Right, that’s pretty much that for today’s Friday football live blog. As always, it’s been an absolute pleasure.
We’ve had Women’s Champions League reaction, FA Cup quarter-final previews and plenty of club versus country fallout from across the continent, with big stories unfolding at Bayern Munich and Barcelona. There’s never a dull moment, especially not now the international break has (finally) come to a close. Thanks for joining us – until next time!
Here’s John Brewin on Newcastle’s trophy parade as a parting gift. Enjoy.
Manchester City have come in for criticism from fan groups for establishing a commercial partnership with ticket resale platform Viagogo.
City have said some hospitality tickets for men’s and women’s games will be sold on the third party website, but not standard tickets. City are yet to confirm season-ticket prices for the coming 2025-26 season, as the club await the outcome of their Premier League hearing for 115 alleged breaches of FFP.
“To sign a ninth partnership with a ticket resale platform is incredibly tone deaf given the strength of concern,” City Matters chair Alex Howell told the BBC. “This is without reference to the well-founded concerns about price gouging and partnering with this particular operator.”
For Marc Cucurella ‘his penguin’ is clearly the equivalent to ‘her lobster’ for 90s kids who watched Friends.
Marc Cucurella explains the reason for his penguin celebration... 🐧😂 pic.twitter.com/MZqGeruaV0
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 28, 2025
Jamie Jackson reports from magnificent Manchester on Pep’s presser ahead of their sunny south coast sojourn. Alternative alliteration is available.
Re: iconic FA Cup quarter-finals, Matthew Prior emails in:
Iconic may be overstating it a little, but from 0m30s on this vid please enjoy the world’s least spectacular overhead kick, from the man we used to affectionately call ‘Chrissy Marsden Football Genius’.
Unspectacular is certainly the word, Matthew.
Looks like Manchester United have welcomed back a fair few of their injured contingent to training, including Leny Yoro and Harry Maguire. Ruben Amorim’s side are next in action at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night. They could even have Luke Shaw and Mason Mount back soon, too. (I know right)
Bolstering our backline 💪#MUFC || #PL pic.twitter.com/aPNj7hWd9B
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 28, 2025
Want some more Preston quotes ahead of their Aston Villa test? Of course you do.
Here’s midfielder Stefan Thordarson on the prospect of facing the Champions League quarter-finalists:
It’ll be a test of the highest levels. Every single one of us will have to have one of [our] best games of the season to have a chance against a team like Aston Villa. They are a world class team with internationals in every position so we’ll have to do everything in our power to stop what they do. We will be well prepared.
Barnsley beating Chelsea in 2008, that Danny Welbeck-inspired Arsenal win over Manchester United in 2015 … otherwise I’m racking my brains for memorable FA Cup last eight games. Examples from pre-1992 are allowed, of course.
Come on then, iconic FA Cup quarter-finals. Which games are etched in your memory forever?
Will anything surpass the drama of Manchester United v Liverpool last season?
We heard from the Fulham and Crystal Palace managers a little earlier but here’s some further team news for that FA Cup quarter-final:
Marco Silva will still be without Harry Wilson, Reiss Nelson and Kenny Tete, while Palace – as well as having Mateta available – have a virtually fully fit squad. Only Will Hughes, who has been ill, is doubtful of their regular starters.
Ian Holloway has agreed a new long-term contract with Swindon until the end of the 2027-28 season. The 62-year-old veteran manager made a return to the dugout when taking over at the Sky Bet League Two club at the end of October following the departure of Mark Kennedy.
Holloway, who took charge of his 1,000th competitive match before Christmas, has guided Swindon away from the relegation zone towards mid-table, with just one defeat in the past 12 league games.
“This club is much more than a project, the building of a club, the rebuilding of a club, and that’s how I look at it, and I’m honoured to be trusted with that,” Holloway said on the Swindon website.
Ollie, Ollie, Ollie, oi, oi, oi.
Thanks Billy. Right, let’s see you through to your Friday night drinks.
And with that, I will hand the reins back to a refreshed Dominic Booth, who will see you over the line.
Matt Hughes has an exclusive on Newcastle’s stadium plans. Is it the end for St James’ Park?
Preston are the last FA Cup quarter-finalists on our agenda today. Paul Heckingbottom’s team have already faced Fulham and Arsenal in the Carabao Cup this season, so Aston Villa’s visit to Deepdale on Sunday shouldn’t leave his players starstruck.
