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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Tumaini Carayol and David Tindall

Weekend football countdown: Nuno to leave Wolves and build-up to season finale – as it happened

Nuno Espírito Santo is to leave Wolves at the end of the season.
Nuno Espírito Santo is to leave Wolves at the end of the season. Photograph: Jack Thomas - WWFC/Wolves/Getty Images

And that’s about it for today. Thanks for reading everyone. Bye for now and enjoy the weekend.

Updated

Harry Kane’s urgency to score on Sunday is fuelled by another motive: winning the Golden Boot.

He’s neck and neck with Mo Salah going into Game 38. Both players have won it twice previously.

22 Harry Kane (Spurs)
22 Mo Salah (Liverpool)
18 Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)

Is it too romantic to think that Harry Kane will sign off with a goal against Leicester? For those with bricks for hearts, here’s some more palatable facts which suggest it could be on the cards.

Kane nets against Leicester again.
Kane nets against Leicester again. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/AP
  • Harry Kane has scored seven goals on the final day of the Premier League season – only Andrew Cole (9), Les Ferdinand (9) and Matthew Le Tissier (8) have scored more such goals in the competition.
  • Harry Kane has scored more Premier League goals against Leicester than he has vs any other opponent (14 in 11 games). Seven of these goals have come in six games at the King Power Stadium, including a four-goal haul in May 2017.

Updated

If you want to watch Harry Kane playing golf with Gary Neville as well as other stuff such as discussing his future, this is for you.

Some stats for the final round of Premier League games. They could mean something or they could mean nothing at all.

  • Chelsea have lost their final league game in just one of the last nine campaigns (W6 D2), going down 0-3 at Newcastle in 2017-18.
  • Liverpool have won their final league game in each of the last four seasons, their longest such run since winning their season finale in 13 consecutive campaigns between 1907-08 and 1923-24.
  • After winning their final league game in seven consecutive seasons between 2008-09 and 2014-15, Leicester have failed to win any of their last five season finales (D3 L2), with one of those defeats coming against Tottenham.

This is nice.

Warm up for ‘Pointless’ by trying our quiz...

Leeds are assured of a top-half finish. But if results really go their way on Sunday, Marcelo Bielsa’s side could finish as high as seventh.

Pablo Hernandez and Gaetano Berardi will both leave the club at the end of the season and Bielsa has been waxing lyrical.

They’ve been a reference for Leeds, for the team, for the squad, for the fans. Two excellent professionals, great teammates and footballers who have been very influential and decisive.

Sincerely throughout the three years I have had great respect for how they go about their profession and football wise they have a lot of ability too.

For the club, we have great sadness that they will no longer be part of the institution. It’s a homage that they totally deserve, it’s by chance that they are able to play in front of fans in the last game of the season.

West Ham are on the brink of finishing sixth. They need a point at home to Southampton to be certain. Match preview here:

Police have cleared Rangers players of “criminality” after investigating claims that members of the Ibrox squad used “sectarian language” during last week’s title celebrations.

A probe was launched after TikTok footage emerged of players and others singing inside a function suite.

Police Scotland said in a statement: “In relation to a video circulating on social media showing Rangers players allegedly using sectarian language on Saturday 15 May, extensive enquiries have been carried out and no criminality has been established.”

(Via PA)

A brief dip into League One. Sunderland on the brink of spending a fourth straight season there.

Aston Villa v Chelsea preview. Can Jack Grealish do Leicester and Liverpool a favour? And will it be his last game for the club?

Atletico boss Diego Simeone saying some of his favourite words.

Real Madrid’s squad for their final game against Villarreal. No Eden Hazard.

A reminder that if they win and leaders Atletico draw, Real would be crowned champions on their superior head-to-head record (the first tiebreaker) having beaten Diego Simeone’s side 2-0 earlier this season. The other game was drawn 1-1.

