Coronavirus: Ed Woodward kicks against voiding of EPL, Liverpool being denied title

Ed Woodward kicks against voiding of EPL, Liverpool being denied title

Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, has kicked against the Premier League being voided, because it would deny Liverpool the title.

English football is currently on a lockdown, following the coronavirus pandemic.

It has led to suggestions that the present campaign might be scrapped, with time running bent complete it.

The Athletic reports that Woodward isn't in support of the season being voided, stating that it might not be “very fair”.

Liverpool have a 25-point gap at the highest of the table and appearance set to finish their 30-year await a league title.

United themselves can still qualify for the Champions League following a powerful unbeaten run.

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LaLiga: Barcelona to sell Griezmann for €100m

LaLiga: Barcelona to sell Griezmann for €100m

Barcelona are able to sell Antoine Griezmann, but one year after signing him from Atletico Madrid, consistent with Sport.

The LaLiga champions could accept a bid of €100 million (£92m) for the France forward.

Barca chiefs feel Griezmann isn't an important addition to the squad.

Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are possible destinations for Griezmann, who has 14 goals and 4 assists to his name this season.

It is believed that the Catalans try to boost funds to form a move for Neymar again.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward has turned down the offer of a replacement deal and needs to return to the Camp Nou.

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Coronavirus: UEFA set to conclude Champions League, Europa League in four days

Coronavirus: UEFA set to conclude Champions League, Europa League in four days Published 1 day ago on St Patrics day

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) will consider an idea that might see the Champions League and Europa League finish in only four days following the coronavirus outbreak in Europe.

Both the Champions League and Europa League fixtures are postponed in the week .

The quarter-final draw for both tournaments, which were scheduled to be persisted Friday, has also been canceled thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

UEFA is yet to make a decision when the fixtures are going to be played, but all the main league in Europe, including English Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 have all suspended their domestic fixtures until April.

However, consistent with the Daily Telegraph, UEFA is now seriously deliberating whether it might be possible to play the semi-finals and therefore the final over a four-day window in Istanbul.

The newspaper reports that the proposal would also apply to the Europa League, with the ultimate thanks to be held in Gdansk, Poland.

Many conference calls are thanks to be held by UEFA on Tuesday to debate various proposals.

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Liverpool's Mane: I didn't know Premier League winners got medals

Liverpool's Mane: I didn't know Premier League winners got medals

Sadio Mane "never knew" that Premier League winners were awarded medals, with one almost certainly heading his way as Liverpool's march to the title continues.

The Senegal forward has been a key player in the Reds' stunning campaign, scoring 13 goals and assisting six in 24 appearances.

Jurgen Klopp's side sit 22 points clear at the summit with 11 games remaining, putting a first top-flight crown in 30 years firmly within their grasp.

But the medal which will come with it is of little interest to Mane.

"I heard yesterday that if we win the league, we will have a medal," he told BBC World Service.

"I never knew that happened, but I don't care about medals."

After missing out to Manchester City in a thrilling title race last season, Liverpool have made things look easy this time around.

Mane, however, insists it has been anything but.

"Easy? Oh, I wish," he said. "We know the Premier League is the best league in the world and every single game you have to give 100 per cent if you want to win.

"It's what we always try and I think it's working very well, but we have to keep working hard to get what we want.

"Our target from the beginning was to win the league, so if we win it, it will be great for the club and for the fans."

With Klopp having brought the Champions League trophy to Anfield, a maiden Premier League title could lead to a statue of the German being built outside the club's home ground.

It is an honour Mane believes his manager would deserve.

"For sure I think there will be one because he is a great manager and he is doing very well for the club and the players," he said.

"He has his specific way of doing things and he gives his players more responsibility on the pitch which is really important.

"At the same time, he is very friendly with his players so that is one of his big strengths."

Liverpool head to Watford on Saturday with a chance to increase their lead at the top to 25 points due to City facing Aston Villa in the EFL Cup final on Sunday.

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Man Utd to face LASK in Europa League last 16 Fred scored twice for Manchester United against Club Brugge

Man Utd to face LASK in Europa League last 16
Fred scored twice for Manchester United against Club Brugge

Manchester United will face LASK in the last 16 of the Europa League, while Inter shall meet LaLiga side Getafe.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, who thrashed Club Brugge 6-1 on aggregate in the last 32, will travel to Austria for the first leg before hosting the Bundesliga leaders.

In terms of UEFA coefficient, the tie will pit the lowest-ranked side left in the competition against the highest-ranked side.

Antonio Conte's Inter face a tough task in the form of Getafe, who knocked out Ajax in the previous round, while Olympiacos - fresh from defeating Arsenal in extra time - tackle another English side in Wolves.

Steven Gerrard's Rangers will take on Bayer Leverkusen, and five-time winners Sevilla play Roma.

The matches will be played across March 12 and March 19.

