Archive December 29, 2025

Ruben Amorim, head coach, claims that if he had changed Manchester United’s formation due to media pressure, it would have been “the end” for him.

For the first time since beating Newcastle United, Amorim used a wing-back formation to replace an orthodox back four that included two holding midfielders.

By his own admission, his team held on for the win, which was only their second clean sheet of the season, turning into a back six in the dying stages.

Amorim claims having the ability to play with a variety of formations has always been his plan despite the famous saying no even the Pope could force him to change his system.

He claims that he could only switch because his team was performing well enough otherwise it would appear as though he was bowing to external noise.

He said, “When I came here last year, I realized maybe I don’t have the players that I don’t have to play well in that system,” but the process was just beginning.

We were attempting to create an identity. Today has a different significance. We need to adapt because we don’t have many players, so make sure they understand what we’re all about.

It is not because of the fans or the media’s pressure.

“I can’t change because the players will understand that I’m changing because of you,” the manager said when [media] talked about constantly changing the system.

The moment to change is when we play well in our system.

Because we won’t play with three defenders all the time when all the players return, we will become a better team.

It is questionable whether Amorim’s claim that his side have been playing well is accurate given that they only had two victories in eight games before losing to Newcastle.

However, he is working with a weakened squad, with seven senior players already ruled out of the home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are winless.

If Mason Mount is unable to recover from the injury that made him unavailable for the Newcastle game at half-time, that number will rise.

Despite asking his manager to let him play after suffering a hamstring injury in the defeat at Aston Villa on December 21, Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves game.

Bruno already needs to train, according to Amorim.

“But there’s no way he’s going to play against Wolves,” he said. No chance . That is what you can write.

The 31-year-old will likely still be heavily involved because Fernandes closely watched the warm-ups before the Newcastle game from the mouth of the tunnel, unlike when most players are injured or suspended from watching games from the directors’ box or a private box.

Amorim anticipates that his captain will continue to provide input.

He claimed that the “man is a leader.” He can’t possibly be that person who doesn’t talk or speak when he’s not playing. He speaks without stopping. He is the captain because of this.

He sometimes does things wrong with his arms, but he does it with good things. He watches the other guys train after he recovers from a game or even a treatment. There are many things you cannot see.

He’s a leader, I don’t know whether he wants my job or not. The man is a leader, right?

Ruben Amorim, head coach, claims that if he had changed Manchester United’s formation due to media pressure, it would have been “the end” for him.

For the first time since beating Newcastle United, Amorim used a wing-back formation to replace an orthodox back four that included two holding midfielders.

By his own admission, his team held on for the win, which was only their second clean sheet of the season, turning into a back six in the dying stages.

Amorim claims having the ability to play with a variety of formations has always been his plan despite the famous saying no even the Pope could force him to change his system.

He claims that he could only switch because his team was performing well enough otherwise it would appear as though he was bowing to external noise.

He said, “When I came here last year, I realized maybe I don’t have the players that I don’t have to play well in that system,” but the process was just beginning.

We were attempting to create an identity. Today has a different significance. We need to adapt because we don’t have many players, so make sure they understand what we’re all about.

It is not because of the fans or the media’s pressure.

“I can’t change because the players will understand that I’m changing because of you,” the manager said when [media] talked about constantly changing the system.

The moment to change is when we play well in our system.

Because we won’t play with three defenders all the time when all the players return, we will become a better team.

It is questionable whether Amorim’s claim that his side have been playing well is accurate given that they only had two victories in eight games before losing to Newcastle.

However, he is working with a weakened squad, with seven senior players already ruled out of the home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are winless.

If Mason Mount is unable to recover from the injury that made him unavailable for the Newcastle game at half-time, that number will rise.

Despite asking his manager to let him play after suffering a hamstring injury in the defeat at Aston Villa on December 21, Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves game.

Bruno already needs to train, according to Amorim.

“But there’s no way he’s going to play against Wolves,” he said. No chance . That is what you can write.

The 31-year-old will likely still be heavily involved because Fernandes closely watched the warm-ups before the Newcastle game from the mouth of the tunnel, unlike when most players are injured or suspended from watching games from the directors’ box or a private box.

Amorim anticipates that his captain will continue to provide input.

He claimed that the “man is a leader.” He can’t possibly be that person who doesn’t talk or speak when he’s not playing. He speaks without stopping. He is the captain because of this.

He sometimes does things wrong with his arms, but he does it with good things. He watches the other guys train after he recovers from a game or even a treatment. There are many things you cannot see.

He’s a leader, I don’t know whether he wants my job or not. The man is a leader, right?

Rick Passmoor, manager of Leicester City, claims his goal in his first few months in charge was to “stabilize” the club and hopes to leave a legacy for the future.

Passmoor already has ambitious plans for the future, having been given a three-year contract in October after being appointed interim manager in early September.

Leicester have won two and drawn three of their 11 matches in the Women’s Super League while he has been in charge.

According to Passmoor, “It’s been a fluctuation of fortunes with managers and players over the past three or four seasons.”

