Month: May 2023

Sam Allardyce has confirmed he will discuss whether he will continue as Leeds boss with the club’s hierarchy after Sunday’s final Premier League game of the season.

Allardyce gave his biggest hint yet that he would be interested in remaining in the role, even if Leeds are relegated on the final day, after their last match against Tottenham at Elland Road.

The former England manager said: “That’s to be decided at the end. It’s always been a case of we will discuss whatever we need to discuss at the end of the season based on where we are.

“Also based on what I think the club needs to go forward and based on what the club thinks and if that’s aligned with each other, then we’ll wait and see.

“But that discussion, it doesn’t happen in a morning or one day, it happens over a period of time and I just hope that we’re talking on a very positive nature on Monday morning and I have a hangover!”

Leeds’ top-flight status hinges on them beating Tottenham and even victory will not be enough to save them unless the results of both relegation rivals, Everton and Leicester, go their way.

Injuries to strikers Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo in last week’s 3-1 defeat at West Ham appeared to have dealt Leeds’ survival hopes another blow.

But Rodrigo returned to training on Friday while Bamford has not yet been ruled out and Allardyce said he would be prepared to take a risk with any of his injured players with so much at stake.

“I’ll gamble on anyone’s fitness if they want to play, if I think they can make a contribution to help us try to win the game,” Allardyce said.

“It’s the last game, they will have plenty of time to recover, but there is obviously medical issues where if you play them the risk is too great and a lot of it is up to the player himself.”

Leeds turned to Allardyce after sacking Javi Gracia with four games of the season remaining in a last-ditch bid to escape the drop.

The former Bolton, West Ham and Everton boss has collected just one point in his first three outings but said camp spirit had risen after last week’s bitter disappointment when survival was taken out of Leeds’ hands.

The 68-year-old, whose side have trained this week at Elland Road, added: “I’ve loved the mood and loved the application. We’re going to live or die on Sunday in terms of the result.

“We train here (at Elland Road) for three days building up to the game. Familiarity, it’s all about this arena on Sunday with obviously the fantastic atmosphere that will go with it.”

– Man Utd have scored at least twice in five of their last seven home matches
– There have been 14 goals scored in Fulham’s last three Premier League matches
– Recommend bet: Over 3.5 goals at 23/20 with LiveScore Bet

There are far more decisive fixtures taking place on the final day of the Premier League season than Manchester United’s tussle with Fulham but the Old Trafford encounter should not disappoint.

The Red Devils secured Champions League qualification with their 4-1 hammering of Chelsea on Thursday night, while visitors Fulham have enjoyed a terrific season under Marco Silva and are guaranteed a top-half finish.

Team news

Manchester United winger Antony was taken off on a stretcher after sustaining a leg injury in Thursday’s 4-1 win over Chelsea and is unlikely to feature.

The Brazilian joins Lisandro Martinez, Donny van de Beek, Tom Heaton, Marcel Sabitzer and Phil Jones on the sidelines. Luke Shaw is a doubt.

Fulham will be without Andreas Pereira, Layvin Kurzawa and Tim Ream but Dan James could be in contention.

The stats

Fulham’s last three matches in the Premier League have featured a total of 14 goals.

Manchester United, meanwhile, have been in fine goalscoring form at Old Trafford. The Red Devils have scored at least twice in five of their last seven home matches in all competitions.

Fulham ace Aleksandar Mitrovic bagged a brace against Crystal Palace last time out and has scored 14 goals in the Premier League this season.

Prediction

Chelsea were woeful in defeat at Old Trafford on Thursday, but Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag will draw great confidence from his side’s 4-1 win over the Blues which was their third victory on the spin in the Premier League.

Securing Champions League football was key for the Old Trafford club and their home form has played a crucial role in that achievement with the Red Devils having won 14 of their 18 home league fixtures this term.

That could persuade punters to side with United against Fulham on Sunday and Ten Hag will be keen to continue their winning streak ahead of next Saturday’s FA Cup final against rivals Manchester City.

Visitors Fulham deserve enormous credit for what they have achieved under Marco Silva this season. The Cottagers will finish tenth in the first season back in the top flight after promotion from the Championship and they have already beaten Brentford, Brighton, Aston Villa and Chelsea this season, so a surprise victory is not beyond them.

But backing goals at Old Trafford makes greater appeal and over 3.5 goals at 23/20 with LiveScore Bet looks the best wager.

