Good luck to you all this weekend. Bye!
That’s your lot for today. A packed Friday countdown blog and no mistake. It is what it is, right?
Here, again, are the confirmed draws for the Europa League and Conference League:
Europa League
Group A: Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Bodø/Glimt, Zurich
Group B: Dynamo Kyiv, Rennes, Fenerbahce, AEK Larnaca
Group C: Roma, Ludogorets, Real Betis, HJK
Group D: Braga, Malmö, Union Berlin, St Gilloise
Group E: Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Sheriff, Omonoia
Group F: Lazio, Feyenoord, Midtylland, Sturm Graz
Group G: Olympiacos, Qarabag, Freiburg, Nantes
Group H: Crvena zvezda, Monaco, Ferencvaros, Trabzonspor
Conference League
Group A: Istanbul Basaksehir, Fiorentina, Hearts, RFS
Group B: West Ham, FCSB (Bucharest), Anderlecht, Silkeborg
Group C: Villarreal, H Beer-Sheva, Austria Wien, Lech Poznan
Group D: Partizan, Koln, Nice, Slovacko
Group E: AZ Alkmaar, Apollon, Vaduz, Dnipro-1,
Group F: Gent, Molde, Shamrock Rovers, Djurgarden
Group G: Slavia Prague, CFR Cluj, Sivasspor, Ballkani
Group H: Basel, Slovan Bratislava, Zalgiris, Pyunik
Updated
Cast your eye over the weekend fixtures here.
Luton v Sheffield United is on the menu in the Championship this evening.
Also tonight: Lazio v Inter in Italy, Ajaccio v Lille in France, Freiburg v VfL Bochum in Germany. And excitingly a double-header in Spain: Girona v Celta Vigo and Real Betis v Osasuna. Last but not least, Ayr v Dundee kicks off the action in the Scottish Championship.
How about some Premier League match previews from Graham Searles? You got it:
The German gloveman, Bernd Leno, is heading back to Arsenal with Fulham tomorrow.
“When you play against your former club, you don’t want to lose. You want to win. You don’t want to see laughing at you, and everything.”
Well, quite.
Old friends, new challenge. 😤@Bernd_Leno is looking forwards to Saturday’s game at the Emirates.#ARSFUL
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 26, 2022
“So West Ham are up against Anderlecht, who we lost to in the 1976 Cup Winners Cup final,” emails Rob Lewis. “And Steaua Bucharest - who beat us in the Uefa Cup in 1999 (I was in Bucharest for that one, filthy weather one October night; Ilie Nastase in the boxes behind us.) Plenty of room for revenge then.”
It’s Nottingham Forest, of course, who really owe Anderlecht one after the match-fixing scandal of 1984. Plenty of hard work to do before Forest are back in Europe, needless to say.
Steven Gerrard remains confident misfiring Aston Villa will hit form. Villa host West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday following an inconsistent start to the season.
“We’ve got a lot of talent and ability in the group but that doesn’t guarantee you consistency. There are a lot of things that need to fall into place,” said Gerrard.
“When you take over a club the size and the challenge of Aston Villa there are numerous things you need to work on and progress: the team, the squad, the culture of the club, and the mentality of the players and staff around the building. It takes time and it’s a process.
“I believe we’ll get there in the end. I didn’t expect any quick fix or overnight fix. We’re certainly working every minute we can to improve the team and get to those consistent levels.” (PA Media)
Thomas Frank has marked his Brentford side “seven out of 10” for their start to the season. The Bees, embarking on their second Premier League campaign, have banked four points from nine.
They came from two down to draw at Leicester on the opening day before the 4-0 demolition of Manchester united. However, their unbeaten start came to an end at Fulham last weekend.
“In general terms, seven out of 10, I would say,” said Frank. “I’m very pleased with the comeback against Leicester, there were a lot of positives in that. It was a very good performance against Manchester United and then against Fulham from minute 20 to minute 75 we were good. A decent seven I would say - we’ll aim for 10.
“The offensive part is something we are very pleased with. I would like us to sharpen the defensive side but we’ve played more good minutes than bad minutes.”
The Bees host Everton on Saturday with Mikkel Damsgaard poised for a Premier League debut. The Denmark midfielder, a summer signing from Sampdoria, made his first appearance in the midweek Carabao Cup win at Colchester.
Kristoffer Ajer, Sergi Canos and Ethan Pinnock remain out injured. Defender Ajer is due to make his return from a thigh injury in a behind-closed-doors match, however.
“That’s very good news and we look forward to integrating him in the squad again,” said Frank. (PA Media)
Marco Silva becomes the second manager today (that I’m aware of) to employ the term “It is what it is” talking about transfer window dealings …
The Fulham boss Marco Silva remains hopeful the club could still bring in four new players as he looks to build on a solid start in the Premier League.
Smart recruitment, including landing Germany goalkeeper Bernd Leno, Joao Palhinha from Sporting and Manchester United’s Andreas Pereira, has helped Silva’s cause before tomorrow’s match at Arsenal.
With Fulham looking to avoid a third straight return to the Championship, the former Hull and Everton manager wants more recruits.
“It’s four players that we need,” he said. “When the players come in, they have to show their quality, they have to show they are better options. Football is so easy in this situation, of course, when we sign players, we don’t sign players for the starting XI or the bench, we sign players to be Fulham FC players.
“We have to wait. We have been linked with so many players from the beginning of the market. Some are true, others are not so true. Some we tried and unfortunately we couldn’t. It is what it is. We have to do something. I expected them earlier in the market. Unfortunately we go to another game not with the solutions we should have on the bench at this level.
“Let’s hope until the 31st things change for us. Because the players have been working really hard. They have been playing really well as well. They need help. Let’s see what we can do.” (PA Media)
Ready for some Marco Silva, Thomas Frank and Steven Gerrard press conference quotes?
I thought so. Here they come.
They have stopped worrying about how to pronounce Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s name in Naples. When the player’s transfer to Napoli was announced in April, Aurelio De Laurentiis was asked for guidance. “I’ll make something up,” replied the club president. “We’ll call him something. He can be ‘Zizì’, that’s not bad.”
