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Man Utd to pay tribute to Charlton Tuesday night

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Bobby Charlton

Manchester United are expected to pay further tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League match at Old Trafford.

The United Trinity statue outside the ground was awash with tributes to Charlton on Sunday as supporters laid flowers and scarves, with many leaving deeply personal thoughts for one of the club’s most famous sons, following his death aged 86.

A book of condolence was opened at the International Suite inside the stadium, while current boss Erik Ten Hag and members of the United squad added their messages at Carrington.

United confirmed discussions were continuing to take place with Charlton’s family and UEFA for further commemorative plans ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League Group A match against Copenhagen.

It is expected players will wear black armbands, with wreaths to be laid on the Old Trafford pitch and a minute’s silence observed ahead of kick-off.

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A key member of England’s victorious 1966 World Cup team, Charlton also enjoyed great success at club level with United, who became the first English club to win the European Cup in 1968.

Charlton made his debut for United in 1956 and went on to play 758 matches, scoring 249 goals.

Both were long-standing club records until they were overtaken by Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney, respectively. He was knighted for services to football in 1994.

Having won three league titles and one FA Cup at Old Trafford, Charlton left United in 1973 and went on to manage Preston before returning to the Red Devils 11 years later as a club director.

David Moyes took over from Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in the summer of 2013, but the former Everton boss left the club after just 10 months, with the team seventh on the Premier League table.

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Now in charge at West Ham, Moyes reflected on the support shown by Charlton during what was one of the most testing spells of his managerial career.

“I’m deeply saddened and I send my condolences to all his family. The biggest thing everyone remembers, more than anything, is how great a man he was. He was such a good man,” Moyes said, quoted on West Ham’s club website.

“For me, it was difficult at times at Manchester United and he was incredibly supportive and always had something to say to me.

“He had a great wife in Lady Norma and even when I lost my job; she phoned my wife up, which was important at the time.

“For me, he carried off all the things that Manchester United were good for. He showed the traditions, he showed exactly how it should be.

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“He showed great humility wherever he went, but not only that at Manchester United, he was ultimately one of the main people in English football over the years.

“When you think of the greats who have come through English football, Bobby Charlton would be in there.”

It was announced on Saturday afternoon that Charlton had died peacefully in the early hours of the morning surrounded by his family.

Born in Ashington on Oct. 11, 1937, Charlton played in the World Cup final alongside his brother Jack – who died aged 85 in 2020 – and won 106 caps for England, scoring 49 goals.

European Cup success with United came 10 years after the Munich air disaster, which Charlton and manager Sir Matt Busby survived, but which claimed the lives of eight of his team-mates.

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Former team-mate Denis Law said on manutd.com: “Another sad day. What can I say? Sir Bobby was an unbelievable player and a gentleman. Manchester United meant everything to him.

“We had many special and successful years together and he was a joy to play with. He knew where every player was on the pitch and for me, that was a dream. I knew, if Bobby had the ball, it would find me and it did.

“What a striker of the ball he was. He could hit the ball so hard that I knew most keepers didn’t stand a chance. On the rare occasion they did manage to deflect it, it would drop nicely to me to finish it off.

“Along with George (Best), our partnership was sealed. The great part of playing with Bobby and George was that if one of us was having a bad day, the other two knew and that’s what made our relationship special.

“I am saddened by the news, like all football fans today.”

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Charlton was diagnosed with dementia and his condition was made public in November 2020, two days after his United and England team-mate Nobby Stiles died following his battle with the illness.

Tributes were left at Old Trafford this weekend, one which read: “Thank you, Sir Bobby, a hero to the worldwide football family.”

A message from a fan group, 1958, said: “History, dignity and integrity are what you gave to our great club. Our promise to you is to make sure it stays.”

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UEFA adds two Arsenal, Barcelona players to Champions League team [Full list]

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Champions League

UEFA on Thursday revealed the Champions League Team of the Week following the conclusion of the Round of 16 first-leg fixtures on Wednesday.

In a post via their official website on Thursday, UEFA included the likes of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Arsenal’s Jurriën Timber, and Inter Milan’s Benjamin Pavard, among others, in the team.

All the aforementioned players were impressive for their respective clubs in the first-leg ties of the last 16 in midweek.

Meanwhile, the Champions League Round of 16 second-leg fixtures will take place next week.

Here is the list of players in the Team of the Week after the Champions League Round of 16 first-leg ties:

Alisson Becker (Liverpool)

Jurriën Timber (Arsenal)

Benjamin Pavard (Inter)

Emre Can (Borussia Dortmund)

Maxim De Cuyper (Club Brugge)

Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal)

Pedri (Barcelona)

Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Rodrygo (Real Madrid)

Harry Kane (Bayern München)

Raphinha (Barcelona)

Following the Round of 16 second-leg matches next week, only eight teams will advance to the Champions League quarter-final stage.

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Ratcliffe invited me to his house – Mourinho on relationship with Man Utd owner, Amorim

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Mourinho

Fenerbahçe manager, José Mourinho, has spoken about his relationship with Manchester United co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and their manager, Rúben Amorim.

Mourinho, who won three trophies while at Old Trafford between 2016 and 2018, revealed he has a “good relationship” with Ratcliffe.

In 2018, Amorim visited United for a week-long internship under Mourinho.

Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag in November and has won just 11 of his 24 matches with the Red Devils.

“He’s a good kid,” Mourinho told Sky Sports about Amorim.

“Always very respectful to me. We had a good relationship for a few years. He knows I wish him well.”

Mourinho also spoke about Ratcliffe, who is overseeing a cost-cutting exercise that has led to 250 job losses, including some long-serving members of staff.

United recently revealed that up to 200 more jobs are at risk in a fresh round of cuts.

“To be honest, I don’t know much about what’s happening,” Mourinho said.

“I know Sir Jim Ratcliffe. I’m not saying we are big friends, but we have a good relationship.

“I know him well. He invited me to his house a couple of times. I see him as a good person and a great businessman. Of course, I feel for some of the people that I know [losing their jobs], but hopefully, it goes in the right direction.”

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Great loss – FG reacts to death of striker, Lawal in Uganda

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Lawal

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep sorrow on Tuesday over the tragic death of Abubakar Lawal, a Nigerian professional footballer in Uganda.

Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the sudden passing of Lawal in a statement in Abuja.

Tuggar, in the statement issued by Kimiebi Ebienfa, Acting Spokesperson for the Ministry, described the former Nigerian Under-20 international footballer’s death as a ‘great loss’ to Nigeria.

“In this moment of grief, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, teammates, and the entire Nigerian football community during this difficult time,” Tuggar said.

Lawal was playing for Vipers Football Club in Uganda and was also a final-year Business Administration student at Cavendish University at the time of his death.

“The ministry has been in contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Kampala, Uganda, which is collaborating with local authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding his untimely death.

“We are committed to ensuring a thorough and transparent investigation, including an autopsy to verify the cause of death.

“The ministry has also directed the High Commission in Kampala to provide all necessary consular support to the family and ensure that justice is served,” Tuggar stated.

Tuggar urged Nigerians to remain calm while investigation was ongoing and to refrain from speculation that could hinder the process.

“The ministry will continue to monitor the situation closely, while we remain resolute in protecting the welfare and rights of all Nigerian citizens abroad.

“May the soul of Abubakar Lawal rest in perfect peace,” he prayed.

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