FA Cup final: What will decide Chelsea v Man Utd? Ruud Gullit & Phil Neville analysis
Two teams, one last shot at glory. Chelsea and Manchester United meet on Saturday in the 137th FA Cup final, with both looking for silverware at the end of a season of mixed success. But who will get their hands on the famous old trophy and why? Ex-Chelsea player-manager Ruud Gullit and former United defender Phil Neville will join Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer for BBC Sport's live coverage from Wembley. Here, Gullit and Neville discuss why Chelsea will make life difficult for United, why Jose Mourinho has the edge over Antonio Conte and which player might make the difference. Chelsea have lacked a presence up front all season but Gullit does not think that will be a problem on Saturday, as long as they keep things tight at the back. "When Chelsea have been successful in the past few years, they have always had great strikers," Gullit said. "At the moment they don't have one. "But the main thing for them is defending well because, if you leave the initiative with United, then we know they have problems. "Look at the last few games that United have played, against teams who are fighting relegation, and they have struggled. They prefer it against teams who are open, and they don't like it when you sit back and wait for your chance. "If Chelsea wait, their chance will come, and I think that way of playing on the break suits the players that Conte has got anyway, especially up front with quick players like Eden Hazard and Willian." United's best performances in recent weeks have come in their wins against Manchester City and Tottenham - teams who attacked them - and Neville feels Gullit is right to advise Chelsea to be cautious. "I think the way United have had success against the big teams this season is because the bigger teams have gone forward, committed men forward and left gaps," he said. "Paul Pogba has actually enjoyed playing in those matches more because he gets more opportunities to play, and more space. "I think the midfield area is probably the key for them against Chelsea. For United to win the game, their three in midfield - Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera - are going to have to be on top of their game individually. "Of course, Chelsea will be doing everything they can to stop that from happening, but I am confident United will come out on top. "Chelsea's performances recently have not been great and you cannot go into a cup final and just turn on your best form.
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2018-05-18 02:00:00
Paul Lambert: Stoke City manager leaves club after relegation
Manager Paul Lambert has left relegated Stoke City four months after joining the club to replace Mark Hughes. Stoke ended a decade in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory at Swansea on Sunday, but Lambert managed only two wins from his 15 games in charge. "Whilst he was unable to guide us to safety, it certainly wasn't due to a lack of effort, professionalism and dedication," a Stoke statement said. The Potters added that they plan to name a new boss "as soon as possible". Last week, the club's owners said they would continue to give managers time "to prove themselves". However, the departure of the ex-Aston Villa and Norwich boss leaves Stoke looking for a third manager in a year. "The club would like to thank Paul for his work over the past four months and wish him well for the future," the club statement said. "Paul would like to thank the board, players and staff for the opportunity and their support. He would also like to thank the fans for their unwavering support. Whilst looking forward to his next challenge, he would like to wish the club every success next season." Stoke, who were relegated to the Championship courtesy of their home defeat by Crystal Palace on 5 May, collected 13 points under Lambert, who was given the task of trying to preserve the club's top-flight status after Hughes was sacked in January. Hughes succeeded Tony Pulis at Stoke in May 2013 and guided them to three straight ninth-placed finishes before dropping to 13th in 2016-17. The Welshman was dismissed by Stoke after five defeats in seven league games, and subsequently guided Southampton to safety.
