Month: June 2023

– Auxerre have had eight 1-1 draws in the French top flight this season
– Lens have won 10 of their last 11 league games
– Recommended bet: Lois Openda to be first goalscorer at 9/2 with LiveScore Bet

Auxerre missed the chance to secure their Ligue 1 status when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Toulouse last weekend and they face a tense final game against second-placed Lens.

The home side need a win to make certain of playing in the top-flight next season and any slip-up could prove costly as Nantes, who host bottom club Angers, are just two points behind Auxerre with a superior goal difference.

Lens’ faint hopes of pipping Paris Saint-Germain to the title were ended last weekend, but they continued their outstanding late-season form, thumping Ajaccio 3-0, and are unlikely to ease up on the final day.

Team News

Auxerre’s only injury absentee is likely to be Ghana midfielder Elisha Owusu, although striker M’Baye Niang is expected to miss out for disciplinary reasons, with Nuno Da Costa starting up front instead.

Lens will welcome back Poland international Przemyslaw Frankowski after suspension and he should start on the right-hand side of midfield. Steven Fortes, Jimmy Cabot and Wuilker Farinez are all sidelined with knee injuries.

The stats

Both teams have scored in six of Auxerre’s last seven matches and AJA have had eight 1-1 draws in the French top-flight this season.

Auxerre have scored the first goal in three of their last five games but not won any of them.

Seven of Lens’ nine away matches against bottom-half teams have ended in draws, while Les Sang et Or have won 10 of their last 11 league games.

Nine of Lens’ last 11 Ligue 1 matches had over 2.5 goals.

Prediction

Lens are guaranteed to finish second in Ligue 1 whatever the result of their final match while Auxerre are desperate for a win that would keep them in the division at the expense of Nantes.

The home side’s motivation means they are much shorter in the betting than they would usually be against visitors who have won 10 of their last 11 league games, scoring at least twice in eight of those victories.

Lens have one of the hottest strikers in Ligue 1 in Belgian youngster Lois Openda and he is a tempting bet to be the first goalscorer on Saturday.

Openda scored in last weekend’s win over Ajaccio, taking his tally for the season to 20 goals in just 28 Ligue 1 starts.

He is finishing the season in red-hot form, having scored 11 times in his last 11 appearances, including a hat-trick against Clermont and braces against Angers and Monaco, while he also racked up eight shots in April’s defeat to champions PSG.

Back Lois Openda to be first goalscorer, available at 9/2 with LiveScore Bet

Manchester United have been hit by a setback for Antony ahead of the FA Cup final, with Erik ten Hag saying it is “unlikely” the winger will be fit to face Manchester City.

The 23-year-old winger went down in agony last Thursday during the first half of the penultimate Premier League game of the season against Chelsea.

Antony left on a stretcher and Ten Hag feared a “serious” injury, only to allay concerns three days later by saying the “first assessment is not too bad” and that he had a “good opportunity” to face City.

But this week has not gone as well as expected and the Brazil international now looks set to miss the first ever all-Manchester FA Cup final.

“Unlikely (he will be fit),” he said. “Dos Santos (Antony) still has a chance but it’s a really small chance.

“He didn’t make the progress, so he still has a chance but unlikely he is available.”

Lisandro Martinez, Marcel Sabitzer and Donny van de Beek have long since been ruled out of the final, while Anthony Martial’s injury-hit season will end on the sidelines.

The 27-year-old strained a hamstring towards the end of Sunday’s win against Fulham and will miss the Wembley showdown after scans showed a muscle tear.

“These questions so many times about the absence of players in the last couple of months,” Ten Hag said.

“Every time I say the same answer: it’s about the players who are available and many times we were successful.

“We have a good squad and from that good squad we make a good team.”

Absentee-hit United wrapped up third spot last weekend and are looking to complete the domestic cup double for the first time, having lifted the Carabao Cup in February.

Ten Hag says Saturday will be a “good test” against Premier League champions City, who are looking to take another step towards the treble by winning at Wembley.

United fans are desperate for their side to extinguish those dreams as Pep Guardiola’s men look to replicate Sir Alex Ferguson’s 1999 treble heroes.

“We want to win, we want to win a cup,” Ten Hag said. “It’s not about stopping them. It is about that we win, that we win the cup. We have a great opportunity.

