Fulham could be relegated this weekend and that’s caused boss Scott Parker to put his philosophical hat on.
The Cottagers, who are nine points from safety with four games to play, host Burnley on Monday.
This team, during the journey this year – I get that we may fail this year. I get that at this present moment in time we’ve maybe not won as many games or whatever that is but to be where we are, there’s been some real upturns, there’s been some real learning and there’s been some real improvements and while of course maybe at the end of this road there might be failure overall, there have been some real uplifts as well.
How we’ve dealt with those (difficult) moments and not sank, how players have pulled through those moments and put in performances, how the team have managed to scrap through some real serious adversity at times and moments that would have sunk a lot of teams… we probably would have been dead and buried a long time ago so it has been crucial really.
They’re all big learning curves and they’re all certainly experiences that can only help every one of us, myself included, so that’s the main thing.
Manchester City Women’s boss Gareth Taylor has been speaking ahead of Sunday’s WSL closer at West Ham.
City need to win the game to have any hope of overhauling Chelsea at the top and winning the title for just a second time.
Here’s Taylor on his first season in charge and hopes for Sunday:
I’ve enjoyed every minute and I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved so far. It’s not in our hands on Sunday but the fact we’ve taken it to final game is a real positive. We’re gong into this game Sunday really ready to give it our very best, get the result we need and see what happens. That’s all we’ve done all season, we’ve taken it game by game, focused on that, not looked too far down the line. Sometimes when you start to worry about elsewhere and the next game you can lose track. We always try to focus on what we can affect and what we can determine, we’ll train tomorrow, travel down to Dagenham and get ready for Sunday’s game.
West Ham’s hopes of a top-four finish could be boosted by the return of Declan Rice for Sunday’s visit of Everton. Some chat from David Moyes...
On Declan Rice:
We’re getting closer to getting Declan back because we’re a week down the line. He’s back on the grass and closing in on it and we’ll try and get him back as soon as we can. Undoubtedly he’s a big miss to us and we’ll try and get him back as quickly as we can. I’m just hoping to have him available. I’m not going put any time on it. I’m not trying to bluff anybody but in the same breath I’ve got to be really wary of it. He is so important for us, we have to get him back as quickly as we can. We need him, he can make the difference in the games – and there’s a big game coming up this weekend for a starter.
And here’s Moyes on the influence of fit-again striker Michail Antonio.
Michail is so important to us and he has been ever since we’ve put him in at centre forward. He was roughly the top goalscorer around those nine games after lockdown and he’s been very good this season too. Unfortunately we’ve lost him a few times to injury as well, but he’s back and in good spirits and we’ll hope that form continues to the end of the season.
Elsewhere in football world, Brighton boss Graham Potter is playing down rumours linking him to Spurs.
I think that’s the challenge of being a football coach, certainly in the modern day, there is speculation, positive and negative.
It was only a few months ago I was answering questions whether I had the support of the chairman, so you’ve got to take these things with a pinch of salt.
My focus is on here. I am doing as well as I can, I feel I have the support of the board, the players, the staff, we’re in a really exciting moment in terms of we’ve done a lot of work and we want to carry that on.
We haven’t finished anything here, there’s a lot to do and I am really happy here.
A wary reaction from MUST - the Manchester United Supporters Trust.
The response could in theory – and we emphasise in theory only – be a change in direction and approach by the owners versus their silence and disregard for communication over the last 16 years.
We will, however, determine our position based on the resulting actions rather than these words alone. We have seen empty words too many times previously.
We will seek a mandate from our members and from the wider fanbase before proceeding. We only wish to engage in this process should our supporters want us to.
The onus remains on the club to put right the problems of the past, not just the European Super League but the overall lack of communication and consultation by the owners.
Our primary objective remains to ensure a supporter share scheme is put in place which carries equal voting rights to the shares held by the Glazer family. This scheme would be promoted to the global fanbase and should in turn build a notable stake in the club.
Through all this, our goals remain the same and as set out in the open letter to Joel Glazer. We want a new Manchester United, with a meaningful shareholding for supporters and a meaningful say in key areas.
This is our objective, and there will be no let up until we get there.
So, pick the bones out of that Man Utd fans. By the way, the word ‘fan’ is mentioned seven times. There’s a ‘sincere apology’ in there too. But are you buying it? Plenty of early feeling that the damage has already been done. #GlazersOut and #NotAPennyMore trending on Manchester United Twitter feeds. And lots of mentions of “it’s all about the share price”.
