And on that classic tale of a ‘keeper buying some goalposts from his former club in an auction and not knowing how to transport them to his new garden, we’ll close the blog down. Thanks for reading everyone. Enjoy the football this weekend.
Maybe Nick Pope didn’t think this one through carefully enough. Great shot stopper though.
"I thought cross that bridge if I win and now I've won."
— BBC Radio York Sport (@BBCYorkSport) April 16, 2021
If anyone knows how to transport a goal, we think @BurnleyOfficial and @England's Nick Pope would like to hear from you
The former @YorkCityFC goalkeeper won it in the Bootham Crescent auctionhttps://t.co/eaim0zIBbd
Once Ronnie has won the final couple of frames to put away Mark Joyce in the second session of their Crucible opener (7pm), you can keep the Saturday night sporting party going by flicking channels to watch this (8.15pm Sky Sports Premier League).
Fun fact: The leading scorer for Sheffield United has scored more goals (6) this season than the leading scorer(s) for Wolves (5).
It seems a long time ago (it was; these are the reverse fixtures from opening weekend) that Newcastle went to West Ham and won 2-0.
Who’s laughing now (Pablo Fornals is - see 15:32) though? West Ham are flying in the giddy heights of fourth while Newcastle are still hoping that three sides remain worse than them.
Team news and stats for Saturday’s first FA Cup semi (5.30pm BBC One):
“Leading scorer Gündogan 16 (all competitions)“.
Surely a bigger surprise than any quadruple.
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhüttl believes his team can refocus again and continue their excellent form in the FA Cup by beating Leicester in Sunday’s semi-final.
The Saints continue to drift in the Premier League and were beaten 3-0 by West Brom last time.
But in the FA Cup they’ve knocked out holders Arsenal, Wolves and Bournemouth without conceding a goal.
The Austrian boss said: “When we are hungry and when we know what we have to hunt for, then we are strong – and this is what I expect from my team at the weekend.
“The face we have shown so far in the FA Cup was a very good one – and it was not an easy way to go.
“We eliminated the cup holders and then away against Wolves. OK, against Bournemouth maybe it was not the most difficult game, but you have to win there finally to make it in the semi-final.
“When you see what teams are there around – Chelsea, Man City and Leicester – it is for us just now a big success.”
“We had some very good moments this season. We had been very high up in the table for a short term, then we had very big problems with injury.
“Maybe also because we were also focusing a little bit on the cup, selecting the strongest side for the cup games, especially in January and February, that cost us a few injuries.
“But a cup final can definitely turn things 360 degrees around, then it would be a successful season definitely.”
The Manchester City quadruple: just how realistic is it?
According to the bookies, City are now just 9/2 to bag all four trophies.
Pep has been speaking ahead of the next step of the quadruple quest, Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
This is him on it being no problem getting his side to focus after the high of reaching the Champions League semis: “It’s much, much easier. Imagine playing after not qualifying for the semi-final of the Champions League. It would be much tougher.
“Of course I would love to have more days to enjoy our qualification, for recovery and to prepare for the game, but the schedule is the schedule and when you are a contender in all competitions you have to handle this schedule.
“There’s no complaints from us, the guys are training well and on Saturday we face one of the best teams in Europe and try to reach the final.”
Here’s more from Thomas Tuchel ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City.
“We have to admit there is a gap but for 90 minutes we are very self-aware and very self-confident that we believe we can close the gap tomorrow for one game.”
Tottenham are getting in the mood for tonight’s trip to Everton. Victory for Spurs and they go up to sixth, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference. If Everton take all three points, they replace Tottenham in seventh. The Toffees have a game in hand too.
👊 Netting his 𝟭𝟬𝟬𝘁𝗵 and 𝟭𝟬𝟭𝘀𝘁 for Spurs at Goodison.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 16, 2021
⚽⚽ @Hkane #THFC ⚪ #COYS pic.twitter.com/HzHlXrEbyt
Well, at least they look happier than the Blind Date couple from a few weeks ago. 4 out of 10 is never good.
Some incredible and innovative social media being used by Premier League clubs this afternoon.
Always smiling 😄
— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 16, 2021
👍 @pablofornals 👍 pic.twitter.com/X5NK0u5IyN
#FridayFeeling x @OfficialTM_3
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 16, 2021
😁 pic.twitter.com/nQXr3FGQz2
I’m in a quiz mood so here’s another. Since Spurs won the FA Cup in 1991, name the only three teams not called Liverpool, Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea and Man City to have lifted the trophy.
If you get this, you’ve cheated.
Following their 2-1 win at Man City last time out, Leeds could become just the second side in Premier League history to beat the league leaders and the reigning champions (in either order) in consecutive matches if they defeat Liverpool on Monday night.
Name the other (clue: it was in 2010).
Manchester City’s social media team now digging out the vid of the 6-0 Premier League win over Chelsea in 2019.
Last time we faced Manchester City in the #FACup ⏪ 2016...
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 16, 2021
𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/imfj67Ov9p
Sean Dyche will look to extend one of the Premier League’s more surprising sequences when Burnley travel to Manchester United on Sunday.
