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Michael Carrick tactical tweak has the backing of two Manchester United players

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Amad and Bryan Mbeumo have developed a good understanding at Man Utd and the pair are enjoying the freedom they have under Michael Carrick.

Amad is enjoying the tactical freedom in Manchester United’s attack after Michael Carrick gave the forwards licence to roam and he believes his close relationship with Bryan Mbeumo is paying off on the pitch.

The two often worked in tandem down the right in the first half of the season, with Amad playing at right wing-back and Mbeumo operating as the right-sided No.10 in the Portuguese’s 3-4-2-1 system.

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Carrick has restored a back four at United and Amad is now playing as part of the front three, but the system has often been flexible, with Matheus Cunha rounding off the trio.

Amad usually starts on the right, with Cunha on the left and Mbeumo through the middle, but Carrick has allowed them to rotate positions and Amad is confident it’s working because of the relationships they have on and off the pitch.

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“At the beginning of the season we were playing on the right. I was playing as a wing-back, he was playing at the 10,” said Amad.

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“We had a good relationship even outside the pitch. And now we are playing in different positions, sometimes we play as a striker and a winger.

“But we know each other, we want to have more freedom on the pitch and switch positions when the team needs. He is happy to do his best for the club and the same for me and we want to continue like this.”

Benjamin Sesko has started twice for Carrick, offering a more natural threat as a No.9, but it is the fluidity that the United head coach prefers and Mbeumo is also happy with the partnership he is developing with Amad.

“We had a great relationship at the start of the season and our team is still going,” he said. “Him on the right, sometimes left or striker.

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“I know his movements and then I know as well how he likes to play. So with the trainings and the games as well, we always try to bring this partnership every time.”

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UFC 327 FAQ: Why is another vacant title on the line in main event?

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Another new UFC champion will be introduced this weekend.

UFC 327 takes place this Saturday, April 11, at Miami’s Kaseya Center with fan favourite Jiri Prochazka and streaking contender Carlos Ulberg set to compete for the vacant light-heavyweight championship in a five-round main event.

A second title fight was expected for this card, however, an injury to one of the fighters has postponed the contest.

This weekend’s 12-bout card marks the fourth consecutive year the UFC has held an event in Miami and the ninth year in a row the UFC has gone to Florida.

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Here’s everything else you need to know for UFC 327 fight week:

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Why is a vacant title at stake in the main event?

Alex Pereira is on a quest to become the UFC’s first three-weight champion when he faces Ciryl Gane in an interim heavyweight title matchup at the White House in June. In order to take on that challenge, “Poatan” vacated his title in the 205-pound division.

That belt will be up for grabs this weekend when Prochazka and Ulberg step into the cage. 

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Prochazka, 33, is a one-time champion whose only two losses in the UFC have been to Pereira. The popular Czech star holds wins over fellow former titleholders Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill.

Ulberg, 35 from New Zealand, has won nine in a row and is coming off a first-round knockout over two-time title challenger Dominick Reyes.

  • Watch UFC 327 on Sportsnet+
  • Watch UFC 327 on Sportsnet+

    A new era at 205 pounds begins when Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg compete for the vacant light-heavyweight title. Watch UFC 327 on Saturday, April 11 with prelim coverage beginning 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, and pay-per-view main card starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

    Purchase the event

What happened to the original co-main event?

A key three-rounder in the 205-pound division between undefeated Azamat Murzakanov and former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa will serve as Saturday’s penultimate bout, but that wasn’t the original plan.

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What does the rest of the card look like?

Saturday has a third 205-pound bout when finish-or-be-finished fighters Dominick Reyes and Johnny Walker clash. Reyes hasn’t gone the distance since his razor-thin 2020 loss to Jon Jones, and Walker has only seen the scorecards once in the past five years and is coming off a big win in his lone 2025 appearance.

No. 5 heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes will look to hold his spot in the rankings when he faces unranked upstart Josh Hokit, who has stormed out to an 8-0 pro record with eight finishes in only a couple of years after beginning mixed martial arts following a brief stint in the NFL as a tight end and fullback.

The main card kicks off with a farewell to a featherweight legend when 44-fight veteran Cub Swanson competes one last time. The 42-year-old’s final opponent is Nate Landwehr, a fellow respected 145-pounder always willing to throw down. 

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The preliminary card is headlined by a fight fans expected to see under the Bellator MMA banner a few years ago. A Patricio Pitbull versus Aaron Pico matchup never materialized, and the Bellator brand was absorbed by the Professional Fighters League, so now the pair of featherweights with 46 combined Bellator bouts get to settle the score in the UFC.

