Key events
Thank you, John. I always look forward to your Stockport-centric introductions.
I’ve got Pep Guardiola and Kieran McKenna press conferences to cover this afternoon, among other things.
Right, that’s been a busy old morning. Now to pass on to the A6’s finest, Mr Dominic Booth.
More on that bad news for the church of Cherno Samba.
Big Sir Jim and Sir Dave have laid their plans. Now for Marc Skinner to make them work.
Premier League’s manager and player of the month, respectively, for January, and deservedly so, are Andoni Iraola and Justin Kluivert of Bournemouth. Even Liverpool got a scare off Cherries.
Manchester City and Chelsea set for Women’s Champions League showdown
Tom Garry
Chelsea will meet Manchester City in an all-English Women’s Champions League quarter-final, while Arsenal will take on Real Madrid.
The holders, Barcelona, will face Wolfsburg in a repeat of the 2023 final, and the winner of that tie will face Chelsea or City in the semi-finals, putting Barça, the favourites and Spanish league leaders, and Chelsea, the English league leaders, in the same half of the draw.
The Group C winners Arsenal, who won England’s only women’s European title in 2007, will face opponents who were runners-up to Chelsea in Group B, and whichever side progress will meet Bayern Munich or Lyon.
City knew that having finished second in their group behind Barcelona, the defending champions, they had a two-in-three chance of being pitted against an English side. Unable to face Barcelona again, they could only meet one of the other three group winners: Arsenal, Chelsea and Lyon.
Champions League news: Manchester City have included new signings Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush in their Champions League squad. Vitor Reis is not in the squad, with only three squad additions permitted prior to Thursday night’s deadline. The Brazilian defender, who was bought from Palmeiras in January, will not be eligible to face Real Madrid in the play-off round or, if City progress, in any future European matches this season. He was only 19 last month, after all.
Those quarter-finals at a glance.
The Estádio José Alvalade – home of Sporting Club – will host the final on Saturday 24 March. It’s right in the centre of Lisbon, too.
The draw is not done: the winners of the second semi will be the “home team”.
Here comes the semis draw:
Wolfsburg/Barcelona v Manchester City/ Chelsea
Real Madrid/Arsenal v Bayern/Lyon
The path to Lisbon is on the way.
Remaining ties:
Wolfsburg v Barcelona
Bayern v Lyon
City v Chelsea in the Women’s Champions League
Manchester City draw Barcelona but as they met in the groups, they instead draw Chelsea.
David Gough, an Irishman, takes on the Giorgio Marchetti joking official role, and explains the rules. As ever the balls take a bit to unscrew. Nadine has to ad-lib away before Carla pulls out:
Real Madrid v Arsenal
The special guest is none other than finals ambassador Carla Couto. She tips Barcelona to win.
The Women’s Champions League draw is imminent in Switzerland.
It’s group winners v runners-up. Nadine Kessler is doing the draw in Nyon. She’s chief suit in women’s football at Uefa. “Thanks to some seismic transfer deals,” she says, the competition just got bigger. Lisbon awaits.
Postecoglou keeps the faith despite Liverpool thrashing
Ed Aarons
Ange Postecloglou has insisted that he still has belief in his players and doesn’t listen to criticism from pundits after Tottenham’s thrashing against Liverpool.
Spurs went into the second leg of their Carabao Cup semifinal at Anfield with a 1 -0 advantage but did not even manage to have a shot on target against Arne Slot’s side. That led to widespread criticism of Postecoglou and his squad, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp describing their performance as “abject”.
But ahead of their trip to face Aston Villa on Sunday in the FA Cup, the Spurs manager defended his players. “There’s plenty about them,” he said. “I get the pile-on at the moment, it’s really easy for people to stick their boots in. And question the players and all that kind of stuff. That’s not something I question. We were disappointed last night didn’t go the way we wanted to, didn’t really perform at the levels we wanted to. That doesn’t define this group of players by any stretch, in my eyes. We’ll go out there on Sunday and put in more of a performance that reflects where we’re at.”
Asked whether he can use the criticism to attempt to prove people wrong, Postecoglou added: “I don’t know which people I’m meant to be proving wrong. I said last night, it’s irrelevant to me what other people’s opinions are. People are on the TV and the radio and in the newspapers to give opinions and I respect that. They’re allowed to do that but I don’t have any obligation to listen to any of it. To get fuelled by the comments of people I’ve never even met, I don’t know how you live your life, but I certainly don’t live my life that way.
