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Erik ten Hag has admitted Manchester United’s new-look midfield must click quickly after a stuttering start in Monday’s victory over Wolves. Raphael Varane’s 76th-minute header gave United three points at Old Trafford, but Wolves were worth at least a point after registering 23 shots at goal and being denied a stoppage-time penalty that even Premier League referees’ boss Jon Moss later acknowledged should have been given. Much of the focus was put on an underwhelming display from United’s engine room after the match. Ten Hag disputed suggestions that Casemiro had been left isolated as both Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount pushed forward, but he admitted much better is needed away to Tottenham on Saturday. “It’s a new midfield and we have step up there,” he said. “We have to improve in possession. We were absolutely not good. “It had to do with our rules and principles and we did not match those rules and principles in possession and then you do not get a good game. “Also the players made so many unforced errors and we were below our standards from what we are used to and what our players are capable of. “We have already seen in pre-season we can do much better and we’ve seen last year they can do much better so I’m sure they will improve quickly.” Making his Premier League debut for United after a £60million move from Chelsea, Mount struggled to make an impression and was replaced by Christian Eriksen in the 68th minute, with the Dane providing more defensive cover alongside Casemiro. But Ten Hag believes Mount, who played in advanced positions for Chelsea, can adapt to a deeper role in much the same way as Eriksen did after joining from Brentford last summer. “I think he can and already we have seen it in pre-season,” Ten Hag said. “We have to work on many facts of our game, the midfield and the cooperation in how we have to set it. “I’m sure we will get it. It’s not coming overnight but if it was easy, everyone could do it. “Christian Eriksen came in and had the same thing, it was the first time in his life he played in a deep role. That was the ambition from Christian and it’s also the ambition from Mason to be more multi-functional. “It will not come overnight. There is a process we have to go through but I’m sure with his game intelligence, he has the technical abilities and also he is efficient with the ball. He knows how to deal with the ball. “He has the dynamics and he has the mentality. All the ingredients are there to do it.” New goalkeeper Andre Onana emerged from his Premier League debut with a clean sheet, but was lucky not to concede a penalty when he clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic without claiming the ball late on. I will encourage it, I like it when players are proactive, to be on the front foot. That is the type of player we need Erik ten Hag But Ten Hag said he had no problem with the Cameroon international’s approach to the game. “I think he is very proactive and that is what we want,” he said. “We want proactive players but of course he has to manage himself as well, when to be proactive and when to be more passive. “I will encourage it, I like it when players are proactive, to be on the front foot. That is the type of player we need.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Big transfer fees no guarantee for Chelsea starting spot – Mauricio Pochettino Ange Postecoglou promises to bring Spurs fans joy after Nick Cave inspiration Top seed Iga Swiatek fights back to reach Western and Southern Open semi-finals

Pep Guardiola has claimed Manchester City would be “killed” if they spent the sort of sums being coughed up by Chelsea over the last 12 months. City’s spending has long been scrutinised since Sheikh Mansour’s takeover in 2008, with the club still facing 115 Premier League charges for alleged breaches of financial regulations. But Guardiola insisted their approach had always been prudent, in contrast to that taken by Todd Boehly’s ownership group at Stamford Bridge, where the arrival of former City academy star Romeo Lavia this week had taken spending to nearly £1billion since the start of last summer. City, who have signed Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic in this window, could go back into the market with Kevin De Bruyne facing up to five months out and uncertainty over Cole Palmer’s future, but Guardiola said they would only pay fair prices. “I couldn’t sit here if we spent what Chelsea spent in the last two transfer windows – you would kill me,” Guardiola said. “You will kill me, that is for sure. We’d be under scrutiny like you couldn’t imagine. “When people say just Manchester City and Pep Guardiola buy players, I didn’t know I had a lot of money in my pocket to buy all the players I have. “We have to see what happens in the market and if we can do it and to pay what we believe is fair. In the end we will pay what is fair to do it. Otherwise, we have the academy Pep Guardiola “We wanted (Harry) Maguire and didn’t buy him because we didn’t want to pay, we wanted (Marc) Cucurella and didn’t pay, we wanted Alexis Sanchez and didn’t pay. “In the end we will pay what is fair to do it. Otherwise, we have the academy.” Guardiola was adamant he was not criticising Chelsea, but the Catalan clearly feels a sense of double standards. “They can do what they want,” he added. “I don’t criticise Chelsea for one second. I’m saying, if we do it, we are dead, all around the world. They can do whatever they want… “If they want to spend, I don’t know, £900million since (Boehly) arrived, 900 more, 900 more. They have it. The business is the business. They sell a lot this season so they can do it. “I don’t like when they criticise me, what we do, what I have to say. Everyone has their own business and everyone does what is best for the club. “Everybody wins. Tell me the truth: are you enjoying a lot the transfer window? This player, the other one, every few minutes on Sky TV, a new player here, new player there. It’s so funny.” This summer’s transfer window has been shaken up by the influx of cash from the ambitious Saudi Pro League, with City having sold Riyad Mahrez to Al-Ahli and accepted an offer from Al-Nassr for Aymeric Laporte. “Everybody complains about Saudi Arabia, the clubs, then they open the door, red carpet, ‘What do you want my friend?'” Guardiola said. “They sell everything. They are so happy. Everyone complains but everyone opens the door.” With De Bruyne set for surgery on a hamstring injury, Guardiola said he was speaking to director of football Txiki Begiristain about their options in the window. “We maybe need to add someone else,” Guardiola said. “My opinion is I like a small squad. But the blow from Kevin changes the perspective. He is a very important player and it is not one or two weeks. “It’s four or five months, he’s 32 years old and he needs to be physical because of the way he plays physically. So we have to reflect a bit on the squad and think about what we have to do but we have to control. “But we are not the only ones spending a lot of money in the last few years.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Top seed Iga Swiatek fights back to reach Western and Southern Open semi-finals Chris Wood heads home late winner as Nottingham Forest see off Sheffield United Theo Walcott retires – Friday’s sporting social

