Antonio Cassano slammed Juventus' season under Massimiliano Allegri, insisting it "would be suicide" if his former coach remains in charge of the Bianconeri next term.

Juve are eight points adrift of Serie A's top four with nine matches remaining, though their situation could look very different should the appeal they lodged against their 15-point penalty for transfer fee irregularities earlier in the campaign be successful.

Nevertheless, the Bianconeri would still trail runaway leaders Napoli by 15 points, while they exited the Champions League at the group stage.

Juve could still finish the season with silverware as they are in the Coppa Italia semi-finals and Europa League quarter-finals.

However Cassano, who played under Allegri at Milan during the 2011-12 season, is far from impressed by their achievements this term, and believes the club should seek a replacement for his former boss ahead of 2023-24.

The former Italy striker told Gazzetta dello Sport: "In July, Allegri said: in March-April, we have to be in everything. [The] result: he went out in the Champions League group in a shameful way; in November, he was out of the championship fight.

"The Coppa Italia and Europa League save nothing; Juve must fight for the Scudetto.

"The squad has been devalued: [Dusan] Vlahovic above all. [Angel] Di Maria, who remains a genius, is misused 50 metres from the goal. 

"[Allegri] has 20 internationals and plays horrendously. The team are always behind the ball, everyone in defence.

"Starting again with Allegri next year would be suicide: the mistake was to give him a long contract. But if making mistakes is human, persevering is diabolical."

Lisandro Martinez aims to come back "stronger" after suffering a season-ending injury in Manchester United's Europa League clash with Sevilla on Thursday.

Martinez was carried from the field by Sevilla's Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel – his Argentina team-mates – after going down unchallenged in the closing stages of the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils on Friday confirmed centre-back Martinez will not feature again in the 2022-23 campaign after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his foot.

They added that the former Ajax defender, who won the World Cup with Argentina in December, is expected to make a full recovery in time for the start of next season.

Writing on Instagram, Martinez said: "Not the way I imagined what's been a very special season would end, but sometimes we face obstacles along the way that we have to overcome to make us stronger and we learn from them.

"I know that I'll be back very soon to go for more. In the meantime, I'll continue to support all my team-mates to achieve our objectives.

"The number of messages and support I've received has been amazing, they're giving me strength and encouragement at this moment.

"Many, many thanks to you all from the bottom of my heart."

United are next in action on Sunday when they visit Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

Jamaica’s Under-20 Reggae Girlz took an early lead in Group E of the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship qualifying thanks to a dominant 6-0 win over Anguilla at the Estadio Nacional De Futbol in Nicaragua on Friday.

Jamaica were up 5-0 at halftime though goals from Davia Richards (1’), Dannique Wilson (15’), Destiny Powell (27’), Natoya Atkinson (29’) and Tiny Seaton (43’). They added one in the second half to complete the scoring.

Elsewhere in Group E, Honduras secured a comfortable 6-1 win over Bermuda at the same venue.

Group A leaders Canada were the biggest winners of the day with a mammoth 15-0 win over Martinique at Estadio Panamericano. El Salvador beat Cuba 2-1 in the day’s other Group A game.

All group winners will advance to the Concacaf Under-20 Women’s Championship in The Dominican Republic from May 24-June 3.

 

Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz will have to contend with defending champions The United States in Group A of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup set for June 24-July 16 in Canada and the USA.

The pair, who met in the final in 2017 where the USA got a 2-1 win, were drawn alongside Nicaragua and the winner of a play-in scenario involving Curacao, St. Kitts & Nevis, French Guiana and Sint Maarten at Friday’s draw held in Miami.

Group B, arguably the toughest of the tournament, will include Mexico, Haiti, Honduras and Qatar.

Group C will involve Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador and the winner of Matchup 8 while Canada, Guatemala, Cuba and the winner of Matchup 7 will contest Group D.

Prior to the Group Stage, however, there will be a preliminary stage.

This stage will see three teams advance into the group stage. Seeded teams are listed first for Round 1 matchups while the non-seeded teams are second.

Matchup 1: Trinidad and Tobago vs. Guadeloupe

Matchup 2: Martinique vs. St. Lucia

Matchup 3: Curaçao vs. St. Kitts & Nevis

Matchup 4: French Guiana vs. Sint Maarten

Matchup 5: Suriname vs. Puerto Rico

Matchup 6: Guyana vs. Grenada

The pairings for Round 2 have been pre-determined, and will be as follows:
Matchup 7: Winner Matchup 1 vs Winner Matchup 6
Matchup 8: Winner Matchup 2 vs Winner Matchup 5
Matchup 9: Winner Matchup 3 vs Winner Matchup 4

 

Liverpool have "nothing to lose" as they look to end a dire run of form against Premier League strugglers Leeds United at Elland Road, so says Jurgen Klopp.

