Time to wrap up for today. I’ll leave with you with the latest on Chelsea from Jacob Steinberg, where Todd Boehly’s group have emerged as the preferred bidders. Have a good one. Bye!
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One more match preview: it’s Leeds v Manchester City. Under Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds held City at home and then won at the Etihad last season, but Pep Guardiola made up for it with a 7-0 shellacking in December. City also racked up the goals against Marsch’s RB Leipzig in the Champions League group stages, winning 6-3. Not that any of this really matters come 5.30pm tomorrow.
Let’s take a quick look at League Two, before we wrap things up for the day. It’s the penultimate round of games, with two teams already up – Forest Green and Exeter – and the two relegation places filled by Oldham and Scunthorpe.
It’s mainly about the race for third place, currently led by Northampton (76pts) who host Exeter tomorrow. Port Vale (75) play Newport on Monday, when Mansfield (75) will visit ninth-placed Salford City, who could still sneak into the play-offs.
Bristol Rovers (74pts) go to Rochdale on Saturday, while Sutton (73pts) welcome Bradford to Gander Green Lane. Swindon (71) lead the pack hoping to sneak into the play-offs; they host Phil Brown’s now-safe Barrow.
Pretty much every EFL club I follow on Twitter has just tweeted the same ad (it’s for one of those car hire companies). So it’s as good a time as any to look at a frantic final day in League One, with Crewe’s relegation the only thing already settled. All these games kick off at 12.30pm (BST) tomorrow.
At the top, leaders Wigan have missed chances to secure promotion but need just a point at Shrewsbury to get over the line. Rotherham are in second, and can confirm their place in the Championship with a win at Gillingham – but the hosts are fighting for survival and know defeat will send them down.
MK Dons are in third, hoping for slip-ups, and realistically need to beat Plymouth at Home Park to climb into the top two. Argyle are sixth and clinging to a play-off spot so need the points themselves. Wycombe, who go to Burton, are the only side that can still break into the top six. Sheffield Wednesday, two points clear in fourth, can secure their play-off place with a win at home to Portsmouth.
That leaves Sunderland in fifth, who visit Morecambe in another game affecting both ends of the table. The Black Cats will stay in the top six with a win, while Morecambe need to stay clear of either Gillingham or Fleetwood (who visit Bolton). If those two both lose, Wimbledon could claw their way out with a big win over Accrington – but Doncaster need a 27-goal swing to avoid the drop.
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Roy Hodgson missed his pre-game press conference today due to illness, with Ray Lewington stepping in – but the assistant expects Hodgson to be at Vicarage Road tomorrow for their crunch game against Burnley.
“He was unwell last night, in the hotel,” Lewington said. “We came in this morning together and he said he felt bad, so the doctor saw him and I think he really just needed a rest. I am absolutely sure he will be there tomorrow. They don’t quite know what’s wrong with him, he’s seeing a couple of people this afternoon. I don’t think it’s anything serious, but he just felt generally unwell.”
The European Leagues, a body which represents domestic competitions from across the continent including the Premier League, is hopeful that Uefa can be convinced to drop plans to award two places in the Champions League, based on teams’ coefficient rather than domestic performance.
In today’s Bumper Bank Holiday Weekend Fiver*, Ralf Rangnick lands on his feet and a cotton-bud induced injury.
*not actually bumper
Championship preview: The relegation places are already filled, and Fulham are already heading up – but there’s plenty still up for grabs. The leaders face Luton on Monday; they have not yet secured the title but could do so then, or if Bournemouth drop points at Blackburn on Saturday.
That would also push the door further ajar for Nottingham Forest, who have surged into the automatic promotion race. Steve Cooper’s side host his former club, Swansea, tomorrow before a huuuuuuge game on Tuesday, as Forest visit Bournemouth. Huddersfield are still in the race, but have played a game more and will likely have to settle for the play-offs They go to Coventry this weekend.