There have been four or more goals in two of Fulham’s last three matches – a 5-3 win over Leicester and a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace – and United were 3-1 victors when the sides met at Old Trafford in the FA Cup earlier this season.

With star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic back in form after his ban Fulham will likely play on the front foot, so do not be surprised if it rains goals in Manchester on Sunday.

Back over 3.5 goals at 23/20 with LiveScore Bet

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Erik ten Hag says Jadon Sancho’s progress and potential is one of the reasons Manchester United have a “good base” to kick on from next season.

The 23-year-old arrived at Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 in a £73million deal following a prolonged pursuit.

Sancho has shown flashes of his outstanding talent but has yet to fully live up to the billing, with the United winger falling out of the England reckoning as a result.

Ten Hag has worked carefully with Sancho, who went on an individual winter fitness programme in the Netherlands rather than travel to the squad’s World Cup camp in Spain.

Back then the patient United boss said the player was “not in the right status or fitness state”, but he has since made strides and the Dutchman expects even more from him.

“He did very well on the right side and I think he played a very good game,” Ten Hag said after Thursday’s 4-1 defeat of Chelsea.

“I think Jadon Sancho is one of the players who made progress in the season and there were many players in our squad who made good progress. I think it’s a good base to build further on.”

Asked if he preferred Sancho on the right or left, Ten Hag said: “He can do both.

“I think he prefers to play on the left, but we have seen today he is very good on the right as well.”

United’s win against Chelsea sealed qualification for next season’s Champions League with a game to spare.

Ten Hag immediately underlined that summer signings are needed, but also stressed there is far more to come from the likes of Sancho.

“Still, we can also improve with this squad, as we did this season,” the United boss said.

“I said (signings) is one part of it. The other thing is progress in the current squad and the current players.

“That is the job that I have to do, in togetherness with that squad and with my coaching staff.

“As (of) now, I think we make huge progress during the season. The team, many individuals play a fantastic, great season.

“Now we have a good base but, as I just mentioned, I think there is still a lot of room for improvement also in this squad.

“But then when you get the right players in, that will help and even give you more depth and a better standard and level.

“Then you have more chance to be in the top four and then it gives you more chance to win titles and trophies.”

United have already won the Carabao Cup this season and return to Wembley to face Manchester City in a mouth-watering FA Cup final on June 3.

But first comes the Premier League season finale against Fulham – the last home match before long-serving David De Gea’s contract expires.

Both parties have spoken positively about agreeing new terms but talks have dragged on, although Ten Hag downplayed the suggestion Sunday could be the goalkeeper’s last Old Trafford appearance.

“I think we want him to stay and he wants to stay, so I think we will find each other,” he said of the Premier League Golden Glove winner, who joined United from Atletico Madrid in 2011.

“I never will give a comment about that, about how negotiations are going.”

Roy Hodgson insisted he expects to be taking charge of Crystal Palace for the final time in Sunday’s Premier League season-ender at home to Nottingham Forest, but did not rule out staying on.

Hodgson took the reins at his boyhood club for the second time on a short-term contract after the sacking of Patrick Vieira, and has taken 17 points from nine games to steer Palace well clear of relegation trouble.

Such has been the turnaround in form that Hodgson has been seen as a candidate to take the job on a longer-term basis, but the 75-year-old said that was not on his mind.

“As far as I’m concerned, this is my last game,” Hodgson said. “I signed a contract here until the end of the season and I was grateful to do so. All along, I have seen this as my last game on my contract and as far as I’m concerned that’s what it is.”

When asked if he would be open to staying on if asked by chairman Steve Parish, Hodgson added: “I don’t know, I’ll wait until that day arrives if it ever arrives. At the moment I don’t have to concern myself with that.

“What’s on my table is to see my contract out, thank everyone for the last two and a half months and hopefully help the team get a result…I hope to leave all my options open.”

Hodgson confirmed that Wilfried Zaha – out of contract this summer – will miss Sunday’s match through injury, raising the possibility that the in-demand forward has played his final game for the club.

“Wilfried’s injury was sufficiently severe to keep him out of the next game,” Hodgson said. “He’ll need a week or two more to recover, so it won’t keep him out of next season. He will be fit for pre-season, but we won’t have the benefit of him on Sunday.”

