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Sir Alex Ferguson has described Sir Bobby Charlton as a “tower of strength” for him in a heartfelt tribute to the Manchester United great. Charlton, one of the finest players the English game has ever produced, died last weekend at the age of 86. After an illustrious career in which he won the World Cup with England and helped United win the European Cup, Charlton went on to serve the club as a director and ambassador. He remained a prominent figure at Old Trafford throughout Ferguson’s glittering 26-year reign as manager, which began in 1986. In a eulogy to be published in the matchday programme for Sunday’s derby fixture against Manchester City, Ferguson reflected on his appointment and the “personal connection” he had with Charlton. He wrote: “The directors came to meet me in Glasgow and asked what my vision was for the job. I said I would take the same approach I had at Aberdeen, by looking to build up the whole club, not just the team, and that I would do that by developing young players. “As I was explaining this, I saw Bobby nudge one of the other directors and he said, ‘that’s what we want’. He’d made his mind up. From that moment on he was a tower of strength for me. “It’s no surprise to me that we’ve seen tributes to Sir Bobby from everywhere in the world, on every TV channel and in every newspaper, because he was without question the greatest English player of all time. “People loved him because of all those thunderbolt goals, but it was more than that. My dad used to say that humility in success is a sign of greatness, and that was Bobby. “He never used to boast about his own achievements; it was always about the team and the club.” Charlton’s death came soon after that of Ferguson’s wife, Lady Cathy. He added: “I am so sorry for Lady Norma (Charlton), who was always by Bobby’s side, especially as his health declined, and my thoughts have been with the whole family these past few days. “Unfortunately, I have also suffered the painful loss of my beloved wife, Cathy, this month, and I want to thank the club, the fans, and everyone who has sent me their condolences.” Read More We have a way to go – Erik ten Hag sure Man Utd on right track despite criticism Jude Bellingham brace helps Real Madrid to comeback El Clasico win at Barcelona Pep Guardiola accepts Man City gatecrashing party was ‘uncomfortable’ for elite South Africa edge New Zealand to win Rugby World Cup for record fourth time Jamie George demands ‘clarity’ over hybrid contracts for England players Gary O’Neil labels Newcastle penalty ‘scandalous decision’

Erik ten Hag knows Manchester United “have a way to go” in their development but dismissed former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher’s claim that the team have gone backwards this season. All eyes will be on Old Trafford this Sunday afternoon as the Red Devils look for a statement victory in the derby against treble winners Manchester City. United head into the match after toiling to a third straight victory in all competitions, with Andre Onana’s last-gasp spot-kick save sealing a 1-0 win against Copenhagen in the Champions League. It was another narrow escape for Ten Hag’s so far underwhelming side, who need to be far better if they are to stand any chance of winning the 191st Manchester derby. “We are in the right direction, and we have a way to go,” the United manager said. “I see positives, I see also negatives. We are not consistently, in possession, on the level where we can be, where we show in games we can be. “Like for instance, Arsenal away. Also, the first 30 minutes in Bayern Munich away. But we should do this on a consistent basis. “But pressing, we are quite good. We have the most ball regains from the whole Premier League, we have the most middle regains from the whole Premier League. “So, there you see, our defensive organisation, our pressing organisation. I said before the season how we wanted to play, that is us. “But then, we don’t take the benefit in the attacking transition moments, and we should be because we have the abilities in our team, the players there who can take benefit from it. “We paid some attention to it, and this has to grow, this has to progress. Then games will become easier.” United have had a few factors to contend with this term, from injuries and off-field issues to tough fixtures and underperforming stars. The afterglow of a promising first season under Ten Hag has certainly dimmed, with the side dropping off markedly after February’s Carabao Cup final triumph against Newcastle. Liverpool favourite Carragher this week said United “resemble a team reaching the end of a cycle, not one still rebuilding under a relatively new manager”. The former defender also said in his Telegraph column that “the football is stale and the symptoms of regression are visible” – comments that were put to Ten Hag ahead of the derby. “I said in possession we have to do better,” the Dutchman said. “But there are reasons I don’t go into, but I think everyone is seeing why. “But there are also facts, so I disagree. We are much better. “And even we are top Premier League in high ball regains, we are top Premier League in middle ball regains. “Our pressing is always very good, so that is not the truth what he is telling.” United are certainly far from their best right now, with the stuttering performances coming under the continued cloud of questions over the ownership. Sheikh Jassim recently withdrew from the interminable potential takeover process due to the Glazer family’s demands, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos now looking set to take a stake and sporting control. Asked if United’s players are thinking about the impact on them of potential changes above, Ten Hag said: “I don’t think so. “Of course, they are committed to the club but especially they are committed to this team. “They want to be successful and are aware you need the team, your team-mates, you need cooperation. “You want to play with the best players you have in this team and when the cooperation is growing, we will play better and that is in their benefit. “I think that is how the players are thinking and they are not thinking about strategic reviews or structures or whatever.” Read More Jude Bellingham brace helps Real Madrid to comeback El Clasico win at Barcelona Pep Guardiola accepts Man City gatecrashing party was ‘uncomfortable’ for elite South Africa edge New Zealand to win Rugby World Cup for record fourth time Jamie George demands ‘clarity’ over hybrid contracts for England players Gary O’Neil labels Newcastle penalty ‘scandalous decision’ Jude Bellingham delighted after doing ‘something special’ to win El Clasico

