Harlequins have signed former Saracens prop Titi Lamositele from Montpellier for the 2024-25 season.

The 29-year-old won three Premiership titles and three European Champions Cups during his time in north London.

The signing follows Quins' announcement on Tuesday that England prop Will Collier will leave the club at the end of the season.

Lamositele made 32 appearances for the USA national team from 2013 to 2019 before switching to represent Samoa last year.

"I've enjoyed my time in France but Im excited for this new chapter and I can't wait to pull on the quarters and play in front of a packed Quins crowd," he told the club's website., external

The tighthead prop began his club career at Saracens in 2015 and won seven trophies, including league and Champions Cup doubles in 2015-16 and 2018-19, before moving to Montpellier in 2020.

He won the European Challenge Cup in 2020-21 and the French Top 14 league the following season.

Harlequins host Bristol Bears in their final league match of the season on Saturday, needing to win to have any chance of reaching the Premiership semi-finals.

Pittsburgh Penguins defensemen Kris Letang and John Ludvig and forward Matt Nieto are recovering from recent surgeries, the team announced Wednesday.

Letang, 37, faces an eight-week recovery timetable following an operation last Friday to repair a fractured finger on his left hand.

The two-time All-Star and two-time Stanley Cup winner played all 82 games in his 18th season with Pittsburgh in 2023-24 and recorded 51 points (10 goals, 41 assists).

Ludvig, 23, had surgery to repair the extensor tendon in his left wrist on April 24 and has an expected recovery time of four to six months.

Ludvig made his NHL debut on Oct. 24, 2023, and finished his first season with three goals and two assists in 33 games.

Nieto, 31, will be sidelined for six to seven months following reconstructive MCL surgery on his left knee on May 2.

Nieto appeared in 22 games in his first season with the Penguins in 2023-24 and contributed one goal and three assists.

CHICAGO -- A consultant the Chicago Blackhawks hired to improve relationships with American Indian tribes has filed a lawsuit accusing the team, its charity foundation and its CEO of fraud, breach of contract and sexual harassment.

Nina Sanders filed the civil action late Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court. She alleges in the lawsuit that the Blackhawks were facing intense public pressure to change their name and logo in 2020. The team's CEO, Danny Wirtz, hired her that year to serve as a tribal liaison.

Wirtz promised that he would create positions for American Indians, buy land to give to the Sac and Fox Nation and change the team's logo if she decided to accept the job, according to the lawsuit. She took the job based on those promises, but Wirtz never followed through on any of it, the lawsuit alleges.

Sanders goes on to allege that she told her immediate boss that an employee had been sexually harassing her and tried to force her into his hotel room in 2021. The harassment continued into 2022, but nothing was ever done about it, according to the lawsuit. Sanders also maintains that she reported two other incidents of male employees groping women, but nothing was done.

Wirtz ended Sanders' contract last summer, according to the lawsuit.

A Blackhawks spokesperson didn't immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press on Wednesday afternoon seeking comment.

The team said in a statement to WBBM-TV that the organization noted "operational issues" in Sanders' work, and external partners told the team that they didn't want to work with her. The team still extended her a new contract in 2023, but Sanders chose not to renew it. The team said it investigated Sanders' sexual harassment allegations and couldn't find enough evidence to substantiate them.

DENVER -- Growing up in the Minneapolis suburb of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, meant Casey Mittelstadt spent countless hours watching Minnesota Wild games and wearing the No. 11 jersey of his favorite player whenever he played pond hockey as a child.

Being a kid from Robbinsville, New Jersey, who grew up watching the New Jersey Devils gave Ross Colton a sense of pride knowing he could someday get to the NHL by studying the traits of a certain hard-working, two-way winger who was his idol.

One of Jason Robertson's biggest entry points into hockey was playing the EA Sports NHL video game. He was 7 and didn't know much about the league, but playing those games allowed him to go through teams. He saw the Devils, he liked the logo and red was his favorite color, so it all fit together. It also made him a fan of a forward who would become a six-time 30-goal scorer.

Each of these anecdotes underscores how much Zach Parise means to hockey in America.

These are among the reasons why many of his Colorado Avalanche teammates want him to rethink his retirement plans and stay around for at least one more year.

"I really hope he doesn't hang them up," said Avalanche forward Brandon Duhaime, who grew up in South Florida watching Parise play. "I was just telling him yesterday that he's coming into his prime here. He's been really fun to watch and what he contributes to the lineup is super important."

