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Aston Villa fan favourite John McGinn is gearing up for an exciting summer at the European Championships with Scotland [BBC].

A star player for club and country, the Glasgow-born midfielder has wowed the Villa Park faithful once again this season with his tenacious performances.

Almost ever present for the Lions in 2020/21, McGinn featured in all but one of Aston Villa’s top-flight fixtures this term [Transfermarkt]. Within that time, the centre-midfielder was able to record an impressive eight goal contributions – three goals and six assists.

Getting through a ton of work in the middle of the park, it is hardly surprising that the Aston Villa supporters cannot wait to see McGinn again on the international stage this summer.

Sure to be an integral part of Steve Clarke’s Tartan Army, loads of Villa fans took to Twitter to show their excitement towards his prospective involvement after the club shared images of him donning the Scotland kit.

Aston Villa fans react to exciting McGinn images

“Ginny to score the winner vs England”

Credit: @AVFCFaithful_

“Mcginn to score first but England win 2-1. You heard it here first.”

Credit: @at_villa

“Wow so proud. Villa have awesome players x”

Credit: @mrsessex48

“What a man, what a player”

Credit: @AvfcPearson

“Not gonna lie, if he scores against England, I might go wild”

Credit: @York_Villa

“Gew on meatball all the very best.”
Credit: @wst1975

In other news, Aston Villa manager Dean Smith is stalling on a potential transfer pursuit.

The Red Devils have not made a serious bid for the Premier League since 2013 but after a satisfying transfer window they have no excuses left

Last season was an uplifting campaign for Manchester United as Erik ten Hag led a dishevelled team out of the darkness of their worst ever Premier League season and towards a bright new future. The Dutchman immediately secured a return to the Champions League by leading United to third in the league, beating all their major rivals at least once.

He also delivered a first major trophy in six years by lifting the Carabao Cup and led his team to the FA Cup final. There was also an exciting Europa League campaign and a night to savour when they knocked out Barcelona. Ten Hag has certainly got United heading towards where they want to be.

They are not there yet, however, as demonstrated by a series of harrowing defeats last season to Sevilla, Manchester City, Brentford, and the 7-0 thrashing by Liverpool. Now, they need to take the next step, which means making a serious challenge for the Premier League title. United have not made a proper push for the league since they last won it in 2013 and last season their faint hopes of catching Arsenal and City ended in January.

Ten Hag has got all the targets he wanted after signing Mason Mount,Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana for £165 million ($209m). He has been given the authority to revamp the squad, urging the club to make a U-turn on David de Gea's contract and cutting their losses on Harry Maguire.

Now it's up to him to lead the club back to where they truly belong, which is winning the biggest trophies. The Carabao Cup will not suffice this season, and it's time for United to go all out to win a first Premier League title in 11 years and make a real statement in the Champions League.

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  Realistic expectations

  Ten Hag has played down talk of winning the title and does not want to raise expectations too much, despite another big summer of spending. Given City's recent hegemony and the transfer activities of Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle, another top-four finish, while getting to another Cup final, would be seen as a good season on the domestic front.

  But it is also important how the season goes. Bowing out of any title race early on and then scraping fourth would not be enough. While overhauling City might be too much of an ask, United should at least push Guardiola's side as much as they can and remain in the race until March or April.

  The Red Devils should also be aiming to go deep in the Champions League. They have not reached the semi-finals since 2011 and only hurdled the last-16 stage twice since then. Getting into the last eight is a must.

  Turning to the players, even more will be expected of Marcus Rashford after scoring 30 goals last season. He might struggle to match that tally but there is hope that the new signings will ease the goalscoring burden on the England striker. It will also be a big season for Alejandro Garnacho, who had a stunning breakthrough last year.

  The Argentine was a superb impact substitute, scoring against Wolves, Fulham, Leeds and West Ham from the bench and almost finding an equaliser in the FA Cup final. Now the challenge is for him to be as effective when he starts games and to try and hold down a starting position.

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  Best-case scenario

  Whisper it quietly, but United could win the Premier League. Last year they were playing catch-up after a dreadful start but if they can get off on the right foot and build confidence early, then they have a chance.

  Pep Guardiola's side may be treble winners but they have lost two players who were crucial to that success, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan, and it will be difficult to maintain the squad's hunger after winning practically everything.

  Ten Hag has had more than a year to assess his squad, has made big changes such as getting rid of David de Gea and Harry Maguire, and got the transfer targets he wanted. And previous signings such as Tyrell Malacia and Antony should improve in their second year with the team. Winning the title might not be likely, but it is possible.

  Winning the Champions League is likely to be a bridge too far, though, as United are not yet on the level of the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid and would struggle in a two-legged tie with City. But getting to the quarter-finals, provided they get a kind draw, is more than doable.

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  Worst-case scenario

  Failing to finish in the top-four would be a disaster for United after the summer they have had and all the progress they made last season. But it is entirely possible.

  They are far from the only top team to have spent big over the summer. Liverpool have also made a big statement in the transfer market, landing Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and the exciting Dominik Szoboszlai, while they are set to further bolster their midfield. They will be determined to return to the top four, as will Chelsea.

