Ed Sheeran has apologized to latest Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim for interrupting his post-match interview following Sunday's draw at Ipswich Town.

Sheeran, 33, said he had gone to greet Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp and was unaware on the time that Amorim was being interviewed when the British broadcaster approached him on the sidelines in the midst of the United head coach's discussion.

The singer-songwriter is a sponsor and minority shareholder in his hometown club Ipswich and celebrated the promoted team's 1-1 draw against United.

After the incident, he was criticized on social media but issued an announcement saying it was an accident.

“I'm sorry if I offended Amorim yesterday because I didn't actually know he was being interviewed at the time and only came by to say goodbye to Jamie,” Sheeran wrote on social media. “Obvz feels a bit shitty but life goes on. Great game, congratulations to everyone involved x”.

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What happened?

After overseeing a 1-1 attract his first game as manager, Amorim gave his first interview as Manchester United head coach to the Premier League's important British broadcaster, Sky Sports, after the sport.

The 39-year-old was asked by pundit Izzy Christiansen what impressed him most about his latest players in training before Sunday's game and what he desired to take from the sport.

Amorim replied: “You start to discover things: Garnacho can keep the ball between the lines. You can tell that in the game because the game is always open. They try to find these things. Bruno Fernandes, he improved his game by playing close to the ball and feeling the ball. He can sometimes give us the long pass. But you can't put him there all the time because he wants the long pass.

He concluded: “We are trying to find out something about the players. We will need a lot of time, a lot of time, to sort these things out.”

As presenter Kelly Cates began asking the subsequent query, the camera panned to Sheeran, who greeted Redknapp.

“Ed Sheeran joined us,” Cates said. “Ed, we’re just talking to Ruben Amorim, who might not want to talk to an Ipswich fan.”

“I don’t think he wants to talk to me. He doesn’t want to talk to me,” Sheeran said.

Ed Sheeran crashed Ruben Amorim's first post-match interview pic.twitter.com/cTSMgyTE8w

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 24, 2024

Cates tried to maintain Sheeran's performance short and sweet, saying: “From an Ipswich perspective was it almost perfect?”

“I loved it, I love being back in the Premier League,” Sheeran replied.

Redknapp then promised to talk to Sheeran later, who left the pitchside desk and disappeared out of sight.

“Thank you very much, Ed. Ruben, it’s unpredictable when we’re on the pitch,” explained Cates before continuing the post-match interview.

Sheeran was subsequently called “rude” and “disrespectful” on social media, and Sky was also criticized following the incident.

Why was Sheeran at the sport?

Sheeran grew up in Suffolk and has been an Ipswich fan since childhood. He has been the club's shirt sponsor for the reason that 2021/22 season, with the club playing in the primary division. This was welcomed by fans because the club was previously sponsored by gambling company Magical Vegas and former owner Marcus Evans.

Since then, Ipswich enjoyed back-to-back promotions under Kieran McKenna and secured a return to the Premier League in May after a 22-year absence.

Sheeran designed the club's third kit for the 2021–22 season and appeared in that season's promotional video for the third kit.

In August, it was announced that the four-time Grammy winner had purchased a minority stake within the club and he’s repeatedly pictured at games.

“I have lived in Suffolk since I was three years old and although I travel around the world and sometimes feel like an outsider in big cities, Suffolk and Ipswich have always made me feel part of the community and protected” said Sheeran this summer.

TNT Sports screened an interview with Sheeran and Peter Crouch ahead of Ipswich's opening game of the Premier League season against Liverpool, and he was pictured welcoming the Sky Sports pundit team into the studio ahead of Sunday's game against United.

Ipswich have just won one in all their first 12 games and are among the many favorites to avoid relegation this season, but had to return from behind inside the first two minutes to secure a 1-1 draw against United.

The spectacle at Old Trafford had a somber atmosphere as Erik ten Hag and his players ran across the pitch in pouring rain to applaud the fans who had remained within the stands until the ultimate whistle. The few hundred in Stretford End continued to sing, even when there wasn't much to sing about; The tone was less defiant and more obligatory.