A more obvious abbreviation was adopted elsewhere, ‘Kvara’ becoming accepted shorthand. Two Serie A appearances later, however, a new nickname has taken hold. From the alleys of Naples’s Spanish Quarter to the headlines of national newspapers, the Georgian was being hailed on Monday as ‘Kvaradona’.
Thomas Tuchel and the “He started it, Miss!” defence:
Here’s that Emiliano Sala story again, in the form of an article this time. A sad business all round:
Fresh from a quick look at the Forest website, I can tell you that they have announced the signing of a forward called Hwang Ui-jo from Bordeaux. The South Korea international is off to Olympiacos on loan for the season.
The Nottingham Forest manager, Steve Cooper, says he is keen to sign more players before the transfer window closes.
Forest have already brought in 16 players this summer. The Everton defender Michael Keane plus the Tottenham players Sergio Reguilon, Japhet Tanganga and Harry Winks have all been linked with a move to the City Ground in recent days. Forest host Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
“I can’t and I won’t talk about any players until they sign,” Cooper said. “We have been linked with a lot, some are maybe true, some are definitely not. We would like to sign more players, I know we have signed a lot and we are not going to shy away from talking about that.
“The reality is we would like to have signed more than we have by now, but that’s the nature of the transfer window. We have a few more days and we will see where we end up. I don’t have an exact number of how many more I’d like and my number might be different to other people’s thoughts.
“But there is lots of work going on. But the number we end up with at the end of the window will be inclusive of people leaving, so still a bit of work to do. We want to get to a point when the window closes that we have good cover for every position but also a challenge for every position as well.
“We want to give ourselves the best opportunity to be able to compete. That is all we are trying to do. I would rather get questions about how many players we have signed than not signing enough, because it shows we have the right ambition. We are still going through the process, when the window shuts hopefully we have enough players in our squad to cover each position, so we have a competitive environment on the training pitch.”
Updated
Cardiff City must pay Nantes the first instalment of the transfer fee agreed for Emiliano Sala before the Argentinian striker’s death, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) said on Friday, dismissing an appeal from the Championship club.
Sala’s plane crashed in the English Channel, killing him and the pilot, as he travelled to Cardiff after signing for £15m in January 2019. The body of the 28-year-old was recovered nearly three weeks later. Cardiff had appealed against a Fifa decision ordering them to pay the first instalment of his transfer fee which amounted to £6m.
“The challenged decision, in which Cardiff City was ordered to pay six million euros to FC Nantes in connection with the transfer of the player Emiliano Sala between the clubs, is confirmed,” Cas said in a statement. “The Cas Panel found the player’s transfer from Nantes to Cardiff City to have been completed.
“Because the conditions set out in the Transfer Agreement were fulfilled prior to the player’s death, Nantes’ claim for the first instalment of the transfer fee ... was upheld.”
Nantes welcomed the decision, saying they were “delighted” the years-long procedure was finally over. The Cas added that the proceedings only concerned the first instalment of the transfer fee.
“The other instalments were not due at the time of the procedure before the Fifa instances,” it added. “The Cas Panel also confirmed that it was not for Fifa to entertain the claim of Cardiff City that it was not required to pay any transfer fee to Nantes.”
Sounds like Pioli is preparing to stick the Ketel–aere on.
The Milan playmaker Charles De Ketelaere could make his first start for the Italian club in their Serie A home game against Bologna, manager Stefano Pioli said on Friday.
Belgian midfielder De Ketelaere, who joined from Club Brugge in the close season, came on as a substitute in their 4-2 win over Udinese and the 1-1 draw with Atalanta and Pioli said that the 21-year-old was ready to start at home on Saturday.
“In that role, I have many choices. Let’s see from game to game... I trust him because he has great potential,” Pioli said. “He can be ready and play from the beginning, his time has perhaps come. He needs time. He has intelligence, and curiosity in understanding the movements and working methods.”
Pioli said that either Olivier Giroud or Divock Origi, who have been limited to substitute appearances for the champions in the league so far, could lead the line for the visit of Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side.
“Tomorrow one of the two will be the starter,” Pioli added. “Their condition is improving. From tomorrow, we’ll play seven games in 21 days. I train a team of starters: they will all have to be ready and well prepared: it’s time to start pushing.”
Milan are fifth in the league table after two matches, two points behind early leaders Napoli, while Bologna are 12th.
Thank God, Gregg Bakowski is here with some Friday-afternoon Fiver. It’s Gunner be great:
Giovanni Van Bronckhorst will speak with Alfredo Morelos in the coming days but says the Colombia forward still has a future at Rangers.
Morelos was left out of the squad for the Champions League playoff win against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night due to fitness issues and other concerns, including his attitude.
The Gers striker is suspended for the home Premiership game against Ross County on Saturday after being sent off last week against Hibernian but he will soon meet with boss Van Bronckhorst to plan a way forward.
The Dutchman told Sky Sports: “I spoke to him briefly today but we will have a longer sit down in the coming days and then we will see what happens in the future. I sat down with before we went to Eindhoven and I said before in a press conference that Alfredo, if he wants to come back, needs to do things differently and that is what he is doing at the moment.
“For me, it is the case of sitting with him in the next days and talk to him about his future. But he still has a future with us, he is still a Rangers player. As a manager I want to make sure I will get him back to the levels we need and that I know he can reach.” (PA)
The Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch has not ruled out signing a forward before the transfer window closes.
Seven players have been added to Leeds’s first-team squad this summer, but they missed out on their top target earlier this month when Club Brugge’s Charles De Ketelaere joined AC Milan.
Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan has been linked with the Yorkshire club and, with lingering fitness doubts over Patrick Bamford, their search is not over.
Marsch said: “Striker, yes. How likely it is is dependent on how things play out and what availabilities are of players. We certainly don’t have a surplus of big amounts of money to go out to spend and bring in a huge transfer. But I think we’ve done a good job of evaluating players that are of high interest to us.
“Then we’re waiting to see and having good communication with different clubs and agents and players to see if there might be flexibility and what their contracts are and what their situations are, (so) that we can still add a quality piece to what we’re doing.”
Updated
Roma are playing well under manager José Mourinho and the Serie A match against Juventus this weekend will be tight despite Juve’s dominant record over the capital club, manager Massimiliano Allegri said on Friday.
