Month: April 2023

Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor believes defender Steph Houghton is playing the best football of her career as calls for an England recall intensify.

The experienced centre-back continued her excellent form this season with a goal in City’s 6-2 thrashing of West Ham on Sunday which lifted her side to second in the Women’s Super League standings.

Former Lionesses skipper Houghton, 35, has not featured for Sarina Wiegman’s team since being excluded from the Euro 2022-winning squad last summer.

With current captain Leah Williamson ruled out of the World Cup due to an ACL injury, there has been debate over whether the 121-cap international could be in line for a return to the fold.

On those claims, City boss Taylor, 50, said: “That’s not for me to say. We are happy to have Steph. She does really well as a player on and off the pitch. 

“This period, I’ve spoken previously and said she is probably playing some of the best football that we’ve seen.

“She’s got bags of experience and she brings a calming influence to the team. I think it is up to Sarina. 

“She will have her own ideas and plans in place. If that includes Steph great, if not, nothing changes from our perspective.”

Kelly shines

Taylor was also full of praise for fellow England star Chloe Kelly, after the 25-year-old attacker scored twice in the first seven minutes of the dominant home victory.

Kelly’s quick-fire strikes put the title chasers in command of the clash at the Academy Stadium.

She also had a hand in further goals by Khadija Shaw, Houghton and Mary Fowler after Laura Coombs had added City’s third.

Taylor added of Kelly: “She is playing with good confidence, she’s a threat. 

“There are some adjustments she needs to make. But it is really great to see her back and playing at this level.”

Star-of-the-show Kelly told Sky Sports: “I’ve got so much to learn.

“I’m excited for the future and how much I can learn and I’m doing just that playing with such great players and a great manager who I’m learning a lot from.”

WSL Matchday 18 results

Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal

Reading 2-3 Everton

Liverpool 2-1 Brighton

Tottenham 3-3 Aston Villa

Manchester City 6-2 West Ham

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed both Karim Benzema and Eduardo Camavinga will miss Tuesday’s LaLiga trip to Girona.

However, Ancelotti expects the pair to be available again for Saturday’s home game with Almeria, before Los Blancos play the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna and their Champions League semi-final with Manchester City.

David Alaba is also anticipated to be back for the Osasuna clash on May 6, having not played in the 2-0 win against Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Ancelotti ran through the players he will have missing as his team attempts to close ground on leaders Barcelona.

“Benzema and Camavinga will miss out and [Dani] Ceballos has got accumulated cards,”he said. “Camavinga lasted the game [v Celta] but then he felt some discomfort from a knock. I think they should be available for Almeria. 

“[Ferland] Mendy and Alaba won’t be there either. Alaba is recovering well and I don’t think he should be a problem for the Copa del Rey final.”

Elaborating on Benzema’s situation, Ancelotti added: “If he recovers from his knock, he’ll play against Almeria.

“He’s hugely important for us. He’s shown a fantastic level in recent games and you keep that up by playing, not by resting. If he’s fit, he wants to play and that’s what we want as well.”

The gap at the top of LaLiga remains 11 points with eight games to play after Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 on Sunday, and Ancelotti is keen to close that to better reflect what he believes is a true representation of how close the Clasico rivals are.

“If we’re talking about the quality of the two teams, there’s no way there should be 11 points between us, and that’s been clear in the games we’ve played against each other,” he said. “We’re two evenly matched sides and the deficit has come about through small details. We want to cut it down.”

Despite their victory against Celta, there were more concerns about the surface at the Santiago Bernabeu, which has been affected by the ongoing renovations at the famous stadium.

Marco Asensio scored and assisted in the game, but also hit a wayward shot in the second half that appeared to bobble up off the surface, and Ancelotti previously confirmed it will be replaced before they play City on May 9.

“Every team wants to play on a beautiful pitch,” Ancelotti said. “We are aware of the problems we have at the Bernabeu and we won’t complain.

“We’re talking about something which is clear to see, our playing surface is suffering due to the ongoing works and they will fix that as soon as possible.”

Manchester United will “do everything” to deny Manchester City a potential treble when they face their cross-city rivals in the FA Cup final, Erik ten Hag has promised.

United reached a record-equalling 21st FA Cup final with Sunday’s penalty shoot-out victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at Wembley Stadium, Solly March blazing over the crossbar as the rest of the 14 spot-kicks were converted. 