Liverpool have beaten Crystal Palace by a combined 11-0 over their last two meetings. Here’s a preview of Sunday’s game. Diogo Jota is back in the Reds’ squad after his foot injury wasn’t as bad as first feared.

(Copy and paste) Naby Keita is named but remains a doubt.

Here’s The Fiver. Remember to share those maltesers when watching this weekend’s big football action.

What next for Wolves? Former Benfica boss Bruno Lage is emerging as Nuno’s potential replacement.

Perhaps the biggest potential storyline on Sunday is departing Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson ruining the Champions League hopes of his former club Liverpool.

Here’s a reflective Roy, now 73, on what could be an emotional day.

Roy ready to say farewell.
Roy ready to say farewell. Photograph: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

We might not get out of Anfield if we win, that could be the only problem. We might be locked in the dressing room for a good while. But we are an honest bunch here, there’s no doubting that. I don’t know if we can be good enough to go up to Anfield and win, but I do know that whatever 11 players put that Crystal Palace shirt on they will be busting a gut to win.

There have been so many touching gestures that I have experienced these last couple of days. There’s no doubt that my departure from Crystal Palace, the way it’s been handled and the way people have reacted to it, will live very long in the memory.

I could not have expected it to be as good as it’s been, I’ve been humbled by it. It’s nice to know when you step aside from Palace after four years, and maybe even step aside from football after 45-and-a-half years, that you’ve been appreciated for what you’ve done in the game. I’m really proud of that.

Updated

Protests against the Glazers have been stepped up with Manchester United staff receiving an email on Friday from “The Fans” which strongly criticises the owners.

Some Chelsea team news for Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa.

Good news for Andreas Christensen who has recovered from a leg tendon issue but Kai Havertz and N’Golo Kante face late fitness tests.

Tuchel: “Andreas Christensen will be in the squad. Kai did a test today and will be testing in team training tomorrow. And with N’Golo it’s going to be very close. Still some hopes he maybe joins team training tomorrow – but if not then he will join on Monday.”

Chelsea face Manchester City in the Champions League final in Porto on May 29th.

Some golfers in contention for victory claim they don’t watch leaderboards (click here for Scott Murray’s live hole-by-hole US PGA blog by the way).

So what about managers and Champions League spots? Will Thomas Tuchel, Jürgen Klopp and Brendan Rodgers all have one earphone tuned into 5 Live?

Tuchel is open to getting updates:

Tuchel wants to know.
Tuchel wants to know. Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC/Getty Images

For a long period of the game I will for sure be in a bubble. If in the end there are results that influence the amount of risk we should take, need to take, whatever, because we are not leading, or not comfortable or whatever, then we need to know.

We also need to be professional. I prefer not to know, but if it’s necessary we need to know then we will, to adapt our risk management during the game. First of all we approach the game like the game against Leicester. It’s in our hands, and we can decide things with a win.

So we prepare to win it, but as you know in a football match there can be a lot of twists and turns, so we have to be ready for everything, both on our pitch and on other pitches.

Updated

Surprise, surprise, Nuno Espirito Santo is now being quoted as a big odds-on favourite to be next Spurs manager following his exit from Wolves.

Some bookies are as short as 3/10 that Nuno takes over at Tottenham. Ryan Mason can be backed at 33/1. Nah.

Liverpool have a controversial orange trim on their new home kit and Everton have also gone with that colour on their away strip. They’re officially calling their sash “burnt orange”.

Here’s Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers on Sunday’s home game against Spurs.

As for team news, Jonny Evans is absent with a heel injury.

Rodgers: “Jonny will miss out. Everyone else that was available the other night will be available for this game.”

All You Wanted To Know About Final Day But Were Afraid To Ask...

West Ham boss David Moyes doing that thing where you really want something but try and sound all cool about it.

On Jesse Lingard: “I couldn’t say any more than I’m hopeful Jesse might want to come here, that’s up to Manchester United. But he’s been a positive signing.”