“This is the third Premier League team coming to Deepdale this season so it’s not new. I think the occasion is different and the intensity Villa will bring is different simply because of the stage of the competition,” Heckingbottom said.
This is Preston’s first FA Cup quarter-final since 1966 – a good omen? Oh, there’s no World Cup this year.
“We’re excited to be a game away from Wembley, the club’s not been at this stage for many, many years and that’s our prize,” Heckingbottom said.
“Villa are probably looking at it as a realistic chance of silverware. We’re playing against a highly motivated team that are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. But what have we got to lose? We just have to play our best game.”
Osasuna file appeal to RFEF over Martínez's Barcelona inclusion
Osasuna have filed an appeal with the Spanish football federation (RFEF) stating Barcelona should not have fielded defender Iñigo Martínez in their La Liga game over a technicality as he sat out Spain’s matches with an injury.
Martínez, who withdrew from the Spain squad for their Nations League games due to a swollen right knee, played the full 90 minutes in Barcelona’s 3-0 win on Thursday which moved the league leaders three points clear in La Liga.
“The club understands that the participation of Iñigo Martínez in yesterday’s match violated article 5 of Annex I of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players,” Osasuna said in a statement.
“(It) specifies that a player who does not join or leaves his national team for medical reasons may not play matches for his club during the five calendar days following the end of the international period.
“Osasuna believes that Iñigo Martínez, whose absence from the Spanish national team was due to a medical leave, was not eligible to play in yesterday’s match in accordance with FIFA regulations.”
The result left Osasuna 14th in the standings, six points clear of the relegation zone. Barcelona were originally meant to play Osasuna on 8 March but the death of Barcelona’s club doctor forced the game to be rescheduled to 27 March, just four days after Spain’s match as there was no other date available. Reuters
I think it’s fair to say not many in Newcastle will be glued to their TV sets for tomorrow’s quarter-final between Nottingham Forest and Brighton at 5.15pm.
The city is getting ready to celebrate their triumph in the Carabao Cup from before the international break, with Eddie Howe’s squad taking an open-top bus parade through the streets from 4pm before a party is held at Town Moor.
Sales of Brown Ale are sure to be healthy this weekend.
Emery rules Barkley out of Preston tie
The Aston Villa manager, Unai Emery, has been speaking ahead of their quarter-final against Preston.
Ross Barkley is the only player that the Spanish coach has ruled out, while Emi Martínez, Leon Bailey and Andrés García will be monitored.
Villa are still in the hunt for two trophies, with a Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain to come. Their current ninth-place position in the Premier League, though, is perhaps a little underwhelming. Are they struggling to balance challenging on multiple fronts towards the end of the season?
“Two years ago, we finished the season strong,” Emery said. “We drew against Liverpool and won against Brighton at home. Last year, we finished the season very tired, there wasn’t enough energy, and we lost the last match against Crystal Palace away.
“This year, my idea and how we are now planning the rest of the season is to try to finish with full energy.”
Let’s go back to 1927, when Arsenal’s buildup to their FA Cup final against Cardiff was mired in controversy after reports of Herbert Chapman’s side using a new device “that would render them unbeatable” … a shed. Simon Burton has the story:
After their Women’s Champions League comeback exploits this week, Arsenal and Chelsea return their focus to the WSL on Sunday, when all 12 teams are in action. Here’s a look at the fixtures:
Manchester United v Everton, 12pm
Brighton v Manchester City, 2pm
Crystal Palace v Arsenal, 2pm
Leicester v Tottenham, 2pm
Liverpool v Aston Villa, 2pm
Chelsea v West Ham, 4.30pm
Chelsea are eight points clear of Arsenal and Manchester United at the top. Here’s Jonathan Liew’s take on European events at Stamford Bridge last night:
Mateta to make return for Crystal Palace
After the horrific injury he suffered in the last round of the FA Cup against Millwall, a masked Jean-Philippe Mateta is set to play for Crystal Palace against Fulham.
“Oh yes, he trains now for two weeks with us,” said Palace manager Oliver Glasner.
“Of course, always with his protection and it’s also important for him to train a little bit. We had an internal game during the international break where he could play for 60 minutes without any problems. He’s ready.”
Mateta has scored 15 goals in all competitions for Palace this season, making him the club’s top scorer.
More from Silva as he is reminded that Fulham were beaten 2-0 at home by Crystal Palace when the two teams met in the Premier League last month.
“The game was not a good game,” Silva said. “[Palace are] always strong with five at the back. They are always a threat going forward. Difficult to break them down, but they didn’t have many big chances too. We need to create more chances to be able to score goals.”
