And that’s about it for today. Thanks for reading and with Leeds hosting Liverpool on Monday night, let’s sign off with this.
Erling Haaland v Harry Kane. The former is surely having the better season having scored 30 Premier League goals to Kane’s 23. And yet…
Opta: Harry Kane’s Premier League goals have been worth 22 points to Tottenham this season, the highest of any player in the division. Kane has scored in 20 different Premier League games in 2022-23, more than any other player (Haaland 18), and his most ever in a season (19 in 2017-18). Only five players have ever scored in more separate matches in a single campaign in the competition, most recently Mo Salah in 2017-18 (24).
Nottingham Forest: The general concensus on Forest this season has gone something like this: “absolute certainties to go down”, “they might just be okay now”, “nah, they’ve had it”.
The Trees have dropped back into the bottom three after no win in nine while their goal difference of -30 is the worst in the Premier League.
Steve Cooper is a calm guy though and five wins and six draws in 15 home matches means the City Ground faithful have hope of getting something from the weekend visit of Manchester United.
“The objective hasn’t changed in terms of what we want to achieve this season,” Cooper said. “We’ve made it slightly more difficult because of the recent results, there’s no hiding away from that. We’ve got to give even more whether it’s how we play, how we believe, work-rate, confidence, togetherness, everything that we need to win a football match, we’ve got to give more.
“Even the times when we’ve won and played well, even that’s not enough. At this time of the season the stakes feel like they’re higher and the context is bigger because there’s less games to play. What we’ve given so far isn’t enough but there’s such a determination and the motivation do that. Personally I can’t think when I’ve ever been so motivated to succeed, I’m feeling that from the players as well and that will be helpful to any success we have.”
“This is a time of the season for real leadership, real strong characters, real strong belief, real quality, decisive moments at both ends of the pitch. We have to stand up and be counted with how we play and the risks that we take. That’s what it’s going to take, we’re so motivated to do well.”
Aston Villa: How good a job has Unai Emery done at Villa Park? Here’s a couple of Opta stats.
Since Unai Emery’s first Premier League game in charge of Aston Villa in November, only Arsenal have picked up more points (42) and earned more wins (13) in the competition than the Villans (35 points, 11 wins). Villa have won their last four league games, last winning five in a row in the top-flight in April 1998 under John Gregory.
Aston Villa have scored at least once in all 17 of their Premier League games under Unai Emery (30 goals overall). Only two managers have seen a side score in each of their first 18 matches of a spell in charge in the competition: Mike Walker with Norwich in 1992 and Carlo Ancelotti with Chelsea in 2009 (both first 18).
Villa have won six of their last seven Premier League games although sorry to be a Negative Nigel (Spink?) but they were all against teams in the bottom half of the table.
Perhaps we’ll know more about Villa in the run-in when they take on six top-half clubs in their final eight games.
Here’s Emery talking ahead of Saturday lunchtime’s game against the first of those, Newcastle.
“We have to be happy but thinking we can’t stop now and are deserving to get in the top 10. We have now added a new realistic objective (Europe) and we have to be very, very focused about this possibility.
“It will be difficult because we are facing teams like Liverpool, Brentford, Brighton and Chelsea and this game is a key moment to be there or not. The objective for the club is to be quick doing it – of course it’s better. But I want to create or build a strong way and that’s at the end of what we’re doing.”
Liverpool to mark 34th anniversary of Hillsborough. Details here from the club’s website.
Liverpool FC will pay tribute to the 97 supporters who lost their lives in the Hillsborough tragedy on the 34th anniversary of the disaster.
On Saturday April 15, players and staff across the club will observe a minute’s silence in memory of the children, women and men who lost their lives as a result of the events that occurred at the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest on April 15, 1989.
Players and managers from the men’s, women’s and Academy squads, and club officials, will visit the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield to pay their respects and lay wreaths.
Academy players are also taking part in a range of events to mark the anniversary, including a visit to Hillsborough stadium and the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield, education sessions, and a memorial football tournament with Everton, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday.
At last Sunday’s match against Arsenal, a minute’s silence was observed before kick-off and a mosaic was displayed on the Kop, featuring the Eternal Flames with the number 97.
The team wore black armbands as a mark of respect and there was a commemorative edition of the matchday programme. Tributes were also displayed on LED boards surrounding the pitch.
April 15 is such a significant and poignant date in the club’s history and one that brings the LFC family together in remembrance and thought. It is important for us as a club and community to come together to remember the 97 who lost their lives and share our love and support for their families and the survivors.