The other two play-off spots are still up for grabs with Luton, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, Blackburn and Millwall in the running. The Blades can take a big step tonight with a win over QPR tonight, while Boro host Stoke and Millwall, creeping in under the radar, entertain relegated Peterborough.
Some alternative player of the season shouts – first from Steve Plever, who suggests Jarrod Bowen, a special mention for Christian Eriksen, and a “not your fault” award for David De Gea.
Michal Pac Pomarnacki reckons it’s been the year of the centre back, from Virgil Van Dijk to Antonio Rüdiger via Ben White, and also offers a nod to Crystal Palace loanee Conor Gallagher.
If you like football, and also quite like other sport, too, then you’ll love ... the quiz of the week!
Pep Guardiola was asked whether Jürgen Klopp’s contract extension at Liverpool would have any influence on his own plans. Guardiola, who is under contract at Manchester City until next summer, wasn’t in the mood to look too far ahead.
“I’m so concerned about the last month we have ahead, and after we have time,” Guardiola added, possibly while scratching his bonce and looking a bit miffed. “I have a feeling that one year is a long time. I’m enjoying this part of the season and after we have time. I’m incredibly happy and could not be in a better place.”
Frank Lampard has brushed off questions over whether he might stay on at Everton, even if they go down. “I don’t want to get drawn on that question but what I will say is I’ve loved every minute at this club,” said Lampard. “I’ve been welcomed incredibly well by fans. I’ll give it everything for as long as Everton want me here.”
Thomas Tuchel, who replaced Lampard at Chelsea and will take his team to Goodison Park on Sunday, said: “I was a huge fan of [Frank] as a player, and he is and will remain a legend at our club. This is a given.”
“He sent me a very kind, respectful message after I took over at Chelsea that meant a lot,” Tuchel added. “We need the points [on Sunday] and they need the points urgently as well. It is an exciting week for me personally.”
I am hearing that Sir Martin Broughton’s consortium are also likely to be informed they are out of the running to buy Chelsea, though this has not yet been officially confirmed. Hold tight. There are whispers that Todd Boehly’s group have been granted exclusivity. Would that necessarily rule out Sir Jim Ratcliffe though?
As other teams fret over finding a way to finish above the dotted line, Brentford’s Thomas Frank can reflect on a job well done, with the Bees on 40 points and safe as houses.
“When you go into a Premier League season as a promoted team, you don’t know exactly what to expect,” said Frank, arms behind his head, trainers up on the corner of his desk. “It was even less for us as not one staff member had worked at a Premier League club before and not one player had played either – two minutes for Ivan Toney and and Sergi Canos don’t count.
“When we played the first game it was with zero experience. What did we expect? I don’t exactly know, but I do know that we wanted to aim as high as possible, try to attack and be an asset to the league. I had huge belief that we could do something. That was the message to the players.”
It’s been an incredible season for Brentford, and it could get even better – they go to Old Trafford on Monday. Honk!
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Newcastle have won six home games in a row – can they become the first team not called Manchester City to take a point off Liverpool in 2022?
Pep Guardiola will be without John Stones and Kyle Walker for Manchester City’s trip to Elland Road on Saturday evening. Walker has missed City’s last four games, and Guardiola admitted he “doesn’t know” when the full-back will be available. Stones, who was hurt in the first half against Real Madrid, will miss the Leeds trip – “we’ll see for Wednesday.”
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Steve Pagliuca bid is out of Chelsea running
Raine have told Steve Pagliuca that his consortium is out of the running to buy Chelsea #cfc
— Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) April 29, 2022
That’s according to our man in the know, Jacob Steinberg. So that leaves the bid led by Todd Boehly, an offer fronted by Sir Martin Broughton and Sebastian Coe, and the last-minute bid from Ineos. Could we finally get a decision soon?
All things considered, the biggest single fixture anywhere this weekend might be in Glasgow, on Sunday. Celtic host Rangers in the Old Firm derby, knowing victory will but all but secure the Scottish title.