Updated

Brighton boss Graham Potter doesn’t seem interested in the managerial merry-go-round. His current deal runs until 2025 and he’s got his Project head on.

I don’t pay too much attention to things that are outside of my control, things that get written, or speculation.

I am focused on this job, trying to finish the season off as strongly as we can. I am excited by the team, I am excited by the club, so I just focus on that.

It (the Tottenham job) is nothing I have considered. I have got a contract here. I am committed to this, we’ve got a lot to do, we’re just at the start of what we’re doing.

Updated

Some early odds on the next Wolves manager. Nod, laugh, discuss away...

3/1 Paulo Fonseca (current Roma boss)
7/1 Bruno Lage (former Benfica manager)
7/1 Scott Parker
8/1 Eddie Howe
9/1 Frank Lampard
10/1 Pedro Martins (current manager of Olympiakos)
10/1 Rafa Benitez
12/1 Sean Dyche
14/1 Roberto Martinez
14/1 Patrick Vieira
16/1 Steven Gerrard
16/1 Steve Cooper
20/1 Chris Wilder
20/1 John Terry
25/1 Gareth Southgate

(Via Sky bet)

Updated

Here’s Man City boss Pep Guardiola talking about two big-name strikers.

On being linked with Harry Kane: “He’s a player for Tottenham. It is not correct for me to talk about that.”

On Sergio Aguero: “I cannot add anything to the numbers (he’s City’s record goalscorer with 258) – his performances when he was fit were incredible. I am sure the 10,000 fans in the stadium will want to pay tribute for all the fans around the world. (One whether he’ll play) Tomorrow we’ll decide. As much as he can play he will play. He trained today and yesterday a little bit.”

Farewell Sergio.
Farewell Sergio. Photograph: Matt McNulty - Manchester City/Manchester City FC/Getty Images

Nuno did good things off the pitch too. From the Wolves website...

“Wolves Foundation have launched Feed Our Pack, an initial £500,000 project that aims to help reduce the effects of food poverty and support residents of Wolverhampton who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The project, which will run for an initial three-years, has been made possible by a £250,000 grant from the Premier League PFA Community Fund and a generous personal donation of £250,000 from Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.”

Does Nuno’s departure spark a managerial merry-go-round? Watch out for incoming tweets/odds from bookies about ‘next Wolves boss’ and, possibly, ‘next Spurs manager’. Nuno in the frame for Tottenham?

Here’s a tweet from Wolves about Nuno’s departure - one which has taken many by surprise.

More on Nuno leaving...

He spent four seasons in charge at Molineux, earning promotion from the Championship and guiding the club to the quarter-finals of the Europa League after the first of back-to-back seventh-placed finishes in the Premier League.

But this season has been a trying one for Wolves. They start the final day in 12th spot and could drop further.

Nuno has released this statement:

We achieved our goals, we did it with passion and we did it together. Firstly, I want to thank the supporters, who have all played such an important part in helping us reach new heights for Wolves, and the people of the city, who embraced us and made us feel at home.

I, of course, want to thank all of the staff at Wolves, for their support and total commitment, every single day.

Most importantly, I want to thank each and every player that we’ve worked with since the day we started, for their loyalty, their dedication, hard work and talent. They are the ones who have made this amazing journey possible for us.

Sunday will be a very emotional day, but I am so happy that the fans will be back in Molineux and we can share one last special moment together, as one pack.

Updated

Nuno Espirito Santo to leave Wolves

Breaking news: Wolves have announced that Nuno Espirito Santo will leave after Sunday’s season finale against Manchester United.

Nuno is leaving.

Never ones to miss a trick, Sunday is a chance for clubs to unveil next season’s kit. Good acting from Diogo Jota here. The orange trim... Hmmm. Well, Virgil van Dijk should like it. Gini Wijnaldum too, before he does one this summer.

And Smith must score...

And, of course, Scott Parker/Mike Skinner would rap the middle eight. This could work quite well...