The Reds travel to Yorkshire having gone five games without a win across all competitions (D2 L3), a run which saw Klopp's men begin the weekend 12 points adrift of the top four.

Green shoots of recovery were visible as Liverpool fought back from 2-0 down to salvage a draw against leaders Arsenal last time out, but Klopp knows the Reds must make changes to get back to their best.

"We have nothing to lose really. We are in a position where we don't want to be in the table, that means we have to act a little bit like this," he said.

"We had a long training week and now we have to make sure that we do the right stuff and bring it on the pitch. All the things are on the table, everything is clear.

"Our home record is not as bad as the away record but we play away. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the game and it's a tough one."

 

Leeds looked to be pulling clear of danger prior to last week's 5-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, when Javi Gracia's side capitulated after Patrick Bamford gave them a first-half lead.

"We know how difficult it will be, the next game against Liverpool," Gracia said.

"They are a very good team. In this moment we have no time to think about whether it is better or worse to play against this team or another.

"What I can tell you is that all of the players have worked hard this week and tried to pay attention to the little details.

"They worked very well this week and I am sure we will learn from our mistakes."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Leeds United – Patrick Bamford

Bamford scored his 50th goal for Leeds in all competitions during last week's 5-1 defeat to Palace, becoming the first player to hit that figure for the club since Ross McCormack in 2014.

He is looking to score in consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time since May 2021 as Leeds bid to pull away from the relegation zone.

Liverpool – Roberto Firmino

Having netted Liverpool's equaliser against Arsenal last time out, Firmino has averaged a goal or assist every 87 minutes in the Premier League this season (nine goals, four assists in 1,129 minutes).

Of all players to play at least 500 minutes in the competition this term, only Manchester City's Erling Haaland (one every 62 mins) boasts a better such ratio.

 

MATCH PREDICTION – LIVERPOOL WIN

After claiming a memorable 2-1 win at Anfield in October, Leeds are chasing just their second Premier League double over Liverpool, previously achieving that feat in the 2000-01 campaign under David O'Leary.

While Liverpool are averaging just 0.87 points-per-game away from home in the Premier League this season – their lowest in a single campaign since 1992-93 (0.76) – the Reds have not lost on any of their last five league trips to Elland Road (W3 D2), last tasting defeat there in November 2000.

Leeds will have to tighten up to have any chance of a result, having shipped 10 goals in their three league games in April – the most in the top flight – and kept just five clean sheets in their last 35 league matches.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Leeds United – 15.9 per cent

Liverpool – 61.2 per cent    

Draw – 22.9 per cent

Gary Neville says only a full sale of Manchester United can satisfy supporters.

United announced in November that their much-maligned owners, the Glazer family, were exploring options including a potential sale of the club.

Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani are among those to go public with their offers for United, though Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliacus described the sale process as a "farce" when announcing he would not participate in a third round of bidding this week.

Some United supporters have expressed concerns that the Glazers – who have been widely criticised since taking control via a leveraged buyout in 2005 – may yet remain at Old Trafford.

On Saturday, Sky News reported that American private equity firm Carlyle was engaged in talks regarding a significant minority investment in the club.

It has also been suggested that other US-based investment companies have expressed an interest in acquiring a minority stake. 

The reports of Carlyle's interest provoked the ire of former United and England defender Neville, who wrote on Twitter: "No thank you! This doesn't work for United! 

"The Glazer PR machine keeps leaking this type of minority partnership bi-weekly whilst stressing it is a confidential process! Full sale only."

Massimiliano Allegri confirmed Paul Pogba is "not ready to play the whole game" when Juventus travel to Sassuolo in Serie A on Sunday.

Pogba has endured a torrid time since re-joining the Bianconeri from Manchester United last year due to a succession of injury setbacks, while he also missed the World Cup in Qatar.

A five-minute cameo in the midweek Europa League victory over Sporting CP represented only his third appearance of the campaign – all of which have come as a substitute.

Allegri feels Juve's clash with Sassuolo is too soon for Pogba to be thrown in from the start, but the head coach is confident the 30-year-old can still significantly impact the remainder of their campaign.

