Having felt the full force of Jurgen Klopp‘s fury, Danish TV journalist Niels Christian Frederiksen had a less turbulent ride with Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund on the way home to Scandinavia.
Frederiksen found himself sitting next to Hojlund on the flight from Manchester to Copenhagen as United’s £72million star reported for international duty after playing in the epic FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool.
Hojlund’s teammate Christian Eriksen was also on board and couldn’t help but see the funny side after Klopp stormed out of the post-match interview in protest at Frederiksen’s questions.
‘I chuckled a bit at that,’ Eriksen told Tipsbladet. ‘I happened to meet Per Frimann, who is his colleague, on the plane on the way home. I know that Rasmus spent the whole flight home with Niels Christian so I think they’ve had some good conversations. Klopp was of course tired and irritated after Liverpool had lost.’
Confidential is told that Klopp’s reaction was in contrast to his dignified mood after the game as the Liverpool boss stopped to congratulate Erik ten Hag and the United players who were speaking to other TV outlets in the broadcast zone.
There were 14 rights holders with TV crews at Old Trafford, making it the biggest FA Cup tie ever staged outside of Wembley in terms of media presence.
Danish TV journalist Niels Christian Frederiksen (right) conducted the now infamous interview with Jurgen Klopp after Sunday’s FA Cup tie
![The German manager took umbrage at a question posed to him by the reporter following his team's defeat by Man United on Sunday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/19/13/82571401-13214417-The_German_manager_took_umbrage_at_a_question_posed_to_him_by_th-a-46_1710854712665.jpg)
The German manager took umbrage at a question posed to him by the reporter following his team’s defeat by Man United on Sunday
![It has since emerged that United star Rasmus Hojlund sat next to Frederiksen on a flight from Manchester to Copenhagen after the game](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/19/13/82637601-13214417-image-a-47_1710854743000.jpg)
It has since emerged that United star Rasmus Hojlund sat next to Frederiksen on a flight from Manchester to Copenhagen after the game
Fast forward for Amad
It was an exhausting finish to proceedings on Sunday and for matchwinner Amad Diallo it was made even more remarkable by the fact he had been fasting.
The Ivorian is following Ramadan and so went into the crunch FA Cup clash against Liverpool without food or drink. Diallo, sent on from the bench by Erik ten Hag, scored the decisive goal in the 121st minute, before being sent off when he picked up a second yellow card for taking off his shirt.
With it still being light after the match, Diallo did not have any water or food for recovery as he undertook extensive media duties. Muslims fast from dawn until sunset during Ramadan, abstaining from food and drink.
![Amad Diallo had been fasting before scoring United's winner in the FA Cup win over Liverpool](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/19/13/82637719-13214417-image-a-48_1710854918528.jpg)
Amad Diallo had been fasting before scoring United’s winner in the FA Cup win over Liverpool
AWB gets it right on the left
Aaron Wan-Bissaka started at left-back on Sunday when Ten Hag would normally have been expected to play Diogo Dalot there out of his two right-backs.
Confidential understands that Ten Hag’s decision was based on the fact that Dalot had prepared all week to face Liverpool left winger Luis Diaz, and he didn’t want to change his plans at the last minute when Jonny Evans pulled out after aggravating a calf injury in the final training session on Saturday.
Victor Lindelof switched from left-back to central defence to replace Evans, and Wan-Bissaka was named in the starting line-up despite being out of action for more than two months. His ability to man mark Liverpool danger man Mo Salah was the other factor in Ten Hag’s decision.
Left-back has become United’s achilles heel this season with Luke Shaw missing for long periods due to thigh and hamstring injuries, and Tyrell Malacia yet to play following knee surgery.
Wan-Bissaka’s willingness to step in at short notice and perform as well as he did despite his lack of preparation was typical of the commitment shown throughout the United squad, with captain Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay barely able to walk by the end of the game.
![Aaron Wan-Bissaka started the cup tie with Liverpool at left-back instead of on the right](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/19/13/82637769-13214417-image-a-49_1710855017064.jpg)
Aaron Wan-Bissaka started the cup tie with Liverpool at left-back instead of on the right
Sick fan faces life ban
The supporter caught on camera mocking Liverpool fans over the Hillsborough tragedy is set to be banned from Old Trafford for life if he can be identified.
Both Greater Manchester Police and United are studying footage of the incident from Sunday’s FA Cup tie in which the individual can be seen making sick taunts, mimicking asphyxiation.
Last year a fan who wore a T-shirt to the FA Cup final that read ’97 – not enough’ was banned indefinitely by United and from all games for four years by a court.
Two other United fans were arrested on Sunday for tragedy chanting while one Liverpool supporter was arrested for possession of a pyrotechnic after a flare was thrown into the areas of the East Stand reserved for disabled fans. A total of eight arrests were made.