The Rangers manager, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, is not expecting a repeat of February’s 3-0 loss at Celtic Park which shifted the momentum in the title race. “I think the players and the team have developed from that moment,” he said. “I think we are in much better shape and momentum now.”
Rangers are still in with a shout of reaching the Europa League final after losing the first leg 1-0 in Leipzig, but Celtic’s Ante Postecoglou couldn’t resist a reference to their European Cup success. “Rangers have done very well and Giovanni has done a great job in getting them to the semi-finals,” he said. “But if you want evidence of how well Scottish clubs can do in Europe, there’s a trophy I can show you.”
Conte dismisses PSG links as 'fake news'
The Tottenham manager, Antonio Conte, has said reports linking him to the Paris Saint-Germain job are “fake news”.
“I don’t like when people try to [create] news. This is not right, not fair for me, for the clubs involved and for my players,” Conte said. “I think people have to show respect for all the people involved in this situation, and not invent fake news and tell a lot of lies. [We all] know very well that at this point of the season, a lot of fake news starts to go out.”
“We have a big opportunity to try to get a place in the Champions League,” continued Conte. “You know very well what I said in the past, that it would be a miracle to get this achievement. We’re living this dream. We have to continue until the end to get a place in the Champions League ... we are fighting for a target that wasn’t in our mind at the start of the season.”
Real Madrid have the second leg of their epic Champions League battle with Manchester City coming up on Wednesday – so Carlo Ancelotti is planning to make changes, even though Real can secure their 35th Spanish title with a point against Espanyol on Saturday.
“The idea is to rest the players who are in need of resting,” Ancelotti said. “However, I have not found many players who have asked me not to play because they are tired.” David Alaba is injured, while Karim Benzema picked up a minor Achilles problem in the 4-3 first-leg loss at the Etihad.
Regardless of that, Ancelotti backs whatever team he sends out to get the required result, with the leaders enjoying a 15-point cushion at the top. “Our fans want two things: to win tomorrow and to win on Wednesday. We want the same,” he said.
“The team has done very well, winning in very difficult stadiums ... what could happen on Saturday is a consequence of that hard work.”
Another match preview coming atcha, this time from Molineux.
Ineos owner Ratcliffe makes late bid for Chelsea
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the owner of the British petrochemicals company Ineos, has said he has made a bid to buy Chelsea, two weeks after the deadline for offers.
“We put an offer in this morning,” said Ratcliffe. We are the only British bid. Our motives are simply to try and create a very fine club in London. We have no profit motive because we make our money in other ways.”
Ratcliffe has invested in a road cycling team, Ineos Grenadiers, and bought Ligue 1 club Nice in 2019. One of the three existing bids for Chelsea is fronted by Sir Martin Broughton and Sebastian Coe – both of whom are British – with backing from Philadephia 76ers owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer.
The other two bids already on the table are led by US sports franchise owners – the Boston Celtics’ co-owner Steve Pagliuca and the co-owner of the LA Dodgers, Todd Boehly.
In the race for fourth, Arsenal are two points clear of Spurs with five games to go – and the rivals will meet in Tottenham on 12 May. Mikel Arteta isn’t looking that far ahead, though.
“I think there will still be twists and turns, we still have difficult matches today,” Arteta said. “We had two really good results that [put us] again in a really good position, and then it’s about doing it again at West Ham.”
As Gestunar7 says BTL, Arsenal have been exceedingly unpredictable of late, so West Ham’s Europa League distractions may not benefit them all that much:
Good news for Everton in their battle with relegation. Frank Lampard will be able to call on striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who sat out the last two matches, though there’s bad news, too. Ben Godrey is out for the season (five matches).
“Dominic’s back in the squad. He’s been training the last couple of days,” said Frank. “Donny’s (Van De Beek) out, Donny’s not fit and nor is Andre Gomes. Yerry’s back in the squad. (Leaving him out against Liverpool) was more being careful with him because he’d been out for a while and played the previous game a few days before.”
