🚨 Klopp keeps it classy, Poch's Palmer praise, ten Hag in fighting mood, Howe's honesty, Gundogan wants City and more
Today's round-up, featuring Man United, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, and much more!
Good morning everyone and welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing - thanks, as always, for reading and for signing up to this newsletter. Enjoy! :-)
Today’s top stories:
🎧 LISTEN: The Debrief Podcast - What do Chelsea need right now?
Plus more on Bayern Munich, Tottenham and Atlético Madrid
Arsenal
Arteta: “Thomas Partey said he’s happy here? He’d better have his head here because we are playing for big things. He’s a top player, he’s under contract for one more year and I’m really happy with Thomas.”
Mikel Arteta had some positive words to say about Bukayo Saka despite the player’s current injury concerns [pictures from Hayters]:
Arsenal plotting big money move for Alexander Isak [The Sun]
Arteta: "Smith-Rowe is 100% part of my plans. You can see the hell of a player that we have in him when he’s fit and playing at that level. It's just about looking forward."
Atlético Madrid
Stefan Savić confirms he has signed a new deal at Atlético Madrid valid until June 2025.
Fernando Torres to leave current role at Atlético Madrid in the summer [Relevo]
Barcelona
Lamine Yamal: "I can't wait for my first Champions League quarter finals. Sometimes I think about how crazy is this when I'm in my room... In my opinion, we'll win 1-0 in Paris on Wednesday. Who scores? Me!"
Joan Laporta said he's rejected a €200m proposal for Lamine Yamal. "I'm so happy about that,” the youngster noted. “The president recognises my job, my football. I'd be super happy to become a Barcelona legend."
Lamine Yamal on his future: "For sure I'd be more than happy to become like Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Puyol; a Barça legend. I hope so. I’m keeping calm, there are still two years before my next contract... it's time to enjoy myself.”
Xavi Hernandez willing to remain as Barcelona manager [Mundo Deportivo]
Gundogan: “Would I like to face Man City in the Champions League final? Yes, of course. I’d like to play the final with Barça. It’d be great, then the opponent doesn’t matter. City have a fantastic team, of course… but in the UCL it’s always tricky.”
Bayern Munich
Tuchel: “Manuel Neuer, Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sané, Aleks Pavlović and Nous Mazraoui are not in the squad. They all have problems. Therefore they are a doubt for Arsenal as well.”
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Burnley
Burnley agree a deal to sign Dutch full-back Shurandy Sambo on a free transfer in the summer, here we go! It’s gonna be a four-year deal for Sambo who is ready for a new chapter in England.
Chelsea
Cole Palmer on Pochettino: "When we scored the third goal, Pochettino said: guys, two minutes, come on. He's always trying to drive us on. We went for it and thankfully we scored."
Pochettino had some words of praise for Cole Palmer after his heroics against Man United [pictures from Sky Sports]:
Pochettino: “I had my reputation to think about when I came to Chelsea, in a project that was to build a team with young, talented players with the potential to become top players. We knew that was going to be a massive challenge but I want to give the team the tools to win games, believe in ourselves and build a very good relationship.”
Pochettino: “For the first time, I started to feel a connection with the fans. This project is different to the last 20 years. I always said that I wanted to build a genuine relationship, not kiss the badge or do stupid things on the touchline to please the fans.”
Si Phillips does a deep dive into Chelsea’s new striker shortlist.
Enzo Fernandez: "I really enjoy playing here at Chelsea. Happy? Yes, of course. I don’t like our place in the standings, that angers me and my team-mates. We want to win. But it's a process and let's hope next season will be much better for us."
FC Basel
FC Basel will receive 40% of the fee for the future sale of Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori. Calafiori is shining at Bologna with top performances as one of best defenders in Serie A. Juventus have been working on a Calafiori deal since January.
Girona
Yan Couto: “Real Madrid want me? Well, it would be an option if they are interested… I’m not going to lie. I’m a Man City player, I have a contract there and it’s my dream to play for City.”
Las Palmas
Las Palmas have approached Layvin Kurzawa to sign him as a free agent in the summer, as he’s set to leave PSG. Kurzawa is still looking and waiting for more options to appear in order to make a decision on his future club.
Liverpool
Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, doesn’t want his club’s supporters or those from Man United to partake in ‘tragedy chanting’ during the match this weekend [pictures from Sky Sports]:
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola: “Ederson is feeling better and he could be back with the squad. Nathan Aké and Kyle Walker will NOT be back against Palace.”
Pep Guardiola offered an update on whether Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland will play at the weekend [pictures from Sky Sports]:
Guardiola: “I think Foden can be a serious contender for PL Player of the Season. Many, many players have played really good this season but I think he can be a contender, for sure; for the numbers, consistency, level of his game.”
Guardiola: "I'm not thinking about the Real game now. If we were 18 points ahead in the PL I'd take two eyes to Madrid, but... no. We're third and not far from top but if we drop points it'll be almost impossible. Nine months fighting, why should we be distracted right now?”
29-year-old Man City star offered to Real Madrid [Don Diario]
Manchester United
Ten Hag reflecting on the Chelsea defeat: "I enjoyed how my team were playing, it was fantastic. We dominated the ball, we dominated the opponent. We dominated the game but we made individual errors that cost us the game. What most frustrates me is that we started the game poor, with individual errors."
Ten Hag: "In five days we dropped five points. That is unacceptable. The quality of our football is really high, but football is about results and you have to bring it over time. We should have a high standard if we want to compete for Champions League football."
Ten Hag: “Marcus Rashford’s form is progressing. He has a big motivation, I’m sure and I see he wants to be successful with us. He wants to win trophies, fight for a Champions League spot and the Euros are coming. So his motivation should be high.”
Ten Hag on United players’ mood: “We will keep fighting and I’m sure you see, our team, they have character. They are resilient and I’m sure they will be there on Sunday. We can compete with and we can beat the best teams in the Premier League.”
“It’s a problem” - Bruno Fernandes makes a big statement [Liverpool ECHO]
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Newcastle United
Eddie Howe on Bruno Guimarães’ future: “My intention would be to keep Bruno here for as long as we possibly can… but I can never make any guarantees as that would be foolish. Who knows what the future holds, but we do our best. Players like Bruno are very, very rare.”
Newcastle eye summer move for Bournemouth defender [Mail Sport]
Sporting
Ruben Amorim: “I can NOT guarantee that I will stay at Sporting next season. I can’t say that like Xabi Alonso did. We have time to discuss my future, we will do that at the right time. Now to focus on winning titles and then we will see what happens.”
The Debrief Podcast
Today’s focus is on Chelsea and the club’s immediate needs in terms of results, finances, incomings and outgoings and a new stadium. Here to break it all down is Chelsea expert and football insider for The Evening Standard, Nizaar Kinsella. Fabrizio Romano joins us in his normal spot — updating Chelsea’s key targets for the summer window and weighing in on the latest rumours from around the game. Could Xavi stay at the Camp Nou after all? Fabrizio explains.
Tottenham Hotspur
Ange Postecoglou gave an update on Tottenham’s injured players before the game against Nottingham Forest [pictures from Hayters]:
Postecoglou: “Manor Solomon is unlikely to play again this season. He’s in rehab. It’s the same for Forster and Sessegnon.”
Postecoglou had a simple message for any players that might be interested in playing for Tottenham: “If you want Champions League football and that's all you want, Do NOT come to Tottenham.”
Tottenham hero claims he doesn’t care if Ange Postecoglou doesn’t like him [The Athletic]