![A Manchester United fan was seen making sick gestures during the FA Cup win over Liverpool](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/19/13/82592389-13214417-A_Manchester_United_fan_was_seen_making_sick_gestures_during_the-a-50_1710855097889.jpg)
A Manchester United fan was seen making sick gestures during the FA Cup win over Liverpool
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/19/13/82594317-13214417-image-a-51_1710855100943.jpg)
The man appeared to mimic pushing a wall, a reference to the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985, when 39 supporters were killed
No rest for Utd subs
Omari Forson and Willy Kambwala both played 90 minutes for United’s U21s at West Brom on Monday, 24 hours after being part of the match-day squad against Liverpool.
Kambwala was at the heart of the dressing-room celebrations with his friend Amad Diallo who scored the dramatic 121st-minute winner to send United through to the semi-finals.
Having been unused substitutes at Old Trafford, the 19-year-old defender and winger Forson reported for action on Monday when the U21s won 3-0 at The Hawthorns.
Erik ten Hag has had to name a number of academy players on the bench in recent weeks, with Toby Collyer, Dermot Mee and Habeeb Ogunneye among the other young substitutes. But the return of Mason Mount, Harry Maguire and Tom Heaton against Liverpool provided some more experienced options for the United boss who also had Rasmus Hojlund and Aaron Wan-Bissaka available again to start the game.
![Willy Kambwala (left) played 90 minutes for the Under-21s just 24 hours after being named on the bench for the Liverpool clash](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/19/13/82637883-13214417-image-a-52_1710855148634.jpg)
Willy Kambwala (left) played 90 minutes for the Under-21s just 24 hours after being named on the bench for the Liverpool clash
Red Army bring the noise
The music may have been off, but Old Trafford was rocking on Sunday. With the exception of This is the One, United agreed to a request from The Red Army to turn their traditional pre-match sound track off to allow fans to build up the atmosphere ahead of kick-off.
The ploy worked as Old Trafford was at its raucous best for 120 minutes, with all four stands producing the kind of noise that is seldom associated with the ground these days. Can United deliver again – on and off the pitch – when Liverpool visit on April 7?
It’s a hard sell
Amad Diallo’s winner on Sunday sparked delirious scenes at Old Trafford, but some United fans had already left the ground by then.
Fanzine sellers normally make their way to the exit a few minutes before full-time in order to be at their spot to sell after the games – a risky strategy under Sir Alex Ferguson and one which deprived some of them of one of the most glorious finales Old Trafford has ever seen.
A United We Stand fanzine seller who spoke to Confidential on the way out left his seat with Liverpool 2-1 up, before resorting to watch the remainder of the game on his phone. To make matters worse, the roars from inside the ground were well ahead of ITV’s streaming.
‘The life of a fanzine seller,’ was the philosophical response to his predicament.
Utd ride wave of euphoria
It appears as though United tried to capitalise on the jubilant feeling among the fanbase following the dramatic win over Liverpool by offering fans a discount on their membership renewal for next season.
The club sent a text to all members telling them they can get £5 off if they renew before a certain time, with the message landing less than two hours after the final whistle at Old Trafford. Coincidence? Confidential thinks not.
![United sent out a text to members offering a renewal discount in the immediate aftermath of the Liverpool game](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/19/13/82638191-13214417-image-a-54_1710855521056.jpg)
United sent out a text to members offering a renewal discount in the immediate aftermath of the Liverpool game
Bruno feels the love
Fernandes was visibly emotional after being praised during his post-match interview on Sunday by MUTV’s Liam Bradford.
The United captain played all 120 minutes of the 4-3 win against Liverpool and was even deployed as makeshift centre-back alongside Harry Maguire in extra-time.
Speaking to United’s in-house media in the tunnel, Fernandes was full of praise for his teammates’ effort in an incredibly dramatic cup tie, before Bradford stopped him in his tracks.
‘You’ve been a kind captain here, giving everybody a bit of praise,’ Bradford interjected. ‘So I’m going to give some to you. You’re always available for this team, you always give everything that you can physically give. It is appreciated by the fans all around the stadium. I hope you know how much you’re loved by the fans in the stands.’
Fernandes was clearly touched by the comments and conceded he felt ‘a bit emotional’.
![Bruno Fernandes was visibly emotional in his post-match interview after the Liverpool win](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/19/13/82637987-13214417-image-a-53_1710855333843.jpg)
Bruno Fernandes was visibly emotional in his post-match interview after the Liverpool win
34k tickets for Wembley clash
United expect to receive approximately 34,000 tickets for the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry at Wembley next month. The exact details are yet to be finalised, but United are hoping to confirm the prices and allocation numbers as soon as possible.
Applications will be accepted from executive and regular season-ticket holders who have purchased all home cup games this season and will run from 9am on March 22 until 9am on March 27.
The club said all season-ticket holders will receive an email to advise them of their status before the opening of the application process. Last season, United received 34,000 tickets for their FA Cup semi-final against Brighton.