  Newcastle will want to prove they are here to stay after qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, while Arsenal look set to build on their thrilling last campaign after signing Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber, Kai Havertz and David Raya, spending over £230m ($291m).

  Since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, United have only once managed to secure back-to-back top-four finishes. A promising campaign has often been followed by a disappointing one. It could well happen again.

  Failing to get out of the Champions League group stage would also be hard to swallow but also can't be ruled out, given that Ten Hag's side will not be seeded in the draw.

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  The MVP

  After having one of their worst years of his career and experiencing a serious drop in confidence after shoulder surgery, Marcus Rashford turned into the player he had always threatened to be last season. The striker scored 30 goals in a season for the first time and for much of the campaign carried the team on his back.

  Rashford has been well rewarded for turning his United career around and is now the the club's highest-paid player. That will bring extra scrutiny and pressure but he has proven before that he can cope with that.

  He had to play at centre-forward for several spells last season due to Anthony Martial's injuries and Wout Weghorst's ineffectiveness and although he is due to start the campaign in the role due to Rasmus Hojlund being injured, he will be able to return to his favoured position on the left of the attack when the Dane returns.

Lyon's players were given a brutal on-field dressing down by their own fans after a humbling 4-1 defeat to rivals Paris Saint-Germain.

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• Mbappe steals the show
• Home side bottom of Ligue 1
• Fans make feelings known

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  That setback, which came on home soil, has dropped the seven-time champions of French football to the foot of the Ligue 1 table. Kylian Mbappe bagged a brace against them on Sunday, with Achraf Hakimi and Marco Asensio also hitting the back of the net.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Corentin Tolisso’s second-half penalty proved to be little consolation for Lyon as they reflect on taking one point from a possible 12 at the start of the 2023-24 campaign. Lyon’s players stood in front of the famous Virage Nord at the Groupama Stadium after suffering another heavy loss, with the Bad Gones ultras group making their feelings clear to those that are underperforming on the field.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  One of the ultras leaders addressed the Lyon squad through a megaphone, saying: “To the Olympique Lyonnais 2023-2024 squad, this message is addressed to you. To those who assume the status of dressing-room leaders, the message is clear: If there are leaders in this dressing room, they no longer have the right to remain silent. You're wearing the Olympique Lyonnais jersey. You're the ones who wear the Olympique Lyon jersey. Others before you have worn it, glorified it. You don't have the right to tarnish it. Now that the transfer window is over, the squad is here. All we ask is to be by your side.

  “But to do that, you're going to have to earn it. We love and respect this shirt. There's only one other thing we ask: to sing your names. Sing them with love, not like we sang the names of the little *******. who have left our club in the last six months. We want to sing your names with respect, with love. Because we know you play with love. But we expect you guys to respect our jersey, and if we have to take our losses to do so with our heads held high. Go OL.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Lyon will be back in action next Sunday when playing host to Le Havre, with head coach Laurent Blanc – who has won just 17 of his 37 games the helm – already under mounting pressure as he fights to keep his job.

The Ivorian has earned the right to step up to the plate at Old Trafford after lighting up the Championship with the Black Cats last season

Manchester United still have a right-wing problem, some 14 years after seeing Cristiano Ronaldo leave the club to join Real Madrid at the peak of his powers. The likes of Antonio Valencia, Wilfried Zaha, Adnan Januzaj and Angel Di Maria were all brought in to fill that void, but none of them came even close to making the same impact.

There was genuine hope that Jadon Sancho could buck the trend after his £73 million ($28m) move from Borussia Dortmund in 2021, but he's proven to be another great pretender. And then there's Antony, the polarising winger from Brazil who seems to have no right foot and favours style over substance.

Antony cost over £10m more than Sancho last summer as Erik ten Hag launched another successful raid on his former club Ajax, but was just as ineffective in his debut season at Old Trafford. And it's unlikely that the 23-year-old will suddenly transform into a match-winner next term.

But Ten Hag also now has another option at his disposal: Amad Diallo, who returned to Carrington last week after spending the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Sunderland. United initially agreed a £37m ($47m) deal with Atalanta for Amad when he was still just an 18-year-old in January 2021, and former head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer described him as "one of the most exciting young prospects in the game".

Amad has not yet been given the platform to live up to that billing in Manchester, but he certainly deserves it after his short but memorable stint at the Stadium of Light. The Ivory Coast international was Sunderland's top scorer as they narrowly missed out on promotion after a play-off semi-final defeat to Luton Town, with one of his 14 goals coming in the first leg of that tie as he lashed home an unstoppable curling shot from 20 yards out.

Championship defences couldn't cope with Amad, and Premier League teams won't want to face him either. If United are going to improve on last season's third-place finish, they need someone who can pose a far greater threat down the right flank – and taking a calculated risk on Amad could pay off ten-fold.

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  'He should be playing in tier one'

  After Amad's failed loan spell at Rangers in the second half of the 2021-22 season, he needed to rebuild his confidence under a manager with full trust in his abilities and potential. Step forward Tony Mowbray, who pushed through Amad's move to Sunderland within two days of his appointment as Sunderland manager last August.