It’s The Football Daily and Barry Glendenning has indulged in some fighting talk: Mané v Sané.
Brighton: An enjoyable turn of phrase from Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi in his press conference as he twice refers to “foxy people”. I’m no linguist but ‘foxy’ translates to ‘vulgare’ in Italian so it appears he’s saying vulgar people. Stick with ‘foxy’ though Roberto.
(From PA Media)
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi expressed his dislike of listening to “foxy people” as he insisted he did nothing wrong during his high-profile bust-up with Tottenham interim manager Cristian Stellini. The two Italian coaches were sent off in the second half of Albion’s ill-tempered 2-1 Premier League loss at Spurs last weekend after staff from both sides clashed on the touchline. Both clubs were this week charged by the Football Association following the “mass confrontation” in a game where the Seagulls controversially had two goals disallowed and two strong penalty appeals waved away.
Brighton’s coaches and players remain irked by the perceived injustices, while De Zerbi is still annoyed by Stellini’s post-match assertion that Tottenham merited a win which could have a major impact on the battle for a European spot.
“I’m honoured to work in the UK and in the Premier League but I want to work respecting myself,” he said ahead of Saturday’s visit to Chelsea. “What I had to say I said face to face and I’m used to talking face to face. I think I didn’t make a mistake and I am clear and I’m honest and I like speaking directly.”
“We are still frustrated for sure. We are looking forward to playing again tomorrow. We want to win the game because we deserved to win in Tottenham. And, you know, in the interview when I listened (heard) that Tottenham deserved to win, it’s not right, it’s not correct. It’s foxy people. When we won at Arsenal in the Carabao Cup (3-1 in November), I spoke we didn’t deserve the victory – clear. And I don’t love listening to foxy people.”
Brighton received an apology from Professional Game Match Officials Ltd due to the failure to award a spot-kick following Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s foul on Kaoru Mitoma with 20 minutes to go at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while VAR official Michael Salisbury has been dropped from the upcoming round of fixtures.
De Zerbi, who stressed his respect for referees, has now been shown four yellow cards and two reds since arriving in Sussex in September. The former Shakhtar Donetsk coach says passion is crucial to his ability as a football manager and is unwilling to curb his animated demeanour.
Asked if he had any regrets about his behaviour in north London, he replied: “No, because I didn’t say bad words and I respect always. You have your style of life, I have my style and when I have something to say I am used to speaking in a direct way. For sure I can improve in a lot of things and in a lot of parts of my work but I can’t and I don’t want to lose my DNA – my DNA is passion. I’m not better than the other coaches, I am a normal coach and the best part of myself is the passion, to transfer my passion.”
Don’t forget it’s the Grand National tomorrow. Just checking the runners and riders in Greg Woods’ guide and some decent options for fans of 80s Tottenham.
GALVIN
Seen as an Identikit Aintree type in his novice days, with bottomless stamina and a Grade One engine in a classically strapping steeplechaser’s frame, but lines up for his first attempt at the famous fences as the apparent second-string in Gordon Elliott’s big squad for the race. That is due in part to a habit of coming up a little short in the very best company, and also the fact that his stable companion, Delta Work, was two-and-a-half lengths in front of him last time out and is now 7lb better off. Talented, resilient and reliable – and probably not quite good enough at the weights.
ENJOY D’ALLEN
Useful at his best, though without a win in a dozen starts over hurdles and fences since January 2021. Sent off at 20-1 last year, when he was racing off a 2lb higher mark, but got no further than the first, where he unseated his rider. He was a long way behind several of Saturday’s rivals in the Bobbyjo Chase last time out and is one of the easier runners to dismiss.
CLOUDY GLEN
An operation to correct a breathing problem saw an immediate improvement in his form back in November 2021, when he won Newbury’s big November handicap at 33-1 when returning from 231 days on the sidelines, but his form has been patchy, to say the least, ever since. He ran quite well first time up this season in Haydock’s Grand National Trial but then took several steps backwards in the Ultima at Cheltenham, where he was pulled up with three to jump. If he follows the recent pattern, his next run will be even worse, so very much one for the super-optimists out there.
Talking of that Spurs vintage, take a read of Steven Pye’s latest piece.
Admir Pajic gets in touch with some background on Mark Viduka. “Viduka used to play for Dinamo (back then named Croatia) Zagreb and it’s difficult to say whether he was a hit or miss for the Croatian club. Dinamo had wanted to get a taste of a “European spring” (football in Europe after the turn of the year) since 1970 but Viduka didn’t look like a guy who could make that dream come true. In fact, Dinamo were actively searching for his replacement while he was still there. Players like Grazvydas Mikulenas and Kazuyoshi Miura (he is still active at the age of 56!) were signed to replace him, number of obscure strikers were given a trial (i.e. Bulgarian Asparuhov) while Viduka was still at the club but, as the correspondent for Sportske Novosti would say at the time, ‘Viduka looks like Van Basten comparing to each one of them’.