Fulham, in fact, have not beaten Palace in a competitive game at Craven Cottage since 2005, when Andy Cole scored twice for Chris Coleman’s side.
Silva on Fulham's pursuit of first major trophy
Marco Silva has been charting the progression of his Fulham team’s mentality when it comes to silverware as they try to win the club’s first major trophy this season.
“It shows the progress, first season we achieved the quarter-final, last season we achieved the semi-final in the Carabao Cup, and a quarter-final this season,” he said. “Shows the progression and the mentality of the club, We’ve changed the approach and mindset of the cup competitions.
“In all the cups games I’ve said it’s going to be very very difficult. But the ambition is always there, to try all the way until the last game.”
Silva confirmed that right-back Tete will be unavailable for tomorrow’s FA Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace due to injury, while Harry Wilson and Reiss Nelson remain out.
Thanks Dominic. No pressure, then. Before we hear from Marco Silva, striker Raúl Jiménez has been speaking to Fulham’s in-house media ahead of their FA Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace.
He said: “It’s going to be a really special game for us, for the fans. And we need to be all together as one.”
Jiménez is coming into the weekend off the back of winning the Concacaf Nations League with Mexico, having scored both goals in their 2-1 win against Panama in the final.
To bring you the latest from Silva and the other FA Cup managers will be Billy Munday, who is making his Friday football blog debut. So be nice. Over to you, Billy.
Are Fulham this season’s most super super-subs?
Perhaps that’ll be one of the questions asked of Marco Silva in today’s press conference.
Every Fulham goal scored by a substitute this season: 🧵
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) February 13, 2025
Reiss Nelson v Newcastle. 🦋 pic.twitter.com/PnUiCjA3SP
Some major news from Barcelona this afternoon.
Iraola on Bournemouth future amid Spurs links
Andoni Iraola paused for a while after being asked whether Bournemouth was the place he saw himself long term, amid suggestions he is being lined up by Tottenham Hotspur as a possible successor to Ange Postecoglou.
Bournemouth have just moved into a new state-of-the-art training complex and are aiming to win the FA Cup for the first time in their history, as well as scaling new heights in the Premier League this season.
On where the future could take him, Iraola said: “I want to do my job the best I can and if I don’t they’ll find someone else do the job. I’m very happy here. To achieve new heights and go to a semi final would be amazing.
“But we have to be realistic and realise there may be better teams than us. I don’t know how far we’re gong to go.”
Let’s pivot to Andoni Iraola who is chatting away.
“Everything has been focussed on the cup,” he says. “We have a big opportunity this weekend, we know who we face and the challenge, but the reward is very big.
“Everyone has to give everything. I don’t know if it’s going to be enough to beat City. The reward is huge. The chance to play at Wembley … for City they’ve been there so many times, it’s not so important.”
QUIZ. It’s Friday lunchtime so that means quiz time.
Guardiola: we don't deserve a Club World Cup bonus
Here’s a brilliant answer from Pep when asked if the City squad would get a bonus if they won the Club World Cup:
We don’t deserve a bonus this season. Not even a watch.
Updated
Guardiola is asked if it’s good for the game that teams outside the big six are thriving this season and going deep in the FA Cup.
“That proves how good they are,” he said. “We see it every week in the Premier League and they prove it again in the FA Cup. In England always the biggest topic is [that] any team can beat any team. Of course two teams, Liverpool and Arsenal, have done amazing in the Premier League but the rest … anything can happen.”
Guardiola leaves door open for De Bruyne to exit City
Pep Guardiola said Kevin de Bruyne’s future is “between the club and Kevin” and that he’s “just concerned about the team” and finishing the season on a high.
The 33-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and Guardiola was asked about the Belgian’s future at Manchester City.
“He is a player,” was the City manager’s blunt answer when asked if he’d like to keep De Bruyne at the club beyond the summer. The playmaker will now be free to negotiate a pre-contract with clubs outside the Premier League if he so desires.
Updated
Here’s a few snippets from the start of Pep Guardiola’s presser.
On Bournemouth: “I wouldn’t say they were chaotic, they have a specific kind of playing. It would be boring if every team played in the same way.”
On learning from Iraola: “Yeah. There are many [managers to learn from].”
On waiting for the charges: “Nothing changes having one more, or two more, or three more weeks. We are more than one year [waiting] with that.”
City are looking to reach a seventh successive FA Cup semi-final under Guardiola. Which would be crazy good.
Marco and Fulham: chasing Silvaware.
