Manchester United

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The rivalry between Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United side and Arsenal during the first eight years under Arsene Wenger is the best the Premier League has seen, according to author Dominic Hougham.

Wenger arrived at Arsenal in 1996 and between then and 2004, United won five league titles and the Gunners picked up three.

"I love this rivalry," Hougham told BBC Radio Manchester. "This one had a fair bit of needle.

"There are so many iconic moments that this rivalry spat out over eight seasons and I do truly believe there has never been anything to rival this.

"You had two of the greatest managers the Premier League has ever seen, in their primes. You had two teams right at their peak, and for eight seasons they literally dominated the league."

Hougham has written The Greatest Rivalry: Arsenal, Manchester United And The Battle That Defined An Era.

Listen to the full chat below or on BBC Sounds here

Manchester United are expected to face serious competition from rivals Liverpool for Bournemouth and France left-back Adrien Truffert, 24, who is valued at about £60m (Teamtalk), external

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Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist

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"You can't win anything with kids," former Liverpool and Scotland defender Alan Hansen said after a youthful Manchester United side lost 3-1 at Aston Villa in August 1995.

Midfielder Paul Ince, 27, and 31-year-old forward Mark Hughes had been moved on in the summer to Inter Milan and Chelsea respectively.

Meanwhile, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and David Beckham, all 20, and 21-year-old Ryan Giggs were beginning to make a name for themselves.

By the end of the season, Sir Alex Ferguson's side had won the Premier League and FA Cup Double.

"We'd worked really hard getting youth into the club again and this bunch of young lads became the spirit of Manchester United," Ferguson told BBC Breakfast.

"They added something. Apart from the great abilities they had, they had desire. I put Beckham out on loan at Preston [in March 1995] and he thought I was trying to get rid of him, which was not true.

"David was the last to really develop because of his physique. Although he grew to 6ft, he was small and thin as a young kid."

Did Ferguson ever fear that throwing his young players in at the deep end could backfire?

"I did exactly the same when I was in charge at St Mirren and Aberdeen," he said.

"I had belief in young people because if you give them an opportunity there are two things that happen - they become real stars and they can remain loyal to you as a manager."

Read the full article here

And listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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Manchester United boss Michael Carrick is not one for giving expansive injury updates.

However, there are a few issues for him to deal with before Saturday's Premier League encounter with bottom club Tottenham.

Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo both pulled out of England duty, as Benjamin Sesko did with Slovenia.

There has been no word from United or Slovenia about the recurrence of a shin injury the striker suffered in the EFL Cup defeat by Brighton three weeks ago that kept him out of the following weekend's trip to Fulham.

If Sesko was ruled out for an extended period, it would be a major blow to Carrick, particularly as there has been no sighting of wide man Amad Diallo at training on any official team pictures since he missed the opening day defeat at Hull with an ankle injury.

Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui both ended their international commitments early and while there was speculation Matthijs de Ligt was involved in last Friday's closed doors game with Lausanne-Sport, there has been no confirmation it happened.

It is possible some of these players will be available, but after a poor start to the season and with Champions League trips to Atletico Madrid and Como either side of a Premier League encounter with Leeds at Elland Road to follow the Tottenham encounter, Carrick needs his squad to be as strong as possible.

Manchester United fans have been speaking to BBC Radio Manchester about their concerns over boss Michael Carrick and the difficult run of fixtures coming up.

The Red Devils face bottom-of-the-table Tottenham in their first game back from the international break on Saturday, followed by Atletico Madrid, Leeds United, Como, Bournemouth and Chelsea - all in October.

United fan Steve said: "The team hasn't performed to what I'd expect. It's the same group of players [as last season] except for Casemiro, and Bruno [Fernandes] hasn't gone up to the level we're used to.

"October is worrying for me. It does sound like we've got a few injuries. I don't care who the manager would be - with the lack of the support, the way the club is and the position they're in, they would struggle.

"It's up to Michael and the players to get together and know this is a period of time they have to really grit their teeth and perform to the maximum, because all the cards are stacked against them and Michael Carrick."

Meanwhile, fellow supporter Dan said: "It's looking like that period of the season when United are in the Champions League, fixtures are building, injuries are all over the place and the fans are starting to lose faith in the manager.

