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Conte’s vow
Antonio Conte has vowed to be fighting fit on the Tottenham touchline as he looks to guide them through a tough period in the season.
Spurs lost 1-0 to AC Milan in the first leg of their Champions League knockout game at the San Siro on Tuesday, following on from a 4-1 thrashing by Leicester in the Premier League at the weekend.
The Italian boss has been reserved on the sidelines after he underwent surgery to remove his gallbladder a few weeks ago, with assistant Cristian Stellini taking a more influential role.
But the 53-year-old has stated that he is now ready to return to his high-energy state in the technical area.
After the defeat in Milan, he said: “Frankly speaking in the previous match I was completely out, I have just had surgery and after two days my doctor told me I couldn’t go, I couldn’t make effort.
“So in the previous match I was distant from the pitch. Cristian [Stellini] was there replacing me and was able to share my ideas with the team, he really helped me out a lot.
“I was wearing a medical device in that period, but I was still able to interact in a fair enough way with the team, I was not 100% for my physical shape but in the next game I will be fit and try to give my contribution.”
Hayes not against a closed WSL
Women’s Super League manager Emma Hayes believes England should be open to the idea of a closed league, similar to that of the United States.
The Chelsea boss has spent time in charge of National Women’s Soccer League side Chicago Red Stars where the format includes the same clubs every year with no promotion or relegation.
On the idea of the WSL becoming a franchise-type league, she said: “I’ve seen the successes of promoting franchise-type leagues and the consistency that can then place in running that.
“We should be open to everything, and everything shouldn’t always be compared just because it’s traditional or just because of the men’s game.”
Hayes, 46, has also hit out at the diminishing prize money on offer in the women’s game and suggests it needs to be addressed in the near future.
“You’ve got prize money, which is scandalous, it’s outrageous”, she said. “Across the women’s game, that prize money is going to have an impact all the way down the food chain.
“And then on top of that you’ve got broadcasting which, when the next set of broadcasting rights are up, I think it’s going to be a significant moment for the women’s game.
“Prize money will help clubs to have bigger budgets to be able to create that support in and around them.”
The winners of this season’s men’s FA Cup will win £2million, while the women’s champions will pocket a mere £200,000.
Toone’s red rescinded
Ella Toone has seen her red card against Tottenham in the Women’s Super League rescinded by the FA.
Toone, 23, was wrongfully dismissed for violent conduct as Manchester United triumphed 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The former Manchester City forward had appeared to aggressively push Eveliina Summanen on the ground after she had been caught by her trailing leg but upon review it was deemed that it was not violent conduct.
The England international was set to miss three matches but will Marc Skinner will now have her available for their FA Cup clash with Durham ahead of their next WSL clash against Leicester.
Guardiola sends rallying call
Pep Guardiola has attempted to rally his Manchester City players by suggesting they must do everything to retain their Premier League title.
City have the chance to leapfrog Arsenal at the top of the table when they meet at the Emirates tonight but Arsenal will still have a game in hand on the champions.
The Gunners have slipped up in their last two games, losing to Everton and drawing with Brentford at home.
And Guardiola is determined not to let this opportunity slide against Mikel Arteta’s men.
He said: “The biggest motivation is that I don’t want to drop the Premier League just because we are not who we are.
“If they beat us because they are better then this is sport, I’ll be the first to congratulate them, as I’ve always done. But not because we are not there. You want it? OK, fight. Take it. It’s in our hands.
“We’ll defend this title until the last day. This is what I’d like. To fight to the maximum to try to retain the title. If we don’t, accept it, but we need to give our best. My players have to feel that every day.”
