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Scottish title finale latest, Farke casts doubt on his future, Boro want Saints thrown out – football live | Premier League
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Erling Haaland to play Viking called Haaland in animated movie
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is to make his feature acting debut, in an animated film as the voice of a Viking – called Haaland. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Norwegian international is to play “an animated version of himself” in Viqueens, directed and co-written by Harald Zwart, the Dutch-Norwegian director of The Karate Kid and Agent Cody Banks.
Zwart said: “Erling has already become a kind of real-life Viking icon around the world – powerful, fearless and uniquely Norwegian. Bringing him into this universe as himself gives the film an unexpected energy and authenticity that felt completely right for this story.”
More here:
The baton is back with Simon Burnton.
Here’s today’s Football Daily, written by me, actually.
Manchester United’s Matthijs de Ligt has revealed his ongoing back problem has required surgery. He last featured in November and is yet to play for manager-elect Michael Carrick.
“After 6 months of treatment and working hard to get back, surgery was the only option left. I’m disappointed i couldn’t help the team the last 6 months and obviously missing out on World Cup but I’m looking forward to doing everything to get back in front of the fans and feeling better again!“
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More from Middlesbrough’s statement: “We remain hopeful that the EFL, as regulator, will pursue such a sanction before the Disciplinary Commission in order to protect the integrity of the game, safeguard all member clubs, and deter any attempt in the future to obtain an unfair and unlawful advantage in pursuit of promotion to the Premier League.
“The club reserves all its legal rights.”
Middlesbough want Southampton to be thrown out
Statement from Middlesbrough confirms intentions to have Southampton expelled from playoffs after “Spygate”.
Boro confirmed on Friday seeking to be a party in the independent commission hearing, only to be denied the opportunity.
“The club regrets that outcome, given we are directly affected by the matters under consideration and hold relevant factual evidence as to the events in question and their competitive impact,” a statement from the Teesside club read.
“The conduct at issue, namely the observation and recording of our training session ahead of a fixture of such significance, goes to the heart of sporting integrity and fair competition.
“In these circumstances, the only appropriate response is a sporting sanction which would prevent Southampton FC from participating in the EFL Championship play-off final.”
Farke wants Leeds to match his ambitions
Louise Taylor
Here’s a curveball from the Leeds manager, Daniel Farke, who has suggested he could chose to leave Leeds if the club’s hierarchy fail to match his ambition.
The manager is due to discuss extending his contract at Elland Road – currently set to expire next year – with the San Francisco based 49er Enterprises but has made it clear his vision will need to be synchronised with the ownership’s ambitions.
“I understand the questions about the future, I don’t want to hide away,” said Farke who, a year after leading Leeds to the Championship title has secured Premier League survival and also reached an FA Cup semi final. “But I won’t speak about possible outcomes. We will discuss things internally.
“I can allow myself to be picky. I will only take on projects I believe in. I am ambitious. I love attacking football and I want to have something to play for. I’m not the right choice if it’s about maintaining the status quo. I have to be convinced of the project.”
Farke is well aware that certain influential figures at Leeds pondered parting company with him following last summer’s promotion and then after a sticky spell in the Premier League during late autumn. Now though he is a hot property whose potential availability would undoubtedly attract interest from across Europe.
“I’m full of belief and energy but we have to speak about next steps,” he said. “We have to have another three to five year plan. I won’t want to take over a club if I don’t think we are going in the right direction. You have to set new goals. I know what is possible but it’s important that we are 100 per cent on the same page.”
Ewan Murray
Here’s Ewan Murray on that Celtic v Hearts meeting that we will all be watching.
Gary Mackay’s terrific goal for Hearts against Clydebank in the penultimate game of the 1985-86 league season triggered a verse of “Championees” from the Tynecastle terracing. There has been no repeat of the chant, especially this season. No one wants to tempt fate. On the following Saturday 40 years ago, Hearts’ dreams were shattered by two Dundee goals in the last seven minutes at Dens Park. Then, as now, Hearts needed a draw to be champions. Then, as now, Celtic were the other team in the title frame in the midst of an excellent run of form. There is a reason Hearts had a long-running fanzine named Always The Bridesmaid.
As the climax to the Scottish Premiership nears, here’s Colin Chisholm, singer of *that* Hearts song, with his band Bilbo, former running mates of the Bay City Rollers. This one got to number 42 in the hit parade in 1978.
David Moyes on the departing Seamus Coleman, signed in his first Everton spell, back in 2009: “I get the praise for it but I have to praise the recruitment team who spotted him at the time and got him over from Ireland. We decided to take him and he’s been a great servant to the club.