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2018-05-18 02:00:00
West Brom: Darren Moore confirmed as Baggies manager
Relegated West Brom have appointed Darren Moore as their new manager. The former Baggies defender, 44, led them on an unbeaten run in April as caretaker manager having replaced Alan Pardew, with three wins and two draws. But he was unable to save Albion, who were 10 points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League when he took over. Chief executive Mark Jenkins said Moore "embodies the spirit of the club and the spirit of what we are striving to achieve in this new chapter ahead". Moore played for West Brom from 2001 until 2006, twice helping them to promotion to the Premier League. After succeeding Pardew he oversaw 1-0 victories away at Manchester United and Newcastle to earn the Manager of the Month award for April, and added a home win over Tottenham in May. He accrued 11 points from the 18 available after being named as caretaker manager and reeled in gap from 10-points to five. "I am obviously extremely proud to accept this role and also extremely excited," Moore said. "We have a big summer ahead of us, a lot of hard work we need to get in now. I'm going all out to try to get those plans and personnel in place to make sure we've got everything ready. "And we need to be because this is a tough league packed with great clubs. But what an opportunity for us to move the club in the right direction." Moore could lose a number of key players this summer, with defender Jonny Evans and striker Salomon Rondon two of the players who can leave for cut-price fees. In addition, Gareth McAuley, James Morrison and Boaz Myhill are all out of contract while Claudio Yacob has the option to extend for a further year. Asked about the appointment of the new manager, Jenkins added: "We conducted a thorough process of recruitment but Darren's powerful impact on the pitch and across all areas of the club established him as the outstanding candidate. "We suffered a torrid season but if there was a redeeming feature it was to see Darren at work over those final weeks, galvanising the club and getting everyone positive again.
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2018-05-18 02:00:00
Jose Mourinho: Man Utd season not judged on FA Cup final
Jose Mourinho: Man Utd season not judged on FA Cup final 2 hours ago From the section FA Cup 128 Share this page Man Utd season 'won't be judged on FA Cup final result' FA Cup final 2018: Chelsea v Manchester United Date: Saturday, 19 May Time: 17:15 BST Coverage: Live on BBC One (coverage starts from 16.10) and BBC Radio 5 live, and available to stream on the BBC Sport website, app and iPlayer Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says their season will not be judged on the outcome of Saturday's FA Cup final. United finished second in the Premier League - their highest placing since the 2012-13 season - but will be without silverware this season if they fail to defeat final opponents Chelsea. "I'm not going to change my analysis of the season because of one match," Mourinho said in a news conference on Friday. "You can analyse the way you want to." The former Blues manager has won 12 cup competitions during his club career. And in his first season in charge at Old Trafford, Mourinho guided United to two finals, the Europa League and League Cup, winning both. However, the United boss said his record was irrelevant going into the Wembley encounter. "I think the winning mentality doesn't have to do with records or history in finals," he added. "I honestly think what we did in the past has nothing to do with tomorrow and the records don't matter. What matters is 11 against 11 and everybody trying to give their best." Contests between the two finalists have been tight in recent years with only three or more goals scored on three occasions in the past 13 meetings. When asked whether Saturday's clash will be an open game, Mourinho said: "I still don't understand these words of 'entertaining'. You think 6-0 is entertaining? I don't think so. "I think entertaining is emotion until the end, it's the open result until the end, it's everybody on their seats until the end. Both dugouts nervous and tense with the unpredictability of the result - that for me as a football lover is entertaining, so I think so it's going to be entertaining."
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2018-05-18 02:00:00
Manuel Pellegrini: West Ham want to speak to former Manchester City manager
West Ham want to speak to former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini about their managerial vacancy. There are reports in his native Chile that Pellegrini has signed a contract - but a deal is not yet done. The 64-year-old, who manages Chinese Super League side China Fortune, has been identified as a possible replacement for David Moyes, whose contract has not been renewed. Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez also remains of interest to West Ham. The Spaniard has 12 months remaining on his Newcastle contract and there is an acknowledgement from West Ham that getting Benitez out of St James' Park is difficult. Pellegrini managed Manchester City between 2013 and 2016 and won the Premier League title in his first season in charge. The former Real Madrid manager also guided City to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2016, the only time the club has reached that stage in their history. West Ham chairman David Sullivan has pledged to appoint a manager with "a proven level of success at the highest level". Shakhtar Donetsk manager Paulo Fonseca had been heavily linked the job - including reports he met Sullivan on Monday - but he signed a new contract to stay at the Ukrainian club on Thursday. Fonseca had also been linked with the vacant Everton manager's position.