PRESS | The Clarets are unbeaten in four at Old Trafford - what's the secret? 🤔
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) April 16, 2021
For the record, the only team to avoid defeat in five consecutive Premier League visits to Old Trafford is Chelsea, who did so in six consecutive games between 1994 and 1998.
“Outside the ticket office at Huish Park, bouquets of flowers run seven or eight rows deep. Green and white scarfs, shirts, flags, framed pictures, footballs and teddy bears lie in tribute to Lee Collins, the former Yeovil Town captain who died this month aged 32. Nestled at the back, looming large like a towering centre-back, stands a cardboard cutout emblazoned with the number four and a message, in capitals, from the club’s manager, Darren Sarll. “Lee, our captain, my friend. A leader of men, my ‘go-to’ guy. We’ll miss you running our changing room. I’ll miss you more. Sleep well skip. Gaffer.””
Thomas Tuchel has yet to beat Pep Guardiola in their five meetings. Once again, he’ll be managing the underdog when Chelsea meet Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final.
🗣"We will hunt them and try and close the gap, this is the benchmark."
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 16, 2021
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says from next season he wants his side to close the gap on Manchester City as they are what he calls the benchmark pic.twitter.com/lfPSrCfJyb
Updated
Suzanne Wrack has been talking with with Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy. Take a read:
Sheffield United’s relegation could be confirmed this weekend. Let’s do the math: a draw against Wolves gives them 15 points with six games left. That potential tally of 33 will simply not happen therefore they’re down. I think that clears it up.
A stat which sums up their campaign:
- Sheffield United’s 25 league defeats this season is just one off their record number of defeats in a league season, with the Blades losing 26 times in both 1975-76 (out of 42 games) and 2010-11 (46 games).
Necessity is the mother of invention and all that so interim Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom is looking to change the team’s formation due to a string of injuries.
News emerged this week that Oli McBurnie (fractured bone in his foot) and Billy Sharp (surgery on a thigh problem) will miss the rest of the season.
Sander Berge, Chris Basham, Jack Robinson and Jack Rodwell are all still out while John Fleck (groin) is a doubt for the trip to Wolves on Saturday night.
Heckingbottom went with a midfield diamond in the second half of last weekend’s 3-0 loss to Arsenal and the Blades improved after the reshuffle: so much so that he might do it again.
He said: “If you can’t change the personnel, the system you can change, and we’d be foolish not to look at it.
“In terms of debriefing the games, I think we’ve had a bit of everything. We had chances in the Chelsea game, we certainly had the physical output in the Leeds game but we were open in certain ways.
“Against Arsenal we didn’t create enough, I thought, even though we had more of the ball in the second half. We’re always looking to improve and being able to change the shape is something we could possibly do.
“We seem to get one back and lose two at the minute, that’s just the way it is and tends to be when things don’t go your way.
“We’ve had many discussions about what comes first, is it poor results lead to injuries or injuries lead to poor results?” added Heckingbottom, stroking his chin.
Thanks Luke. Not a nice way to start but here’s some very unpleasant news from Italy.
And with that, I’ll hand you back to David Tindall for more hot-off-the-press-conference updates.
The Norwich manager, Daniel Farke, was speaking to media a while back. Norwich’s website people have kindly made some quotes available. Norwich can seal promotion this weekend if they beat Bournemouth tomorrow night:
“We want to bring it over the line and we want to celebrate sooner rather than later,” said Farke. “We also want to finish unbeaten. We want to win football games. We have not been addicted to the table. We want to make our fans our happy and proud. This is the attitude we will have going in to the game tomorrow as well.
“It is the sad that the fans will not be there, but I am also proud of the supporters because they have followed the guidelines ... I am confident that sometime we will have the time to celebrate and appreciate this amazing step. It is different and disappointment that they will not be there to celebrate with us, but it doesn’t take anything away from the success.”
And a couple of fitness updates: “Emi (Buendia) is fine. His swollen ankle is not a topic and there is no new injury news. Michael McGovern and Adam Idah are back in training. The only negative news is that the season is over for Lukas Rupp as we have assessed his setback and he will be out for five more weeks. Christoph (Zimmermann) is alright. He is doing some work outside. He might be involved in one of the last game days but not before, but we won’t take any risks.”
“Cengo will be available,” enthuses Brendan Rodgers, referring to the winger Cengiz Under, who will be fit to take on Southampton on Sunday if called upon. “He’s trained with the squad this week, so that’s really good news.”
“The importance of a game of this magnitude is clear. We want to arrive in the final, of course, but we can only do that by performing well.”
We’re being treated to some absolute textbook pre-match analysis today and no mistake. These quotes via Leicester’s Twitter.
Updated
The Leicester manager, Brendan Rodgers, is also talking to media now ... quotes to follow:
Brendan Rodgers is currently speaking to the media in his virtual press conference in the King Power Centre at LCFC Training Ground 👨💻
— Leicester City (@LCFC) April 16, 2021
The manager will be discussing Sunday's semi-final, squad fitness and more - stay with us for updates!#FACup #LeiSou pic.twitter.com/hB3P1hsFEl
Grimsby Town manager Paul Hurst has told BBC Radio that Filipe Morais and forward Stefan Payne will not play for the club again after clashing during a match last weekend.