In terms of pre-FA Cup press conference goodness, we’ve got Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola coming up at 12.30pm; then at 1pm Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva, of Bournemouth and Fulham respectively, are up before the media masses.
We’ll also hear from Oliver Glasner, Unai Emery and Paul Heckingbottom before the day is done. What a Friday feast.
Championship strugglers Derby County have announced the short-term signing of former Stoke and Burnley defender Erik Pieters.
The 36-year-old was at Luton on a similar deal earlier in the season but departed as a free agent without playing a game. His last games came at West Brom last season.
Derby County have completed the signing of Erik Pieters. ✅
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) March 28, 2025
The experienced defender has signed a deal until the end of the 2024/25 season. ✍️
Nottingham Forest are chasing records at Brighton on Saturday, looking to reach their first FA Cup semi-final since the Brian Clough era. Forest’s previous appearance in the last four was in 1991 with Old Big ‘Ead at the helm.
Nuno Espírito Santo is enjoying a stellar season with Forest in the league and even though star striker Chris Wood will be absent through injury this weekend, the Portuguese senses another opportunity to make history.
“As a group and as a club we have managed to change many things. We’ve broken records that have stood for 30, 40 years,” said Nuno. “Suddenly we have another chance to break another. This is how we think.
“Since the beginning of the FA Cup, we have had only one ambition: to go as far as possible. For that, we must compete well at Brighton.
“I think the fans are recognising that our players give it everything they have on the pitch. That is what should make us proud.
“Of course, we love the cup. We’re going to give everything that we have to achieve what our fans expect and desire, but before that, we have a lot of work.”
Updated
Another good read for you here. Millie Bright chats to Suzanne Wrack.
“I wonder if Osasuna would have been quite as outraged about Martinez’s selection had they got something from the game?” asks Michael Fitzgerald on email.
”If you lose 3-0 it’s probably down to more than just the inclusion of one player. Oh look, storm clouds are beginning to form over that nearby teacup, alert the Met Office!”
Bayern Munich consider legal action against Canada
More club v country injury fury …
Bayern Munich have demanded an explanation from Canada team officials after defender Alphonso Davies suffered a ligament tear on international duty that has put him out of the Bundesliga season finale.
The 24-year-old was forced off early in Canada’s 2-1 win over the U.S. in the Concacaf Nations League third-place playoff on Sunday. “We’re demanding a full investigation into the events from Canada Soccer and expressly reserve the right to take legal action,” Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen told the Bild tabloid on Friday.
“It is bitter for us and the way it happened is just not correct,” Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund added. “We want to know what exactly happened.” Freund said Davies had complained of fatigue after Canada’s prior game but still played. “He is the captain, a young man who wanted to help his team but it was borderline,”
“The second issue is the injury after 12 minutes. Then Phonzy [Davies] flies back on a 12-hour flight and we all assume it is not a serious injury but then we have this,” Freund said of the discovery Davies had an ACL tear in his right knee.
“That is sloppy. It is not professional and we need to talk and clear it up. We are the employers, we pay the players, so we will be looking into what happened.” There was no immediate response from the Canada team. Reuters/AP
Updated
It’s not just in the English domestic cup competition where underdogs are thriving this season. Good piece this from Niall McVeigh.
Time for some of your correspondence. And Richard Hirst has taken issue with my caption on a picture of Milos Kerkez.
Best left back in the Premier League? Hmmmm; you need another coffee and croissant so that the brain cells fire up and bring Antonee Robinson to mind. I’m looking forward to the 50th anniversary of my previous cup final trip to Wembley with a repeat this year – and, in the absence of Alan Taylor, a better outcome!
I’m going to guess Richard is a Fulham supporter.
Osasuna fury at Martinez role in rearranged Barcelona game
Believe it or not, Barcelona’s men’s team played a La Liga game last night, beating Osasuna 3-0.
It is highly unusual for domestic matches to be played before the weekend after the international break. The game was rearranged after the death of Barcelona’s first-team doctor Carles Minarro Garcia when it was initially staged, on 8 March.
But the inclusion of Iñigo Martinez, who played 90 minutes for Barça has prompted anger from Osasuna. The defender withdrew from Spain squad on 17 March with a knee injury but was passed fit to play for Hansi Flick’s team.
Reports in Spanish media are saying that Osasuna will consider filing a complaint to the RFEF (Spanish football federation) as they believe Martinez violated a rule on the period of time that must pass after an injury withdrawal from the national team.