Juve have beaten Roma in their last three matches. They have also won 10 of their last 11 home games against Roma. However, Mourinho’s Roma have made a perfect with two wins in two games and sit two points above Juve before Saturday’s trip to Turin.
“Tomorrow is the first direct clash against a Roma side that is doing well,” Allegri said. “Facing Mourinho again is always a pleasure, he is doing a great job and shaping Roma in his own way. It will be a very balanced match.”
Roma signed former Juventus forward Paulo Dybala in the close season and the Argentinian makes his first return to the Allianz Stadium, where he was Juve’s top scorer in all competitions.
“We spent some extraordinary years (together), with his game he made everyone have fun,” Allegri said. “Tomorrow we will meet him again as an opponent, it is a pleasure to see him again.”
Juve are still busy in the transfer market with the club linked with Paris St Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes while the Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik has joined on a one-year loan from Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille.
“Paredes hasn’t arrived yet and I don’t know if he will arrive,” Allegri said. “We’re very happy with Milik, he has impressive numbers. As regards to his characteristics he can also play with (Dusan) Vlahovic. We are waiting for the clearance... which I hope will arrive in the afternoon so he will be available tomorrow.”
Allegri said defender Leonardo Bonucci will not return as he is unwell while new recruit Angel Di Maria is expected to recover from his injury only in time to face Fiorentina next weekend, but goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is available. (Reuters)
Updated
Captain, leader, legend Ben Stokes has reached his ton for England against South Africa at Old Trafford and the hosts are in a dominant position. Rob Smyth has the latest here:
Jurgen Klopp is not sure if he will be able to further strengthen his Liverpool squad this summer.
He said: “We are working constantly on these type of things and we’ve spoken before about why sometimes it’s not happening. Sometimes it’s expensive, sometimes not the right player, but then situations change. It needs to be the right player and we’re working. If something will happen or not, I don’t know.”
Klopp is not expecting any of his injured players to return to contention for Saturday’s home Premier League game against Bournemouth. Curtis Jones, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara, Ramsay and Caoimhin Kelleher have all missed out recently, while Darwin Núñez is still suspended.
Klopp said: “For this weekend probably not, but after that Joel, Curtis, Thiago is not too far away, Jota is getting closer, so positive news, but I don’t think anyone is available for tomorrow.”
Monday night’s 2-1 defeat by Manchester United has left Liverpool seven points adrift of early leaders Arsenal. Klopp admitted his players “have to improve” but said his side’s short-comings had been “football problems” that could be easily resolved.
The German said he was well aware of “the situation” but was not too concerned and insisted he was relishing the challenge. He said: “The United game has gone, done and dusted and now we have a different game. It’s not a situation I wanted to have, but actually I like it as well - it’s a challenge. It’s not the start you want, but you have to fight back and I’m really happy we have an opportunity now to play at home, twice.
“We understand the situation. I have a sense our people understand the situation as well, so I can’t wait to create a special atmosphere and fit together the team and crowd to make things happen.”
Updated
David Moyes was pleased with the outcome of the Europa Conference League draw and said he is looking forward to the competition’s group stage. West Ham are in Group B with FCSB based in Bucharest, Anderlecht and Danish club Silkeborg. The Hammers qualified for the group stage after winning their two-legged tournament playoff qualifier against Viborg 6-1 on aggregate.
“I’ve just seen it. Aye, (it looks) good, I’m looking forward to it,” Moyes said. “We stayed in Silkeborg the day before. We know the level of the games we’ll get in Denmark, it was tough the one we had and we know going to Bucharest is not easy either, I’ve been there before. Never easy, but it’s great to be in it, isn’t it, exciting times.
“In the main, the distances are not too far so it’s important the supporters can get to the games relatively easy and hopefully relatively cheaply as well.”
For the Hammers boss, the two matches against the Danish club allowed some of his seven new summer signings to start integrating themselves into the team, especially Gianluca Scamacca.
The Italy international joined from Sassuolo and scored his second goal in two games against Viborg, but has yet to start a Premier League game for the club, although Moyes believes he is nearing a top-flight start.
“He’s been knocking on the door for a while,” the manager said. “It’s not just his fitness to get him ready, it’s getting him ready for Premier League football. It’s a big chance.
“We have to try and look at him and see where we think the right games are to play him in at the moment, when the right opportunity comes around. Certainly, we feel as if we’ve got someone we’re looking forward to working with for a long time, so we don’t need to rush him. But is he getting ready? Yes, he’s getting much closer to fitness now.” (PA Media)
Updated
“You might be forgetting the most expensive centre back pairing in Charlton Athletic’s history, Costa and Fortune,” emails Alan.
Love it, thanks Alan.
Here’s the only picture I can find of either Costa or Fortune, Jon Fortune having had a “coming together” with Alan Shearer of Newcastle at the Valley in 2001.
“What, me ref?”
Updated
David mentioned it earlier, but here’s a story from Reuters, in which Pep Guardiola scotches the rumours about a certain Portuguese midfielder:
Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva will stay with the Premier League champions as there have been no bids for the Portugal international, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday.
Guardiola had said earlier this week that he would not stand in Silva’s way if Barcelona came calling but he has now changed his stance.
“He will stay here, absolutely,” Guardiola said. “We don’t have any phone call from any club regarding Bernardo Silva, so that’s why he’ll stay.”
Guardiola also refused to acknowledge if French champions Paris Saint-Germain had bid for Silva. City host Crystal Palace in the league on Saturday, the only team they failed to score against last season while also losing 2-0 at home.
“They have resilience and an incredible amount of quality,” Guardiola said. “They defend the 18-yard box really well, good set pieces, good transitions. They have weapons, experienced players in the middle.”
The Palace manager Patrick Vieira said the challenge will be whether the London side can repeat the same kind of performance this weekend. “The game will be clear: they will have possession, they will have really good moments and it’s about how we manage those moments,” the Frenchman said. We’ll have to defend well, there’s no doubt about it. We’ll have to be clear about roles and responsibilities, what we need to do. It may not be enough but we’ll go there and compete.”
Updated
Probably not what you expected to see this afternoon but here, thanks to Wikipedia, is Carlo Costly’s impressive career path. I think he also played for Honduras in a pre-World Cup friendly in 2014. His current club, Lone FC, are in the Costa Rican second division … I think.