“He was excellent in derbies against the biggest rivals Hajduk but his misses in big European games came to bite the Croatian side more often than not (Newcastle away in the Champions League play-off). He was sold to Celtic not long after Dinamo swept Celtic in the Champions League play-off (I still recall he was given the lowest mark in the Croatian side for his performance in a 3-0 thrashing) and it was a genuine surprise when he started scoring loads of goals for Celtic and even bigger surprise when he joined Leeds and started scoring against the biggest teams in English Premier League.”
Roy Hodgson, eh. Crystal Palace fail to win for 13 matches, causing the axe to fall on Patrick Vieira. Roy comes back and they record back-to-back victories, scoring seven goals in the process. The 75-year-old isn’t getting carried away though so let’s enjoy his ‘fat lady sings’ quote ahead of the weekend visit to bottom club Southampton.
“If we were to win at Southampton, which is no easy task and it’s much easier to talk about it than to actually do it, then there’s no doubt that would have a great effect on our confidence,” Hodgson said.
“It would take us up to 36 points and still give us seven games to get the extra points that we need, so it would be massive, but we’re going to have that in most of the games now going forward. From the platform of 33 points, I think with eight games to go there will be a lot of games where we’ll be saying ‘if we just win this next one then we might be able to breathe more easily’.
“But let’s get the games done first and let’s make sure that we keep going into the games with the right attitude, that we haven’t done the job until that day when, as the Americans put it, that fat lady sings, and we’re a long way off yet.”
Liverpool: Good news for the Reds as Luis Diaz is set to return to the squad after an absence measuring six months and 31 games due to a knee injury in October and a further setback in December.
“He’s 100 per cent ready in training so that’s it now. He is now completely normal in training and now we have to reintegrate him. He will be in the squad, if nothing happens Luis will be in the squad and from there we go. That’s it,” said Jürgen Klopp of the Colombian as the Reds prepare for Monday night’s trip to Leeds.
“Yeah, absolutely it is [like having a new signing]. Luis, he developed massively. In that time his English is getting better, so he is really settled. He was here every day – how it is with injured players and especially long-term injured players, they are even more at the training ground than all the others, so every day together with therapists and stuff like this. He really matured again, he is much more comfortable than he was in the beginning with everything in a new country, so that’s really good and it will help him as well. So, we are really happy to have him back.
“He is like a breath of fresh air every day he is in training. He loves it out there, I said in the beginning when he came that he cannot train without a smile on his face and that’s something really special and that’s exactly how he acts now.”
Manchester United: The men’s team are having a decent season (although don’t mention last night or the 7-0 at Anfield) but the women’s side, who were only formed five years ago, could trump their male counterparts by pulling off a League and Cup double. Marc Skinner’s side lead the WSL by a point ahead of Chelsea while they’re hot favourites to beat Brighton in the semi-finals of the Women’s FA Cup this weeked.
Speaking about the closing weeks of the season, Skinner said: “We’re going to enjoy the amount of pressure that will naturally come with a team like us and what we’re trying to achieve. And I’ll stress that’s a really positive thing.
“If we weren’t trying to be successful then there’s probably no pressure. We try to enjoy ourselves and perform the way we do. The reality is if we perform to the best of our availability, we can beat any team in this league.”
Brighton are bottom of the WSL and have just appointed American Melissa Phillips as head coach.
“It will be a challenge because it’s a new manager. We’re going into a semi-final where league form doesn’t really matter. We have to earn our right to be there, we are not expecting anything easy against Brighton. We won’t be taking Brighton lightly at all,” said Skinner.
Where is Mark Viduka now? There seems some confusion. Did we all know the Modric connection?
Wiki: “Viduka and his wife Ivana have three sons together: Joseph (born November 2002), Lucas (born September 2006) and Oliver (born May 2008). His father Joe immigrated to Australia from Croatia in the 1960s, and Croatian footballer and Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modrić is his cousin. Viduka currently lives in Zagreb, where he owns a coffee shop and enjoys making coffee.”
2022 Planetfootball article: “Viduka lives a quiet life back in Melbourne with his wife and three sons. He’s still a diehard supporter of the Knights, the only Australian club he represented since the age of six. When he watches them now, he does so from the Mark Viduka Stand.”