  The Ivorian attacker gradually worked his way into Mowbray's line-up at the start of the season, and after scoring in a 4-2 loss at home to Burnley on October 22, he was asked to lead the line the following week at Luton. Amad didn't double his scoring account, but he was a menace all afternoon and played a vital role as Sunderland earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw.

  “Amad was amazing today, amazing,” Mowbray said after the game. “Not just the saves he drew from their ‘keeper, but his intensity and aggression to win the ball back. I trusted him in central midfield at the end there, which says everything. Really impressive and that’s what he has to do.”

  Amad went on to be involved in all four of the goals Sunderland scored in November, which earned him a Championship Player of the Month nomination and more praise from his manager. “You don’t get bought for £37 million unless you are an amazing talent," said Mowbray. "I watch him in training with our players and he does some extraordinary things with the ball, its stuck to his foot it’s unbelievable how talented he is."

  Sunderland eventually earned a play-off spot because of Amad's inventiveness in the final third – and he became a cult hero among the club's die-hard fanbase. The Black Cats had not had a proper entertainer on their books for a long time; someone brave enough to run at defenders and play the risky passes that can deliver the biggest rewards.

  Amad got the Stadium of Light on its feet week in, week out, not least because he seemed to be running his own goal of the season competition. In addition to his screamer against Luton in the play-offs, Amad also produced stunning long-range efforts against Wigan, Birmingham and Preston.

  Naturally, Mowbray wanted to keep Amad at the club, and lamented the fact Sunderland didn't agree a two-year loan deal with United before their final game in the Championship league stage. But Black Cats sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has since been refreshingly honest about the situation.

  "He should be playing in tier one, in England, La Liga, Bundesliga, wherever," Speakman recently told the . "That's the level of player he is. The staff here, the players and supporters have helped him get back on that journey and hopefully that will attract more players to want to come to Sunderland."

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  Amad vs Antony

  Amad has returned to Old Trafford a more mature, well-rounded player, and that should be cause for concern for Antony. The Brazilian showboater made an impressive start to his United career, becoming the first new signing to score in three successive Premier League games, but it proved to be a false dawn.

  United invested £85m ($111m) in Antony, which some club officials have privately conceded was too much, but he does have a number of useful attributes. Ten Hag has described him as a "fighter", which is reflected by how hard he works to win the ball back, and he boasts a wand of a left foot.

  But the fact is, he is far too predictable going forward and lacks the end product United so sorely need. Antony also falls surprisingly short in the pace department, too often allowing defenders to get back at him on the occasions he is able to create a yard of space with a flashy piece of skill.

  Amad is also predominantly left-footed, but he's far more capable on his right than Antony, which instantly gives him an advantage over the Brazilian. Aaron Wan-Bissaka will still be encouraged to overlap when Amad cuts inside, but the Ivorian also has the ability to take the ball down the line himself and deliver crosses.

  Amad attempted 5.4 dribbles on average to Antony's 3.7 last season, and despite his smaller physical stature, he proved he can match the former Ajax man for strength on the ball during his stint in the Championship.

  In fairness, Antony did create slightly more chances than Amad overall and averaged more shots at goal. But the 21-year-old has a far higher ceiling than Antony, and his explosive turn of pace could better help United exploit openings on the counter.

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  Another loan makes no sense

  "We consider everything, but I have a little bit of reservation about that because I don’t want to stop the process," Ten Hag told reporters when asked about a potential recall for Amad in January.

  "He's made really good progress there so I’m happy with that. When we decide for him to come back, he has to be a player who can compete for the starting line-up or come on for a lot of games and make an impact."

  Amad clearly used the United manager's words as motivation on his way to being nominated for the Championship's Young Player of the Season award. He was controversially beaten to the prize by Bristol City's Alex Scott, and made his frustration clear on social media, but, crucially, Ten Hag had already been won over.

  Ahead of United's final Premier League game against Wolves, the Dutchman was asked if Amad will be part of his plans upon his return to the club, to which he replied: "Yes, of course. We loan such players to let them develop and make progress, to bring them back. That is the aim of a loan. We are really strong on them in the matter of the way we mentor them. We follow them and we have communication through all the season."

  Amad has been linked with another loan move, with his former club Atalanta reportedly considering a deal, but United have no reason to let him go again. He showed his mettle and quality in the Championship – a division that has proven too physically demanding for a whole host of other talented youngsters down the years.

  And most importantly, Amad now feels ready to make an impact in Manchester. "I haven’t shown my best for them yet, but I hope next season I can return and prove my talent," he told in April. "My dream is to play regular football at Manchester United."

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  Bold new era?

  United have been in the market for a new striker, but at the moment, it's not clear whether they will have enough money available to close a deal for any of their top targets. Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen were reportedly top of the list, but Napoli and Tottenham value their prized assets at over £100m ($130m) respectively.

