Key events
Right you lucky people, how about a recap of all the football pieces that have gone up today?
Here you are then:
Palestinian football federation president refuses handshake with Israeli FA vice-president:
Tom Garry
Arsenal will attempt to become the first British women’s club to reach back-to-back European finals on Saturday as they take a 2-1 first-leg lead to France in their semi-final against OL Lyonnes.
The holders arrived in the city known as the gastronomic capital of France on Friday to pleasant May sunshine glistening off the roof of the imposing Groupama Stadium, knowing that last season’s triumph will have whet their supporters’ appetite and that they have the chance to write more history. Arsenal, 2007 European champions, won the title for the second time last May with victory over Barcelona in the final.
Thank you John.
Here’s a notable World Cup-related line from Reuters:
Iranian soccer federation president Mehdi Taj said Canadian officials cleared him to enter the country for the Fifa Congress, but Iran’s delegation chose to turn back after being held for three hours and questioned at a Toronto airport, Iranian media reported on Friday.
Taj, a former member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said he was questioned by Canadian immigration about his ties to the group, but was ultimately allowed into the country for the pre-World Cup gathering in Vancouver.
Canadian authorities have said members of the IRGC are prohibited from entering the country, which is set to co-host the World Cup from June along with the US and Mexico.
“We all had visas and were even checked in Turkey. They told us they had questions for you and asked if we were members of the IRGC,” Iran’s news agency Tasnim quoted Taj as saying.
“We told them that there are 90m IRGC members in Iran. They said that we don’t allow people from this organisation in. They said that it is the laws of our country. After a while, they said you can enter but we decided to return. They didn’t deport us and we decided to return ourselves … I told the Canadians that you kept us at the airport for three hours, you made us wait for nothing.”
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, which issues visas to travel to the country, has been contacted for comment.
Taj said the Fifa president Gianni Infantino had offered to send a jet to take the Iranian delegation to Canada after they returned to Turkey, but they refused.
“I told the Fifa secretary general (Mattias Grafstrom) that you are intimidated by America and that you say ‘yes sir’ to whatever they say,” he said.
Reuters has reached out to Fifa for comment.
Infantino insisted on Thursday that Iran would play World Cup matches in the United States, despite tensions between the two countries since the US and Israel launched a war against Iran in February. Fifa earlier rejected Tehran’s request for alternative venues for matches on US soil.
“We need to hold a meeting with Fifa officials to ensure that if we are to come to the World Cup, there should be no side issues and controversies for our team,” Taj said about Iran’s participation. Reuters
With that, I shall pass over to Luke McLaughlin.
Pereira to join Leicester exodus
Ben Fisher
This time last year Jamie Vardy announced he was leaving Leicester City and this summer the long-serving defender Ricardo Pereira will depart the relegated club after eight seasons. The 32-year-old full-back, who joined from Porto in 2018, has experienced the rollercoaster of highs and lows with Leicester. He lifted the FA Cup in 2021 and was also part of the side that won promotion back to the Premier League in 2023-24. Pereira’s final game for the club, who next season will play in the third tier for the first time since 2009, will be against Blackburn on Saturday.
Football, the working man’s – and women’s – game? From the Chelsea website:
Chelsea Football Club, in partnership with world-renowned hospitality brand Bagatelle, today announces the creation of the Bagatelle Experience at Chelsea Football Club, a new exclusive 80-seat hospitality venue. Created with the club’s Official Catering Service Partner Legends Global, the space further extends the premium matchday hospitality offering at Stamford Bridge.
From the promotional bumph:
From pre-match anticipation to post-whistle euphoria, Bagatelle Chelsea FC delivers Riviera-inspired hospitality, seasonal Mediterranean cuisine, prestige wines, and live music in an exclusive, beautifully designed space unique to the Premier League.
No price mentioned as yet but tickets for Monday’s game with Nottingham Forest range from £270 to £2475 for the tunnel club.
And your guide to the weekend coverage on Guardian Sport.
Get your weekend Premier League team news here.
Jeremy Boyce gets in touch: “It’s a bank holiday here in France, enjoyed a nice lunch, then started reading your footie countdown, and wondered if my drink had been spiked. I’m sure I read that Jose “the special/unhappy/angry/mellow/grumpy/angry again/been-found-out-for-what-he-is” one is somehow now being linked with a soon-to-be-vacant job back at a former employer badly in need of some silverware, when his silverware days are clearly well behind him.