Leeds manager Javi Gracia wants his players to learn from the second-half capitulation that ended in a humiliating 5-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace last Sunday.
“Of course we have to analyse the things that happened in that game because nobody can understand how we could change so much from the first half to second half,” said Gracia, speaking ahead of Monday night’s game with Liverpool.
“It’s something we have to analyse and try to improve. After the game, we spoke about what we spoke about in half-time – trying to improve some details, defending, set-pieces. In the first half we played a good first 45 minutes.
“But after, with more distances, not being so aggressive, not being so intense, then the spaces appear and in that moment, the quality of Palace players as well is something. In three minutes we conceded two goals and it was the key. After that the third goal, it was hard to manage and very tough to manage for us.
“It was like when a boxer received a punch – one, two, three seconds a little bit – I think something similar happened. It’s something we have to learn from and after that try to prepare for the next game.
“It’s never easy to manage the defeat. You always live better with a good result but I think it’s necessary sometimes to feel that disappointed and to learn to grow up. It’s important to feel that experience – if you learn from it. In this case, I think the players felt that difficult moment and now for the rest of the season, I hope it helps us for these games and to compete better (for them).”
Leeds haven’t beaten Liverpool at Elland Road since goals from Sam Hyypia, Christian Ziege and Vladimir Smicer were trumped by Mark Viduka (24, 47, 73, 75) in the year 2000. John Helm is your commentator.
Updated
Premier League player faces no further action over child sex allegations
News: Greater Manchester police are to take no further action against a Premier League footballer who was arrested on suspicion of child sexual abuse offences. The unnamed player had been arrested in connection with an investigation that began in June 2021.
Tottenham still have every chance of making the top four despite seemingly losing a lot and being in crisis. Maybe Richarlison will come good and get them over the line.
Here’s Cristian Stellini on the Brazilian striker he calls ‘Richy’: an appropriate name for the forward who cost £60million but has yet to score a Premier League goal.
“We have to take care with Richy. To give him training and the right timing to play. To not take risks,” said Tottenham’s acting head coach ahead of the home game with Bournemouth.
“He’s not the only one who wants to be on the pitch every time. Every player wants to be on the pitch. Sometimes they hide their condition to try to play, to have one possibility to score, to do something good. But now when you live experience like Richarlison this season, maybe they can grow in their mindset. I hope that Richy understands that we are taking care of him.”
As for the Tottenham injury list: Ben Davies (hamstring), Emerson Royal (knee) and Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) are “working hard” but training alone. Rodrigo Bentancur (knee) is out for the rest of the season and Yves Bissouma (ankle) is still sidelined.
Thanks Luke. Just had my eye caught by a tweet from The Athletic saying how during Graham Potter’s “surreal reign”, Chelsea’s players were forced to sit on the floor. I clicked and expected to discover it was some Navajo routine where leaders impart wisdom while everyone is seated and connected to the earth and Potter had used it at Östersund and on a pre-season tour with Brighton after seeing it done at a conference. Nope, turns out there just wasn’t enough room for them all to sit.
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That’s all, as far as I am concerned, but the estimable David Tindall is here to take you through the next bit.
Air is clear after Mané v Sané row, says Bayern's Tuchel
Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mané has accepted the consequences after his row with team mate Leroy Sané boiled over following their defeat by Manchester City and the case is now closed, coach Thomas Tuchel said.
The Senegal international Mané was fined and will be suspended for Saturday’s Bundesliga game against Hoffenheim after hitting Sané following Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg 3-0 loss at City. Sané suffered a cut lip and the two, who were also seen arguing on the pitch late in the game, had to be separated by teammates.
“I am the first one to defend Sadio. I have known him a long time and I know him as a top pro,” Tuchel said. “He is football pure. He has my deepest trust after the mistake he made. Everyone can make a mistake. It went against the team’s code of conduct. That’s clear.”
Mané had complained about the way Germany winger Sané spoke to him after the defeat at the Etihad Stadium. They trained together on Thursday as Bayern look to find some stability after a rocky few weeks that included last week’s shock German Cup exit at home to Freiburg. The Bavarians are two points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with seven games remaining.
“It was important that it was cleared quickly,” Tuchel said. “That had a cleansing effect. It was important that he remained in training even if he has this one-match ban. Because we had to deal with it and it was a blatant incident we had to clear it before the next training,” he said. “We did it yesterday. We cleared the air so we can train in a positive way. We are not the first and most likely not the last for it to happen to.” (Reuters)
Updated
Another bit from Arsenal’s Arteta, on facing West Ham:
“Very difficult game. We know we have been here a few times and we find a few tricky games,” Arteta said. “I know David well and I know how he will prepare games. It will be a big derby for us.”