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2018-05-18 02:00:00
Everton sack Sam Allardyce: Why owner Farhad Moshiri now faces defining moment
Everton owner Farhad Moshiri faces the defining moment of his stewardship at Goodison Park as he starts the search for a successor to sacked manager Sam Allardyce. It was only 12 months ago that Moshiri was preparing to bankroll the biggest spending spree in Everton's history under Ronald Koeman, a manager he made it his mission to secure from Southampton. Now, after a joyless season of underachievement and growing fan unrest, Moshiri must rip up his first blueprint for success and start again. Why Allardyce had to go Allardyce's sympathisers were swift to use Everton's eighth-place finish in the Premier League as justification for their belief he had been treated harshly by Moshiri. There is no doubt the 63-year-old accomplished the job he was asked to do when he was effectively last man standing in Everton's flawed pursuit of a manager five weeks after Koeman's sacking. The former England boss started effectively but then encountered a familiar problem - hostility from his own fanbase as a result of a style of play that was perceived as pragmatic at best and deadly dull at worst. Everton's losses away to Watford and Burnley, following heavy defeats at Tottenham and Arsenal, brought the ill-feeling to the surface and Allardyce was simply never going to win the fans over as he became the subject of regular abuse from the stands, including banners demanding his removal. Allardyce was also not helped by a PR blunder in which the club asked their own fan panel to rate his performance on a scale of one to 10 - the results of which were never going to be flattering. Their season fizzled out as it became clear Allardyce would not survive, his fate probably sealed by Moshiri's presence at home games, particularly the 1-1 draw against Southampton when fan discontent was at its height. This was a loveless association borne out of Everton's desperation and Allardyce's availability in November and has carried the feel of a temporary arrangement for the past three months. Moshiri will have known he was risking a toxic summer, and season, had he kept faith with such an unpopular figure - a combination that only ever ends one way.
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2018-05-17 02:00:00
Antonio Conte to reveal Chelsea future at end of season
Antonio Conte says a decision over his future at Chelsea will become clear once they have finished their season in less than two weeks' time. The Blues end their campaign at Wembley on May 19 in the FA Cup final against Manchester United - meaning Conte's final game in charge could come against Jose Mourinho, with whom he has had a rocky relationship. Conte's future has been speculated upon for some time, with reports suggesting he is unhappy with the club's transfer policy. He has regularly refused to answer questions on whether he will still be at Stamford Bridge next season but, ahead of Chelsea's final home game of the season, against Huddersfield - live on Sky Sports Premier League - he chose to elaborate. "I'm very focused on the present, to do the job in the best way for the players and the fans. Our job is not simple, it's not easy. But I'm totally focused on the present," Conte said. "There are only two weeks and this season will finish and you will know if there is a different situation or not, if you see me again next season and we start again from the first game speculating about my future." Chelsea go into the game against Huddersfield still in the hunt for a top four spot in the Premier League, and with it, a place in next season's Champions League. However, they know they have to win both of their remaining fixtures, and hope either Tottenham or Liverpool slip up. Conte was critical of the situation his team find themselves in, saying: "There is a bit of disappointment because this season we dropped many points in a stupid way.
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2018-05-09 02:00:00
Southampton boss Mark Hughes says 'dark arts' motivated side at Swansea
Southampton boss Mark Hughes said the "dark arts" that disrupted preparations for Tuesday's game at Swansea motivated his side to claim the victory that all but secured Premier League safety. The squad stayed 40 miles away from the Liberty Stadium after their hotel cancelled the booking at the last minute. Southampton beat Swansea 1-0 thanks to Manolo Gabbiadini's late goal. "It helped our focus. We used it as a motivating factor," said Hughes. "We suspected that maybe some of the dark arts were at work but we didn't let it affect us." Victory lifted Southampton up to 16th in the table - level on 36 points with Huddersfield - and left Swansea three points adrift of safety with one game remaining. The Marriott Hotel in Swansea defended its decision, saying it cancelled large bookings after some guests became ill. Southampton stayed at the Vale of Glamorgan hotel near Cardiff on Monday night. Hughes added: "I'm not for one minute suggesting Swansea had anything to do with that. "Maybe it was over-zealous Swansea fans in positions to affect our hotel booking."
