Is it over for Rashford at Man United? | Will Friedkin group keep Dyche at Everton? | Will Fury maintain rematch win streak?
20:34 Share

Welcome to Back Pages, bringing you everything you need to know about the biggest sports stories making the headlines in the morning's newspapers. I'm Mark McQuillan and joining me are The Times chief sports reporter Martin Ziegler and sports journalist and broadcaster Tuzdik Din. Hello and welcome to you both.

Well, let's start with a dramatic game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. That 4-3 win for Spurs over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup. Martin, let's just start with you and that backpage headline in the sun. Dom and Dumb, a bit of a nod to that famous film starring Jim Carrey all those years ago, I think. I mean, how do you sum it up? Such a dramatic game and the goalkeepers taking centre stage as well.

Yeah, I think the headline reflects the fact that there was some really poor goalkeeping performances, both sides actually. Fraser Forse had a couple of nightmarish moments, didn't he, which led to goals when Spurs were 3-0 up.

And then right at the end, you know, you've got just when Manchester United thought they could get back in it, you had all-time Bungan Deer lapping at a Son corner, which went directly into the goal. So, yes, one for the keepers to forget. Fright night, Jeepers, Creepers, keepers. But it was certainly great for the neutral.

Tuzdik, will it be mixed emotions for Ange Postakoglu? On the one hand, delighted his team are through to the last four of the EFL Cup, but equally concerned how they let that 3-0 lead slip.

Yeah, I mean, Spurs regulars will know they love their entertaining football and they love Ange Postakoglu when he delivers. But they also know that his side have that capability to do exactly what we saw unfold unbelievably on our screens. When Kuliskevsky and Dominic Solanke give them a...

easy 3-0, you think, lead. And, you know, just see out. But, you know, it's not the Spurs' way to see things out. And, you know, they got nervous because, you know, out of nowhere, it was the keepers. Yes, absolutely. You know, we've got keepers playing out the back and the sweeper, keeper. Well, these guys just need to know how to save. And sadly, you know, it did cost

Tottenham to the point then when they got back to 3-2 Diallo chasing back Inisdi with the second goal and the jersey before that another Fraser Forster error and you have to think look you know you're Tottenham yes we know you want to play but sit back keep the keep the men behind the ball but you know you know Antoine Poccolu he's already told us many times on many occasions that's not his way and then he proved to be as nervy I mean you know he's talked about

an election every weekend or every match day as opposed to Prime Minister who's elected every four years. Well, he certainly gets the Tottenham vote now because they are into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup. Man United came close but Ruben Amorim will know that his side certainly have the spirit, they have the ability to actually claw things back but the trick for them is, you know, just to try to keep

the ball away from the keeper. But Althea van Beek didn't endear himself to his teammates at that point and argued that the call had made it to the end. But the reality is Tottenham walk away 4-3 the victors and into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Martin, let's go to your paper. The Times spurs through after comedy of defensive errors is how they reflect on the game. Do you think there is plenty to ponder for both managers after how that match panned out?

Yeah, I mean, I wonder if Amarin might think, did he get his team selection right? Should Onana perhaps have been in goal? Because he's just taken over. It's a great chance to get into the last four. But maybe that's regrets for other people. And as for Ange, I mean, it's almost classic, isn't it? That sort of sums up his season in one match.

Spurs playing brilliantly going forward, but they're very, very fragile defensively. And when it starts going wrong, it looks like it just completely collapses. So, yes, it sums up his season. And I think for Ammarin, maybe he'll look back on this as a bit of a missed opportunity. Fantastic. Let's go to the back of the mirror, still staying with Manchester United, and I guess a conundrum that...

Ruben Amorim and Marcus Rashford now have, after what's been an eventful few days, rash, cash, cut is the back page of the mirror. Perhaps looking at how Marcus Rashford and indeed Manchester United might be impacted by what's going on there at the moment, how do you see this playing out over the coming weeks?