“You want to bring in players who will be good for the team. To stay at the club for 17 years, and I’ve missed quite a part of it, but more recently he’s been the glue that’s held an awful lot together.
“When it’s difficult, he’s the one who comes out and speaks and steps up to galvanise the team as well. He deserves a lot of credit as a human being for what he’s done for Everton.”
Rick Harris gets in touch: “PL Player of the season is usually (but not always) one of the title winning team, so Gabriel, Declan Rice and David Raya are potential contenders. The stand out player of the season for me however is Bruno Fernandes who has created twice as many chances as his nearest rival and 19 or 20 assists (I would argue the Sesko goal against Liverpool was a Fernandes assist) and 8 PL goals.
“Manager of the season I would give to Arteta assuming Arsenal win the title as maintaining focus and desire after three successive second place finishes is outstanding.
“Young PL player of the year is a toss up between Nico O’Reilly and Alex Scott but I would say the Bournemouth youngster edges it because of the number of times he has been their best player in games I’ve seen.”
Guardiola wants a stand at Wembley
Jamie Jackson
On the eve of Pep Guardiola leading Manchester City for a 24th time at Wembley (excluding league games with Tottenham) in Saturday’s FA Cup final, the manager had a nice line about the achievement. “I’m so disappointed that they don’t make a stand for Pep, the number of times I’ve been there at least a lounge or a box,” he said.
“Maybe I go 24 more times. It’s been a special place, with Barcelona in 1992 [winning the Champions League as a player] and after against Manchester United with Barcelona winning the Champions League as head coach in 2011] for the second time and many times since I am here with semi-finals and finals. It’s really good to go to Wembley again. Top.”
Some more Pep Guardiola: “It depends on the trophies you lift. Sometimes you don’t lift trophies and the season has been successful. Sometimes, you lift and the truth is the season has been really, really bad. I said a few weeks ago this season has been good. Really, really good.”
There’s been the usual riffing on the will he/won’t he, on Wembley: “Maybe if I go 24 more times.”
On fitness coaches Lorenzo Buenaventura and goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor, reportedly set to leave the club: “I extended the contract with them three more years.
On the requisite question on whether that says anything about his future: “Nope.”
Manchester City have played in the last four FA Cup finals but lost the last two, Pep Guardiola has been speaking: “There’s excitement, of course. I hope we can do better than the last two times. It’s new players and it’s forgotten. A new game against Chelsea. We are in the final and we have to try to win the trophy.”
More Carrick, on his assistant, Steve Holland: “Steve has been fantastic. He’s got an awful lot of experience, he’s seen everything before, gone through it, some good times and more challenging times.
“He’s a very wise man, he says things that are important at the right time. Just general calmness and composure, for me and my staff, the players as well, the dynamics of bringing something a bit different. Steve is in that role where he has the experience to lean on. There’s absolutely no shame in that at all.”
More chaos surrounding that Southampton Spygate story, via PA Media.
“A Hull supporter who spent around £2,000 to attend the Championship play-off final from his home in Australia says the EFL has “no regard for fans” after allowing the ‘Spygate’ drama to plunge the game into uncertainty.
“Jack Gorbert is a former Tigers season-ticket holder who has relocated to Melbourne and the 27-year-old rushed to secure a flight home to see his side at Wembley following their win over Millwall earlier this month.
“With a price tag of almost £1,300 for the return journey, plus an additional £700 in other hotel and travels costs, the ongoing uncertainty has left Gorbert with a major expense and no guarantees that the fixture against Southampton will even go ahead as planned on May 23.”
Michael Carrick has been speaking at Manchester United’s press conference: “The future for me is going to be decided pretty soon, we knew that it was going to be towards the end of the season, if not the end of the season.
“Nothing has changed, there is no big swing on that. That is what it is. Whatever is beyond that is pretty close around the corner anyway.”
Here’s the full story on that Carrick coronation.
Manchester United to appoint Carrick on two-year deal
Will Unwin
Michael Carrick is close to being appointed as Manchester United’s new head coach on a permanent basis after being offered a two-year contract by the club. The former midfielder has overseen a run of 10 wins in 15 Premier League matches and securing a return to the Champions League next season.
Good afternoon, football. What’s the scores on the doors?
One of the photos of the day: Cantona, the film about, um, Cantona, is being premiered at the Cannes Film Festival today. And here’s the man himself arriving:
And here’s me departing, at least for now. John Brewin will sit in the hotseat for a bit. Bye!