Parise has repeatedly said this will be his final season. After not signing with a team as a free agent at the start of the season, he joined the Avs on a one-year contract on Jan. 26, with the hopes he could win the Stanley Cup that has eluded him throughout a 19-year career in which he has scored 434 goals and 889 points in 1,254 regular-season games.

That's what could make Wednesday one of the more emotional nights in Parise's distinguished career. With the Dallas Stars holding a 3-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series, the Avs' next loss could be the final game of Parise's career.

And if this is really it for Parise? His career, while it might not have a Stanley Cup, will be filled with moments that have made him one of the most important figures in American hockey over the past two decades.

The 39-year-old was one of the faces of the generation of players, including Patrick Kane, Phil Kessel, Jack Johnson, Jonathan Quick and Ryan Suter, who provided a blueprint for how Americans could find success at the highest levels of the game.

That's what made winning America's first IIHF World Junior Championship back in 2004 beyond special. It's what made the U.S. reaching the gold medal game and pushing Canada to the brink in overtime at the 2010 Winter Olympics impactful. Those moments allowed a new generation of American players to understand they could compete with the best in the world at international tournaments and in the NHL.

Players, regardless of age, go out of their way to talk about how Parise carries himself the "right way" on and off the ice.

"I haven't really thought about it all, to be honest," Parise said when asked about his legacy. "I think you just get so consumed in just playing and having fun with it. I've been fortunate to wind up on some good teams, being on the first [U.S.] under-18 team to win the gold, the first [U.S.] World Junior team to win the gold. I look at those two teams that were pretty important for USA Hockey, but I never looked at it from an individual standpoint."

As players slowly left Ball Arena after an optional practice, the double doors from the Avalanche's dressing room opened and walked Parise out.

He's less than two months away from turning 40 but looks like he might be in his early 30s. Dressed in a prep school white ball cap, a dark T-shirt, a black jacket and blue jeans, he sported a look that makes him one of the Avalanche's more stylish players.

Parise grabbed a seat and for the next 19 minutes, he answered questions while also learning just how much he still means to so many American youth hockey players.

His eyes widened upon hearing how he was Mittelstadt's childhood hero and that his current teammate wore his sweater as a kid. He learned how, when Mittelstadt and his buddies were kids, they ran around screaming throughout a Minnesota cabin on the day Parise signed with the Wild.

That's when he also learned Mittelstadt had held off on telling him this because he wanted to play it cool.

In a way that's uniquely Parise. He showed his appreciation while expressing a level of humility that's typically more reserved for a rookie rather than a 19-year veteran who has been the face of two franchises.

What allows Parise to be that way, when he could bask in the fact that he has been such a crucial part of so many lives?

"I think I was raised that way by my parents," Parise said. "I grew up in that environment at Shattuck [the Minnesota prep school known for its hockey program]. That was just the culture that is there. It's all about the team and not the individual, but hearing that, it means that you did the right things."

Setting an example was always something Parise thought about with deep regard. It has become an even greater priority now that he's a father. That's why talking about his own father causes him to get choked up.

Of all the lessons Jean-Paul Joseph-Louis Parise taught his children, the most important was to be the best person they could be. That meant making time for others, being polite and realizing that being nice to someone never hurt anyone.

How much do those lessons mean now, with Parise at the end of his career, nine years after his father passed away?

"We all want to follow in our dad's footsteps," Parise said, his voice breaking. "The way I hear about how people talk about him, you want people to talk about you the way they refer to him. Since he's passed, I've had so many people in Long Island or that I don't even know who have pulled me aside in rinks after morning skates and just say, 'I played for your dad' and what he meant to them and the impact he left on them.

"When it's all said and done and you're done playing this sport, you want to leave a good impression. It goes back to wanting to be like your dad."

J.P. Parise played for Canada in the famed 1972 Summit Series. With his father representing Canada, was there ever a thought for Parise to play for Canada? Or was it just understood he was going to play for the U.S.?

"I was born here, my dad had become a U.S. citizen and I guess it never really crossed my mind that was an option," Parise said. "It was like, 'Here's the path.' When you're 15 and going to selects and you're playing for the under-16s or whatever it was. I'm not even sure that was even a thought."

Representing the U.S. at such an early age allowed Parise to get in on the ground floor of the next wave of American hockey. It's not that Team USA didn't have talented players throughout various levels. It did. But winning international tournaments proved challenging.

