Key events
Slot: Díaz’s success as centre forward ‘a surprise’
Arne Slot has expressed his surprise at Luis Díaz’s midweek success as a No 9. The Colombian scored a hat-trick in the Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Lucho did really well and if was, even for me, maybe a bit of a surprise to see how well he did. I played him there for a reason, I expected him to do good but that he did so well, that was even a surprise for me.
Díaz is firing them in this season, with nine goals in 15 games. He’s not scored in his last five league games but maybe that changes if he gets another central role against Aston Villa tomorrow.
Uefa has released a statement regarding the reported violence in Amsterdam last evening. More on that story below:
Uefa strongly condemns the incidents and acts of violence that occurred last night in the city of Amsterdam before and after the Uefa Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
We trust that the relevant authorities will identify and charge as many of those responsible for such actions as possible. Uefa will examine all official reports, gather available evidence, assess them and evaluate any further appropriate course of action in accordance with its relevant regulatory framework.
Brighton are up against the struggling Manchester City tomorrow and their manager, Fabian Hürzeler, wants his side to learn how to win “ugly”. His side are eighth in the league, with Hürzeler – 31 years young – settling in pretty well after joining in the summer. Here are his ambitions, courtesy of PA:
On the one side I think we can be happy about the performances, how we play, the style of play, how we have developed. On the other side, when we look at the results, we could have more points. There we have to find a good balance between playing a good style of play and getting the results for the style of play.
So, on the one side happy, on the other side there are still things we can improve, especially the game management, how to win the games, maybe in an ugly way, how to win the games in an efficient way.
I don’t want to be recognised or want to be seen as the small Brighton and Hove Albion. It’s more that we have a big potential in our squad. We have a great leadership in the club.
Suzanne Wrack writes about the fixture conundrum that has forced Arsenal to move their Women’s Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich next month away from the Emirates.
The reality is that this mess was an opportunity for all involved to go beyond paying lip service to the value of women’s football and its place in the football ecosystem; to say: women’s football should not play second fiddle, we value it, and we want you to value it too.
Speaking of Chris Wood, here’s what Eddie Howe’s had to say on his former player. Wood struggled for goals at Newcastle, scoring five in 39 games.
I’m delighted for Chris on a personal level. For me it was never lost how well he played for us. He did everything but score. His positive performances were so important in our efforts to stay in the league especially that first season when he joined. The work he did, the unseen things, bringing other players into play. If you asked his teammates that played with him in that season, they’d say Chris was one of the reasons that we changed our position in the league and were able to win consistently. But he just didn’t get the goals that elevated his performances or probably got the wider world seeing what a transformation he played in our team. He was very selfless, he was very team-orientated and that’s why now on a personal level he’s getting the individual accolades that his goals are bringing him.
Here’s what to look out for in the Premier League this weekend. To the key question: how many will Chris Wood score against his former club Newcastle?
Following those illuminating extracts from his book, Hugo Lloris has spoken to Donald McRae about Spurs, losing the World Cup final two years ago and that watch story.
Here he is on that loss to Argentina:
I’d meet people in the street who’d thank me for the beauty and emotional intensity of this final, assuring me that it was the most wonderful match they’d experienced in all their lives. Maybe when I’m old I’ll be able to see it like that. But not yet: it was a disaster because we lost, because we were crap for 80 minutes. And so the pain was unbearable.
Diallo targets long-term United deal
Jamie Jackson
Amad Diallo wants to sign a new long-term contract with Manchester United, with the forward’s terms expiring next summer.
The 22-year-old, who joined in January 2021, was the standout performer in Thursday’s 2-0 win Europa League over PAOK, scoring both goals, as United registered a first win in European competition for 380 days. This lifted United to 15th in the standings. Diallo was asked about agreeing a new deal.
“I’m happy to be here,” he said. “I’m happy to play for this club, and yeah, I want to stay here for a long time to make history with this club.”
Thursday’s start was his first for more than a month. “I know I was the [club’s] player of the month in August, but I have moved on,” he said. “I am focused for now.”
On Monday Rúben Amorim takes over as United’s head coach. “I am excited to have him here and I can’t wait to work with him,” Diallo said.
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to the hype machine: here’s to another incredible weekend of football! Live! Top-tier, pure, raw football! And it’s live!
Before we get into what’s to come, here’s the wrap on what happened last night in Europe: Amad Diallo struck a brace for Manchester United in their win over PAOK, Spurs were done in by Galatasaray and Chelsea put, um, eight past Noah. The Conference League is doing wonders for those goal bonuses at Stamford Bridge.
Anywho, drop me a line with all your thoughts, queries, Fantasy Football conundrums, whatever you want to get off your chest.