Belgium name World Cup squad – Lukaku and De Bruyne included
Romelu Lukaku’s efforts to recover from injuries seem to have paid off after the Napoli striker was included in Belgium’s World Cup squad Friday, AP Reports.
Lukaku, midfield great Kevin de Bruyne and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois are set to play their fourth World Cup campaigns.
Lukaku has 124 games for Belgium, de Bruyne 117 and Courtois 107, making them some of the most experienced players on any team at the World Cup. They all trail 37-year-old defensive midfielder Axel Witsel, also heading into a fourth tournament. He has played for Belgium 136 times.
Lukaku hasn’t played for Belgium in almost a year since scoring against Wales in World Cup qualifying in June. Injuries have limited the 33-year-old striker to just five Serie A appearances for Napoli this season, all as substitute. He was selected for Belgium’s most recent friendlies in March and April but withdrew from the squad over more fitness concerns.
Courtois’ last game for the national team was in October and he was left out of Belgium’s most recent squad over injury issues, but he’s been a key player for Real Madrid this season. Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard and Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku bring Premier League experience up front.
Coach Rudi Garcia hasn’t selected 17-year-old midfielder Nathan de Cat, who would have been one of the youngest players at the World Cup. De Cat made his Belgium debut in a 5-2 win over the United States in March. Forward Lois Openda also misses out after spending much of the last few months on the Juventus bench.
Belgium starts its World Cup campaign in Group G against Egypt on June 15 before facing Iran six days later and New Zealand on June 27. Belgium placed third at the 2018 World Cup but is looking to improve on a group-stage exit in 2022.
Belgium World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, Mike Penders.
Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Maxim de Cupyer, Koni de Winter, Brandon Mechele, Thomas Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Joaquin Seys, Arthur Theate.
Midfielders: Kevin de Bruyne, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel.
Forwards: Charles de Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku, Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Diego Moreira, Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Trossard.
An email pings in about that Celtic penalty. “In light of the increasingly hysterical coverage of the VAR decision which went in Celtic’s favour on Wednesday, it might be nice if some of the supposedly impartial and independent journalists and pundits acknowledged the blatant penalty not given to Celtic earlier in the game when Daizen Maeda was walloped from behind by Motherwell’s keeper,” writes Stephen McCrossan. “Similarly, in one of Celtic’s earlier post-split games Hibs were given a goal despite their player clearly handling the ball and Celtic were not given a penalty when Nygren was given a two-handed shove off the ball in the box. Balance would be nice.”
Opinions, eh? But the thing is, this year the Scottish title race will either end in a brilliant, unexpected and historic victory for a team that hasn’t done it for 66 years, with Hearts becoming the first team outside the Old Firm to win it since 1984, or it will end in Celtic winning it for the fifth year in a row and the 14th time in 15 seasons. Balance ain’t happening.
Derek McInnes, the Hearts manager, has spoken again about that Celtic penalty decision, and about what’s in store this weekend:
It’s the last couple of games we feel a real grievance and I think questions need to be asked, but today’s not the day for it. It’s just a total focus on Saturday’s game. It’s disappointing that there’s been such a spotlight on the Scottish game this season, and for us to have so much chat about refereeing decisions is a bit unfair to be honest, because the season has been so good, so many positives. Whether it’s Motherwell, Falkirk, ourselves, Celtic under Martin O’Neill.
For us now it’s about finishing off what’s been a brilliant season for us. It’s perfect in the sense that it’s the full outcome of drama, the two teams who could win the title head to head. But I think for us, at the start of the week we wanted to make sure we were in this position, with a chance to win it on Saturday. We’re in the position we wanted to be in. It’s a big performance that’s needed from us, it always is at Celtic Park. They’ll think probably everything’s back on script, a home game to win the title. But it’s up to us. Can we keep ripping the script up? And we have ripped the script up this season. We go there bullish, and confident that we can get the result.
Andy Hunter has now opened his laptop and sent over a story on Séamus Coleman’s imminent departure from Everton, or at least from Everton’s playing roster:
Séamus Coleman will end his distinguished 17-year career with Everton when his contract expires next month, but he has yet to decide whether his playing days are over.
The Everton captain, famously signed for £60,000 from Sligo Rovers in January 2009, has been hampered by injuries in recent years and has announced that this season will be his last as a player with the club. Everton have offered the 37-year-old a coaching role from this summer but he is considering continuing with another club and with the Republic of Ireland.
Coleman has made 433 appearances for Everton, including a club-record 372 in the Premier League. He will overtake the legendary William Ralph ‘Dixie’ Dean and Leon Osman into 10th place on the club’s all-time appearance list should he feature in the final home game of the season against Sunderland on Sunday.