The U.S. men's team has won only two IIHF World Championships, with the most recent coming in 1960. While the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's team won the gold medal, the nation didn't return to the podium until 2002, when it won silver. America's next podium appearance at the Olympics came in 2010.

Capturing the first gold medal in American history at the U-18 World Juniors in 2002, then winning the nation's first goal medal at the 2004 World Juniors built more momentum. Six years later, the U.S. fielded a team at the 2010 Olympics that placed the world on notice that a shift could be coming.

Now it appears that shift has arrived. Although it is early, Team USA is one of the favorites to win both the 4 Nations Face Off in 2025 and the Winter Olympics in 2026.

"You look back, and I know USA Hockey has had a lot of success since then, but you take pride in, 'Hey, we were the first ones,'" Parise explained. "We had an impact on what they're doing now and how they're winning all this stuff now. You feel like we broke through and were able to set a good example for these guys."

It was Valentine's Day when Colton's cell phone blew up. He wasn't getting heart emojis from friends.

What he got that day were several texts from his friends about the fact that he was now going to play with Parise.

"When he first got here, I just wanted to feel him out. I think he knew I was a big fan of his," Colton said with a smile. "But once we started to play cards together on the plane or started going to dinners with him, I definitely asked him some stuff about my childhood and his years in Jersey. He's been amazing. He doesn't get annoyed. It's really cool to see, but that goes to show the kind of person he is to make someone's day."

Culture is one of those words front offices throw around when it comes to building the sort of program that can win championships. The Avalanche have a particular culture that helped them win their third Stanley Cup in 2022, and there's a belief they could win more in the years ahead.

Even with those core tenets in place, there's still flexibility to incorporate more, which is what makes Parise even more valuable.

"The one thing I always love about him is that he's one of the first guys on the ice and one of the last guys off," Colton said. "He's doing little stuff after practice. He's shooting pucks. He'll ask you, 'Do you want me to pass you some pucks?' Coming from a guy like that, it should be the other way around. He's the first guy who wants to help you with your game."

Whether it's his current set of teammates or those who have played against him, nearly everyone has something to say about Parise and his impact on the game.

"When I first got to New Jersey, the staff there, all they talked about was Zach," said Avs forward Miles Wood, who started his career with the Devils. "I didn't have the privilege to play with him there, but what he did to the organization over his time there, he was such an impactful player."

Duhaime, who was traded to the Avs from the Wild at the deadline, was a prospect when Parise played in Minnesota.

"I did one or two camps with him and he was always super nice," Duhaime said. "I was an American League guy and always on the outside looking in. He was there and he was nothing but great to those young guys."

The relationship between Johnson and Parise has existed for years. Johnson was a freshman at Shattuck when Parise was a senior. They represented Team USA together over the years, and were reunited this season when Parise joined the Avs in January.

"I think every great American player has had an impact because those are the guys that kids watch," Johnson said. "When I was a kid, I watched Brian Leetch and Chris Chelios. Each generation watches the previous great players of that generation, and he's one of them. I know he had an impact on me. He was a guy I looked up to."

Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor shared his thoughts on Parise during his team's first-round series against the Avalanche.

"He's a big part of a lot of the Olympics and Team USA," Connor said. "I think the type of motor and type of player -- while I've never met him personally -- from what I see, he gives it his all every single shift. ... That whole team and USA Hockey throughout the years and the success they had, it really helped grow the game in the States as well."

Another one of his contemporaries, Stars center Joe Pavelski, provided a different perspective.

"He's been a player who leaves an impact," Pavelski said. "I've gotten to play with him a few times for Team USA and have been around him a little bit. It was great to be able to do that and see what he's about as a player and as a person. I have a lot of respect for Zach."

From practices to morning skates to warmups to games, there is an expectation for anyone who wears an Avalanche sweater.

They better be prepared to skate all the time, or they can go play somewhere else.

Parise has done that. He has done it repeatedly since coming to Denver. It's why he has been on the Avs' second line and continues to be trusted in key scenarios. Add in the fact that he'll turn 40 in two months, and you start to see why his teammates want him to stay.

"Any superstar that you see in those older years, they just manage the game the right way," Duhaime said. "They think the game better than anyone else. Let's say they physically lose a step or lose a little bit of speed, they make up for with their mind. Not saying that Zach's lost a step, because he looks faster than ever."

Parise admitted he has had moments when he stops to appreciate what he's doing at this stage of his career. One of those came when he opened the playoffs on the first line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.