  The Red Devils have seen their overall summer budget limited to £120m ($157m) due to Financial Fair Play restrictions, and £60m ($78m) of that has already been spent on Mason Mount. It has been reported that United are also now closing in on a £40m ($52m) deal for Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana, which, not including any sales, would only leave them with £20m ($26m) left in the transfer kitty.

  Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund has been sounded out for a move to Old Trafford, but the Serie A club are said to want at least £50m ($65m) for the 20-year-old Denmark international. Unless the Glazer family stops stalling on a potential sale of United, which would free up more funds, Ten Hag won't be able to strengthen his squad further.

  And if that proves to be the case, Marcus Rashford will almost certainly have to fill the No.9 spot in the Red Devils line-up once again. The England international reached 30 goals across all competitions for the first time in his career last term, with his best performances coming from the left wing.

  But United don't have any other suitable candidates for a central striker berth. Anthony Martial looks set to be sold amid his ongoing struggles with injury, and Wout Weghorst has returned to Burnley after an unsuccessful loan spell.

  It is vital that Rashford isn't forced to carry United's scoring burden again, and Amad's reintegration could help to relieve some of that pressure. His goal tally for Sunderland was remarkable considering the standard of the team and the fact he had never previously played in the Championship.

  Amad would get a lot more chances in an advanced role for United, and he has the clinical edge to make the most of them. On the opposite side, meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho would be primed to replace Rashford as he moves further forward.

  The Argentine is fearless, quick and has a good eye for goal, as evidenced by his star turns in games against Fulham and Wolves in 2022-23. He also came on for a memorable cameo in United's FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City – which made supporters wonder why he didn't start.

  If it's a toss-up between Sancho and Garnacho on the left, the 19-year-old should get the nod. And with Amad also causing havoc on the right while providing Rashford with quality service, the goals should start flowing more regularly for United.

Liverpool are on the verge of signing RB Leipzig centre-back Ibrahima Konate this summer, according to journalist Patrick Berger.

The Lowdown: Liverpool’s primary target

Jurgen Klopp is almost certain to bring in at least one central defender in the next transfer window, following huge problems in that area this season.

Konate is the player who has been linked with Liverpool the most, suggesting he is the Reds’ primary target in that area.

The Frenchman has made 13 Bundesliga appearances this season and has been tipped by Leipzig coaches to be the best centre-back in the world one day.

[freshpress-quiz id=“355458″]

The Latest: Journalist provides key update

According to Berger, SPORT1’s chief sports reporter, via his Twitter, Liverpool are on the ‘verge’ of snapping up Konate, despite Leipzig wanting to keep hold of the 21-year-old.

It looks increasingly likely that Klopp believes the youngster is the man to add depth and quality, although it remains to be seen if Ozan Kabak will also come in permanently.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/the-latest-liverpool-transfer-news/” title=”The latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

The Verdict: Excellent young addition

The only slight concern surrounding Konate is his injury record, but assuming he stays fit, he looks like a player of huge promise.

The fact that he has only averaged 0.5 tackles per game in the Bundesliga this season may not seem eye-catching, but it may suggest that his expert positional sense means he doesn’t need to jump in.

On top of that, Konate’s 86.7 percent pass completion rate means he would thrive in Klopp’s ball-playing style, maturing as a player over time and eventually being a potential long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk.

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been calling for one player to stay put this summer. Find out who it is here.

The Gunners have missed key players all season but have ended a four-year trophy drought and will reach the UWCL final if they win on Monday

When Arsenal visited two-time European champions Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final last weekend, they did so without Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, Leah Williamson, Kim Little, Caitlin Foord and Lina Hurtig.

Due to registration restrictions, the Gunners' bench featured only two senior outfield players, sat alongside two goalkeepers and four academy products – the latter group boasting just 61 minutes of senior competitive experience between them.

And, to make the situation even more complicated, Arsenal were 2-0 down inside 24 minutes.

But this is a team that has been defying the odds all season. They spent the first half of the campaign without their first-choice centre-back duo, Williamson and Rafaelle, but still managed to top a Champions League group that contained the eight-time European champions, Lyon.

The Gunners have been without Mead, the 2022 Ballon d'Or runner-up, and Miedema, the Women's Super League's all-time top scorer, since before Christmas. Yet, they would lift their first major trophy in four years in March, beating Chelsea 3-1 in the Continental Cup final despite conceding within the first 98 seconds.

So, when they went 2-0 down in Germany, they didn't fret. Instead, they picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and pulled the game back to secure a 2-2 result.

On Monday, they welcome Wolfsburg to the Emirates Stadium knowing that a win would take them into the Women's Champions League final for the first time since 2007.

With all the setbacks they've had, just how on earth do they keep doing it?

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  Rebuilding the attack

  One of the biggest tasks Arsenal have faced has been rebuilding their attack.

  To lose Mead to an ACL injury in November was a huge blow, especially with the England forward at the peak of her powers. But to see Miedema suffer the same fate just a month later? Devastating. The two most crucial pieces to the Gunners' attack were suddenly out for the season.

  A frantic January transfer window saw the club fail in a world-record bid to bring in Manchester United striker Alessia Russo on deadline day – a move that was just never going to happen – but they did make an excellent signing in Victoria Pelova.