Much more here:
I guess we’re now in peak ruled-out-of-the-World-Cup-through-injury season. The Jordanian FA have just revealed that defender Issam Smeeri will miss the tournament because of a ruptured Achilles tendon, Reuters report.
The 26-year-old sustained the injury during individual training with the national team, the association said in a post on X, and will now miss the tournament, scheduled from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The right back joins Yazan Al-Naimat and Adham Al-Quraishi on the list of absentees, after both players were also ruled out of the World Cup after failing to recover in time from anterior cruciate ligament injuries sustained while representing Jordan at the Arab Cup last December.
Bayern Munich’s sporting director, Max Eberl, has warned that Alphonso Davies is struggling to be fit for the World Cup, but pledged that the club will do everything they can to give him a chance to be play for Canada on home soil, reports AFP.
“Our hope is that we can all work together to do what’s best for Phonzy,” Eberl told a press conference before Bayern’s final Bundesliga game of the season against Cologne.
Canada play all three of their group games at home starting with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12.
“It’s tragic enough that he’s picked up an injury ahead of the World Cup on home soil,” said Eberl. “We’ll all work together to ensure he might have a chance – but for that to happen, he needs to get fit. He has to accept that, and he does.”
Since returning in December following a long absence after a knee ligament tear, the 25-year-old has suffered a series of muscle injuries, the most recent after he came on as a substitute as Bayern were eliminated from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain on May 6.
Davies suffered an injury to the back of his left thigh, which will keep him out for “several weeks”, said Eberl, meaning he will miss not only Saturday’s home game against Cologne but also the German Cup final against Stuttgart in Berlin on May 23.
Canada plan to announce their 26-man World Cup squad on 29 May.
China’s CCTV to show 2026 and 2030 World Cups
Morning! We start with an update to a story we ran on Tuesday about Fifa’s troubles shifting World Cup TV rights in India and China:
Well a deal has now been agreed with China’s state broadcaster, CCTV, for them to show both this year’s World Cup and the 2030 tournament in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. They will also show the next two Women’s World Cups, in 2027 and 2031.
The agreement between FIFA and CCTV’s parent company, China Media Group, covers TV, internet and mobile broadcasting, it added.
The time has come for me to hand over the Friday football blog reins to Simon Burnton. I’ll leave you with The Talk – our rundown of the latest Premier League news as it stands.
Over to you, Simon!
Hearts: Derek McInnes took home the Scottish Football Writers Association manager of the year award last night and will collect the award on Sunday … but I suspect it will mean very little to him if Hearts cannot get over the line and win the Scottish Premiership.
There will be just 752 Hearts fans at Celtic Park tomorrow hoping to see their side grab the draw or victory that will be enough to clinch a historic title success… the first time (potentially) a club outside the Old Firm has won the Scottish top tier since Aberdeen in 1985 under Sir Alex Ferguson. Hearts lead Celtic by a single point going into the final game.
“We’re going to have to put in a big performance against Celtic,” said McInnes. “Because they aren’t title winners who win titles year after year without reason. We’re going to have to beat what has been the best team for the last wee while. Not beat them on the day, but beat them to the title.”
And his message to those travelling fans from Edinburgh?
“Sing as loud as you can. It’ll be hard to hear them, but we know they’re there. We know who we’re representing. We know how many people will be watching. It’s not just about who’s there but actually getting into that lion’s den still being an underdog. Even though we’ve been top of the league since September, we’re still the underdog. For us to be competing with Celtic, with the money they’ve got and everything they’ve got at their disposal, it’s a huge effort for our team. We look forward to it.”
Sound the transfer klaxon: Brentford have announced their first summer signing in the shape of teenage defender Jannik Schuster.
The Austrian has agreed a deal from RB Salzburg on a contract until June 2031 with Keith Andrews calling Schuster, 19, “a player with a lot of potential… we see that as something we can develop.”
“I really like him as a young man; he’s determined to maximise his potential. He’s going to fit in well with the first-team squad.”
Schuster, who will arrive once the summer window opens, said of moving to Brentford: “It’s maybe the best club in the world at developing players. Every conversation I had gave me a good feeling and confidence about the transfer.”
Speaking of nervous fans, as per Krishnamoorthy’s earlier email anyone top Martin Cordiner?
Any fellow fans of both Arsenal AND Hearts out there? It has so far been simultaneously incredible and excruciatingly nerve-wracking to have both (pretty unexpectedly) going for it and now both being so close.
Might have to have a year off next year, a fallow year so I can do whatever soil does in a fallow year.