"I thought, this is incredible!" Parise said. "I am playing on the top line with the Colorado Avalanche ... something I never thought would happen. To hear teammates talk like that, it means a lot."

Realizing he can still perform at this level, has Parise thought about reconsidering his decision to retire?

"I mean, I'd be lying if I said there wasn't times," Parise said. "It's just the excitement of winning a playoff round or it never changes with that excitement when you score a goal. You think, 'I can still do it. I kinda want to keep doing it.' But I feel like I'm at the point that now just mentally going through another 82 games would be really hard."

But?

"Never say never," Parise smiled. "Right now, I think that's kind of the direction I'm thinking."

Parise laughed when he was asked whether he's at peace with that decision, because it seems like he could be swayed.

"I thought I was at peace with it last year!" Parise said. "It was also different, coming off what I thought was a good year. I felt great. It's also been hard being away from the family. That's tough being away from the kids. But to put a percentage on it, you're talking upper 90s."

Parise spoke with ESPN the day before the Avalanche lost Game 4. He said if the Avs won the Stanley Cup this season, he wouldn't even consider coming back.

But if this season ends with a loss in the second round, the conference finals or the Cup finals, does he know for certain that he'll be done?

"I think this is it," Parise said. "I'm very content with it."

Juventus beat Atalanta 1-0 to win a record-extending 15th Coppa Italia on Wednesday as an early strike by Dusan Vlahovic earned Massimiliano Allegri's side their first trophy in three years.

Juve, who hold both the record for most Italian Cup finals played (22) and won (15), had not lifted any silverware since they won the competition in 2020-21, when they also beat Atalanta in the final.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.)

Allegri, meanwhile, became the first coach to win the Coppa Italia five times after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Roberto Mancini lifted the trophy on four occasions.

"Very happy for the boys, they brought joy to the club, to the fans and to me. Winning is never easy, but it is in our DNA," Allegri told a press conference.

"If I am no longer the Juventus coach next year, I will leave a strong team. The club will make its evaluations."

Vlahovic put Juventus in front in the fourth minute when he latched onto a pass from Andrea Cambiaso and broke inside the box to send the ball past goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi from around the penalty spot.

Vlahovic, who also found the net when they lost the final to Inter Milan in 2022 (4-2), became the third Juve player to score in two Coppa Italia finals after John Charles (1958-59, 1959-60) and Savino Bellini (1937-38, 1941-42).

"I find it difficult to speak, I can only thank everyone," Vlahovic told Mediaset.

"We know the difficulties we faced, in the end we achieved the objectives set at the beginning of the year. I'm sorry for the Scudetto, but Inter deservedly won it.

"We are very happy, but next year we must aim to win everything. Juventus' DNA requires this."

The Serbia striker thought he doubled the lead in the 72nd minute, nodding home a lofted Cambiaso cross after the ball bounced in front of Carnesecchi and went into the net, but the goal was disallowed for an offside.

Juve quickly switched to defending their lead, creating chances on the counter attack, while preventing Atalanta from registering a single shot on target in the entire game.

Gian Piero Gasperini's side had more possession throughout the match but an effort from outside the box by striker Ademola Lookman that hit the post in the 80th minute turned out to be their best chance.

Atalanta, who next Wednesday face Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final, have reached two different finals for the first time in a single season.

It was Atalanta's fifth straight Coppa Italia final defeat after they won their sole title in 1962-63.

Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann scored a hat trick in a 3-0 LaLiga win at Getafe on Wednesday as they sealed Champions League qualification.

Diego Simeone's side are fourth on 73 points, 11 ahead of fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, who lost 2-1 against Celta Vigo, with two games remaining.

The French forward opened the scoring in the 27th minute from Rodrigo De Paul's through ball and they repeated the trick before the break as Griezmann flicked a pinpoint pass past goalkeeper David Soria.

Griezmann completed his hat-trick in the 51st minute with a fine finish under Soria's legs following a Samuel Lino pass into the box.

It was Griezmann's second hat-trick of the season, after he also bagged three in a 3-0 win at Celta Vigo in October.

After rejections from various candidates, Bayern Munich are reportedly reconsidering Thomas Tuchel's departure as coach and working on a solution to convince him to stay.

Tuchel is due to leave at the end of the season according to a mutual agreement made with the club in February.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.)

But finding a successor is proving harder than anticipated for Bayern.