“That’s with all respect that they’re there to give an opinion. It’s not like I want to be successful here so I can go to these people and say to them ‘oh, look, you were wrong’. I don’t even know them. Why would I care where they think we’re at? They’re a million miles away from us, but they’re allowed to have their opinion.
“We’re an easy mark at the moment, and look after last night, there are times you’ve just got to take it, keep your council and atone for it in the way that only really matters and that is with playing the football I know we can.”
News of Marc Guiu’s injury from Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca: “We are still waiting. It doesn’t look like a short injury, it looks like a long injury. Exactly how long, I don’t know. Probably weeks/months, yes.”
Nico Jackson could be back. Romeo Lavia: a long wait.
Arne Slot has been talking to the media. Things are coming up Liverpool.
“It’s difficult for me to judge because I wasn’t here last season, so I don’t know. I can only tell you that at this moment in time we are in a very good place. I’m not just talking about the results, but the players are fit and ready.
“We are in a good place but we also know how long the season still is and how many difficult challenges there will still be for us. I’m not expecting us to win every game like we did yesterday, but that is also not what I ask of them. We just try to do everything to win every single football match.”
Bad news for the gaming community: Football Manager 25 has been cancelled.
A statement:
“Sports Interactive regret to inform that, following extensive internal discussion and careful consideration with SEGA, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Football Manager 25 and shift our focus to the next release.
“For the large numbers of you who pre-ordered FM25, we thank you enormously for your trust and support – we’re very sorry to have let you down.
“We know this will come as a huge disappointment, especially given that the release date has already moved twice, and you have been eagerly anticipating the first gameplay reveal.
“We can only apologise for the time it has taken to communicate this decision. Today was the earliest date that we could issue this statement.
“We have always prided ourselves on delivering the best value for money games that bring you countless hours of enjoyment, that feel worth every moment and every penny you spend. With the launch of FM25 we set out to create the biggest technical and visual advancement in the series for a generation, laying the building blocks for a new era.”
Refunds will be paid to those who ordered.
January transfer business was record-breaking
Some interesting stats on the January transfer window, as compiled by Fifa’s International Transfer Snapshot.
According to the report – composed by the Miami-based Fifa Legal & Compliance Division – a total of 5,863 international transfers were recorded in men’s professional football in January. This is the highest-ever figure for any January window and almost 20% higher than the previous record from January 2024.
A total of $2.35bn was spent by clubs on international transfer fees, which is also a new all-time high for any January window. The amount is 57.9% higher compared to January 2024 and 47.1% higher than the previous record from January 2023.
New records were also set in both categories in women’s professional football. $5.8m was spent by clubs on international transfer fees, the highest ever in any January window and more than twice the previous record (+180.6%) from January 2024. Some 455 international transfers were recorded in the women’s professional game, up 22.6% compared to the previous record from January 2024.
In men’s football, clubs in England led the way by spending $621.6m on transfer fees. The top five was completed by clubs in Germany ($295.7m), Italy ($223.8m), France ($209.7m) and Saudi Arabia ($202.1m). Meanwhile, clubs in France received the highest amount in transfer fees ($371.0m), followed by clubs in Germany ($226.2m), England ($185.2m), Portugal ($176.4m) and Italy ($162.0m).
Brazil came out on top for the most incoming transfers (471), followed by Argentina (265), Portugal (207), Spain (200) and England (190). The country with the highest number of outgoing transfers was Argentina (255), with Brazil (212), England (211), the United States (188) and Portugal (170) rounding out the top five.
Clubs in England were the top spenders in women’s football too ($2.3m) and they also made the most incoming transfers (39). Meanwhile, January 2025 was the first-ever transfer window to witness transfers with fees of more than $1m in women’s professional football.
On Marcus Rashford, Ruben Amorim had this to say on him on Thursday.
“As a journalist or a fan, you can take this in the way that you want,” the manager said. “What I say is I couldn’t put Marcus to see the way you’re supposed to play football and to train the way I see it. And sometimes you have one player who is really good with one coach and the same player with another coach is different. I just wish the best to Rashford and Unai Emery, and they can connect because he’s a very good player.”
Amorim was asked if, in essence, Rashford had said he did not agree with the head coach’s ideas regarding football. “You know, like me, it’s not the way that occurs, it’s something that you feel, as a coach and a player,” said Amorim. “It’s quite normal, it happened with a lot of coaches. The important thing is that I’m here saying it was my decision. And Tyrell [Malacia] and Antony: it was my decision, to do these loans [too].”