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City gatecrashing the established elite is “uncomfortable” for their Premier League rivals. Famously labelled Manchester United’s ‘noisy neighbours’ by Sir Alex Ferguson, City’s takeover by their Abu Dhabi owners in 2008 and then the appointment of Guardiola as manager in 2016 have led to gradual progress from insignificant upstarts to the dominant force in English football. City have lifted the Premier League trophy in five of the last six campaigns, including three in a row, while their crowning moment came last season as they emulated Ferguson’s 1998-99 treble-winning side. Guardiola marvelled at how the fortunes of the clubs have switched ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford, where City could extend their lead between the teams to nine points with a victory. “Sir Alex was right (at the time), City were not challenging, they were in the middle to bottom,” Guardiola said. “United and Arsenal at the time were the richest ones, that’s why City were there. “But after that, Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon (Al Mubarak), who took over and made an investment. After that Sir Alex could not expect to know that and not even myself who was in Barcelona. “We were not in the elite and now we are in the elite, maybe it’s uncomfortable for many things. That is a reality and we want to stay as long as possible.” United have not won the league since Ferguson’s departure at the end of the 2012-13 season, coming closest under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, both of whom presided over runners-up finishes. Liverpool have been our biggest rivals - they made us challenge higher and higher and helped make us a better team in all departments. They challenged us like no other team has done before Pep Guardiola While Guardiola was adamant United will always be regarded as one of the top English clubs, the Spaniard suspects any chance of bringing back the glory days the red half of Manchester enjoyed under Ferguson is gone because of the number of sides now challenging for honours. Such has been the trajectories of both clubs over the last decade, Guardiola admitted he does not consider United their biggest rivals – insisting that honour belongs to Liverpool. Asked if United can dominate again, Guardiola responded: “Maybe not in the way that Sir Alex Ferguson did because back then there were just two or three teams, now there are more with a lot of incredible managers. “Maybe not in that way but if they take good decisions, with the hierarchy, with the sports director, with the managers, with the players and the same ideas, Manchester United when something happens is in the highlights all day. “The reputation and the prestige they have is always there. It just needs to click. “There was one year with Ole that was close. But Liverpool have been our biggest rivals – they made us challenge higher and higher and helped make us a better team in all departments. They challenged us like no other team has done before.” Erik ten Hag led United to third place last season, as well as winning the Carabao Cup and finishing runners-up to City in the FA Cup final, but they have fluctuated in this campaign with four losses in nine games. Guardiola pointed out it took him a while before finding sustained success with City, having finished third in his first season in charge in 2016-17. “It takes time,” Guardiola added. “United is able to win four, five six games in a row. If they do that they will be on top. “Leave the manager to do the job that here they allowed me to do in my first season when we didn’t win. Give time to the managers and they will do it.” Read More South Africa edge New Zealand to win Rugby World Cup for record fourth time Jamie George demands ‘clarity’ over hybrid contracts for England players Gary O’Neil labels Newcastle penalty ‘scandalous decision’ Jude Bellingham delighted after doing ‘something special’ to win El Clasico Wolves dig deep to earn dramatic draw with Newcastle Vincent Kompany incensed by decision not to review handball in Bournemouth loss

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