German media outlets Kicker magazine, the Bild tabloid, and Sky TV all reported on Wednesday that the club's sporting directors Max Eberl and Christoph Freund were negotiating with Tuchel to reverse their joint decision from February.

There are several hurdles that would need to be overcome.

Tuchel was heavily criticised by Bayern powerbroker Uli Hoeness before the Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid, and Hoeness would need to give his go-ahead.

Tuchel would also need to be convinced that he's not being asked to stay as a stop-gap before Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso or former Borussia Dortmund favourite Jürgen Klopp could be persuaded to join in 2025. Klopp is leaving Liverpool and wants to take a year's break.

Tuchel would want an extension of his original contract, which was supposed to run to 2025.

But Sky reported that the 50-year-old coach is open to the idea of staying. Bild published photos Wednesday showing Tuchel's agent Olaf Meinking speaking to Freund and Bayern chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen at the club's offices.

Bayern's players would also prefer Tuchel to stay. Germany internationals Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer have reportedly spoken in his favor, while England players Harry Kane and Eric Dier would welcome it.

Many Bayern fans also signed a petition calling on the club to keep Tuchel in charge.

Though Bayern will finish the season without a trophy for the first time since 2012, Tuchel did lead the team to the Champions League semifinals, where they lost to European heavyweights Real Madrid 4-3 on aggregate.

Bayern had identified Alonso as their preferred candidate to take over from Tuchel. But Alonso decided to stay with Leverkusen and subsequently led them to the Bundesliga title. Leverkusen are on a record 50-game unbeaten run across all competitions since the start of the season and have the German Cup and Europa League finals to come.

Bayern were confident that Austria coach Ralf Rangnick would join, but he turned down the club's approach, too. Former Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann extended his contract with Germany, Unai Emery opted to stay with Aston Villa, and Bayern were also reportedly rebuffed trying to sign former Wolfsburg coach Oliver Glasner from Premier League club Crystal Palace, and former Spain, Real Madrid and Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui.

Former Germany coach Hansi Flick was linked with a return, and Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag was another reported candidate, but the latest speculation suggests a U-turn with Tuchel could happen.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have lodged a motion to scrap the use of VAR in the Premier League, with a vote to be held at next month's meeting of the 20 clubs.

Wolves will need the backing of 13 other clubs at the annual general meeting June 6 to pass the resolution, which would see the video assistant referee removed from the English top flight with immediate effect. Any club has the right to submit an item to the agenda, with the league operated as a democracy.

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A statement issued by Wolves on Wednesday read: "There is no blame to be placed. We are all just looking for the best possible outcome for football and all stakeholders have been working hard to try and make the introduction of additional technology a success.

"However, after five seasons of VAR in the Premier League, it is time for a constructive and critical debate on its future.

"Our position is that the price we are paying for a small increase in accuracy is at odds with the spirit of our game, and as a result we should remove it from the 2024/25 season onwards."

Wolves listed a number of complaints in its resolution:

- Impact on goal celebrations and the spontaneous passion that makes football special

- Frustration and confusion inside stadiums due to lengthy VAR checks and poor communication

- A more hostile atmosphere with protests, booing of the Premier League anthem and chants against VAR

- Overreach of VAR's original purpose to correct clear and obvious mistakes, now overanalysing subjective decisions and compromising the game's fluidity and integrity

- Diminished accountability of on-field officials, due to the safety net of VAR, leading to an erosion of authority on the pitch

- Continued errors despite VAR, with supporters unable to accept human error after multiple views and replays, damaging confidence in officiating standards

- Disruption of the Premier League's fast pace with lengthy VAR checks and more added time, causing matches to run excessively long

- Constant discourse about VAR decisions often overshadowing the match itself, and tarnishing the reputation of the league

- Erosion of trust and reputation, with VAR fuelling completely nonsensical allegations of corruption

Wolves have been by far the worst affected through VAR, with more decisions against them than any other club since it was introduced in 2019-20. Wolves have a net score on VAR overturns of minus-17 decisions, with the next worst-affected club being Arsenal on minus-7.

This season, Wolves have suffered continued frustrations, starting with the VAR's failure to award them a stoppage-time penalty at Manchester United -- which led to the officials being stood down.

Yet Wolves have only suffered two other mistakes, as judged by the Premier League's Independent Key Match Incidents Panel -- the failure to overturn penalties awarded to Newcastle United and Sheffield United. All three mistakes against Wolves have been as a result of incorrect on-field decisions, rather than wrong interventions.

The Premier League is against the motion and will press clubs to continue with VAR as an evolving part of the game.

