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Mou reunion
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is relishing a reunion with Jose Mourinho when his side meet Roma in the Europa League semi-finals tonight.
Mourinho was Alonso’s manager at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, with the pair winning the LaLiga title, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup together.
The Portuguese’s Giallorossi host Leverkusen in the first leg before the Bundesliga outfit welcome last season’s Europa Conference League winners to Germany next week.
Former Liverpool midfielder Alonso said: “Of course, it’s special for me to play against him.
“I had a great time with him and I learned a lot from him. Mourinho knows how to inspire a team and he was always a leader.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him but when the game starts I will be completely focused on the events on the pitch and I will dedicate all my energy exclusively to working with my team.”
Mourinho added: “I haven’t seen him for a long time. We’ve always had a fantastic rapport, more than between a coach and a player.
“They are very dangerous in this moment of the game, they defend, wait for the opponent to lose the ball and then it’s difficult to stop them.”
Hammers reaping the rewards
Former West Ham captain Mark Noble believes the Hammers are reaping the rewards of sticking with manager David Moyes.
An underwhelming Premier League campaign in which they have fought against relegation has seen the Scot come under pressure this term, particularly after a 4-0 hammering at Brighton in March.
But after deciding not to sack the 60-year-old, the East Londoners have raced clear of danger in recent weeks and are just two games away from their first European final in 47 years.
The Irons host AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final tie at the London Stadium tonight.
Noble, who is now the club’s sporting director, said: “The manager has been clear. The Premier League is a demanding league and for a long time we have been in a relegation battle.
“He knows the game as well as anyone. He knows the pressure he was under. Fourteen managers have been changed this year in the Premier League. It is madness.
“We stuck with David and it looks like he has got us out of trouble and we are in a European semi-final, which is fantastic. We can start looking forward now.”
Walti signs new deal
Switzerland captain Lia Walti has signed a new contract with Arsenal.
The midfielder, 30, has made 128 appearances for the Gunners after joining from German side Tebine Potsdam in 2018.
The length of the contract has not been disclosed but manager Jonas Eidevall hailed it as a significant moment for the club.
Eidevall said: “She is one of the best midfielders in world football and brings us so much in terms of leadership and presence.
“Lia has played a pivotal role within this team during my time here and I’m looking forward to continuing to work together to achieve our goals.”
Walti added: “Arsenal means so much to me — it felt like home from the moment I joined.
“This is an exciting time to be a part of Arsenal and I want to keep making new memories with this group.”
Blues pile the pressure on
Chelsea goalscorer Erin Cuthbert believes her side’s 6-0 thumping of Leicester last night piles the pressure on Manchester United in the Women’s Super League title race.
The Blues moved to within one point of the Red Devils with the thrashing at Kingsmeadow and have a game in hand over their WSL rivals.
Scotland international Cuthbert added her side’s second after Guro Reiten’s opener, with a Pernille Harder brace before strikes from Lauren James and Jelena Cankovic completing a comprehensive victory.
The 24-year-old said: “We’re chasing them and they know we’re chasing them. Hopefully tonight they’ll feel a presence and all we can do is keep winning our games.
“It’s in our control effectively. We need to do our job and that’s the most important thing. We won’t be thinking about Manchester United.”
The title-chasing pair face off in the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.