“Obviously I’m hallucinating that, much in the way Alice did when she fell down the rabbit hole. How much hole has he already fallen down ? Even with the thickest of ropes he’s way too far gone to be rescued now. Or is Real in fact the White Rabbit, and the Santiago Bernabeu the hole they fall into ?
“Man U, Chelsea, Porto and many other supporters may find themselves laughing hysterically in a public place on hearing the news, a sure sign of either cannabis consumption (see Met Police, 1980s), or confidence of making the semi finals of Big Cup next year. The Mad Hatter is back ? Everybody move round one place …”
World Cup: anyone get the feeling they’ve overdone it?
Fifa is upping efforts to sell luxury hospitality tickets for the World Cup, with packages still available for 102 of the 104 matches at the expanded tournament.
Mexico’s Group A game against South Korea and one last-32 fixture expected to feature Spain are the only matches showing a lack of availability on Fifa’s hospitality platform, and a new category – “suite essentials” – has been added to lower-profile games, allowing customers to buy an individual ticket for a suite that would previously have been sold to a group.
Nick Ames previews Saturday’s high-noon affair in the Championship.
One thing is certain: Ipswich will be up if they beat 14th-placed QPR, on paper the perfect opponent, at an expectant Portman Road. They have ground through an enervating seven-game schedule over the past month, enduring a solitary defeat but not quite securing the wins that would mean an instant Premier League return. McKenna’s team have only lost once in 14 games; a side that took time to acclimatise appear to have developed a steely resilience at the right time and it speaks volumes that, with a vastly reshaped group, the manager is on the brink of a third ascent of his four and a half years in charge.
Bournemouth’s technical director, Simon Francis, is set to leave at the end of this season, it is reported. The former defender has been with the club 15 years, helping them climb the divisions, and then assisting Richard Hughes, now at Liverpool, before succeeding him.
Brighton, who play at Newcastle on Saturday, have a new means of dealing with set-piece strong-arm tactics: MMA fighter Christian Eckerlin, a pal of Fabian Hurzeler, who said: “It was a couple of months ago. We brought him in because we spoke a lot about set-pieces, blocking, new trends in the Premier League. Therefore we tried to adapt to it as well,” said Hurzeler.
“I don’t always want to be known as a club that is nice. In certain moments you need to be quite resilient in personal duels. There are different ways of being resilient, of using a block, different techniques to win one-v-one duels – especially at set-pieces.
“An MMA fighter always has one-against-one duels. They always need to find a way to beat an opponent. We try to get ideas from other sports and this was an idea we used. If it stays in a player’s mind then that’s always a positive thing. As a club we’re not known as being so dominant in set-pieces.
“That’s what we face against Newcastle. We might not be that physical but there are always ways you can defend and attack in one-on-one duels at set-pieces and that’s why we try to use techniques from MMA as well.”
Illegal streamers face a hefty bill, according to a BBC report.
Five members of a gang who were sent to prison for illegally streaming Premier League games have been ordered by the court to return their profits, worth £3.75m.
Gould, originally sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2023, was this week ordered by Derby Crown Court to forfeit the proceeds of his criminal activities and return £2.35m within three months or face a further prison sentence of 10 years.
More McFarlane, on the pull of the poisoned chalice of the Chelsea manager’s job: “I don’t think I have to sell that in all honesty, it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world, with a great history of winning. We’ve got some unbelievable players, some of the best players in the world, great training facilities. You’ve got everything you could want.”
Bad news for Aston Villa, for that crunch game with Spurs on Sunday. Amadou Onana is out, according to Unai Emery. Onana pulled up in Thursday’s Europa League meeting with Nottingham Forest: “Difficult. He had a scan and we will see the consequences after it and how he is feeling, but for Sunday it is sure he is not available.”
McFarlane speaks: “We just have to keep winning our games. The mood has been lifted after a recent run of losses.”
On the prickly question of Cucurella, Enzo and Joao Pedro spending time in Madrid, even hanging out with Jude Bellingham: “It says a lot of the group that they go away together. I love that they spend time together. They went to Madrid to watch tennis, I don’t see an issue. It is positive sign for the unity of the group.”
Afternoon, all. Here’s those promised Calum McFarlane quotes.
My power hour on the blog is coming to an end, with John Brewin the next man in the hot-seat.
He’s got some red-hot chat from Chelsea interim manager Calum McFarlane to slice into this afternoon.
