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Coventry City v Derby County: Championship – live | Championship
Key events
53 min: Travis cynically walks into the path of Esse, and it’s a free kick. He’s already been booked, so really wants to watch himself here. You’ve seen referees book folk for less. The bar’s always higher for a second yellow, I guess, even if we all know it shouldn’t be.
52 min: Sakamoto whips a dangerous cross in from the right. Clarke clears yet again, with Simms lurking. Derby counter through Brereton Diaz on the right. He crosses low and hard. Thomas tries to intercept with a slide, but misses the ball. If Banel controls with his first touch, he’s one on one with Rushworth. But his first touch is clunky, and that allows Thomas to spring up and flick clear.
50 min: Sakamoto and Van Ewijk combine well down the right, but when the ball’s cut back for Grimes, the resulting cross goes straight down O’Donnell’s throat. It’s Derby’s fans making the most noise at the moment.
49 min: Sakamoto sprays a right-to-left diagonal in the direction of Esse, but Ward diverts the ball back to O’Donnell with a stooping header. Promising early second-half signs for Coventry, after being on the back foot so much just before the break.
47 min: Coventry are on the front foot immediately. Esse shoots. Blocked. Another wave. Esse crosses. Clarke, who has been excellent tonight, clears.
Coventry get the second half underway. No changes. Yet.
Half-time postbag. “Evening Scott. [Deletes half-written email about how Derby have got little out of the top six this season, probably aren’t yet ready for the play offs, but have maintained appreciable progress for a third year on the trot so that’s OK.] GAME ON!! HAVE THAT, FRANK LAMPARD’S COVENTRY CITY!!!!” – Tom Hopkins
HALF TIME: Coventry City 1-1 Derby County
The whistle goes before Derby can take a corner, and Coventry disappear down the tunnel. Derby have been much the better side. Work for the league leaders to do. Derby’s play-off hopes are real.
45 min +3: They really could! Because Ozoh’s hustle wins possession out on the left. The ball’s shifted to the right for Ward, who crosses to the far post. Morris heads back across goal, but Banel can’t force a header home from six yards. Coventry somehow escape!
45 min +2: Coventry really could do with hearing that whistle all right.
45 min +1: Esse plays a loose backpass straight to Banel, who is suddenly one on one with the keeper! He aims low and hard for the bottom right, but Rushworth makes a crucial stop! Derby should be leading. But what heroics from the Coventry keeper.
45 min: There will be three additional first-half minutes.
43 min: Esse probes down the left and wins a corner off Ward, who he looks to have the beating of. Everyone in sky blue comes up for the set piece … but Eccles hoicks it over everyone’s head and out for a goal kick. The CBS Arena a little bit stunned by the momentum shift. Frank Lampard not looking quite so content now.
41 min: Now Clarke gets back to the day job, stopping Simms as the Coventry striker bustles down the middle of the park. Derby have their tails up, and they counter, Brereton Diaz sending a low cross into the Coventry box. Kitching clears. All of a sudden, Coventry could do with hearing the half-time whistle.
40 min: That was one hell of a cross from Clarke, it really was. And a fine run by the Derby centre-back to get himself into a position to deliver it! Wow.
GOAL! Coventry City 1-1 Derby County (Brereton Diaz 38)
They’ve got some reward now! Clarke channels his inner Beckenbauer to dribble his way down the inside-left channel. He reaches the edge of the box and whips in a stunning cross to the far stick. Brereton Diaz, steaming in from the other side, plants a header across Rushworth and in! A wonderful connection, but the quality of the cross was such that he could hardly miss!
37 min: Derby have enjoyed 58 percent of possession since the Coventry goal. But they’ve not forced Rushworth into any meaningful action.
36 min: There are no recriminations. Simms was within his rights to go for the ball he’d flicked into the Derby box, and he accidentally poked the keeper instead. Thankfully O’Donnell is fine. Hard but fair. We all play on.
35 min: The tempo drops, and for the first time this evening the CBS Arena falls quiet. But suddenly Sakamoto loops a long pass down the right. Simms juggles the ball inside Sanderson and stretches a leg for it. O’Donnell comes off his line to bravely smother, because he takes a clatter from Simms for his trouble.
