behind Liverpool, having accrued 25 points in 13 matches and scored 26 goals – the equal second-most.

Manchester United have won just one away game this season in all competitions, coming against bottom club Southampton in September.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Arsenal – 62.9%

Draw – 19.8%

Manchester United – 17.3%

Pep Guardiola's side have won just one of their last 10 matches in all competitions going into the Manchester derby, and suffered their seventh loss during that run against Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday.

United, meanwhile, have lost their last two Premier League games against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest but came from behind to beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in the Europa League on Thursday.

The Red Devils sit 13th in the table after 15 games and are eight points behind Sunday's opponents at the start of the weekend, but Amorim believes the Citizens are still the favourites to claim all three points at the Etihad.

"The great teams can respond in any moment, and I think they are in a better place than us in type of understanding the game, the way they play, the confidence they have," said Amorim.

"Even in this kind of moments, we have a lot to focus on in our team. We will face a great opponent and I'm more focused on our problems. We have a lot of issues here.

"I cannot treat it like a normal derby. It should be like two great teams fighting for the title, and it is not that in this moment.

"So, it is just one more game with a very good opponent. Both teams are struggling in the moment so I hope in future I can feel that real feeling of a derby [that has title implications]."

Amorim has already beaten City this season, with his Sporting CP side winning 4-1 in a Champions League tie before his move to Old Trafford.

Only one manager has beaten the reigning Premier League champions with two different sides in a single campaign, with Alan Pardew beating City with both Newcastle United and Crystal Palace in 2014-15.

Hugo Viana is set to make the move from Sporting to City to replace Txiki Begiristain as director of football, while Amorim was linked to the club prior to Guardiola's contract extension.

The 39-year-old, however, insists he was never approached over the position.

"Never," he said. "I never heard from them, and this was my only option.

"When Manchester United talked to me, I had no doubts. I had already something in my mind that [the United job] could be a possibility. With Manchester City or Viana? Nothing about that."

The head coach has agreed to join the Red Devils and will take charge from November 11 after signing a contract with the club until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Before then, he has two games left in charge of Sporting, starting with their Champions League match against Pep Guardiola's men on Tuesday.

Sporting have made a perfect start to the Primeira Liga, winning all 10 of their games, and have made an unbeaten start in Europe, but Amorim is prepared to come under more scrutiny while on the touchline against City.

"Winning tomorrow would be brilliant. Would I be a hero at Manchester United before I land? I don't think about that, my focus is on winning the game for Sporting," Amorim told a press conference.

"The inferences that people will draw from this game are not important to me because they can be misleading. If the result was very negative, expectations will be lowered, and I don't think that is a bad starting point when I start at United.

"If we win tomorrow, they will think that the new Alex Ferguson has arrived and that will be very difficult to maintain. What interests me is to win tomorrow, to have a farewell at Alvalade, then win in Braga and then start in Manchester.

"It can increase or decrease expectations. I don't know what is better. I want to leave the fans and the players happy and confident and qualify the team for the play-offs."

Sporting won their first European meeting with City in March 2012 in the Europa League, but are winless in their last three against them (D1 L2).

However, they are unbeaten in their first three Champions League games so far this season, and if they avoid defeat on Tuesday, they will equal their longest-ever unbeaten run in the competition (four between September 1982 and March 1983).

The 39-year-old boasts the best win ratio of any Sporting coach on record in the Primeira Liga, winning 120 of his 156 such games in charge (76.92%), but captain Morten Hjulmand said the team are ready to prove they do not need Amorim, who agreed with the sentiment.

"Yes, [Sporting is prepared for his departure]. You heard Hjulmand say that they no longer need the coach," he added.

"They are very mature; they understand the game very well. They are prepared, it won't make any difference in the end.

"There is a change, of course, but the team is prepared and has enough maturity to move forward." 

The Everton player has just completed arguably the most successful couple of weeks of his life after scoring twice in the FA Disability Cup final victory over Portsmouth, just days after helping the national team win their first title since 1990.

He has already come a long way since getting on his first flight with the England team just six months into his journey in amputee football.

“I was 16 and had been playing for six months as an amputee when I got called up to go play in the 2017 Euros in Turkey,” Ramsden told the PA news agency.

