Manchester City may have progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals after a 7-0 thrashing of RB Leipzig but it was their local rivals who got one over on Pep Guardiola.

Erling Haaland was the leading light with five goals as City secured an 8-1 aggregate victory over Leipzig but it was Guardiola's post-match comments that caught the eye.

The City manager revealed he will always feel like a "failure" after he failed to meet one of his idols – Hollywood A-lister Julia Roberts – when she came to visit Manchester in 2016. 

In a bizarre twist to his press conference, Guardiola explained his hurt over the fact Roberts had slept with the enemy.

"She came in the period when we were better than United, these four or five years," he said.

"And she went to visit Man United. She didn't come to see us.

"So, even if I win the Champions League, it cannot compare to the fact Julia Roberts came to Manchester and did not come to see us. My idol." 

United were quick to remind Guardiola of the fact on Wednesday, with a post on social media showing photos of Roberts' visit to Old Trafford in 2016. 

The caption read: "Throwing it back to when Julia Roberts visited Old Trafford."

Roberts visited the Theatre of Dreams in November 2016 though United were unable to hook three points in her presence, only managing to draw 1-1 with West Ham.

She then met players from the squad with her children after the game. 

Stan Kroenke and son Josh have become co-chairs at Arsenal as part of a major restructuring at the club.

The shake-up, which will also see Tim Lewis become executive vice-chair, was announced by Arsenal on their official website on Wednesday.

Josh Kroenke was appointed as a non-executive director in 2013, but he has had a far more hands-on role in recent years.

Lifelong Arsenal supporter Lewis has worked in the same position since 2020.

An Arsenal statement read: "The appointments are a recognition of how our leadership structure has evolved over the past several seasons since Kroenke Sports & Entertainment assumed 100 per cent ownership of Arsenal Football Club in 2018.  

"Stan, Josh and Tim have worked together to drive our club forward and their appointments bring clarity to our structure that reflect their roles and responsibilities and will ensure we continue in our pursuit of progress and success."

Arsenal find themselves five points clear at the top of the Premier League with 11 games to go in their pursuit of their first title in 19 years.

Commenting on the structural changes, owner Stan Kroenke said: "This is a simple evolution as part of us all driving Arsenal forward and further reaffirms our family's long-standing commitment to this great club.  

"Stability in football has never been more important as we move past the pandemic, and we believe this is the perfect time to formalise these roles.  

"Our objectives and ambition will never waver – to field teams that compete for trophies at the highest level and lead our club in a way that inspires our passionate supporters around the world.  

"Supported by our director, Phil Harris, and together with our executive team and all our wonderful people, we have an incredible opportunity to build on the values and traditions of Arsenal Football Club."

Mohamed Salah is contracted with Liverpool until 2025 having penned an extension in July.

Salah's new deal is reportedly worth around £350,000 per week.

However, the 30-year-old has only managed 11 Premier League goals this term, with Liverpool's hopes of mounting a title charge long gone, and their place in next season's Champions League is far from secure.

There is now speculation that one of Europe's elite is looking to poach Salah ahead of next season.

TOP STORY – SALAH STRONGLY WEIGHING UP LIVERPOOL EXIT

Fichajes reports Mohamed Salah is strongly considering departing Liverpool, with Paris Saint-Germain circling.

The Egypt forward extended his Anfield stay last year but the situation has changed amid an underwhelming season.

Liverpool might be in need of a revamp next season, with Roberto Firmino already confirmed to be on his way out, following Sadio Mane's exit last year.

Jurgen Klopp will surely want to keep Salah, but if PSG offer huge money, it could provide the German with the cash needed to rebuild, with Borussia Dortmund's sought-after midfielder Jude Bellingham widely reported to be Liverpool's priority target.

ROUND-UP

–  Tottenham do not want to sell talisman Harry Kane even if he does not commit to a new deal, with his contract due to expire in 2024, according to Sky Sports. Kane has been linked with Manchester United and Bayern Munich, while he wanted to join Manchester City in 2021.

– City, meanwhile, have agreed on a new five-and-a-half-year contract for Argentina forward Julian Alvarez amid interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, according to Fabrizio Romano.