The following letter has been sent by Joel Glazer, Manchester United Executive Co-Chairman, to members of the club’s Fans’ Forum. Here it is in full:
Dear Fan Representatives,
Thank you for your letter dated April 30, sent in your capacity as representatives of Manchester United fans. I read the contents closely and your love and passion for the club came across very clearly.
I want to salute your service to the Fans’ Forum, which I know is a vital channel for consultation between the club and our fans. As I recently stated publicly, I am personally committed to ensuring that we strengthen this relationship in future.
Your heartfelt letter captured the unique spirit of Manchester United, forged through decades of triumph, adversity and tragedy, and still powerfully present in today’s exciting team under Ole and the vibrant fanbase which you represent.
I was personally humbled by parts of your letter, as you explained so clearly why our initial support for the European Super League left you feeling angry and let down. I would like to reiterate my sincere apology for the mistakes that were made.
In particular, I want to acknowledge the need for change, with deeper consultation with you as our main fan representative body across a range of important issues, including the competitions we play in. We also recognise the importance of fan and football interests being embedded in key decision-making processes at every level of the club, and we are open to constructive discussions on how to reinforce that principle.
We remain committed to working with the wider football community to make the game stronger and more sustainable over the long-term, and we will now refocus our efforts on doing this within the existing structures of UEFA and the Premier League.
In addition, I want to reassure you that my family and I care deeply about Manchester United and feel a profound sense of responsibility to protect and enhance its strength for the long-term, while respecting its values and traditions.
Our top priority is, and will always be, competing for the most important trophies, playing entertaining football with a team comprised of top-quality recruits and some of the world’s best homegrown talent. Under Ole, we feel we are absolutely on the right track.
Success on the field must be underpinned by solid foundations off it. We have supported sustained investment in the team over many years, and that will continue this summer.
We recognise that we will need to significantly increase investment in Old Trafford and our training complex to ensure that the club’s facilities remain among the best in Europe. As part of this, we will consult with fans on investments related to the stadium and the matchday experience.
Indeed, one of the clearest lessons of the past few weeks is the need for us to become better listeners. To this end, I can commit the club will engage across all of the issues raised in your letter.
To highlight some specific points, as one of the few European football clubs listed on the public markets, we believe in the principle of fans owning shares in the club. We have previously engaged with the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust on fan share ownership and we want to continue and accelerate those discussions, together with provisions to enhance associated fan consultation.
We recognise that the Government-initiated, fan-led review of football is a positive opportunity to explore new structures for fan engagement and influence. I can assure you that we will willingly and openly engage in the review, with the aim of putting fans at the heart of the game and ensuring their interests are advanced and protected.
These commitments are a starting point for further dialogue, including all the specific points you raised, rather than final proposals. We want to work together to come up with an ambitious package of measures which will transform our relationship with fans and strengthen the club for the long-term. In this spirit, we will reach out to members of the forum to schedule a meeting in which I shall participate as soon as possible after the final game of the season.
Thank you again for your work for the forum and your passion for the club. I look forward to meeting you and in the meantime let’s look forward to a successful end to the season.
With best regards,
Joel Glazer
Executive Co-Chairman and Director
Thanks Gregg. Some news from Manchester United coming up...
Right, David is fed and watered so I’m going to hand back to him for the rest of the afternoon. Thanks.
Chelsea Women’s manager, Emma Hayes, has been speaking ahead of Sunday’s match against Reading, in which the club can claim back-to-back WSL titles before the upcoming Women’s Champions League final. She is not taking the Royals lightly:
We’ve had some tough games against them over the years, so we know that we have to be at our best. I tend not to look at things as what disappointments might come out of Sunday and instead focus on everything that is within our control. If we do those things, I’m sure we will impose ourselves on them. I don’t have a complacent dressing room thank goodness because when you do you underestimate opponents. I know every single player in this building will be talking about the threats they pose to us on Sunday.
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes. Photograph: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
And she has credited the togetherness at Chelsea for the success that both the men’s and women’s teams are enjoying:
It’s one club, it really is, it’s just the DNA of this place. It breeds winning and the pressure to win here is immense but I’ve always said, the badge, some can wear it, some can’t and those that shine in it, they know it’s the most special club in the world. I think of its diversity and its togetherness as a whole club. I know I say that when I’m in the final but it’s not a surprise to me that both clubs are in the final given the progression that has been made over the years and most importantly, a family-run feel that’s here.’