"I agree that it doesn't matter who's in the dugout, but our job as fans is to back the manager and back the players. I feel like these fixtures may look daunting on paper but they're the games we play best in."

Listen to the full debate by hitting play above or on BBC Sounds here

Real Madrid and Barcelona are ready to offer Manchester United attacking midfielder JJ Gabriel, 15, a substantial salary, bonuses and signing-on fee. (Florian Plettenberg), external

Bayern Munich are not giving up hope of signing Gabriel but are unwilling to meet the seven-figure salary demanded by the Manchester United player's camp. (Times - subscription required), external

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A number of Premier League clubs want Manchester City to be hit with both "retrospective punishments" and sanctions for the future for their mass financial rule-breaking, sources have told BBC Sport.

An independent commission found City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.

City have appealed against the verdict, while the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is poised to look at the findings to see if there may be any suggestions of potential misconduct.

However, there is said to be a consensus among a group of top-flight club executives that if City's appeal is unsuccessful, the sanctions should make reparations for the period when they broke the rules, while also limiting their powers in future.

There is also a feeling from at least four Premier League boardrooms that a "one-hit" points deduction resulting in relegation to the Championship would be an insufficient punishment given the severity of City's wrongdoing.

Read more on what rival clubs want

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist

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For his interview with BBC Breakfast, Sir Alex Ferguson is sat in front of a table on which there are several items from his career, including the Scotland cap he was finally presented with in 2021 - 54 years after appearing for his country.

Ferguson received the cap at Hampden Park on the night Scott McTominay - then a Manchester United player - scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner in a 3-2 win over Israel in a World Cup qualifier.

"I remember signing McTominay at seven years of age," Ferguson said.

Also on the table are old letters addressed to Ferguson from disgruntled United fans amid speculation he was about to sell midfielder Paul Ince to Inter Milan in the summer of 1995.

One reads: "Don't sell Incey to Inter - or you'll regret it." Another reads: "Every Red is disgusted with you."

"Paul was a tremendous footballer, there's no doubt about that," said Ferguson. "He had incredible ability, but I just had that feeling that he just got carried away a bit at the time.

"He then got this offer from Inter Milan. I'm trying to weigh up one thing against the other. I'm looking at Paul Scholes and I said: 'Should we?' Milan's offer went from £7m to £7.5m and I said: 'Do it.'

"That's what your job is as a manager. You have to make hard decisions, and some decisions don't suit everyone."

Read the full article here

And listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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The Premier League panel's report laid it out in black and white. "The club's income was hugely overstated by over £830m."

In other words, Manchester City's owners circumvented the league's financial regulations over a number of years by pumping money into the club that should not have been recorded as sponsorship income.

The damning judgement landed less than five days after Manchester United's extended filing to the New York Stock Exchange which detailed their end of year accounts to 30 June 2026.

Manchester United's latest accounts included this comment from chief executive Omar Berrada: "While these results confirm that we are on the right trajectory, we will continue to take a disciplined approach to ensure our finances remain sustainable."

This came after a third-place finish in the Premier League, which confirmed a return to the Champions League after a two-year absence.

Record revenues of £677.6m, projected to go as high as £760m in 2026-27, is something to celebrate.

Yet Berrada's cautious stance underlined a few home truths.

In confirming they had spent £191.7m on new players; notably Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, and costs associated with them, plus academy players such as England youth international Tynan Thompson, since 30 June, with payments due 'in the next five years'. United also revealed they had borrowed an additional £90m. It took their overall debt to £1.15bn.

To put that into context, in accounts to June 2021, the comparable sum was £667m.

Prior to 30 June, United's transfer debt was £375m. Of that, £218m must be paid before 30 June 2027. United have also said in addition to Baleba, Santos and Tielemans, they are liable for another £122.8m in potential contract payments if players they have already signed hit pre-agreed targets – although presumably the club would be happy if they ended up paying this.

When they restructured their debt in June, United added $125m (£94.36m) to their main debt. On 23 September, they said £63.5m had been spent on land for their proposed new stadium, the precise funding model for which is still to be determined.

Many fans, particularly those who do not want a new stadium, feel that money would have been better invested in Michael Carrick's squad.

Yet, as Berrada said, United are taking a 'disciplined approach' on that.