33 min: A period of Derby possession in Coventry territory. But they don’t apply any serious pressure. On the touchline, Frank Lampard looks calm and content.
31 min: Brereton Diaz cuts in from the right and blooters a shot that’s blocked and deflected to Murkin on the left. Murkin shoots, and his effort flies straight right, back through the Coventry box. Nothing’s working for poor Murkin right now.
30 min: More applause, another tribute, this time to Coventry fan Roy Slade, who recently passed after years of grass-roots involvement in the sport.
29 min: Travis is spun by Eccles near the centre circle, and suddenly there’s a break on. Travis takes one for the team, hanging a leg across his opponent, bringing him down and earning himself a booking.
27 min: Grimes hits the corner long, but Eccles can’t get an effort away from a tight angle on the left. Derby clear their lines … then Onyeka comes back on, and immediately wins the ball back. A huge cheer from the Cov fans for their returning hero.
26 min: There was no ill intent in Ozoh’s challenge. A wee bit mistimed maybe. Happily it looks as though Onyeka will be fine.
25 min: Onyeka strides down the inside-right channel and slips a pass forward for Simms, who shoots from a tight angle. Sanderson blocks out for a corner. But the corner can’t be taken yet, because Onyeka was clattered by Ozoh making the pass, and he’s fallen awkwardly on his shoulder. On comes the trainer.
24 min: Morris steams down the left and wins Derby their first corner of the evening. Coventry may be divisional leaders at scoring from set pieces with 24, but Derby aren’t too shabby either, with a total of 20. But this time Murkin’s delivery hangs easily for Rushworth to pluck from the sky. Not been a great game for poor Murkin so far.
22 min: Onyeka cushions a pass into the road of Eccles, who falling backwards on the edge of the Derby D, threads a shot towards the bottom left. Easy for O’Donnell.
21 min: Watching replays of the goal, I can’t work out whether Onyeka meant it or not. So let’s give him all the credit. Sorry for ever doubting you, Frank.
19 min: Both sets of supporters break into warm applause, in tribute to Paul Pike, a young Birmingham fan who went to a game at Derby last month and sadly never made it back home. A heart-breaking story, a lovely tribute. Rest well, Paul.
17 min: Murkin faffs around 30 yards out, facing his own goal, and allows Sakamoto to race off with the ball down the right. Murkin redeems himself by chasing back, and when Sakamoto chops inside, preparing to shoot, reclaiming possession. Derby have misplaced their early mojo.
16 min: That’s a bit of a blow to Derby, who had started pretty well. But the hosts are completely on top now, and first to everything.
14 min: Whether that was a cross or a shot, O’Donnell will be disappointed with his positioning, and the way he misjudged the flight of the ball. Hats off to Onyeka, though, because his persistence in stripping Murkin of possession and driving immediately forward paid dividend. The CBS Arena erupts!
GOAL! Coventry City 1-0 Derby County (Onyeka 12)
The Coventry captain curls the free kick into the mixer. Sanderson is on point to clear. But Coventry regain possession. Onyeka wins the ball off Murkin, out on the right, and one-twos with Esse. Onyeka enters the box, and sends what looks like a cross swinging out to in … and over O’Donnell, and into the top left! Not 100 percent sure he meant it, but he cares not one jot!
11 min: Eccles is clattered by Sanderson out on the left flank as the pair compete for a corner. Everyone lines up on the edge of the Derby box, waiting for Grimes to deliver.
10 min: Simms makes a run of great insistence down the left. It’s a real power hustle, and he shrugs off Sanderson, but Brereton Diaz tracks back to ensure he doesn’t make it all the way to the Derby box. Everyone is well up for this.
8 min: Esse motors down the left and his shot-cum-cross is smothered by O’Donnell in the Derby goal. This is good bank-holiday entertainment.
7 min: Banel briefly threatens to break into space down the inside-right channel, but Onyeka eases him off the ball. Derby keep pressing, though, and Clark barges his way down the opposite channel, but his shot, half-scuffed, is blocked by Thomas. Derby look lively.
5 min: Brereton Diaz bustles down the right and earns a throw deep in Cov territory. Ward shapes to throw long, but then goes short, and gets the ball back. He whips dangerously to the near post, but Rushworth has read the intent and gathers without fuss. Both teams seem in the mood to attack.