Palace forward Ebere Eze has been celebrating his first international call up after being included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad to face Malta and North Macedonia next month, and former Three Lions boss Hodgson has offered the 24-year-old some pointers.

“The advice basically, after the congratulations – because as you say I am delighted for him and I’m happy Gareth (Southgate) and Steve (Holland) have seen what we have seen in him as well – but the only advice I can give him is to be himself,” he said.

“Go there and be relaxed enough to show how good he is. Show how good he is in training when he is here. If he does that, Gareth and Steve will be more than happy with him.”

The pressure will be off for both sides in Sunday’s match at Selhurst Park, with Forest’s victory over Arsenal last weekend having ended the threat of relegation at the end of their first season back in the top flight.

“[Cooper] has done a very good job,” Hodgson said. “In particular I think the last five games they have had an incredible upsurge in form. They have taken 10 points from their last five games. That’s top of table form not avoiding relegation form.

“They have taken everyone by surprise at the bottom who are fighting relegation, because many clubs thought they wouldn’t do that well. Hats off to him, hats off to his players and staff. It was very touching last weekend when they beat Arsenal and you saw the scenes after the game.

“It makes you realise how much staying in this league and doing well means to everyone, not just to your staff and people at the club but also to the fans.”

Wigan have been hit with a second four-point penalty over payment of wages and will start next season on minus eight points in League One.

The Latics were handed the initial deduction last week in response to two late payments in March and May, with a further four points suspended. An independent disciplinary commission required funds equal to 125 per cent of the club’s forecast monthly wage bill to be paid into a nominated account by Wednesday, but that has not been done.

As a result, the additional sanction has been enforced.

A statement from Wigan held open the possibility of taking the matter to the courts, having taken issue with the ruling.

“We are extremely disappointed with this latest decision. The Football Club has been very transparent with the EFL who have had clear visibility of the eight-figure sum to finance the remainder of this season and the whole of next season,” the Wigan statement read.

“The club will now consider all options open, including legal action in response to this, and will make no further comment at this time.”

The EFL had earlier confirmed that discussions with Wigan – who finished bottom of the Sky Bet Championship this season – had been ongoing since Wednesday, without resolution.

The governing body said: “The EFL has spent the past 48 hours in dialogue with the club in an attempt to find a positive outcome to the issue but as of 9am Friday morning the required funds have not been deposited.”

Latics chair Abdulrahman Al-Jasmi posted a lengthy statement on the club’s website shortly before the most recent points deduction was announced, addressing the problems with meeting the payroll on time.

“I want to confirm that an eight-figure sum is currently being processed and is due to land in the club account imminently. This funding will also ensure financial stability for June and the 2023/24 season,” he wrote.

“It is important to address the numerous late wage payments. As I have previously stated, I recognise this is totally unacceptable. Since Phoenix 2021 acquired Wigan Athletic in 2021, the ownership group will have invested over £30m into the club to date.

“The inflated wage bill resulted in cash flow issues which meant we could not adhere to the Agreed Decision with the EFL in January. However, everything possible was done to ensure wages were paid. Delays are a common occurrence with overseas transactions, but that is not and cannot be an excuse for late payments.”

Michael Beale bid “good riddance” to Rangers’ trophy-less season as he looked forward to a summer reset before a stiffer challenge to champions Celtic.

Beale took over as Gers boss from Giovanni van Bronckhorst in November but was unable to halt the Hoops’ march to the title and they will look to clinch the domestic treble when they take on Championship side Inverness at Hampden Park on June 3.

The former Rangers assistant coach, whose side lost the Viaplay Cup final to Celtic and will be runners-up in the league, has started his squad rebuild with the addition of Norwich midfielder Kieran Dowell on a pre-contract and revealed “there are three of four things we know are there.”

Ahead of the final game of the season on Saturday against St Mirren in Paisley, Beale said: “This season is done after tomorrow. Good riddance to this season and we will come back next season and we will give it a right good go.

“I am really excited about pre-season. It is not the easiest thing to do, come into a club in the middle of the season when part of the season has been written. I am glad the summer is upon us.

“I am relishing everything being re-set and giving ourselves an opportunity to have a really strong pre-season, some new players coming in, bringing new energy and enable me to really fully imprint my ideas on the team.

“I am looking forward to a full pre-season, everything being re-set, the league being re-set to zero, and a lot of optimism around what we can achieve.”