“Before playing football I’d only ever been on a plane once and been to one other country.

“Now I travel the world – I’ve been to Europe, I’ve been to America, Mexico, it’s just a bit surreal what has happened. Playing in front of 42,000 in Besiktas’ stadium was a good experience.”

Ramsden sports a floppy centre-parting and headband like Manchester City winger Jack Grealish and, while comparisons were made after his performance at the weekend, there were no post-match celebrations to match the treble winner’s party stop in Ibiza.

“I got asked on Saturday when we won the FA Cup if I was going on a three-day bender, but I was back in work in Monday – that was the biggest reality shock,” he added.

“Someone put out a post saying, ‘It’s the one-legged Jack Grealish’, but I wanted to reply saying, ‘No, he’s the two-legged Rhyce Ramsden’.”

Ramsden was born with a tumour above his right knee which resulted in amputation at five months old.

That did not prevent him playing sport alongside his able-bodied friends, but he admits once he joined the amputee football “family” things changed.

“I used to play football with my prosthetic in net for school and one day a coach came down and showed me a couple of clips of amputee football,” he said.

“I went to a training camp wanting to still be a goalkeeper, but in amputee football you have to be an arm amputee to be a goalkeeper so I had to get used to being outfield and once I started playing outfield I stopped wanting to be a goalkeeper straightaway.

“Even if you don’t play sport there is always a place for you.

“There are kids and adults who have lost their legs recently, who never mind playing don’t think they will walk again.

“Then they come down and try it and next thing you know they’ve got the bug.

“Even if you think the worst is going to happen, that’s not the case, always think positive, get yourself involved.”

Ramsden is in good company at Everton as they have six England representatives in the team, who play seven-a-side games which last 50 minutes.

Among his team-mates is Steve Johnson, Everton’s disability manager who was world amputee footballer of the year in 1999, has played in three World Cups and scored an extra-time winner against Brazil in the 1990 World Cup final, England’s last tournament success before their recent Nations League triumph in Poland.

“I first started in 1987 and then there wasn’t social media, so it was just pitches in limb centres and finding players was a real challenge, but it has grown, social media has helped quite a lot,” said Johnson, who has been involved at Everton since 2003.

“Everton has a long history working with disabled people, but we have to generate a lot of those funds ourselves.

“The FA put a lot of resources into promoting the women’s game and that needs to happen for disability football, not just amputees, to get them challenging for trophies at major competitions.”

Everton in the Community’s disability programme engages more than 200 disabled adults per week and over 400 disabled children and young people each year, offering competitive opportunities for 11 pan-disability and specific impairment teams for children and adults that are available to males and females.

“It is open for anyone who wants to take part, it’s not set in stone. We recruit wherever we can,” said Everton Amputees manager and EitC disability co-ordinator Mark Dolan.

“The pathway is there to go and play for England. We have various different players along the path and Rhyce is an example of one of the up-and-coming players at England.”

The 30-year-old West Ham forward, whose parents are Jamaican, is expected to join the Reggae Boyz sometime during the coming months and it is hoped that he will be available to represent Jamaica by later this year.

Ricketts told Sportsmax.TV that he met with the player and his agent yesterday and that they have put the documentation together to help to expedite the process for Antonio to acquire his Jamaican passport. Once he has his passport in hand, the JFF can make the application for the player’s transfer of allegiance.

Ricketts said the player is so excited he even joked that his wife is now demanding that she get her own Jamaican passport.

“He really wants to play for Jamaica,” Ricketts said. “He is very excited and very committed.”

Antonio, who scored for West Ham in a 2-1 loss to Manchester City on the weekend, had previously been approached about representing the Reggae Boyz in 2016 but despite being called up to the England squad in 2016 and 2017, never took the field in an England jersey. He is now months away from donning the black and gold of Jamaica.

Ricketts was unable to say how long it would take for him to get his passport because the pandemic has slowed the process.

Meanwhile, Ricketts also confirmed that Reading defender Liam Moore has obtained his Jamaican passport and that he too is committed to representing the Reggae Boyz.

“He told me he is not even concerned about money, he just wants to get the team qualified for the World Cup,” Ricketts said.