"Pogba is training well. Yesterday, he did 20 minutes of good training with the ball. Today, we see how he is," Allegri told reporters.

"At the moment, he is not ready to play the whole game, but he can only improve, and I think he will be able to show us his quality – if not for the whole game, for the minutes in which he will play from here to the end of the championship."

Allegri also confirmed Wojciech Szczesny will be rested for the trip to Mapei Stadium.

The Poland international was substituted during the first half of the win over Sporting after suffering chest pains, though he was subsequently checked and given the all-clear by the medical team.

Mattia Perin, who produced an impressive display from the bench, is likely to deputise.

"Today, I will talk to [Szczesny]," Allegri added. "If he is serene and calm, he can come with us and stay on the bench, so at least he will have a day of recovery and rest.

"Perin is in excellent condition and has become an important goalkeeper. Compared to when he arrived at Juventus, he has made progress and important improvements.

"He is one of the best goalkeepers there are for reliability and presence in the game."

Pep Guardiola is keen for Manchester City to keep Bernardo Silva beyond the end of this season, declaring he would like the see the midfielder stay "forever".

Guardiola acknowledged Silva was interested in a move to Barcelona last year, but a transfer failed to materialise and the Portugal international stayed with the Premier League champions.  

Silva has appeared in 27 of City's 29 league games this term, and he produced arguably his best performance of the campaign in Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League win over Bayern Munich.

While the 28-year-old will likely attract more admiring glances in the next transfer window, Guardiola wants him to stay at the Etihad Stadium for the long term.

"With Bernardo, it's not the first season we are together. What he is on and off the pitch… he's so sensitive, intuitive," Guardiola told Sky Sports.

"All the club, not just me, want the best when you are lucky enough to have these kinds of football players and human beings in your team.

"You would love to have him forever, it doesn't matter what position he plays or what he has to do, his contribution is massive."

Silva is not the only City midfielder to have been linked with Barcelona, with the agent of Ilkay Gundogan denying reports the Germany international has agreed to join the Blaugrana upon the expiration of his contract.

Asked whether he expected to duo to stay, Guardiola said: "I don't know what is going to happen. Honestly, I'm not involved, ever. In that, the club can take the lead and decide everything.

"The words I gave to you right now about Bernardo… Bernardo could be the same as Ilkay, for many, many years. He's even my neighbour!" 

Silva and Gundogan have both featured in four Premier League title triumphs since joining City, though the Champions League trophy has so far eluded them.

That could change this term as City remain in contention for a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble, but Guardiola believes it is too soon to envisage winning all three.

"The treble starts to happen when you are in the three finals, when you are there," he said. "You can talk about that when they start. 

"Now you are just in the quarter-finals, not even reaching the finals, it's okay for the writers but the reality is completely different."

Gavi has everything he needs at Barcelona and would not be happy at another club, according to Xavi.

The Spain international's future is uncertain due to Barcelona's financial situation, with a new contract at Camp Nou unable to be registered.

As a result, Gavi remains a youth player at the club and will be able to leave at the end of the season if the situation cannot be resolved, reportedly alerting a number of clubs in Europe.

Chelsea and Bayern Munich have both been attributed with an interest in signing the teenager, with the former reportedly prepared to make him one of the Premier League's best-paid players.

However, Xavi still believes his future is in Catalonia and questioned why he would want to leave.

"I don't think Gavi would be happy at another club, he has everything here," he told a pre-match press conference.

"He's 18-years-old, he's a key player in our team. For me, he is a footballer who is outstanding.

"I don't know what he is going to decide but, for me, his future is here at the club."

Barcelona may hold a commanding edge over their LaLiga rivals, but Xavi is taking nothing for granted.

The Blaugrana are playing after Real Madrid visit Cadiz, where Los Blancos can cut Barca's lead at the summit to 10 points, on Saturday.

Barca can restore a 13-point lead against Getafe on Sunday, with Xavi's men firmly on course to win LaLiga for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

With Madrid likely to focus their attention on the Copa del Rey final and their Champions League campaign, it would take a remarkable turn of events for Barca to lose their grip on the crown.

But Xavi is adamant that the hard work is not done and his side need to remain focused heading into the run-in.

"For us the difficult thing is to win games and tomorrow will be another test. They are playing against relegation and are risking their lives," he told a press conference.