Asked if he was confident of giving Celtic a much stronger challenge next season after he builds his new squad, the former QPR boss said: “I am. Otherwise I wouldn’t be sat here.

“My excitement for this summer is because I see the work we are doing in the background.

“We are very close to what I want and if I get that in I will be very pleased and we  will have a very strong pre-season, implement some new things and we will come out of it a much stronger team.

“I think the team will be in an immensely much better place than the team I inherited for sure, because it was different to the team I had left a year before.”

LiveScore’s Matt Hill, a lifetime Carlisle fan, is off to Wembley on Sunday to cheer on the side he loves. Ahead of their League Two play-off final with Stockport, our man runs the rule over his side’s chances of securing promotion.

Writing about Carlisle United is not something I get to do all that often.

Rooted in the fourth tier for what has felt like an eternity, my beloved team are lucky to make it onto the national radar even once a season.

And yet, the eyes of the footballing world will be on the Blues this Sunday (for a couple of hours, at least) when our League Two play-off final with Stockport takes centre stage.

It goes without saying that compared to the Premier League, which concludes its campaign a few hours later, this is a different world entirely.

But while the finances and football on show are stratospheres apart, the levels of drama, passion and dedication — both on the pitch and the terraces — rival anything in professional sport. 

Days like this do not come around often for us lower-league fans, so you really do have to make the most of them.

Seeing thousands of my fellow Cumbrians pilgrimage towards Wembley for the final chapter of a fabulous season is an emotional moment indeed.

Return of the king

Brunton Park is hardly a hotbed for glory hunters.

Our current 17-year wait for a promotion is the longest of any EFL side, while recent campaigns have seen more time spent flirting with a dreaded relegation to the National League.

That outcome felt inevitable last February until the unlikely return of club legend Paul Simpson to the dugout.

A local lad himself, Simmo was the man responsible for the club’s last two promotions back in 2005 and 2006 and more recently coached England Under-20s to World Cup glory in 2017.

Simpson and the Carlisle hotseat are truly a match made in heaven.

Quite simply, he just gets it. The area, the people, the limitations. He knows how good our club can be when everyone is pulling in the same direction — and boy, are they doing that now.

Before the messiah’s return, Carlisle were free-falling towards non-league. 

To take us within one game of promotion on a shoestring budget in just over 12 months is nothing short of miraculous.

Above and beyond

Before hailing the players who have fired Carlisle to this position, credit should first go to the real stars of the show — the travelling supporters.

While match-going fans of all shapes and sizes are a special breed, few rack up the miles like my fellow Cumbrians.

We are one of only four clubs across the EFL, alongside Plymouth, Exeter and Swansea, who have endured an average away trip of over 200 miles this season.

That distance is actually modest compared to some years, thanks to the presence of a local derby with Barrow — only 84 miles round the corner.

Not that it deters anyone. There were 1,177 Blues at Leyton Orient last month. Even more at Sutton three weeks ago. These are more than 600-mile round trips, by the way!

A fair chunk of the 500-plus who headed to Crawley in February actually opted to drive up to Edinburgh before flying down south, citing it as the quickest and cheapest route.

That is simply a day in the life of a Carlisle fan. Long and painful trips are par for the course.

Despite no trains and limited buses running from Cumbria on Sunday morning, 20,000-plus supporters will still descend on the capital.

Hometown heroes

Stockport are worthy favourites on Sunday but Simpson’s men will take a bit of beating.

Just like on the touchline, two local heroes have been at the heart of our on-field revival in Paul Huntington and Owen Moxon.

The duo could hardly have had more contrasting careers, with commanding centre-half Huntington boasting a decade of experience one and two tiers above this level with Preston.

In the twilight of his playing days, he has returned home — as has Moxon, who had to rebuild his career with Scottish League Two side Annan Athletic having been released by the Blues as a youngster.

The 25-year-old was driving a van part-time last season, but his sublime performances in central midfield this term will surely soon see him bombarded with offers from higher divisions.

Add in the likes of 20-goal hotshot Kristian Dennis, improving full-back Jack Armer and tireless midfielder Callum Guy and this is a squad brimming with matchwinners.

But the Hatters deserve respect. With one of the division’s biggest budgets and a National League promotion still fresh in the mind, Dave Challinor’s men are ominous opposition.

My gut feeling tells me this will be an entertaining contest with goals at both ends and, quite possibly, extra-time and penalties.