“They remain contracted but won’t play again. The club has dealt with the situation,” Hurst said.
Our story from last weekend:
Marcus Rashford is a doubt for Manchester United’s encounter with Burnley on Sunday.
The manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær said: “[It’s a] big bonus that he didn’t have to put any pressure on his foot [against Granada], yes. I have got to hope he can be available and not make it worse, that is the decision I have got to make, so fingers crossed.
“He wasn’t due to be on the bench really, he didn’t train yesterday [Wednesday] but, just in case, he put his hand up and said if needed, I could do a job. So it is a decision I have got to make on Sunday morning. But he is important for us. It is a difficult one. You have to go by how Marcus feels in a couple of days.” (via ManUtd.com)
Updated
The Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola is speaking now. He says Sergio Agüero isn’t available for tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, but has no fitness updates aside from that.
He is asked about Phil Foden’s goal in midweek, and how he has handled Foden’s development, and gives a typically dismissive answer, saying ‘Football is about what you show on the grass.”
The next question is about Thomas Tuchel, and he’s asked if he is surprised at how quickly the German has made an impact at Chelsea. “No,” Guardiola says, before giving some background of his experiences of Tuchel while he was in Germany - Tuchel was at Mainz, then Borussia Dortmund, while Guardiola was at Bayern Munich. “It only took him one or two games to get Dortmund playing the way he wanted.”
“Every manager play in the way they believe ... Frank [Lampard] did an incredible job in the first season. I admire both, as a person, as a manager ... he [Tuchel] knows I admire him, and how good he is as a manager ... it will be a good battle and I’m ready to face this game.”
What about Man City winning the quadruple? “You know my answer to this lovely question,” Guardiola says. “You always want to talk about the future, the future ... the reality is training today and the game tomorrow ... the rest I don’t care. I couldn’t care less, I would say.”
PEP 💬 He [De Bruyne] is arriving in a good mood. Against Leicester after the international break he was outstanding. He didn’t play against Leeds, I tried to have everyone involved. In Dortmund he played well.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 16, 2021
Updated
A Burnley fitness update: Ashley Barnes, Robbie Brady and Kevin Long remain out, Nick Pope ‘touch and go’ while Dwight McNeil has ‘picked up a knock’.
Dyche gives a squad update. 🤕
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) April 16, 2021
"As regards to people coming back, there's not much change, Ashley Barnes, Robbie Brady and Kevin Long will miss it, Nick Pope is touch and go and Dwight McNeil has picked up a knock."
📺- https://t.co/R0gUwYlt3N#MUNBUR | #UTC pic.twitter.com/6oYuR7srLd
“They’re in good form,” Dyche says of Sunday’s opponents Manchester United. “They have had a good run recently, they have some great players and they’re a great outfit and we know they will cause a threat.”
Updated
“We don’t put crosses into the box, we don’t create chances, we don’t defend well and we don’t defend set-pieces well. We don’t retain possession of the ball, we’re not very fit and we’re not very athletic.”
Who said it? It was, of course, the Ipswich Town manager Paul Cook, who has been talking straight before the lunchtime meeting with Charlton tomorrow.
“What we’ve offered recently, and I include myself in that, is not good enough. It’s absolutely nowhere near good enough,” the Town manager told the Ipswich website. “Whether we endure more short-term pain, we’ll see. Longer term, going forward, this club must and will change. We’re now waiting to see the reaction of the players in terms of who wants to be part of the change.”
Ipswich are ninth in League One and could leapfrog Charlton, who are eighth, with a win in London.
Updated
Thanks David. Time for a fixtures dump, I think, of all the domestic football coming up tomorrow and on Sunday. A reminder that it’s Everton v Spurs tonight in the Premier League (8pm), along with Blackburn v Derby in the Championship, from 6pm.
Saturday, 17 April 2021 (3pm unless stated)
FA Cup Semi-Final Chelsea v Man City (5.30pm).
Premier League Newcastle v West Ham (12.30pm); Wolverhampton v Sheff Utd (8.15pm).
Championship Brentford v Millwall (12.30pm); Luton v Watford (12.30pm); Middlesbrough v QPR (12.30pm); Norwich v AFC Bournemouth (8pm); Nottm Forest v Huddersfield (12.30pm); Reading v Cardiff (postponed); Sheff Wed v Bristol City (12.30pm); Stoke v Preston North End (12.30pm); Swansea v Wycombe (12.30pm).
League One AFC Wimbledon v Swindon (5.30pm); Blackpool v Sunderland (12.30pm); Bristol Rovers v Lincoln City (12.30pm); Burton Albion v Plymouth (12.30pm); Charlton v Ipswich (12.30pm); Hull v Fleetwood Town (12.30pm); Milton Keynes Dons v Portsmouth (12.30pm); Oxford Utd v Gillingham (5.30pm); Peterborough v Northampton (postponed); Rochdale v Accrington Stanley (12.30pm); Shrewsbury v Doncaster (12.30pm); Wigan v Crewe (12.30pm).