“Instead, it was just stabilizing things during that time. That is what we are doing all the time. Behind the scenes, just the blue shirt, of course.

On a Sunday, “People only see the top of the iceberg,” despite the 90 minutes it takes to last. Every employee should feel a part of what we’re attempting to accomplish, you must make sure. The first few months have been fantastic.

A number of important players had left the club before the season’s debut, and former manager Amandine Miquel was fired shortly before the season began.

In the January transfer window, there will be work to be done, and Passmoor hopes to add a few seasoned players to the squad.

“We are aware that many of the big-hitting clubs are considering changing. We must be aware of moving parts from all over the world, he continued.

We must be certain of our desires and who we want. It’s just getting started, but it’s getting players who can make an impact off the field with their personality, experience, knowledge, and leadership skills.

Many players from the lower tiers have developed with us, and they haven’t played a lot of games in the WSL. We anticipate being active.

The club hopes to produce its own talent in the future, though January’s business will be crucial.

For Leicester, Passmoor’s experience at Leeds United’s boys’ academy and his track record of developing young talent could be key.

Fabian Delph, Danny Rose, and Kalvin Phillips were just a few of the prominent men’s basketball players who worked with Passmoor at Leeds.

He assisted in initiating the women’s and girls program, which developed Steph Houghton, Ellen White, and Rachel Daly, former England internationals.

Passmoor added that it is “very special if you think about the women’s game and how it has advanced in terms of what we have now and the youth system.”

We want to develop our own talent because it enhances the quality of the squad and the purpose of dressing in Leicester City.

When a fan base and next generation are aware that they are joining the King Power, it inspires them.” There is a great deal of pride.

Leicester City manager Rick Passmoor says his aim was to “stabilise” the club in his first few months in charge and hopes to leave a legacy for others to follow.

Passmoor was named interim manager in early September before being awarded a three-year contract in October – and he already has big plans for the future.

During his time in charge, Leicester have won two and drawn three of their 11 matches in the Women’s Super League.

“It’s been a fluctuation of fortunes over the past three or four seasons with managers and players,” Passmoor told BBC Radio Leicester’s ‘When You’re Smiling podcast.’

“It was just stabilising things in that period. We are still continuing to do that. Everybody behind the scenes just has the blue shirt at heart.

“People only see the tip of the iceberg – the 90 minutes on a Sunday – but the hours are intense. You’ve got to ensure that every member of staff feels part of what we’re trying to achieve. It’s been a terrific first few months.

Former manager Amandine Miquel was sacked shortly before the start of the season and a number of key players had left the club.

It means there is work to do in the January transfer window and Passmoor hopes to bring in a handful of experienced players to bolster the squad.

“We are aware that many of the big-hitting clubs are looking at changing. We’ve got to be aware of moving parts from all over the globe,” he added.

“We’ve got to know exactly what we want and who we want. At the moment it’s not adding vast numbers, but players that can add to the squad with their personality, experience, knowledge and leadership skills off the pitch.

“A lot of players have grown with us from the lower tiers and they’ve not been in the WSL playing many games. We are hoping to be active.”

While January’s business will be crucial, the club also hope to produce their own talent in the future.

Passmoor’s experience working at Leeds United’s boys’ academy and a track record of developing youth talent, could be crucial for Leicester.

At Leeds, Passmoor worked with a number of star players in the men’s game including Fabian Delph, Danny Rose and Kalvin Phillips.

He helped kickstart the women and girls programme which developed former England internationals Steph Houghton, Ellen White and Rachel Daly.

“It’s very special if you think about the women’s game and how it’s progressed in terms of what we’ve got now and the youth system,” added Passmoor.

“We want to produce our own talent because it adds something extra to the squad and the meaning of being in the Leicester City dressing room.

“It inspires the next generation and the fanbase when they know they’re coming to the King Power to watch homegrown talent. There is massive pride.

Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, has defended the price of World Cup tickets, saying they reflect the “absolutely crazy” demand for the tournament’s upcoming summer.

The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) described the tournament’s pricing structure as “scandalous,” while the United States, Canada, and Mexico have received a lot of negative feedback about it.

The most affordable ticket to the final in New Jersey is $ 3,119, while group stage tickets are up three times the price of those for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Infantino contends that supply is far greater than demand.

At the World Sports Summit in Dubai on Monday, Infantino stated, “We have six to seven million tickets on sale and we have received 150 million ticket requests in 15 days.”

“Fifa has sold 44 million tickets overall in the almost 100 years of the World Cup.” In two weeks, we could have completed 300 World Cups. Imagine that. This is utterly absurd.

Following criticism of its pricing structure after the initial release of the tickets, Fifa started selling a small number of “more affordable” $45 tickets for each of the 104 matches.

A Fifa official in charge of the discussions told BBC Sport, “We have listened to feedback and this new category is the right thing to do.”

Infantino claims that the proceeds from ticket sales will be used to support the global game despite not specifying a specific dollar amount.

What’s important is that the money made from this is going back to the game everywhere, Infantino said.