– City have also asked Napoli about Victor Osimhen's availability, reports Florian Plettenberg. The Nigerian forward has interest from PSG, Chelsea and Manchester United too.

– Football Insider claims Chelsea have made Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong their primary focus for the next transfer window.

– Juventus may move for PSG pair Juan Bernat and Renato Sanches with Juan Cuadrado and Adrien Rabiot set to exit, reports Calciomercato.

– The Times reports former Spain head coach Luis Enrique would be interested in becoming Tottenham boss should Antonio Conte depart.

The only thing to be sure about with the Champions League, is that nothing's for sure.

That is at least what Liverpool fans will be telling themselves as Jurgen Klopp's men prepare to try to overturn a three-goal first-leg deficit against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Carlo Ancelotti continued his habit of terrorising Liverpool as his team staged a comeback of their own, recovering from 2-0 down at Anfield to run out 5-2 winners.

The LaLiga giants also defeated the Reds in last season's Champions League final, and so the hunger for revenge should be strong, but to come back against a team as strong as Madrid seems fanciful... or so it would seem.

Perhaps the most famous comeback in the competition's history is Liverpool breaking Ancelotti's heart in the final in Istanbul in 2005 as they turned around a three-goal margin in six second-half minutes before beating Milan on penalties, and Stats Perform has taken a look at some of the most notable second-leg Champions League comebacks of all-time to see if there is any cause for optimism for Klopp's team.

Deportivo La Coruna v Milan – Quarter-finals, 2003-04

Speaking of Ancelotti's Milan, they had a strange relationship with the Champions League over a three-year period between the 2002-03 season and that famous night in Istanbul 18 years ago.

The Rossoneri won the 2003 final against Juventus on penalties after an astonishingly dull 120 minutes at Old Trafford, before their agonising defeat to Liverpool at the same stage two years later.

What happened in between might have been the most bizarre of the lot, though.

In the last eight of the 2003-04 season, Milan eased to a 4-1 win against Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna in the first leg at San Siro.

It would turn out to be a strange season for the competition overall, with upsets all over the place, but none as remarkable as Deportivo's turnaround in the second leg at the Riazor Stadium.

Three goals in the first half from Walter Pandiani, Juan Carlos Valeron and Albert Luque put them ahead on away goals, before substitute Gonzalo Fran sealed a sensational 4-0 win in the second half to take the tie 5-4 on aggregate.

Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain – Last 16, 2016-17

The biggest and arguably most famous comeback in Champions League history, Barcelona looked dead and buried after a 4-0 trouncing at the hands of PSG at the Parc des Princes in the first leg.

Goals from Angel Di Maria (two), Julian Draxler and Edinson Cavani looked to have put the tie to bed before the second leg at Camp Nou had even begun.

Luis Suarez scored just three minutes in to provide hope, while a Layvin Kurzawa own goal just before half-time was followed by a penalty from Lionel Messi just after as the impossible suddenly looked possible.

Cavani scored what seemed to be a crucial away goal for PSG just after the hour though as hopes began to fade for the Catalans.

In the closing stages, head coach Luis Enrique raised eyebrows when he turned to Sergi Roberto from the bench, hardly known for his goalscoring exploits at a time when they needed three in a short period.

Neymar made it 4-1 on the night in the 88th minute with what most assumed was just a consolation, before Barca were given a penalty soon after, which the Brazilian also dispatched.

With seconds remaining deep into stoppage time, Neymar lofted a ball into the box to find Sergi Roberto, who applied the finish and sealed an unbelievable 6-5 aggregate win.

Roma v Barcelona – Quarter-final, 2017-18

Of course, what goes around, comes around and Barca were on the wrong end of a dramatic turnaround just a year later.

Their 4-1 home win in the first leg had them full of confidence heading to the Italian capital for the second.

As with Barca's comeback against PSG, the return encounter started with an early goal, with Edin Dzeko finding the net just six minutes in at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Blaugrana held out until half-time without further damage, but Daniele De Rossi scored a penalty to bring Roma to within one goal of going through on away goals.

With eight minutes remaining, Kostas Manolas headed in a corner at the near post to send the home fans into absolute delirium and improbably take the Serie A side through.

It was a chastening experience for Barca, but surely it was just a one-off...

