Manchester United expressing their commitment to Erik ten Hag can only build togetherness, so says Wes Brown, who urged the Red Devils to improve next campaign.
Ten Hag was reportedly nearing the exit door at Old Trafford after guiding United to eighth in the top flight last season, their lowest finish in the Premier League era.
Yet the Dutchman saved his job with the FA Cup final victory over fierce rivals Manchester City, securing his second trophy in as many seasons and sneaking into the Europa League in the process.
Former United defender Brown believes the club's backing of the manager can only improve the mood in the squad, who must perform better for Ten Hag when the 2024-25 campaign begins.
"He's done well, we obviously won the cup last season against Man City," said Brown, speaking to Stats Perform at the Home of Adidas football in Berlin.
"I think expectations are always going to be high for any manager at Manchester United. But since we were let down a little bit in the league last year, we want to be in the Champions League, we want to finish as high as we can.
"I think that is a priority. No one knows [the new] signings yet, that normally happens after a major tournament, so we're not sure what's going to happen there yet.
"But I really like the manager and at times the players have let themselves down. But you can see there's a togetherness coming together and he just has to keep that going now.
"He knows where he's going to be now for the next few years. With that all sorted out, he can now move on and do the job to the best of his ability."
Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Frank were all linked to the United job as speculation loomed over Ten Hag's future.
Brown, who played 232 times for United after coming through their academy, says ending those rumours should positively impact Ten Hag's players.
Asked if uncertainty around Ten Hag's future would impact the squad, Brown responded: "I think it does. I've probably been in the same situation at other clubs.
"It definitely helps going forward, if anything you don't think about it, it's all done now.
"It definitely helps in the sense of coming together as a team and we're all in it together, and we can now move forward for the next few years and make the club better again."
Ten Hag will be expecting additions to a squad that was ravaged by injury struggles last term, especially in defence.
Raphael Varane has left the club, while Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire struggled with injuries last campaign.
United are in the market for centre-back options, with Bayern Munich's Matthjis de Ligt and Jarrad Branthwaite, of Everton, both linked as potential additions.
Brown insists that position must be the priority for United in the transfer window.
"Branthwaite had a good season," Brown added. "It's been difficult for Everton, but his personal performances have been very highly rated and De Ligt as we know is a great player.
"Depending on what happens at Munich, you never know, but I think a priority is a defender coming in alongside Martinez and if we could get one of them, I'd be very happy as a fan."
Reggae Boy Reid inks three-year deal with promoted Leicester City ahead of new EPL season
Jamaica’s Reggae Boy Bobby Reid says he hoping to use his experience and energy to help Leicester City achieve their targets and possibly enjoy a successful return to the English Premier League (EPL) when the 2024/25 season gets under way in August.
Reid’s declaration came as he shared his excitement about joining the promoted club on a three-year deal, becoming manager Steve Cooper’s first signing ahead of the new campaign.
The 31-year-old’s move to ‘The Foxes’ follows his release from Fulham, where he made over 200 appearances in an almost five-year stint at the west London club.
“Turning up here was a special moment, looking in and seeing the infrastructure. It’s got that wow factor. It feels nice. I landed on Tuesday and now I’m signing so it’s been a quick turnaround, but obviously I’m delighted to be here and I can’t wait to get going,” Reid, who has 33 international caps for Jamaica, shared.
“I had a good chat with the manager, he told me the vision of the club and sold it for me. I spoke to him a few times and he was very clear in what he wanted and what he saw in me. He believes in me and it’s a perfect fit. It’s going to be a very interesting season,” he added.
Reid, in his final offering at Fulham, scored seven goals from 43 appearances in all competitions last season as the Craven Cottage club battled to a 13th-place finish in the league.
The fleet-footed midfielder, declared his readiness to play his part in Leicester City’s charge to possibly repeat their 2015/16 League title winning feat.
Leicester, who won the Championship last season after being relegated from the Premier League the previous year, are set to open their new EPL campaign against Tottenham Hotspur next month.
“I want to bring experience. I’ve got energy, I’d like to say I’m a goalscorer as well and a playmaker. Hopefully I can bring all of those things and make the squad better,” Reid said.
“I pride myself on those types of things and helping the team, whether that is being a leader within the dressing room or being an experienced player for the younger ones and just being an all-round good person. I think that is key to having a good season,” he noted.
“It’s fallen on me with my age but I’ll take that mantle on. I’m looking to get going, meet my team-mates, meet the rest of the staff and keep this club in the Premier League. I’ll give my all for the club – 100 per cent – and hopefully bring some smiles to faces,” Reid, who has had stints with Cardiff City, Bristol City, Cheltenham Town, Oldham Athletic, and Plymouth Argyle, stated.
Colombia 5-0 Panama: Rodriguez stars as La Tricolor coast into Copa America semi-finals
James Rodriguez stole the show with a goal and two assists as Colombia breezed into the Copa America semi-finals after brushing Panama aside with a 5-0 thrashing on Saturday.