"We are in a privileged situation, which I would have taken at the beginning of the season, but there is the final rush of the league, and we need to win many games to win this title.

"We have an important advantage, and these next three-to-four games are key. If we win them, we will be almost champions, but we are focused on tomorrow.

"We compete against very strong opponents. Being where we are in LaLiga has a lot of merit. We want to win this competition against Madrid and Atletico."

Frank Lampard jumped to Mason Mount's defence, insisting the Chelsea midfielder is "already a top player" despite a frustrating season.

The England international enjoyed a thoroughly productive 2021-22 campaign with the Blues, scoring 13 goals and providing 16 assists under Thomas Tuchel.

However, inconsistent form and injury problems have prevented the 24-year-old kicking on this term, netting just three times while registering six assists in 33 appearances.

But Lampard is fully behind Mount, who he took on loan to Derby County during the 2018-19 season before handing his Chelsea debut the following campaign.

And the Blues' caretaker boss cannot understand the criticism aimed at the academy graduate.

"I'm not going to tell anyone about what opinion they should have on football," Lampard said ahead of Chelsea's Premier League clash with Brighton and Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge.

"But if anyone thinks Mason Mount is not already a top-level player then I'm not sure what they're seeing in my opinion.

"Form is one thing people can debate. These players are getting debated more with social media than they did in my career.

"But from working with Mason - you can ask myself, Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate and Graham Potter - he's clearly a top player."

Lampard added: "He's had his comeback from a small injury problem. It may be a little process over the next game or two to get Mason where we really want him to be, but he's a top player and has a big affiliation with the club.

"One thing I know about Mason is that a top player should have a real hunger to succeed and do well for Chelsea. He's had that since the first day I took him to Derby.

"It's simple for me. He's still a young player. He'll go even further, but he's already a top player."

Erik ten Hag has made his desire to sign a new striker for Manchester United ahead of next season clear.

The Red Devils are still fighting on three fronts this season as they battle to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League, as well as chasing glory in the FA Cup and Europa League.

United's pursuit of glory to add to the EFL Cup crown secured earlier this year has come despite a lack of central options in attack.

Wout Weghorst was signed on loan in January following the termination of Cristiano Ronaldo's contract before the World Cup in Qatar and, while performing admirably, is not the calibre of striker United are crying out for.

Ten Hag expects to change that when the window reopens for business, expressing the need for such a recruit.

"Everyone is different, obviously, but for a striker the main thing is to score goals by any method, that is so far ahead of anything else," he told Sky Sports.

"We need a striker who scores goals because we have ability in the team to put balls in the box, so we need a striker to finish.

"We have to build a new future and we need a striker who not only scores goals but contributes by linking up play very well and pressing, which is very important."

While recruitment of a new striker is clearly a priority for the upcoming transfer window, United will have to look within to provide the difference until the end of the season.

Having thrown away a two-goal lead on Thursday to draw 2-2 with Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-final first leg, Ten Hag is keen for his side to be more ruthless.

"First it has to come out of the development of the team, so we are aware that when we are dominant in a game, we have to kill the game," he added.

"We didn't do that and we let the opponent back in the tie. That was not good, it's a bad habit we have to hammer out.

"We demand from the players and the players demand from each other.

"You do your job always to 100 per cent, there are no ifs, buts or maybes, you have to deliver the performance in every circumstance."

United are away to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday.

Chelsea and Bayern Munich are reportedly both in contact with Spanish midfielder Gavi amid concerns that Barcelona's financial position will mean they are unable to retain him.

Gavi, 18, is one of the top central midfield prospects in the world, having already racked up 87 senior appearances for Barcelona since debuting in the 2021-22 season.

According to AS, the contract extension Gavi signed this season to tie him to Barcelona until 2026 was rejected by LaLiga because of the club's finances and, if they fail to clear enough salary room by June 30, Gavi will be allowed to leave on a free transfer.

 

TOP STORY – CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SHARKS CIRCLING VULNERABLE BARCELONA

AS reports Chelsea have already met with Gavi's agent in an attempt to convince him of a Premier League move, and a second meeting is expected with Chelsea owner Todd Boehly and Gavi's parents in attendance.

The report states Chelsea are prepared to make the teen with 19 senior caps for Spain one of the Premier League's highest-paid players – significantly more than the contract he signed with Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Sport adds Bayern have also alerted Gavi's agent that they are prepared to submit a significant offer if he ends up being allowed to leave on a free.