2003–2007 Platense (Matches/Goals) 19 (10)
2007 → GKS Bełchatów (loan) 11 (6)
2007–2010 GKS Bełchatów 60 (10)
2009 → Birmingham City (loan) 8 (0)
2010 Vaslui 13 (4)
2011–2012 Atlas 11 (2)
2011 → Houston Dynamo (loan) 11 (1)
2012–2013 Veria 25 (6)
2013 Guizhou Zhicheng 11 (7)
2014 Real España 13 (7)
2014–2015 Gaziantepspor 7 (0)
2015–2018 Olimpia 87 (38)
2019–2020 Marathón 35 (11)
2020 Platense 10 (1)
2021 Marathón 20 (5)
2022– Lone FC 11 (4)
Updated
Thank you Dave. Hi again everyone.
Has a player ever been more aptly-named than Lucas Paquetá, who is going to cost West Ham a packet?
I suppose there was Carlo Costly … although he joined Birmingham City on a £500,000 loan deal. Now I think about it, maybe that was a lot, considering how he performed.
Enough of my yakking, here is Fabrizio Romano’s story on the aforementioned Paquetá:
Updated
Righty, I’ll hand you back to Luke McLaughlin for more hot updates.
More from Thomas Tuchel on the status of two key Chelsea midfielders – N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic. It’s news of the contrasting variety.
“With N’Golo we are talking about weeks, we are talking about four weeks plus. He is our key player normally that gives something to our team that no other player in the world can give to any other team. So that makes him a key player and if your key player is out it is a situation you don’t like and you have to deal with but it has a huge influence, of course.
“Mateo is back in the group. N’Golo is the only one who did not train through this week, so everybody is back in training. Kova is back in the group and ready to play some 20 minutes.
“We miss him also as a personality and his experience and his quality of course, but it’s maybe 20 minutes at the moment.
“It was his first training week without reaction in the knee, so we cannot rush things, otherwise we will just sabotage our own plans with him. We need him long-term but it is good to have him back and have him as an option from the bench.”
Now to Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel with some team news on himself. Will he be present in the dug-out for the visit of Leicester on Saturday? A reminder that the Blues boss faces the prospect of a one-game touchline ban following his red card in the 2-2 draw with Spurs after it all got a bit heated with Antonio Conte.
“I don’t think I will be on the touchline but it’s not 100 per cent sure yet. I think we can do the same as always because I can arrive at the stadium and be in the changing room, but not on the sideline.
“We have responded to the charge and we are waiting for the answer today, but I think I cannot be on the sideline as it seems, but I can be in the dressing room at half-time. So the players will still be prepared and it is not an excuse.
“I think there are two sides to it. The one side to it is that I got a red card and I behaved in a way which is not appropriate and which I regret, but it was out of passion. I don’t think it was too aggressive and it was out of passion.
“I can accept that if I get a red card during a match, if this is the decision, then I have a touchline ban and then I’m fined. This is one side to it and I don’t dispute it and I can accept it.
“What is hard to accept is the context, that I don’t think I started the aggression. It started earlier and I don’t think I was the only person involved and we both got a red card. A player pulled another player’s hair two minutes earlier, he can play on, he’s not banned and for a firm handshake at the end of the game one coach is banned. This is very hard to accept, but I have to accept it. But to put it into context I absolutely cannot understand it.”
Updated
If you missed Ben Fisher’s article on football’s latest craze, have a read. I wonder how many teams will be trying it this weekend. Or is the cat out of the bag?
Back to Pep Guardiola and he’s been talking about the threat posed by Saturday’s visitors, Crystal Palace.
A couple of Opta stats show it’s a genuine one.
Crystal Palace were one of four teams Manchester City failed to beat in the Premier League last season (D1 L1), while the Eagles were the only side the Citizens failed to score against last term
Crystal Palace have taken seven points from their last four Premier League away games against Man City (W2 D1 L1)
Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha has scored 11 goals in his last 16 Premier League appearances, more than his previous 41 beforehand (10 goals). Zaha is looking to score in a third consecutive Premier League appearance for only a second time, having only previously done so in February 2019.
Guardiola: “They have an incredible amount of quality and from nothing can create something. We have to be aware and not do mistakes because they defend their box really well, have good set pieces and good transitions.
“With [Wilfried] Zaha, [Eberechi] Eze and [Odsonne] Eduoard they have weapons and experienced players in the middle. They drew at Anfield a few weeks ago. It’s a tough side. We know it. It’s a good challenge. We’re looking forward to it.”
Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has given an update on the Reds’ rather miserable injury situation as they head into Saturday’s home game against Bournemouth.
Any positive news Jürgen? Anyone likely to be back? “This weekend probably not but after that Joel [Matip], Curtis [Jones], Thiago is not too far away, Diogo [Jota] is getting closer, Caoimhin [Kelleher] will be in training, I think, early next week as well. So yeah, positive news but I don’t think anybody will be ready for tomorrow.
Klopp on any potential transfer business: “I don’t know. We are actually working constantly on these kind of things. We spoke about the reasons why sometimes if it’s not happening – sometimes too expensive, sometimes not the right player but then situation changed, stuff like this. But one thing stays important, really important: it needs to be the right player. We are working but we will see if something will happen or not. I don’t know.
How will this go down with Sunderland fans?
Sunderland have confirmed that head coach Alex Neil is in talks with Stoke over their managerial vacancy.
The Black Cats insist they are committed to retaining the services of the 41-year-old Scot, who guided the club back into the Sky Bet Championship at the end of last season, but were “contractually obliged” to allow him to speak to the Potters following Michael O’Neill’s departure.
A club statement said: “Sunderland AFC can confirm that Alex Neil has entered into discussions with Stoke City regarding their current managerial vacancy.
“Following a formal approach by SCFC, the club is contractually obliged to permit the head coach to start a dialogue with the Potters.
“The club is committed to retaining Alex’s services as head coach and will be making no further comment at this moment in time.”
The announcement came less than an hour before Neil, who was appointed on a rolling 12-month contract in February, was due to speak to the media ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Norwich.