The two Manchester clubs will now face off in a major cup final for the first time on June 3, after a Riyad Mahrez hat-trick guided City to a 3-0 win over Sheffield United in the last four.

With City battling Arsenal in the Premier League title race and being drawn against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals, Pep Guardiola’s team could yet collect three major trophies this term. 

Doing so would see them match the famous achievements of United’s 1998-99 side, and Ten Hag knows how much the club’s fanbase would relish denying City.

“I understand, of course, the feelings from the Manchester United fans about it,” the Dutchman said.

“We will do everything to give them that, to give them the second trophy, everything that I have, everything the team have, everything the staff have, we will give everything to get that done.

“We can do it, because we proved it, but it’s not an easy job. It’s a great team, but we’ll also have a great team and great players and we can beat them.

“More than 100 per cent, you can’t do, so the fans can rely on that. We will give it and we will do it against every opponent, it doesn’t matter who it is.

“Of course, we want to give that against City. We want to give the fans that, sure.”

Having beaten Newcastle United to lift the EFL Cup in February, United have reached both domestic cup finals in the same season for just the third time. 

However, the Red Devils have never won both trophies in the same campaign, lifting the FA Cup but losing the EFL Cup showpiece game in the 1982-83 and 1993-94 seasons.

Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has urged Xavi Simons to stay at PSV for another season amid strong suggestions he could be on his way back to Paris Saint-Germain.

Simons swapped PSG for PSV last August after being restricted to just 11 first-team appearances for the Ligue 1 giants, whom he joined from Barcelona two years earlier.

The 20-year-old has started all 30 Eredivisie games for second-placed PSV this season, but he recently hinted he would be open to a return to PSG in the future.

Barca have also been tipped to move for their former youth player, yet Koeman believes the young attacking midfielder is better off staying in the Netherlands for the time being.

“I think it would be very good for him to stay one more year at PSV,” Koeman told Studio Voetbal.

Opening up on talks he held with Simons earlier this week, Koeman added: “I can’t reveal what we talked about, but these next steps are extremely important.

“I consider Xavi to be someone who weighs up his choices very carefully.”

Simons is the joint-top scorer in the Dutch top flight this season with 15 goals, level with Heerenveen forward Sydney van Hooijdonk, while also assisting a further eight goals.

The three-cap Netherlands international can play right across the frontline, and national team boss Koeman believes he can become even more of a creative force in the future.

“I see him on the left for us, and I think he can grow into the number 10 position,” Koeman said. “He’s very talented and already very important at PSV.”

– Aston Villa have won five of their last six matches
– Fulham have been beaten on three of their last four road trips
– Recommended bet: Aston Villa to win

Aston Villa appeared to be at risk of relegation in the early part of the season but an extraordinary recent run has seen them join the scramble for European qualification and they approach the match against Fulham needing a victory to climb into fifth place.

Unai Emery’s side drew 1-1 at Brentford on Saturday but finished the weekend just two points behind fifth-place Tottenham, who still have to come to Villa Park.

Fulham’s hopes of European football have faded but they are having an excellent season and remain on course for a top-half finish.

The Cottagers looked highly-motivated and focused when securing a hard-fought 2-1 success at home to Leeds on Saturday.

Aston Villa vs Fulham (Tuesday, 7.45pm)

Team news

Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was substituted at half-time in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Brentford due to illness but is expected to retain his place in the starting XI.

Matty Cash, Boubacar Kamara, Leon Bailey and Philippe Countinho were absent at the weekend and remain injury doubts.

Fulham continue to be without Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is going through an eight-match suspension.

The Cottagers are also without defender Layvin Kurzawa but they can call on Dan James, who was ineligible to face parent club Leeds at the weekend.

The stats

Villa are on a nine-match unbeaten run and are seeking a fifth consecutive home win.

The Villans have taken maximum points from each of their last four home games without conceding a goal.

Fulham have registered back-to-back victories for the first time since February but have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last seven games.

Both teams have scored in four of the Cottagers’ last five fixtures.

Prediction

Villa have developed a winning habit over recent months and their charge towards European qualification can continue with a victory over Fulham.

Unai Emery deserves great credit for the work he has done in just six months in the Villa dugout. The Spanish head coach inherited a side perched just outside the drop zone having taken just nine points from their opening 11 matches.