  With injuries to wingers Foord and Hurtig, Pelova has had to become an integral part of a new-look forward line very quickly and has done so extremely well, with her the best player on the pitch in the draw at Wolfsburg.

  Katie McCabe, a versatile option who can play at left-back or on either wing, has had to perform a new role, while Stina Blackstenius has carried the brunt of the goal-scoring burden through the middle. The Swede has had her critics, but her movement is excellent and her work rate cannot be faulted. Both of those strengths allowed her to tap in the crucial equaliser last week.

  With two teenage talents and NXGN 2022 finalists, Kathrine Kuhl and Gio, also rotating into that front three, it is a much different attack to the one Arsenal started the season with and, at times, that has showed.

  But the fact that the Gunners have scored 35 goals in their 16 games since Christmas is a testament to the way the team has adapted to such change.

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  Stepping up at the back

  It's not just been the attack that has had to adapt. Arsenal have been hit by injuries to the back line all season long.

  Williamson and Rafaelle, the first-choice centre-back pairing at the start of the season, both missed several months each before Christmas. Left-back Steph Catley has been out for a spell recently, too, meaning McCabe has had to switch between attack and defence.

  Then, just days before the semi-final first leg in Wolfsburg, Williamson ruptured her ACL. It was an absolute hammer blow for the club, who had announced the end of captain and star midfielder Kim Little's season earlier that week.

  These absences have required others to step up. Jen Beattie, for example, started only her fourth game of the season in Germany, but was immense after an early error.

  Arsenal have often changed to a three-at-the-back set up, too, to deal with these injuries. It's not been easy to do. After all, it's a very different system to what Jonas Eidevall's team usually plays and it requires each player to assume a different role that they are not used to.

  But with injuries forcing the formation to be more common, the players have started to overcome some of the early challenges – and when they've struggled, like in the first half of that first leg with Wolfsburg, they've shown the character to bounce back.

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  Using all their experience

  The injuries Arsenal have suffered have been to players with massive amounts of experience, too – the players you'd love to be able to look to during a huge game.

  Mead won the 2022 Euros at a sold-out Wembley Stadium last summer, as did Williamson. Miedema has also won a home Euros, in 2017, and played in a World Cup final. Rafaelle, meanwhile, captained Brazil to the Copa America title last year.

  Having won 21 trophies in four different countries, captain Little epitomises calmness and composure in the biggest moment. Hurtig has played in an Olympic final. Between them, Catley and Foord have come out on top in seven Championship games in Australia.

  It has forced the Gunners that have remained to draw on every bit of experience they have, and for new leaders to step up. That is where the qualities of someone like McCabe, the captain of Ireland, or midfielder Lia Walti, the Switzerland skipper, have really come in handy.

  Eidevall has even said that he has introduced Beattie, 143 times a Scotland international before her retirement in 2022, specifically for her experience at times.

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  Pushing to the limit

  But one of the most damning things about Arsenal's injury crisis has been a simple lack of numbers.

  That hasn't been helped by the inability to register all of their players for the Champions League. Only three new players could be added to the squad ahead of the knockout rounds, meaning teenager Gio and the experienced Jodie Taylor, signed in March until the end of the season, missed out.

  It has demanded more and more of players right at the end of an exhausting season, but they haven't shied away from that.

  Even in the defeat to Manchester United earlier this month, having lost Williamson to that massive injury only 11 minutes in, the players absolutely ran themselves into the ground to try and get the result.

  "They did everything I could ask them to do in a really, really tough game," Eidevall said after that match. "They stuck together, they stayed positive, they tried to find solutions, they tried to express themselves on the ball. They were there for each other.

  "I told them after [the win over Manchester City in early April] I was proud of them, maybe today I am even more proud of them, with the attitude they show. I tried to praise them as much as possible because that was how I felt."

  If Arsenal fall short in their bid to reach the Champions League final, the WSL title race or the battle for the European spots, it won't be for a lack of effort.

The Italian was essentially driven out of both Chelsea and Juventus by impatient owners and ignorant fans, but his class is permanent

As recent events have hammered home, very few people at Stamford Bridge know anything about football. Chelsea's owners are clearly clowns, while some of the supporters are actually celebrating the return of Frank Lampard as interim boss following the farcical sacking of Graham Potter – less than seven months after the even more ridiculous dismissal of Thomas Tuchel.

That Lampard failed miserably during his previous 18-month spell in charge appears utterly irrelevant. The fans remember Lampard the legendary player, not Lampard the calamitous coach.

This kind of short-termism and selective memory loss is hardly surprising, of course. The previous administration adopted a hire-and-fire policy that delivered trophies – but created a culture of constant chaos that was utterly incompatible with long-term planning or the implementation of a footballing philosophy.

Which is why Maurizio Sarri always felt like such a strange choice for Chelsea.

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  'A conceptual extremist'

  As Luca Gotti once told GOAL in an illuminating interview, his former boss is "a conceptual extremist and because of the elaborate nature of Maurizio's ideas, it's not always a smooth path. He needs time."