Liverpool v Barcelona – Semi-final, 2018-19

After a 3-0 win against the Premier League challengers at home, Barca had put themselves in a strong position again, but this time with the caution that was necessary after their humbling by Roma.

Yet again, an early goal gave hope to the optimists as Divock Origi bundled in the opener for Liverpool in the seventh minute, but yet again, Barca held out until the break, knowing Liverpool still needed two just to take it to extra-time.

Those two arrived in very quick succession as half-time substitute Giorginio Wijnaldum made it 2-0 in the 54th minute with a sweeping finish before heading in a third less than two minutes later.

All the momentum was with Liverpool, and with an almost inevitable amount of farce, a quickly-taken corner by Trent Alexander-Arnold caught the visitors napping as Origi slammed in a fourth.

Two seasons in a row, Barca had thrown away three-goal leads from the first leg, amounting for half of the four occasions it has happened in the competition's history.

Manchester United v Paris Saint-Germain – Last 16, 2018-19

While this was not a comeback from a three-goal deficit, it is the only example of a tie in which the team that has played the second leg away from home has won despite losing the first leg by more than one goal.

PSG outclassed United at Old Trafford, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe, while Paul Pogba was sent off late on for the hosts.

The dominant nature of the win more than anything else is why few gave United a hope of turning things around in Paris, but once more, an early goal changed the mood as Romelu Lukaku scored in the Parc des Princes with less than two minutes played.

Juan Bernat equalised soon after, but Lukaku restored United's lead on the half-hour mark.

PSG tried to put their English opponents away but in stoppage time, conceded a penalty for handball against Kimpembe, allowing Marcus Rashford to fire home to give the Red Devils a place in the history books.

So where does this leave Liverpool's chances of overcoming a three-goal deficit in Madrid?

Well, Los Blancos have only lost at home by a three-goal margin twice in the Champions League, both in the 2018-19 campaign, going down 3-0 to CSKA Moscow in the group stage and 4-1 against Ajax in the last-16 second leg.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have won an away game in the Champions League by three or more goals on 10 occasions, eight of which have come under Klopp, while they only very recently beat Manchester United 7-0 in the Premier League, albeit that was at Anfield and was swiftly followed by a limp 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday.

You could argue that if it were any other team than Madrid, who seem to have a spell over the famous tournament, you would give Liverpool a chance of doing it such is their own record of dramatic appearances in the Champions League.

It seems like an impossible task, but you could also argue that if ever there were an opponent who could do such a thing to Madrid, it may be the Reds, especially given their past with Ancelotti.

It would certainly raise an eyebrow.

The Champions League knockout stages are renowned for delivering high drama, and that will be required if Liverpool and Eintracht Frankfurt are to progress to the last eight.

Both Liverpool and Eintracht face uphill battles to reach the quarter-finals having been comfortably beaten at home in the first legs of their respective last-16 ties.

Eintracht lost 2-0 to Napoli, while Liverpool have the task of overturning a 5-2 first-leg deficit against Real Madrid, the team who beat them in last year's final.

Although you can never count Liverpool out of any tie, the omens are squarely against either trailing side completing a comeback on Wednesday.

Here, Stats Perform previews the final two matches of the last 16 with the help of Opta numbers.

Napoli v Eintracht Frankfurt

Dominant in Serie A, Luciano Spalletti's Napoli already appear destined to claim their first Scudetto since 1990.

Should they finish the job at home in the second leg after victory in Frankfurt, they will make another piece of history.

Indeed, if they do progress, Napoli will reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time.

Hope for Eintracht comes from the 2011-12 season, the last time Napoli won a Champions League knockout match (3-1 v Chelsea). That was followed by a 4-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge and elimination from the competition.

But Napoli are unbeaten in their last 11 Champions League home games (W8 D3), and the odds of Eintracht stopping the hosts scoring appear slim. 

Napoli have scored 22 goals in the Champions League this season – the last time an Italian side netted more in a single campaign (excluding goals in awarded victories, such as Milan in 2004-05) was in 2002-03, with Juventus scoring 30 and Inter netting 26. The form book favours Napoli turning Eintracht's already tough task into an impossible one.

