For many, Ralf Rangnick s arrival at Old Trafford has come eight years too late.

Manchester United have struggled since Alex Ferguson delivered a 20th league title in his final season in 2012-13.

David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have come and gone – the latter relieved of his duties following humiliating losses to Liverpool, Manchester City and lowly Watford at the end of a trophyless tenure dating back to December 2018.

There have been Europa League, FA Cup and EFL Cup successes and a couple of runner-up finishes in the Premier League since Ferguson left, but United have never looked close to competing for the title.

A lack of direction and vision from the top at United has seen the Red Devils slip behind their rivals…

Paris Saint-Germain crashed out of the Coupe de France as they were beaten 6-5 on penalties by Nice after a 0-0 draw at Parc des Princes.

Marcin Bulka was the hero as he denied Leandro Paredes and Xavi Simons in the shoot-out to send the visitors through to the quarter-finals.

The PSG loanee ended the holders 14-match winning run in the competition, while halting their quest for a third straight triumph.

Mauricio Pochettino s side also failed to score in a Coupe de France tie for the first time since losing 1-0 to Lille in the 2011 final.

Unbeaten in their eight previous meetings with Nice in all competitions, PSG welcomed Lionel Messi back into the starting line-up for the first time in a month.

The Argentina skipper was involved in the hosts bes…

Juventus great Gianluigi Buffon believes Paulo Dybala will benefit from joining Roma over Serie A rivals Inter.

Dybala had been strongly linked with a switch to San Siro after his contract with Juve, where he had spent the past seven seasons, expired.

However, Inter instead re-signed Romelu Lukaku on loan from Chelsea, and the Argentina international then had a choice between Napoli and Roma, eventually opting for the latter on a three-year deal.

Buffon, who spent five seasons playing in the same side as Dybala in Turin, feels his former colleague made the right decision.

Paulo had the right to choose after his exit from Juventus on a free transfer, Parma goalkeeper Buffon told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

In the past few weeks, Dybala could have g…

Now at the centre of a stacked winter schedule, Friday offers a host of intriguing affairs from across England s top tiers.

On a Friday fixture list that is highlighted by Aston Villa’s showdown against Sheffield United, we have found a trio of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.

Friday, December 22nd
BST 19:45 Cambridge United vs Exeter

While Cambridge might have opened December in the midst of a minor rut, Friday’s hosts have come roaring back in any eye-catching fashion. Last seen mounting a stellar comeback at home against Blackpool as they clinched a 2-1 victory, Neil Harris’ men are unbeaten in all of their previous three appearances across all competitions. Skyrocketing away from a looming relegation scrap and now desperate to mak…

Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez headlined a spectacular Inter performance as they dismantled relegation-threatened Hellas Verona in a 6-0 victory in Serie A, scoring two goals apiece.

The Nerazzurri ran riot against their hosts at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi to boost their Champions League qualification prospects on Wednesday.

A long-range strike from Hakan Calhanoglu and an Adolfo Gaich own goal piled further misery on Verona, helping Simone Inzaghi s visitors move back above Atalanta into Serie A s top four.

The victory also proved an emphatic warm-up for their upcoming Champions League semi-final tie against rivals Milan, though for Marco Zaffaroni, it leaves his side grasping at straws in their battle for safety.

Inter laid siege to the Verona box fr…

Michael Beale admitted Scott Arfield’s departure “pulls at the heartstrings” as he paid tribute to a quintet of Rangers players leaving Ibrox this summer.

Colombia striker Alfredo Morelos, winger Ryan Kent, veteran goalkeeper Allan McGregor and long-term injured defender Filip Helander will also depart at the ends of their contracts.

The Govan club also announced that veteran midfielder Steven Davis – another player soon to be out of contract – “remains in discussions to continue working with the club’s medical team to support his return to full fitness following a long-term ACL injury suffered in December 2022”.

Midfielder Arfield, 34, has become a fans’ favourite since signing from Burnley in 2018, although he has found regular starts hard to …

Fulham are set to sign Andreas Pereira from Manchester United in the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano. The well-known and well-respected journalist has reported on that Pereira is in London today to undergo a medical ahead of a move to Fulham, who will play in the Premier League next season after winning promotion from the Championship.

Romano has added that midfielder Pereira will put pen to paper on a contract with Fulham that will run until June 2026. The journalist has claimed that paperworks are ready to be signed with Manchester United.

Andreas Pereira, in London today in order to undergo medical tests as new Fulham player. Paperworks are ready to be signed with Manchester United. 🇧🇷🤝

Contract will be valid until June 2026 w…

Paris Saint-Germain saw off a second-half fightback from Juventus to win their opening Champions League game 2-1 thanks to Kylian Mbappe s double.

Juve were no match for their hosts at the Parc des Princes in the first half, with Mbappe volleying home twice inside the first 22 minutes.

A defensive lapse from Christophe Galtier s side allowed Weston McKennie to drag Juve back into the contest eight minutes into the second half, however.

Dusan Vlahovic and Manuel Locatelli both went close to restoring parity, yet PSG had enough to see out a first competitive win over Juve.

Mbappe had denied there were any issues between himself and Neymar in the pre-match press conference, and the duo proved they were in sync in the fifth minute as the France striker volle…

Federico Chiesa has returned to first-team training with Juventus, nine months after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The Italy international underwent surgery after injuring his left knee in a Serie A win over Roma in January, causing him to miss the rest of Juventus 2021-22 campaign.

Chiesa, who starred in the Azzurri s Euro 2020 triumph last year, scored four goals and added two assists in all competitions last season before suffering the injury.

A statement on Juventus website revealed the attacker began a partial and gradual return to the group on Monday after coach Massimiliano Allegri recently professed his hope the 24-year-old would return to action before the World Cup.

Juventus host Maccabi Haifa in a huge Champions League group-s…

Christian Eriksen says he is in no rush to decide his future despite going into the final year of his contract at Manchester United.

Eriksen joined the Red Devils in 2022, making 28 appearances in the Premier League in his first season, though an injury in January 2023 put a halt to his impressive start to life at Old Trafford.

Following Kobbie Mainoo s breakout season last year, Eriksen dropped down the pecking order at United as he made just 12 starts in his 22 league appearances, scoring just once and assisting two goals.

Some reports suggest Eriksen could be heading out on loan to former club Ajax for the final year of his contract, but he insisted he is satisfied in Manchester.

I am really happy at United, he said. I have had two very good years and…