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Jürgen Klopp is at Liverpool to stay, and he’s only too happy to evangelise.
I really think it’s a good place to be or a good place to join, if not the perfect place. The world is in a difficult situation; it’s not only coronavirus, it’s Ukraine, it’s so many things, and then on a less important level big clubs have problems here and there with money and these kind of things.
We want to offer emotion, we want to deliver excitement, we want to be together with our people, we want to really be connected and we want to be special as well as a club. We sit here now and in 20 years’ time we will look back and for all of us it’s about creating stories which we will remember easily and think: ‘Wow, that was good.’
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Anthony Lawton gets in touch: “You post 2hrs ago on the Guardian blog. “Rangnick will take over (the Austria team) after leaving his post as Manchester United interim manager at the end of the season – he is expected to continue his consultancy role with the club.”
“Could you or someone please tell me, a football ignoramus, what he will be being consulted about...and why United [still] think that would be helpful to them? Or is it in effect just a device for spreading out his fee for being interim manager?”
At the time of his appointment, it appeared an attempt to add structure but then United built another structure around him, and appointed a new manager without consulting him.
This is how Rangnick sees his role.
For me the most important bit is recruitment, that we bring in the best possible players,” ,” he said. “It is not only identifying but meeting them, convincing them to join the club even though we will not play in Champions League. In regards to top players from the academy: identify them.
The latest Football Weekly is here
The important issues are answered:
Elsewhere, the Europa Conference League game between Leicester and Roma poses the question: ‘why do we care so much about managers buying each other wine?’
This one is worth loads in the Premier League relegation battle, though mostly if no-manager bounce Burnley pull off a win.
News from the happy ship they call Manchester United, where Jadon Sancho looks to be ruled out of his first season with tonsillitis, and will certainly miss Monday’s game against Brentford.
Ralf Rangnick, set for the Österreichischer Fußball-Bund, said:
As it seems, Jadon (Sancho) might be out for the rest of the season with his tonsillitis, so he will most likely be not available against Brentford.
Edinson Cavani is supposed to come back to training tomorrow but, then again, the question is he has been missing for the last four or five weeks. Is he really a player who could then play against Brentford? Probably not to start with but at least from the bench.
Jesse was missing for personal family reasons today. I hope some of those players will be back on Monday.
Good afternoon, I am stepping in for Niall, so let’s see what red-hot soccer news is coming in.
West Ham say they have identified two individuals and passed their details on to the police, following reports that German radio reporters were attacked during the team’s Europa League semi-final, first-leg defeat to Frankfurt.
“Following a thorough internal investigation since the full-time whistle last night, West Ham United can confirm two offenders have been identified. As well as continuing our own investigation, in line with our zero-tolerance approach, the offenders’ details have also been passed onto the police, who will now conduct their own investigation.
“If the offenders are found guilty, they will be given an indefinite ban and not be permitted to enter London Stadium, nor travel with the club. Behaviour of this kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at West Ham United.”
The Ukraine men’s national team will play Borussia Mönchengladbach on 11 May, in the team’s first fixture since the country was invaded by Russia. The friendly at Gladbach’s Borussia-Park in Germany will serve as preparation for June’s World Cup play-off against Scotland, with all proceeds from the game donated to charitable causes for the Ukrainian people.
“We’re very happy to be able to help the Ukrainian FA through this game, and hope that as many football fans as possible from all over the country come to the stadium and make a donation to a good cause by buying a ticket to the match,” said the Gladbach chief executive, Stephan Schippers. “All Ukrainian citizens will have free entry to the game.”
The Women’s Super League title race is going to the wire – Chelsea’s win over Spurs last night puts them four points clear of Arsenal, but the Gunners have a game in hand, with three matches to play. Chelsea have two games left – they visit Birmingham City this Sunday, before hosting Manchester United next Sunday.
Arsenal go to Aston Villa this weekend, then host Tottenham in the North London derby on Wednesday, before a final-day trip to West Ham.