Updated
It’s a good time to be Bournemouth. They’re flying high in the Premier League, preparing for an FA Cup quarter-final and they’ve just moved into a shiny new training ground.
We've moved into our world-class Performance Centre 🔥😍
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) March 28, 2025
What do the lads think? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/zyKy9ULMqJ
Oh, and striker Evanlison has just spoken to our very own Ben Fisher:
Redknapp calls Tuchel 'German spy', appears to do Nazi salute
You know earlier when I said there weren’t too many headlines in the world of football news at the moment …
This is an exclusive story from Jacob Steinberg, which includes video footage of the event.
Brighton's Mitoma fit for Forest FA Cup tie
Fabian Hürzeler says he is hopeful Lewis Dunk, Solly March and Matt O’Riley will all be available to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday, while key man Kaoru Mitoma – who had been struggling with a knee injury – was passed fit to start.
Hürzeler confirmed Tariq Lamptey is out for a “longer time” and Joel Veltman is “still in rehab”.
“It’s an ankle injury,” said Hurzeler on Veltman. “Now the question is, what’s the definition, what is long?
“I think there’s a chance that we will see him back [before the end of the season]. He is a good healer, so I have a big trust in my medical staff, medical department, and in his mindset to be back on the pitch as quick as possible, so there’s a chance that he will be back in several weeks.”
Updated
Brighton’s Fabian Hürzeler likes to get things done nice ‘n’ early. He’s been the first of the FA Cup quarter-final-competing managers under the media’s spotlight this morning.
Let’s hear from him next …
Speaking of Bournemouth, their left-back Milos Kerkez could be hot property this summer and he’s back in the news today. Liverpool have long been linked with the 21-year-old Hungarian international and Chelsea have reportedly ‘joined the race’, to use a classic piece of transfer jargon.
The Cherries may also field bids for Dean Huijsen, Antoine Semenyo and Justin Kluivert (and possibly others) this summer but they’ll be keen to hang on to as many of their stars as possible.
It really is/could be a year of firsts in the FA Cup in 2025. Of the quarter-finalists only half of them (Preston, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City) have ever won the cup before and of the other four, Bournemouth have never made the final before, Brighton and Fulham have reached one final each (both lost) and Palace have twice been losing finalists.
So, those FA Cup quarter-finals to feast on this weekend …
Fulham v Crystal Palace, Saturday 12.15pm
Brighton v Nottingham Forest, Saturday 5.30pm
Preston v Aston Villa, Sunday 1.30pm
Bournemouth v Manchester City, Sunday 4.30pm
The last time we had an FA Cup final without one of the ‘big six’ was way back in 2008 – which was also the last time none of them featured in the semi-finals.
All UK times (GMT on Saturday, BST on Sunday – the clocks go forward this weekend).
Sonia Bompastor hasn’t found it too difficult stepping into Emma Hayes’ sizeable shoes at Chelsea. Her side are still unbeaten in the WSL, eight points clear and can now prepare for a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona after seeing off Manchester City at Stamford Bridge last night, winning 3-0 to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit.
“Tonight was a perfect night for us,” said Bompastor. “To be able to play again at Stamford Bridge with our fans and turn things around, I’m really proud of my players. It was a difficult challenge but we really believed it was possible.
“The mental aspects in terms of performance are sometimes 70-80% of the performance and result. So, having belief and mental strength going into the game was important.”
Conversely it was a crushing night for Nick Cushing, the interim City manager, who keenly felt the absence of some key injured stars. “Depth is definitely the difference between the two teams at the moment,” he sighed.
Preamble
We are so back. Well, kind of. That there’s no full Premier League schedule to gorge on after the tedium of the international break is something of a disappointment, but with four genuinely intriguing FA Cup quarter-finals on the horizon, plus all the usual thrills and spills from down the leagues – promotion, relegation and playoff places on the line – the weekend ahead offers plenty of sustenance.
The past few days have offered a rather meagre supply of headlines. But Chelsea finished their unofficial four-match series with perennial women’s rival Manchester City with a 3-0 win (3-2 on aggregate; 3-1 in the series) and Barcelona walloped Wolfsburg in the Women’s Champions League. The last four of the WCL includes two English clubs, as well as Barça and Lyon.
Today we’re not quite back on the treadmill of Premier League managers’ press conferences but we’ll hear from the cup quarter-finalists and there will be a little look-ahead of the top flight games that lurk around the corner in midweek. As always, your correspondence is very welcome so do drop me an email. Grab a coffee and a croissant and get on board.