It is sad. It is sad for Manchester United and for Marcus Rashford himself. You would say totally avoidable. The reality is that there is a situation there. We know Marcus Rashford is a top player. There is a top player in there, but we're not seeing it currently.

We saw him actually emerge, if you like, from the first Ruben Amarin game at Ipswich Town with the new formation three at the back and Amadio Diallo and Fernandes combined for Rashford to get the first goal away for the Ruben Amarin team.

error in less than two minutes of that game and he thought look you know this young talented 27 year old has found his seat under this new manager he's bought into it but I think the dive was cast beforehand because Amorim remember

He's mentioned in a press briefing that, look, you know, with Marcus Lachford in America, it was all sanctioned. It was all official, not by him, by a previous regime. So he was absolutely entitled to be there because the club cleared it. But it would not be something he would have wanted to have seen.

perhaps in Amrim's mind he wanted him to be there when he turned up for the initial training but you know if he was at an NBA game watching you know basketball that was his priority because it was agreed but that kind of mentality I think in the eyes of Amrim just showed something in him that he

So, look, you know, we need to get to the bottom of this. Maybe when they had face-to-face talks, maybe they had the disagreement there. But whatever advice was given to Marcus Rashford, you just say, look, you know, it needs to be something that kept all this under...

in-house, under wraps, because, you know, now it's out there in the public and he may have burnt his bridges, but we heard in the midweek press conference that Ruben Amorin said, look, you know, he's a talent. Manchester United need talent. And, you know, he's certainly something that we need to look at the situation regarding him. He wants him to stay at the club. But, you know, then we saw he didn't travel down

as the team gathered for the journey down from Stockholm yesterday, maybe thought, look, you know, he's coming on later, scheduled or unscheduled, over transport. But, you know, he wasn't there. He wasn't in the squad. Alexander Garnaccio, by total influence, was the other man who was not involved at the weekend. Now, he was in the squad and he came on today.

But, you know, you just have to say it's something that Marcus Rashford would want to look at. You know, financially, he's secure for the rest of his life. We know his situation with regards to the work he's done with the Trussell Trust and with all the good work he does, school meals for kids this summer, having been a product of that environment himself. And that may be key to the door that nobody has come forward from his environment

to say something like Marcus Rashford and his lived experience is people from the outside coming in, maybe somebody from his community, from his background in the football circle. If you notice after the Ipswich game, Lee Grant was one of the first people he spoke to, a former coach at Manchester United now coaching at Ipswich, and the two of them had a chat as they walked off. Maybe he needed somebody like that around him to say, look, you know,

This can't be resolved. You're a Manchester United person. You're a Manchester United lad. You've been there as a seven-year-old. You need to buckle under. You need to do the hard work. But we know he doesn't track back. He doesn't defend. In Ruben Amir's team, you have to do that. Yeah. Martin, as far as this situation is concerned, we saw post-match after the...

Tottenham game, Ruben Amorim facing more tricky questions about Marcus Rashford's future. Those tricky questions will continue as this situation plays out. How do you assess the current position Manchester United and Marcus Rashford are in?

Yeah, I mean, he's asked about it again after the match tonight, wasn't he, Amarin, and said, oh, you know, he's a Manchester United player, he'll be at training, blah, blah, blah. But, I mean, to me, I think there's no way back, really. When you have Amarin talking about things like, you know, the way he dresses and then

Rashford coming out and saying very publicly that he's ready for a new challenge. It's very difficult to get back from that position. So I think it's the end of a long love affair for Marcus Rashford and Manchester United. Quite where he goes to get somebody to try and match his salary is not going to be easy. And do Man United, what sort of transfer fee do they want? That's a conundrum as well. So

I think it's over. Stranger things have happened and they've managed to find some sort of way of getting back together, but I can't see it. Let's take you to the Mail, staying with Manchester United. Martin, it says Sir Jim gives United £80 million after taking bigger stake.