You fear for Martin’s fingernails, you really do.
Coleman to end 17-year playing stint with Everton
Seamus Coleman has announced he is bringing his 17-year stint as an Everton player to an end.
The Republic of Ireland international joined Everton as a 20-year-old from Sligo Rovers for just £60,000 but has become a legend with the Toffees. He will now leave the club when his contract expires before taking a break and then deciding on his next move.
“The club have been unbelievable with me,” he told Everton’s website. “They’ve offered me an opportunity to stay on at the football club. The manager and staff have been great, and I think with it being such an important decision over my future, I’m going to take a nice, long holiday and look back on what has been an amazing time as an Everton footballer.”
If Coleman features in his final home match for Everton against Sunderland on Sunday, it will take his tally in all competitions to 434 appearances for the club.
It it thought he may move into coaching, either with Everton or Ireland, although it remains to be seen what the 37-year-old does in the summer and beyond.
Who are we backing to win the race for Senesi, then? Spurs will have to avoid relegation to stand a chance of landing the 29-year-old. Liverpool have long needed a ball-playing central defender of course …
Bournemouth confirm Senesi to leave this summer
Bournemouth have announced that defender Marcos Senesi is to depart the club when his contract expires in the summer.
The centre-back has spent four seasons with the Cherries since arriving from Feyenoord and there will likely be a scramble for his signature on a free transfer, with Liverpool and Tottenham linked with a move.
Senesi has made 124 appearances for Bournemouth and has become a mainstay under Andoni Iraola.
Speaking to the club’s website, the Argentina international said: “AFC Bournemouth will always hold a special place for me and I will look back at my time here with fond memories. For now, there are still two big games left of the season and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together.”
Nominees for major Premier League awards
The Premier League revealed the nominees for three awards yesterday, namely the Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season and Manager of the Season. The young player award still allows those aged 23 to enter, which is a bit silly, but here are the nominees.
Player of the Season
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Bruno Fernandes
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Gabriel
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Morgan Gibbs-White
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Erling Haaland
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David Raya
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Declan Rice
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Antoine Semenyo
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Igor Thiago
Young Player of the Season
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Rayan Cherki
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Matheus Fernandes
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Lewis Hall
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Michael Kayode
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Eli Junior Kroupi
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Kobbie Mainoo
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Nico O’Reilly
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Alex Scott
Manager of the Season
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Keith Andrews
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Mikel Arteta
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Michael Carrick
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Pep Guardiola
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Andoni Iraola
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Régis Le Bris
If you’re asking for my personal picks, I’m going: Fernandes, O’Reilly and Andrews. Drop me an email with yours.
It’s Friday quiz time. Can you beat my score of 10/15? Probably.
The Hull City Supporters Club have released a statement regarding the ongoing and unresolved ‘spygate’ allegations hanging over Southampton. Hull are due to meet Saints in the Championship playoff final on Saturday 23 May, but no decision has yet been taken over the punishments the south coast club may face for allegedly spying on a Middlesbrough training session.
The EFL warned “disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the [playoff final] fixture”, with Hull and their fans unhappy over the uncertainty. Here’s what they said:
The Hull City Official Supporters Club are currently liaising with other supporters groups to register our concern over the possible moving of the playoff final with the EFL.
This is a situation in which we have had no influence but in which we are, both as a football club and supporters, being penalised. Any decision to move the date of the final will result in many of our supporters not only losing out financially but then facing the prospect of being unable to attend the rearranged fixture.
Given that this is a situation which has largely resulted from the EFL’s own error in failing to publish the sanctions for a breach of the rule regarding ‘spying’ on opposition teams we feel this is manifestly unfair.
A couple of Scottish Premiership bits for you to read here. Surely Celtic cannot snatch the title from under Hearts’ noses on the final day? Surely not? That’s not the outcome the neutrals want to see, anyway.
A first email of the morning has dropped from Krishnamoorthy:
I often feel the supporters of the mid-table teams have a simpler life. Imaging being a Gunner this season. The usual euphoria around Christmas times, fate lurking behind you with a lead pipe in February and March, the insane capacity to self-implode in April and the nerve shredding May where a bald assassin hangs you upside down and inflicts one small cut after another till you drain out completely. Reset and repeat all over again next season. Better be a Leicester fan who can celebrate a random Premier League win and then vanish happily into the Championship and go further down.
I was going to say, Leicester have been anything but mid-table in recent years. And some Foxes’ fans might disagree with that notion.