 

ROUND-UP

– 90min is reporting Chelsea are confident they will be able to convince 24-year-old Napoli striker Victor Osimhen to join, despite not being able to offer Champions League football, as Osimhen's childhood hero was Didier Drogba.

– According to Football Insider, Liverpool have made 24-year-old Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister their top midfield target in the off-season.

Leeds United have strong interest in Barcelona loanee Ez Abde, with the 21-year-old winger shining during his stint at Osasuna, per Sport.

– Journalist Nicolo Schira is reporting that Roma are considering a contract offer for 31-year-old Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino when he becomes a free agent after the season.

– According to Sport1's Patrick Berger, Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong is keen on a move to Manchester United, although his club is holding out for a €50million (£45m) fee.

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City have enjoyed "incredible" success in keeping Erling Haaland fit, claiming his occasional early withdrawals of the striker have been justified.

Haaland sustained several injuries during his prolific two-year spell at Borussia Dortmund, netting 22 goals despite only starting 21 Bundesliga games in his final season with BVB.   

However, only Ederson (2,610) and Rodri (2,407) have played more Premier League minutes for City than Haaland this term (2,187) as Guardiola's men bid for a fifth title in six seasons. 

Haaland has averaged a goal every 72.9 minutes in his first Premier League campaign, and Guardiola says City have a host of medical professionals to thank for his continued availability.

"I don't know what he did in Dortmund but we take care of him 24 hours – we have incredible doctors and physios. They are behind him every second of the day," Guardiola said.

"It's difficult to understand why you would spend a lot of money [on players] and then leave them, but I don't know what the other clubs do.

"With this demanding schedule of games every three or four days we have to take care of them with nutrition, rest, sleep, food.

"For the training, how many minutes – there is data. Sometimes they cannot train more than 10 or 15 minutes."

Guardiola has been criticised for denying Haaland the opportunity to further his goalscoring exploits by substituting him early in some games – most notably when the Norwegian had helped himself to five goals within 57 minutes of a 7-0 Champions League win over RB Leipzig.

The City boss maintains those decisions are taken with the player's condition in mind and believes they have been justified.

"People say, 'Why was he subbed against Leipzig when he'd scored all the goals?' But then he was injured after the Burnley game," Guardiola said.

"He could not play with us against Liverpool or for Norway. We know we have to keep a watch because he's so big. Physios, massage, back, shoulders, tendons... everything.

"He works so much inside the training centre, much more than on the pitch. Today in modern football, players train more behind the scenes than on the pitch."

Haaland has scored 30 Premier League goals ahead of Saturday's game against Leicester City, with only Andrew Cole enjoying a more prolific debut campaign in the competition (34 in 1993-94).

Jamie Carragher has slammed Liverpool's "timid" withdrawal from the race to sign Jude Bellingham, claiming the Reds have betrayed their fans' trust by failing to pursue him.

With Bellingham expected to leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season and Liverpool's midfield in desperate need of a rebuild, Anfield has long been suggested as a potential destination for the England man.

However, reports this week said Liverpool were no longer targeting Bellingham, with Real Madrid and Manchester City reportedly the frontrunners for the £130million-rated midfielder.

While Jurgen Klopp was unwilling to discuss Bellingham directly at a press conference on Friday, he accepted Liverpool may have to "step aside and do different stuff" in the next transfer window.

The decision to focus on alternative targets has attracted criticism from former Reds defender Carragher, who says the club's hierarchy must win back the confidence of disgruntled supporters.

"Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp built a level of trust with regard to transfers which was the envy of Europe," Carragher wrote in The Telegraph on Friday.

"That trust has gone with news they will not be pursuing Jude Bellingham this summer.

"It must be won back in the next transfer window because Klopp, his recruitment team and owners Fenway Sports Group have been granted a free pass for the dire performances of the last eight months, especially away from home."

With Liverpool highly unlikely to qualify for next season's edition of the Champions League, Carragher feels their failure to compete for Bellingham's signature demonstrates "weakness".

"Everything pointed to waiting for Bellingham. The supporters were sold the dream that the next Steven Gerrard was Anfield-bound," Carragher added.

"After a year working on a deal, it feels like a timid surrender to step aside and allow Manchester City and Real Madrid to fight it out. 

"There are times when a club of Liverpool's stature has to flex some muscle and remind their rivals they can and will be there to compete off and on the pitch.

"To walk away because there is now too much work needed across the whole squad smacks of weakness, negligence and poor planning."

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