Colombia captain Rodriguez teed up Jhon Cordoba's opener and Luis Diaz's cool lob either side of his own 15th-minute penalty at State Farm Stadium.
Richard Rios hammered home another after 70 minutes in bizarre circumstances after the referee appeared to blow for a Colombia penalty, then Miguel Borja converted when Nestor Lorenzo's side were awarded another spot-kick in stoppage time.
Having dispatched Panama with ease, a semi-final meeting with either Brazil or Uruguay awaits for Colombia, who have reached the last four in three of their last four Copa tournaments.
Colombia needed just eight minutes to open the scoring as Cordoba found space inside the six-yard box, diving low to head Rodriguez's right-sided corner past Orlando Mosquera.
Jose Fajardo blazed over in response but Lorenzo's side would soon extend their advantage only seven minutes after taking the lead.
Panama goalkeeper Mosquera felled the onrushing Jhon Arias, with a lengthy VAR check reviewing a potential offside in the build-up before the penalty decision was confirmed.
Yet that stoppage failed to detract from Rodriguez's focus as the attacking midfielder hammered into the top-right corner from 12 yards, sending Mosquera the wrong way.
Panama almost halved the arrears soon after, though Edgardo Farina's header from Eric Davis' free-kick cannoned against the left post before Camilo Vargas somehow parried away on the line.
Thomas Christensen's side suffered further damage just before the break as Rodriguez's quick-thinking free-kick from inside his own half set up Diaz to lob the stranded Mosquera from just outside the Panama box.
Panama provided a battling performance of some sorts in the second half, yet for the wrong reasons as numerous fouls slowed the game down with Jovani Welch and Farina both cautioned.
Daniel Munoz was then felled as the referee appeared to blow his whistle and point to the penalty spot, only for Rios to arrow into the bottom-right corner from range to make the advantage count.
Christensen and the Panama bench cut frustrated figures following that odd refereeing sequence, and that annoyance furthered when Borja slotted a stoppage-time penalty into the bottom-right corner after Jose Cordoba clumsily hacked down Santiago Arias.
Who can stop Rodriguez-inspired Colombia?
Lorenzo's men are now a remarkable 27 games unbeaten after their dominant victory, though a huge test awaits them in the semi-finals against either Uruguay or Brazil.
Yet both of those sides may be no match for Colombia if Rodriguez's imperious form is anything to go by.
The Sao Paolo midfielder is the first player in the Copa America to both score and assist within the opening 15 minutes of a match, since such records began in 2011.
Rodriguez is also the first player at the 2024 edition to reach six goal involvements (one goal, five assists), ahead of Argentina's Lautaro Martinez and Venezuela's Salomon Rondon (both four).
The Colombia captain's five assists are three more than any other player so far at this Copa. Will that creativity lead Lorenzo's side to glory?
Panama pain
The 2024 edition of the Copa America marked only Panama's second participation, with this their first instance of making the knockout stages.
Panama may have been confident for this one, too, having won four of their previous seven competitive meetings this century against CONMEBOL sides (three defeats).
Indeed, two of those victories came against Colombia (both at the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup), and Christensen's team impressed this year in Group C to pip the United States to second.
Yet they were brought crashing back down to earth here, with no way back after a first-half blitz from an imperious Colombia side.
Turkiye target 2026 as Ozcan and Calhanoglu express pride after Euro 2024 exit
Turkiye will target a deep run at the 2026 World Cup after leaving Euro 2024 with their heads held high, say midfield duo Salih Ozcan and Hakan Calhanoglu.
Turkiye were on course for a semi-final against England when Samet Akaydin's header put them 1-0 up against the Netherlands in Saturday's last-eight clash.
However, two goals in six second-half minutes, the first a Stefan de Vrij header and the second a Mert Muldur own goal, turned the game on its head as the Oranje advanced.
Turkiye missed several good chances to level late on, recording more shots (15 to 11) and expected goals (1.29 to 0.97 xG) than their opponents.
Having won plenty of admirers en route to the last eight, Ozcan says Turkiye will take the lessons of this tournament into the World Cup in two years' time.
"We are very sad. I want to thank the team, everyone did their best. It's hard to find words right now," Ozcan said. "I am very proud of the team. Now our target is 2026.
"We are all emotional, we want to thank our fans, the amazing support we got. They carried us from match to match, their support was very important for us."
Captain Calhanoglu, who led all Turkiye players for passes attempted (52) and completed (48), as well as recoveries (seven) on Saturday, said: "Unfortunately, we could only make it this far.
"I am happy if we could bring excitement to our nation. Of course, we wanted to continue on this path.
"Unfortunately there is also losing in football. I would like to once again thank all our fans. We didn't start the second half well, we retreated.
"These things happen in the game. I am proud to have come this far. Everyone represented their country in the best possible way. I would like to thank all my team-mates."
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