Sports
Bruno Fernandes: Man Utd and Portugal midfielder wins Football Writers’ Association men’s Footballer of the Year award
There is no doubt Manchester United have given Bruno Fernandes a push to get this award.
United have been playing up Fernandes’ claims and also ensured the Portugal playmaker was promoted through some recent media engagements.
However, this would have been pointless had Fernandes not delivered at a time in the season when United needed him to deliver.
In October, when Fernandes spoke about qualification for the Champions League, few thought it was likely.
In January, when technical director Jason Wilcox told the United squad that was the aim despite Ruben Amorim’s dismissal, it seemed a tall order.
That they have achieved it with three matches to spare and could yet end the campaign nearer in points terms to the eventual champions than in any other season since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement 13 years ago, owes a huge amount to Fernandes.
Since returning from a rare injury against Burnley, Sunday’s victory over Liverpool was only the third match out of 16 in all competitions when Fernandes has not either scored a goal or created one.
His performances across the season have been consistently high and worthy of wider recognition.
Twelve months ago, when the debate over Fernandes’ United future raged, the question being asked was simply this: where would they be without him? The suspicion was they would have been much closer to relegation than they actually were.
The same could be asked now. The answer? They surely would not be looking forward to a Champions League return.
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Sports
World Grand Prix Darts, day one LIVE! Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton in action at double-in, double-out event | Darts News

Watch double-in, double-out event in Leicester live on Sky Sports until Sunday; defending champion Luke Littler suffers shock defeat to Luke Woodhouse on the opening night, while six-time winner Michael van Gerwen is also bounced out in the first round by Ryan Joyce
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Sports
LeBron James: NBA legend quashes retirement talk as he gets set for record-extending 24th season with Philadelphia 76ers | NBA News
NBA legend LeBron James has quashed retirement talk as he gets set for record-extending 24th season having signed with the Philadelphia 76ers this summer.
James will begin his expected final chapter at his inaugural camp with the 76ers.
He made the NBA world wait a few weeks before announcing his decision over the summer to join to Philadelphia on a two-year $8m (£6m) contract with a player option for next season.
If James wins a title in Philadelphia, the 76ers would be the fourth franchise to become champions with him on the roster.
James won two championships in Miami, one in Cleveland and one with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I’m not going to speak to the future right now; I’d be doing myself a disservice,” James said at the Sixers’ media day.
“I’m just living in the moment, especially knowing where I am in my career.
“Me trying to focus on what my future looks like, I wouldn’t be giving myself grace. I’m more in the present now, understanding that I’m in year 24… I just like being in the moment, and we’ll see what happens.”
And if that Philly title happens, it would give Joel Embiid his first ring – which is part of James’ motivation.
“I didn’t leave my family (in Los Angeles) to lose in the second round,” said James, who will turn 42 in December. “I know that for sure. Work needs to be done and I’m ready to get to work.”
Much as James did for Cleveland when he ended a 56-year championship drought for the city by leading the Cavaliers to the title in 2016, he’s in Philadelphia largely to help snap a championship drought for the Sixers that stretches to 1983.
The Sixers went 45-37 last season and were swept in the second round by the eventual champion New York Knicks.
“Understand that the noise is going to be the noise,” James said. “What happens outside of this building is going to consistently happen, and it’s going to be doubled and triple and quadrupled down on you. It just comes with the territory. I understand it.
“I think the luxury of my game is, I can do everything. Literally, I can do everything.”
James, Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the other new star Sixers player, Jaylen Brown, were all on hand for media day ahead of the start of training camp and what figures to be the most anticipated season in Philly since Julius Erving’s heyday.
“I hope that I can bring that experience, bring that knowledge, bring the blueprint to the guys that’s trying to accomplish some things that they haven’t done in their career,” James said.
“I’ve seen everything that this league has to offer on the floor and off the floor, so I hope that every single day with my approach to the game, approach to the work, that it can translate to every single guy.”
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Sports
England: Thomas Tuchel claims Three Lions were a danger to themselves in possession as he plays down defensive frailties | Football News
Thomas Tuchel believes England were a danger to themselves on the ball during their 3-2 defeat to Spain.
The Three Lions made several crucial mistakes in their loss to the reigning world and European champions on Saturday and were made to pay with goals from Lamine Yamal, Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal.
Having gone the whole of the World Cup qualifying campaign without conceding, Tuchel’s side have now let in nine from their last three internationals against Argentina, France and Spain.
Despite showing frailties against elite opposition, Tuchel does not think England’s issue lies with their defensive set-up and instead insists that their mistakes have come from causing their own issues in possession.
“It’s not a concern yet,” Tuchel said ahead of England’s second Nations League game against Czech Republic on Tuesday.
“I felt that in terms of organised defending, block defending and active defending, we were at a higher level than in many other matches.
“If you want to look at it in isolation on how we did within the structure and in the units of the sides, I was quite happy and I think it was a step ahead.
“We suffered clearly from individual mistakes when we had the ball, especially in the deep build-up, so that is of course something we cannot repeat. Not at this level.
“Strangely enough, when we had the ball, we were the biggest danger to ourselves around the box because we just had too many individual mistakes. Purely in defending, I have no concerns and I trust that we can do it.”
Tuchel’s comments come off the back of widespread criticism of his tactics during England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, where he opted to defend a one-goal lead rather than looking to extend their advantage.
The German responded by hitting out at the ‘DNA’ of English players. “I think ball possession plays a crucial role; it’s maybe not in our DNA like it is in Spanish DNA or in Argentinian-Brazilian DNA, to take the ball and control the game with the ball,” he said following their exit.
It raised scrutiny over England’s footballing identity, but Tuchel believed his players showcased exactly that in the defeat to Luis de la Fuente’s side at Wembley.
“I think there was a lot of discussion about this before [the Spain game],” Tuchel stated.
“I think we showed our style and we showed our courage. The players showed an identity and they showed it throughout the 90 minutes.
“We gave them a lot of problems. We caused ourselves some problems with individual mistakes. Mistakes can sometimes happen. They shouldn’t, but they did happen.
“We had the world and European champions on the edge of a defeat. In the decisive moments we played our best football. We kept attacking when we were a goal ahead. We were even more dominant and more of a threat.
“We were a little bit self-responsible for the break in momentum towards the end of the match. But overall we have a lot of positives to take away.”
England’s upcoming Nations League Group A3 fixtures
Tuesday September 29: Czech Republic (A), kick-off 7.45pm
Saturday October 3: Croatia (A), kick-off 5pm
Tuesday October 6: Czech Republic (H), kick-off 7.45pm
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