“That’s great that we deserved that opportunity to be in the cup final and then meet Man City. That’s a great opportunity.

“We fought so hard for it. I think we progressed that well that we are in that FA Cup final.”

City won this season’s first meeting 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium, with United coming back to win 2-1 at Old Trafford in January.

Ten Hag’s Red Devils finished 14 points behind the Premier League winners and a big summer lies ahead as they look to launch a sustained title challenge.

“I think they do a very good job,” the Dutchman said days after Ferguson named Guardiola as LMA Manager of the Year – a trophy that carries the United great’s name.

“They play very good football, so they deserve it.

“Of course I look at others because they are opponents and I evaluate it, but we look to ourselves.

“You have to see where you are as club. From thereon, you have to make progress and I think we did over the last season.

“We make very good progress, we are in a good direction and now we use the coming period as well.

“Now we get the opportunity in the summer to make new targets, new goals on the short term.

“But the longer term, yeah, that will stay the same. As I said last year, we want to restore Man United but we have a way to go.”

Steven Nzonzi feels there is still a place for Sam Allardyce and his style of management, despite the former England manager having suffered two relegations in his last two jobs.

Allardyce could not save Leeds United from dropping to the Championship, with the 68-year-old failing to win any of his four games in charge after he replaced Javi Gracia in May.

Leeds confirmed on Friday that Allardyce would be leaving the club.

It is the second Premier League relegation on Allardyce’s CV, after he also went down with West Brom in the 2020-21 season. 

Nzonzi, who worked under Allardyce at Blackburn Rovers, feels his old boss’ style of management is not outdated.

He told Stats Perform: “Of course, there is a place, there is no question about it, he has great experience and I think that Leeds may have brought him a little bit late.

“I played under Sam Allardyce, and trust me he is a big character, and he has big charisma.

“So, for me, to save a team he is one of the best for sure, but it is difficult to come in and he managed four games. I think it was a bit too late.

“But of course, he has great experience, so he can still manage in the Premier League, in the Championship, he is a great coach, I have great memories of working with him, amazing memories.”

Indeed, Nzonzi, who would go on to represent major clubs like Sevilla and Roma after playing under Big Sam, says Allardyce is the coach he is most grateful to.

“That would be impossible for me to say, I enjoyed so many managers,” he said when asked who the best coach he had worked under was.

“The one I enjoyed the most was [Jorge] Sampaoli, but the one I am more grateful about is Sam Allardyce, because I came from the second division in France and to start me in the Premier League against Manchester City, for the first game of the season – it was the game that changed my vision and my life. 

“It gave me confidence that I have the ability to play at a high level, so I would say Sam Allardyce for that.”

Jesse Lingard leads a list of six senior stars who will not have their contracts renewed by Nottingham Forest.

The former Manchester United midfielder, 30, arrived at the City Ground last summer and was made the club’s top earner but has struggled to hold down a spot in Steve Cooper’s side.

Restricted to only 12 starts and five substitute appearances in the Premier League last term, Lingard will become a free agent upon the expiry of his current deal later this month.

There is sure to be interest in the Warrington-born creator, who made 232 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils and starred on loan at West Ham in the second half of the 2020-21 campaign.

Lyle Taylor, Jack Colback, Andre Ayew, Jordan Smith and Cafu are all heading for the exit door alongside the 32-cap England international.

One man who is sticking around is Serge Aurier, with the former Tottenham full-back having triggered a one-year extension to his deal in the East Midlands.

Towering striker Chris Wood will also see his January loan move from Newcastle made permanent.

Forest were widely criticised for a scattergun transfer policy that saw 22 new faces arrive last summer but ultimately maintained their Premier League status by four points. 

Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley insists it will not be difficult to remain focused on the Scottish Cup final amid growing speculation over the future of manager Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou has become the odds-on favourite to take over at Tottenham with one report claiming he will meet Spurs chairman Daniel Levy on Monday.

The Celtic manager batted away questions over his future on Thursday as he bids to avoid distractions ahead of Saturday’s Hampden clash with Inverness and O’Riley claims the players will not be sidetracked.

“It’s not hard, to be honest,” the 22-year-old said. “There is always so much noise in football. Even with players, with managers, all sorts.