3 min: However Coventry come straight back at Derby. Esse’s shot is blocked by Clarke, who extends a leg bravely at close quarters. Then Murkin gently shoves Sakamoto in the back as the pair contest a high ball. A huge cry for a penalty, though it’s more from the Coventry fans than the players themselves. Fast start by the hosts.
2 min: Van Ewijk looks long for Simms. Clarke intercepts. Then Esse hassles Ward down the left and forces the first corner of the match. Coventry have scored 24 goals from set pieces this season, the division’s best … but this one comes to nothing.
Derby get the ball rolling. The CBS Arena roaring.
The teams are out! Coventry City all in sky blue – hats off to Jimmy Hill – while Derby wear second-choice grey with orange trim. We’ll be off in a minute!
Derby boss John Eustace talks to Sky. “We’re really excited … we’re playing against the best team in the league … we’ve got nothing to lose … we know they’re a top team with top players coached very well … what a great opportunity for us to showcase ourselves and see where it takes us … we’ve kept level headed … believe in our process … our football is improving all the time … we’re looking forward to each challenge and tonight is another one.”
Eustace also delivers some unwelcome news regarding Rhian Brewster. He picked up an injury against Birmingham and that’s required surgery, so he’ll be out for the rest of the season.
Cov manager Frank Lampard speaks to Sky Sports. “Focus on every game … continue with the momentum … the basics … everything we’ve been doing for a period of time now … stay calm … understand that this league is so tough … absolute focus from us … a bit of a rest … train well … be ready … understand now we’re at the crunch end … [Derby] will be a really tough one … we found that out earlier in the season … we know they’re a good team … we have to be at it.”
By way of fair measure, here’s what happened in this fixture last season. Once again, over to our old pal PA Media, Esq.
Jerry Yates excelled as Derby earned their first away win by beating Coventry 2-1. The forward scored the opener after 11 minutes and his strike after the break deflected in off Bobby Thomas. Derby withstood a potential late comeback from their hosts after Coventry pulled one back through Tatsuhiro Sakamoto.
That result led to the surprise sacking of Mark Robins, who had taken Coventry to within a toenail of the club’s second FA Cup final just a few months earlier.
If tonight’s game is even half as good as the reverse fixture, played back in August at Pride Park, we’ll be in for a treat. Here’s what happened, as reported on this very website by that omnipresent scribe, Mr PA Media.
Coventry staged a stunning comeback to beat Derby 5-3 at Pride Park. The visitors, coached by the former Derby manager Frank Lampard, scored three times in the space of eight minutes for a remarkable victory.
The teams traded goals in the first half with Derby twice coming from behind to go in level at the break before their captain, Ebou Adams, put them in front. But after Brandon Thomas-Asante equalised, Ephron Mason-Clark and Victor Torp settled a pulsating match.
Coventry’s first goal was tinged with good fortune as Jacob Widell Zetterström punched Matt Grimes’s low free-kick against Bobby Thomas and the ball bounced into the net in the seventh minute. There was nothing remotely lucky about the equaliser five minutes later. David Ozoh won a free-kick on the left side of the penalty area and Callum Elder bent his shot at pace into the top-right corner.
Haji Wright made no mistake when Coventry won a penalty in the 25th minute, but the home side levelled in first-half added time after Thomas handled a cross and Carlton Morris coolly rolled in the penalty.
Five minutes into the second half Derby were ahead. A long throw dropped to Adams who placed a low shot into the bottom corner from 10 yards, but the game changed again as Coventry scored twice in the space of four minutes. Another long throw in the 72nd minute was headed by Thomas against a post and Thomas-Asante bundled the ball over the line.
Derby were caught cold three minutes later when Milan van Ewijk got in on the right and crossed for Mason-Clark to head in at the back post. Four minutes later Coventry had a fifth with Torp given space just inside the area to fire a low shot in off the left post to seal their first win at Derby in 11 matches.
Coventry make three changes to their starting line-up after the 3-0 win at Swansea a fortnight ago. Romain Esse, Liam Kitching and Josh Eccles come in for Ephron Mason-Clark, who drops to the bench, and Joel Latibeaudiere and Brandon Thomas-Asante, who miss out altogether (the former rested, the latter hamstrung).