For the neutral, fantastic. For the likes of myself, utter torture. And I cannot wait!

COYB.

Ruben Selles is disappointed not to have been kept on as Southampton manager as he feels ready to lead the side despite overseeing their meek relegation.

A myriad of bad decisions on and off the field has brought Saints’ 11-year stay in the Premier League to a crushing end.

Ralph Hasenhuttl started the season in charge and was replaced by divisive Nathan Jones, with an initial upturn under Selles quickly flatlining after being handed the job for the rest of the campaign.

Saints were relegated with two games to spare and the club announced on Wednesday that the Spaniard’s contract “will not be renewed when it expires at the end of the season”.

Selles found that out on Monday and will take charge for the final time against Liverpool on Sunday, with Russell Martin then set to come in as Southampton prepare for life in the Championship.

“Listen, I did as much as I can, I show here every weekend with you, I make the team being competitive,” he said.

“We didn’t get the football, the results that we expected to have.

“I think you saw an identity, you saw a team that wants to play together. We didn’t make it.

“I tried to put everything every time with this sort of mentality and in that part I did my best and that’s the reality. I cannot change the decision from the owners.

“I still think I’m ready but it’s not my call and, yeah, my feeling right now is just to finish in the best way possible, to prepare the Liverpool game.

“And then on Monday, we will think about something different.”

Selles joined Saints from Copenhagen last summer as first-team lead coach supporting Hasenhuttl having enjoyed a varied coaching career that had taken him from Spain to the likes of Russia and Azerbaijan.

But now the 39-year-old sees himself in England and hopes to be able to stay coaching there at a high level.

“Of course, I would like to stay here and I would like to stay in the top level that I can stay,” Selles said. “If it’s not Premier League, it’s very close to that.

“My target has been always to be competing against the best and with the best.

“That’s what I have been doing in the last three months and I want to be here back and I want to find myself back as quick as possible.”

As Selles’ time at St Mary’s comes to a close on Sunday, attention turns to the new era under impending appointment of Martin.

The PA news agency understands the Swansea boss is poised to become Southampton head coach on a three-year deal.

“I just make my opinion of all of them as a squad, as individual players,” Selles said of the squad Martin will inherit.

“I don’t know who is the new coach. You maybe probably know that better than me but, actually, it’s not for me.

“I just told the club what I think. I told before this week what I think is what we need to do to rebuild the squad for the Championship or for the Premier League in that time if we stay.

“So, they know my opinion, but they can do with that what they want.”

It has been another memorable Premier League campaign, with plenty of fine individual performances.

Here, we pick out 11 players who have impressed throughout 2022-23.

Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Gunners stopper Aaron Ramsdale has enjoyed a stand-out campaign. 

The England star, who recently signed a new long-term contract, produced a string of fine saves to help rescue positive results that would otherwise have seen Arsenal’s title bid fade much earlier. 

Ramsdale, 25, has kept 13 clean sheets heading into the final weekend to rank among the Premier League’s best goalkeepers.

Kieran Trippier (Newcastle)

Kieran Trippier continued his integration this season to become one of the key voices in the Newcastle dressing room as Eddie Howe’s transformed squad pushed towards a top-four finish. 

As well as offering a threat from free-kicks, the England defender provided an outlet on the overlap to supply Toon’s marauding forward line. 

The club’s Player of the Season also topped the statistics for crosses.

William Saliba (Arsenal)

Frenchman William Saliba enjoyed a superb debut season in the Premier League before a back injury curtailed his progress in mid-March and in turn perhaps also derailed Arsenal’s title drive. 

The Gunners won almost 80% of the 27 league matches in which Saliba played, conceding an average of just under a goal per game, which showed how much of a key part of the defence he was.

Lewis Dunk (Brighton)

Long-serving club captain Lewis Dunk played an integral role in the progress under new Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, which resulted in his recall to the England squad for the first time in five years. 

Revelling in a quarter-back role at the centre of defence, Dunk has proved a key link in the Seagulls’ fast transition style that won so many plaudits. 

Dunk, 31, has produced more than 3,200 completed passes this season — which set him top of the overall league statistics –=— as Brighton secured European qualification for the first time in the club’s history.

Luke Shaw (Manchester United)

England left-back Luke Shaw has excelled under Erik ten Hag this season. 

Shaw’s consistency and versatility have also seen him deployed in the centre of United’s defence when required.

Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

Gunners captain Martin Odegaard has led by example this season, both creatively and clinically as he weighed in with 15 Premier League goals. 

The Norway playmaker was always on the front foot looking to make space for those around him or often finding a slide-rule pass when nothing appeared on.

Declan Rice (West Ham)

The Irons may have been scrapping for points to stay clear of the relegation battle for much of the Premier League campaign but Declan Rice tackled every game full on as if they were in a title charge. 

The England midfielder also played an integral part in helping David Moyes’ side reach the final of the Europa Conference League.

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

Belgium captain Kevin De Bruyne passed a century of Premier League assists this season, becoming only the fifth player to do so. 

The 31-year-old playmaker again tops the domestic statistics so far with 16 as his regular supply line to City’s forwards continued to pay dividends. 

De Bruyne also played a central role in City’s run to the Champions League final, scoring a fine equaliser away to Real Madrid the first leg of the semi-final.

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Another instrumental player in Arsenal’s drive to the top of the table that had looked to set them on course for a first title since the Invincibles campaign in 20023-04. 

But the 21-year-old’s influence drifted over the final weeks of the campaign as the Gunnerss championship dream faded, with the last of his 13 league goals coming in the 3-3 draw against Southampton. 

Nevertheless, Saka was still one of the stand-out players of the season.

Harry Kane (Tottenham)

While it may have been another turbulent season for Tottenham, Harry Kane continued to try to push the team on with 28 Premier League goals going into the final game. 

Kane became Spurs’ all-time record scorer when his 267th strike for the club in the 1-0 win over Manchester City in February saw him pass the long-standing mark of Jimmy Greaves. 

The England star, 29, also went ahead of Wayne Rooney as the country’s leading scorer and overtook the former Manchester United striker in total Premier League goals, now sitting behind only Alan Shearer.

Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Erling Haaland has enjoyed a remarkable first season after moving to Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund. 

Any questions over how the 22-year-old hitman would adapt to the hustle and bustle of Premier League football were soon put to bed as he scored a record nine goals in his first five games, with hat-tricks against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest. 

Haaland’s staggering return — his current tally of 36 in the Premier League is another record — helped fire City to the title once again as well as into the finals of both the FA Cup and Champions League, with Pep Guardiola’s side chasing the Treble.

Erling Haaland is a “machine” who has banished any doubts over his abilities during his extraordinary debut season with Manchester City, says former Manchester United winger Nani.

Haaland has led City to the brink of a treble in his first campaign since arriving from Borussia Dortmund, with Pep Guardiola’s men retaining their Premier League title and reaching the finals of the FA Cup and Champions League.

The striker has hit an astonishing 52 goals in as many appearances this term, at least 12 more than any other player from Europe’s top five leagues (Kylian Mbappe is second with 40).

Thirty-six of those efforts have come in the Premier League, with Haaland breaking Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole’s shared record of 34 goals in a single campaign in the competition – despite both men reaching that tally in 42-game seasons (Shearer in 1994-95 and Cole in 1993-94).   

While Nani will hope his former side can keep Haaland quiet in next week’s all-Manchester FA Cup final, he has been taken aback by the Norwegian’s achievements this term.

“Haaland is a machine. I think that there are no doubts left about his qualities,” Nani said in an interview with the Go Turkiye YouTube Channel.

“He’s a machine inside the box, he can score in any game. He’s the future.”

Nani was speaking alongside another former Dortmund striker in Michy Batshuayi, who has been similarly impressed by Haaland’s goalscoring prowess.

“He is crazy,” Batshuayi said. “You can feel that he wants to score every single chance. 

“He’s dangerous for the defenders, and he is so young. It’s fantastic to watch a player like him, because you can see that he knows how to do his job, he’s impressive.”

Despite Haaland scoring 20 league goals in each of his two full campaigns with Dortmund, doubts were raised over the 22-year-old’s ability to adapt to English football – particularly when Arsenal seized control of the title race.

Haaland has since silenced his doubters, and Nani says doing so in a foreign country is no mean feat.

“When players are young, moving from your country to a different country is always difficult,” the Melbourne Victory winger added.

“What I can say is, for the player, to be calm and try to adapt to the culture, just play the game they know, adjust to the new challenge, because it is not easy. 

“I’ve played in many different countries, many different cultures, and the most important thing is for you to adapt to what the people from that country do.”