List of All Articles with Tag 'foot'

Mikel Arteta praised the influence of Granit Xhaka in helping Arsenal carve out their surprise title challenge this season but would not be drawn on whether the midfielder will still be at the club next season. Xhaka has been a key figure alongside Thomas Partey in Arteta’s midfield this campaign, becoming a respected leadership presence and redeeming himself in the eyes of supporters after a public spat in 2019 threatened his place in the squad. Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen have been heavily linked with a move for the 30-year-old, whose contract is due to expire at the end of next season. He spent four years in Germany with Borussia Monchengladbach before Arsene Wenger brought him to Arsenal in 2016 for around £30million, but he endured a strained relationship with fans culminating in a confrontation as he was substituted during a game against Crystal Palace at the Emirates four years ago. Then manager Unai Emery subsequently stripped him of the captaincy and his time at the club looked to be over. But this season has seen a full rehabilitation for the Switzerland international as Arsenal ran Manchester City to the final weeks of the season for the title and returned to the Champions League after a six-year absence. “For me (he’s been) crucial – really, really important at every level, and I think for the team and the club as well,” said Arteta, who said he would not comment on the futures of any of his side until after Sunday’s Premier League finale against Wolves. “In the great moments like this season he has had, and in the difficult ones, because I think we have become a better club and better people and we have understood certain situations much better than just judging them. “I think the club and a lot of people have done really good to dig in there to understand what happened emotionally and why those reactions were happening. “Having the courage to say, ‘OK, turn around to the situation, face it’. There’s going to be a moment of doubt but if you believe in what you’re doing and you go face-to-face and you say what you feel, normally things work out pretty well. “When you look how he behaved. We have some others who are absolutely a joy for those boys, the way they treat them. And he has an honest and unique willingness to help them. It’s not an act, it’s genuine. “It makes the difference. We have four or five in that dressing room who have been critical for these players to grow, to have the right support, to inspire them and in the right moment to challenge them when it’s necessary to get them in the right direction when they are tempted to go somewhere else. You need that in that dressing room.” Arteta said he would take the time to recharge himself after a draining campaign in which Arsenal led the table for 248 days before slipping away, a record for any side that has failed to win the title. The team were eight points clear as recently as early April before a string of draws against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton weakened their advantage, allowing Manchester City to finally overtake them with a thumping 4-1 win at the Etihad. The manager predicted the challenge will be even tougher if Arsenal aim to prevent City from winning a record fourth-straight crown, but planned to switch off from football for a period over the close season. He has an honest and unique willingness to help them. It’s not an act, it’s genuine Mikel Arteta on Granit Xhaka “I have the necessary energy to go into the last game and really feel again that connection, play well, win the game and finish the season in the right way,” he said. “Then I have another kind of energy without that being so physical and so demanding and being there every single day but to have the time to think as well; to plan what we want to do, to try execute it, but to recharge my batteries as well next to my family, next to my friends, on a beautiful beach just not thinking about football. “It’s very important (to be able to switch off). Me personally I have to get better at that but I think I have some good help around.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Jurgen Klopp has ‘no worries’ over Mohamed Salah’s future at Liverpool Michael O’Neill to put faith in youth as injuries pile up for Northern Ireland Tottenham is a big club – Ryan Mason sure Spurs job still attractive proposition

Liam Kelly insists “sleeping giant” Coventry must avoid letting the occasion of a Wembley play-off final ruin their Premier League dream. Coventry, one of the Premier League’s founder members in 1992, will end a 22-year exile from the top flight if they overcome Luton in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final on Saturday. Victory would cap a remarkable journey for Coventry and Kelly as the veteran midfielder was part of the Sky Blues team which beat Exeter in the League Two play-off final at Wembley in 2018. “The attention surrounding this game is more (than 2018), but on a personal level it’s just the same for me,” said skipper Kelly. “We were expected to be promoted from League Two and League One, but at the start of the season I don’t think anyone expected us to be in this position. “When I came here I don’t think many people envisioned where the club would be now. It’s been a great journey. “It’s a big club and it’s been a sleeping giant for a while, but we’ve seen the support the last few years.” Coventry took 42,500 fans to Wembley when they beat Oxford to win the EFL Trophy in 2017. This time the Sky Blues have sold their allocation of 36,237 tickets for a game described as one for the romantics given Luton’s rise from non-league football over the past decade. Luton ended the campaign two places higher and with 10 points more than Mark Robins’ Coventry, but their two games in the regular season were both drawn. Kelly said: “Luton finished third and are one of the best teams in the Championship. “It’s going to be a fantastic day but at the same time you can’t let the occasion get the best of you. “You’ve got to realise what’s at stake and use that energy from the crowd to achieve what we want to. “I remember it (2018 play-off final) went really quickly, but you’ve got to go out and be on it rather than be overawed by it. “We just have to go with the momentum and not overthink it, realise where our form has taken us and give everything to try to win this game. “Sometimes the best way to get into the play-offs is to creep into it in the last couple of weeks, which we’ve managed to do, and we can take confidence from that.” Kelly has made 160 appearances for Coventry after being relegated out of the English Football League as a Leyton Orient player in 2017. But the 33-year-old could be playing his final game at Wembley as he is coming to the end of his contract and facing an uncertain future. He said: “I won’t pay too much attention to that. I just want to concentrate on this final and we can sort everything out at the end of the season. “I just want to get that winner’s medal round my neck.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Don’t be overawed by Wembley, says Liam Kelly as Coventry aim for Premier League Tyson Fury: I have sent Anthony Joshua a draft contract for Wembley fight Sean Abbott equals Blast record with stunning century for Surrey