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has a chat with the media, about tomorrow lunchtime’s meeting with Newcastle.
“Newcastle is a team who … its development has been very, very strong. They are building a very serious team. Very organised. And now they are one of the best teams in the Premier League … very aggressive high pressing, very aggressive in the duels. They are strong, feeling strong in their mentality. We are facing a lot of big challenges … but tomorrow is the most difficult challenge we are going to face in the last matches.
“This ‘new’ Newcastle … they are adding players, paying money for them, and he [Eddie Howe] looks like a guy to improve, to be in the top six. Now they are in the top four. They are signing players … young, experienced, and keeping players they had before … they are growing … historically as well it’s a very big team. Now it’s a different Newcastle.”
Updated
So in summary: Chelsea are aiming to win matches, as many as possible, and win competitions too. According to what Lampard just said, this must be different at other football clubs, because there are recent signings at Stamford Bridge who “are trying to understand that”.
OK then.
Updated
Frank Lampard says that with such a tight turnaround between matches, he doesn’t have time to do much intense physical work with the Chelsea squad on the training pitch.
“With games coming thick and fast, it’s how we just make the best of it,” Lampard says. “There are things we need to work on and improve … maybe physical capacity, to be aggressive in our game, that’s something we need to step up in our game …
“The first thing to effect is absolutely performance. And you hope that results follow that. It’s important that the lads are very focused in this period. It’s important that as a Chelsea football club player you understand what’s the expectations, and strive for them. That’s where we’re at. I see in the squad a desire to do that, but putting it into practice is the thing.”
How can you educate the new players what it means to be a Chelsea player, and to win on a consistent basis?
“Communicate that to them, and work towards it … it won’t be an overnight process … I just mentioned a lack of training time. As much as you can have good meetings … There’s nothing better than repeating movements that you want on the pitch. So those things are challenging. But in terms of being a Chelsea player, and the expectations that are there, it’s easy said. It’s a process of trying to get to that, to become a winning team, and a winning team by nature.
“There are lots of variables … There are players who maybe have come into the club and are trying to maybe understand that … Of course when you come in and results are not as good as you want, there are different challenges to it. So I’m pretty level-headed about it. I want to work as hard as I can to get every single improvement we can … That is my job, to work with everything, myself and the staff, to get those improvements and take us forward in this period.”
Updated
Arteta on Martinelli: “He’s playing more games [this season], that’s for sure. He’s got another year of experience. He’s got huge understanding now with his teammates. The way he approaches every single session, the way he approaches his training, his life, is just to be the best.”
Arteta: My job was to bring Arsenal back where they belong
Arteta speaks before Sunday’s game against West Ham: “Eddie [Nketiah] is back, he’s fully fit. William Saliba is not far [from full training] … we need to be cautious because of the nature of the injury. He’s evolving well.”
Was he happy that players were so upset by conceding the late goal against Liverpool? “Yeah. You should be. You have to be upset … we wanted to win the game. We had a spell in the first half maybe when we could kill the game. The reality is in the second half we had some really tough moments and we had to dig in. That was the game.
“After the game it’s easy to say: Stop it happening again [conceding late and losing points]. They were always going to have periods of dominance, where they get you into that chaotic game that they are exceptional at. We didn’t manage to get out of that game well enough, and that’s why we suffered.”
Does luck come into the title race?
“You need luck, you need luck in the right moments … why that luck is coming from is really important, and how you think about it, and what is going to happen [he’s lost me there]. It’s another part in sport, sometimes it’s about inches, and those inches have to go your way.
Arteta is asked if Arsenal only being in the Premier League, and not in Europe or another Cup, will help. He dodges the question.
“We want our players to be as fit as possible and available … we had certain issues with certain players … we just want to have everybody available and fit.
Arteta is told that the number-crunchers make City title favourites based on the data. Arteta gives a blank look, and a straight-bat question.
“If you asked them at the start of the season, for sure they would say this, so nothing’s changed.”
At the start of this season, did Arteta envisage fighting for the title?
“Yes … You go day by day … My job was to bring the club back to where it belongs, fighting around every single trophy that is possible, at the highest level. That’s what we are trying to do.
Is he ahead of schedule on that?
“We are where we are. We are happy where we are. Now we have to finish the job. I have to ask for an extra bit from everybody.”
His feelings about David Moyes, the West Ham manager?