  He was never going to get any at Chelsea, whose fickle fans are as clueless as the club's owners.

  "F*ck Sarriball!" was the supporters' impatient and ignorant reaction to the Italian's attempts to introduce a style of play that could not only usher in a new era of success at Stamford Bridge – but sustain it.

  Sarri's methods were unsurprisingly met with similar resistance at Juventus, a club which perfectly embodies its motto: 'Winning is the only thing that counts.'

  Of course, Sarri won a Scudetto in Turin – the first of his career and the last the Bianconeri have claimed – while he also led Chelsea to third-placed finish in the Premier League, as well as Europa League glory.

  However, it was clear that he wasn't the right fit for either club.

  Gotti, though, knew right away that he could be the ideal man for Lazio, whom he took over in 2020.

  "It's a very interesting project for Maurizio," Gotti told GOAL. "It's a club that has shown in the past it is willing to let the coach work with continuity and without interruption."

  For all of Lazio's flaws, they have done exactly that with Sarri, and they're now reaping the rewards.

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  Success on a shoestring budget

  As Lampard prepares to take charge of an expensively-assembled Chelsea team sitting 11th in the Premier League table on Saturday, Sarri is preparing second-placed Lazio for a colossal clash with Juve at the Stadio Olimpico.

  The resurgent Bianconeri have won eight of their last nine Serie A games and now have a legitimate chance of forcing their way back into the top four – despite being hit with a 15-point penalty deduction earlier in the season.

  Juve's remarkable run of form has been founded on excellent defending, which is hardly surprising. What is surprising, though, is that it is Sarri's Lazio who boast the best defence in Serie A.

  The Biancocelesti have picked up 16 points from their past six games without conceding a single goal, and a seventh successive clean sheet this weekend would represent a new club record.

  What makes Sarri's work even more impressive is that it's been achieved on a shoestring budget, with Lazio having a net spend of roughly €5 million (£4m/$6m) since replacing Simone Inzaghi as coach in the summer of 2021.

  It's hardly been plain sailing since then. It never is with Sarri.

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  'A complex journey'

  As he admitted himself, his first six months at the Olimpico was "a complex journey, full of difficulties. Some steps forwards, some setbacks."

  That was inevitable, of course, as Sarri oversaw a transition from his predecessor's 3-5-1-1 formation to his preferred 4-3-3.

  Because of their shallow squad, Lazio also struggled with the burden of playing midweek football. "We have an average of 2.1 points per game without the Europa League," Sarri pointed out during his first year in Rome, "and 0.60 with the Europa League."

  There were similar issues this season, which led to his players "subconsciously" switching off in continental competition, resulting in a surprise last-16 Europa Conference League elimination at the hands of AZ Alkmaar.

  However, Lazio undeniably benefited from their European exit and, with 10 rounds of the season remaining, are perfectly placed to secure a return to the Champions League.

  Indeed, nearly all of the sides around them, including Juve, will still be playing midweek football for at least the next couple of weeks. And that should play perfectly into Sarri's hands.

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  The tracksuit trainer

  We're talking about a coach's coach here. Sarri has long been considered ahead of his time, but he is very much of the old-school.

  He's a tracksuit trainer. He specialises in complex tactics, yet can't get his head around the idea of a coach turning up for a game in a suit. This is a man who prefers being on the training pitch than in the dugout, viewing midweek games as an inconvenience, and a hindrance to beautiful football.

  “I am accustomed to a packed fixture list, but I don’t like it," he recently admitted. "Because that takes away the greatest joy I have in this sport, which is being on the training ground during the week."

  Sarri has admitted that this Lazio side is not on the same level of the Empoli team with which he made his name, or the Napoli outfit that made the rest of Europe sit up and take notice.

  But securing a top-four finish with the Biancocelesti would represent an even bigger achievement than the trophies won in Turin and west London.

  At the very least, it would represent a fittingly emphatic riposte who those who used to chant 'F*ck Sarriball!' at Stamford Bridge.

  As Gotti told GOAL, "Maurizio's ideas are radical but they're his, and his alone. Over 30 years of experience working in the game, he created, step by step, his own structure of football.

  "He perfected every detail, and for this reason, Sarri's football is truly beautiful."

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to clinch their first trophy in 13 years when they face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup later this evening and interim boss Ryan Mason has plenty to ponder ahead of kick-off.

Aside from the uncertainty surrounding Harry Kane’s involvement at Wembley Stadium – he is being monitored “hour by hour” – the 29-year-old caretaker is facing a huge task as the Premier League leaders have won this very competition each of the last three seasons, and five of the last seven, too.

Mason took over from the sacked Jose Mourinho on Monday and won his first game in charge at Southampton, coming from behind to clinch all three points. It wasn’t the greatest performance by any means, though he can be forgiven as he had less than 48 hours with this squad.

Now, having had a little bit more time with the team, Mason should be able to implement his ideas and that now leaves him with a big decision to make.

Against Southampton in midweek, Spurs’ midfield was overrun and outplayed – the trio of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso just did not work, with the Dane sitting a little deeper behind the two big-money 2019 summer signings.