Lots of Premier League managers speaking at the moment. Perhaps they should all get together and release a record/perform a play. Graham Potter, who used to encourage such activities, would surely be behind it. Here he is ahead of Brighton’s trip to Arsenal.

Thanks Tumaini. I’ll keep it simple to start and point you towards a match preview.

That’s all from me today. Thanks for following. David Tindall will be in charge for the rest of the afternoon.

Ryan Mason responds to questions about Harry Kane’s future.

Here is the Sports quiz of the week:

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says that Harry Maguire, who is no longer on crutches, probably won’t play in the Europa League final against Villarreal:

“He’s walking but it’s a long way from walking to running so, to be honest, I don’t think we’ll see him in Gdansk, no,” he said. But, as I’ve said so many times, I’m going to give him until Tuesday night, the last training session, and see if he can try to be out there. Steadily but surely he’s improving but ligaments they take time to heal.”

Solskjaer then reiterated the importance of Maguire:

“He’s a very important person in the dressing room and a leader. Before the fans came in, I think you all heard him from the stands. He does still want the team to do well, of course, he’s organising even from the stands, which has been easy because it’s been so quiet. So, he’ll come, he’ll be in the dressing room, he’ll make sure everyone’s ready for the final.”

(via PA)

Updated

Here is our story on the eight arrests after a Tottenham player received online racist abuse.

More from Harry Kane, who spoke about his disappointment that Tottenham could’t push on and take the next step:

“I’ve been at Tottenham since I was 11 years old, over half of my life there. A lot of ups and downs along the way. Things didn’t start great for me there and I had to work extremely hard to get to where I am but yeah just love the club. Love the fans. Obviously this season has been a little disappointing from my club’s point of view but we’ve had some good years over the last five or six years now, I guess we just got to see where that goes.”

“I feel [Pochettino’s years] was a big opportunity for us. We had a title race for Leicester obviously, we didn’t quite get there the season after with the title race with Chelsea. Season after that we get to that Champions League final so we were in a real good place. Of course we didn’t win anything and we couldn’t quite get over the line but I feel like we was in a real good place with the team.”

“For one reason or another we didn’t quite do what we needed to do and where we’re at now, I feel like we’re kind of at a rebuild stage again if I’m honest. It’s disappointing, I feel like the opportunity was definitely there. I’m not going to say it’s not there anymore of course, [in] football one or two good players can take the team over the line with Liverpool and City and teams like that, but for sure I feel like it was an opportunity missed for the club to do something special.”

Klopp on the intensity of chasing the top four:

“It’s really intense for everybody... We all can’t wait getting back some normality. That they’re able to go outside, go inside, have a lunch, dinner, beer or something else. It’s really intense - we’re not used to that, being restricted in all parts of our private life and it influenced our professional life as well. For you, the same like it is for us.

Yes, it would be great if we could do it but it’s not done yet. It was intense, but who cares. We are here and we have one game to go. We’re full of optimism, positivity, whatever you want. If we had to play the game and we had no chance for anything it’s just intense, but it’s really exciting as well and that’s the way we see it.”

More from Jürgen Klopp:

“It was a strange season, nothing will change that. It was an intense season, nothing will change that. But we have it now win our hands to make a top, top finish of the season. But it’s not done yet, there’s an opponent and it’s football. Anything can happen. That’s why we’re really not close to any kind of celebration or something. We’re really only focused on the 95 minutes we play.”

Updated

From Lyon:

Updated

Jürgen Klopp ahead of Liverpool’s final day game against Crystal Palace, where Liverpool will be hoping to secure their top four spot.

“I’m really used to stress until the last matchday. What did we do [to recover in the league]? We just found stability, created confidence again and got it back, scored goals in the right moment and conceded lesser.”