League Two Carlisle v Port Vale (12.30pm); Colchester v Walsall (5.30pm); Crawley Town v Cheltenham (postponed); Exeter v Southend (12.30pm); Forest Green v Scunthorpe (12.30pm); Grimsby v Bolton (12.30pm); Harrogate Town v Bradford (12.30pm); Leyton Orient v Barrow (12.30pm); Morecambe v Oldham (12.30pm); Newport County v Cambridge Utd (12.30pm); Stevenage v Mansfield (12.30pm); Tranmere v Salford City (12.30pm).
National League Premier Altrincham v Sutton Utd (4.30pm); Barnet v Aldershot (12.30pm); Chesterfield v Bromley (12.30pm); Dag & Red v Solihull Moors (12.30pm); FC Halifax v King’s Lynn Town (12.15pm); Notts County v Eastleigh (12.30pm); Stockport County v Maidenhead Utd (12.30pm); Wealdstone v Hartlepool (12.30pm); Woking v Wrexham (12.30pm); Yeovil v Boreham Wood (12.30pm).
Scottish Cup Fourth Round Aberdeen v Livingston (5.30pm); Kilmarnock v Montrose (11.45pm); St Johnstone v Clyde (5.30pm).
Scottish Championship Alloa v Raith (12noon); Arbroath v Ayr (12noon); Dunfermline v Queen of South (12noon).
Scottish League 1 Cove Rangers v Falkirk (12noon); East Fife v Peterhead (12noon).
Scottish League 2 Annan Athletic v Brechin (12noon); Cowdenbeath v Stirling (12noon); Edinburgh City v Queen’s Park (12noon); Elgin v Albion (12noon).
Sunday, 18 April 2021
FA Semi-Final Leicester v Southampton (6.30pm).
Premier League Arsenal v Fulham (1.30pm); Man Utd v Burnley (4pm).
Championship Coventry v Barnsley; Rotherham v Birmingham (12pm).
Scottish Cup Fourth Round Rangers v Celtic; Stranraer v Hibernian (12.15pm).
Luke McLaughlin’s back from walking ‘Dulux’ so I shall hand the blog over again.
Updated
Best picture of the week is easy too.
Alexandre Lacazette has come in for much praise from his manager after last night’s two-goal display against Slavia Prague.
Mikel Arteta said: “He missed two big chances in the home game and then you have to see a reaction. That reaction could be with some fear, some doubt or feeling a little bit guilty.
“Or the other one is to have a strong personality and to react, to say, ‘Now I’m going to put them in the back of the net’.
“He’s done that in two games consecutively, being really, really efficient. Then his momentum continues, the form that he’s in continues and it’s really important for the team.”
“In key moments and in big matches, you need players – and senior players who have this experience – to make the difference for you.
“For me, in his style and in his development, even if he’s soon turning 30 years old, he’s on the right path because he’s very willing to learn.
“He’s doing things in a much better way than before. He really glues the team together and that’s a quality that is not easy for a striker. He’s got it.”
In the worst picture of the week category, this effort from Marca is an easy winner.
Real Madrid playing in Merseyside this evening so Marca's front cover has transported them to north-west London. They're not playing QPR 😂 pic.twitter.com/rPKcHM40rR
— Phil Kitromilides (@PhilKitro) April 14, 2021
I mean, where do you start? ‘Semis Road’ must have lost something in translation. And why are the four Real Madrid stars wandering around in London, not Liverpool. Beatles completists will be particularly angered by Marca not even bothering to photoshop Vinicius Junior in bare feet. At least there is still one authentic Beatle in the photo.
Updated
This must surely be the stat of the week. Fully deserving of musical accompaniment.
- Since David Moyes returned to the club, West Ham are unbeaten in all 22 of their Premier League games against sides in the bottom half of the table (W14 D8).
Staying in Scotland and Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack has been ruled out of Euro 2020 after being told he won’t play again for club and country this season due to a calf injury.
Steven Gerrard revealed: “Unfortunately it’s mixed news for Ryan and the bad news is he’s ruled out for the rest of the season, so you won’t see Ryan play for Rangers again this season.
“He’s also ruled out of the Euros this summer, which is bad news for him from a personal point of view and everyone connected with the Scottish game as I think he’s been phenomenal for the national team.
“He was very much looking forward to that so it’s sad news for him. But the good news is that we’ve found a solution and got to the bottom of the problem.”
Jack has missed 68 games through injury since moving to Ibrox in 2017.
For very obvious reasons, Steven Gerrard was delighted to see Arsenal knock Slavia Prague out of the Europa League last night.
Rangers lost to the Czech champions in the previous round, their last-16 clash overshadowed by the racial abuse hurled at Glen Kamara by Slavia defender Ondrej Kudela.
Kudela has been handed a 10-game ban by UEFA for allegedly calling the Gers midfielder a “f***ing monkey” – ruling him out of this summer’s Euros.