Alejandro Garnacho, Lisandro Martinez and Andre Onana were among the many last to go down the tunnel. Thoughts are probably racing through their minds about how quickly Manchester United have spiraled into turmoil this season and what needs to vary to show things around.

There was nothing particularly unusual within the cabin afterwards. Just the determination to make a “fresh start”, starting with Thursday’s Europa League game in Porto, with Ten Hag telling his players there’s “always a new day”.

But inevitably the main target will probably be on whether Ten Hag are capable of make clear this recent day, for this was a sombre event, their second 3-0 defeat in as many Premier League home games, having suffered a of the worst halves football in recent memory had played within the opening phase.

Afterward, Ten Hag said he didn't take into consideration being scrutinized for his job. “We all made the decision together in the summer to stay together,” he said, referring to the review through which United interviewed other candidates for his position, akin to Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi, but then decided to stick to him to remain .

“After a clear review, we made the decision on what we need to improve as an organization and how we build a squad.” All decisions were made together, also knowing that it could take a while given how the time-frame was going. We are all on the identical page, one boat, the owners, the management group, the staff, the players too.”

United's chaotic first half was greeted by stone-faced faces in a directors' box which included INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford and United CEO Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.

Privately, those in charge share Ten Hag's view – that changing the infrastructure and dealing practices on the club was a top priority when INEOS arrived and that patience is required for this to take hold and show results. Berrada and Ashworth only publicly announced their unequivocal support for Ten Hag earlier this month, so changing course now could be an about-face and inconvenient for leaders who prefer to be guided by a methodical process.

Another consideration is that Ten Hag was allowed to pick out his own coaches, including Ruud van Nistelrooy, and influence recent signings.

Likewise, the managerial landscape hasn't modified much since May and June, when United officials scoured the marketplace for potential replacements and ultimately settled on Ten Hag. Gareth Southgate is now available after giving up his role with England and has links to Ashworth and Brailsford, but that's all that concerns him.

However, pressure on decision-makers will definitely increase should Porto and Sunday's game at Aston Villa provide more of the identical, especially with one other international break looming. Gary Neville and Ashley Young, two former United captains, suggested on Sky Sports that the players should hold a gathering without Ten Hag to determine find out how to proceed. That's the type of media assumption that may fill the narrative unless results improve dramatically.

“We began the sport very badly after conceding a goal, like we did when a central defender (Micky van de Ven) crossed the entire pitch. Then we were very stressful in the sport, we couldn't discover a alternative. “Substitution, couldn't hold the ball, wasn't aggressive enough when the third man was doing it, we didn't get the pressing right,” admitted Ten Hag.

Such mental fragility is concerning and raises the query of whether it’s a person issue or a insecurity in team strategy.

The red card for Bruno Fernandes had an impact on the sport, but Tottenham were already cutting through United at will when the rating was 11-on-11. Spurs were good but United were very bad. Their pressing was disjointed, attempted passes from the back were difficult as gaps opened up again in midfield, and easily finding a teammate with the ball gave the impression to be a foreign concept for several players.

More than once the ball dribbled out of the boot of a United player attempting to get a move going. Those who found a red shirt were often fallacious. On a counter-attack before the break, Joshua Zirkzee passed off to Marcus Rashford, but put the ball behind his path. All Rashford could do was turn and hit a back pass right into a Spurs defender. He showed his frustration by waving his arms.

United's passing accuracy in the primary half was 76 percent, the bottom first-half figure within the Premier League this season.

United also dawdled in defense, at one point Matthijs de Ligt turned the ball over just for Dominic Solanke to hit. On one other occasion, Diogo Dalot attempted an additional touch of the ball but was overwhelmed by Brennan Johnson, who launched an attack that led to a shot from James Maddison.

