Erik ten Hag said Manchester United must strive for more even though his team look set to clinch a place...

Sir Alex Ferguson signed some of the greatest players the Premier League has ever seen during his time in charge of Manchester United, but there’s one star who he still wishes he’d brought to Old Trafford. The legendary manager looked back at his 27 years in charge at the club and named the one star he wished he’d signed during his career. When asked about the player that got away, he said it was Paul Gascoigne. "Paul Gascoigne, without question. He was the best English player since Bobby Charlton, he was a fantastic player," Ferguson said back in 2021 [via Sportbible]. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The manager attempted to bring the midfielder to Old Trafford after watching him play for Newcastle against Man Utd. However, he’s already agreed a move to Tottenham and United missed out on the deal – which Ferguson claimed the player lived to regret. "We didn't get him and I think, looking back now, he made a big mistake. He recognised it himself years later,” said Ferguson. "We had Geordies in the camp – Bobby Charlton, Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce – even Gary Pallister from Middlesbrough. We had people there that would have taken care of him, particularly Bryan Robson – he was fantastic with players, as you know. "So he goes to an island, London, and you're easily swallowed up there, for a young lad. I think that was a big mistake by him. "He was a marvellous player. I loved his strength. We played at Newcastle up there on Easter Monday and he'd just come back from injury. They were near the bottom of the league and as soon as he came back they started winning games. Ferguson went on to say: "I went there and played three in the middle of the pitch – [Norman] Whiteside, Robson and Remi Moses. He destroyed them, and then he nutmegged Moses right in front of the dugout and patted him on the head! I'm jumping out the box going… "Honestly he was unbelievable and I said to [former Manchester United chairman] Martin Edwards on the way home: 'Sign this boy. Get on the phone to him on Monday.' "But by that time, he had already done a deal with Tottenham, which was really unfortunate. That was a disappointment because he agreed to sign and then Tottenham changed his mind by buying his mother and father a house.” After coming through the ranks at Newcastle, Gascoigne played for the likes of Tottenham, Lazio, Rangers and Middlesborough over the course of his career. He was capped 57 times for England. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Rob Page called the backing from his players “powerful” after Wales bounced back into Euro 2024 qualifying contention with a 2-0 victory in Latvia. A penalty from skipper Aaron Ramsey – his 100th career goal – and a delicious David Brooks chip deep into stoppage time put Wales within three points of a top-two place and lifted the pressure on under-fire manager Page. Group favourites Croatia’s 1-0 victory in Armenia was further good news for Wales, who had only won once in 13 games before arriving in Riga. Ramsey and others had backed Page during the build-up to a game many saw as pivotal in the manager’s tenure. Page said of the players’ support: “It feels good, it feels powerful, absolutely – that’s a massive compliment to myself from the players. “I’ve just said to them, even the lads that have not played, they all play a part. There are no bad eggs in that changing room. “Pressure doesn’t exist, it is created from outside influence. “We did our best as staff to try to not let that penetrate the bubble and keep as calm as possible. “We knew it was going to be a tough test for us after their heavy defeat. It wasn’t just about the win, I thought the performance was outstanding. “For the first 35 minutes of the first half, we were outstanding, kept the ball. We got the goal and then retreated a little bit, which we’ll address.” Wales had numerous chances to put the game beyond Latvia after Harry Wilson was bundled over in the box after 28 minutes and Ramsey converted from 12 yards. But none were taken until the sixth minute of stoppage time when Brooks, on for the injured Ramsey, accepted Wilson’s pass to slot home his first Wales goal since recovering from cancer last year. Page said: “The pressure came from the outside, understandably, but we never questioned it within the group. “We knew we had to give a positive reaction after the disappointment of June (Euro 2024 campaign defeats to Armenia and Turkey) and we absolutely have – and some. “A great performance against a very, very good (South) Korea team last week and followed it up with a completely different test against a very physical team that went back to front quite a bit. “We had to win first contacts and second balls. “And people like young Jordan James stepping in when we asked him to and developing the young players into this team. He was outstanding again.” Ramsey paid tribute to his replacement Brooks, who has had to be patient to return to the international stage after illness and injury. “It wasn’t easy, a lot of teams have come here and struggled,” Ramsey told S4C, while adding that he came off early in the second half as a precaution and will be fit for Cardiff’s South Wales derby against Swansea on Saturday. “To come here and win with two goals is fantastic, Brooksy as well, it’s good for us. “He’s so important for us and it’s nice for him to score. We’re just happy to have him back.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Freddie Steward: Kevin Sinfield ‘rocket’ inspired England heroics against Pumas Aaron Ramsey scores as Wales beat Latvia to keep their Euro 2024 hopes alive Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba provisionally suspended for anti-doping offence

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