“I loved everything about the game. I loved Arsenal’s performance, I loved the way they went about it and I admired how they approached before the game, during the game and after the game,” said the Rangers boss after watching Arsenal complete a 5-1 aggregate triumph with a 4-0 victory.
“I was really proud watching Arsenal last night. Everything about it. I thought the way they prepared for the game, the way the manager spoke, the way the players behaved during and after, and then to back it up with that level of performance. I sat there and really enjoyed that game. I thought it was a sensational performance.”
Attempting (poorly) a dog segue, now to Harry Kane-9.
A stat about the Tottenham striker ahead of the tonight’s game at Everton:
- Harry Kane has scored 10 goals in his last 11 games against Everton in all competitions, including six goals in six appearances at Goodison Park.
Impressive stuff. And history doesn’t bode well for Everton’s current wonky home form.
- Tottenham are unbeaten in their last seven away league games against Everton (W3 D4), since losing three in a row at Goodison Park between January 2011 and December 2012.
- Everton have won just one of their last eight Premier League home games (D2 L5), with the Toffees failing to score more than once in any of these eight games (5 goals in total).
Hello everyone. David Tindall here. I’ll steer the ship for a bit while Luke takes his Old English sheepdog, ‘Dulux’, for a walk.
Here’s a nice video of its great grandad singing ‘My Way’. I reckon if Jose Mourinho heard this he’d warm much more to said hound. Surely a song close to Jose’s heart.
Although rumour has it he prefers Sid’s version.
Updated
The Burnley goalie Nick Pope has had a chat with their official website, before this weekend’s encounter against Manchester United, and he insists this season can still go down as a good one for the club, despite the fact they’re 16th.
“From where we were after seven games you’d have to say we’re in a good position points-wise and have a chance to end the season a good note,” said Pope. “We have put ourselves in a good position to have a good end to the season and then call it a good season and then look forward to next year.”
Sounds good.
Right - I am now handing over to my colleague David Tindall, to steer you through the next little while. Bye for now.
Updated
Where’s the Tottenham team news for tonight, then? It’s a fair question - and thankfully tottenhamhotspur.com has the answer:
“José Mourinho reports that Ben Davies and Matt Doherty are still missing for Friday night’s trip to Everton, while young striker Dane Scarlett has joined them in the treatment room. The teenager limped off injured early in the second half of Tuesday night’s FA Youth Cup defeat to West Bromwich Albion and Jose confirmed that he’s now sidelined.
“Goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman remains out as he recovers from knee surgery. “Matt Doherty and Ben Davies are still out,” the head coach confirmed. Dane Scarlett had a problem in the FA Youth Cup match and (apart from that) everybody is fine.”
Updated
The gloves are off in Scotland:
Rangers defender Borna Barisic has branded John Kennedy’s claims that Celtic are still the best team in Scotland as a “joke”. The Celtic caretaker boss has drawn scorn from the blue half of Glasgow ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup clash by insisting the Hoops remain top dogs.
But now Barisic and boss Steven Gerrard have bitten back, with the Croatia international even dubbing Kennedy’s words disrespectful to the newly crowned Ibrox champions, who remain unbeaten on league duty with just four games remaining.
“I didn’t hear the comments but I read the interview beforehand and I think that is the biggest joke I heard this year,” said Barisic. “They didn’t win against us in three games and we are 20 points in front of them, so it is disrespectful a little bit to us. That’s my comment on that. You need to be in life always realistic. If someone is better and if someone is 20 points in front of you, you just don’t talk like that. It is disrespectful for all the things we do this season.” (PA Media)
While we’re on the subject of Everton, here’s Andy Hunter’s piece from last night. Ancelotti says that signing a midfielder and a striker will not be a priority this summer - because he believes Jean-Philippe Gbamin can make a big impact at Goodison Park once he is clear of injury - and also because Moise Kean remains in his plans, in the absence of an offer from Paris Saint-Germain to make that loan deal permanent.
This 11-day sequence of Premier League games begins with Everton v Spurs tonight. Carlo Ancelotti thus delivered his team news yesterday, and here it is, courtesy of the official Everton website:
“Carlo Ancelotti says Jordan Pickford, Allan, Andre Gomes and Joshua King will be fit to face Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on Friday night but Dominic Calvert-Lewin will miss the game.
“Ancelotti added he expects Calvert-Lewin to be ready to return in the Blues’ match at Arsenal on Friday 23 February, with Yerry Mina, Fabian Delph and Bernard also in contention for the Emirates Stadium clash. Abdoulaye Doucoure remains out with a foot injury.
“In the next week we are going to have Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yerry Mina, Fabian Delph and Bernard,” Ancelotti said. “It will be longer for Gbamin and Doucoure. Gbamin doesn’t need surgery but he will be out for at least eight weeks. The plan for him is to be back for the start of the new season.””
Updated
Manchester City Women meet Aston Villa in the fourth round of the Women’s FA Cup tomorrow, and the coach Gareth Taylor says the Cup, and not the WSL encounter against Chelsea next week - is all they are focusing on.
