Author: The Nation

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has spoken out about his admiration for today’s opponents Leeds United, heaping praise on the achievements and performances of the Yorkshire club so far this season.

Pep Guardiola is certainly very wary of the threat Marcelo Bielsa’s men can pose for his Manchester City side this weekend, who come into the game off the back of a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.

Speaking during his press conference ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash between the two sides at the Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola was quick to praise his opponents.

“The quality of the manager and the backroom staff show in the position of the table. Being promoted last season and already safe. They have done incredibly well all season”, said Guardiola.

He continued, “I’m pretty sure they deserved completely what they got so far. I admire a lot of things they do, especially how they behave on the pitch.”

“It doesn’t matter the opponent or the competition, it is a completely different game to what we have played so far because they demand you to do something that you are not used to.”

Pep Guardiola’s side are currently just three matches away from being able to wrap up the Premier League title, however Leeds United remain a tough test for the Blues, and they themselves will be looking to break into the top-half of the league table this weekend.

Last time out in the reverse fixture, Manchester City were held to a tough 1-1 draw at Elland Road in October – a game in which many Blues will remember as the moment Ruben Dias announced himself as a Premier League player for the first time.

Jose Mourinho has claimed he will resist the temptation to discuss Manchester United’s prolific threat from the penalty spot with his Tottenham players.

United travel to face Spurs tomorrow  having been awarded nine penalties in 30 Premier League games this season, scoring eight. Only Leicester have been awarded more, 10.

Bruno Fernandes scored his 11th  penalty of the season in all competitions as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team won 2-0 at Granada in the first leg of their Europa League quarter final on Thursday.

“I cannot go to a football match concerned, I can’t,” said Spurs boss Mourinho when asked about United’s penalty threat. “I don’t think it’s the right frame of mind to go to a football match concerned. So I’m not going concerned. And I don’t want my players to be.

“They have to go to a football match with positive feelings, enjoying the game, enjoying the dimension and the difficulty of the game. Coping with the responsibility. Coping with the pressure, good pressure. So that’s what I want.

Barcelona travel to Real Madrid tonight in what is set to be one of the most pivotal El Clasico meetings in recent memory, with both sides fast closing in on stuttering Atletico Madrid at the top of the La Liga table, reports OLUWAMAYOMIKUN OREKOYA.

Barcelona head into the game two points ahead of Real Madrid and aiming to keep the pressure on leaders Atletico. Only three points separate the top three as we head towards the run-in, and tonight’s game could go a long way to deciding where title ends up at the end of the season.

Atletico’s loss away to Sevilla last weekend has blown the Spanish title race wide open. For the first time in more than three months, The Catalans depend on their own results to be crowned La Liga champions. They travel to the Spanish capital unbeaten in 19 league games; win their remaining nine fixtures and they will finish top for the first time in two years.

With Atletico not in action until tomorrow night, Barcelona will overtake the long-time leaders by avoiding defeat against Los Blancos.

The Catalan giants warmed up for this contest with a 1-0 triumph over Real Valladolid on Monday evening, the decisive goal coming from Ousmane Dembele during the closing stages.

Real Madrid are also playing with belief and real momentum. Zinedine Zidane’s side are flying high after their comprehensive 3-1 victory over Liverpool in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday.

Real Madrid beat FC Barcelona 3- 1 at the Camp Nou last October. This time, Los Blancos will have to play the game just four days after beating Liverpool and barely three days before the return leg at Anfield, so coach Zidane and his staff will need to make sure that every player is fresh and ready to go, given that Barcelona will be rested.

Real Madrid had a number of injury issues to contend with for their European clash against Liverpool, not least to starting centre-back duo Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, but Zidane produced a tactical masterclass to restrict Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane to just one away goal with his makeshift defence.

Nacho and Eder Militao formed a sturdy acquaintanceship, while Lucas Vazquez, a winger by trade, continued his role as an auxiliary right-back in place of the injured Dani Carvajal, performing the duty with merit on Tuesday night. Ferland Mendy was equally impressive on the opposite flank.

The illustrious midfield trident of Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos were naturally dominant and telepathically in sync, providing the nucleus and heartbeat of the side so Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior and Marco Asensio could run riot up the turf. It’s an XI Zidane will likely stay true to for this weekend’s game.

Eden Hazard remains sidelined, while the convalescing dynamo, Federico Valverde, collected valuable minutes against Jurgen Klopp’s men, entering the fray late on. If Zidane does tinker, it may be with Valverde, potentially keeping Modric on ice for the visit to Merseyside, but in truth, the Frenchman will not be taking this Clasico lightly, particularly with how tight things are at La Liga’s summit. So a full strength team is expected.

For Karim Benzema, the “El Clásico is the greatest game in the world”.

The Frenchman sat down for an interview with LaLiga as he offered his thoughts on today’s clash: “It’ll be a tough game. Barcelona also like to get on the ball, but so do we. The game will be decided in the middle third. Just like in the reverse fixture, we’ll go out to win because it’s like a cup final for us. I’m in really good shape, both physically and mentally. My body and all of the other bodies in the squad are ready for this really crucial period”.