Who knew that having political views could, potentially, be so helpful …
Atlético Madrid were 10 points clear at the top of La Liga at the end of January but Barcelona can knock them off the top when the two clubs meet in a huge game tomorrow afternoon. Diego Simeone has been criticised for sticking with his defensive tactics at a time when many believe he should try to be more expansive. But the Diego’s not for turning:
We’re playing with a really clear idea this season as you can see. Sometimes it’s gone really well and sometimes it hasn’t. We don’t change a lot. We’ll try and play using the good points of how we’ve been playing up to now. They [Barça] are a side who have won a lot of points on the spin, they play good football and have done a great job in recovering from a slow first half of the season. We’ll look to take the game in the direction we want it to go in and play our own game.
And while we’re on the subject of Diego Simeone, here’s an excellent interview with his son, Giovanni Simeone, by Sid Lowe:
Pep Guardiola has been full of praise for the job Thomas Tuchel is doing at Chelsea before the match tomorrow – a dress-rehearsal for the Champions League final – in which Manchester City can seal the Premier League title with a win.
I have a lot of respect for Thomas Tuchel. He has been in Mainz, Dortmund, PSG and now here. The teams are always a joy to watch. I have not been working with him so I don’t know [what he does], but I am not surprised. Huge compliments for what they have done so far.
On thoughts of reclaiming the Premier League title:
I always said that the Premier League is the most important title. I would say financially for the clubs qualification for Champions League is the most important title maybe but there is no doubt it is the most important thing. The Champions League is so special and nice but this one means consistency and many things. We have four games left to get two points – one victory and tomorrow is the first opportunity that we are going to try to get it.
Thanks David. I’ll start with Ole Gunnar Solskjær conceding that he’s going to have to anger some of the top four-chasing clubs by rotating in the run of four games in eight days.
One of them might not be happy because I play a full team maybe in one and the next 11 in the other. I’ve got to look after the players. That might be someone not happy with my team selection for one game or two games. That might affect whoever gets into fourth position or the Champions League. That’s not my problem.
I’ll hand over the blog now to Gregg Bakowski.
Manchester City have suffered three home defeats this season. Ahead of Saturday’s visit of Chelsea, here’s Pep on his opposite number, Thomas Tuchel, who has yet to suffer an away loss since taking charge.
Football Daily(@footballdaily)
🗣"Chelsea have been quite remarkable."
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola talks about how hard it is to outwit Thomas Tuchel pic.twitter.com/xdfPxgfYRo
Has the lack of crowds had a big effect on home and away form this season?
Here’s a stat that says it most certainly has in the Premier League.
Combined home defeats for top three: 14
Combined away defeats for top three: 3
In the last full season with crowds (2018-19), it looked like this:
Combined home defeats for top three: 2
Combined away defeats for top three: 11
Discuss...
A Champions League dress rehearsal, Wolves facing a bogey team and more!
Some permutations for the final day of the Women’s Super League season on Sunday.
At the top
If Chelsea (54pts) win at home to Reading, they’re crowned champions.
If Chelsea lose, Manchester City (52pts) can win the title by winning at West Ham.
If Chelsea draw, Manchester City can pinch the title on goal difference but would have to beat West Ham by four goals to do so.
At the bottom
To stay up, Bristol City (12pts) have to win at Brighton and hope Aston Villa (14pts) lose away to third-placed Arsenal.
Villa have a 20-goal better GD so a draw would be enough for them to stay up if Bristol City win.
Goal difference also gives West Ham (15pts) and Birmingham (15pts) a safety net if they lose.
As for Liverpool team news, Jurgen Klopp says defender Nat Phillips is ready to return but skipper Jordan Henderson isn’t available yet as he continues his rehabilitation from a groin injury.
“Yes, yes, the week helped him (Phillips) for sure. Absolutely. Yes, he was fit yesterday.
“The injury situation, nothing really new. We have a few bumps and bruises, so late decisions – we have to make late decisions in a few positions until tomorrow.
“Hendo, while I am sitting here Hendo is running outside, that’s what I can say. Nothing else. He was not in team training yet and that’s it pretty much.”
Jurgen Klopp now talking to the press ahead of Liverpool’s home game with Southampton.