“All the numbers have nothing to do with Sunday - these kinds of games, when three games are that important, you can have pretty much everything. I think it really makes sense to know about that before you start the game. Nobody should expect the perfect game in the sense of early lad and all these kind of things. You have to fight for it. I respect Crystal Palace too much, what they want to give Roy in his last game, maybe, as a manager. I’m pretty sure they want to give absolutely everything.”

Harry Kane’s full interview with Gary Neville released

A full interview is now available. An interesting quote on the differences between Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino:

“It was pretty much completely different, if I’m honest. Just in the style of play, the way they set up, the different tactical training we would do. Obviously, Mauricio we did a lot of gym work, it was a lot gym base whereas Jose wasn’t so much into that. But Jose obviously expected us to be men and expected us to act like men on the pitch, have leaders on the pith. To be honest, that’s probably where it didn’t quite work out with Jose. We didn’t quite have enough leadership that we needed at the time.”

On Mourinho’s relationship with sports science:

“It’s not like [he is] against it. It’s not like he says I don’t want you to it but it wasn’t what he thought of doing first and foremost. It was more on the pitch: this is what we need to do, this is how we need to set up, training on the pitch. And then he almost left you to be professional outside of it, he didn’t kind of look after it and babysit it.

“We still had gym sessions, like sports science guys would put stuff on. But he wouldn’t, he expected that almost. We’re professional footballers; he shouldn’t have to tell us to do gym it should be a given.”

In an earlier clip, Kane said that he hoped to have a “good, honest conversation” with Daniel Levy about his future as he potentially looks to move on from Tottenham. Kane also said in the interview that moving abroad doesn’t currently interest him.

Updated

Bruno Fernandes gets the Sir Alex Ferguson seal of approval.

Dean Smith on Jack Grealish, who started in Aston Villa’s win over Tottenham after months on the sideline due to a shinbone injury: “He’s getting up to full fitness, he showed a real confidence in his performance at Tottenham and hopefully we will see more of that on Sunday.”

From Ciarán Brennan, who is finding optimism in the simple things:

I can’t help but be pessimistic about the final weekend of La Liga. Even if Athletico do finally lance the dying whale of Madrid. Can they really take much satisfaction from crawling over the line? They should have won this by miles weeks ago.

And this is before we even mention all three of the clubs involved were Superleague supporters. Doesn’t seem to be much dissent from Spanish fans in that regard. Sevilla falling off was particularly sad when you account for all this.

Still, there is reason for optimism. My porridge was quite nice this morning.

My two cents: given what we know about Diego Simeone’s team, I think they would probably take even more satisfaction from this season if they win after their struggles over the past few months. If there is one thing Atleti enjoy, it is suffering.

Here is Will Unwin on Sergio Aguero.

A new signing for Wolves. Castore currently sponsor Rangers and, in tennis, Andy Murray.

In addition to Morgan’s retirement, Leicester City have also announced that Christian Fuchs and Matty James will leave at the end of the season.

Wes Morgan to retire

Leicester City’s captain will retire after this season. Morgan, 37, led Leicester to their Premier League title in 2016 and he has played 324 games for them.

Updated

A new summer saga begins?

Callum Wilson was named Newcastle United’s player of the year. Steve Bruce on his star striker:

“He’s got a dozen goals in 26 appearances which proves how valuable he is. He’s a really good player and we’ve seen his importance to the team. Let’s hope he can stay well. At the moment we look a very decent team going forward.”

The Metropolitan Police have arrested eight men after an unnamed Tottenham player received a large amount racist abuse following their 3-1 loss to Manchester United on April 11th:

Detective Sergeant Matt Simpson said:

“This action makes it abundantly clear that police will not stand for racist thuggery, even if it is committed online. The posts, all of which were on Twitter, were vulgar and were utterly unacceptable. There is no safe haven for this type of abusive behaviour and we are committed to taking decisive action to root it out.”

Joe Willock, 21, became the youngest player to score in six consecutive Premier League games during Newcastle’s 1-0 win against Sheffield United on Wednesday, which has naturally led to ample discussion about his future.