“More than respect it’s admiration. I loved playing under him … I would go through a brick wall for him when he was my manager … really good coach, very good at managing the group, a very special person … a man of his word. Someone that I learned a lot from.
“He saw things in me that I didn’t know. He asked me to play in positions that I never played in my life. The way he challenged me but the way he gave support, love and care, it was the right balance. He got the best out of me. Really helpful.”
Will he watch City’s game and will the players? “Yeah, we will watch it, like we watch many other PL games.”
Updated
Pontus Jansson will leave Brentford for Malmo in the summer when his contract ends.
“It is tough to put these last four years into words,” said Jansson. “I am so thankful for my time here and the journey that the club and I have been on. When I joined, we were a middle of the Championship club and now I’m leaving a club that’s hopefully about to finish top 10 in the Premier League.
“I’ve been on a massive personal journey as well. I matured into a captain, and a leader, because of this club … I owe so much to Thomas Frank for everything that he’s done for me, on and off the pitch, over the past four years. I also want to thank all the staff here who’ve made me the best version of myself as a person and a footballer.”
Thank you for everything, Pontus ❤🤍
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) April 14, 2023
After four hugely successful years as captain, @Pjansson5 will join Malmo FF this summer
Quotes from the Brentford website.
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Ruben Selles, the Southampton interim manager, insists Saints can stay up before hosting Crystal Palace, who hammered Leeds last weekend.
“I’m confident … it’s a fact that we haven’t won in five games, but it’s also a fact we won two of first three we played … we are still alive, we are still there to get the three points tomorrow … to move forward into the last part of the season with attitude and commitment.
“The group has the fight to stay up. The players have it. They have been working really well. Then it’s just tomorrow, to put all this fight and football that we have inside … then just go for it.
“Every game is must win. But we need to put everything tomorrow to get the three points … It’s an important game against Crystal Palace … we need to go for it.”
And Pep on Foden, who is recovering at home having had his appendix removed.
PEP 💬 [On Foden] I think he feels better... I don't know [when he will be back]. When he starts training you will know.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 14, 2023
Finally, Guardiola is asked about Jude Bellingham and Liverpool, and gives a brief lesson in journalism for the benefit of his questioner, and for all those present.
“You have to prepare better,” Guardiola says to the reporter. “You have to know which questions I am going to answer. Next one?”
Well, that wasn’t patronising at all.
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Guardiola: If Manchester City lose tomorrow, title race is over
Are Man City at their best now?
“In consistency, yes. We are winning games and games … but we were not consistent [earlier in the season] … and everybody knows if we lose games, we lose competitions …
“Tomorrow [against Leicester], if we lose, we will not be champion … we are six points behind Arsenal.”
Has he done anything differently this season in the search for consistency? Guardiola initially looks confused and somewhat offended by the question. Or maybe he just can’t hear it.
“What?? No. They [City] are second-best team for consistency in the league. Not bad at all … our performances in general have not been a disaster … we are there because we have done many good things.
“In sport, when there is one that is better than you, you have to accept it and keep going.”
Arsenal have fewer games – will that matter in the title race?
“Honestly I don’t know,” Pep replies. “Sometimes in our experience, when we have games every four days, we are very focused, in the rhythm, we are focused, it helps us. Sometimes we lose the rhythm … when you have games Wednesday, Saturday, the minds are always here [points at temple] … when you have two days off, sometimes we lose this type of feeling. In six, seven weeks, everything is over. The players will do everything to keep going.”
“The only impact [of experience] is the fact that everybody knows: if we lose, it’s over. It’s the best way to compete … in every action, the players are living here. We have to win that ball, win that action … and that is when you have the best [level of performance].
“Experience? Does it count? I have doubts if it counts for a lot. I need more years to understand, like Roy Hodgson, 74 years, to understand if it really counts.”
Updated
Arteta AND Guardiola will be speaking soon. This is too much!
Via Reuters, some extra quotes from Dean Smith from those we had earlier, who has been parachuted into Leicester’s relegation battle. It emerges that he was at Augusta last weekend, watching golf, when the most exciting thing ever to happen on a golf course occurred. Anyway:
Leicester City’s battle to maintain their Premier League status is not “insurmountable”, caretaker manager Dean Smith said.
“The points are there to be won, to grab, to get out of the bottom three,” Smith told reporters. It’s been a season I’ve not seen before in terms of nine teams involved in the relegation battle. The more we can keep in that, it’s not insurmountable to get out …
Asked if he could be a candidate for the managerial position on a permanent basis, Smith replied, “it’s not a conversation we’ve had … It’s an interim job. I was watching the Masters in Augusta last week and now I’m back in England. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
What’s the vibe with these press conferences, then?
