LONDON: England captain Harry Kane criticized several players who withdrew from the national team ahead of the League of Nations action against Greece and Ireland, stating yesterday that the country must always come before the club.

England face Greece in Athens early tomorrow morning followed by Ireland three days later at Wembley but nine players, some in the starting line-up, have been called up while boss Lee Carsley pulls out through injury.

Manchester City’s Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite have all withdrawn from the squad.

Kane said that didn’t happen when Gareth Southgate was in charge because he created an atmosphere where players couldn’t wait to get into the England training camp.

“The joy of playing for England, I think he sparked it. Every camp, the players are excited to come, the players want to play for England and that’s the most important thing. I think England is more important than the club,” Kane told ITV Sport.

“It’s the most important thing you do as a professional footballer. Gareth is good about it and he’s not afraid to make a decision if it starts to deviate from certain players.

“It’s been a shame this week. Obviously I think it’s the toughest period of the season now and maybe some have taken a bit of advantage of it. I really don’t like it to be honest… I think England have to come first before anything else.”

While Kane is currently enjoying a winter break from football following his move to German giants Bayern Munich, the player at the English club faces a busy festive season.

New England manager Thomas Tuchel will only take over in the new year but he has no chance to work with the squad until the next international break next March.

Carsley said the withdrawal from the squad gave other players a chance to impress the new coach.

“Harry has his own opinion but I can only work with what’s in front of us,” said Carsley, who will end his interim spell against Ireland on Sunday.

LONDON: Enzo Maresca shouted a warning to Arsenal that Chelsea’s management is now different from the squad that was beaten 5-0 by the club when under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino.

Maresca will face Mikel Arteta’s men looking to prove his squad’s ability against the top flight since replacing Pochettino last summer.

Chelsea have lost to Manchester City and Liverpool this season, and drew with Manchester United last weekend.

Although Cole Palmer is not fit enough to start the game, Maresca believes his men are capable of challenging Arsenal at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

“I didn’t know during the last two years how he felt. But now, I’m sure we can compete and beat any team.

“We are on the right track. I hope this Sunday we can give the fans a good day.

“Arsenal is so close to the best team in England, Manchester City. I want to win a game like this.

“From the beginning I stressed, I will analyze the performance rather than the result. You think we should lose to Liverpool?

“I hope we can win on Sunday. We were so close against Liverpool and City. We shouldn’t have lost,” Maresca said.

MANCHESTER: Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy believes his side can bounce back from their worst start to the season after seeing his team’s spirit shown in the two games since Erik ten Hag was sacked.

Moises Caicedo’s second-half strike cancelled out United’s early penalty for a 1-1 draw in the Premier League clash at Old Trafford.

Despite not managing to collect full points, Van Nistelrooy said there were positives to take from the match.

“We take the lead first and the performance, with the spirit shown, is the basis for building a team… then the quality of football will emerge.

“That is the basis needed to build it, and there is still a lot of time to improve the position,” said Van Nistelrooy.

The draw saw United climb one place, to 13th after 10 games.

Van Nistelrooy said, since the day Ten Hag was fired, the situation has been very difficult for the team.

“Six days, emotions up and down, obviously very sad to see Erik go, the next day you have to focus again for the game against Leicester (Wednesday’s 5-2 League Cup win), because 75,000 fans will be at Old Trafford, so we have a responsibility , and the players realize they need to do better,” he said.

United’s nine goals in 10 games, the third-worst in the league, is their lowest tally at this level since the 1973-74 league campaign.

LONDON: Ruben Amorim has been announced as Manchester United’s new manager to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.

The 39-year-old Portuguese coach, who won two Primeira Liga titles with Sporting Lisbon, signed a contract until 2027 and will join the club on November 11.

“Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Ruben Amorim as head coach of the men’s first team, subject to work visa requirements,” United said on their official website.

“He will be with the team until June 2027 with an additional year option, once he completes his responsibilities with his current club.”

United describe Amorim as one of the most exciting and high-calibre young coaches in European football.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to manage the team until Amorim arrives at Old Trafford.

United sacked Ten Hag on Monday after a 2-1 defeat at the hands of West Ham left them 14th in the Premier League, with just three wins from nine games.

LONDON: Liverpool boss Arne Slot insists Erik ten Hag will be back at “a big club again” after being sacked by Manchester United.

Ten Hag’s two-year spell as United manager came to an end yesterday, with the English giants languishing in 14th place in the league following a 2-1 defeat at West Ham last weekend – his final game in charge.

Slot’s team was also involved in putting pressure on his compatriot from the Netherlands, Ten Hag with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford last September.

But despite the animosity between Liverpool and United, the Reds boss – in his first season in the hot seat at Anfield after replacing Jurgen Klopp – was sympathetic when asked about the Ten Hag during yesterday’s pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s League Cup clash with Brighton at home.

“He is a Dutch manager which makes it more difficult for me,” said Slot, 46.

“I sympathize with his plight. We’re all in this job so we know it can happen.

“I only know him a little bit and I know how hard he works. For him it’s certainly disappointing. But we also know how good he was at Ajax and he won two trophies (League Cup and FA Cup) here.

“I think you’ll see him at a big club again after this.”

Ten Hag helped United deny Premier League champions Manchester City a domestic double with a surprise FA Cup final victory over their neighbors at Wembley last May.

“I feel really sorry for him, it’s one of the best jobs in football,” City manager Pep Guardiola said of Ten Hag.

“There’s only us, not teachers or architects or anything like that.

“I wish him the best and he will come back stronger. If the results are not good enough, you will be fired. No one is different, including myself.”