Another match preview for the clash at St Mary’s, which doesn’t have a whole lot riding on it, if we’re being honest.
Bobby Copping was 19 and on the verge of breaking into the Peterborough first team, when he headed a ball during pre-season training and everything changed. With his career ended by the mysterious injury, he’s now building a career behind the scenes at London Road. Ryan Baldi met up with him:
Jesse Marsch’s Leeds have the chance to derail Manchester City’s title charge this weekend and Marsch is hoping his team can prove “pesky” opponents.
“I know that a lot of times, playing against the relegation teams can be a pesky match and that’s our job on the day, to make the match pesky for Man City,” Marsch said. “In some ways you can say there’s nothing for us to lose. We’re expected to lose this game every time. I don’t believe that but I can see why that’s the expectation. Our job is to strategically understand. We know what they want the game to look like and we know what we want the game to look like.
Leeds are unbeaten in their last five matches but aren’t safe yet, and Marsch won’t waste any time checking on the permutations. “I don’t have the energy to think about the table and how other teams are doing ... I assumed from the very second that I took the job that I was going to be knee-deep in everything until May 22 and I think it’ll stay that way.”
Friday’s first match preview has landed!
A little more from Jürgen Klopp, on whether his contract extension might make a difference to players yet to sign a new deal. Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, Roberto Firmino and Naby Keïta all have contracts that expire next summer.
“That is a question for the boys what it means to them but it’s all fine, my relationship with them is great. If it is a positive sign for the boys, great – but I don’t think this will be the one decisive thing for a decision they make for their lives. But we just want to make sure that everyone who wants to know, knows.”
Ralf Rangnick confirmed as new Austria manager
Well, this story has moved fast. The Austrian FA have now confirmed the appointment of Ralf Rangnick on an initial two-year deal. If Austria qualify for the Euros, the deal will automatically extend until the 2026 World Cup.
Rangnick will take over after leaving his post as Manchester United interim manager at the end of the season – he is expected to continue his consultancy role with the club. He will take charge of Austria’s Nations League games against Croatia, Denmark and France before the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
“It’s an honour for me to take on the role,” Rangnick said. “I’m particularly excited about the prospect of contesting the European Championships in Germany with a young team hungry for success.”
Dean Smith has been fronting up, with Norwich in danger of going down this weekend. If they lose at Smith’s former club, Aston Villa, and Burnley beat Watford at Vicarage Road, then the Canaries will be swooping back to the Championship.
“Apathy is a word that’s been used a lot ... our players are turning up week in, week out, there’s no lack of interest from them.” Smith also defended the club’s sporting director, Stuart Webber, who was confronted by some fans after the home defeat to Newcastle.
A little more from Eddie Howe on the test Liverpool will offer his side:
“We know that nothing but our best tomorrow – and I’d probably say better than we’ve delivered so far – will be good enough. I’ve watched Liverpool in depth for a long period of time and they’re just an incredible team. They have a way of winning games even when they’re not at their best, which is probably the hallmark of a great team, and when they’re at their best, they’re almost unstoppable.”
More on the news, yet to be officially announced, that Ralf Rangnick has agreed to take over as the Austria head coach. Rangnick is expected to continue with his planned consultancy role at Manchester United – although my person feeling is that his time at Old Trafford might come to an end in a barely-noticed press release six months from now.
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Jürgen Klopp has just wrapped up his pre-game presser, fresh from extending his Liverpool contract to 2026. He has said he feels reinvigorated this season after the struggles of a coronavirus-ravaged campaign last year.
“These last two years were really strange, you learn more about yourself. You realise what you really miss if you don’t have it anymore. Football is the same. I am not short of energy, but you ask me if it’s still there. We feel like we are in the middle of something, not the end. We try to reach this sunny place together.”
Steel yourself for the weekend’s top-flight action with our 10-part guide:
Sticking with Wolves, this is a nice read from Ben Fisher, who sat down with their goalkeeping coach, Tony Roberts. The former QPR and Dagenham & Redbridge keeper is also part of the Wales setup, and dreaming of World Cup qualification.