Steve Bruce respectfully hinted that he will be looking to see if he can permanently secure the Arsenal loanee:

“We always said that it was a double-edged sword, and we have to respect that he is Arsenal’s player We’ll see over the summer whether we can test their resolve, but as I said from day one, I’d like to thank Mikel and Steve Round and the football side of it because they were instrumental in getting me him and letting us borrow him for a few months. It’s been great. He’s been great for us, he’s been great for Newcastle. He’s done well and propelled himself into - when I see what he’s done in the last few weeks and the names who have scored six in six, it’s quite remarkable, so well done to Joe.”

Mikel Arteta, however, doesn’t seem too keen to see him go:

“I’m really happy things have gone so well for him because of the potential Joe had. I think it was great for him to go away and have a different experience.

“He has grabbed that opportunity in a really positive and remarkable way. He will be back with us, we will have those conversations with him and plan the next few years for him.”

(via PA)

Updated

10 things to look out for on this final weekend.

Nick Ames’ take on Harry Kane and Tottenham-Leicester:

“If Harry Kane really is making his Tottenham swansong at the King Power Stadium, he will have wished it could come with stakes rather higher than a fraught battle to cling on to seventh place. The emotions will be inescapable and the motivation to provide one last star turn presumably huge. Winning at such a difficult venue would be bittersweet for Kane and Spurs, given how costly the collapse of their away form has been to their campaign, with only two wins in their last nine.”

Ligue 1 will also have a nail-biter of a finale, with PSG trailing Lille by one point ahead of the final games at 8pm on Sunday:

  1. Lille - 80 points (Goal difference +40)
  2. PSG - 79 points (Goal difference +56)
  3. Monaco - 77 points (Goal difference +34)

Lille face 9th place Nice at home, while PSG are against 16th Brest away. Goal difference is the first tiebreaker. Monaco are still technically in the race but they are unlikely to overcome the goal difference. Ligue 1’s final matches all take place on Sunday at 8pm.

Updated

Of course, we don’t only pay attention to events in this country. There is still much to be decided across the continent. We will finally see the conclusion of this La Liga race in which Atletico seemed to blow their chance at another league title early in 2021, but they have recovered admirably as both Real Madrid and Barcelona failed to make up sufficient ground. They held onto their top spot in high drama last week after a late winner from Luis Suarez against Osasuna.

How things stand:

  1. Atletico Madrid - 83 points
  2. Real Madrid 81 points
  3. Barcelona 76 points
  4. Sevilla 74 points

Atletico Madrid are fortunate to be up against Valladolid, a team that has shown minimal fight over the past weeks as they have dipped deeper into the relegation zone. Real Madrid face 7th place Villarreal. The first tiebreaker when two teams are tied on points is their head-to-head. Due to Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Atletico earlier in the season, Real Madrid would win the title should the two clubs finish with the same number of points so this is a must win.

Meanwhile, Barcelona have spectacularly messed up these final weeks and now could actually be caught in third place by Sevilla.

Updated

Preamble

Hello! Welcome to the Friday blog for one final weekend of Premier League football in this intense and at times surreal season. On Sunday at 4pm, all 20 teams will line up concurrently for a final 90 minutes:

  • Leicester City vs Tottenham
  • Wolves vs Manchester United
  • West Ham vs Southampton
  • Sheffield United vs Burnley
  • Fulham vs Newcastle
  • Leeds United vs West Brom
  • Arsenal vs Brighton
  • Aston Villa vs Chelsea
  • Man City vs Everton
  • Liverpool vs Crystal Palace

Although Manchester City are champions and Fulham, West Brom and Sheffield United have been relegated, there is still the not so small matter of Europe to be decided. Behind Manchester City and Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Leicester are fighting for the two remaining Champions League Spots. One of West Ham, Tottenham or Everton are aiming for the Europa League in sixth place. The seventh place team will compete in the new Europa Conference League.

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