Man Utd
Semenyo’s Debut Spark and Guardiola’s Manager Award Crown City in February
Semenyo’s debut goal and Guardiola’s manager award marked City success amid European disappointment.
Antoine Semenyo and Pep Guardiola were named February’s individual Premier League award winners, a small reprieve after City’s midweek defeat to Real Madrid.
Just three days after signing off for Bournemouth with a stoppage-time winner against Tottenham Hotspur, Semenyo continued his momentum at Manchester City. The Ghana international scored on his first Premier League appearance at the Etihad as a Sky Blue against Wolverhampton Wanderers and netted three times across five top-flight fixtures in February. “This is a brilliant moment for me,” the versatile winger beamed via club channels following his first-ever triumph in this particular individual award. “To win the Premier League Player of the Month award so soon after joining City is something I’ll never forget.
“My focus now is on continuing to improve and helping City to achieve the best possible results. We have so much to play for and I am really excited about this final period of the season.”
Bruno Fernandes’s assimilation on the other side of Manchester was noted for its speed. The former Sporting CP captain only signed for United at the end of January 2020 but made enough of an impact across his first three Premier League appearances to be voted player of the month. “I have been here for two days and I already have a song!” he smiled at the time.
Pep Guardiola completed a city double by taking the manager award, ensuring a clean sweep of the individual prizes for Manchester City in February. Arsenal’s closest title challengers were the only side to boast four wins last month, collecting five more points than the division’s current leaders. The disappointing 2–2 draw with Nottingham Forest at the start of March fell outside the consideration period.
City’s 3–0 defeat to Real Madrid was also not part of the voting process. Bernardo Silva described the scene in City’s dressing room as “really bad, really dark” after the Bernabéu reverse. The Daily Mail report that the beaten players were “disconsolate” and “couldn’t even bring themselves to shower.” Despite skipping a scrub, they still conspired to board the team coach back to the hotel “far later than normal.” It is thought to have been a silent ride. “In these weeks we’re not going to win a lot but we can lose a lot,” Bernardo warned. Two of his City colleagues have walked away with a pair of individual triumphs this month but they will naturally have loftier collective ambitions for the season’s conclusion.
Man Utd
Carrick confirms Martínez will miss Bournemouth; hopes for Leeds return
Carrick: Martinez will miss Bournemouth but should be fit for the Leeds game after the break. please.
Michael Carrick has confirmed Lisandro Martínez will not be available for Manchester United’s trip to Bournemouth on Friday, but said the Argentina international is progressing and is expected to be ready following the international break. “He’s getting there,” Carrick admitted. “So after this one, I think he’ll be alright.”
Carrick also addressed the wider defensive injury picture, highlighting the ongoing problem with Matthijs de Ligt. The Dutch defender was first sidelined in November, and early tests suggested a short absence, but he has not been seen since and a return date remains unspecified. “It’s [a] similar [situation] really and frustrating for Matta,” Carrick continued. “He’s obviously trying to work to get back but it’s just the back issue, really, that’s proving difficult. We’ll keep working as hard as we can, to get him back as quickly as we can.”
With De Ligt still sidelined, Martínez’s likely comeback after the break is a tangible boost for a side with limited central defensive options. At present the senior choices named are Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and 19-year-old Ayden Heaven.
The manager also offered an update on Mason Mount, who has faced repeated fitness problems since his move from Chelsea in 2023 in a package worth up to $75.7 million (£60 million). Mount has managed 66 appearances across all competitions for the club and has missed 58 matches through various fitness concerns. He returned to the bench as an unused substitute for the 3–1 win over Aston Villa at the weekend, and Carrick stressed caution over his reintroduction. “Starting would be too much, I think, at this point,” Carrick said of the midfielder.
Carrick’s remarks underline a careful approach to managing recovery across the squad as United prepare for a busy period that includes the visit of Leeds United on April 13 after the international break.