Derby also make three changes, following the 1-0 win over Birmingham City two weeks back. David Ozoh, Carlton Morris and Jaydon Banel come in for Patrick Agyemang, who drops to the bench, and the injured pair of Sammie Szmodics and Rhian Brewster.
The teams
Coventry City: Rushworth, van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Dasilva, Grimes, Onyeka, Sakamoto, Eccles, Esse, Simms.
Subs: Wilson, Rudoni, Mason-Clark, Wright, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Markelo, Woolfenden, Overgaard.
Derby County: O’Donnell, Ward, Sanderson, Clarke, Murkin, Banel, Travis, Clark, Brereton Diaz, Morris, Ozoh.
Subs: Forsyth, Batth, Agyemang, Liam Thompson, Fraulo, Gordon, Allen, Smith, Price.
Referee: Tom Nield (West Yorkshire).
Preamble
Today’s earlier results in the Championship didn’t go too badly for Coventry City. Millwall won 2-1 at Middlesbrough, while Hull City were held 1-1 at Oxford United, and so …
… Frank Lampard’s side have the opportunity to extend a lead that stood this morning at nine points to an extremely comfortable 11. They’d then require just eight points from their remaining six fixtures to guarantee Premier League membership next season.
But this is no gimme. Derby blow hot and cold – they’ve won six and lost four of their previous ten in the Championship – but four of those victories have come in the last five. A campaign that started with the Rams flapping around the lower reaches has picked up some serious momentum, and a play-off finish is now very much within reach. So both of these famous midlands clubs have plenty to play for tonight. Kick-off is at 8pm BST. It’s on!
Travel across parts of the Republic of Ireland has been affected for the fourth day in a row on Friday as vehicles, including tractors, block roads.
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‘Grumpy’ Guardiola unclear about Bernardo Silva’s Manchester City future: football news – live | Football
Key events
Leeds midfielder Ao Tanaka played a key role in last week’s epic FA Cup semi-final win at West Ham, scoring the opening goal, and could be in line for a rare start in place of the injured Anton Stach in Monday night’s Premier League game at Manchester United.
Daniel Farke praised Tanaka’s “really good performances” of late and said: “I’m very happy with his development because Ao is not the youngest anymore and for him it’s his first season in a top flight.”
Tanaka is a fan favourite at Leeds fans, but has been self-critical of his own performances since helping the club win promotion last season. He hasn’t started in the league since 14 December.
“He has said publicly he’s not yet good enough for this level, but we’ve always believed in Ao,” Farke added. “He produced a really good performance [at West Ham] and proved against a Premier League side that he can play at the top level.
“For Ao there is no limit because he’s a top player. He’s done this in recent weeks and for that there will be more chances for him in the coming weeks to shine. If he produces performances like he did at West Ham then we are all happy.”
The lads and lasses on The Overlap have been asking who is the best centre-back partnership in Premier League history …
Lots of love for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, which would be my answer, closely followed by John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho. Jamie Carragher said Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson, perhaps forgetting that A) both retired before the Premier League began and B) their contrasting punditry careers.
Drop me an email with your favourite PL CB duo.
What a day of sport we have. The return of the Premier League tonight, county cricket back in full swing and the Masters day two. Lovely.
I’ve received an email from Krishnamoorthy:
“Having successfully completed the exits from Carabao and FA [Cups], and that the Champions league pursuit will probably be over by next week, what wizardry will Arsenal deploy this weekend to surrender the league?”
Despite those cup exits, I feel like Arsenal aren’t quite as weakened as their detractors may think/be hoping. Bournemouth at home this weekend ought to yield three points.
Want some more from Pep on Bernardo? He’s really waxed lyrical about the former Monaco man, despite having the grump with him …
All managers would say how much they love him because he is incredibly competitive, has a fire inside him always. In the toughest moments and on the biggest stages, he is always there.
He has been an incredible signing for us, incredible. I love this club and I would love if he could stay and finish his career here but I do not know. He will decide what he will decide.
He has been an incredible signing with the numbers, minutes, titles. I judge players when everything is difficult and he always steps up
‘Grumpy’ Guardiola asks Bernardo Silva to confirm City future
Pep Guardiola admitted he doesn’t know whether Bernardo Silva will be at Manchester City next season, after his assistant Pep Lijnders appeared to suggest the midfielder was leaving.