Also on the prelims, Mexican-Canadian strawweight contender Loopy Godinez faces No. 2 contender Tatiana Suarez. Godinez is ranked No. 6 at 115 pounds and is seeking her third consecutive win.

Below is the projected bout order for UFC 327 (subject to change):

— Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg

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— Azamat Murzakanov vs. Paulo Costa

— Curtis Blaydes vs. Josh Hokit

— Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker

— Cub Swanson vs. Nate Landwehr

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— Patricio Pitbull vs. Aaron Pico

— Mateusz Gamrot vs. Esteban Ribovics

— Kevin Holland vs. Randy Brown

— Tatiana Suarez vs. Loopy Godinez

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— MarQuel Mederos vs. Chris Padilla

— Kelvin Gastelum vs. Vicente Luque

— Charles Radtke vs. Francisco Prado

What else is happening during fight week?

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Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter and former UFC fighter Diana Belbita are on site in Miami providing coverage throughout the week, so stay tuned to Sportsnet.ca for one-on-one fighter interviews and other content.

Media Day, April 8: Official media events begin Wednesday when participating athletes speak with gathered reporters in downtown Miami.

Pre-fight press conference, April 9: All 10 athletes from the UFC 327 main card are scheduled to participate on Thursday at the Kaseya Center. The event is open to the public and will be available to stream live on Sportsnet+ beginning at approximately 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.

Official weigh-in, April 10: Fighters will hit the scale Friday morning as they attempt to make weight. Prochazka and Ulberg must weigh no more than 205 pounds for their title fight to be made official. All non-title competitors will be afforded a one-pound allowance, so the other light-heavyweight fighters on the card can weigh up to 206 pounds.

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Ceremonial weigh-in, April 10: Later in the day Friday, after the official weights have been recorded and the athletes have begun rehydrating, all participating fighters will square off with their respective opponents at the Kaseya Center on the eve of UFC 327. This will be available to stream live on Sportsnet+ beginning at approximately 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.

The fights, April 11: Live preliminary card coverage will begin on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet+ beginning at 7 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT with the pay-per-view main card set to start at 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT available to order through Sportsnet+.

Post-fight press conferences, April 11: Once the event has concluded, fans can stay tuned to Sportsnet+ to watch a selection of winning fighters and UFC president Dana White answer questions from gathered media.

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Manchester United dealt blow as PL rivals believe they have won the race to sign Elliot Anderson in the summer: Reports

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Manchester United have been dealt a massive blow as Manchester City believe they are in pole position to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson this summer, according to the Daily Mirror. The Cityzens are confident in signing Anderson for £65 million and allegedly plan on finalizing the deal before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Forest signed Anderson from Newcastle United in the summer of 2024 for a reported transfer fee of £35 million. The 23-year-old has impressed this season in the middle of the pitch and has even established himself as a first-team regular in the England national team.

With Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte expected to leave Manchester United at the end of the season, the Red Devils had reportedly selected Elliot Anderson as their top-priority summer signing. However, the England international has allegedly chosen Manchester City as his preferred destination, with the Cityzens increasingly confident in getting the deal over the line.

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Anderson has made 41 appearances across all competitions for Forest this season, registering two goals and three assists.


“He’s not going to start being a Jose Mourinho” – Nicky Butt predicts Manchester United’s next permanent manager

Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has backed Michael Carrick to be appointed as the club’s next permanent manager. Butt believes Carrick’s personality is well-suited for the Red Devils, and that there are no other standout options available, even claiming he wouldn’t be as controversial as Jose Mourinho.

Since replacing Ruben Amorim in January as interim manager, Carrick has impressed, guiding Manchester United to seven wins out of his 10 games in charge across all competitions. While he is contracted with the club until the summer, United’s hierarchy are yet to make a decision on the Red Devils’ next permanent head coach.

Butt said (via METRO):

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“The thing with the Michael scenario is that it’s all well and good people saying that he’s not quite ready for the job, and I get that side of the argument as well. But for me, if you’re asking me the question, if you don’t give it to Michael then who are you giving it to? There’s nobody I can think of that is jumping out, going: that’s the man.”

He added:

“So that’s why I think Michael will get it. He’s doing a good job, he knows the football club. Even more importantly, I think the people above him will like working with Michael, he’s not going to cause them too much of a headache, he’s not going to start being a Jose Mourinho. He’s the easy choice. Also, their get out if was to go wrong… I don’t know anyone who is jumping out and they’re speaking to.”

Under Carrick’s tutelage, Manchester United are currently third in the Premier League standings and are likely to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in two years.