What about League One this weekend?
Well, Pep Guardiola’s favourite team Stockport County need a point at Barnsley to confirm a playoff place; as do Bradford, who are away at Exeter – who themselves need to win and hope Leyton Orient lose to stay up. Stevenage occupy the final playoff spot, but Luton and Plymouth are lurking. Those two will have to win and hope other results go in their favour.
Here’s the table as it stands ahead of the final day.
Mikel Arteta dubbed Marco Silva “one of the best managers in the league”, so what does the Fulham coach have to say for himself? His team have the opportunity to further disrupt Arsenal’s title bid when they visit the Emirates on Saturday evening.
Silva said: “Arsenal are a top side, a side that are title contenders, that play to win all of their games, but are also the most solid team in the league. They are a team, that even if they are not playing at their best level, they have other ways to punish the opposition.
“We just have to look at ourselves and be competitive to fight for the three points. Three points to fight for – and we will fight.”
On playing at a potentially tense and nervy Emirates, Silva said: “Let’s hope we can use that. That depends on many things.
“Whether the environment is tense or not depends on how we play and whether we are good enough to make it happen. Simple as that.”
Mourinho says he’s had no contact from Real Madrid
Benfica’s José Mourinho said there has been no contact between him and Real Madrid, despite speculation the Spanish giants could turn to the Portuguese this summer.
The former Manchester United and Chelsea boss, who led Los Blancos from 2010 to 2013 in a heated rivalry with Pep Guardiola’s Barca, is reported to be on Madrid’s shortlist for a new coach.
Current Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa seems set to be replaced with the team heading for a second consecutive season without a major trophy.
“No one from Real Madrid has spoken to me. I can guarantee that,” Mourinho told reporters. “I’ve been in football for so many years and I’m used to these things… but there’s nothing from Real Madrid,” added Mourinho, who guided Real to the 2012 La Liga title.
“I have a year to go on my Benfica contract, and that’s all.”
Some more from De Zerbi, who has really come out fighting at this presser …
We go to play one of the best teams in the Premier League at the moment but if Tottenham win at Villa Park it’s not a miracle. Maybe we [will] lose but we have the quality to win this game. We have to be positive because we are lucky to work in a big club.
If Xavi and Solanke are injured we can play with Kolo Muani, Tel, Richarlison. These are not bad players. We have [available] Porro, Van de Ven, Udogie …
All these things I don’t have too much time to hear these things.
De Zerbi: No ‘crying’ or excuses for Tottenham
Roberto De Zerbi is not allowing himself or his Tottenham squad any room to make excuses ahead of their vital game against Aston Villa this weekend.
Spurs once again have a huge injury list but may have to beat Villa on Sunday to stand any chance of lifting themselves out of the bottom three. De Zerbi got his first win as Tottenham coach last week against Wolves but his team remain two points adrift of safety – with the likes of Guglielmo Vicario, Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons unavailable this weekend.
He said: “Listen, I want to be clear one time. The most important challenge now is to silence the voice inside of us, inside of the players, the staff, the fans. This voice produce negative thoughts and the voice says we are unlucky, we have too many injuries. We lost Xavi Simons and he was one of the most important players for us in the past two games. Our medical staff is not good enough, our stadium pitch is not good enough, our training pitch is not good enough. It’s all negative things and it’s rubbish.
“I want to keep the focus on myself and the quality of my players. It’s like we’re all crying and relegated. No, not yet. It’s not the best moment, it’s a tough moment, but the losers cry. They think negatively. I don’t want people close to me crying and thinking in a different way to me.We are good enough to win the games and we good enough to stay up.”
Before we get back on the presser trail, how about a moment for the scrap for EFL survival at the bottom of League Two?
Basement boys Barrow, who are three points adrift, should be relegated to the National League barring a mathematical miracle. But above them Crawley and Harrogate are locked on 39 points, then there’s Newport and Tranmere both on 40. The final day (tomorrow) sees Crawley host Salford, Harrogate welcome Barnet, while Tranmere are at home to Grimsby and Newport are away to Barrow. Here’s how it all stands.
Thanks Luke, here I am.
Good grief there is quite the flurry of manager press conferences going on right now. Let’s get stuck in.
Dominic Booth is here for the next bit. De Zerbi is soon to face the music, I hear, and there are other managers up shortly too.
Arteta to use ‘siege mentality’ in Arsenal title charge
“Let’s see how everyone is tomorrow,” Mikel Arteta says of their injury woes before facing Fulham tomorrow.