Guardiola was asked to clarify Bernardo’s future at today’s press conference, but said: “I don’t know.
“I am so grumpy with Bernardo. A month ago I said I had to be the first [he would tell] and he didn’t say anything to me yet. I do not know if he has already decided. I said jokingly to him to tell me, I deserve it, but he didn’t tell me. I do not know what is going on.
“He is really good in all departments. He plays a lot of games. Nine years we have been together and no injuries. He can play in different positions, he is so smart and reads every moment that the action and game requires. When you play a lot of games, it gives us a lot of trust and confidence how he is going to perform.”
Here’s Pep Guardiola on Manchester City’s hopes of chasing down Arsenal in the final weeks of the season:
Hopefully we can get a lot of points. The situation we are in in the Premier League, we need to get all of them otherwise it will not give us a chance to try until the end.
We need to get a lot of points. We have not been consistent enough in the season. We have dropped points that we should have taken which is why we are now in the position where we cannot do it differently.
We have to win every single game.
Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams is set to return from injury to feature against Arsenal in the Premier League tomorrow (Saturday).
The 27-year-old has missed Bournemouth’s last two matches as well as two USA international friendlies over the recent break with a quadriceps problem.
“I am feeling strong and ready to go,” Adam has told club media. Staying in Bournemouth over the international break to rehab “gave me a period of time to get stronger, get more fit and focus on the objectives with the boys here.” He added: “I’m feeling consistent, I’m feeling strong now and I think it’s just important to finish the season strong.”
Thanks Barry. As a follower of Manchester United, these three weeks without Premier League action have felt VERY long. Thank goodness it’s back.
It’s easy to forget Manchester City are still nine points off Arsenal, for all the talk of the Gunners wobbling. Guardiola’s men do have a game in hand, but they also have to travel to Chelsea on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola is due to speak to the press any minute now and Dominic Booth is here to tell you what the Manchester City head coach has to say for himself.
Bayern Munich: Lennart Karl has been ruled out of the return leg of his team’s Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid with a hamstring injury. The 18-year-old rising star was an unused substitute in the first leg but will now be sidelined indefinitely.
Scottish Premiership: With six games of the season remaining, Hearts remain a point clear of Rangers at the top of the table but the gap is closing with each passing week. At a time when every match is important, Hearts face another tough assignment when they host Motherwell tomorrow, ahead of an Edinburgh derby at Hibernian followed by a home match against Rangers.
Derek McInnes says Motherwell have been a “breath of fresh air” in the Scottish Premiership this season, echoing the sentiments of many who have praised Jens Berthel Askou’s side. Going into the final pre-split game of the season at Tynecastle on Saturday, they sit in fourth place, 10 points behind Celtic, albeit without a win in their last four matches.
Motherwell are the only side Hearts have failed to beat this season following a thrilling 3-3 draw at Tynecastle in August and a goalless stalemate at Fir Park in November. “I think they’ve been a breath of fresh air and the manager’s done a brilliant job,” said Mcinnes. “The players are responding brilliantly to him. Motherwell are playing with a lot of confidence and you see that in their game, and they’ve had a brilliant season.
“I know they’ve hit a wee sticky spell at the minute, but it’s not going to take away from a lot of the good work that they’ve done. I did say ahead of the game last week that certain teams are probably punching above their weight and kind of getting a bit more than maybe what was expected, and Motherwell is one of them. Very few people have not commented on how good they’ve been this season and you can understand why.” [PA Sport]
EFL Trophy final: Jack Wilshere’s promotion-chasing Luton Town take on Stockport in Sunday’s Vertu Trophy final with renewed momentum, writes Simon Burnton.
Brighton: Scott Parker’s side are 10 points from safety with seven games to remaining and while few people give them much chance of avoiding the drop, Fabian Hurzeler has said Brighton will not be taking them lightly.
“Burnley is a team fighting relegation but they proved in the last weeks that they can win against every team in the league,” he said. “They have individual qualities. They show really good togetherness. That they showed, especially in the last games, really good performances so you can’t underestimate any team in this league. It is a game where we have to reach our limits, our standards, our highest levels if you want to beat them.”