“For me and everyone, it’s the greatest game in the world and that’s what makes it so special to score in it. When you’re lucky enough to score a goal against them it leaves a different taste in your mouth because it’s a Clásico. Both clubs have great history and it’s a really important game. It was always a dream of mine to play in it. Clásicos are games that everyone watches from a young age and I’m now lucky enough to be playing in them. There’s a lot of pressure before you get out there, so just imagine what it’s like when you’re out on the pitch. However, we enjoy all of the games we play against Barcelona”.

Benzema, who is on track to record the highest-scoring season of his career, also believes that Barcelona will look to keep possession and depend on Argentine captain Lionel Messi to grind out the win.

“They always have possession; they have a good goalkeeper and Messi, the player who does everything for Barcelona. We have to be careful because he is very dangerous,” he warned.

Meanwhile, Barca’s Ansu Fati and Philippe Coutinho remain long-term absentees, the latter of whom may not play again this season, and Gerard Pique faces a race for fitness to be available for this weekend’s match, but Koeman may be able to call upon Sergi Roberto.

Koeman’s latest tactical set-up has ‘Total Football’ written all over it, with Frenkie de Jong, an adherent of Cruyffian principles having progressed through the Ajax academy, recently taking on an esoteric role as a libero in the heart of Barcelona’s defence, a role once perfected by his manager during the club’s ‘Dream Team’ era.

However, De Jong has since issued a message to Koeman, expressing his desire to play in midfield, though he remains happy to fill in where the team needs. “I prefer playing in central midfield, but if it is best for the team that I play at the back or in another position, I’ll do it,” De Jong said.

“We changed the system today and I’ve played in many positions.”

The recent tweak has yielded some huge results in the past few weeks, including a 6-1 win over Real Sociedad, so Koeman may keep the experiment going, with this latest match-up the real acid test for determining just how effective the system is against elite opposition.

One player whom has been looking forward to renewing hostilities with Los Blancos is youngster Pedri.

The teenager got his first taste of the famous fixture earlier this season at the Camp Nou and admits the fixture is “super important” for both sets of supporters.

“I think it’s super important because of what it means to the fans. The supporters really love this game and I used to love watching it, too. Now I’m a footballer I’m really looking forward to it, just as I did the first time around.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard says he is “frustrated and angry” at social media companies about continued online abuse and hopes the club’s boycott will help bring about changes.

On Thursday, Rangers announced a player and management team social media boycott in response to online abuse and discrimination.

The club said they were concerned with the daily racist abuse their players have to endure, with captain James Tavernier telling Sky Sports News before the Old Firm game on March 21 every black player at the club has been abused on social media this season.

Sky Bet Championship clubs Swansea City and Birmingham City also announced on Thursday they are boycotting social media for one week following a spate of “abhorrent” racial abuse on platforms.

In his press conference ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership fixture against Hibs, Gerrard said: “It’s been spoken about for long enough now, and it doesn’t seem like Instagram or Twitter or the social media outlets are taking any notice and they’re not listening.

“I think the only way they will take note is if it goes above them. And probably the only people to do that are probably the governments.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has said Christian Pulisic will be a “huge weapon” for the club if he overcomes the physical and confidence issues affecting his form.

The United States international has struggled for game-time during an injury-affected campaign, starting just four matches since Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as head coach in late January.

Pulisic has suffered with lingering hamstring problems ever since sustaining the original injury in last year’s FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal.

He was substituted in last weekend’s 5-2 defeat to West Brom at half-time — after scoring in the first half — after feeling he was at risk of aggravating the issue if he played on.

Pulisic is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2024 but has been linked with a move away if he continues to be a peripheral figure in west London.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said Edinson Cavani is “unsure” about his Manchester United future amid interest from Boca Juniors.

Sources have told ESPN that Cavani is “closer than ever” to agreeing a deal with Boca rather than extending his stay at Old Trafford into a second season.

Speaking ahead of the trip to Tottenham on Sunday, Solskjaer hinted that the decision is in Cavani’s hands and that the 34-year-old was yet to inform the club of his plans.

“I’ve kept in touch with Edi of course,” Solskjaer said. “We keep an open dialogue and he’s still unsure what he wants to do next season, which I find fine. It’s not been an easy year either for him or the rest of the world, this season, so he still wants time to make his mind up.

“I’m very sure we will get the good version of Edinson for the rest of the season. He knows this is the business end of season.

“He’s been so positive in and around the place, he’s been great to have.”

United’s trip to Tottenham will be the first time they have faced Jose Mourinho’s side since the 6-1 defeat at Old Trafford in October.

Zinedine Zidane has said he hopes Lionel Messi stays at Barcelona, saying his presence is “good for La Liga” ahead of an El Clasico clash that could help decide the title race.

Real Madrid host Barcelona on Saturday with both teams looking to chase down leaders Atletico, with Barca just one point off the top, and Madrid two points further back.

Messi has failed to score in the last seven Clasicos, last finding the net in the fixture in May 2018. He is yet to announce a decision on his future, with his Camp Nou contract expiring in June.

“I hope he stays at Barcelona,” Zidane said when asked if this could be Messi’s last Clasico. “He’s fine there, and it’s good for the Spanish league too.

“We know the player Messi is, that won’t change, even if he doesn’t score,

“But we play against Barcelona. It’s Madrid-Barcelona. They’re all really good. We’ll try to overcome their strengths and we’ll try to play a good game with the ball.”

Madrid go into the match in arguably their best form of the season having beaten Liverpool 3-1 in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg in midweek and have gone nine games unbeaten in La Liga.