Mbappé denies Arbeola rift but says he is ‘fourth choice’ at Madrid
Kylian Mbappé says he is now the fourth-choice forward at Real Madrid after manager Álvaro Arbeloa left him out of the starting lineup for their 2-0 win over Real Oviedo last night. The Frenchman, who missed Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Barcelona and was booed by his own fans on his return from a hamstring injury, came off the bench in the 68th minute after Arbeloa opted to play Vinicius Junior and Gonzalo Garcia in attack.
Mbappé told reporters fitness was not an issue. “I’m 100% fine. I haven’t played because for the coach I’ve been the fourth striker in the squad behind [Franco] Mastantuono, Vini and Gonzalo,” he said. “I was ready to start, it’s his decision and it always has to be respected. I have no problem at all with Arbeloa. You have to accept the coach’s philosophy and I have to do better to play ahead of Vini, Gonzalo and Mastantuono.“
Mbappé has faced criticism from fans for travelling to Sardinia while recovering from his injury, though he said Real authorised that trip. Arbeloa said there was no way he could start Mbappé after he missed the Barcelona match and dismissed the suggestion he had told the Frenchman he was fourth choice.
“I had a conversation with him before the game and I don’t know what he could have interpreted,” said Arbeloa. “For me it is very clear that a player who four days ago could not be on the bench [against Barcelona], today should not start. Especially because it’s not a final, it’s not a game of life or death.” Arbeloa added that Mbappé would start Real’s next match at Sevilla on Sunday.
Fletcher slams FA Youth Cup final as ‘Man City parade’
Manchester United under-18s manager Darren Fletcher has launched a fresh complaint over the staging of the FA Youth Cup final, describing the post-match trophy celebration as a “Man City parade”.
United were already deeply unhappy that the game, which City won 2-1 last night, was played at the Joie Stadium, home of City’s women’s team and academy sides, with City saying the Etihad Stadium was unavailable due to construction work. And after seeing his side lose to a late Reigan Heskey strike, Fletcher was seen complaining during the trophy presentation as City revelled in their fifth FA Youth Cup success.
City’s backroom staff were invited to step up to the podium before the players were individually introduced to the crowd as they went to collect their medals. Fletcher felt it went too far. Responding to a question over the lessons his players will take from watching rivals celebrate, he said: “Not only to watch a team lift a trophy, but to be a Man City parade when it’s an FA Youth Cup final.
“I’ve never heard individual coaches be shouted out, every individual player be shouted out. That doesn’t happen in Cup finals. So I’m disappointed in the FA for everything that’s gone around this game, for the location, for everything. And then our players having to deal with that. But as you say, it’s disappointing. You have to stand there. You have to respect the opposition. But not when Man City take over an FA Youth Cup. It’s an FA competition. It should never have been like that.”
Asked if the FA needed to take more ownership of this 74-year-old competition he said: “It’s an FA competition and it felt like it was a Man City competition for this whole buildup to the game in terms of how we had to deal with that at the end there.”
We’ll start with a plug to our 10 things to look out for this weekend, which of course includes the FA Cup final. Manchester City have lost the last two cup finals, while Chelsea were runners-up on three successive occasions in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Something’s got to give.
Preamble
What a week it’s been in football. We’ve got the playoff ‘spygate’ scandal, some genuinely superb on-field playoff drama in the EFL, and the small matter of the closest Premier League title race in years going on as well, by the way.
Last night Bolton booked their spot in the League One playoff final after beating Bradford 2-0 over two legs; they’ll face Stockport in an all-Greater Manchester Wembley showpiece. Who knows who Hull will face in the Championship equivalent …
Tonight in the top flight, Aston Villa host Liverpool in a game that may determine who finishes fourth, while Newcastle v West Ham and Arsenal v Burnley on Sunday are games that will have huge ramifications at the top and bottom ends of the Premier league table. Sandwiched between on Saturday is the small matter of the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City, while the Scottish Premiership is primed to come to a thrilling denouement with an effective title playoff between Celtic and Hearts. Good grief that will be some game.
As always on Fridays, we’re here with all your buildup, which includes team news, press conference bits and bobs and all our preview pieces. Please do drop me an email to join the conversation. It should be a busy ol’ day.
The fire broke out at the facility in Ladybank on Tuesday and is still burning
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Key events
The two-time winner Justin Thomas played the front nine in 32 strokes yesterday. The back nine wasn’t so kind – two bogeys on the way home – and he’s not enjoying this stretch today, either. From the centre of 11, wedge in hand, he lands his ball on the false front of the green, and it’s dispatched back into a bunker. His splash out finds the same false front, and this time the ball u-turns back into greenside rough. He does very well to chip to six feet and make the bogey putt, but he’s back to level par for the tournament now, having yesterday reached the giddy heights of -3.