Nick Fenton is up for the FA Cup: “I’m hugely looking forward to the early start at Brisbane Road tomorrow. It feels a bit surreal for us to be hosting City after a turbulent cup run that has seen us sneak past National League Boreham Wood on pens, National League Oldham in extra time (thanks to Josh Keeley’s much-publicised last minute header up from between the sticks), then Derby on pens as well. Brisbane Road was rocking for that Derby match – and it will be a real picture at 12.15 tomorrow. The pubs are opening at 9am and the club’s limited edition Orient v City coffee mugs have sold out already – huge excitement in E10!
“I was sat behind the goal for Keeley’s header against Oldham – see attached. Just one of those moments you know you’ll never forget. I’m not sure I’ll ever make a noise like this again – but if one of our new signings puts us 1-0 up tomorrow then you just never know….
“Keep an eye on Ethan Galbraith tomorrow – been absolutely brilliant for us and destined for the Championship next season one way or another (but hopefully wearing Orient red!). Enjoy the weekend and come on you Os.”
There was a Nick Fenton who played for City in their 1990s golden era.
Celtic fans allowed to attend Munich game
Per PA Media: “Celtic fans will be able to attend the Champions League clash against Bayern Munich in Germany after being handed a UEFA reprieve.
The Scottish champions were on a suspended ban on away supporters when they were hit with a disciplinary notice after a green smoke canister was thrown from among the visiting fans during Celtic’s 4-2 defeat at Villa Park last month. However, they have escaped with a fine following a decision from UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body.
The club have received a fine of 10,000 euros (£8,340) for the lighting of fireworks and throwing of objects. Celtic had received double the fine and a one-match ban on selling tickets for travelling fans – which was suspended for two years – after a major pyrotechnic display in their Champions League encounter with Borussia Dortmund in September.
Police investigate abuse aimed at Shaw
Tom Garry
A police investigation is ongoing after Manchester City’s report of what the club described as “disgusting, racist and misogynistic” abuse aimed online at their Jamaica striker Khadija “Bunny” Shaw.
The club informed the authorities about the matter, which took place after Sunday’s 4-3 loss to Arsenal in the Women’s Super League, and Greater Manchester police have confirmed to the Guardian that inquiries are ongoing. No arrests had been made as of Friday morning UK time.
Shaw withdrew from Thursday’s League Cup semi-final, which City won 2-1 at Arsenal, to look after her mental wellbeing in the wake of the abuse. On Tuesday City said: “Discrimination of any kind, either in stadiums or online, will not be tolerated and has absolutely no place inside or outside the game. The club offers our full support to Bunny following the disgusting treatment she’s received.”
Time to get out the rattle, the Bovril and the whippet. It’s the FA Cup.
Who is Nico Gonzalez? Good thing we have Will Unwin to tell us what’s what.
Why did Ruud not stay on as interim and wait for Ruben Amorim to come in for the summer?
Who can stop Liverpool?
Let’s start with last night. Well done, Liverpool. Though perhaps the key quotes comes from Ange Postecoglou.
Ange Postecoglou continues to live under immense pressure; a route to silverware now closed off, his team struggling in 14th place in the Premier League. “We didn’t give ourselves a chance to take the opportunity which is probably more disappointing,” the Spurs manager said. “I would have liked us to play more like who we are. There is a lesson in there for us that if we veer away from that it almost becomes impossible for us.
“I think they understood the opportunity. When the reality of it out there hits you, it’s a bit different to maybe what you envisioned in your head. Our intent was to play the same way we play every week. We were trying to put pressure on them and unsettle them but it never really materialised. We didn’t have conviction when we had the ball either, which allowed them to get control of the game.”
Further bad news: Ange has to given another press conference today.
Preamble
Good morning, football. Sore heads all round after a week of Carabao. How sore is Daniel Levy’s head. We await news of Ange Postecoglou, though surely he will be given Sunday’s FA Cup tie at Aston Villa. Lose that, and, well, let’s see.
It’s the FA Cup fourth round, and that means there’s football spread around the weekend, starting with Manchester United hosting Ruud van Nistelrooy and Leicester. Those who like their romance will be looking to Leyton Orient v Manchester City as Saturday’s early kick-off. Saturday-night special: Brighton v Chelsea. Plymouth v Liverpool on Sunday is followed by Frank Lampard’s Coventry taking on Ipswich. We go as far as Monday night: Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace.
Plus, the Women’s Champions League draw. That’s at midday UK time.
All that and plenty of news flying around. Join me for the morning load.