Now Martin, this was all part of the contractual dealings, wasn't it, when Sir Jim Ratcliffe got involved with Manchester United, but how significant a step forward is this?

I think it's, I mean, we knew when he took over the operations and bought 25% of the club a year ago, he was going to invest $300 million in it. And this is the final chunk of that. This is $100 million, £80 million. So in significant terms, it brings much needed money into the club.

But on the other hand, fans may be a bit disappointed. None of this is going to go on players. This is all about funding the improvements that need to be made to the infrastructure. So it's money that the club really needs, but in terms of...

strengthening on the pitch, which I'm sure Amberyn would be very keen to do. I don't think any of this money can go to that. Let's get into more of the back pages then, gentlemen, to The Guardian and also focusing on Everton, an exciting era, this long-running takeover saga concluding Tuesday. How hopeful should Everton fans be?

Very hopeful. They've been waiting a long time. The courtship, shall we say, has been ongoing with the 777 group initially interested, but the Miami-based organization, which has ties to Crystal Palace, couldn't.

do the deal quickly enough, and in has come the Friedkin Group. Dan Friedkin is a billionaire in his own right, inherited the wealth from all sorts of business, but as regards to Everton, he's promising to take Everton back to what they crave, the top six of English football. And rightly so. Farhad Moshiri comes down, if you like, on a mixed bag, if you like, with the fans. He's something...

That is a divisive character. He delivered the 52,000, slightly short of 53,000, new stadium at Bramley, more dock, which will be ready from the start of next season. And then we had to leverage not only the football matches and the merchandise that goes with that, but also off-match games

concerts and utilize the uh fertility that they have and everton fans absolutely delighted the fact that they can get moving uh what comes into focus now is the uh the contract for sean dice will he be kept on or will the uh with the freaking group have other ideas yeah big decisions ahead and this story also featuring in the telegraph everton's new era

Martin, I just wonder when we look at this new ownership situation for Everton and the Friedkin Group, what will be their key priorities?

Yeah, I mean, I think they have a big decision to make, don't they, with Sean Dyche? They're going to meet him, my colleague Paul Joyce has reported, very, very soon. He's not met them yet. His contract's up at the end of the season. What happens there? They're seen at Roma, which they also own. They can be very ruthless. They're sacked.

Mourinho out of hand in January last year after a poor run. So they're not afraid to take tough decisions. I think their priority will be obviously to ensure that Everton remain in the Premier League and then start building from there. And

It's a great opportunity for them. It was crying out for somebody with a lot of money to come in and to be able to utilise this brand-new stadium that they're going to have because that can be a massive cash generator and put the club back on its feet because it's been struggling for a long time now. Martin, a word on Farhad Moshiri. How will his reign be remembered at Everton?

Well, I think people will look at him as somebody who spent a lot of money in the club, but didn't spend it very well, got into problems with building up lots of debts, and I think probably didn't handle the finances particularly well. So when the COVID came, they were left high and dry. That led to the first ever points deduction for profit and sustainability rule breaches.

And so I think people will think he certainly wasn't tight-fisted, but he perhaps wasn't as prudent and as financially astute as he could have been.

Tizdik, just want to turn our focus to boxing now. A dramatic day as the two heavyweight contenders faced off in Riyadh for 11 minutes and 13 seconds. Really hugely anticipated fight. And this story, albeit not the face-off, featuring in the Telegraph, Fury's five athletes,

THOUSAND CALORIE DIET PLUS. I MEAN, HE REALLY HAS PUT A LOT INTO THIS TRAINING CAMP, SOMETHING LIKE THREE MONTHS IN MALTA. HOW DO YOU READ THE SITUATION JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS OUT FROM THE BIG FIGHT, TUSDIG?

Well, you know, you just look at Fury and, you know, he's absolutely gone for the rematch, knowing that his record in rematches, that he's won every one of them. This one, he thinks, will be no different. You know, he's absolutely put his heart and soul and obviously...

taken of the dietary and the nutrition supplements and all the sort of, you know, like the powerful energy that goes with that with regards to eating, right, making sure that, you know, that the calorie intake is as high as that. You know, that's a phenomenal amount for one individual. But, you know, he's a huge...