Well, my sources (Sky Sports News) tell me Steve Cooper, the Nottingham Forest manager, is about to speak. So that’s good.
Thanks Barry and hello everyone.
That’s all from me. Luke McLaughlin will keep you updated throughout the afternoon. Have a great weekend.
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Ten Hag still awaiting fitness updates
Erik ten Hag is still awaiting an update on the fitness of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane as Manchester United prepare for Sunday’s match at Nottingham Forest.
Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Sevilla ended in a chaotic, and potentially costly, 2-2 draw at Old Trafford. Varane went off at half-time against Sevilla and Martinez was taken away on a stretcher towards the end of the match, having pulled up holding his right ankle.
Asked if he could provide an update on the pair, Ten Hag shook his head and said: “Sorry, no. It’s not even 24 hours so I don’t have a complete diagnosis so I can’t tell in this moment.”
When reports that Martinez had broken a metatarsal were put to the United boss, Ten Hag said: “I can’t say in this moment. When we have news, we will give it straight to you. But let’s do the medical, do the assessment, fully diagnose, complete diagnose and then we will give the news. It doesn’t change in this moment. I have an idea [what is is] but I don’t cause speculation.”
Women’s FA Cup: Suzanne Wrack previews the weekend’s semi-finals, in which Manchester United take on Brighton and Aston Villa host Chelsea.
Aston Villa v Newcastle: Tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off will be the first meeting between Aston Villa and Newcastle since Unai Emery, whose decision to turn down the Newcastle’s job opened the way for Howe’s appointment in November 2021, was appointed Villa boss.
When it was suggested to him that that moment had been life-changing, Howe – who pointedly did not dismiss reports that the Magpies could be interested in a £100million summer move for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice – said: “Without a doubt, it was.
“I am here because Unai turned the job down, so I’m delighted that he did. Fate has a strange way of working and now we come together. I have nothing but respect for the job he has done and the career he has had. But I’m very thankful he made that decision.”
Howe will be without Allan Saint-Maximin, who is undergoing treatment for a hamstring issue in France, but fellow winger Miguel Almiron could return from a thigh injury.
Dean Smith: Leicester's players "needed a lift"
Dean Smith has been appointed Brendan Rodgers’ successor as manager at Leicester City on a short-term deal following a recruitment drive that could charitably be described as chaotic. His first assignment could scarcely be more difficult as Leicester travel to the Etihad to face Manchester City tomorrow.
Smith spoke to the press this morning and explained his motivation for taking the job at a club that sits second from bottom of the table and has lost seven of their past eight games.
“I felt they just needed a lift,” he said. “I felt confident we could do that. We’ve seen great enthusiasm. We’re trying to put smiles on the faces and that should lift their confidence very quickly.”
Asked about the daunting task his side faces tomorrow, Smith was circumspect. “We’ve watched an awful lot of teams try to impose their game on Man City and come unstuck,” he said. “We have to have a game plan and stick to it. We’ve seen Brentford go there and get a result. We have to have belief in ourselves.”
Leciester will be without Harvey Barnes and Ricardo Pereira, who will both miss the game through injury, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is suspended. Youri Tielemans will be available after recovering from an ankle injury.
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Fulham: Amid increasing fan disgruntlement over sky-rocketing ticket prices at Craven Cottage, Marco Silva has called on supporters to rally behind the team as they attempt to emerge from a slump of five consecutive defeats. Fulham travel to Goodison Park tomorrow to take on Everton, who are battling to put more distance between themselves and the relegation trapdoor.
“It will be really important in all the moments the support they give the players, even if they are not happy with the last results, we are not too – that is the thing,” he said. “We need them to play their part in this story and we have until the end of the season. I would like them to support the players.
“Of course, we have to do our part as well because the synergy is always there between the players and the crowd and that’s always important. They have to feel the same energy, the same commitment with everything for them to play their part in the game.”
Fulham’s ticket price row
On Wednesday, the Fulham Supporters’ Trust penned an open letter to owner Shahid Khan expressing their concern following the announcement of the cost of season tickets for the 2023-24 season.
“The pricing structure has caused distress, anxiety, anger and disillusionment among a significant proportion of our loyal fanbase,” the Trust said.
In the new Riverside Stand, which is scheduled to be completed in time for the start of next season, prices start at £1,250 and rise to £3,000, a price that does not include hospitality. The cost in other areas of the ground is also due to increase, at an average of 18 per cent for adults and more for a children’s season ticket.