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Wigan Athletic’s campaign ended in disappointing fashion after they were relegated from the Championship, bottom of the table - and 2023/24 is set to start in equally bad fashion. The Latics were handed a four-point deduction for next season by the EFL after failing to pay players’ wages on time, with that reduction set to impact on their immediate start to life in League One. However, they were also given a second suspended four-point penalty which would come into effect if either the club owner failed to deposit a required amount to more than cover payments into a designated account by 24 May or if Wigan failed to pay wages again between now and the end of next term - and that second penalty has now been activated, meaning they’ll start 23/24 on minus eight points. The EFL confirmed on Friday that they had requested Wigan owner Abdulrahman Al-Jasmi deposit funds equating to 125% of their “forecast monthly wage bill” into the club account. A statement from the organisation added they had “spent the past 48 hours in dialogue with the Club in an attempt to find a positive outcome” before confirming the additional points penalty had been executed. This follows Wigan being late with two instances of paying players, on Friday 24 March instead of Friday 10 March and on Tuesday 16 May instead of Friday 5 May. They had also been charged with misconduct following three late instances of payments in 2022. A statement from the club confirmed they intended to consider an appeal. “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,” it said. “The club will now consider all options open.” Wigan also revealed their intent to restructure the club financially, appearing to suggest that promotion to the Championship ahead of schedule caused cash flow problems as a result of the need to “strengthen again in the summer and in the January Transfer Window” which left “the wage budget...unfortunately becoming more and more unmanageable”. A series of meetings have agreed a wage budget for next season which will be 65% lower than this year, while the club anticipate beginning life back in the third tier with a new CEO and sporting director in place as well as greater emphasis on youth development. While that should lead to a more sustainable future, given they’ll start the year eight points adrift already, fans will no doubt be fearing that could lead to a second successive season with Wigan fighting against relegation. Read More It’s his problem – Frank Lampard says next Chelsea boss has to turn club around ‘Business as usual’ as Chelsea look to wrap up Women’s Super League title Andy Pilley steps down as chairman and director of Fleetwood

Frank Lampard said turning around Chelsea’s fortunes will be the next manager’s problem as he prepares to bow out from his interim role after Sunday’s game against Newcastle. The team’s wretched season slumped to a new low with a 4-1 thumping against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Thursday, the ninth defeat of Lampard’s 11 games in charge. If results go against them on the final day they could finish as low as 14th and equal their worst placing in the Premier League era. They are already guaranteed to end with their lowest points tally in the competition, with the fewest number of goals the club have scored in a Premier League campaign. Mauricio Pochettino is expected to be appointed as the club’s next permanent manager in the coming days and his in-tray will include quickly slimming down a bloated first-team squad and installing cohesion in a team that has lost its way since Graham Potter was sacked in April. Chelsea have won only once in the almost two months since Potter was removed seven months into a five-year contract, and the task of rediscovering the team’s form has seemingly grown more daunting with each defeat. A remedy has proved beyond Lampard in his short time in charge, and he was asked whether the incoming manager will have the toughest job of any Chelsea boss in the last 20 years. “It’s a good headline but I don’t know,” said Lampard. “It remains to be seen, I can’t jump into the future. “I think it is a fantastic job because it is the Chelsea job and when I took it first time (in 2019) I came I probably got it it was because a lot of top managers didn’t want that, I know that for a fact. “I enjoyed the process and I enjoyed coming in and I wish the new manager well. “I don’t know… it’s his problem I guess – is that the headline you wanted?” One of the hindering factors during Lampard’s reign has been the size of the squad, with 34 first-team players vying for selection following co-owner Todd Boehly’s whirlwind transfer activity during his first 12 months in control. It has meant limited playing time for younger members of the squad, even those signed for large fees and with high expectations. Carney Chukwuemeka joined from Aston Villa for £20million last summer but has struggled for minutes, whilst Noni Madueke arrived for £29m from PSV Eindhoven and has featured just 11 times. Both players started the loss at Old Trafford and played 82 minutes before being substituted and Lampard said he was pleased with the application of players that came in having not been regulars in the side. “I don’t want to go into individuals,” he said. “I thought Carney did really well (against United) coming in to midfield with personality. It has been one of the harder parts of my job with the numbers in the squad. “Going with a team to win important games and working with the younger players who we haven’t seen before because normally there is a process and a pre-season. “We haven’t had that time. I thought Carney did well, I thought Noni did pretty well again and the flip of that was that Azpi (Cesar Azpilicueta) was fantastic with his captaincy and attitude. “It is 70 per cent of the game how you apply yourself and your attitude.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Aryna Sabalenka to begin French Open against player who ‘hates’ her Andy Pilley steps down as chairman and director of Fleetwood ‘Business as usual’ as Chelsea look to wrap up Women’s Super League title

