Pep Guardiola has a grass problem. Nope, don’t get the lawyers involved, he means the Etihad pitch.
They’re working a lot, they are trying to find a solution but the grass is not good. All the players know how good the grass is and sometimes it is not. I know the weather conditions here in England are tough but there are stadiums where the grass is good. We were in London against Arsenal, at Anfield, at Old Trafford and the grass was better. We were in Budapest in the Champions League and the grass was incredible, red carpet – and our grass still is not good.
Dear oh dear. Check out Maine Road in the ‘70s mate.
Mud, mud, glorious mud.
Manchester United also have selection problems at the other end of the pitch with Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford ad Edinson Cavani all doubtful for the West Ham game.
Here’s Ole Gunnar Solskjær again:
On Martial: “Anthony, he got a whack on his hip so that’s another forward that we need to scan and have to look at.”
On Rashford: “Definitely hope Marcus is back for next Thursday in Milan, I’m not sure if he’ll make Sunday, but fingers crossed because we will need him.”
On Cavani: “Edinson I don’t think will be ready for Sunday, no.”
Paul Pogba, Donny van de Beek and Juan Mata are also out.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær isn’t sure if goalkeeper David De Gea will be back for the visit of West Ham on Sunday.
The Spaniard has returned to England following the birth of his first child but putting him straight back into the team in place of Dean Henderson isn’t that simple due to coronavirus restrictions. Current regulations allow travellers from Spain to be released from quarantine if they test negative for Covid-19 after five days of isolation.
Another fine mess for Ole to sort out. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/NMC Pool/PA Wire/PA
Totting up the days on his hand and doing his best confused Stan Laurel impression, the Manchester United boss said: “Yeah, David is back in Manchester. He is quarantining or self isolating. He’s just touch and go for Sunday, I think. I can’t really know when he came back, so I’m not really sure if it was Monday or Tuesday that he arrived back in Manchester. I think the rules are that he’s got to stay at home. He’s not training with us anyway. It’s different if you travel away and compete so, no, he’s not been training since he came back.”
That’s that cleared up then.
Some bad news for Everton as they try and push for a top-four finish. French midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure could be out for up to 10 weeks due to a fractured bone in his foot while playmaker James Rodriguez won’t feature again until after the international break.
Doucoure picked up his injury against West Brom just over a week ago while Rodriguez has had to fight through a calf problem. The Colombian will miss Saturday’s Premier League game against Burnley and next weekend’s FA Cup quarter-final at home to Manchester City.
Ancelotti will be without two key players for the forseeable future. Photograph: Michael Regan/PA
Boss Carlo Ancelotti has given this update:
On Doucoure: “Doucoure had a small fracture on his foot. I don’t know how long, maybe eight weeks or 10 weeks. I hope he can recover before the end of the season.”
On James: “James played well, really well, against Man United and against Liverpool but he was not 100 per cent fit. We decided to give him a proper recovery and don’t let him play at 70 or 80 per cent. We have taken this decision together. The player agrees.”
Harry Kane should be fit for the derby against Arsenal despite picking up a knock in Thursday’s Europa League win over Dinamo Zagreb.
Kane scored twice in that game and boss Jose Mourinho can’t say enough good things about the England striker.
Who’s a clever boy. Photograph: Catherine Ivill/EPA
I’ve been lucky enough to work with players with great ambitions, it’s not possible to have a career like mine without players with ambition.
He has that, no doubt he has that. No doubt that of course he wants to win matches, score goals, win trophies. Totally committed with the club, totally committed with the national team.
He’s a very good example of a top professional and a top player. Sometimes top players are not always top professionals, and vice-versa. He’s a top player, he’s a top professional and he’s a great example for everyone.
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has been speaking ahead of Sunday’s North London derby. He says he’s more worried about the teams above Spurs.
I look up, I don’t look down. If Arsenal was seven points ahead of us, I would look to them. But because we have seven points more than them, I don’t look down. But at the same time, we look always to the next match. And if instead of Arsenal it was Villa or Newcastle, the next matches we’re going to play, exactly the same feeling.
We feel we’re better than the position we have in the table and we want to improve our position so we need points for that.
It doesn’t matter the opponent, doesn’t matter if it is a London derby – in fact it’s the fourth in a row in the Premier League. It’s a Premier League match, three points are there to fight for and that’s what we’re going to try to do.
Hearing reports that an 80s Sheffield band are performing at the Chris Wilder press conference.
Just can’t think who it might be or what song they may choose. Singer looks kind of familiar though.
Phil Oakey. Photograph: Martin O'Neill/Redferns
Today’s Sheffield United press conference scheduled for 1.30pm will now be held at 5pm. So plan your daily walk around that.