Then there was the Spurs goal within the third minute. Van de Ven adopted FC Twente's blueprint by winning the ball and running straight towards United. Having conceded a goal like that’s embarrassing; Doing this twice in two games is an omission.

It was on this context that Fernandes committed his foul. He slipped but still threw his studs at Maddison's shin before pulling her away. It was a harsh red card, but there gave the impression to be some annoyance in Maddison dictating the play in midfield. (Fernandes later asked to handle the post-match media as an alternative of Onana to represent his team and take responsibility.)

At this point, United were imploding and at the identical moment Kobbie Mainoo had to depart the pitch, seemingly suggesting to Casemiro and Antony on the touchline that he had picked up a hamstring injury. United's discipline slipped, with yellow cards for Mason Mount against Rodrigo Bentancur, Martinez against Maddison and Manuel Ugarte against Dejan Kulusevski.

Ten Hag have managed just six wins in 19 Premier League games since last season, while United's seven points are their lowest after six games in a season (same record in each 2013-14 and 2020-21).

Only within the 2007/08 season (4) did United rating fewer goals of their first six Premier League games than of their five games this season, although they did finish that season with a double victory within the Premier League and the Champions League.

In a good more worrying omen, United have lost consecutive Premier League games without scoring at Old Trafford for the primary time since November 2021 (0-5 against Liverpool and 0-2 against Manchester City). These were the last two home games for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who manages the club.

Ten Hag will hope this isn't a nasty omen for his own term.

Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada told staff the aim is to win the Premier League title in 2028, on the a hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the club's founding.

Berrada, who officially moved from rivals Manchester City in June, addressed staff at a gathering at Old Trafford last Wednesday and outlined the shared ambitions of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the football hierarchy.

Berrada briefed employees on “Project 150” – so called since it coincides with a very powerful milestone in United's existence. The club was founded in 1878 under the name Newton Heath before changing its name to Manchester United in 1902.

This defined goal highlights the work required of the team as United currently sit eleventh within the Premier League after two wins, a draw and two defeats. United also drew of their opening game of the Europa League against FC Twente, the lowest-ranked team they may face at Old Trafford within the competition.

Berrada also talked in regards to the women's team winning their first title this 12 months, which also played a vital role. He tried to strike an ambitious tone, accepting that it might take plenty of exertions, quite than appearing optimistic.

Berrada's daring comments were met with mixed sentiments by a workforce audience after job cuts saw its 1,000-strong workforce reduced by 1 / 4. People who’ve been with the club for several years have left, resulting in feelings of anger and dejection, while others are energized on the prospect of the club becoming more sportingly driven.

Ratcliffe's arrival was the catalyst for the layoffs to lower your expenses, the club says, but his most important motivation was for United to win major titles again. In his first round of media interviews in February after securing his 27.7 percent investment, he brought up the a hundred and fiftieth anniversary.

“It’s not a 10-year plan. With a 10-year plan, fans would run out of patience. But it’s certainly a three-year plan to get there,” he said.

“To imagine that we’ll play pretty much as good football next 12 months as Manchester City did against Real Madrid last season will not be reasonable. And if we give people false expectations, they might be dissatisfied. So the important thing thing is our history so that folks can see that we’re making progress.

“I think the club will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2028. If our development leads to a very good position within this time frame, we would be very satisfied with that. Because it's not easy to make Manchester United the best football team in the world.

“The ultimate goal for Manchester United – and that will always be the case – is that we fight for the Premier League and for the Champions League. It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world.”

Ahead of the Liverpool game earlier this month, which United lost 3-0, Berrada and Dan Ashworth, the club's newly appointed sporting director, spoke to the media.

“Erik has our full support and we have worked very closely together in this transfer window,” said Berrada. “We will continue to work very closely with him to help him get the best results from the team. Do we still believe in Erik? Absolutely. We think Erik is the right coach for us and we fully support him.”

United return to motion against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday.

It seems unlikely that north Londoner TS Eliot was an Arsenal fan, but his poetry suggests otherwise.