Real Madrid v Liverpool

This will be Madrid's 300th match in the Champions League, at least 20 more than any other side since the 1992 rebrand, and Liverpool have a mountain to climb if they are to ruin the occasion.

Liverpool, of course, do have history of remarkable turnarounds in this competition. The Reds are one of just four sides to have progressed from a Champions League tie having lost the first leg by three or more goals, doing so against Barcelona in the 2018-19 semi-final (0-3 away, 4-0 home).

But Madrid are used to getting the job done at the Santiago Bernabeu. They have progressed from 26 of their previous 27 European Cup or Champions League knockout ties when winning the first leg away from home, with the exception being defeat to Ajax at this stage in 2018-19 (2-1 away, 1-4 at home).

If Liverpool are to deliver another second-leg performance for the ages, they will likely need to slow Vinicius Junior.

Vinicius has scored Champions League braces for Real Madrid against Liverpool at both Anfield and the Alfredo Di Stefano, Madrid's home while the Bernabeu was being renovated.

With this game taking place at the Bernabeu, he could become just the second player to score two or more goals against the same opponents in Champions League games at three different venues – after Cristiano Ronaldo against Juventus (Allianz Stadium, Bernabeu and Principality Stadium).

Having lost six of their last seven Champions League games against Madrid, Liverpool also have the issue of stopping Karim Benzema, who has scored 19 goals in his last 19 appearances in the knockout stages, while he is also the top scorer against Liverpool in European Cup and Champions League history (six).

Pep Guardiola believes he will always be a "failure" in the Champions League, but his biggest regret relates to Hollywood actress Julia Roberts.

Guardiola's Manchester City are into the quarter-finals of Europe's elite club competition for a sixth straight season following an 8-1 aggregate win over RB Leipzig that included five Erling Haaland goals in the 7-0 second-leg success.

Tuesday's performance was the kind that again establishes City as contenders, although they are yet to win the Champions League, losing in the final in 2021.

Guardiola's last European title was as Barcelona coach, coming up short with both Bayern Munich and City, yet he explained how missing out on a visit from Pretty Woman star Roberts puts this disappointment into perspective.

"I'm a failure in the Champions League, I'm sorry," he said. "I'm going to explain a secret. Whatever happens this year in the Champions League, even if we win this Champions League or win three in a row, I will be a failure.

"I have three idols in my life: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Julia Roberts. These are my three idols. For obvious reasons, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods deserve it, and Julia Roberts as well.

"Julia Roberts, years ago, came to Manchester. Not in the 1990s, when Alex Ferguson win titles, titles, titles and titles. She came in the period when we were better than United, these four or five years.

"And she went to visit Man United. She didn't come to see us. So, even if I win the Champions League, it cannot compare to the fact Julia Roberts came to Manchester and did not come to see us. My idol.

"That's why no matter what happens, even if I win the Champions League, it will not make up for the disappointment I had."

Erling Haaland's hunger proved too much for RB Leipzig in their crushing Champions League last-16 exit to Manchester City, per Marco Rose.

The Bundesliga outfit were condemned to a 7-0 defeat and an 8-1 aggregate exit as the Norway international ran rampant at the Etihad Stadium.

A five-goal haul for Haaland saw him tear through the Leipzig defence with a succession of close-range finishes, to send the hosts to the quarter-finals.

As the coach who oversaw the striker's arrival at Salzburg four years ago, Rose is well-acquainted with the attacker, and concurred his side simply didn't have the answers to stop him in the end.

"I know Erling very well," he said. "I know his qualities. When he is close to the goal, he wants to grab one. He scored five [and] we never managed to get into the game.

"He has had a great [game]. He scored goals with his foot and head, won second balls, [made] deep runs. It looked really simple. He took the ball from the referee. That tells you it was special for him." 

Leipzig had managed to hold City to a draw in the first leg, eking out a 1-1 result that gave them a potential foothold for an upset in this return fixture.

Rose acknowledged his side never got off the ground against their far superior hosts in the end, and took full responsibility for their dismal performance.

"We conceded the goals in a manner that makes this [a] very bitter [result]," he added. "City more than deserved their win.

"We were especially bad when it came to defending inside the penalty area. [That] we did so in a last-16 game in the Champions League [is appalling].