News that the former Norwich and Preston boss could leave Wearside would come as a blow to fans who saw him end the Black Cats’ four-year exile in League One at the first attempt with May’s play-off final victory over Wycombe.
Sunderland have lost only one of their five league games to date and currently sit in fifth place in the Championship table after last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Stoke.
By contrast, the Potters, who sacked O’Neill on Thursday, have won only once and have collected just four points to leave themselves perched just above the drop zone. (PA Media)
Updated
Jumping over to the other side of Manchester and United boss Erik ten Hag has also been talking about team news and transfer business.
(From PA)
New signing Casemiro could make his United debut at Southampton on Saturday lunchtime but Anthony Martial is out with an Achilles injury.
The Old Trafford giants unveiled Brazil international Casemiro ahead of Monday’s 2-1 win against Liverpool after signing the midfielder from Real Madrid for a fee rising to £70million.
Casemiro could feature but forward Martial is absent again, having missed the first two Premier League matches with a hamstring complaint.
Ten Hag said: “Casemiro is fit. He did all the training sessions. He trained first individually and the last days he trained with the team. Martial came out with a problem on his Achilles, out of the game, so we have to wait. I cannot tell a prognosis, how long it takes. I hope he will be available for the next game.”
Asked if he expects it to be a busy week in the transfer market, Ten Hag said with a laugh: “I don’t know.
“We need players, clear - but we need the right players. That is what we said the whole transfer window and we are happy with what we did until now but the barrier has to be high.”
Updated
Of more value from Pep is this quote on one of his star midfielders.
“We don’t have any phone call from any club regarding Bernardo Silva, so he will stay,” the Manchester City boss said in today’s news conference.
Barcelona were sniffing and earlier this month Guardiola sounded uncertain. He said: “What happens will happen.” Of course he did!
Thanks Luke. Some Pep Guardiola to start with and here’s his reaction to yesterday’s Champions League draw which saw City put in Group G alongside Dortmund, Sevilla and Copenhagen.
“The draw is the draw. It is what it is.”
This is getting daft now. I think Tiger Woods, always a great deflector, was one of the early users of “it is what it is”. Now it’s rife in sport, including football.
A Psychology Today article claimed a few years ago: “The increased use of “it is what it is” seemed to be a sign that people are increasingly comfortable with “states of potentiality,” which are states that could “collapse” to different actual states depending on the context. In some contexts, it can indicate acceptance of complexity and ambiguity. In other contexts, it can indicate acceptance of limitations.”
Anyway, it is what it is. The draw is the draw. Black is black. I want my baby back.
Updated
I’m off for a sandwich. David Tindall is here to guide you through the next hour.
So for West Ham there are ties with clubs from Romania, Belgium and Denmark.
Hearts, in Group A, will face sides from Turkey, Italy and Latvia.
Europa Conference League group stage draw
Group A: Istanbul Basaksehir, Fiorentina, Hearts, RFS
Group B: West Ham, FCSB (Bucharest), Anderlecht, Silkeborg
Group C: Villarreal, H Beer-Sheva, Austria Wien, Lech Poznan
Group D: Partizan, Koln, Nice, Slovacko
Group E: AZ Alkmaar, Apollon, Vaduz, Dnipro-1,
Group F: Gent, Molde, Shamrock Rovers, Djurgarden
Group G: Slavia Prague, CFR Cluj, Sivasspor, Ballkani
Group H: Basel, Slovan Bratislava, Zalgiris, Pyunik
West Ham get Anderlecht from Pot 3, Hearts go into Group A with Istanbul Basaksehir and Fiorentina.
Shamrock Rovers, from Ireland, are in Group F with Gent and Molde.
Group A: Istanbul Basaksehir, Fiorentina, Hearts
Group B: West Ham, FCSB (Bucharest), Anderlecht
Group C: Villarreal, H Beer-Sheva, Austria Wien
Group D: Partizan, Koln, Nice
Group E: AZ Alkmaar, Apollon, Vaduz
Group F: Gent, Molde, Shamrock Rovers
Group G: Slavia Prague, CFR Cluj, Sivasspor
Group H: Basel, Slovan Bratislava, Zalgiris
West Ham are drawn with the Romanian club, FCSB, who are based in Bucharest. Fiorentina, by the looks of it the toughest potential draw, went into Group A.
Group A: Istanbul Basaksehir, Fiorentina
Group B: West Ham, FCSB (Bucharest)
Group C: Villarreal, H Beer-Sheva
Group D: Partizan, Koln
Group E: AZ Alkmaar, Apollon
Group F: Gent, Molde
Group G: Slavia Prague, CFR Cluj
Group H: Basel, Slovan Bratislava
Updated
Pot 1 clubs are in the following Conference League groups:
Group A: Istanbul Basaksehir
Group B: West Ham
Group C: Villarreal
Group D: Partizan
Group E: AZ Alkmaar
Group F: Gent
Group G: Slavia Prague
Group H: Basel
Right. Time for the Conference League draw. West Ham fans, Hearts fans, Shamrock Rovers fans, get ready.
Fabrizio Romano, who tends to know about these things, says West Ham’s negotiations for Lucas Paquetá are “at the final stages”, rather than signed and sealed.
West Ham and Olympique Lyon have now reached a verbal agreement for Lucas Paquetá, after new round of talks in the morning. Deal now at the final stages. 🚨⚒️🇧🇷 #WHUFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2022
Time to exchange documents and seal agreement already discussed on personal terms with Lucas Paquetá’s agents. pic.twitter.com/93CpsslDY5
Vladimír Šmicer is one of the guests for the Conference League draw. Naturally he is asked about winning the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005: “My last kick for Liverpool was the winning penalty, so it was a very good night for me. For the club, for the fans – it was special.”
Adriano Del Monte is back on the microphone for this Conference League Draw.
The clubs, and pots, are as follows:
Pot 1
Villarreal
Basel
Slavia Prague
AZ Alkmaar
Gent
Istanbul Basaksehir
Partizan
West Ham
Pot 2
CFR Cluj
Molde
FCSB
Fiorentina
Koln
H Beer-Sheva
Apollon
Slovan Bratislava
Pot 3
Nice
Anderlecht
Zalgiris
Austria Wien
Hearts
Shamrock Rovers
Sivasspor
Vaduz
Pot 4
Dnipro-1
Lech
Slovacko
Silkeborg
Djurgarden
Pyunik
RFS
Ballkani
Updated
A few plates are spinning here, because the Europa Conference league draw is about to kick off too. I’ll focus on the draw while it’s going on, and then we’ll bring you Ten Hag / Guardiola quotes ASAP after that.
Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, is going to have a chat with the media very shortly.
Lucas Paquetá to West Ham is a done deal, according to various sources. More as we get it.
Updated
Speaking to the media earlier, Frank Lampard laughed off the idea that Chelsea have made a £60m bid for Anthony Gordon. Here is today’s story via PA Media:
Everton boss Frank Lampard is adamant the club will sign a new striker before next week’s transfer window deadline. They have been linked with a move for Brighton’s Neal Maupay and, while Lampard refused to discuss individual targets, he insisted a signing will be completed.
When asked if the money was available regardless of whether the club accept an offer from Chelsea for Anthony Gordon, Lampard said: “Yes. Obviously things are relative. I’m not saying the number I’ve got, but it’s an area I want to improve and we will improve it. We will improve it in this window, by the end of it. It will happen.”
Lampard confirmed no bid had been received from his former club Chelsea for Gordon, after reports the Londoners are set to offer £60m for the England Under-21 forward. “They haven’t bid £60m, so let’s not talk about a number,” Lampard said. “It hasn’t come in, he’s our player and remains so. He’s in the squad for tomorrow. He’s a huge player for us.”
The Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, doubtless with a spring in his step after that 2-1 victory against Liverpool last Monday, is due to speak at 1.30pm.
My mistake, Manchester United won’t be playing in Tiraspol. Good knowledge Jeremy.
@LukeMcLaughlin You can take a few kms off from Manchester to Tiraspol, as no matches are allowed in Transnistria. Looks like it will be in Chişinău... Don't think Nicosia is a short hop either.
— Jeremy Ives 💙🇺🇦 (@JeremyIves) August 26, 2022
Vieira: Palace prepared to "suffer" at Manchester City
In his media conference before a trip to the champions, Patrick Vieira is reminded that Crystal Palace have inflicted Manchester City’s previous two defeats in Premier League Saturday 3pm kick-offs:
“We know the challenge,” Vieira says. “We know how tough and how difficult it is to go there and try to get a result … we have nothing to lose, we will go there prepared to suffer … and [we will] get ready for those couple of chances that we are going to create. We will have to take them.”
Does he want to add players before the window closes? “Yeah, we are a little bit light … we need more numbers, we need more players, and hopefully we will have a couple more come in before the end of the window. But we need the right players. If we don’t [sign anyone else], I’m really happy with the players we have, they are working really hard and really well.”
Vieira is asked if Palace can keep up (in terms of investment) with the big-spending clubs in the top flight including the likes of promoted Nottingham Forest: “We can’t keep up with those football clubs … we know who we are, we are a sustainable football club. We can’t spend the money we don’t have. But that doesn’t stop us bringing in the right players, and being smart … we have shown we can bring in young players who do really well at that level.”
Is he interested in signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka? “There are reports, I won’t speak about a player who is at another football club. We will try to improve the squad.”
And finally on Wilfried Zaha: “He has been fantastic since I’ve joined the club, on and off the field. He is working every day to try and improve … we are talking about how he can improve and do well for the team … he is an important player. You can see the love the fans are showing him every weekend. He came through the system and he loves the club.”
Vieira dodges the question of whether they are speaking to Zaha about a new deal.
Updated
Our snap news report following that Europa League draw:
Eddie Howe believes Alexander Isak possesses the “X factor” to succeed at Newcastle United and is convinced the £59m Sweden striker is ideally suited to the English game.
As the crow flies, it’s 2,370km from Manchester to Tiraspol in Moldova, so that’s a significant trip for Erik ten Hag and the Manchester United boys to be making midweek.
Updated
Here, in somewhat snazzy social media graphic form, is Manchester United’s Group E:
📋 #UEL Group E is complete... #MUFC || #UELdraw
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 26, 2022
I don’t think there’s an obvious group of death, although with Dynamo Kyiv, Rennes and Fenerbahce all being in Group B, that looks tricky to say the least for AEK Larnaca out of pot 4. Group H also looks difficult with Crvena zvezda, Monaco, Ferencvaros and Trabzonspor vying for spots in the knockout rounds.
Updated
And that concludes the draw. Not even one of the special guests denigrated the Europa League as the “Cup of Losers”, as Thomas Helmer did a couple of years back, which remains the most spectacular failure to read the room in the history of football draws.
Free tickets for Joe! Congratulations.
@LukeMcLaughlin I want Arsenal in the same group as PSV because a friend's brother is Johan Bakayoko and I'd get free tickets #Europacupdraw
— Joe Odinga (@joe_odinga) August 26, 2022
Europa League dates
Group stage
Matchday 1: 8 September 2022
Matchday 2: 15 September 2022
Matchday 3: 6 October 2022
Matchday 4: 13 October 2022
Matchday 5: 27 October 2022
Matchday 6: 3 November 2022
Knockout stages
Knockout round play-offs: 16 & 23 February
Round of 16: 9 & 16 March 2023
Quarter-finals: 13 & 20 April 2023
Semi-finals: 11 & 18 May 2023
Final: 31 May 2023
Via Uefa.com: “Matches are generally played on Thursdays (other than the final) and in principle equally split between two time slots: 18:45 CET and 21:00 CET.”
Arsenal’s meetings with PSV won’t be easy, but I reckon both the Gunners and Manchester United should be happy enough with that. What do you think, sports fans?
Europa League group stage draw
Group A: Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Bodø/Glimt, Zurich
Group B: Dynamo Kyiv, Rennes, Fenerbahce, AEK Larnaca
Group C: Roma, Ludogorets, Real Betis, HJK
Group D: Braga, Malmö, Union Berlin, St Gilloise
Group E: Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Sheriff, Omonoia
Group F: Lazio, Feyenoord, Midtylland, Sturm Graz
Group G: Olympiacos, Qarabag, Freiburg, Nantes
Group H: Crvena zvezda, Monaco, Ferencvaros, Trabzonspor
Updated
Pots 1-3 are now settled: Arsenal get Bodø/Glimt of Norway, United will be off to Moldova to play Sheriff.