EmJackson2021 observes: “Pep’s Manager of the Month Award looks like a deodorant from a Lynx gift-set.” (see 12:39)
Good spot. Forget Lynx Africa, try Lynx Guardiola (available in body spray and shower gel).
Another Chris Wilder update. A matter of when not if.
Latest from the PA:
Chris Wilder is set to leave Sheffield United, the PA news agency understands.
An announcement is expected later on Friday which will confirm the 53-year-old has been relieved of his duties as manager.
The Blades cancelled their Friday morning press conference with a player amid reports Wilder was set to be sacked, with the boss scheduled to face journalists via Zoom in the afternoon.
That media duty, scheduled for 1.30pm, was also rescheduled into the early evening.
But the club confirmed a player would not be appearing for interview as planned, suggesting something was going on behind the scenes.
Have a read of Barney Ronay’s latest piece on Liverpool.
“A brilliant team built out of Jürgen Klopp’s own restless energy have come to resemble a band of hollow men limping from stage to stage, but the manager has been more or less silent on the causes. Instead he has looked uneasy, an ancient mariner stalking the fringes – a little haunted and hollow-eyed, but passing for now on the discharge of blame. This is significant in its own right. Klopp analyses, and overanalyses. He will have his own very clear version of events. But right now he just isn’t telling.”
Another award for Pep. Perhaps Fulham boss Scott Parker will be in the running for March if wearing iffy jackets is a factor as well as excellent results.
Barclays Football(@BarclaysFooty)
He’s done it again! For a second month running, Pep Guardiola wins February’s Barclays Manager of the Month in the @premierleague. Well done Pep!
Promisinglight asks: “Who’s Neil Young in this scenario? Dele, Lucas, or Lamela?”
It’s not a perfect science. Alli has too many syllables to be Young. Perhaps Alli, Kane, Bale and Son?
Chris Wilder update... and it’s getting a little confusing. Apparently, there is a press conference at 1.30pm GMT. Other rumours are suggesting he hasn’t gone. Perhaps they just mean yet. We’ll know more in just over an hour. Wonder if Steven Gerrard fancies it. Stepping stone to Liverpool? And he might be able to get a tune out of Rhian Brewster at least.
Sorry about the comments not being available earlier. We have an ex-prison warden with a big set of keys that has to unlock them and he was dealing with a couple of questionable characters loitering near Guardian HQ. They’re back on now. Comment away!
Fletcher! Photograph: Ian West/PA/PA
And if you want to add the Neil Young element... Moura, Kane, Bale and Son scans nicely.
Tottenham’s version of Crosby, Stills & Nash - Kane, Son & Bale - have found some welcome harmony of late. The Spurs frontmen have combined for 10 goals across Tottenham’s last five games and share 34 Premier League goals in the current campaign.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is wary of the Tottenham trio ahead of Sunday’s North London derby:
It’s very difficult because the level of quality, precision, understanding and chemistry that they have between them makes them probably one of the most special (attacks) in Europe.
And they don’t need much. They are able to create their own chances, they are able to link as a team.
So it is really difficult to do, but we will prepare the game well to try to stop them obviously.
A list of contenders for the Sheffield United job is emerging although still no official news yet on Chris Wilder’s exit.
Current U23s coach Paul Heckingbottom is the favourite with the bookmakers and then, in odds order, we have Neil Lennon, Eddie Howe, Frank Lampard, Danny Cowley, Slaven Bilic and David Wagner.
Women’s Super League champions Chelsea have announced that Fran Kirby has signed a contract extension.
The England forward, who joined from Reading in 2015, has scored 15 goals in 21 appearances for Emma Hayes’ side this season.
Fran Kirby puts pen to paper on Friday. Photograph: Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC/Getty Images
She said on the club’s website:
I’ve been a part of this club for a very long time, and it didn’t take much thought.
I knew where I wanted to be, and I think you could see that in my performances. I was really trying to prove myself to the fans who haven’t been able to watch me for a long time and to the club. It was a no-brainer for me that I wanted to stay in this environment.
On the back of that Women’s Champions League draw, it seems a good time to flag up our exclusive interview with Manchester City and England defender Lucy Bronze.
The draw has been made for the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League.
The two English sides left in - Manchester City and Chelsea - were kept apart in the draw so both could meet in May’s final in Gothenburg.
Chelsea face two-time winners Wolfsburg in the last eight while City go up against Barcelona.
Quarter-final draw (24/25 March & 30 March/1 April)
Bayern Munich vs Rosengard
Paris Saint-Germain/Sparta Prague vs Lyon (holders)
Barcelona vs Manchester City
Chelsea vs Wolfsburg
Semi-final draw (24/25 April & 1/2 May)
1: Paris/Sparta/Lyon vs Barcelona/Manchester City
2: Bayern/Rosengard vs Chelsea/Wolfsburg
Final (16 May: Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg)
Winner semi-final 2 vs Winner semi-final 1
Manchester United co-chairman Avram Glazer has put shares worth more than £70m up for sale.