“There is a lot of stuff in the media all the time but I personally don’t believe most of the things I see, just because I know how football works.

“I’m sure he is very happy where he is because we are doing very well.

“It’s just part of football. Media-wise, there is always something going on and I’m sure there will always be the odd surprise that gets thrown in, someone leaves that you don’t expect, someone joins that comes out of nowhere. You just have to be ready for whatever comes.”

Postecoglou has been linked with numerous Premier League jobs throughout the season and Celtic have shown the focus to stay on course for a treble.

“It comes from, first of all, the hierarchy, the manager and staff setting the foundation of what can we do today to improve and taking it day by day,” O’Riley said.

“If you think too much about the future or stuff that has happened before, that’s when problems start to occur because you are probably in your head a bit too much.

“As long as we are focused on the day-to-day basics of trying to improve one another then I don’t think it should be a problem.”

However, the former MK Dons midfielder understands why many Celtic fans are anxious about the future amid the growing speculation over Postecoglou.

“He has provided so much success to the club, and hopefully that continues, and naturally fans are attached to someone who brings so much success,” he said.

“The same goes for the players in the group right now, everyone had good seasons for the most part, so naturally there is going to be interest in players, but hopefully we can keep as many together and push on even more next season.”

– Nantes have failed to win any of their last 14 Ligue 1 matches
– Both teams have scored in Angers’ last seven league games
– Recommended bet: Angers at 13/2 with LiveScore Bet

Nantes need a victory on the final day of the Ligue 1 campaign to have any chance of avoiding relegation and, on the face of it, a home clash with Angers is the perfect fixture for them.

The visitors are bottom of the table and, along with Troyes and Ajaccio, they will be playing Ligue 2 football next season.

If Nantes win and Auxerre drop points at home to second-placed Lens then they will stay up, but the Canaries are on a 14-game winless run in the league and may not have things all their own way. 

Team news

Defender Sebastien Corchia is still sidelined for Nantes and on-loan forward Evann Guessand is also unlikely to feature, having missed his side’s last two matches, a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Montpellier and a 2-1 loss ay Lille.

Angers are set to be without experienced skipper Nabil Bentaleb, Faouzi Ghoulam, Amine Salama and Souleyman Doumbia, but defender Ousmane Camara could be available after returning from France Under-20 duty.

The stats

Nantes have failed to win any of their last 14 Ligue 1 matches, while three of Nantes’ last six home league games have ended 2-2.

Nantes have scored just one goal in their last five league matches and both teams have scored in Angers’ last seven Ligue 1 games.

Angers have lost 14 of their 18 away matches in the French top-flight this season, while nine of Angers’ 27 league defeats this term have been by a 2-1 scoreline.

Prediction

The final-day fixture list boosts Nantes’ chances of escaping relegation, as they host the worst team in Ligue 1 and survival rivals Auxerre must beat high-flying Lens to make sure of their top-flight status.

However, Nantes have had a dismal campaign, winning just six of their 37 league matches and scoring once in their last five games, so they are hard to trust at short odds to beat Angers.

All the pressure is on the home side, whose caretaker manager Pierre Aristouy was unimpressed by their most recent effort on their own patch, a limp 3-0 defeat to Montpellier.

Angers have been adrift at the bottom for most of the season, but they are playing with freedom after their relegation to Ligue 2 was confirmed, scoring in each of their last nine matches.

That sequence includes a 1-0 home win over fourth-placed Lille and a 2-1 defeat to champions Paris Saint-Germain, while they have scored six goals on their last four away trips to Clermont, Rennes, Marseille and Reims.

Their respectable 2-2 draw at Reims was followed by a 2-1 home win over fellow relegated club Troyes last weekend and Angers are worth a small bet at a huge price to sign off a tough season with a victory at nervy Nantes.

Back Angers to win at 13/2 with LiveScore Bet

England boss Sarina Wiegman has announced her squad for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Here, we take a look at the 23 Lionesses heading to the tournament, which starts on July 20.

Goalkeepers

Mary Earps (Manchester United. Age: 30. Caps: 33. Goals: 0)

Started all six games for the Lionesses at Euro 2022 and winner of the Women’s Super League Golden Glove Award for 2022-23 after setting a new record of 14 clean sheets.

Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City. Age: 23. Caps: 11. Goals: 0)

Overcame a long-term calf injury to make Wiegman’s Euro 2022 squad and will challenge for the No1 spot in Australia and New Zealand. 

Hannah Hampton (Aston Villa. Age: 22. Caps: 2. Goals: 0)

Having been left out of Wiegman’s squad for eight months after Euro 2022 due to personal reasons, fine form during an impressive WSL season for Villa propelled her back into the reckoning.

Defenders

Jess Carter (Chelsea, Age: 25. Caps: 17. Goals: 1)

Carter was on the periphery at Euro 2022 but her versatility made her integral to Chelsea’s success as they completed a third successive domestic double.

Lucy Bronze (Barcelona, Age: 31. Caps: 104. Goals: 12)

The FIFA World Player of the Year in 2020 and England’s most-capped player in the squad has recovered after keyhole knee surgery in April.

Alex Greenwood (Manchester City. Age: 29. Caps: 74. Goals: 5)

Another of the Lionesses’ most experienced players and a Champions League winner with former club Lyon, the centre-back will be appearing at her third successive World Cup.

Millie Bright (Chelsea, Age: 29. Caps: 66. Goals: 5)

An ever-present for England at Euro 2022, the Chelsea star is hoping to make a full recovery in time to captain the Lionesses Down Under after missing the last two months of the WSL season.

Niamh Charles (Chelsea. Age: 23. Caps: 6. Goals: 0)

Joined Chelsea from hometown club Liverpool in 2020 and has now established herself as a key player for Emma Hayes’ double-winning Blues.

Esme Morgan (Manchester City. Age: 22. Caps: 4. Goals: 0)

A fractured leg in September 2021 delayed her England debut but the defender has been tipped as a future Lionesses captain by City boss Gareth Taylor.

Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal. Age: 24. Caps: 10. Goals: 0)

Got no playing time at Euro 2022 but racked up the minutes in the WSL in the absence of injured Arsenal team-mate Leah Williamson. 

Midfielders

Keira Walsh (Barcelona. Age: 26. Caps: 58. Goals: 0)

Became Bronze’s team-mate at Barcelona when the Catalans paid a world-record £400,000 fee for the ex-City midfielder. 

Won Player of the Match in England’s Euro 2022 final win over Germany at Wembley.

Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich. Age: 24. Caps: 49. Goals: 15)

Joined Bayern from City before starring for the Lionesses at Euro 2022 as she formed an outstanding partnership with Walsh in midfield — and scored one of the goals of the tournament against Spain.

Ella Toone (Manchester United. Age: 23. Caps: 31. Goals: 16)

Another Lionesses hero in the Euro 2022 final against Germany, she scored the game’s opening goal with a brilliant chipped finish.

Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa. Age: 30. Caps: 71. Goals: 8)

Missed out on Euro 2022 due to a knee ligament injury.

Joined Villa in January after scoring 81 goals in 270 appearances for Arsenal during a spell in which she won 12 trophies.

Katie Zelem (Manchester United. Age: 27. Caps: 7. Goals: 0)

The United skipper was a driving force as Marc Skinner’s side finished runners-up in the WSL and reached the FA Cup final during an impressive 2022-23 campaign.

Laura Coombes (Manchester City. Age: 32. Caps: 4. Goals: 0)

Won back a regular starting place at City during an impressive season and was rewarded with her first England call-up in seven years when Wiegman included her in the squad for this year’s Arnold Clark Cup.

Forwards

Rachel Daly (Aston Villa. Age: 31. Caps: 68. Goals: 13)

Excelled for the Lionesses as a left-back during Euro 2022. But after joining Villa from Houston Dash last summer, she equalled Vivianne Miedema’s record for most goals in a WSL season (22).

Lauren Hemp (Manchester City. Age: 22. Caps: 37. Goals: 10)

Hemp, who has just completed her fifth season at City, gives the Lionesses a cutting edge down the left.

She started all six of England’s games at Euro 2022 and played all 120 minutes in the final.

Chloe Kelly (Manchester City. Age: 25. Caps: 25. Goals: 6)

Climbed off the bench to score England’s extra-time winner in the Euro 2022 final after overcoming a serious knee injury sustained in 2021.