"The Premier League can confirm it will facilitate a discussion on VAR with our clubs at the annual general meeting next month," a statement read. "Clubs are entitled to put forward proposals at shareholders' meetings and we acknowledge the concerns and issues around the use of VAR.

"However, the league fully supports the use of VAR and remains committed, alongside PGMOL, to make continued improvements to the system for the benefit of the game and fans."

Earlier this season Tony Scholes, the league's chief football officer, said that there were "too many checks" that are "taking too long" but that it was fully committed to VAR.

The motion comes just a month after the 20 Premier League clubs voted to introduce semiautomated VAR offside next season, which involves a contract with a new technology supplier. Clubs are also expected to approve referees announcing the explanation for a VAR decision -- if VAR is still around.

ESPN has learned the accuracy of key match decisions has increased from 82% pre-VAR to 96% this season. PGMOL and the Premier League will also point to improvement in VAR numbers this season, despite a series of high-profile controversies. At this stage last season there had been 38 VAR errors logged by the independent panel, with the number for 2023-24 at 29 -- an improvement of 23.68%.

The Premier League isn't the first league to face a vote on the future of VAR. In January, Ligue 1 club Brest officially lodged a complaint with the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) for VAR to be removed from French football. The LFP dismissed Brest's request, and VAR will be added to Ligue 2 next season.

It means from 2024-25, VAR will be in the second tier below all of Europe's top five leagues -- apart from England. Last month, Sweden became the only league in UEFA's top 30 to reject VAR, when its fan-owned clubs lodged opposition against its introduction.

Amad scored his first Premier League goal and assisted on another to power Manchester United to a 3-2 victory over Newcastle United on Wednesday at Old Trafford in a battle between teams fighting for a European berth next season.

Erik ten Hag's team remained eighth in the table but level on 57 points with seventh-placed Newcastle. Chelsea are sixth on 60 points after beating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 earlier on Wednesday to take a big step toward clinching a European berth.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.)

"Obviously the job isn't finished yet," Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes told Sky Sports. "We still have one game in the Premier League then the biggest game of the season, the FA Cup final [on May 25 against holders Manchester City].

"It has been a tough season," he added. "The table shows that and we are all aware of that. The fans have been amazing and behind us all season. We all appreciate what they have been doing for us. We want to do better and do differently and [the fans] deserve that."

Kobbie Mainoo capitalised on Newcastle's appalling defence to get the home side on the scoreboard in the 31st minute. Diallo spotted the 19-year-old unmarked near the penalty spot and Mainoo -- kept onside by a half-asleep Kieran Trippier -- turned and fired home.

Anthony Gordon drew Newcastle level in the 49th minute when he slid to stab in a cross from Jacob Murphy. But Amad put Ten Hag's team back on top eight minutes later when Fernandes' corner was headed out, and Diallo, prowling alone just inside the 18-yard-box rifled in a shot which keeper Martin Dúbravka had little chance of saving.

Rasmus Højlund, who entered the game in the 82nd minute, scored two minutes later when he cut inside two defenders and slotted home from 16 yards, holding up a finger as if to silence the crowd.

Newcastle's Lewis Hall pulled one back in injury time, but Ten Hag's men held on to end one of the most miserable home seasons in years with a victory.

Ten Hag addressed the Old Trafford crowd after the game, thanking them for being the "best supporters in the world."

"As you know it wasn't an easy season, but one thing remained constant and that was the backing of you for the team," Ten Hag, whose job has been the subject of speculation amid his team's struggles this season, said to cheers from the red-clad crowd.

"This season is not over yet. First we go to Brighton where we travel for three points [on the final day of the season on Sunday] and then we go to Wembley. And I promise you those players will give everything to get that cup and bring it to Old Trafford."

If Ten Hag's men win the FA Cup, they will play in the Europa League next season. However, if they fail to win the Cup, they will need to finish seventh to secure a place in the Europa Conference League.

Manchester United, who have never finished lower than seventh in the Premier League, need to better Newcastle's result at Brentford on Sunday to move up to seventh place.

Both teams had numerous scoring chances and Newcastle screamed for a penalty late in the first half after Gordon was taken down in the box in a tackle that left a gaping hole in the back of his sock. After a VAR review, no penalty was given.

"I don't understand the point in VAR? [Sofyan] Amrabat fouled me and it's a clear penalty," Anthony told Sky. "Get rid [of VAR] or get better."