For Arsenal, Bodø/Glimt looks favourable, PSV does not. Man Utd should be happy enough so far, there were tougher Pot 2 draws than Sociedad …
Group A: Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Bodø/Glimt
Group B: Dynamo Kyiv, Rennes, Fenerbahce
Group C: Roma, Ludogorets, Real Betis
Group D: Braga, Malmö, Union Berlin
Group E: Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Sheriff
Group F: Lazio, Feyenoord, Midtylland
Group G: Olympiacos, Qarabag, Freiburg
Group H: Crvena zvezda, Monaco, Ferencvaros
Updated
Pots 1 & 2 are done: Arsenal have PSV, Manchester United are with Real Sociedad.
Group A: Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven,
Group B: Dynamo Kyiv, Rennes
Group C: Roma, Ludogorets
Group D: Braga, Malmö
Group E: Manchester United, Real Sociedad
Group F: Lazio, Feyenoord
Group G: Olympiacos, Qarabag
Group H: Crvena zvezda, Monaco
Updated
Olympiacos in Group G.
Manchester United are in Group E, Braga in Group D, Lazio in Group F.
Roma in Group C.
Dynamo Kiev in Group B.
Arsenal are first out of Pot 1, and are in Group A.
Updated
Here is Giorgio Marchetti, the man tasked with ensuring they don’t balls it up (of you’ll pardon the pun), and have to do it all again.
And now we are getting some in-depth detail on how the draw works. I’ll be honest and tell you I either can’t be bothered or am literally incapable of expressing all the permutations right now, but there is some impact on the Europa League on the Conference League, especially regarding kick-off times for clubs from the same country. All about keeping the telly people happy, I suppose.
All will become clear – or at the very least, I will tell you as quickly as humanly possible which teams are in which groups.
Updated
The next special guest – or ambassador, as Uefa likes to call them – is former West Brom and Fulham legend Zoltan Gera! Great player, and a personal favourite of mine.
Karl-Heinz “Charly” Körbel is one of Uefa’s special guests for the draw. He played an astonishing 602 times for Eintracht Frankfurt before retiring in 1991. He also got six caps for Germany.
You will remember, of course, that Eintracht Frankfurt beat Rangers on penalties to win the Europa League in May:
Updated
Here we go! The presenter Adriano Del Monte is in charge of proceedings in Istanbul. Bring on the hilarious gags about the man from Del Monte saying yes.
Five-minute warning: The Europa League draw, including Manchester United and Arsenal, will begin shortly.
Chelsea’s Kai Havertz has given an entertaining interview to Sky Sports News. He is asked about the team spirit at the club: “From the first day, Chelsea was … it was strange, when you go to a big club, as a young player you think it’s going to be crazy, they have so many big characters … but I have to say all the staff and players were so close, so friendly … it’s like a big family when you enter the training facilities.”
And he is asked about settling into the culture: ““Chilly” [Ben Chilwell] said strange things to me like geezer … mate … pal … then he said mandem, and I was like “Mate, what are you talking about?”
Updated
From the playing fields of Lewisham and Bromley to the Premier League, south London’s football clubs have nurtured wave after wave of stars. And these players have become proud symbols of a place reshaped by each new generation of migrants.
A podcast about how south London became a talent factory for Black British footballers:
Conference League draw: the teams
West Ham and Hearts are both in the mix. The draw is scheduled to take place at 1.30pm UK time.
Pot 1
Villarreal
Basel
Slavia Prague
AZ Alkmaar
Gent
Istanbul Basaksehir
Partizan
West Ham
Pot 2
CFR Cluj
Molde
FCSB
Fiorentina
Koln
H Beer-Sheva
Apollon
Slovan Bratislava
Pot 3
Nice
Anderlecht
Zalgiris
Austria Wien
Hearts
Shamrock Rovers
Sivasspor
Vaduz
Pot 4
Dnipro-1
Lech
Slovacko
Silkeborg
Djurgarden
Pyunik
RFS
Ballkani
Updated
Howe hopes Isak will sign in time to face Wolves
Eddie Howe is hoping Alexander Isak with add “the X-factor” to his team as Newcastle close in on a club-record signing. The 22-year-old Sweden international was on Tyneside on Friday with a view to completing a move understood to be worth around £58m from Real Sociedad.
On the progress of the deal, Howe said: “It’s not completed. We hope to get it done.”
Asked if Isak could be signed in time to play at Wolves on Sunday, he added: “Yes, fingers crossed. There’s no guarantee with these things because we’re in other people’s hands, but hopefully. He will add those qualities he has - he has pace, technical ability, dribbling ability, he has got a bit of X-factor about him.
“He is slightly different and I think he is capable of scoring goals.” (PA Media)
Sad times for Linfield last night, as they missed out on a historic place in the group stage of the Europa Conference League in the cruellest possible fashion:
Europa League draw: the teams
The teams in the Europa League draw, and the pots, are as follows. It’s coming up in under 40 minutes at 12pm UK time:
Pot 1
Roma
Manchester United
Arsenal
Lazio
Braga
Crvena zvezda
Dynamo Kyiv
Olympiacos
Pot 2
Feyenoord
Rennes
PSV
Monaco
Real Sociedad
Qarabag
Malmö
Ludogorets
Pot 3
Sheriff
Betis
Midtylland
Bodø/Glimt
Ferencvaros
Union Berlin
Freiburg
Fenerbahce
Pot 4
Nantes
HJK
Sturm
AEK Larnaca
Omonoia
Zurich
St Gilloise
Trabzonspor
Updated
The Arsenal head coach, Mikel Arteta, is speaking to the media before tomorrow evening’s Premier League match against Fulham (5.30pm): “The mood is really good, the boys trained really well …”
On the Europa League: “We have to try to win every competition in which we are present ... we will see what the draw brings, and begin to prepare for that as best we can.”
Regarding the rumour that Arsenal may (allegedly) be in danger of breaking Uefa’s FFP regulations: “We are compliant, and I don’t know where that is coming from ... we are very clear with the limitations we have, and how we have to deal with things.”