Alessia Russo (Manchester United. Age: 24. Caps: 21. Goals: 11)

United’s Player of the Year, who scored 10 WSL goals during a stellar campaign, is still being linked with a summer move to Arsenal after a January switch failed to materialise. 

Lauren James (Chelsea. Age: 21. Caps: 10. Goals: 1)

Younger sister of England defender Reece James, the Chelsea ace is widely regarded as one of the WSL’s most exciting talents. 

The Blues paid a reported £200,000 to sign the striker from United in July 2021 when she was 19.

Beth England (Tottenham. Age: 28. Caps: 21. Goals: 11)

Forced her way back into the Lionesses’ squad for the first time since last summer after scoring 12 goals in 12 WSL appearances.

Katie Robinson (Brighton. Age: 20. Caps: 4. Goals: 0)

Emerged as another star of the future with an impressive display in her first Lionesses start in February, setting up Daly for the opening goal in a 2-1 win against Italy in the Arnold Clark Cup.

Manchester City take on arch-rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Here, we look at some key battles ahead of the Wembley encounter.

Pep Guardiola vs Erik ten Hag

City manager Pep Guardiola has again underlined his status as the best coach of his generation by guiding his side to a fifth Premier League title in six years and bringing them within two wins of a glorious Treble.

Erik ten Hag, who worked alongside the Catalan at Bayern Munich for a spell, cannot match Guardiola’s success but his record at Ajax was impressive and his first season with United has been encouraging, with one trophy and Champions League qualification secured.

They have both beaten each other once this season.

Ruben Dias vs Marcus Rashford

Portugal defender Ruben Dias has been back to his best for City during the run-in.

After a spell out around the turn of the year, he has recovered form and fitness to provide a rock-solid barrier at the heart of the defence.

He will come up against United’s Player of the Year Marcus Rashford, who has bagged 30 goals in all competitions.

The forward’s scoring rate may have slowed after a prolific spell in the winter, but after overcoming a recent illness, he will be United’s main threat.

Rodri vs Bruno Fernandes

Rodri has enjoyed his best season for City and is now widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world.

The Spaniard not only provides a defensive shield, but is a driving force who regularly initiates and supports attacks.

Bruno Fernandes is an important cog in the United midfield. He finds space well, makes dangerous runs and passes incisively.

He is both a creator and goalscorer, and has shown of late he can be as effective on the right as centrally.

Kevin De Bruyne vs Casemiro

It is remarkable that Kevin De Bruyne was criticised by Guardiola just a few months ago.

The Belgian playmaker had been performing well enough but the City boss clearly felt he had another level.

So it has proved, with the 31-year-old outstanding in City’s charge to the title and two finals.

His partnership with Erling Haaland has been especially potent and Casemiro will aim to keep a close watch.

The experienced Brazilian has made a big impact at Old Trafford this season, providing a steeliness and maturity they previously lacked.

Erling Haaland vs Raphael Varane

Haaland’s first season at City has been absolutely sensational with 52 goals scored in all competitions and nine assists for good measure.

His size, pace and strength make him difficult to contain and, after scoring so many goals this term, he will now want to add some signature trophy-winning ones.

Raphael Varane will provide a good challenge. The Frenchman reads the game well, is strong on the ball and is quick himself.

LiveScore Daily is here to deliver all the big talking points from the world of football throughout the day. Keep refreshing this page for the latest stories in bite-sized chunks.

Harry’s hope

Harry Maguire insists Manchester United are determined to fill their supporters with pride in Saturday’s FA Cup Final. 

The Red Devils are chasing their second trophy of the season having lifted the Carabao Cup in February and are also looking to scupper the Treble bid of their bitter rivals Manchester City.

United enter the clash as significant underdogs but club captain Maguire, 30, believes a vocal travelling support can roar their side onto victory at Wembley.

He said: “The fans have been right with us throughout the season and I think they’ve been really important to the success that we’ve had and the positive results that we’ve had. 

“I think we’ve seen at Old Trafford, our results have been amazing so we know at Wembley they’re going to be there, they’re going to be loud and it’s a day that we hope we can do them proud.

“Obviously, last season was such a disappointing year for us all, as players and staff, as fans, just as a club in general. So to bounce back in such a positive manner, I think it’s really, really impressive.”