It sounds to me like Hurzeler might be confusing tomorrow’s opponents with some other club because since the end of October, the only Premier League team Burnley have proved they can beat is Crystal Palace.
Tom Garry
Women’s football: Sue Day, the FA’s director of women’s football, has said their proposed changes to the structure of the women’s leagues are “vital to securing the long-term success of women’s football”, as she defends the plan which would include adding four WSL academy teams to the third tier.
“The purpose of these proposals is to futureproof the women’s game,” Day said. “We are approaching a crucial turning point. Too many talented young players are not getting the opportunities they need to develop, and without action, that risks holding back the future of the sport.
“No decisions have been made at this stage, and consultation is ongoing. We would not be putting these proposals forward unless we believed they are vital to securing the long-term success of women’s football.”
The Guardian exclusively revealed the plans on Tuesday and there has been a mixed reaction, including some heavy criticism from third-tier coaching staff.
Tottenham Hotspur: Ahead of Roberto De Zerbi’s first press conference as head coach scheduled for 1.30pm (GMT), Chris Pauros writes that the Italian’s apology for past comments about his former player, Mason Greenwood, was important but insufficient and adds that if we want things to change in football, we need some accountability. Read on …
Brighton: Fabian Hurzeler’s side return to action against Burnley at Turf Moor tomorrow, having won four (and lost one) of their last five Premier League games before the international break. Brighton currently sit 10th in the table, six points off the final Champions League spot. Following the corresponding international break last season, Hurzeler’s team took just one point from their next four games before winning four and drawing one of their final four.
“I think after a very successful period before the international break and during the international break,” the German told reporters this morning. “Our players were quite successful and that is a very positive thing so they kept the positivity, they kept the confidence and belief.
“Now it is about when they return from their national teams. They come together as a group again, re-emphasising what made us strong, what we need to get back to the standards we reached before the international break. Re-emphasise what it means to play for the badge.”
Hurzeler will be forced to sit out Brighton’s match against Burnley on the Naughty Step, where he will be accompanied by his captain, Lewis Dunk. “We have a other leaders who can solve it on the pitch and beside the pitch,” he told reporters. “Regarding me, we already had a situation against Brentford where my team and my staff did an incredible job.
“Regarding Lewis, of course he played unbelievably well in the last weeks but we have shown we have a lot of options to replace him. Not just options, really good options to replace him. Therefore, we are quite confident that the team are strong enough to handle these things.”
Dunk will miss Brighton’s next two games after picking up his tenth booking of the season, while Jack Hinshelwood is available for selection after recovering from a knee problem that prevented him from joining up with England U-21s.
Newcastle United: Having missed Newcastle’s last 11 matches with a hamstring injury, Bruno Guimaraes is likely to sit out their next two through illness. The Brazilian returned from international duty with mumps and Eddie Howe says he is defintiiely next weekend’s game against Bournemouth too. Fabian Schar remains sidelined having had minor surgery on an infection in his foot, while Lewis Miley is back in training after recovering from an injury that has kept him out since January.
Newcastle United: During an Eddie Howe press conference covering all manner of topics, the subject of Kieran Trippier’s imminent departure from Newcastle was addressed by the head coach who signed him four-and-a-half years ago.
“I think Kieran has handled himself superbly during this period,” said Howe. “He came to see me, we had a discussion. He had a clear vision of what he saw his future looking like and we respected that and wanted him to get the best reception and reaction for his time here.
“For me he goes down as one of the best players that’s played for me, without a doubt. In my time here he has been a model of consistency. He has had that will to win and will to help us prepare the best we can. I think he has been outstanding on the pitch. He has been a really good leader and he deserves to go with all the plaudits. We just hope he can finish the season off on a real high.”
West Ham: Victory over Wolves tonight will lift West Ham out of the bottom three for a couple of days at least and ahead of this crucial fixture, Jarrod Bowen has said it pains him to see his club in trouble. Helping them extricate themselves from their current predicament would “mean the world” to him.
“This club means so much to me,” he said in an interview with Sky Sports. “In the situation that we’re in, it hurts me probably more than anyone else. What I’m trying to do is bring my A-game every single week and also get the team ready to bring their A-game. We know what we have to do in terms of steering away from relegation. We have a massive opportunity to do that.