Europa League last-16 draw in full:

Istanbul Basaksehir v Copenhagen

Olympiacos v Wolves

Rangers v Bayer Leverkusen

Wolfsburg v Shakhtar Donetsk

Inter v Getafe

Sevilla v Roma

Eintracht Frankfurt/Salzburg v Basel

LASK v Manchester United

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Liverpool taking coronavirus seriously but yet to reassess pre-season plans, says Klopp Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool taking coronavirus seriously but yet to reassess pre-season plans, says Klopp
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool are not taking the coronavirus threat lightly but are yet to consider amending their pre-season schedule, according to Jurgen Klopp.

The illness, which emerged in China's Hubei province in December, has now affected people in at least 53 countries and killed more than 2,800.

Italy has been most impacted by the virus in Europe, with several towns in the nation's northern regions put on lockdown.

That has led to widespread postponements of sporting events at all levels, while five of this weekend's Serie A matches are set to be played behind closed doors, including the Derby d'Italia between Juventus and Inter.

Newcastle United have taken to banning handshakes among players and staff as a prevention method following medical advice, but Liverpool are not making such decisions just yet.

Klopp was unaware of whether the issue will affect their pre-season plans, which according to reports could include a game in Asia.

"Not yet, over pre-season we've not thought of changes yet," Klopp told reporters on Friday. "The biomedical department, all advice we get from there.

"But if you [the media] come in here and don't shake hands, I'm now only two metres away from you, so whatever you have I probably can't avoid getting it as well. We had an interview outside and were even closer.

"We take it really serious, but you can't avoid everything. It's not a football problem, it's a society problem, what we all have in common, so I think everybody is thinking about it at the moment.

"Hopefully the people who are much smarter than us find a way to [end the illness], or medicine, as that's obviously the big problem at the moment, we don't have that yet.

"Hopefully it will settle, but at the moment we deal like all other people, take it seriously and maybe don't do things like maybe you would usually do, but it's like when flu is going around.

"For us it's the same, we can't do anything different to that and I think in the moment everyone takes it serious.

"We've not told anyone not to shake hands, but then we haven't said you have to shake hands. We have all these disinfection places where we can wash our hands, but is that enough? We don't know.

"No one has told us that we can't play football, and as long as that doesn't happen we will play football.

"It's important we take it seriously but not get crazy, because there are other areas in the world where it's more difficult and hopefully we find a really quick solution."

Liverpool are next in action on Saturday as they go to relegation-threatened Watford.

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Solskjaer a better manager than last year, says Man Utd midfielder Matic

Solskjaer a better manager than last year, says Man Utd midfielder Matic

Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has become a better manager since last year.

After a run of two wins in seven games in all competitions at the start of 2020, the Red Devils have shown encouraging signs of progress in recent weeks, particularly since the arrival of January signing Bruno Fernandes.

Thursday's 5-0 Europa League thrashing of Club Brugge stretched United's unbeaten run to seven matches, while they have kept clean sheets in six of those.

With a Europa League last-16 tie with LASK and an FA Cup fifth-round trip to Derby County to come, United have high hopes of ending the season with a trophy.

They are also just three points outside the Premier League's top four, making a return to the Champions League a realistic possibility.

Solskjaer's job appeared to be under scrutiny during the their more difficult runs this season, but Matic, who initially struggled for regular first-team football under the Norwegian but has become increasingly important to the side, thinks his manager is getting better with experience.

"He's improving, for sure, getting more experience, and for sure he will be better and better," Matic told Sky Sports.

"Like every manager … Carlo Ancelotti, now and 20 years ago, for sure he's not the same. He knows more, he has more experience. For sure, it will be the same as Ole.

"He is a much better manager than one year ago, in my opinion, because now he knows all the players, he knows exactly what he needs to do before the game, after the game. For his job, experience is very important."

United face Everton at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Sunday before the cup clash with Derby on March 5.

They then host Premier League champions Manchester City on March 8.

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Kane back in Spurs training

Kane back in Spurs training ahead of schedule, Mourinho confirms
Harry Kane of Tottenham

Jose Mourinho has confirmed Harry Kane's recovery from surgery on a hamstring injury is going better than expected after the striker made his return to Tottenham training.

Kane sustained the injury on New Year's Day during a defeat to Southampton, and the issue required him to have an operation.

It was initially thought Kane would be out until April, before Mourinho suggested May 9 was a more realistic date for his return, when Spurs are scheduled to face Leicester City on the season's penultimate matchday.

But Kane began "on-field rehabilitation" on Friday, and Mourinho is now optimistic about potentially having the England captain back in contention a little earlier – though he stopped short of setting another date as a target.

"I would say a little bit ahead [of schedule]," Mourinho said of Kane's return to training.

"It gives me a hope of, instead of [only being able to play] one or two matches [at the end of the season], [he may play] three, four or five.

"I don't know - I'm just speculating a little bit - but the feelings are good. He's doing what he can do at this stage but always with a good feeling.

"Sometimes [players] follow protocol and [suffer] some setbacks because of not the best feeling on this action or that movement, but everything is going well. He's having very good feelings. So, I'm positive.