“April is the cruelest month,” The Waste Land begins. “I cried and fasted, wept and prayed,” laments The Love Song by J. Alfred Prufrock. “So the challenge ends; not with a bang but with a whimper,” was probably the primary draft of The Hollow Men.

Sunday was a disappointing day, not only for Arsenal and Liverpool fans, but additionally for neutrals who desired to see the three-way battle for the title proceed. Liverpool's 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace and Arsenal's 2-0 loss to Villa leave Manchester City two points clear at the highest of the league, and Pep Guardiola's side are almost infallible as leaders.

“I already knew everything, knew everything,” moans Eliot. But keep your head up, Tommy. There remains to be hope.

Here are 10 completely realistic the reason why City could still lose points.

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This is a serious article, so let's get serious. Can a team win the treble twice in a row? With injuries rising, fixtures tripling and emotions mounting, can City bounce back?

There's a reason why a triple – or perhaps a double – is so rare. Participating in multiple competitions has consequences. When the margins are so tight, fatigue, tactical planning and mental freshness are much more essential.

When cup competitions involve direct knockout games, league games against weaker opponents are naturally the games that may lose focus. City host Real Madrid within the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday, play Chelsea within the FA Cup three days later and travel to Brighton five days later.

Guardiola has already said City are in “big, big trouble” as a consequence of fatigue and injuries. So surely it is a reason for hope for Liverpool and Arsenal?

The Spurs

Won two, lost five. Has Guardiola ever had such a foul record? Compete against Lionel Messi within the crossbar challenge? Credit card roulette in Manchester's best restaurants? Family games from Uno?

City at all times had problems at Spurs. Their Premier League record in north London is worse than some other game. Yes, they could have beaten them within the FA Cup this January – but that tally doesn't include their Champions League quarter-final defeat in 2019.

There is a dark room in every manager's head where he stores his worst failures. Guardiola's incorporates a Beavertown brewery and a retractable NFL field.

Tottenham can have been overwhelmed by Newcastle, but each of their meetings with City this season have been close. They still have the Champions League ahead of them and won’t give in.

Is 30 goals in 37 games really a foul season? Since when, as Roy Keane suggested, have you ever been a League Two player? Anyway.

If Haaland doesn't rating for the remainder of the season, perhaps a conversation can be so as. For now, City's rivals will just need to hope the wheels come off.

Pep makes it too complicated

“I always think too much,” Guardiola said in 2022. “I always invent new tactics and ideas, and tomorrow you will see a new one.” I feel way an excessive amount of, that's why I get excellent results. I adore it.”

“When it works, I'm brave, when it doesn't work, I overthink things,” he added a year later. So go ahead – be brave.

If you're already playing four centre-backs, why stop?

Play a back four consisting of Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol. John Stones is practically already a central midfielder. Plonk Kyle Walker (yes, he can be considered a center back) on the right wing.

The rest of them? Remember Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Southampton and put him in the lead role as Andy Carroll. With a height of 196 cm (6 ft 5 in), Finley Burns has to be good in the net. Luke Mbete can return from Den Bosch and use his left foot from the left wing. 18-year-old Max Alleyne has been on the bench this season. Interested in joining Stones in Double Pivot? There is already talk about the technical quality of 16-year-old Stephen Mfuni. Put him in 10th place.

Guardiola believes in total football. They'll be fine. Once you've won everything, the only way left is to win better.

Forest's latest investment is finally paying off

Imagine the scenario: Nottingham Forest fighting for Premier League survival while keeping City at bay. Phil Foden finally puts them in the lead in the 71st minute. After 88 minutes, Chris Wood puts Forest back in the lead. Chaos.

But before the cheers die down, the whistle blows. VAR review. Suspected foul in the penalty area. The referee goes to the monitor. The City Ground has seen this story before. But then he spots something in the crowd – and walks away.

In the midst of the cheers, the fans pause for a moment. What caused the referee to change his mind? You look for an answer – and find it.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Mark Clattenburg.