"They changed a few things in their pressing compared to the second half in Leipzig and this is something we had not expected."

Simone Inzaghi saluted Inter's unity after the Nerazzurri kept Porto at bay to secure their place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Inter are through to the last eight of Europe's premier club competition for the first time in 12 years, after a goalless draw at Estadio do Dragao sealed a 1-0 aggregate victory over Sergio Conceicao's side.

The visitors survived a late flurry of chances as Porto struck the woodwork twice in quick succession through Mehdi Taremi and Marko Grujic, while Denzel Dumfries blocked Ivan Mercano on the line.

And Inzaghi heaped praise on his players' efforts as they held out to prevail.

"We played a great game, the group came together and played a great match," he told Mediaset. "[We were] excellent first half. In the last part of the match, we suffered all together – honour to this group.

"In football, luck counts relatively, [but] in the two legs, we deserved the passage to the quarter-finals. Now, it's right to enjoy a feat that has been missing for a long time."

Henrikh Mkhitaryan also paid tribute to his team-mates, and the midfielder believes Inter have a genuine chance of embarking on a deep run.

When asked if they could go all the way, he told Sky Sports: "You can always dream, we want to do our best. It's a good opportunity, Inter haven't reached the quarter-finals for a long time, but we have to play with our heads.

"We knew it would be very tough. I want to congratulate my team-mates because we fought until the end. I hope this qualification will give us the push for the next games."

Meanwhile, Matteo Darmian was pleased with the way the Nerazzurri responded to their surprise 2-1 defeat by lowly Spezia in Serie A on Friday.

"We entered the field with the right desire and malice," the defender added. "We came from a bad defeat; many things were said. It was the perfect evening to make up for it.

"We were able to suffer at the right times, and we brought home the result. An evening like tonight gives us so much confidence and awareness."

Pep Guardiola explained why Erling Haaland will not be the difference between Manchester City's previous Champions League failures and a first title.

City have been repeatedly frustrated in the Champions League but are through to the quarter-finals for a sixth straight year after dominating RB Leipzig, led by Haaland.

The City number nine hit five on Tuesday in a 7-0 second-leg win in the last 16, securing an 8-1 aggregate victory.

Haaland broke a series of records in the process, including moving to 39 goals for the season – a new club record.

But these unprecedented goalscoring feats will not be enough to make City champions of Europe if they do not defend better than in previous seasons, Guardiola insisted.

Asked if Haaland's involvement could be pivotal, the City manager told BT Sport: "I don't think so. The reason why is we conceded a lot of goals that we gave to the opponent.

"We scored four goals against Real Madrid, we scored six goals against Monaco, we scored four goals against Tottenham, and all the time we were out, because we conceded the goals. We could absolutely avoid it.

"Right now, we defended really well. The goals we have scored all the time in all the seasons.

"But of course having someone like Erling, like Julian [Alvarez], like we had with Sergio [Aguero] before or Gabriel [Jesus], who has the instinct to score the goals... in this competition, in one moment, he can score. It's important."

Haaland scored five goals from eight shots, all of which hit the target, before being substituted with 27 minutes to play, denied the chance to become the first man to net a double hat-trick in the Champions League.

"It was five in 60 minutes, no more than that. If he played 90 minutes... I don't know," Guardiola said.

"He's an incredible guy. He has the power, the mentality, he's a serial winner."

Erling Haaland claimed his five-goal haul all blurred together after his record-breaking performance steered Manchester City into the Champions League quarter-finals.

The Norway international fired Pep Guardiola's hosts to a 7-0 victory over RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday in the second leg of their last-16 tie.

With a 7-1 aggregate victory overall, City's dominant efforts saw them help their striker to 39 goals across all competitions for the campaign, breaking the club's single-season record for an individual after almost a century.

But pressed afterwards to pick out his favourite finish of the match, Haaland said he could not recall any of them individually after his heroics in a freewheeling display.

"It's all a bit blurry in my head," he told BT Sport. "I don't remember the goals. I just remember shooting and [not] thinking. I'm so tired after the celebrations.

"A lot of the goals, I didn't think. I was just wanting to get the ball in the back of the net. The same with the second goal, with the third goal, with every goal.

