United handed Belgian test in Champion’s League

MANCHESTER United must get past Club Brugge to reach the group stages of the Champions League.

United drew the Belgian side in the play–off round, with the first leg at Old Trafford on August 18/19, the second on August 25/26.

Club Brugge, who finished second in the Belgian league last season, beat Greek side Panathinaikos 4–2 on aggregate in the third qualifying round, but it will be seen as a decent draw for Louis van Gaal’s side, which could have faced Lazio, Monaco or CSKA Moscow.

Celtic were drawn against Swedish champions Malmo in the play–off round, with the first leg at Parkhead .

Meanwhile, Ashley Young has committed his future to United by signing a new three–year contract with the option of a fourth season.



MANCHESTER City have handed Manuel Pellegrini a new two–year contract on the eve of a season many expected to be the Chilean's last with the club.

Pellegrini (61) was heading into the last year of his original three–year agreement, with speculation rife that City planned to replace him with Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola next summer.

In a show of support for the man who brought the Premier League title to the Etihad Stadium in 2014, City have extended his contract for a further 12 months and have gived new terms to his backroom staff.