At the time of Emery’s arrival, most Villa fans would have gladly settled for mid-table security, but hopes and expectations have been transformed.

Since Steven Gerrard’s October dismissal Villa have taken 42 points from 21 games, putting them in with a great chance of achieving a top-six finish.

Several Villa players have improved under Emery but perhaps none more than Ollie Watkins, who has helped himself to 11 goals in his last 13 appearances.

Fulham will have their hands full containing Watkins, and their threat at the other end is diminished by the absence of Mitrovic.

The Cottagers responded well without the Serbian in recent victories away to Everton (3-1) and at home to Leeds (2-1), but they face a tougher task against highflying Villa, who look worthy favourites to pick up a 16th league win of the campaign.

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AC Milan are considering a move for out-of-favour Manchester City defender Kyle Walker.

The England right-back, 32, has lost his place in City’s first XI in recent months and is approaching the final year of his contract.

With a departure from the Etihad looking increasingly likely this summer, The Times say fellow Champions League semi-finalists Milan are keeping tabs.

Walker has struggled to adapt to Pep Guardiola’s inverted full-back system this term, with John Stones often favoured instead.

The Spaniard has even admitted that the former Tottenham ace, who has made just 15 Premier League starts this term, is unsuited to the style.

Guardiola said: “He [Walker] cannot do it. To play inside you have to make some educated movements. He has other characteristics.”

City track Hickey

Man City could look to replace Walker with Brentford full-back Aaron Hickey, according to The Sun.

The Citizens boss is keen to add a wing-back to his ranks and the versatile Bees youngster has been shortlisted.

Hickey, 20, has featured at right-back for the West Londoners this term but started out on the left flank for first club Hearts.

The Scotland international is valued at £30million by Brentford and a move would see him depart the club just a year after joining from Bologna.

In other news

Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have registered an interest in Valencia’s 20-year-old United States midfielder Yunus Musah, according to 90Min.

Reports in Italy indicate Juventus are plotting a move for Kalidou Koulibaly, 31, who is unhappy at Chelsea less than a year after signing from Napoli.

The Blues have no interest in selling young defender Levi Colwill this summer despite interest from Tottenham, Liverpool and Man City, Football Insider have claimed.

Joe Willock was compared to Ronaldinho and Luka Modric after a sparkling performance in Newcastle United’s rout of Tottenham that included one of the assists of the season.

Newcastle team-mate Bruno Guimaraes has dubbed the midfielder “Willockinho”, and he more than lived up to that nickname on Sunday.

Willock, who coach Eddie Howe is backing for an England call-up, produced perhaps the moment of the match in a 6-1 win, his sensational outside-of-the-boot pass sending Alexander Isak away for the fourth of five goals in the first 21 minutes.

That was Willock’s fifth assist in the Premier League this season to go with three goals as one of the key men in a Newcastle team closing on Champions League qualification.

Only Kieran Trippier (five) and Guimaraes (four) created more than Willock’s three chances against Spurs, and the Brazil international was suitably impressed.

Guimaraes told reporters: “Willockinho, with his new hair today… he looked like Ronaldinho and played like him, too. 

“An amazing through ball for [Isak’s] goal. What a pass. Only Modric can play a pass like that. It was amazing.”

Newcastle climbed back up to third with the win, now six points ahead of their fifth-placed opponents and still with a game in hand.

Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion are perhaps better placed to challenge Newcastle than Tottenham, though, and Guimaraes knows the job is not yet done.

“Of course we are thinking about the Champions League, but let’s take it step by step,” he said.

“We can do it, of course, but there’s still seven games to go. We started this way – now let’s finish the season this way.”

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo would like to see Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo face off in LaLiga before both players retire.

Messi has been repeatedly linked with a return to Barcelona, with whom he spent 21 years prior to leaving for Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent in August 2021.

Ronaldo enjoyed nine trophy-laden seasons with Real Madrid, meanwhile, prior to playing for Juventus, Manchester United and now Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.

While there has been little talk of Ronaldo heading back to the Spanish top flight, Cerezo believes it would benefit the league for the two superstar forwards to return one day.

“It would seem fantastic to me if Messi returned to the league, the same as Cristiano Ronaldo,” he said while attending the Barcelona Open tennis final on Sunday. 