“I was involved in the Wales team when we nearly got there, USA 94. We missed out when [Paul] Bodin hit the crossbar against Romania. I bawled my eyes out that night and to get there now, I think I’d be crying at 52 years old.”
Bruno Lage has been chatting to reporters this morning, and the Wolves manager thinks it’s time for his side to push for Europe. “I never used to talk about it ... but now we have five games in 20 days,” Lage said. “I challenge them now, the final curve, the last 100m, we see the finish line in front of us, we need to go and fight for sixth and seventh position, and play European football.”
It feels like Wolves have been knocking on the door for several months now, only to get beaten somewhere like Turf Moor just as the top six/seven are in reach. They host Brighton tomorrow, with their final home game against Norwich. The trouble is, their other games are against Chelsea (A), Man City (H) and Liverpool (A). Still, they’re a match for anyone on their day, as the saying goes.
More on the news that Channel 4 will show England men’s matches free-to-air until 2024.
Newcastle entertain Liverpool in an entirely appetising Saturday lunchtime kick-off. Eddie Howe has revealed that Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier are almost ready to return, but not in time for tomorrow’s game.
“We definitely won’t rush them back. We won’t put them at risk but if they’re fit we’ll use them like any other player. I think that’s important. Kieran, we’ve seen on the grass and he’s trained with us for one session. Callum isn’t quite there yet but he’s edging closer and is doing a lot of work with the sports science team.”
Newcastle announced on Friday that defender Fabian Schär has signed a new two-year deal. “I really like him as a player,” Howe said. He’s performed very, very well. He had a long spell out of the team and to come back into the team initially was quite difficult for him, but he’s picked up his rhythm and his form.
“I think everyone knows Fab is technically a very, very good footballer. The big thing he’s proved is he can defend very, very effectively within the team structure that we’ve given him.”
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Salah and Kerr win FWA awards
Some more news – the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) has named Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah their men’s footballer of the year for the second time, with Chelsea forward Sam Kerr winning the women’s award.
Salah won 48% of the vote, with Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne in second and West Ham’s Declan Rice in third. Kerr was similarly dominant, picking up 40% of votes, to finish ahead of Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema and City’s Lauren Hemp.
Channel 4 to show England men's matches live
Some interesting early news, with Channel 4 announcing it has acquired the rights to broadcast the England men’s team’s matches in the Nations League, plus Euro 2024 qualifiers and friendlies. In total, Channel 4 will broadcast 20 live England matches between 2022 to 2024, all on free-to-air TV.
The Nations League campaign features four matches in June – two against Hungary, a trip to Germany, and Italy at Molineux – before the return fixtures with Italy and Germany in September. The Euro qualifiers will kick off in 2023, with the draw being made in October.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to a long weekend of football, with crunch clashes everywhere you turn. For Liverpool and Manchester City, every game is big – but Saturday’s assignments, at the cathedrals of St James’s Park and Elland Road respectively, are likely to turn up the title race tension even further.
Elsewhere, Dean Smith takes Norwich to Villa Park, knowing that defeat could return the Canaries to the Championship if Burnley get a result at Watford. That would also be bad news for Frank Lampard, who desperately needs something from his former employers when Chelsea visit Goodison on Sunday. In the top-four race, Arsenal face yet another test of their mettle at West Ham, while Spurs look to end their own stumble against Leicester.
Beyond the Premier League, we could see Real Madrid win La Liga on Saturday, and Celtic all but regain the Scottish title in Sunday’s Old Firm derby. League One comes to a close, the race for promotion spots and playoff berths up and down the pyramid coming down to the wire. Chelsea and Arsenal continue their nip and tuck WSL title fight, and the Women’s Champions League finalists will be set.
We’ll have team news, previews and plenty more besides, so let’s put on our classics and we’ll have a little dance, shall we?