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Everton: As their battle against the drop continues, Everton will fancy their chances of victory when they host an out-0f-sorts Fulham side who have lost five consecutive games at Goodison Park tomorrow. Everton go into the game hovering above the relegation zone on goal difference and could really do with all three points.
“We’re trying to build something here that can be down to us, what we’re doing, what we’re playing like, what we’re achieving,” said Sean Dyche. “That’s the main focus. Woany [assistant manager Ian Woan] has a good saying: ‘There has to be a future in it’. As much as you will take a lucky one and you’ll take one when it’s not your day, but you still win or you get a point and all that – of course you take those over a season, they’re still important.
“But you want to see a performance, you want to see a team that is performing in the right manner with the right things to go and win games, and that’s certainly a more important factor rather than just hoping for the best with other teams’ results.”
Dyche will be without suspended midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure tomorrow, while his captain Seamus Coleman is also out with a hamstring injury. Speaking about life down among the Premier League’s dead men, Dyche was philosophical.
“It can happen to more or less – not literally – everyone, it seems,” he said. “I doubt Manchester City will find themselves in that situation currently, but it’s happened to most teams. You fall down there for a spell, you have to find your way and navigate your way through it. There’s not an exact way of doing it, but I think I know some ways that are very important to us.”
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Newcastle United: Eddie Howe has just told reporters he had no problem with Anthony Gordon’s angry reaction to being substituted at Brentford last weekend as Newcastle tried to close out their 2-1 win. Brought on as a substitute at half-time, the 22-year-old reacted petulantly as he was replaced with one minute of normal time remaining.
“We’ve had a conversation,” said Howe. “His enthusiasm, aggression, motivation levels are really, really high and he’s fiercely determined to do well and achieve, and it is one of his hallmarks, it’s one of his strengths. We want to embrace that, we love that about him. But in certain moments he needs a cool head as well, so it’s about trying to explain the situation, talk through it. I’ve got no issue with him at all. He’s trained really well this week.”
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Martínez blow for Manchester United
Lisandro Martínez injury update: The Manchester United centre-back suffered what looked on first glance like a nasty Achilles injury during Manchester United’s Europa League quarter-final first leg draw with Sevilla last night but Erik Ten Hag says the injury is not as bad as first feared. “No it’s not that area,” he said after the game. “I can’t tell, but it’s not the area of Achilles. I have spoken with him, he is okay, he is calm. I think [it is] an injury [that means] he will not play on Sunday. I cannot say what the diagnosis [is]. I prefer to wait and to know what it is.”
While Martínez can expect a spell on the sidelines, his defensive partner Raphael Varane may be fit for Sunday despite being substituted at half-time due to suffering from the effects of an unspecified knock. “That injury, he complained [about it] over the last couple of weeks and we have to see how it is now,” said Ten Hag.
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Klopp on Jude Bellingham: “I have nothing to say on that,” he said, when quizzed about Liverpool’s very public withdrawal from the stampede to secure the England midfielder’s services from Borussia Dortmund. “It is not about Jude Bellingham, but I never understand why we talk about things we cannot have, theoretically. We cannot have six players in a summer, everyone for £100m. That is clear.
“You have to realise what you can do and then work with it. That is your job. We are not children; when you ask a five-year-old what they want for Christmas and they say, I don’t know, ‘a Ferrari’, you would say that is too expensive and you cannot drive it, If this kid then was really unhappy because he didn’t get his Ferrari, it would be a really sad life. You look what you can do, and you work with that.”
Klopp satisfied with Hatzidakis investigation
The assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis will face no further action from the Football Association following an apparent elbow on Liverpool defender Andy Robertson as the players of Liverpool and Arsenal left the field at half-time during last Sunday’s Premier League draw at Anfield.
Jürgen Klopp is currently talking to the pressd ahead of his side’s match against Leeds United on Monday night and says he is satisfied with the decision. “I think it has been dealt with really well,” he said. “I wasn’t aware of it during the game; I spoke to Robbo and the other guys, not the assistant, but now we can carry on.”
Hatzidakis was stood down from duties this weekend while the investigation took place but will be free to resume them next week. The official is reported to have spoken to Robertson directly and apologised for his actions.
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Something for the weekend ...
Another Friday, another day of managerial press conferences ahead of the weekend’s action. It may be mid-April, with the daffodils in full bloom, but every team in the Premier League still has something to play for, whether it’s the title, a place in next season’s Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League, or top flight survival itself. In this the calm before another weekend storm, we’ll bring you news from all the pressers as well as any other major talking points that present themselves, so stay tuned.
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