“I think you can’t look too far ahead. We’ve never done that, I’ve never done that previously,” said Taylor. “I think when you fall into that situation, you’re in big trouble, trying to anticipate, the what ifs. Obviously people are naturally going to have an eye on the remaining WSL games, but for us, the most important game is this game at home against Aston Villa.
“We want to be in the next round, we want to defend our trophy, we won the trophy two years on the bounce, it’s my first trophy that I won here this season, it was an amazing moment and it’s something that we really hold dear to us and we want to be there again.” Taylor added of that WSL Chelsea game: “We’ll be ready. It’s an exciting one to look forward to. But the focus is certainly on Aston Villa at home in the FA Cup on Saturday.” (PA)
Time for some real football news.
“A Champions League quarter-final at Real Madrid was easier to cope with for Joel Veltman than singing Bob Marley to his new teammates,” reports Brighton’s official website.
“The summer arrival from Ajax was a late substitute in one of the biggest upsets in Europe’s top competition when the Dutch giants knocked out the reigning champions on their own turf in 2019. Despite the pressure of such a high-octane game, getting up on stage to sing was more difficult for the defender.
“The first away game you have to sing, I sang Three Little Birds by Bob Marley. I did a horrible job, even though I know every word of it. I got the lyrics up on YouTube just before to make sure I knew them, I got up to sing it and I completely forgot all of it. It was terrible.”
“‘DuluxGate’ - Stop it. Stop it now,” chips in lancaster43.
“It’s an absolute nonsense. If you use Dulux on a gate, you’ll just have to repaint it a few weeks later,” adds promisinglight.
I’m going to brush off all this negativity, even if I feel like I’m walking on eggshells.
So, who’s going to be in the FA Cup final?
This weekend’s semi-final lineup is as follows:
Chelsea v Manchester City (Saturday, 5.30pm)
Leicester v Southampton (Sunday, 6.30pm)
Both Chelsea and Manchester City made it through to the last four of the Champions League this week. It would be quite a feather in Thomas Tuchel’s cap to eliminate Pep Guardiola and City from the cup ... but the bookies have a Manchester City v Leicester City final pencilled in. We shall see.
To clarify the fitness situation on Wilson and Saint-Maximin at Newcastle: both are fit to be in the squad, but Bruce isn’t sure if they will start.
“They’re both available - they’ve both trained, they’re both unscathed since last week when we took the decision to start them on the bench,” he said. “Obviously the clamour is to start the pair of them but we’ve got to look at the situation and manage it because they’ve both been out for a long time with muscle injuries, so we have to guard against it. They both rely so much on their pace and their power. But they’re both available, so that’s good news for everybody concerned.”
Bruce added: “You only have to look at statistics for the two of them to realise that when they’re in the team, we’re simply better. The facts are there in front of you. I think Allan’s only started something like 11 or 12 games this season, and we’ve won six of them. Let’s hope they can stay fit, let’s hope they can go to the end of the season, because we know - and I think everybody knows - that we’re a far better side when they’re in it than when they’re not in it. It’s quite simple.”
A vintage strike from Nick Holmes for Southampton v Liverpool in 1983. And why not? I’ve seen a few sweeter hits in my time, but still a cracking goal:
They don't get much better than this ☄️#OnThisDay in 1983, a Nick Holmes stunner earned #SaintsFC victory over #LFC at The Dell: pic.twitter.com/cngRHEgYHr
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) April 16, 2021
Multiple fitness updates from West Ham here: Aaron Cresswell is doubtful for tomorrow’s trip to Newcastle, with a decision to be made today. As stated, Rice is out, and so is Michail Antonio:
📋 TEAM NEWS@_DeclanRice & @Michailantonio: "We’re not putting a timeframe on Dec or Michail, but we’re hopeful that both will make a contribution before the end of the season."@Aaron_Cresswell: "We’ll decide on Aaron today. He’s a doubt but we hope he’ll be okay."#NEWWHU
— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 16, 2021
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MOYES on RICE - via PA Media:
David Moyes says Declan Rice is making good progress to rejoin West Ham’s bid for Champions League football. England midfielder Rice remains on the sidelines with a knee injury sustained on international duty last month, but West Ham manager Moyes said: “Declan’s been training really well. It’s all gym-based at the moment. He’s working really hard in the gym because he wants to get back as quick as he can. He’s obviously got other reasons, he knows he’s got the Euros coming up in the summer as well. As you can imagine for any club to lose Declan Rice would be a big blow, but at the moment we’ve been able to carry it and I hope we can continue to do so.”
West Ham visit Newcastle tomorrow with wins over Wolves and Leicester taking them back into the top four. Victory on Tyneside would move them above Leicester, who are in FA Cup semi-final action on Sunday, and into third ahead of next weekend’s home game with fifth-placed Chelsea.