Man Utd
United Target Tonali as Casemiro Exit Forces Midfield Decision
United weigh Sandro Tonali as Casemiro replacement while Carrick rebuilds midfield urgently. transfer
Michael Carrick’s early impact has refocused Manchester United’s summer planning, and central midfield is a priority. United have collected 22 points from a possible 27 since Carrick took over from the sacked Ruben Amorim, yet Casemiro’s announced departure in the summer will leave a large gap to fill. The five-time Champions League winner has chosen to exit Old Trafford on his terms.
Linked names around Old Trafford include Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba, but increasing attention has fallen on Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali. The 25-year-old’s creativity, passing range and stamina are repeatedly cited, with his standout quality being the ability to perform those functions from a deep-lying playmaker role. Newcastle benefited from Tonali last term, reaching the Champions League round of 16 after a fifth-placed finish.
The i Paper report that Tonali has “rocketed” up United’s wishlist in recent weeks, a development fuelled in part by public signals from the player’s agent. Giuseppe Riso said: “If he shines at the World Cup, will City or Arsenal be hot on his heels? I don’t know … but it’s very likely. Everyone is waiting for the World Cup; then a thousand scenarios will unfold, but it all kicks off after the World Cup.” Riso named Arsenal and Manchester City in his comments.
Transfer context is congested. Anderson is reportedly on Manchester City’s radar and said to prefer the Etihad, while Adam Wharton is wanted by Liverpool. Brighton have maintained a £100 million ($133 million) valuation for Carlos Baleba, a price United were not prepared to meet last summer. Tonali would likely cost comparable sums, and Newcastle are unlikely to be forced into a sale at a reduced fee. He has more than three years remaining on his contract and Newcastle did not include a release clause when signing him from AC Milan.
United’s midfield blueprint must account for Bruno Fernandes’ attacking influence and Kobbie Mainoo’s potential, while replacing Casemiro’s presence. Recruitment this summer will be shaped by those realities and the scenarios Riso outlined, especially once the World Cup concludes. Italy, incidentally, are yet to qualify and must come through unscathed from the UEFA playoffs against Northern Ireland and one of Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Analytics & Stats
Opta Supercomputer Lays Out 2025–26 Premier League Forecast as Arsenal Lead the Way
Opta’s supercomputer predicts Arsenal favourites and projects points, qualification and relegations.
Opta’s supercomputer has produced a clear statistical view of the 2025–26 Premier League table, heavily favouring Arsenal while mapping out qualification and relegation probabilities. The model gives Arsenal 84.61 predicted points and a 97.46% chance of the title from their current 70 points. Manchester City sit on 61 points with a prediction of 74.70 and a 2.54% title chance.
The weekend’s results felt significant. Arsenal pulled further clear of Manchester City after a dramatic 2–0 victory over Everton inspired by the record-breaking feats of Max Dowman. City were held to a 1–1 draw against West Ham after Pep Guardiola warned that a slip up would be catastrophic. “Now it’s West Ham that defines the Premier League,” he declared. “Now we go there knowing that if we drop points, it will be over.” After the draw Guardiola insisted: “It’s not over.” The supercomputer remains unconvinced that City can close the gap.
Manchester United have opened up breathing room in the race for Champions League qualification. United sit on 54 points with a predicted 66.03 and a 78.07% chance of qualifying after a convincing 3–1 win over Aston Villa. “We are in a good position at the moment,” Michael Carrick admitted, “but still a lot to play for.”
The model projects Aston Villa, Liverpool and Chelsea to contest the remaining top-six positions, with Liverpool on 49 points and a predicted 61.80 (34.09% chance), and Chelsea on 48 points and a predicted 60.52 (23.21% chance). Dominik Szoboszlai captured the mood after Liverpool’s 1–1 draw with Tottenham: “We have to wake up because if we carry on like this, we should be happy with the Conference League.”
At the bottom, the supercomputer gives Burnley and Wolves near-certain relegation, while Leeds, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and West Ham occupy the zone of greatest uncertainty. Tottenham headed into the weekend one point above the relegation zone and ended it level with Leeds, Forest and West Ham; the mood in north London has lifted after they ended their losing run.
The Opta projection frames the current landscape: Arsenal clear favourites, City still dangerous, United pushing for the top three, and a congested battle for European places and survival.