Read more on how Man City's charges have shined a light on United's finances here

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BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater and Joe McGrath discuss United's chances of securing Champions League football and how a loss against Spurs could increase the pressure on boss Michael Carrick.

Speaking on The Devils' Advocate podcast, McGrath said: "Do you know how upsetting it is to how numb we are as United fans to this conversation? That should be a shocking thing to say, to suggest that our manager is maybe a few games away from getting the sack."

Drinkwater added: "A loss against Spurs and he's under massive pressure.

"I don't think last year has given him much credit in the bank. No one's denying what he did, but I think because of the scars of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it was always a risk that people said [to give him the permanent role].

"Giving him the job is a risk. He got sacked by Middlesbrough. He's an inexperienced manager.

"People have almost been waiting to get at him, and then this season, it has just been absolutely dire at times."

After the Tottenham match, the Red Devils face Atletico Madrid in Europe followed by Leeds away in the Premier League, and McGrath worries "the owners will have an eye on Champions League football and what it's done in terms of the money and the revenue to the club, and they'll want to make sure they stay in that."

He added: "If the balance tips not in Carrick's favour, then we might start seeing the downfall there."

Listen by pressing play below or on BBC Sounds here

Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City are all interested in 27-year-old Barcelona and France defender Jules Kounde, with the Spanish club willing to listen to significant offers. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Manchester United and Liverpool are interested in Barcelona and Spain left-back Alejandro Balde, 22, who is also wanted by Juventus. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

Paris St-Germain are again interested in 20-year-old Manchester United and France defender Leny Yoro. (KickFootball - in French), external

AC Milan could make another attempt to sign Manchester United's 25-year-old Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee in January, potentially on loan with an option to buy. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

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The latest episode of BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast has landed.

Joe McGrath and Gaz Drinkwater preview the month of October for Manchester United, starting with the game against Tottenham at Old Trafford.

The pair also discuss Michael Carrick and claims he has "not much" credit, saying "a loss against Spurs and he's under massive pressure".

They also discuss how the team deal with pressure: "After the Manchester City game, we were talking about how whenever United are under pressure to win, or expected to win, that's when they falter."

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

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In the third and final part of Monday's Manchester United Q&A, BBC Sport's Simon Stone addresses the Red Devils' transfer approach under Jason Wilcox and what areas Michael Carrick needs to strengthen.

John: At what point does the focus on Manchester United's transfer approach put Jason Wilcox under a microscope? I cannot think of any elite team ever that has publicly set out to buy only players for particular areas across three years. Firstly, you're advertising your intent, so those selling will introduce a buying premium. Secondly, availability of players doesn't work on a three-year cycle. Lastly, some players don't work out and need to be sold, which requires flexibility and not a panicked reaction in January.

Simon: A well-reasoned argument, John. My only counter is that it is a lot easier to be wise after the event, and the general consensus when the window closed was that United had done well.

A year ago, I was one of those who felt the club should have targeted midfield rather than off-load Rasmus Hojlund and bring in Benjamin Sesko to lead the attack. I am still not entirely convinced the strategy United went for was the right one, but they did finish third – and Sesko, when fit, though his latest problem is a big worry, is better than Hojlund.

I was sure United would bring in a left-back to compete with Luke Shaw as it was inconceivable he would stay fit across such a long season.

A bit like the issue up front, though, a plan has been derailed, this time by the poor form of Noussair Mazraoui, who I think was the first-choice back-up.

I wouldn't want to put all the blame on Wilcox, the recruitment department as a whole must share responsibility, but United do seem short in a couple of areas – and you are right about flagging key areas in advance.

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Nigel: Which areas of the squad do you think Manchester United should be looking to strengthen in the January transfer window?

Simon: Left-back seems to me to be an absolute priority, Nigel.

However, United have been down this road before. Remember Sergio Reguilon? Getting a player is the easy bit, getting the right one is harder.

If they had wanted, United could have signed Rayan Ait-Nouri from Manchester City this summer, but clearly didn't see him as a permanent solution.

I do come back to the well-made point that United's present first-choice defence is Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw - just as it was on the opening day of the 2022-23 season. That is a worry.

Find the rest of Simon's Q&A, and more Red Devils content, on your Manchester United page

In the second of a special three-part Manchester United Q&A, BBC Sport's Simon Stone looks at Marcus Rashford's squad impact and the midfield balance within the side.