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Andy Pilley has stepped down as chairman and director of Fleetwood as discussions continue surrounding a change of ownership and control at the Sky Bet League One club. Pilley will be sentenced next month after being convicted on four counts of fraud. The 52-year-old was found guilty last week of two counts of fraudulent trading, fraud by false representation and being involved in the acquisition, retention, use or control of the proceeds of fraudulently mis-sold energy contracts. Pilley was remanded in custody and he will be sentenced on July 3. Also chairman of BES Utilities, Pilley had been involved in High Court litigation with Cheshire West and Chester Council, but lost a civil court fight over investigating allegations of mis-selling. Pilley had been the chairman and owner of Fleetwood for 20 years and overseen the club’s rise from non-league status to the English Football League. In announcing the boardroom changes, Fleetwood, who finished 13th last season, said it would be “business as usual” while working through the transition of ownership. A statement on Friday afternoon read: “Fleetwood Town can confirm Andy Pilley has stepped down as chairman and director of the club. “Steve Curwood, who has been the club’s CEO for 15 years, will be appointed interim chairman with current vice chairman Phil Brown to join the board as a director. “The club have this week entered discussions with the EFL in relation to requirements surrounding a change of ownership and control. “The club would also like to clarify there will be no other changes to the board before the planned change of ownership. “In the meantime, the club will continue to operate business as usual and will make a further announcement in due course.”

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes says it is “business as usual” for her side as they prepare for Saturday’s Super League finale, looking to wrap up another title. Ahead of the season’s concluding round of fixtures, the Blues – who have won the WSL five times and for each of the last three seasons – are two points clear of second-placed Manchester United, with a goal difference better by five. Chelsea, aiming to complete a league and FA Cup double, play bottom side Reading away, while Marc Skinner’s United are at Liverpool. Hayes told a press conference: “I think back to every campaign, we’ve only won the league by a couple of points at best, maybe (with) a game (to spare) somewhere along the line, so this is just business as usual for us. “The preparation is what we’d prepared for at the very beginning of the season. “It’s not like we’ve won leagues comfortably in the past – so nothing is different from our perspective. We’ve always known from previous experience it goes to the last game.” A win to seal the title would be a seventh successive league victory for Chelsea, who have scored 24 goals in the past six games, conceding once. It's not like we've won leagues comfortably in the past – so nothing is different from our perspective Emma Hayes Reading, meanwhile, have lost each of their last five games, conceding 16 times across their last four. The Royals pulled off a shock 1-0 win at home against Chelsea last season, and Hayes said: “We don’t think about that. What we think about is we are exactly where we want to be – a position to control the outcome. “I have to keep reminding the team we’re 90 minutes away from winning the title and all of my energy’s focused on doing that.” Regardless of what happens on Saturday, United – guaranteed at least second, their first finish in a Champions League berth – have had their best WSL campaign to date, as well making a debut FA Cup final appearance, when they were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea and Skinner has said he feels his side do not “get enough credit”. Asked about that comment, Hayes said: “They should. They’ve had an outstanding year. I’m sure Marc will build on that and make them even more competitive next year.” Reading need to win to have any chance of surviving, lying two points adrift of 11th-placed Leicester, who have an inferior goal difference by three and go to Brighton. Reading boss Kelly Chambers said: “If you just give up now or don’t believe then, for me, what’s the point of stepping out there on Saturday? “There’s still a glimmer of hope there for us and we just have to give everything we can. If we are beaten by the better team, I can accept that – what I can’t accept is that we don’t turn up and fight for everything.” Third-placed Arsenal look set to seal the final Champions League spot, currently three points clear of Manchester City and holding a goal difference advantage over them of 11. Jonas Eidevall’s Gunners host fifth-placed Aston Villa, whose 21-goal forward Rachel Daly was named WSL player of the year on Friday, while Gareth Taylor’s City play Everton at home. It would be the first time since 2014 that City have finished outside the European places. Taylor said: “It’s fine margins between being successful in the season like Chelsea and where we’re at coming up short. “With the group we have and the support, if we can squeeze more out of these players with another season, it’s exciting times.” Saturday’s other match sees West Ham entertain Tottenham. Meanwhile, according to Football Association statistics released on Friday, WSL attendances are up 173 per cent this season compared to the last, with the 2022-23 average being 5,272, up from 1,931. The cumulative attendance for the current WSL campaign stands at 664,211, and all of the three highest-ever WSL crowds were achieved this season. They were 47,367 for Arsenal against Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium in September, 44,259 for Manchester City v Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in December, and 42,700 for Arsenal against Chelsea at the Emirates in January. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live If she hates me, OK – Aryna Sabalenka on first-round clash with Marta Kostyuk Pep Guardiola convinced Man City can make most of opportunity to win treble Pep Guardiola fears Vinicius Junior racism row won’t make a difference in Spain