He looks in good shape. And, you know, like you've got to say, he absolutely, by not even speaking to his wife for three months, he said, has given himself to this fight because his legacy is on the line with regards to his state of boxing. Maybe that's all we see about the fight that, you know, we want after, you know, this one possibly is down to Joshua. But after Joshua got battered by Dubois, you've got to think that

Maybe that could not happen, but rehab season is up and running and this is absolutely the pinnacle. You've got to say that. Martin, have you seen a different approach from Tyson Fury in the build-up to this big fight?

Not really. I think it's a sort of tried and tested method, isn't it? Or even this incredible massive stare-out that they had, the fighters today, I think standing glaring at each other for 11 minutes. I think the first eight minutes, neither of them said a word and then Tyson unleashed a sort of volley of insults and swear words, which he's done before. And, you know, it's all sort of...

it's not just part of the show, I think it's also part of his psychological approach, but getting himself wound up and also perhaps trying to get some sort of rise from his opponent and perhaps get...

get some sort of crack in their defence ahead of the actual boxing match. So I think it's the way he approaches it and he is very dedicated in the build-up to these fights. He lets himself go a bit between them, but he really puts everything into it just beforehand. Martin, I want to stay with you and your paper, The Times, and talk rugby because...

There's a lot going on at the moment, isn't there, at the top of the game? And the headline in your paper, Beaumont in at crisis-hit RFU. England legend Bill Beaumont set to be interim chairman. Just what on earth is going on at the RFU at the moment? Yeah, rugby's governing body is in a real fix. It's lost tens of millions of pounds last year. It's...

struggling on that financial front, but at the same time caused absolute uproar amongst many people in the sport when it was revealed that the chief executive had got the highest ever pay for a chief executive of a governing body in England, but more than £1.1 million.

Bill Sweeney. That has led to a sort of revolt amongst the people who run the sport, the RFU Council. There's emergency meetings. And it's now been revealed by my colleague Matt Lawton that Bill Beaumont, the former World Rugby chairman and also former RFU president himself,

is being lined up to take over as the interim chairman of the RFU from Tom Ilube to try and get the sport out of this crisis. Tuzdik, I want to go back to you and back to football as well, the Express, and talk about Wolverhampton Wanderers because they've got a new boss at the helm, Vitor Pereira. What do you make of this appointment and...

How confident are you he's going to be given funds to strengthen the squad in January?

Yeah, he's a very popular appointment currently, you have to say. Also plays with three at the back, 3-4-3 or 3-5-2. He's much travelled and, you know, he's occupied some good hot seats in certain parts of the world, coming from Al-Shabaab this time around in Saudi Arabia. But more than anything, he will be a communicator because he will inherit Brazilian and Portuguese players, obviously Portuguese players.

speakers in that dressing room. And what we don't want to see are the scenes that we saw after the match at West Ham with Lamina and Bowen were unable to shake hands or there was an incident there. And then obviously Ait Nuri in the game against Ipswich at Molineux, Ait Nuri with Mathias Kunja. Kunja has now been charged by the FA. We don't want scenes like that. But what they have to do is get that fighting spirit and make sure that they can get

that on hand and make sure that the team can survive. It is going to be tough art. So, he's wanting to come into this, but he feels it's unfinished business in the top flights of Europe and he wants to make sure that he can restore something of credibility because he's also one of these people that can go around winding people up the wrong way, a la Mourinho. But right now, Jess Sheath,

the owner of Wolves and Foster Group, have gone back to Portugal. They've gone back to a Portuguese speaker. And many Wolves fans will say, well, why did we get rid of Nuno and Spiritos in the first place? But, you know, that's a decision that's been taken. And Wolves fans will certainly wish him all the best.