![United are expecting 34,000 tickets for the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry at Wembley](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/19/13/82638015-13214417-image-a-55_1710855595468.jpg)
United are expecting 34,000 tickets for the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry at Wembley
Fans given stadium say
Fans are being asked for their views on the future of Old Trafford in a new survey launched by the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust.
The survey is designed to gauge the ‘priorities’ of supporters by asking them for important features or considerations in any new or redeveloped stadium.
MUST insist they do not know which option will be taken – building a brand-new stadium, redeveloping Old Trafford or a combination of the two – but a taskforce led by Lord Coe is driving plans to bulldoze the historic ground and replace it.
MUST CEO Duncan Drasdo sits on the taskforce and the supporters’ group have pledged to engage with fans throughout ahead of a decision being made by the club.
![United fans are being asked for their views on the future of Old Trafford in a new survey](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/19/13/82638359-13214417-image-a-56_1710855673350.jpg)
United fans are being asked for their views on the future of Old Trafford in a new survey
Rasmus goes bananas
Sir Dave Brailsford loves fine margins at the elite level of sport and so news that Rasmus Hojlund has teamed up with a local private chef will have been well received.
Jonny Marsh has become popular among a host of Premier League stars and now Hojlund has started working with him.
Marsh, who boasts 321,000 followers on Instagram, has previously worked with England stars Luke Shaw, Kyle Walker, Jordan Pickford and Ben Chilwell. He is delivering a series of meals to Hojlund’s door in vat-packed bags.
One of the United striker’s requests so far has been for banana bread, with the 21-year-old said to be going through two per week.
Fans face travel chaos
United fans are facing yet more travel chaos after their trip to Bournemouth next month was brought forward 23 hours by the Premier League.
The game had initially been scheduled for Sunday, April 14 at 4.30pm but was switched to Saturday tea-time to accommodate the move of Arsenal’s home clash with Aston Villa, who had to take that slot after they progressed to the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League.
The later kick-off on the Saturday means those among the 1,300 away fans hoping to travel to the game by train have been forced to scrap their plans with less than 30 days’ notice as the last direct service from Bournemouth to Manchester leaves at half-time.
United supporters have been used to such problems this season. There are also no trains back from the game at Brentford on March 30, which kicks off at 8pm, due to the engineering works typically held over the Easter weekend.
![United fans travelling to Bournemouth next month face yet more travel chaos after a late change](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/19/13/82638469-13214417-image-m-58_1710855850420.jpg)
United fans travelling to Bournemouth next month face yet more travel chaos after a late change
Mandato a star in the making
Keep your eyes peeled for 16-year-old wonderkid Bendito Mandato. The attacker, who has drawn comparisons to Arsenal superstar Bukayo Saka, is the talk of the academy at Carrington right now and he has already been fast-tracked for his Under-21s debut, coming on in the win over West Brom on Monday.
Four goals in the U18s’ 5-2 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers showed that he was able to make a mockery of players in his age bracket and now staff are keen to see how he handles a step up.
Everything about Mandato’s development has been ahead of the curve. He joined United’s academy aged nine and has gone on to play for England’s youth teams. He made his debut for United’s U18s at just 14 and has shown no signs of slowing down.
There has been a willingness at United to fast-track players when they believe they are ready – look at Omari Forson, Willy Kambwala and Toby Collyer all being in the first team match day squad in recent weeks – and if there is hype and anticipation about any of the young lads, it is most certainly Mandato.
Utd line up teen targets
United have lined up moves for two promising teenagers, Silva Mexes of Ipswich Town and Wolves defender Wesley Okoduwa.
![Wolves defender Wesley Okoduwa is being lined up for a potential move to United](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/19/14/82639839-13214417-image-m-73_1710858122166.jpg)
Wolves defender Wesley Okoduwa is being lined up for a potential move to United
It’s understood that Mexes, a 14-year-old forward, is close to completing a move to United’s academy. Okoduwa, a 16-year-old right-back who was on the bench for Wolves’ Premier League clash with Newcastle at the start of this month, is believed to be another target.
Women strike it rich
Manchester United’s women’s team had the second-highest revenue in European football last season, according to a new survey.
United brought in £7m which was some way behind Barcelona on £11.6m, but still makes them the highest ranked WSL team ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal in joint fourth with £4.6m and Chelsea in sixth with £3.5m.
![United's women had the second-highest revenue in European football last season](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/19/13/82638719-13214417-image-a-59_1710856090080.jpg)
United’s women had the second-highest revenue in European football last season
The study was carried out by online betting guide OLGB using data from Deloitte. It also looked at revenue growth and United finished third of the WSL clubs behind Arsenal and Chelsea with an increase of £2m from the 2021-22 season.
You can view the full research here.
Source From: Football | Mail Online
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