"I think a lot of it is being quick in the mind and trying to do the right thing [in the moment]. A lot of it is in the head, I think."

Haaland exited the game in the 63rd minute as Guardiola opted to rotate key men ahead of an FA Cup quarter-final with Burnley on Saturday.

The 22-year-old acknowledged he would have loved to stay on and hunt a sixth of the game, revealing he told his manager as much as he was replaced.

"I told him when I went off I would love to score a double hat-trick," he added. "But what can you do?"

City's victory matched their previous best in the Champions League, a 7-0 win over Schalke in 2019, and Haaland suggested his arrival could finally help them clinch the sought-after trophy that has thus far eluded them. 

"To give a statement that we can score seven goals in this competition, it is an amazing feeling," he added to CBS. "The club wants to win the Champions League.

"They have won the Premier League four times in the last five years. They didn't bring me to win the Premier League, they know how to do that."

Erling Haaland's five-goal masterclass fired Manchester City into the Champions League quarter-finals as they dismantled RB Leipzig in a 7-0 rout on Tuesday.

The striker nabbed a first-half hat-trick, including two goals in two minutes, before adding another two after the restart in a tour-de-force performance at the Etihad Stadium for a 8-1 aggregate victory.

Now with 39 goals for the season, Haaland's haul saw him take Tommy Johnson's single-season City record set in 1928-29 among a series of new high marks as Pep Guardiola's hosts tied their record margin of victory in European competition.

Also the youngest and fastest player to pass 30 Champions League goals, Haaland's historic numbers befitted a majestic display up front, with his latest turn destined to go down in European folklore no matter what happens next.

Haaland was handed a stroke of luck for his first, with City awarded a dubious penalty by referee Slavko Vincic for a handball strongly protested by Benjamin Henrichs.

He ruthlessly converted from the spot, however, and then doubled his tally just moments later when he nodded home a rebound after Kevin De Bruyne hit the crossbar.

A first-half hat-trick followed with an air of inevitability when Haaland pounced on a parried Ruben Dias header before the break to bundle in the third from close range.

Ilkay Gundogan ensured another name at least got on the scoresheet when he added City's fourth with a sweeping low finish four minutes after the restart.

Yet the game belonged to Haaland, who added another two with close-range strikes before the hour, both times pouncing after Manuel Akanji was denied.

Haaland's exit in the 63rd minute was greeted with a standing ovation, denying him an unprecedented double hat-trick but saving the City striker ahead of a quarter-final in which further records could fall.

The scoring was not quite over, though, as De Bruyne would not be denied and added a sublime seventh in stoppage time for a final touch of gloss.

Erling Haaland became the youngest player to pass 30 goals in the Champions League after the Manchester City forward's first-half hat-trick against RB Leipzig.

The Norway international scored twice in the space of two minutes at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday to reach 30 in the competition, before adding a third on the stroke of half-time.

At just 22 years and 236 days old, Haaland was the youngest man to that mark – 116 days younger than previous record holder Kylian Mbappe.

Other players he trumped included Lionel Messi (23 years and 131 days) and Raul (24 years and 91 days).

It was not the only record Haaland shattered either, with the forward's 30th Champions League goal coming in just his 25th game, setting a new benchmark for the fewest matches required to reach that milestone.

He blew away the previous record of 34 matches, held by Ruud van Nistelrooy, while also bettering the 46 games it took Robert Lewandowski to achieve the feat.

Haaland had not scored in the first leg against Leipzig in Germany, heading into Tuesday's match with 28 goals in Europe's top competition.

A harsh penalty awarded against Benjamin Henrichs allowed him to move one closer to the milestone in the 22nd minute, before he nodded home a rebound when Kevin De Bruyne hit the crossbar moments later.

Haaland then added a third – his 31st in the Champions League – when he poked in after a Ruben Dias header was stopped just shy of the goal line following a corner in first-half stoppage time.

Romelu Lukaku's future is shrouded in uncertainty after Inter director Beppe Marotta acknowledging the striker "is not yet the same" following a difficult second spell with the Nerazzurri.

The Belgium international enjoyed a prolific first stint with Inter between 2019 and 2021, scoring 64 goals in 95 appearances and helping them win the Scudetto in the latter year.