“We have to keep doing that. Of course you want to score, you want to get assists, you want to be the difference. But also your team-mates as well, they’re so important. They need to keep stepping up like they have been. We all need to keep stepping up and keep changing our destiny and changing our fortunes and win the games that we have. Then we can almost take control of the situation that we’re in. We know what we need to do, so that’s the most important thing.”
Bayern Munich: Vincent Kompany turns 40 today but the Bayern head coach gave extremely short shrift to talk of birthday celebrations during his press conference this morning. Bayern Munich took a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final first leg this week and travel to Hamburg to play struggling St Pauli tomorrow with a nine-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga table. They are also in the semi-finals of the German Cup.
“We can only wish for the three points [against St Pauli],” he told reporters who asked if he’d be swinging from the chandeliers tonight. “I always celebrated birthdays at the stage of semi-finals and quarter-finals so it’s a bonus if you get the wins at these moments.
“I am trying to run away from all the birthday stuff. We are in priority mode. At this moment there are enough emotions in the coming days. Maybe some red wine tonight but first prepare for the match.” [Reuters]
Newcastle United: The first signing Newcastle made under their new Saudi owners, Kieran Trippier has confirmed he will be leaving the club this summer when his contract expires. Rumours also abound that Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon could be sold come season’s end. While Howe refused to discuss the future of individual players, he did speak out on the importance of Newcastle managing their fans’ expectations.
“If that’s the reality – and I’m not saying it is – then that’s the reality,” he told reporters. “I’ve no issue working with the conditions the club set and finances dictate. I’ve never had an issue with that all through my career.
“As long as that is made clear to everybody on the outside and the expectations are aligned within that. Because I don’t think you can have expectations that warp reality. Everything has got to be aligned for the players to enter the pitch and play in their best place, where they’re relaxed and not under undue pressure. That’s fundamentally important.”
Howe rejects speculation of Newcastle fall-out
Newcastle United: Newcastle travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday to play their first match since losing the Tyne-Wear derby at home to Sunderland just before the international break. With no shortage of speculation surrounding his own future at the club and the potential summer exit of several key players, Eddie Howe wasn’t short of things to talk about this morning.
“Certainly there’s been no fallings out,” he said, when asked about his relationship with Newcastle sporting director Ross Wilson and the club CEO David Hopkinson. “I’ve got a really good relationship with Ross and David. We’re plotting to try and take the club forward in the smartest way possible. I’ve had really good support from both of them, who are the key figures I work with day-to-day at the football club. We’re all totally aligned on what we need to do.
“The long-term prospects for the football club are really strong but certainly these seasons we’ve experienced previously. Not all the forces are with us and we’re going to have to act really smart and try to outperform the budget to try to hit the levels everyone wants.
“What do I need? I just need support. Good working relationships with people around me and a feeling of being able to express myself in the best way possible so you see the best version of myself. And I think if I feel that and the club feels that then they’re getting the best manager they can from me.
“Obviously if that’s not working for whatever reason on both sides then it’s best for the football club. The most important thing in all of this is Newcastle United, not me, not anybody else. I’ll always reflect that in my decision making: I’ll put the club before anybody.”
Liverpool: Arne Slot has told reporters that Alisson is still sidelined but Liverpool fans are unlikely to be too concerned given how well Giorgi Marmadashvili has played in the Brazilian’s absence. Slot also said that some players who started against PSG will be rotated out of the side to face Fulham tommorrow because they cannot currently handle the intensity of playing two big games in four days. “The players I’m worried about for tomorrow will be Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez,” he said.
Aston Villa: Despite the looming World Cup and this season still being very much up in the air for both sides, Bayern Munich have just announced they will be playing Aston Villa in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong on 7 August.
For their part, Villa say they “hope to announce further fixtures in the far east in due course”. Whatever the outcome on the pitch in Hong Kong, you have to say the Bayern Munich club secretary has stolen a march on his or her Villa counterpart early doors. That’s clichéd German efficiency at its finest.
Arne Slot on Andy Robertson: “First of all, he’s had many great seasons here not only as a player but as a great person as well,” he says of the Scotsman, whose departure from Liverpool at the end of the season was announced yesterday. “I got to know him as a great person. Every team-mate of his will tell you how funny he is, how great he is and I think that’s been shown on social media as well.