Kai Havertz and and Jürrien Timber will be sidelined this weekend, Arteta confirms, but he is more confident on Martin Ødegaard’s prospects.
You said you were fuming after Atlético, how about now?
“Focus on Fulham. Hunger to play, compete, win, to be closer to achieve our dream.
“I haven’t spoken to Uefa [about the penalty that wasn’t against Atlético]. We will deal with that on Monday. Now it’s Fulham.”
Can a sense of injustice be fuel for the run-in?
“Maybe. I think we have enough fuel in the tank. It’s exactly where we wanted to be, four games to go.
“We have a siege mentality. We need to face any context, any situation. What happened the other night was extremely disappointing.”
What does he see from his players?
“Hunger. Hunger to win. That’s it. To achieve the goal we set at the start of the season.”
A message for fans?
“Let’s give them what we did all season. Energy, passion … and together we’re going to make it happen.
“It’s a lot of factors, emotionally for sure we have to manage in the right way. That desire, hunger, will that we’ve shown all season. We only have four games left.”
“Marco [Silva] is one of the best managers in the league. We know how tough it is going to be tomorrow.
“[Injured] Havertz has been a huge miss. One of the most important attacking payers we have. He was out for seven, eight months. And he’s not the only one. But the team has shown it can overcome these scenarios. Kai is desperate to be on the pitch as soon as possible. He cannot do this game, but hopes to be back for Atlético.”
Pereira: Forest may need 43 points to stay up
Ben Fisher
Vítor Pereira has predicted Nottingham Forest may need a record 43 points to avoid relegation from the Premier League and joked that tuning into their rivals’ matches is enough to put him off his food. The Forest head coach has told his revitalised squad they must be ready to fight until the final minute of the season, despite establishing a five-point buffer to 18th-placed Tottenham with four games remaining.
Pereira’s side are unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions after victory over Aston Villa in their Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday but the Portuguese believes Forest may need to eclipse West Ham’s 42 points in 2003, the highest tally to culminate in top-flight relegation. Asked if Forest may require 43 points to avoid the drop, Pereira replied: “I believe [so]. That’s why we need to be mentally ready to compete until the last minute of the last game. I don’t know how many points [we will need] because I think this season, it will be a special season in terms of points to avoid relegation. It is better to try to win every game, not wait for other results.”
Forest face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday hoping to maintain momentum and stretch their unbeaten streak to 10 matches. West Ham visit Brentford on Saturday and Tottenham travel to Aston Villa on Sunday but Pereira has said he will not be consumed by rivals’ results. “Do they play [at] lunch time or dinner time?” Pereira said of the weekend fixtures. “Because if they play at lunchtime, and I watch the game, maybe I won’t have a good lunch. [I will have] indigestion. I cannot suffer the results of the other teams. I prefer to have a good lunch. I prefer to have a good dinner.”
Much more to come from Mainoo, says Carrick
Michael Carrick of Manchester United is asked about Kobbie Mainoo.
“I’ve been hugely impressed with Kobbie. I’ve known him some time in different capacities. He epitomises this club. Young players coming through the academy, living and breathing the club, coming through with real talent. The last couple of games he’s been fantastic. Everyone’s over the moon, including me, that he’s signed a new contract. He deserves it.
“Like all the players [when I came in, it was about] trying to get that connection, building relationships … understanding his last couple of years, the big highs, the challenging times… letting him thrive, to let him go and be himself … he’s improved, he keeps adding to his game – that opportunity for him to go and be the best version. There’s a lot more to come, I’ve said that. He’s in a great spot at the moment.
Is Liverpool still the biggest game for Manchester United?
“Certainly one of my favourite games, yeah, without doubt. It’s a standout game. Therre are big games, big rivalries with other teams but this one is right up there … the excitement, the entertainment, the emotion, it makes it a really special game. That edge, that competition, irrespective of league positions over the years, it’s never changed the feeling of the game, the emotions of the supporters … it’s just a special game to be part of. To come out on top is one of the best feelings you’ll get.
“First of all it’s a real privilege for us all to be involved in it. I think that’s the beauty of football. We all get wound up at different times about what’s going on week to week … to sustain a level of performance over time for each football club. It’s what you stand for as a club and it’s two incredible clubs, to be so close together in so many ways, in terms of titles and geographically. It’s quite special and I think we all appreciate that.”