This superhero doesn't wear a cape, but Forest's referee advisor has regulations on the front and justice on the back. Gotham City is safe from PGMOL. The Premier League table is balanced again.

Rodri's break becomes a spot 12 months

Rodri has said he needs a break, but remember it is a player living the life-style of a university student. He lived in a student dormitory. He has a level in business administration. He drove a used Opel Corsa. He's only one step away from selling you £2 entry to Tuesday club nights at Pryzm.

“Spending time with young people who are just like you,” he told Manchester City’s website when asked why he thought university was one of the best time of his life. “Sometimes study and go out. It was good… a great time.”

But in recent months, given the intensity of the season – he has played 3,498 minutes for City in all competitions this season – a few of that purity should have been lost.

“I need a break,” he told reporters after City's 3-3 draw with Real Madrid, with the dazed expression of anyone who has attended a 9 a.m. lecture a couple of hangover.

Per week is certainly a brief break. But why not take three months? Why not end up? You're only in your twenties once. British Airways offers student discounts on flights. There is a world on the market to explore.

“Jarrod, how’s it going, then?”

“Gaffer? Gaffer? Gaffer? Moyesy?”

“Kalvin… how is the new apartment? Passport renewed?”

Declan Rice's phone bill has never been higher.

City hosts West Ham on the ultimate matchday. Until things get going, Rice can do little greater than mind his own business. So the true work begins beforehand. West Ham don’t have anything that matters – it's time for that to vary. Every negotiation card is on the table.

He sold his automobile to Lucas Paqueta. He is able to withdraw from the England squad in favor of Phillips. David Sullivan was promised his firstborn son. West Ham wins.

Roberto De Zerbi's unforgettable job interview

This season has been somewhat stalled for Brighton & Hove Albion, who sit tenth within the league and are winless in 4 games. Nevertheless, Roberto De Zerbi has been one of the crucial impressive managers of the last 18 months. Probably only Guardiola surpasses De Zerbi when it comes to pure, crazy tactical improvisation.

The big jobs are open in the summertime. Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Barcelona.

Brighton can have reported on Saturday that Brighton have gotten increasingly confident that De Zerbi will stay, but that comes against a backdrop of talks over a brand new contract being placed on hold and the coach having publicly been non-committal about his future.

Show fairly than tell is the primary rule of interviews – and De Zerbi has the chance to point out his tactical skills by outsmarting Guardiola.

City are initially concerned with Brighton's pioneering use of an overlapping sweeper and a pressing pattern based on the Fibonacci sequence, but are shocked by the inspired introduction of Jason Steele as a reverse trequartista.

Gary O'Neil's luck turns

Gary O'Neil seems an unlikely candidate for MTV's Welcome To My Crib, but let's imagine for a moment that he opens the doors to his Wolverhampton mansion.

The doormat is a four-leaf clover. As you enter, seven lucky cats wave at you. Rabbit feet hang from the kitchen beams. Mirrors are forbidden, explains O'Neil and demonstrates how he brushes his teeth within the reflection of the toilet window.

It smells almost overwhelmingly of incense.

No team has been more unlucky than the Wolves this season. O'Neil tried reason, he tried rationalization. He tried to avoid ladders. All that's left is faith… and Nathan Fraser.

Foden hits the crossbar. Jeremy Doku trips on his shoelaces. A wild punch from Max Kilman deflects off Hwang Hee-chan's butt. Molineux erupts.

City's 115 allegations come to a sudden end

The metaphorical hammer falls. White smoke rises from the ceiling of the Premier League headquarters. It was assumed that today can be months away – but a call was made.

City face 115 charges of breaching Premier League financial rules in nine different seasons. If they’re found guilty in at the least some cases, point deductions are a sensible end result.

Of course City will say that is unimaginable, probably the most ridiculous suggestion on this list. Ultimately, they vehemently deny the allegations and work hard to prove their innocence.