“But what I remember most about him is the intensity he plays with and we’ve seen and learned something about intensity two days ago but, I can also remember Robbo making a press from the left-back position to the right wing a few years ago and I showed it to my players I was working with back then.
“He’s won everything at this club, served his club and really loves this club. It’s been a great nine years for him. This season he didn’t play as much as he was used to and as a result of that he’s leaving.”
A tip of the hat to Slot for highlighting the fact that Robertson is a terrific character and all round good guy as well as a consumate professional. He seems to be universally liked and one imagines his is a presence that would be sorely missed from any dressing-room. He’s been an outstanding servant for Liverpool over the best part of a decade, even if quite a few people were sceptical about his credentials when he was signed from Hull City. Jurgen knew!
Arne Slot: ‘I feel the support from the fans’
Liverpool: The postponement of their Ligue1 match against Lens means Paris Saint-Germain have been given the weekend off ahead of their Champions League quarter-final second leg at Anfield on Tuesday, but Liverpool have a crucial match against Fulham to play at Anfield tomorrow evening.
Arne Slot’s side go into it on the back of two chastening defeats and are fifth in the Premier League table. Should either Everton or Brentford win their Champions League qualification six-pointer at the Gtech Community Stadium tomorrow afternoon, they will go level on points with Liverpool.
“I’m repeating myself a lot but I feel a lot of support,” said Arne Slot this morning, upon being asked if he feels he has the backing of the Liverpool club hierarchy. “Not only from the owners but from Richard [Hughes] and Michael [Edwards], a lot of support from them as well. As weird as it might sound I also feel the support from the fans.
“We were going out in Paris when the players went out for the warm-up and after the 4-0 loss [against Manchester City] the fans immediately started singing ‘we love Liverpool’. I think it’s fair to say we were outplayed for 90 minutes and they were still singing and clapping for us. I’ve said many times, the club knows the period of time we’re in and in the mean time I feel complete support.”]
Column: While his “big team who win things” (well, the odd thing) are hovering above the Premier League relegation zone, his small team who never win anything have just dropped out of the League Two automatic promotion places. It’s small wonder the Guardian’s Football Weekly presenter Max Rushden is a bag of nerves …
Tottenham Hotspur: While he has already been interviewed by the club media team, Roberto De Zerbi’s maiden press conference as Spurs head coach is likely to be today’s hottest ticket in town. The Italian is scheduled to speak to the media at 1.30pm (GMT), ahead of his side’s match against Sunderland on Sunday afternoon. If West Ham beat the Premier League’s bottom side, Wolves, at the London Stadium tonight, Spurs will be in the relegation zone when their game kicks off at the Stadium of Light.
Andy Robertson to leave Liverpool after nine years
Liverpool: The Scottish left-back is to bring his illustrious career with the club to a close when his contract expires at the end of the season, with no shortage of big name European heavyweights believed to be interested in securing the 32-year-old’s services. Andy Hunter reports …
Crystal Palace 3-0 Fiorentina
Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg: A sensational performance blew away Fiorentina as Jean-Philippe Mateta scored on his first start since the end of January. Ed Aarons reports from Selhurst Park …
Bologna 1-3 Aston Villa
Europea League quarter-final first leg: Aston Villa were second best for large parts of the game in Bologna but a brace from Ollie Watkins put them in the box-seat. Paul MacInnes reports from Stadio Renata Dall’Ara …
FC Porto 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Europa League quarter-final first leg: A freakish own goal by the Porto defender Martim Fernandes earned Nottingham Forest a draw and fostered optimism of advancing to the Europa League semi-finals. Ben Fisher reports from Estádio do Dragão …
Friday football blog …
Following a hiatus so long some Tottenham fans may have forgotten their team is in grave danger of relegation, the Premier League is back. In the build-up to a weekend schedule that kicks off when West Ham host fellow basement-dwellers Wolves at the London Stadium tonight, we’ll bring you all the news that’s fit to print from today’s round of managerial press conferences. In the time honoured tradition, we’ll also be keeping a beady eye on any tidbits of note from the EFL, Scotland and beyond. You know the drill …
The case was the first prosecution of its kind in Scotland, in that Lee Milne was responsible for killing Kimberly Milne even though she jumped to her death.
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