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Chris Wood climbed off the bench to score an 89th-minute winner as Nottingham Forest got their Premier League season up and running with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United. Forest looked like being held by the Blades after Taiwo Awoniyi’s third-minute opener was cancelled out by Gus Hamer’s delightful strike shortly after half-time. But after Steve Cooper’s men had laboured in the second half, Wood, whose loan move from Newcastle was made permanent in the summer, came up with the goods near the end when he headed home. It ensured Forest won their first points of the season after defeat at Arsenal last week while the Blades have lost their opening two games on their return to the top flight after two seasons away. The Blades may feel hard done by as, after overcoming a chastening first 30 minutes, they competed well and had chances to have gone in front when the score was 1-1. The City Ground was vital in earning Forest most of the points that led them to safety last season and their home form is going to be important again considering their first four away games are against the Gunners, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Manchester City. And they made a flying start by taking the lead inside the opening three minutes. Brennan Johnson teed up Serge Aurier on the right and the defender sent in a perfect cross for Awoniyi to power home a header from six yards. Forest were completely dominant and looked a constant threat in the opening half-hour. Awoniyi almost had another but Anel Ahmedhodzic intercepted at the far post, with the pace and power of the Nigeria striker causing the visiting defence problems. He thought he should have had a penalty when he burst through and went down after tangling with Ahmedhodzic, but referee Peter Bankes waved away protests. The Blades began to enjoy some encouraging moments towards the end of the first half as Vinicius Souza’s curling effort from 20 yards was saved by Matt Turner while other promising opportunities were ended by a poor last ball. They started the second half on the front foot and were level in the 48th minute as debutant Hamer introduced himself in style following his arrival last week. Forest could not clear a corner properly and it fell to the former Coventry man 20 yards out and he sent a delicious curling effort into the top corner to send the visiting fans wild. The Blades were rampant and almost took the lead when Souza hit a first-time effort just wide. Forest had to weather the storm but they still carried a threat on the break, with the pace of Awoniyi causing problems. He looked to have regained the lead in the 55th minute when he raced clear and dinked home, but the flag went up as he was well offside. That did at least turn the tide and it was the hosts that were looking more dangerous. But some schoolboy defending from Joe Worrall and Scott McKenna, who collided with each other, handed the Blades a great chance to go in front. Benie Traore raced through but Turner got down brilliantly to keep out a low effort. Forest got their reward late on when Wood, who had come on for Awoniyi, headed home another pinpoint Aurier cross from the right. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Theo Walcott retires – Friday’s sporting social Pep Guardiola says Cole Palmer has quality to star in Kevin De Bruyne’s absence Wales ready to meet South Africa’s physicality head on, says Aaron Wainwright

Greg Olsen has skepticism on us being able to untie this knot we have created with college football realignment, and to some extent with unregulated NIL and transfer portal issues.Former Miami Hurricanes star tight end Greg Olsen certainly has some thoughts on NIL, the transfer portal, and espec...

The Cowboys would benefit great from trading away some of their excess depth on the roster rather than letting these players walk after being cut.On paper, the Dallas Cowboys look the part of an NFL team capable of making a Super Bowl run in the 2023 season. Whether or not paper translates to tu...