“We’re just trying to pick up the points and we’ll worry about the Chelsea game when it comes around,” Moyes said, when asked if climbing into the top three would strike a psychological blow ahead of that London derby. If we keep that going, who knows? Of course I’d be disappointed (to miss out on the top four) because I want to try and make it. But I’m not going to weigh the players down with the expectation that they should be making the Champions League. That would be completely unfair on our squad and players that most people would probably have put us just outside the bottom three or four. But if I don’t keep pushing those teams hard then I would be disappointed. We’re going to try and pull out results as much as we can. I want to take it as long as I can, right to the end and see where we end up.”
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I am pretty keen to know who is heading up the investigation into DuluxGate, and also, how the investigation is progressing. Maybe it’s a job for Jim Bergerac? If you have any inside info, do get in touch via the usual channels.
Over on Crystal Palace Twitter, it’s a big thumbs up for these Friday training photos. Keep it simple 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
👍#CPFC | https://t.co/utMcYSDkhb pic.twitter.com/aJIX5kMAeP
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 16, 2021
The Eagles have a luxurious 16-day break between fixtures - they last played Chelsea last Saturday, losing 4-1, and next up, it’s Leicester on Monday week in the Premier League.
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More Steve Bruce - this time, looking to Newcastle’s match against West Ham tomorrow lunchtime: “We need to get to the levels we were at the last time at St. James’ against Spurs when we played arguably the best we have all season. If we can get a result to go nine points clear before other teams play - it would everybody a lift.”
On Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schär: “Jamaal is frustrated as hell and is in a boot, unfortunately. He needs time but he hasn’t ruled himself out of the season yet so let’s hope he can have a speedy recovery. Fab is making good progress and is doing very, very well.”
These hot-off-the-press quotes are courtesy of Newcastle’s official Twitter feed.
“The news about Darren Moore is really sad,” comments MrGarethE, “and also shows the fragility of our possible steps to a return to ‘normality’. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.”
Hear, hear, Gareth. Get well soon Darren Moore.
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Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette got up close and personal with the Slavia Prague team when taking the knee before last night’s Europa League encounter - with the full backing of the head coach Mikel Arteta, as you can see from this video:
On a related note, there was a bizarre outburst yesterday from a Czech government official, Vratislav Mynar, who hit out at Uefa for the 10-game ban received by Ondrej Kudela for racism against Rangers -
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The Newcastle boss Steve Bruce pours a bit of praise on defender Federico Fernández, who had a fine game in that 2-1 win over Burnley: “The one thing about Fede is he’s a great pro. He’s always the first in, the first in the gym - he’s immaculate in his preparation. It didn’t surprise me he did so well and we needed him at Burnley. I was delighted for him.”
Hot press conference update!
Steve Bruce says ‘there’s a decision to be made’ on the Newcastle forwards Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin, who have both had muscle injuries to look after this week:
🎙 Steve Bruce speaks to the media ahead of #NEWWHU:
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 16, 2021
"Wilson and Saint-Maximin have trained all week so they're both OK. They've both had muscle injuries and they're the most difficult to manage because they both rely on explosive pace and power. There's a decision to be made." pic.twitter.com/GDHYQzpouu
Newcastle host West Ham at 12.30 tomorrow - Saint-Maximin almost single-handedly won last weekend’s match against Burnley so Newcastle fans will be hoping he’s fit, and for more of the same.
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Scotland news here, courtesy of PA Media’s relentless news machine:
Ryan Jack has been ruled out of Scotland’s Euro 2020 campaign, Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has confirmed. The Ibrox midfielder has struggled with a persistent calf issue and has been told by a top London specialist he requires an operation next week, meaning he will play no part for Steve Clarke’s squad this summer.
Gerrard said: “Unfortunately it’s mixed news for Ryan and the bad news is he’s ruled out for the rest of the season, so you won’t see Ryan play for Rangers again this season. He’s also ruled out of the Euros this summer, which is bad news for him from a personal point of view and everyone connected with the Scottish game as I think he’s been phenomenal for the national team.
“He was very much looking forward to that so it’s sad news for him. But the good news is that we’ve found a solution and got to the bottom of the problem. All being well in terms of his rehab from the procedure that he will have next week, he should be due to return in pre-season at some stage.”
Another worrying bit of news, this time from the Championship: The Sheffield Wednesday manager, Darren Moore, will take a further period of leave after developing complications from Covid-19, including pneumonia and blood clots on his lungs:
Another quick one from last night, if you missed it - it’s going to be Unai Emery and Villarreal v Mikel Arteta and Arsenal in the last four of the Europa League. Spicy!
Chris Smalling and Roma will be facing Manchester United in the last four, in a similarly seismic reunion. On which note, worrying reports are emerging via La Gazzetta dello Sport that Smalling and his family were robbed at gunpoint overnight at their house in central Rome. More on that when we get it.