Scottie Scheffler’s third at 10, from 44 yards, is no good. It’s 20 feet shy of the flag. He can’t make the par saver, and that’s an immediate backwards step for the world number one and tournament favourite. Matt Fitzpatrick bogeys too, and it’s a double for Justin Rose. They’re -2, +1 and +2 respectively. Meanwhile on Sky, Laura Davies asks Wayne Riley what he thinks the leader will be on at the end of the day. Five under, he answers, without a beat of hesitation. In other words, good luck trying to go low, gentlemen. It’s going to be another hugely entertaining day!
Rose gathers himself and sends a decent wedge into 10, from 77 yards to 16 feet. He’ll have a look at a damage-limiting bogey. Meanwhile Scottie’s lie in the rough on the left isn’t great, and he’s forced to take his medicine, punching back out onto the fairway. Even the strongest hitters in the business aren’t of a mind to take liberties with this rough. To think everyone was talking about bringing Aronimink to its knees with some bomb and gouge at the start of the week! A textbook study in hubris, and that’s before we get around to the subjects of Rory and Bryson.
“Aww-wwwah!” Justin Rose yelps in anguish. He’s found a big fairway bunker down the right of 10. There’s a huge face which rises to the right, and water on the left, so he tries to bite off more than he can chew. The ball slaps apologetically into that face, nowhere near clearing it. He escapes with his second attempt but from 77 yards out, will now be doing well to limit the damage to bogey. Rose walked off 18 last night with a huge smile on his face, rolling in a long par saver; he’ll need to draw from those street-fighting reserves again now.
Scottie Scheffler barely missed a fairway yesterday, arguably the main reason he’s started this tournament fast, a rare feat for him this season on the PGA Tour. (On average, he’s been nearly three shots worse for his first round when compared to his cards on days two, three and four.) So the rest of the field can be forgiven for taking a collective gulp. However, golf being golf, he sends his opening tee shot today into the rough down the left of 10. That only just crept in, so it probably won’t stop him taking a shy for the green, but let’s assume nothing until he gets to the ball and discovers the lie he’s copped. Meanwhile up ahead, Robert MacIntyre bogeys the hole after finding a fairway bunker with his tee shot. He’s immediately back to +1.
It’s another dropped shot for Martin Kaymer, the result of a wayward drive. It was a bit of a surprise to see Kaymer, now 41, at the top of the leaderboard yesterday evening. The German reached number one in the world for a wee while back in 2011, won the 2010 PGA and the 2014 US Open, the 2014 Players, and sunk the decisive putt at the Miracle of Medinah. It’s a hell of a CV. But he’s done absolutely nothing in the majors since a tie for seventh at the 2016 PGA, an absolutely dismal record for a player so good, and has since disappeared on the LIV tour. Injuries have taken their toll, to be fair, so you can perhaps understand how he bristled at the champion’s dinner earlier this week when a PGA official asked him if he was still playing. “I’m not flying from Europe to here to have a New York strip with you guys,” he fumed, and that righteous anger fuelled yesterday’s excellent 67. But that’ll only propel you around Aronimink for so long, and he’s started out struggling today. He’s back to -1 in short order.
Shane Lowry duked out a steely 68 yesterday. Birdie at the 18th sent him away with a cheery look on his face. But he’s handed that shot back immediately with a careless three-putt on his first hole of the day, the 10th. Back to -1 for the 2019 Open winner. Also heading in the wrong direction early doors: the 2010 champion Martin Kaymer, who bogeys 2 to fall out of the big leading group. Speaking of which, Scottie Scheffler will be on the scene in less than ten minutes.
-3: Scheffler, Smalley, Potgieter, Jaeger, Lee, Hisatsune
-2: Kaymer (3), Reed (1), Brown, Theegala, Greyserman, Schauffele
Only one player went bogey-free yesterday: Patrick Reed. The 2018 Masters champion has already won twice on the DP World Tour this year, as well as contending a play-off in another tournament. And he competed hard at Augusta last month. He’s in form, and with his talent for and enjoyment of battling through things, might be a good shout this week. His opening drive today is wayward, and he’s forced to chop out from the cabbage, but he wedges his third from 50 yards to eight feet and calmly tidies up to keep his blemish-free record in tact. A 68 yesterday, and he’s -2 overall.