Firmer punishment

Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey wants to see teams deducted points for abuse towards match officials.

His comments come after English referee Anthony Taylor was subjected to verbal and physical abuse by Roma supporters in the wake of their Europa League final defeat to Sevilla on Wednesday.

Giallorossi boss Jose Mourinho was also fierce in his criticism of Taylor’s performance and Halsey, 61, believes football’s governing bodies must toughen their stance towards such behaviour urgently.

He said: “Fines and touchline bans are not a deterrent, so I hope Europe’s governing body acts.

“The level of abuse towards officials is evident in Europe and in English football and points deductions are the only answer.

“The FA revealed this week they are bringing this punishment into grassroots football but it should start at the top.

“I would deduct Sevilla and Roma three points from their next European campaigns with another three suspended for the rest of the group stage.”

The Premier League also released a short statement on the matter this morning, saying: “We are shocked and appalled by the unacceptable abuse directed at Anthony Taylor and his family as they travelled back from the Europa League Final. 

“No one should have to suffer the inexcusable behaviour they had to endure yesterday. Anthony is one of our most experienced and accomplished match officials and we fully support him and his family.”

Changed his tune

Football icon Eric Cantona is embarking on a new career in music.

The Frenchman, best known for his spell at Manchester United between 1992 and 1997, has today released his debut single, titled The Friends We Lost.

Fans of the Marseille-born maestro, 57, can even be serenaded first-hand with concert dates confirmed for Manchester, London and Dublin this October. 

Cantona explained: “Music has always been a part of my life. I’ve always had music playing. So why start today, so many years later? Simply because I had lacked the time before. 

“During lockdown, I finally managed to give the guitar a serious go, and even though I’m still a poor guitarist, I felt confident enough to whip a few songs into shape”.

The Premier League has joined refereeing body PGMOL in condemning abuse directed at Anthony Taylor after video footage emerged of him being accosted by angry fans at Budapest Airport.

Taylor and his family can be seen trying to evade a mob, who were shouting at him as he travelled home after refereeing Wednesday night’s Europa League final between Roma and Sevilla in the Hungarian capital.

A Premier League spokesperson said it was “shocked and appalled by the abuse suffered by Taylor, whilst PGMOL described the incident as “unjustified and abhorrent”.

The Premier League official was criticised for his performance in the final by Roma boss Jose Mourinho during his post-match press conference after the Italian side lost on penalties to Sevilla.

And in video footage which later emerged on social media, the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager is seen gesticulating at Taylor and officials in the stadium car park and heard saying “disgrace”.

In the incident at the airport, clips on Twitter show a chair and drinks being thrown in the direction of Taylor and his group as they make their way through a gathering of Roma fans.

A Premier League spokesperson said: “We are shocked and appalled by the unacceptable abuse directed at Anthony Taylor and his family as they travelled back from the UEFA Europa League Final.

“No one should have to suffer the inexcusable behaviour they had to endure yesterday.

“Anthony is one of our most experienced and accomplished match officials and we fully support him and his family.”

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said in a statement on Thursday evening: “PGMOL is aware of videos circulating on social media showing Anthony Taylor and his family being harassed and abused at Budapest Airport.

“We are appalled at the unjustified and abhorrent abuse directed at Anthony and his family as he tries to make his way home from refereeing the UEFA Europa League final.

“We will continue to provide our full support to Anthony and his family.”

UEFA is awaiting Taylor’s reports before deciding whether to take action against Mourinho for his rant.

Taylor booked Mourinho during the game, which finished 1-1 after extra time before Sevilla sealed their seventh Europa League triumph by winning 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out.

Tempers simmered on and off the pitch in a disappointing final, with 13 players shown yellow cards, seven of them to Roma players, while fourth official Michael Oliver had his work cut out to keep control of both dug-outs.

The game was littered with delays, with a total of 25 minutes’ stoppage time added to the 120 minutes of playing time.

West Ham boss David Moyes condemned the treatment of Taylor as he prepares his side for Wednesday’s Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina in Prague.

“I didn’t see the game so I can’t comment on the game itself or the officiating,” Moyes said.

“All referees have a really difficult job and shouldn’t be put through any difficult situations, which I heard about this morning. That’s not correct.”