However, he has scored just five goals for Simone Inzaghi's side since returning from Chelsea on a season-long loan last June.

Although, three of those have come in his last five appearances, including a late winner in the first leg of Inter's Champions League last-16 clash with Porto.

It remains to be seen whether the 29-year-old will extend his stay at San Siro or returns to Chelsea following the conclusion of his loan spell.

But Marotta appeared adamant, believing Inter are still yet to see the best of Lukaku, who he feels was also affected by his exertions during the mid-season World Cup in Qatar.

"I want to underline it was a one-season loan, so he will go back to Chelsea," the club director told Sky Sport Italia.

"This is an anomalous season, the problems we have are shared by other clubs, namely that their players took part in this unusual World Cup.

"Lukaku and [Marcelo] Brozovic have not fully recovered, and in Lukaku's case, his physicality and fitness are the key elements of his game.

"He is not at 100 per cent, he is not yet the same Lukaku that we saw in previous years."

Luciano Spalletti wants his Napoli side to "become folklore" by reaching the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

Following a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg in Germany, the runaway Serie A leaders are on the verge of a place in the last eight of Europe's premier club competition.

Sitting a huge 18 points clear at the Serie A summit and unbeaten in their last 11 home Champions League matches, the Partenopei will certainly fancy their chances of finishing the job at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

Although, they ended up being eliminated on the only previous occasion they won a knockout match in the competition, surrendering a 3-1 lead before eventually going down 5-4 on aggregate at this stage against Chelsea in the 2011-12 season.

Nevertheless, Spalletti knows what is at stake for the club, and issued a rallying cry to his players in his pre-match press conference.

"Great teams are made up of great players," he said. "There's history to be written in tomorrow's game. Our city is replete with big stories and big personalities. We're keen to become part of Naples' history and become folklore in this city. 

"You can compare it to the first final of the season. I don't think that can put pressure on the side, because I've seen them deal with many positive and negative situations already this term.

"Seeing as it is practically a final, I want to see the attitude of a team that is starved and wants a result. I've seen them in training all term, and they never let their heads drop.

"Now, the test is to forget what has happened in the past and focus on getting the job done now."

Despite their favourable position, Spalletti insists his side must not take anything for granted against last season's Europa League champions.

"It would be terribly presumptuous for us to assume we're already in the next round, that is not the way we do things," he added. "Tomorrow, we need the head, the heart, and a bit of luck.

"Don't forget Eintracht got through a group that had Tottenham, Marseille and Sporting CP. Last year, they won away to a Barcelona side that eliminated us, so we have total respect for the work Oliver Glasner is doing, we know it will be tough.

"We will not underestimate Eintracht, qualification is still only 50-50, and we must repeat the magical performance of the first leg. That was extraordinary, and it is no mean feat to replicate it.

"Eintracht will try something different because they have to, so we need to be humble and ready for anything."

The 2026 World Cup will maintain the four-team group stage format rather than change to three, FIFA has confirmed.

With the next iteration of the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada seeing the number of competing teams increase from 32 to 48, the intention had been to have 16 groups of three teams.

However, it is believed the exciting nature of the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar prompted a rethink, and it has now been confirmed that the four-team groups will continue, with the top two in each group and the eight best third-place teams going through to the knockout stage.

FIFA said in a statement on its website: "Based on a thorough review that considered sporting integrity, player welfare, team travel, commercial and sporting attractiveness, as well as team and fan experience, the FIFA Council unanimously approved the proposed amendment to the FIFA World Cup 2026 competition format from 16 groups of three to 12 groups of four with the top two and eight best third-placed teams progressing to a round of 32.

"The revised format mitigates the risk of collusion and ensures that all the teams play a minimum of three matches, while providing balanced rest time between competing teams."

It was also announced at FIFA's council meeting in Rwanda that the next men's World Cup final will take place on Sunday, July 19, 2026 as the men's international calendar from 2025-2030 was confirmed.

Further details will be "published in the coming days", but FIFA was able to confirm some headline information from the calendar, including plans to have a 16-day, four match international window in late September/early October from 2026.

It was also confirmed that the women's international calendar from 2024-2025 will "contain six international windows per year".