It was the latter, Lo Celso, who was arguably the poorest of the lot. It’s no wonder he was hooked by the 79th minute and given the lowest rating (6.3) by SofaScore.

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The £36m-rated dynamo has frequently been lauded behind the scenes since his move from Real Betis last season but a combination of injuries and poor performances should certainly put his place in the line-up at risk.

“He is a technically gifted player. But he is not afraid to get stuck in when he needs to as well,” claimed Harry Winks to the Guardian, whilst Mourinho once dubbed him “phenomenal.”

But the fact of the matter is, Lo Celso has delivered just one goal and one assist in the Premier League all season and sits amongst their worst performers, with an average WhoScored rating of 6.55.

By comparison, even Matt Doherty (6.71) and Serge Aurier (6.97) have managed better and that’s a telling story in itself as the pair are often the target of criticism from the fanbase.

On Wednesday night, Lo Celso proved to be weak – losing 82% of his midfield battles – and completely wasteful – losing possession 14 times, as per SofaScore.

That merely continues a recurring trend with the £100k-per-week star, as he hasn’t been rated above a 7/10 since November in the top-flight. Indeed, he’s been rather shocking for weeks now.

Mason must show no mercy and ruthlessly axe the Argentine from his starting XI this evening. A bold, but necessary, call.

AND in other news, Levy could revolutionise Spurs by securing landmark double swoop…

The team Pep Guardiola had already claimed were the best in Europe cannot meet Manchester City, Bayern Munich or Real Madrid until the final…

The quarter-final draw for the Champions League never disappoints!

On Friday morning, two of the favourites were paired with one another, with Manchester City set to battle Bayern Munich for a place in the last four.

Meanwhile, reigning champions Real Madrid will once again face Chelsea and the hope is that their tie will be just as dramatic as last season's quarter-final clash.

🏆 TOP STORY: Champions League draw in full

📣 HAVE YOUR SAY: Who will win the Champions League?

🚨 MUST READ: Why Barcelona are an embarrassment

On the other half of the draw, runaway Italian league leaders Napoli will take on compatriots AC Milan, with another Serie A side, Inter, will place this season's surprise package, Benfica.

Below, GOAL runs through all of the winners and losers of Friday's draw…

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  WINNER: Serie A

  Italians in general are quite a superstitious bunch and Friday the 17th is their version of Friday the 13th, so the date of the draw didn't seem to bode well for Serie A sides.

  It couldn't have gone any better, though.

  Indeed, Alessandro Costacurta, the former Italy defender now working as a pundit for Sky Sport Italia, was so delighted that he praised Hamit Altintop and Patrick Kluivert for their work during the draw.

  Napoli being paired with AC Milan means that Serie A is guaranteed at least one side in the semis, where we could even see an all-Italian affair given Inter have a decent chance of beating Benfica.

  Nobody will be taking anything for granted, of course. Italians hate to tempt fate. But everyone is rightly revelling in the fact that Serie A could easily have a Champions League finalist for the first time since 2017…

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  WINNER: Napoli

  And a betting man would put money on that finalist being Napoli.

  The Partenopei are the best team in Italy right now, and by some distance. Their 18-point lead at the summit of Serie A is no fluke. They are playing with a quality and a consistency that has left the likes of Milan and Inter trailing in their wake.

  Napoli have also already beaten the Rossoneri this season, triumphing 2-1 at San Siro back in September, so they have nothing to fear from Stefano Pioli's side.

  On the contrary, it is Milan and the rest of Europe who should be worried right now.

  Pep Guardiola may have been partaking in some mind games when he labelled Napoli the best team on the continent but there is no denying the strength of their squad.

  They are well-stacked in defence, midfield and attack, with Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia arguably the most dynamic attacking duo in world football.

  What's more, Luciano Spalletti will be in a position to rest players either side of their European fixtures given the size of their Serie A lead.

  Napoli may be playing in the quarter-finals for the first time. But there's no longer any reason why they can't go all the way this year.

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  LOSER: Man City's workload

  Speaking of Guardiola, the Manchester City manager has admitted that his entire tenure will be judged on whether or not he wins the Champions League. Doing so this year just got a whole lot more difficult.

  Real Madrid may be the reigning champions but Bayern Munich were arguably the side that everyone wanted to avoid, given the way in which the Bavarians disposed of Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 with the minimum of fuss.

  To make matters worse, City will have to travel to the Allianz Arena for the second leg.

  Then, there's the fact that even if City go through, they will have to go up against either Madrid or Chelsea in the semi-finals.

  The former eliminated Guardiola's side last year, while the latter upset them in the 2021 final.

  City obviously have the talent, and the manager, to make it all the way to Istanbul but Friday's draw ensured that they're going to have to do it the hard way.

  And that's hugely significant, not only for Guardiola and his Champions League dream, but also their hopes of overhauling Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.

  Reaching the final would almost certainly take an awful lot out of City…

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  WINNER: Benfica's business model

  Don't sleep on Benfica. Seriously. Club Brugge may not have been the most difficult last-16 opponent but the Eagles dispatched the Belgians in some style, winning 7-1 on aggregate.