“Both are still playing and it would be fantastic if they returned.”

Cerezo was speaking ahead of Atletico’s 1-0 loss to Barcelona, which leaves Diego Simeone’s side 16 points adrift of the leaders and five behind second-place Real Madrid.

Yannick Carrasco played a full part for Atletico, though he may find himself at Barcelona next season as the Catalan giants have the option to sign the versatile wide player.

“Yannick is a very good player, fantastic,” Cerezo said when asked about Carrasco’s future. 

“In the world of football, there are people who want to achieve many things and don’t get to, and others who don’t want anything and get it. I don’t know [what will happen next].”

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has scooped the Championship Manager of the Season award after guiding the Clarets to promotion. 

Kompany, who took over at Turf Moor last summer, has masterminded a swift return to the Premier League. 

Promotion was clinched with a win at Middlesbrough on Good Friday but the wait to secure the title goes on after Saturday’s shock home defeat by QPR. 

Middlesborough’s Michael Carrick and Coventry boss Mark Robins were also shortlisted for the EFL award. 

Kompany, who collected his award at a gala ceremony in London last night, said: “It has been a long journey and I am grateful for all the people that have helped me.

“Every step of the way I have been able to enjoy it because I have been surrounded by people that were backing me.”

Middlesbrough forward Chuba Akpom was named Championship Player of the Season ahead of Burnley’s Josh Brownhill and Coventry’s Victor Gyokeres. 

Akpom’s 28 league goals have helped push Boro towards the play-offs. 

The striker, 27, said: “The new manager [Michael Carrick] came in at the perfect time. 

“He brought out the best in me, put me in the No10 [position] and I have been enjoying it ever since.”

Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott, 19, was named the Championship’s Young Player of the Season. 

Lower down the football pyramid, Plymouth boss Steven Schumacher —  whose side sit top of the table — picked up the League One Manager of the Season gong. 

He said: “Every player to a man has played their part and we have been outstanding and we are nearly there.”

 The League One Player of the Season award went to Bristol Rovers forward Aaron Collins, who has 16 goals and 11 assists so far.

Plymouth’s Bali Mumba, on loan from Norwich, was named the League One Young Player of the Season. 

The League Two Manager of the Season went to Leyton Orient’s Richie Wellens, whose side secured the title on Saturday. 

Northampton’s Sam Hoskins scooped the League Two Player of the Season and Colchester’s Junior Tchamadeu picked up the division’s young player award. 

Massimiliano Allegri was left to rue Juventus’ “slow and static” defending after Napoli snatched a dramatic late winner at the Allianz Stadium.

A generally dull contest was settled in the third minute of stoppage time, when Giacamo Raspadori’s thumping volley edged the runaway Serie A leaders ever closer to clinching the Scudetto.

The Juve defence were caught napping as Luciano Spalletti’s side snatched all three points, and Allegri admitted he expects higher standards from his players.

“It’s disappointing to lose a game like that, but we should’ve done better on the goal,” he told DAZN. “We just stopped playing and absolutely need to do better in that sense.

“It’s simple, just look at the move, we are at the 93rd minute and ought to have bodies into the box to defend.

“This is part of the growth process for players, something we take for granted. We were too slow and static in reacting to the ball in that situation.”

Juventus saw two goals disallowed in the final 20 minutes, with Angel Di Maria and Dusan Vlahovic both denied, but Allegri refused to blame referee Michael Fabbri for the result.

“We need to stay calm, accept as we always have done the refereeing decisions – good or bad,” the head coach added. “Otherwise, we waste energy, because we cannot change the result now.

“The referee was very good today, I congratulate him on his performance.”

It was the Bianconeri’s first league outing since the reversal of their 15-point deduction, lifting them to third in the table with 59 points – three ahead of Roma and Milan in fourth and fifth respectively.

Nevertheless, Juve still trail Napoli by 19 points and, while praising his players’ attitudes in adversity, Allegri hopes they can close the gap and launch a greater title challenge next season.

“This is a surreal situation we were in, and the lads were marvellous,” he said.

“We had some difficulties this season, especially after the 15-point penalty. We’ve still got a lead over Milan and Inter, so now we must pick up the points we are missing.

“This is a season that will help us grow a great deal and next year, we’ll be right back up there fighting for the Scudetto.”