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2018-05-09 02:00:00
The part Yaya Toure played in Man City's rise and what made him so special - Frank Lampard
Yaya Toure will make his 316th and last appearance for Manchester City against Brighton on Wednesday night. The 34-year-old Ivorian has won three Premier League titles in eight years at Etihad Stadium and Frank Lampard, who played with and against him, tells BBC Sport why he was so important for City - and what makes him such a special player. I would put Yaya Toure in the top five of the toughest midfield opponents I faced in my career, and at his peak he could change games on his own. Steven Gerrard probably edges it as the best I have played against, for his consistency over the years, but Yaya is up there along with Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and Paul Scholes - which shows how highly I rate him. Every midfielder has different attributes but the best players are the ones you fear, and I certainly did that when I was up against Yaya. Even some of the very best play within themselves slightly, but he didn't. He would hurt you by going forward and by scoring goals at the end of it, which is always a great trait that not many midfield players have. When I faced him, I knew he was very good on the ball and could pass it around me if he wanted to. He knew the moments to keep it simple and move the ball around. But if you got too close to him to try to stop him doing that, he also had that ability to drive through midfield and his physical power and pace - which was deceptive because of his big stride - made it so difficult to stay with him. Either by making a one-two or just by facing me up and running straight past me, he would be gone. 'He was bought to be a superstar - and he lived up to it'
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2018-05-09 02:00:00
Mauricio Pochettino: Tottenham will 'die trying' to reach Champions League
Tottenham will "die trying" to qualify for the Champions League, says manager Mauricio Pochettino. Fourth-placed Spurs' lead over Chelsea has been cut to two points after taking only four points from their past four Premier League games. Tottenham host Newcastle and Leicester in their final two games, with the top four assured of a place in the Champions League next season. "It's in our hands. We need to die to try to achieve that," Pochettino said. "It's not, 'we need to play like this, with two centre-backs or two strikers or two keepers'. It's about the players dying trying to achieve it." Tottenham play Newcastle at Wembley on Wednesday at 20:00 BST, before hosting Leicester on Sunday. Pochettino said playing in the Champions League is "the dream of everyone". Tottenham will "die trying" to qualify for the Champions League, says manager Mauricio Pochettino. Fourth-placed Spurs' lead over Chelsea has been cut to two points after taking only four points from their past four Premier League games. Tottenham host Newcastle and Leicester in their final two games, with the top four assured of a place in the Champions League next season. "It's in our hands. We need to die to try to achieve that," Pochettino said. "It's not, 'we need to play like this, with two centre-backs or two strikers or two keepers'. It's about the players dying trying to achieve it." "It's massive because the Champions League is the best competition, with the Premier League, in the world," the Argentine said. "For me, it's impossible to think and not give your best when it depends on you to win." Tottenham were runners-up to Chelsea in the Premier League last year, but were knocked out of this season's Champions League in the last 16 by Juventus. Pochettino, 46, said he "understood" fan concerns over missing out on a place in Europe's premier club competition. "It's about being second, third, to fight for the top four - and if you keep going, keep going, taking the right decisions, you'll be close to winning," he added. Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said on Tuesday that his priority this season is to qualify for the Champions League. They host Huddersfield Town on Wednesday and travel to Newcastle on Sunday, before the FA Cup final against Manchester United on 19 May. Champions Manchester City and runners-up Manchester United have qualified for the Champions League, while third-placed Liverpool are a point above Spurs with only one league game remaining.