A line on last week’s cancellation/rearranged game at Old Trafford which will lead to United playing three games in five days: “I have sympathy for them but it’s not good for us either. I would have preferred to play the game last week. But nothing to complain about, it’s just the situation.”
Jurgen Klopp. Photograph: Lee Smith/PA
On the protest: “Was I surprised these kind of things happened? No, I’m an absolute believer in democracy. When the pundits were asking for protests, I said we need to be careful and calm down. I heard some policeman got injured and that should not happen.”
Patrick Bamford is featured in this piece from Ben McAleer. Let the debate begin...
One of those Premier League manager nominees - Marcelo Bielsa - is blaming himself for Patrick Bamford’s current drop off in goals.
Lifting a phrase from Harry Redknapp, Bielsa says: “I feel more responsible than him that he hasn’t reached his offensive production efficiency.”
Continuing his explanation, the Argentine notes: “He has adapted to the offensive game of the team and the offensive game of the team hasn’t been the same in the last few games.
“When we have, we’ve managed to attack well and defend well at the same time. To defend well, it has taken a little bit of our presence offensively and his goalscoring form is linked to how many chances he has to be able to score.”
“Bamford is a very, very dedicated professional. He is a player who analyses the best goalscorers in the world in detail, in the English league, in the German league, in the French league, the best ones.
“But the process to be able to put on show all the qualities that a player has is what determines the dimensions of a player.
“There are players who have very few resources, qualities, but put them on show to their maximum and there are players who have a lot more qualities or resources and they put them on show less times, 50 per cent of the time.”
Bamford scored 10 goals in 15 Premier League games at the start of the season but has managed just four in 18 appearances since the turn of the year.
Almost a shame Arteta didn’t qualify ahead of Solskjaer. Then we’d have had ABBA.
And here’s your Mount Rushmore of April’s best managers in the top flight.
If you missed this from last night... Newcastle United’s owner, Mike Ashley, has claimed “dark forces” are preventing the struggling Premier League club from emerging as a football superpower.
Some team news for Leeds v Spurs - 12:30 kick-off on Saturday.
Tottenham are without Welsh left-back Ben Davies but Lucas Moura and Tanguy Ndombele have both trained all week and will be fit.
For Leeds, Liam Cooper has completed a three-game ban after his red card at Manchester City but Kalvin Phillips (knee) and Raphinha (thigh) are doubts.
From busker-got-lucky Ed Sheeran to another who happened to be in the right place at the right time - Ryan Mason.
The interim Spurs boss has the job until the end of the season following Jose Mourinho’s departure but admits he hasn’t discussed his long-term future with Daniel Levy.
Ryan Mason. Photograph: Nick Potts/AFP/Getty Images
I’ve always had a very good relationship with the chairman.
As a player, I returned as a coach, he’s also given me the responsibility to lead this club. We speak. He’s a good man, he cares immensely about the football club. He wants what’s best and we have a good relationship.
All we’ve spoke about is the next game. It really has been the next game. It has to be. There can’t be any thought of the summer or next season.
If you take your eye off the moment… the next game is important for the club, the players, the fans, the chairman, everyone.
Back to fixture congestion and The Knowledge lists some amazing pile-ups that came at a faster rate than Ed Sheeran tour dates.
Meanwhile, oligarchic writes in to say: “I really don’t enjoy the music of Ed Sheeran, but I bear no ill-feeling towards those who do. (Subjectivity, and all that!) From a purely aesthetic point of view, though, that Ipswich shirt looks amazing. The tour logo looks great; unfussy, slightly enigmatic, attractive. It’s a great move for all parties.”
Our Manchester correspondent, Jamie Jackson, brings this news...
Greater Manchester Police have acknowledged lessons have been learned from Sunday’s protest by Manchester United fans at Old Trafford and the Lowry Hotel and will change their strategy for next week’s home games against Leicester and Liverpool.
A GMP spokesman told The Guardian: “We have reviewed our approach again following the events of last weekend and planned appropriate resourcing to ensure the safety of all those present at next week’s fixtures.
”GMP has significant experience in policing public demonstrations and live events, and officers liaise with local football clubs as well as the GM Safety Advisory Group on a regular basis to ensure that football fixtures pass with as little disruption as possible.
“Each operation is thoroughly planned based on the intelligence and information we have available so that we can ensure that everyone in attendance, the local community and our officers are safe so that everyone can enjoy the game.”