Block party. It’s happening again. He’s happening again. Michael Block, the club pro who lit up the 2023 tournament with three rounds of 70 and a 71 that included an ace with Rory McIlroy in attendance, is doing it again. A round of 70 yesterday, and now a 20-foot putt for birdie at the par-three 5th. He’s -1 overall and already beginning to dream of making the cut. It’d be an early birthday present: he’s 50 next month. Good luck finding a single punter at Aronimink who won’t be cheering him on.
About the weather. It shouldn’t be too different to the first day. A little bit warmer, but with the wind expected to occasionally pick up again. It’s blowing pretty briskly right now. There’s not much chance of rain, and the course didn’t get a soaking tonight, so it’ll be a little bit firmer and the ball should scuttle further. Which, given so many of the fairways at Aronimink tilt towards penal rough, may not necessarily be a good thing. But it’s a great day for golf!
Preamble
There are seven players tied for the lead, and another 42 within three shots of them. The day before Moving Day is going to feature a lot of jostling for position.
Here’s what the top of the leaderboard looked like at the end of the first day …
-3: Potgieter, Jaeger, Lee, Hisatsune, Kaymer, Scheffler, Smalley
-2: Brown, Theegala, Greyserman, Schauffele, Conners, Reed, Lowry
… and here are today’s tee times (BST). Starting on the 1st …
1145 Michael Block, Rasmus Højgaard, Dustin Johnson
1156 Mark Geddes, Steven Fisk, David Lipsky
1207 Sungjae Im, Austin Hurt, Casey Jarvis
1218 Andrew Putnam, Michael Kartrude, Matt Wallace
1229 Martin Kaymer, Elvis Smylie, Davis Riley
1240 Jason Dufner, Haotong Li, Jimmy Walker
1251 Nick Taylor, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Jordan Smith
1302 Emiliano Grillo, Patrick Reed, Pierceson Coody
1313 Brian Campbell, Adam Schenk, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
1324 Marco Penge, Sepp Straka, Patrick Rodgers
1335 Aaron Rai, Travis Smyth, Sami Valimaki
1346 Sam Stevens, Jayden Schaper, Garrett Sapp
1357 Timothy Wiseman, Matti Schmid, Austin Smotherman
1715 Aldrich Potgieter, David Puig, Denny McCarthy
1726 William Mouw, Chris Gabriele, Taylor Pendrith
1737 Tom Hoge, Bryce Fisher, Joaquin Niemann
1748 Keith Mitchell, Billy Horschel, Ian Holt
1759 Gary Woodland, Jason Day, Sam Burns
1810 Wyndham Clark, Cameron Smith, Brian Harman
1821 Patrick Cantlay, Min Woo Lee, Sahith Theegala
1832 Si Woo Kim, Derek Berg, Joe Highsmith
1843 Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Aberg, Rickie Fowler
1854 Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, Tyrrell Hatton
1905 Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm
1916 Daniel Hillier, Ryan Vermeer, Max McGreevy
1927 Paul McClure, Mikael Lindberg, Angel Ayora
… and starting on the 10th …
1150 Andrew Novak, John Parry, Jordan Gumberg
1201 Ben Polland, Kurt Kitayama, Nico Echavarria
1212 Akshay Bhatia, Ricky Castillo, Michael Thorbjornsen
1223 Luke Donald, Jesse Droemer, Stewart Cink
1234 Hideki Matsuyama, J.J. Spaun, Max Homa
1245 Ben Kern, J.T. Poston, Russell Henley
1256 Adam Scott, Corey Conners, Daniel Berger
1307 Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa, Shane Lowry
1318 Chris Gotterup, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood
1329 Cameron Young, Keegan Bradley, Justin Thomas
1340 Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose
1351 Zach Haynes, Alex Smalley, Chandler Blanchet
1402 Bernd Wiesberger, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Andy Sullivan
1710 Braden Shattuck, Alex Fitzpatrick, Ben Griffin
1721 Francisco Bide, Harry Hall, Ryan Gerard
1732 Johnny Keefer, Rico Hoey, Nicolai Højgaard
1743 Shaun Micheel, Michael Brennan, Garrick Higgo
1754 YE Yang, Jhonattan Vegas, Matt McCarty
1805 Lucas Glover, Tom McKibbin, Stephan Jaeger
1816 Daniel Brown, Adrien Saddier, Harris English
1827 Jacob Bridgeman, Bud Cauley, Alex Noren
1838 Chris Kirk, Max Greyserman, Kristoffer Reitan
1849 Maverick McNealy, Thomas Detry, Padraig Harrington
1900 Ryan Lenahan, Ryan Fox, Kazuki Higa
1911 Jared Jones, Michael Kim, Ryo Hisatsune
1922 Tyler Collet, Kota Kaneko, Brandt Snedeker
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