On reaching his 100th PL match with Arsenal: “Time flies ... it’s such a privilege to be in this football club ... hopefully we can bring joy, and a lot of wins.
What has he learned in those 100 matches? “How difficult, or how beautiful life is, when you win or lose ... every decision counts ... do what you believe in, because in the end it will happen.
“We are human beings ... when you lose football match, and you don’t find a real way to win ... you have to adapt and at the end you have to “feel” what you do, that’s the best way to transmit it to the players and to the supporters, and that is what we’ve tried to do at all times.”
On the in-form summer signing Gabriel Jesus: “We are exceptionally happy with the way he’s settled, with the way he’s performed, and what he’s bringing to the club.”
Arteta is asked about the prospect of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returning to play in London: “With Auba, we wish him the best with whatever he decides for his future.”
Will Arteta have a coffee with Aubameyang if he comes back to London? “Normally, I don’t do that with players.” He smiles.
Updated
Brighton forward Neal Maupay is undergoing a medical ahead of a proposed move to Everton, with Frank Lampard insistent any incomings are not dependent on the sale of Anthony Gordon.
Maupay, who has scored 26 goals in 102 Premier League appearances for Brighton, is currently on Merseyside finalising the transfer and what would be a three-year contract. The French forward could make his Everton debut away at Brentford on Saturday if registered by noon today.
Everton have been in desperate need of additions in attack all summer and have also rejected interest from Chelsea in England under-21 international Gordon. Lampard has denied reports that Chelsea have offered up to £60m for Gordon and that he needs to raise funds to buy in the final days of the transfer window.
“Yes I do (have money to spend),” the Everton manager said. “Things are obviously relative. It’s an area we want to improve and we will improve it by the end of the window. It will happen.”
On Chelsea’s £60m bid for Gordon, he added: “No, that hasn’t come in. He is our player and remains so. He is in the squad for tomorrow. He is a huge player for us and of huge value to the team. He is an Everton boy.”
Lampard revealed Dominic Calvert-Lewin is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a knee injury sustained just before the season and is due to resume training next week. He added: “If he trains in the middle of next week, will he be ready for Liverpool? That will be tough but we can start to look at the games after that.”
Could Marco Asensio become the latest Real Madrid player to head for Old Trafford? Come and get your football transfer rumours, while they are still hot. Courtesy of Gregg Bakowski:
In an interview with Sky Sports, Dejan Kulusevski of Tottenham says he is enjoying playing in the Premier League because the quality of the pitches is so much better than it was in Serie A. Good job, Premier League ground staff across the land.
Scott Arfield of Rangers is having a chat with Sky Sports News now about the Champions League Group A draw – they will face Ajax, Liverpool, Napoli:
“The three of them are amazing cities, so we’re definitely looking forward to going to them but the one that captures the attention is Liverpool because it’s closer to home and we know our following is going to be sensational,” said Arfield. “They’ve been finalists for numerous years, they’re one of the best teams in the world, and now we can show what we’re all about.
“We feel as if we’re in a better position than we were six weeks ago, eight weeks ago [squad-wise] … hopefully if we add one or two more, we’ve got a right chance.”
Updated
Borussia Dortmund “failed bitterly” in the Champions League group stage last season but they are confident of making it through this time, sporting director Sebastian Kehl said. Dortmund were knocked out in the group stage after they finished third with nine points from six games.
Edin Terzic’s side are in Group G this season alongside Premier League champions Manchester City, LaLiga club Sevilla and FC Copenhagen. “We failed bitterly in the group phase last year. We don’t want that to happen to us this year. We have the chance to progress in this group and still have to stretch ourselves because each team will try to give their best performance,” said Kehl.
“It’s not easy in Seville. Very emotional stadium, very, very emotional squad, also with the emotional coaches. And Manchester City is one of the top favourites for this title. So it’s still an exciting group, but I think we’ll approach it in a very positive way and I hope that we’ll definitely get through the group stage.”
A reunion with Norway striker Erling Haaland awaits Dortmund when they face City after the 22-year-old joined moved to Etihad in the close season. The Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel said Haaland will have extra incentive when he faces his former side.
“I’m sure he will come back very, very motivated,” Kobel said. “It’s always the case against your old club. But as I said, we will make it as difficult as possible for him. And we want to win these games.” (Reuters)
Updated
I’ll post some details looking ahead to the Euro draws a bit later, but meanwhile, why not have a squizz at 10 things to look out for in the Premier League this weekend:
Before his Southampton side face Manchester United at St Mary’s tomorrow lunchtime, Ralph Hassenhüttl reckons Erik ten Hag is going to pull it all together and get Manchester United challenging for titles again:
“This is a team that has a new manager - it is not surprising that it doesn’t work immediately everything perfectly,” Hassenhüttl said. “It would be more surprising when they’re immediately flying. I see a very clear identity of what they’re doing now, what they want to do now.
“You are speaking still about a top team that is going for titles and will also do this this season. If you beat Liverpool, this is a big sign, a big message to everybody that they are definitely in a good way and I see the clear identity of what they want to do and after all the problems they had. They will come with a lot of self confidence.” (Quotes via PA Media)
Just in case you missed it yesterday:
Champions League group-stage draw in full
A: Ajax, Liverpool, Napoli, Rangers
B: Porto, Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Bruges
C: Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Internazionale, Viktoria Plzen
D: Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham Hotspur, Sporting, Marseille
E: Milan, Chelsea, Salzburg, Dinamo
F: Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic
G: Manchester City, Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund, Copenhagen
H: Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Benfica, Maccabi Haifa
Preamble
Never mind that the World Cup starts in less than three months: the Champions League draw has been made, the Premier League and Football League is ready to roar back into action this weekend, and the transfer window will close in roughly six-and-a-half days.
Before the standard weekend action, though, the Europa League group stage draw (feat. Manchester United and Arsenal) is due today at 12pm UK time and the Uefa Conference League draw will be coming up later, too. It’s all go.
Luton and Sheffield United kick off the EFL action at 8pm this evening, before Southampton v Manchester United begins the top-flight programme at 12.30pm tomorrow.
Team news, press conference quotes and much more coming up throughout the day including those European draws … let’s begin with Jonathan Wilson’s analysis of yesterday’s Champions League fun:
Updated
