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• Xavi determined to put in more work after signing new Barcelona contract

  Barcelona have announced a contract extension for head coach Xavi – who insists he remains determined to see his side sustain their positive start to the new campaign.

  Xavi’s new deal will keep the former Barca midfielder at the Nou Camp through until at least 2025.

  “My renewal was settled days ago. We reached an agreement a few days ago,” Xavi told a press conference.

  “I have already said that I am 10-out-of-10 here, I am happy.

  Following the departure of Ronald Koeman, Xavi took over in November 2021 and last season won LaLiga by 10 points.

  Former Al Sadd boss Xavi feels there is still more to come from his Barcelona team.

  “We arrived at a difficult time, in an adverse situation,” he said.

  “Seeing what we have now, we have worked very well in all areas, from the president, to the sporting section, to the staff. We are still turning the tables.

  “It is a process of training and construction, but we are doing excellent work. This is the season of consolidation, of play and results.

  “I feel supported, especially when at times last year things were not so good, and I feel grateful to the president for supporting me. We are in a good moment – but we cannot stop working.”

  Defender Ronald Araujo has been passed fit for Saturday’s game, the Uruguay international having been sidelined for more than a month by a thigh problem. Inigo Martinez, Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde are also available.

  Celta Vigo have lost three of their first five LaLiga games, but Xavi is expecting a stern test.

  “We will face a Celta team that has fewer points than they deserve,” he said.

  “(Rafael) Benitez is a very experienced coach. It was difficult for us last year, and we hope to achieve victory, feeling good at home.”

  Xavi added: “The most important thing is to open up the field and have alternatives. We need to exploit the spaces to overcome their five-man defence, but also attack from the inside.

  “We need variations to unsettle their defensive structure.”

  Celta manager Rafael Benitez knows the challenge ahead for his side does not get any easier this weekend as they look to get back on form.

  “Barcelona are a team capable of attacking on the wings – they look for your back, they have interior passes,” said Benitez, who had tinkered between playing five at the back and a four-man defence.

  “All that allows you to have clear ideas and have a lot of money to put them into practice.

  Benitez told a press conference: “It will be difficult, for sure; but impossible? No. If we do things right, then we can make life difficult for anyone.

  “Against Barcelona, ​​good is not enough, but very good (maybe) – you have to have Plan A, B and C.”

• Paul Heckingbottom says Sheffield United ‘suffering’ after death of Maddy Cusack

  Sheffield United men’s manager Paul Heckingbottom says the club is “suffering” following the death of women’s player Maddy Cusack.

  The 27-year-old, named vice-captain last month, had just started her sixth season with the Blades in the Women’s Championship and was the longest-serving player in their current squad when her death was announced on Thursday.

  The Blades intend to pay tribute to Cusack, who also worked in the club’s marketing department, during Sunday’s Premier League clash with Newcastle.

  Heckingbottom said: “First and foremost everyone’s thoughts are with Maddy’s friends and family, a lot of Maddy’s friends work at this football club.

  “Maddy, especially in my time here, has been a big part of everything, a senior figure among the women’s team and the media team as well.

  “Everyone would see her about all the time. It’s tough and we need to make sure everyone is OK at the club and we all support each other because it is sad, sad news.

  “(Chief executive) Steve Betts called me yesterday and it knocked me back a bit, I’ll admit. As much as we are preparing for a huge, huge game and wanting to get on with everything, it has affected a lot of people.

  “Maddy has been to so many people in the club, there are a lot of people suffering and feeling it, without a doubt.

  “We look after everyone here, but first and foremost we are thinking of Maddy’s family. And we send them our best.”

  Cusack’s picture will appear on the front of the club programme, players will wear black armbands, while discussions are ongoing over other possible tributes.

  “There are plans and discussions going off for a tribute, we want to be very respectful to Maddy’s family as well and make sure they are heavily involved and understand what we want to do,” Heckingbottom added.

  “As much as we want to show our respect and thoughts and how we are feeling we want to make sure her family lead on it.”

  The Football Association is also in contact with the Blades over an appropriate tribute.

  Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA’s director of women’s football, said the organisation was offering its support to the club.

  “On behalf of the FA, the Lionesses, the Women’s Super League and the Women’s Championship, our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Maddy’s family, friends, team-mates and everyone at Sheffield United,” Baroness Campbell said.

  “Maddy also represented England at age-group level and we will pay tribute to her at an appropriate point.”

  Billy Sharp, the former captain of United’s men’s team, also paid tribute to her on social media.

  “Such a lovely girl. Enjoyed some amazing times with Maddy and the Blades. Such a sad loss. RIP Maddy,” he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

  Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out also said it was “deeply saddened” by the news of Cusack’s death.

• From Paul Pogba to Angel Di Maria – Manchester United’s recent flops

  Jadon Sancho is seemingly been frozen out at Manchester United after he took to social media to claim he has been made a “scapegoat” for poor results.

  It leaves his future in doubt and if he was to leave, it would see him become the latest big-money flop to grace the Old Trafford turf in recent years.

  Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some others.

  Paul Pogba

  Pogba has to go down as one of the biggest flops in the club’s history. He came through the youth system only to leave on a free transfer to join Juventus before United then paid close to £90million to bring him back in 2016. There were flashes of brilliance but they were outweighed by lethargic, inconsistent performances and he again left on a free in the summer of 2022.

  Donny van de Beek

  The Dutch midfielder was one of the hottest properties in Europe as he was part of the Ajax side that lit up the Champions League on the way to the 2018/19 semi-finals. He was bought for £35million in 2020 but has never got going at Old Trafford. Even a reunion with his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag has failed to resurrect a highly promising career and he remains in the wilderness.

  Angel Di Maria

  When the Argentina international signed from Real Madrid in 2014 for just shy of £60million he was one of the most expensive players in the game, but that did not translate into his performances at Old Trafford as he struggled to make an impact, which was not helped by his wife’s outspoken views on her new surroundings. One year and just 32 appearances later he was sold to Paris St Germain.

  Henrikh Mkhitaryan

  A £30million signing from Borussia Dortmund in 2016, big things were expected of Mkhitaryan given his outstanding performances in the Bundesliga. However, he failed to deliver and just 18 months later he was a makeweight in a deal that saw United sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal – another move which was hardly a success story.

  Harry Maguire

  The England defender has copped a lot of flak and has for large parts been a solid and dependable performer for United. But because of his £80million fee in 2019, which made him the most expensive defender in the world at the time, he has been scrutinised more than most. He currently finds himself out of Ten Hag’s plans, after losing the captaincy, which means he has not delivered value for money.

  Antony

  Regardless of the Brazil winger’s current off-field problems, he has simply not delivered on his eye-watering £82million fee. He is very much a Ten Hag signing, following the manager from Ajax last summer, but his first season at Old Trafford was disappointing and his start to this campaign has not been much better.