Here’s the full story.
Some team news from Chelsea. Striker Tammy Abraham and defender Thiago Silva will both miss Saturday lunchtime’s trip to Leeds.
Blues boss Thomas Tuchel gave an update this morning.
Thiago Silva will miss the game at Elland Road. Photograph: Frank Augstein/PA
On Abraham: “Tammy still has ankle pain from the tackle against Newcastle, from the same injury. He’s still not 100 per cent comfortable. Yesterday he went off, the day before he was fine, yesterday he had some training. Honestly I’m a bit concerned because it’s still the pain from the tackle against Burnley, so we’re talking about a long time now where he does not really feel 100 per cent free and comfortable; I can see it in training.
On Thiago Silva: “Thiago also had a little setback in training, at the end of the training session, the day before yesterday, he felt at the very end something around the same area (thigh) where he was injured. So we had to take him off and he’s back into a transition phase but not back in team training. So he will be out.”
For those asking (actually no-one but whatever), the dog on the front page of the Sheffield United website is called Little Blade.
This lead story opens with: “Little Blade is no longer so little and has really had a growth spurt since Christmas. With his beautiful white coat, he can now easily be confused for a small polar bear.”
Really? I know it’s been cold in Sheffield but...
Anyway, on a more serious note, Little Blade deserves a pat on the back. “He’ll begin full time training to become a life-saving support dog for a family affected by autism, epilepsy or disability.”
Another PA update on Chris Wilder.
The PA news agency understands an announcement is expected later on Friday which will confirm Wilder, 53, has been relieved of his duties as manager and will leave the club.
Sheffield United have cancelled their Friday morning press conference so that looks pretty ominous.
The PA have more info:
The Blades were scheduled to make a player available to the media at 10am but the club said this morning that would not be happening. It remains to be seen if the manager’s afternoon press conference will go ahead – and who will be in Wilder’s place should he depart beforehand.
Tensions between Wilder and club owner Abdullah Bin Musa’ad Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud have heightened recently, with Wilder last week stating he did not know if he will be manager next season, despite confirming he wants to remain in charge at Bramall Lane if the board and owners “stick to the plan”.
Meanwhile, the official Sheffield United website has a cute dog as its lead image to presumably try and defuse the rage surrounding Chris Wilder. Look at his little face (the dog’s that is).
Lots of ‘hot takes’ around about Chris Wilder’s imminent departure but some are more balanced than others and have used actual reasoning and stats.
Daniel Storey(@danielstorey85)
Chris Wilder obviously did a fantastic job, but you can see why Sheffield United want someone to help oversee transfers if he had full control. The three strikers signed for £50m have played 48 Premier League games this season and scored one goal.
Sheffield United travel to Leicester this weekend - and it appears they’ll do so without Chris Wilder.
The general consensus appears to be that an announcement will be made this afternoon. The Twitter outrage is revving up. Will there be an official press conference? And, if so, will he storm off the set?
Notably, a check of the bookmaker websites shows they seem to have pulled their Next Premier League Manager To Be Sacked markets.
What you will find, though, is odds for the Next Permanent Liverpool Manager. Steven Gerrard is 6/4, Pep Ljinders 11/5, Xabi Alonso 11/2, Julian Nagelsmann 10/1 and Rafa Benitez 16/1.
Not sure Nagelsmann has done much to turn Liverpool heads in recent weeks.
Some rather dramatic early news. Chris Wilder is set to be sacked by Sheffield United today, according to several sources.
The Blades boss has been in charge since 2016 but after last season’s fairytale when they flirted with the top four before finishing ninth, the current campaign has been a nightmare.
Chris Wilder providing an ideal photo opportunity for a sacking story. Photograph: Mike Egerton/AFP/Getty Images
United have won just four of their 28 Premier League games this season and are four points adrift at the bottom of the table.
We’ll keep an eye for anything more concrete.
Howdy football fans!
The Premier League fixture list is going with a 1-4-4-1 formation this weekend. The two bookends are Newcastle v Aston Villa tonight and Wolves v Liverpool on Monday evening. The meat in this tasty top-flight sandwich includes Leeds v Chelsea, the North London derby between Arsenal and Spurs and Sunday evening’s ‘Jesse Lingard’ derby at Old Trafford where Manchester United host West Ham. However, it’s in name only as the rejuvenated on-loan midfielder cannot face his parent club.
There’s much to talk about as we set the scene for what fantasy players are quite rightly calling Gameweek 28. Peeeeep, let’s get this bad boy started.
from Football | The Guardian https://ift.tt/3ctkH2u
via IFTTT
No Comment