Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes Chelsea’s struggles this season are a warning sign of how difficult life can be after a takeover. As the Glazers continue to consider a full or partial sale of United, a process which has been rumbling on since November, Chelsea will visit Old Trafford on Thursday limping to the end of a hugely disappointing first campaign since a group headed by Todd Boehly bought the club last summer. There has been no lack of funding as the London club have spent almost £600million in the last two transfer windows, but the investment is yet to pay off with one of the Premier League’s so-called ‘Big Six’ stuck down in 12th place, a top-half finish now beyond them. Frank Lampard, Chelsea’s third manager this term following the early-season dismissal of Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter’s ill-fated seven-month spell at the helm, has taken only four points from nine games in interim charge. Chelsea have been criticised for a scattergun approach in the market, at one point signing so many players they could not all fit in the changing room of their Cobham training ground, and Ten Hag said their experience showed money is not the answer if not spent wisely. “In this moment a centralisation of good players, of the best managers, also the money is all here in the UK, that makes a great competition but also a tough and a hard competition,” he said. “You have to do the right things, you can have money but you have to do it and spend it in a smart way and you need to have a strategy behind it, otherwise the money doesn’t work.” United have hardly been stingy themselves in recent transfer windows. Ed Woodward, who spent nine years as executive vice-chairman before stepping down early last year, tore through £1billion in signings, but United only twice finished runners-up in the Premier League during that time. Woodward is long gone, replaced by Richard Arnold in January 2022. Although United are yet to shift all of the surplus players that date from Woodward’s time, Ten Hag believes the club is now operating much more smartly – something that would need to continue if new ownership arrives. “I think we are in a good direction but also we can also learn from this season,” he said. “We have to evaluate that after the season, make the right conclusions for the future and that is what we will definitely do that after the season.” United will be sure of a Champions League place with a match to spare if they take at least a point against Chelsea. With the League Cup already in the trophy cabinet and the FA Cup final against Manchester City still to come, Ten Hag can point to progress in his first season but these are only markers on the road to where United want to be. You can have money but you have to do it and spend it in a smart way and you need to have a strategy behind it, otherwise the money doesn’t work Erik ten Hag Since United were last top of the tree fresh challenges to the old order have emerged. Newcastle will be in the Champions League next season for the first time in 20 years, while Brighton have qualified for Europe for the first time in their history. The notion of a ‘Big Six’ in the Premier League feels increasingly outdated. “I think there are many more teams in the Premier League who are really strong,” Ten Hag added. “Talking about Aston Villa, Brighton, Brentford, I think there are many more teams who are really strong and tough and it is not only those top six clubs.” Asked if the top-four battle would be even harder next term, he said: “It could be, but there is a summer in between so in the summer a lot of things can happen. In this moment, we know the balance in the league but over the summer things can change.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Frank Lampard not surprised contract talks with Mason Mount are taking time Craig Overton stars as Somerset begin Blast by thrashing Hampshire Cameron Norrie starts Lyon Open title defence with win over David Goffin

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Actors Sydney Sweeney and Lili Reinhart dispelled rumours of an alleged feud between the pair with a selfie after their seemingly frosty red-carpet interaction went viral. The speculation began after the pair were both spotted at the Armani Beauty dinner during the Venice International Film Festival in an interaction that some people thought looked icy. In a viral TikTok that has been viewed almost 16 million times, Reinhart could be seen posing for photos on the red carpet with a group of fellow actors, when The White Lotus actor Sweeney approached the group and hugged them. Among the group were fellow performers Lukas Gage, Camilla Mendes and Maude Apatow. According to the poster of the TikTok video, “Lili’s face instantly changed” and other actors in the group looked in Lili’s direction after Sweeney hugged them. One person commented: “Something is upppppp.” Another wrote: “I need to know the beef right now.” “Wait because actually what’s going on here,” asked another. @aestheticc11113 ??? #lilireinhart #sydneysweeney #riverdale #euphoria #redcarpet #drama #fyp #foryou #viral #trending #aesthetic While many in the comments were clamouring for information, Sweeney and Reinhart quickly put the issue to bed by posting a selfie of the two of them together in their Instagram stories. Riverdale actress Reinhart captioned a selfie of them, taken on a Venice boat, “We’ll be over here if you need us”. Sweeney reposted the picture on her own Instagram story, ensuring the feud rumours were quashed on both sides as the pair appeared to be hanging out as friends. In a post on X/Twitter, Reinhart also wrote: "Stop making villains out of women every chance you get." Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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