"When he was injured, I told you I will forget him, then I told you [he could play] one or two games - Crystal Palace or Leicester.

"At the moment, I have better hopes than that, so hopefully that feeling is right and he can help us in the last part of the season.

"Of course, in the club, people know him much better than I do. Every time he has a problem, he's the kind of guy that doesn't accept protocols, a date, a fixture. He always tries to go ahead.

"He's the kind of guy that we have a very good control and communication. Sometimes the players break protocol and come back earlier than expected. It happened with Hugo [Lloris], who played a couple of weeks before we could expect.

"Let's see with Harry. He's obviously a great professional and a fighter and he wants to be back as soon as possible. What's 'as soon as possible'? I don't know."

Mourinho was similarly optimistic about the return of Son Heung-min, who broke his arm against Aston Villa and also required surgery, leading the Spurs boss to effectively rule him out for the rest of the season.

Now Tottenham hope he could also be in contention for the latter stages of 2019-20, but first the club must follow the government's coronavirus safety protocols, with Son soon expected to return from a trip to South Korea.

"That's a hope but we're far from it," Mourinho said of Son potentially returning early. "He's coming back soon [to the UK] and we have to follow safety protocols, then we'll look at all the possibilities.

"I cannot imagine when, but there's a good chance that before the end of the season we have Harry and Son playing together."

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Guardiola hails Aguero for 'incredible' Madrid gesture as Man City boss targets 'massive' cup triumph

Guardiola hails Aguero for 'incredible' Madrid gesture as Man City boss targets 'massive' cup triumph

Pep Guardiola has lauded Sergio Aguero for his "incredible" reaction to learning he was not in the starting line-up against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Neither Aguero nor David Silva got off the bench as City claimed a 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu to take control of the Champions League last-16 tie.

Both players, along with Raheem Sterling, will now be pushing to start on Sunday when City aim to win a third EFL Cup in a row by defeating Aston Villa at Wembley.

Far from feeling they reacted angrily to being left out of the side in the Spanish capital, Guardiola has called for every player to follow the example set by Silva, Sterling and Aguero in particular.

"In these three guys, the behaviour in the locker toom was an incredible exception, specifically these three players," he said on Friday. "It was exceptional. I'm so proud about the reaction they had, knowing they wanted to play, of course, I understand that.

"Sergio was incredible, honestly, I never could express my gratitude and my thanks to him, to understand me a little bit and to help the team, being a legend as he is for what he has done for this club. I need him; we need him. I know he is ready to help us, and David as well, and even John [Stones], and Oleks [Zinchenko], and Eric [Garcia] as well, on the bench. My complete gratitude. I would love all the players to be like them."

Guardiola hopes the result in Madrid gives his side confidence as they aim to win what would be an eighth domestic trophy out of the last 11 available to them.

Along with back-to-back EFL Cup and Premier League triumphs, City have also won two Community Shields and last season's FA Cup since finishing empty-handed in Guardiola's first campaign in charge.

"Of course, it's better, it's much better to go to play a final after a good result in Madrid but we cannot live a final thinking how good we were," he said.

"[The tie] is not done, first of all. Always I thought that it's incredibly difficult to win at big, big clubs, but it's an incredible challenge, more difficult to beat them twice. Normally, it doesn't happen. The big clubs can lose one game, but two? Rarely, it's not often. But it helps. In football, teams are a state of emotion. It's better to go to play a final not just with results but with the character, the way we played.

"For the Manchester City fans, they are going to remember [this period]. After winning the Carabao Cup for the first time, we have played 11 competitions. If tomorrow [Sunday] we win, it's eight [trophies], eight from 11 is incredible, and the last six domestic titles, being in the race for them and to win all of them, if we are able to win it…

"There are no words to express the gratitude to the players and the people working together to achieve it. It's so difficult. Honestly. It's so difficult to maintain. Now, we've played [for] 10 tiles, and we've won seven. It's massive."

Guardiola hopes authorities will take only appropriate action amid the proliferation of the novel coronavirus, which is already impacting fixtures across Europe, particularly in Italy.

"It's a worldwide situation," he said. "Always I would like, when we are informed from authorities, politicians, the people in charge, to be serious about the message they are going to tell us as citizens. I think that is the most important thing.

"I think worldwide they are doing as much as possible to eradicate it but try to avoid if it's not necessary to make a big alarm for society. They have a duty to inform what is exactly the situation and prevent if we need it. If not: calm, work and make a normal life for everyone."

Guardiola expects Aymeric Laporte to be sidelined for up to a month with a hamstring problem sustained in Madrid, but the City manager had better news on Leroy Sane, who is to play for the Under-23 side as part of his recovery from a serious knee injury.

"There are a few things I don't like about your country, for example the academy teams cannot play in strongest leagues, but at the same time it's an incredible, good decision here in England that players for the first team, to recover, can play in the second one for their recovery," he added.

"I don't want to put a target line [on his first-team comeback]. We will see the game and speak with him. How does he feel? How did he feel against Arsenal? But it's good."

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