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What’s going on on the continent this weekend, I hear you cry. A quick round-up of fixtures in Italy, Germany and Spain here -
Serie A fixtures
Saturday: Crotone v Udinese, Sampdoria v Hellas Verona, Sassuolo v Fiorentina, Cagliari v Parma Sunday: Milan v Genoa, Lazio v Benevento, Atalanta v Juventus, Bologna v Spezia, Torino v Roma, Napoli v Internazionale Tuesday: Hellas Verona v Fiorentina
Bundesliga fixtures
Friday: RB Leipzig v Hoffenheim Saturday: Borussia M’gladbach v Eintracht Frankfurt, Wolfsburg v Bayern München, Freiburg v Schalke 04, Union Berlin v Stuttgart, Augsburg v Arminia Bielefeld, Bayer Leverkusen v Köln Sunday: Borussia Dortmund v Werder Bremen, Mainz 05 v Hertha BSC Tuesday: Köln v RB Leipzig, Bayern München v Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt v Augsburg, Arminia Bielefeld v Schalke 04
La Liga
Saturday: Copa del Rey final - Athletic Club v Barcelona Sunday: Osasuna v Elche, Real Sociedad v Sevilla, Deportivo Alavés v Huesca, Atlético Madrid v Eibar, Real Betis v Valencia, Cádiz v Celta de Vigo, Getafe v Real Madrid, Levante v Villarreal
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England Under-21 news - manager Aidy Boothroyd to leave his role:
And here, also from yesterday, is Louise Taylor on #DuluxGate. Would Farrow and Ball’s social media operation ever have been responsible for such a crime? Not a chance, surely.
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Apropos of the cash-crazed Champions League, here’s Jonathan Wilson on Manchester City v Paris Saint-Germain, AKA the ‘sportwashing derby’:
If you missed last night’s European action, here are the match reports as Arsenal and Manchester United both breezed into the semi-finals of the “Loser’s Cup”, as Franz Beckenbauer used to call the Uefa Cup (according to Thomas Helmer).
“The next step is to get to a final, win a trophy, get over the line. That is the aim,” said Ole Gunnar Solskjær. “I can see the hunger and motivation in the players.”
Important story here from PA, about fans’ groups protesting the proposed changes to the Champions League:
Arsenal and Manchester United supporters’ groups have accused their own clubs of being involved in a “blatant power grab” over plans to reform the Champions League. The clubs are part of the European Club Association (ECA), which meets on Friday to see if it can sign off on UEFA’s plans which would increase the number of Champions League matches from 125 to 225.
The ECA’s chairman Andrea Agnelli has described the new format, where each team would play at least four extra group stage matches compared to now, as “ideal”. UEFA’s proposals also controversially include plans which would effectively provide Europe’s most successful clubs with a safety net should they miss out on qualification via domestic performance. However, it is understood some ECA members are still pushing for greater commercial control of the new competition.
An open letter to Agnelli, signed by 17 fans’ groups from 14 clubs who are represented on the ECA board, read: “We are writing to you on behalf of them and millions of others across the continent who you have chosen to ignore in your attempt to take over European football. Your plans to restructure the Champions League by increasing the number of games, introducing qualification based on past achievements, and monopolising commercial rights present a serious threat to the entire game.”
The letter continued: “Instead of realising your supposed goal of ‘building a successful, sustainable, and socially responsible football industry’, you will only make the gap between the rich and the rest bigger, wreck domestic calendars, and expect fans to sacrifice yet more time and money. All for the benefit of whom? A handful of already wealthy clubs, investment firms, and sovereign funds, none of which have the legitimacy to decide how football should be run. Even most ECA members stand to lose out from the proposed reforms. Such a blatant power grab would be indefensible at the best of times, but at the height of a global pandemic, it is nothing more than crisis profiteering - not to mention a stark contrast to the solidarity displayed by fans.”
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As if poor old José Mourinho didn’t have enough problems, one of his former charges, Paul Pogba, has taken aim at the Portuguese’s man-management:
“Once I had a great relationship with Mourinho. Everybody sees that and the next day you don’t know what happened. That’s the strange thing I had with Mourinho. And I can not explain to you because, even me, I don’t know.”
Tuchel v Guardiola at Wembley, Leicester need Covid trio back, and Jürgen Klopp’s front-three selection problems - here are 10 things to look out for in the FOOTBALL this weekend:
Preamble
Will the football ever end? It will not, as far as the Premier League is concerned, for the next 11 days. Tottenham travel to Everton in the domestic top flight this evening, ushering in an almost two-week daily run of Premier League football, concluding when Leicester meet Crystal Palace on Monday, 26 April.
So yes, there’s a lot of football, but needless to say, it doesn’t stop at the Premier League. Chelsea meet Manchester City in an FA Cup semi-final tomorrow, before Leicester take on Southampton in the second semi-final on Sunday evening. There are four Premier League ties to be played over the weekend, along with increasingly crucial fixtures in the Championship and Leagues One and Two, as the season speeds towards its conclusion.
There are also Women’s FA Cup ties to be played - Chelsea Women meet London City Lionesses tonight and Manchester City Women face Aston Villa Women tomorrow, before the vast majority of the fourth-round fixtures are played on Sunday.
And of course there is action in Scotland, across Europe, and the burning question of the week: who was responsible for the Tottenham-goading tweets emanating from the official Dulux account yesterday, and when will they be brought to justice? The investigation continues. In recognition of the impending Premier League feast, let’s kick off with some Mitchell and Webb, because it just never gets old, does it?
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