Chelsea are insistent on receiving at least £55m for Mason Mount this summer, with Manchester United yet to match the club’s valuation for the England international despite leading the race for his signature. The 24-year-old is willing to go to United amid interest from Liverpool and Arsenal and agreement on a price is now the only obstacle to his move to Old Trafford. Mount only has a year left on his contract and has refused to sign a new deal amid uncertainty at Chelsea. The midfielder believes United’s system under Erik ten Hag offers the best fit, with the Dutchman understood to have the clearest idea for him. United do not want to go as high as £55m because their own summer budget is open to change with the takeover, but it is felt a deal will eventually be done despite the clubs currently being some way off agreement. United thrashed Chelsea on Thursday night to secure Champions League qualification which drastically improved what they can offer Mount next season. Ahead of the meeting at Old Trafford, United boss Ten Hag rather pointedly noted that spending big sums without having a cohesive plan in place to utilise those signings effectively was a total waste - as Chelsea have found out this season. “When there is no strategy behind, or (not) the right strategy, money doesn’t work,” he said. “In this moment there is a centralisation of good players, of the best managers, also of the money, it is all here in the UK. And that makes a great competition, but also a tough and a hard competition. “And you have to do the right things and you can have money but you have to do it and spend it in a smart way and also you need a strategy behind it, because, otherwise, the money doesn’t work.” Read More £600m spent but still outscored by Haaland – Chelsea’s masterpiece of stupidity Manchester United owe Champions League return to one man Man Utd to learn extent of Antony injury which will see him miss FA Cup final

Pep Guardiola has said he is “not optimistic” the Vinicius Junior racism row that has erupted in Spain will drive a change of attitude in the country. Real Madrid forward Vinicius was racially abused by fans during his side’s game at Valencia in LaLiga last week. The affair has sparked a wave of criticism of Spanish football and the way it deals with such matters. It is thought to be at least the 10th time Brazil international Vinicius has been racially abused this season alone. Manchester City manager Guardiola, the former Barcelona boss, believes the Spanish game can learn from English football on the issue. “They should,” he said. “Here they are so strict. They know what they have to do. “Of course racism is a problem everywhere, not just in one specific place. Everywhere we have (people) thinking we are better than our neighbours, we are better than the other ones, for all generations everywhere. We need to accept the diversity as a strength, like a human being – and still right now, we are far away from that Pep Guardiola “Our ancestors come from migrants, come from wars, come from dictatorships, you have to move from other countries, build families there and come back to where you’re born. “The problem is that there is racism everywhere. Not just for gender but for colour, for attitudes. We believe that our language is better than the other one, our country is better than the other one. “As much as you travel in other countries, you realise we are the same, with the same fears, with the same good things. “We need to accept the diversity as a strength, like a human being – and still right now, we are far away from that. “Hopefully it can be one step to getting better in Spain but I’m not optimistic. I know a little bit the country and I’m not really optimistic. “There are a lot of black people stepping forward to defend what they should not (have to) defend. Hopefully justice can help to do it but in the same time is it going to change anything in Spain?” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Pep Guardiola convinced Man City can make most of opportunity to win treble Ryan Mason believes Tottenham are still an attractive proposition for managers Rankings don’t lie – Dan Evans believes British tennis has soul-searching to do

Of course, Alabama head coach Nick Saban would be opposed to a nine-game SEC schedule...SEC expansion is coming in two years, but we still don't know if it will be remain an eight-game conference schedule out of fear and control, or if the league will wisely accept the notion of a progressi...