Of course, Chelsea Women could land the quadruple this season, a feat achieved by Arsenal in 2007.
Here’s boss Emma Hayes again.
It’s not that we don’t have an aspiration to do it, I’d love to do something like that.
But there is a reason why that hasn’t been done (since 2007). It’s a difficult achievement – I think it’s almost unhuman.
I just know we’ve got the Community Shield, the Continental Cup in the bag, one win away from winning the league, and we’re in the Champions League final. I’m quite alright with where I am today.
Trying to think of a headline after reading this PA piece about Chelsea boss Emma Hayes and geese.
Let’s try: ‘For Emma Hayes, geese is the word’
Speaking about how well the team had fared despite the “challenging” season for Beth England, the 2019-20 PFA women’s player of the year, Hayes said: “I think it’s important that some different geese lead the formation and they take the wind resistance for the rest.
“Changing leaders is something that’s pretty normal in our environment, and as we always know with geese, they’re extremely loyal to their cause.
“Importantly, they support each other – if you didn’t already know, when a goose gets injured, two birds always accompany them to the ground.
“So the fact that we support each other… and my message to the team will be, just like geese do, honk hard at the person in front of you, because if you didn’t know, honking, in geese culture, is to make the person in front of you speed up.
“So yeah, there’s a few ‘v’ formations I want to see on Sunday.”
Man Utd won’t have to deal with the threat of Jack Grealish on Sunday.
Aston Villa boss Dean Smith says his star man will be absent again after being ruled out of the last 11 matches with a shin problem.
It will be 12 games that he misses. He’s out on the grass loading the injury, so he’s on his way back, but this game will be too soon for him. He starts training with the actual group tomorrow.
After knocking out Roma, the games come thick and fast for Man Utd. They return to Premier League action at Aston Villa on Sunday before home matches against Leicester City and Liverpool on Tuesday and Thursday.
“It’s unheard of,” tooted Ole Gunnar Solskjær when referring to that run of games. Obviously that’s red rag to a bull for Twitter.
Roma are building a history of being on the end of 13-goal semi-final aggregate defeats to Premier League sides. After the 7-6 loss to Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League semis (how did it ever get that close?), they went out 8-5 to Manchester United in the Europa League last four last night.
Here’s Jamie Jackson’s match report.
Looks like no European football for Arsenal for the first time since 1996. Here’s Louise Taylor with reaction from last night’s 0-0 draw against Villarreal which condemned the Gunners to a 2-1 aggregate defeat.
Fixtures coming up...
Final-day fixtures in the Women’s Super League. All matches kick off at 14:30 BST.
Sunday 9 May Arsenal Women v Aston Villa Women
Birmingham City Women v Tottenham Hotspur Women
Brighton & Hove Albion Women v Bristol City Women
Chelsea Women v Reading Women
Man Utd Women v Everton Women
West Ham Women v Man City Women
This weekend’s Premier League fixtures. For those who need their fix, there are PL games every day of next week too.
Friday 7 May
20:00 Leicester v Newcastle
Saturday 8 May
12:30 Leeds v Spurs
15:00 Sheff Utd v C Palace
17:30 Man City v Chelsea
20:15 Liverpool v Southampton
Sunday 9 May
12:00 Wolves v Brighton
14:05 Aston Villa v Man Utd
16:30 West Ham v Everton
19:00 Arsenal v West Brom
Monday 10 May
20:00 Fulham v Burnley
Morning everyone.
Well, it’s been quite the week for English football with Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United all reaching European finals. But every fab foursome needs a Ringo and, appropriately enough, it’s the Yellow Submarine of Villarreal joining United in the Europa League final after sinking Arsenal.
After recently contesting an FA Cup semi, Champions League finalists Man City and Chelsea meet in the Premier League this weekend. Boring isn’t it when the big teams play each other all the time (looks to camera and makes Super League wink). If City win Saturday’s showdown, they’ll secure the title but Chelsea have yet to lose an away game under Thomas Tuchel. So there’s that.
And, talking of City and Chelsea, those two are also bidding for glory on the final day of the Women’s Super League. Leaders Chelsea are at home to Reading and victory will see them crowned champions. But if they slip up, Man City can pip Emma Hayes’ side by winning at West Ham. Both matches kick off at 2.30pm BST on Sunday.
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