Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot said everyone at the club should feel under pressure after a disappointing start to the season, extending that responsibility beyond head coach Michael Carrick, ESPN reported on Nov. 4.
United forward Matheus Cunha offered a more hopeful assessment after Tuesday's Champions League comeback victory over AS Roma. Cunha said he believes the win could mark a turning point for the struggling team.
Cunha scored twice against Roma, giving his comments the backdrop of a comeback in which he played a central role. His assessment concerned what the victory could mean for United after their difficult start.
Dalot's comments placed the responsibility for that start across the club. He said the pressure should reach everyone at United, rather than fall on Carrick alone.
United also face uncertainty over JJ Gabriel's future. ESPN reported that Real Madrid were moving closer to signing him, ahead of rival European clubs including Barcelona. That account described progress towards a transfer, rather than an agreed deal.
At Liverpool, forward Bradley Barcola said he felt no pressure following his expensive move from Paris Saint-Germain. Barcola said he would not dwell on the impact of Mohamed Salah, his predecessor at the club.
Barcola drew a distinction between himself and the player he followed, saying: “I'm not Mohamed Salah.” His comments addressed both the expectations accompanying his transfer and comparisons with Salah.
Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia said meeting fellow Belgian Eden Hazard had given him extra motivation to succeed at the club. Lavia linked that encouragement to his efforts to build on a promising start to the season.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, the panel that assesses refereeing and video review decisions said Chelsea's Cole Palmer should have received a red card for a clash with Tottenham's Mateus Fernandes. The panel said the dismissal should have come 10 minutes before Palmer actually went off.
In Madrid, tennis great Rafa Nadal confirmed on Wednesday that he had accepted an invitation to join Real Madrid's board of directors. Nadal's announcement concerned a role in the club's leadership.
In the Champions League, Yaya Touré's Slovan Bratislava set an unwanted record for consecutive defeats. Touré, the competition's first African coach, has endured a difficult season with the team.
Barcelona lifted a ban on supporters' groups before Tuesday's Champions League home match against Aston Villa. The club removed the restriction following a positive meeting with the groups.