Teck: Has Marcus Rashford's inclusion caused an imbalance in terms of the dynamics of the team, especially the forward line?

Simon: Hi, Teck. I'm reluctant to go down this route. Rashford has been one of United's biggest threats in attack this season.

I am more inclined to believe the combination of Benjamin Sesko and Amad Diallo both being injured has caused the major issue as it has prevented Bryan Mbeumo being used in a central attacking role, which I am pretty sure would have been the preference.

Mbeumo was used as the main striker in pre-season and did quite well. If I refer back to Paul's question previously, with Sesko and Amad out, Michael Carrick has a choice.

Does he stick with Mbeumo as the front man, then use Shea Lacey on the right, and then pick Rashford or Matheus Cunha on the left, and leave the other player out? Or, does he use Cunha or Rashford as the centre forward, and Lacey is then on the bench?

Cunha and Rashford both played at the World Cup. It would be a huge call to leave either out for an untested 19-year-old. With Sesko back on the injured list, Carrick needs Amad back pretty soon.

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Tony: Is the midfield balance right or did Kobbie Mainoo need an experienced defensive midfielder to complement his skills and learn from?

Simon: Another good question. I am one of Kobbie Mainoo's biggest fans, but I do feel care needs to be taken over the formation of the midfield, because it is a reality United get overrun in the middle of the pitch.

In pre-season, Andrey Santos dovetailed well with Mason Mount. Santos seems to have a lot of energy, Mount has confidence on the ball and an eye for a pass. It was pre-season, but that combination was good.

When the Premier League campaign began, Mainoo and Youri Tielemans were the preferred partnership, but I'm not sure that balance works.

Santos has been away with Brazil, but it seemed Carrick was reluctant to trust him. In profile terms, it left United without someone who can instinctively smell danger before problems arise.

Carlos Baleba was fit enough to feature in a behind-closed-doors game against Lausanne-Sport on Friday and will presumably be in contention for the Tottenham game on Saturday.

It is very harsh to think the former Brighton man can solve all United's issues on his own, but he needs to hit the ground running.

Come back to this page later on Monday for the final part of the Q&A, which will focus on the Red Devils' transfer approach under Jason Wilcox and what areas Carrick needs to strengthen

We asked you to send in your questions for BBC Sport's Manchester United reporter Simon Stone. In the first of a three-part Q&A, he addresses behind the scenes information at Old Trafford and Michael Carrick's possible reluctance to offer younger players minutes.

David: When former Manchester United players talk about 'things happening behind the scenes' that can affect players' performances, what kind of things do they mean?

Simon: Hi David. I'm not entirely sure what the specific example you are referring to here, but the basic reality is that fans and the media do not know everything that is happening at a football club.

Generally, that could be injuries managers are trying to keep under wraps, or play down the extent of, that affect match preparation in training. But there could be other things.

It is sometimes forgotten players are human beings and have the same personal issues as everyone else. Their relatives get ill – and they are often a long way from home – their children get sick.

Everyday problems can divert attention. The truth is though, that once a match starts, a club is judged by the performance of the 11 players on the pitch at any given moment in time and the coaching staff directing them.

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Paul: Why is Michael Carrick reluctant to offer our promising academy prospects, like Harry Amass and JJ Gabriel, minutes since the senior players seem to be sleeping on their jobs?

Simon: This is an interesting one, Paul.

I am pretty sure Amass would have either been sold or loaned out had United been able to get another left-back as the view at the club is that he is not at the required level right now.

I feel a mistake was made in not registering JJ Gabriel for that Champions League tie with Sabah FK as it would have been the best opportunity to give him his debut, and that might have kept him at the club.

However, he is 15. Would it have been fair to expect either player to come in and try and elevate the overall performances of a struggling team?

Michael Carrick sees players in training every day, he frequently watches academy matches. I am sure he would pick players if he felt they were good enough.

He obviously doesn't think the time is right – and with JJ Gabriel, the chance has gone now, sadly.

Come back to this page later on Monday for part two of the Q&A, which will focus on Marcus Rashford and the Red Devils' midfield balance.

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Content creator and Manchester United fan Beth Tucker believes "moments have been taken away" from the Red Devils' fanbase after the Premier League found Manchester City guilty of breaching financial rules between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.