  They deserved a favourable draw, too, having sensationally pipped Paris Saint-Germain to top spot in their group with a stunning 6-1 victory over Maccabi Haifa on matchday six.

  As expected, Joao Mario's 92nd-minute strike at the Sammy Ofer Stadium really has proven the biggest sliding-door moments in this season's Champions League.
  Indeed, Benfica are now perfectly placed to reach the semi-finals of the European Cup for the first time since 1990, which would be one hell of achievement after cashing in on Darwin Nunez last summer and then Enzo Fernandez in January.

  Benfica's business model is yielding impressive returns on and off the field.

  Their run certainly doesn't have to end here either. There is more money – and history – to be made, given their quarter-final opponents, Inter, have proven incredibly inconsistent this season.

  It's also worth noting that Porto, as coach Sergio Conceicao pointed out, dominated large chunks of their last-16 tie with the Nerazzurri, only to lose 1-0 on aggregate.

  And Benfica are a better side than their Portuguese rivals, as this season's Primeira Liga table underlines.

  The sky's the limit for high-flying Eagles.

The USMNT cruised to a 7-1 win against Grenada as Christian Pulisic & Ricardo Pepi starred to offer a welcome boost amid their struggles at club level

Sometimes, we all can use a good ole' fashioned confidence boost, and that's exactly what the U.S. men's national team got on Friday night.

The U.S. made it look easy in Grenada, scoring early and often in what ended up being a 7-1 win in the CONCACAF Nations League. Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie each scored twice, while Christian Pulisic, Brenden Aaronson and Alejandro Zendejas made their marks with goals as well.

It was the Chelsea man that truly stole the show, though, with a Man of the Match performance, although Pepi won't be too far behind thanks to his brace. That's good news for the USMNT, and for the players themselves, both of whom can use the confidence boost after some tough moments on the club level.

Overall, it was a lopsided win by a team that expected to win in lopsided fashion. There were good moments, and plenty of them, but this was little more than taking care of business.

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  WINNER: Christian Pulisic

  Captain America with a performance worthy of the name.

  What a game this was for Pulisic, who reminded everyone watching of just how special he is. Yes, this was against Grenada, but it still was impressive watching Pulisic absolutely run a game against an overmatched opponent.

  Sometimes, watching Pulisic do his thing against lesser opponents is just fun. More than any other player in the USMNT pool, the Chelsea star can turn games like this into his own personal playground. We all want to see competitive games, of course, but sometimes it is just fun to watch a really, really good player do things that only a really, really good player can do against a team that has absolutely no hope of stopping him.

  He played a part in the first four goals and then scored one of his own in the second half, and that may even understate just how good he was. Pulisic surely had fun against Grenada and it was fun watching him.

  Now, onto the next. El Salvador looms and then, more importantly, a return to Chelsea, where he'll hopefully play with a bit more confidence after a good international break.

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• LOSER: Grenada

  It's not their fault. They were simply overmatched.

  Just look at the USMNT XI. It included players that play for Chelsea, Leeds, Borussia Dortmund, Celta Vigo, Valencia, Arsenal. Grenada's best player plays in Belgium, and most of his teammates play nowhere near that level.

  It was a mismatch from the start and a mismatch throughout. No team ever wants to lose 7-1, especially at home, but this felt inevitable.

  They did well to get their goal, though: a good finish from Myles Hippolyte that gave the home fans something to cheer. The fans did deserve that much, as did Grenada, who played hard until the final whistle, as evidenced by a late horror tackle on Alejandro Zendejas.

  Still, this is just the nature of CONCACAF, where there's the U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada, then a solid second tier, and then everyone else. Grenada are comfortably in the "everyone else" category, and that's how you get scorelines like this when the USMNT rolls into town.

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  WINNER: Ricardo Pepi

  All aboard! The train is leaving the station.

  Goals against Grenada won't fully restore the Pepi hype, but it's a start, right? He got two of them, his first since 2021, and, boy, will those do him some good.

  For a player that saw his confidence absolutely crater in 2022, the 2023 version of Pepi is looking pretty good. He's scoring goals with Groningen and is back scoring for the national team, making up some of the ground he lost after his disastrous Augsburg move.

  Goals against anyone will help, even Grenada. Will we need to see more from him? Absolutely, but he'll get those opportunities down the line.

  For now, Pepi will take his two goals and look forward to, hopefully, a few more soon.

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  LOSER: Mexico

  Look away, El Tri. It seems you missed out on a good one.

  Alejandro Zendejas was fantastic after coming on for his USMNT debut which, notably, officially cap-tied him to the program. It's all over now: Zendejas is a USMNT player for good.

  And what a player he is, if this was any evidence. He scored a goal and could have had three more on another night. The Club America star absolutely tore Grenada to shreds every time he got on the ball, offering a pretty good glimpse into why so many thing he can actually compete to start on this team.

  Those decisions are for down the line, though. What matters now is that Zendejas has arrived, and he arrived in style.