Does he need to give Casemiro any advice?
“It’s interesting in how much you give certain players. It’s knowing when to come off and let them thrive, let them develop [with younger players] … then there’s the stage when there is a lot of experience … trusting them to know themselves, speaking to them on a level when there’s understanding there. That’s been the case with Casemiro, real trust in his experience. I was personally proud I sustained my career for a period of time. To do what he’s done takes a lot of work, and he should take a lot of credit for doing what he has.”
Michael Carrick is having a chat before Manchester United v Liverpool (Sunday 3.30pm).
Louise Taylor
Eddie Howe has emerged from a meeting with Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian owners confident he retains their support but also acutely aware that such backing is finite, with the manager admitting “a lot is riding” on Saturday’s visit of Brighton.
Howe will aim to end a run of five straight defeats against Fabian Hürzeler’s side at St James’ Park and is under no illusion of the significance of the task ahead. “We need a win,” admitted Newcastle’s manager. “There’s a lot riding on this weekend for us. You can talk as much as you want but the proof is in how the team performs. I’m under no illusion that needs to be positive.”
Andoni Iraola speaks. Can Bournemouth get to Europe?
“The opportunity is there. but we still need a lot of points. The situation is tight. A lot of teams are within two-three points. If we want to get to Europe we need to win games, starting on Sunday against Palace. We don’t have an easy game. We have to earn everything. We want to take this opportunity, and I think we arrive at this decisive moment in a good place.”
Will nine points get the job done for Europe?
“We really don’t know … everyone is fighting for everything … I think everyone has difficult games. I think we need to win … at least two games, maybe three.
“I would love it [European qualification as a parting gift to the club] … we have to take the opportunity. I think we are in a good place, we are playing well … we lost two points [in the 2-2 draw against Leeds] I liked what I saw. We created plenty of chances. We are playing well.”
Justin Kluivert back in training after five months out – a boost?
“It’s very positive news. A very important player in our team. He has been training at a good level this week, but not fully … he will help us in the last games of the season … his knee is responding well, no swelling, no issues, but for this game it will be too much.
“The only one out injured is Lewis Cook.”
Leicester are down to League One, but they will always have 2015-16. Ben Fisher reminisces with some of the key players in their Premier League triumph:
“Wow! Millwall vs Oxford? I’m so excited for you, I guess,” emails Michael Lafua from Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
“You might just be administered another dose of the PSG v Bayern goal rush. But I guess not. What would I be doing this weekend? Hmm .. I’ll probably read a novel, sneak a peek as Arsenal bottles it against Fulham, cheer on Man Utd as we return to the European summit.”
And here’s an email from Bede:
“The last time Pep shrugged off the fixture pileup a few months back his team went on to perform badly. He needs to be very careful about that because I’m quite invested in Arsenal’s collapse and will be utterly disappointed if City were to lose this race.”
No further Arsenal-baiting will be tolerated.
There was an impressive casualness to the way Guardiola inquired what time Arsenal are kicking off against Fulham tomorrow, having been asked if he will watch the Gunners’ game this weekend.
“Oh, it’s after training, maybe I will watch,” he said after being informed it’s 5.30pm.
Mindgames, isn’t it? Wasn’t it?
Rob Edwards, boss of relegated Wolves, is having a chat now.
“There was nothing in it,” he says of last weekend’s 1-0 defeat by Spurs. “Either team could have won it and we came out the wrong side of it.”
How is he managing the situation after relegation?
“You guys will be thinking it’s worse than what it is. It’s a difficult situation but I feel we are getting the most out of the group.
“The training levels are through the roof, the lads are giving everything … We’ll always make mistakes, we’re not perfect … but the lads are giving everything, they really are, and I need to stress that.”
Players are going to leave in the summer. How much of a blow would it be to lose João Gomes?
“We’ve got some really good players and there will be interest … João is a really good player.”
How can the team rebuild the bond with fans?
“In the end we’ve got to win games … we’ve got to find a winning team. I left a good job where a team was winning … I have to stay strong, take a lot on my shoulders, take some stick – which I don’t look at, but I know it’ll be there … Results are the one thing we can’t guarantee but we’re doing everything we can.
And what of the challenge against Sunderland at Molineux tomorrow?
“Sunderland have done incredibly well, they’ve had a great couple of years … they’ve got talented individuals, real power and athleticism, and a good way of playing. It’ll be a tough game, as they all are. Look where we are in the league.”