At the start of this period, United were at the peak of their powers under the stewardship of the great Sir Alex Ferguson and won their third title in a row in 2009.

However, City quickly surged to the summit of English football and snatched the title away from United in 2012. Tucker now thinks City striker Sergio Aguero's famous last-gasp title winner could be remembered as the "Aguer-no" moment, after he scored deep into added time on the last day of the season to take the title to the blue side of Manchester for the first time in 44 years.

"We spent years watching City break trophies, break records, and become the most dominant club in Manchester... on the pitch," Tucker told BBC Radio Manchester.

"They will never have our fanbase, global appeal and our history but on the pitch they have been the most dominant club in Manchester and the Premier League. They have signed players we have wanted to sign and lifted trophies we have wanted to lift.

"Moments that have been taken away from us. That Aguero moment might turn into the Aguer-no moment. Jose Mourinho, could he be entitled to a trophy? Champions League money we have missed out on and players we have missed out on signing because of the butterfly effect of this.

"When an independent commission finds serious breaches, naturally you start looking back and asking, did these change the competitive landscape? I don't want Man Utd fans to use this as an excuse, I'm not going to, because ultimately Manchester United have got to fix United and that's the part that hurts me most. Even if Manchester City were punished tomorrow, United don't automatically become a great football team."

Listen to Tucker in full on BBC Sounds here

Former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Antonio Conte is enjoying time relaxing away from the game despite being linked with a return to management at Manchester United and Juventus. (Football Italia), external

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Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist

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Sir Alex Ferguson won the lot during his time in charge of Manchester United between 1986 and 2013, including 13 Premier League titles.

He transformed them into a winning machine, and the history and tradition of United ran red through his veins.

As well as delivering two Champions League titles, Ferguson masterminded five FA Cup triumphs, won the League Cup four times and added the Club World Cup, European Super Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup and the Intercontinental Cup to the Old Trafford trophy cabinet.

In his new book, Ferguson has picked standout games in his career, from winning his first cup final playing for Govan High School in Glasgow in 1955 at the age of 13 through to his retirement as a manager in 2013.

"That was my starting point," he says, holding the medal he received after that cup win 71 years ago.

"I played for Glasgow Schools, Scotland Schools and the Scotland youth team. The starting point of my career was there and I can look back with great satisfaction."

Ferguson describes growing up in Govan as "the making of me". He says he developed his inner confidence from his mother, Elizabeth, and a drive to succeed from his father, Alexander, who worked in the Govan shipyards on the River Clyde.

"He was a hard taskmaster because whenever I scored a hat-trick or a goal, my mother would say: 'That's great, son.'" His father, meanwhile, offered tough constructive criticism, however many goals Ferguson had scored.

• Ferguson on brain haemorrhage and games that shaped his life

After making his debut as a 16-year-old striker for Queen's Park, Ferguson ended up at St Johnstone, where he endured a frustrating spell and nearly quit football for a new life in Canada.

"I wasn't enjoying it. I wasn't playing first-team football; I was in the reserves all the time," he says.

"I filled out all the forms and phoned my aunt in Canada, because you needed a sponsor then, and never told my mother and father."

The next day, St Johnstone, decimated by a flu bug in the team, arrived at Ibrox to take on Rangers. A 21-year-old Ferguson was promoted to the starting XI and scored a hat-trick.

That life-changing performance in 1963 revived his playing career and set him on the path to becoming one of football's greatest managers.

"I would say this to young people - don't miss the biggest opportunity in your life. It's recognising it."

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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Manchester United midfielder Carlos Baleba made his first appearance for the club in a behind-closed-doors game with Lausanne-Sports at Carrington on Friday.

Baleba is yet to feature in a competitive game for Michael Carrick's side since his £70m summer move from Brighton due to an ankle injury he suffered in pre-season.

The Cameroon midfielder was on the bench for the 1-1 draw at Fulham last month but was an unused substitute.

Baleba was fit enough to play against the Swiss League outfit, who are also part of the Ineos group.

The 22-year-old was included in pictures United published around the game, which also included Harry Maguire and Matheus Cunha.

However, there were no shots of Matthijs de Ligt, who it has been claimed was also involved as he continues to recover after having back surgery to correct a problem that has kept him out since last November.

De Ligt also travelled to Fulham but was not included in Carrick's matchday squad.