Believe was key for United this season - Says Ten Hag.

Speaking at the club's end of the season awards ceremony, Manchester United boss, Erik Ten Hag, said belief in themselves and each other was key to United's improvement this season.

United, finished third on the English Premier League table, won the Carabao Cup, and are in the final of the Emirates FA Cup to played against Manchester City on Saturday at the Wembley Stadium.

But one of the most important achievements for Ten Hag and his troops is the UEFA Champions League qualification, a tournament they missed out on last season.

"Many things are key, but belief that you [can] win the game is the most important,” said Ten Hag as quoted by manutd.com

"When you show confidence on the pitch and believe in the plan and believe in your colleagues and your team-mates, then you will win."

"I think we did it [believe] in so many games – but we also dealt with setbacks. 

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Ten Hag applauded his team's resilience, saying it is what they need to win trophies.

He added that the team is happy that they are going towards the right direction, although they are not yet satisfied.

"[This] is a resilient team of character and personality, that are all attributes that you need for a successful season [and] for winning trophies."

"We have seen it before the season, after the start of the season, and then where we came from – we are happy, we are [going] in the right direction, but satisfied? No, we are not."

Rashford wins big at Man United awards.

Marcus Rashford was the biggest winner on Monday night during the Manchester United end of the season awards ceremony.

Rashford walked away with the Player of the Season Award, which made him only the second Man United Academy graduate behind club legend, Ryan Giggs, to win the award.

And it didn't end there for the forward, as his teammates voted him as the Players players of the Season, ahead of another top contender, David De Gea, who has won the award a whopping four times.

It must be said, Rashford deserves his accolades, having been a notable contributor in the team's revival.

Rashford scored 30 goals, while contributing eleven assists across all competitions, playing a major role in helping United finish third in the English Premier League table.

Another winner was Antony Matheus Dos Santos, simply known as Antony.

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The 23-year-old Brazilian winger scooped the Goal of the Year Award for his sublime strike against Barcelona.

Although he didn't contribute as much as he was expected for United this season, he did however, score four goals, and provided two assists in 25 matches.

Former Bafana Bafana forward, and AmaZulu coach, Benni McCarthy, who currently working at United as a forward's coach, must be satisfied with his contribution in Rashford's resurgence this season,

Benni was credited for his help with the player finding his scoring boots and hunger for goals, with Rashford himself, speaking highly of him.

United will be hoping to wrap up their season on a high note by winning the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday at Wembley Stadium against Manchester City. 

I couldn’t see it - Klopp on UCL spot.

• Liverpool will finish fifth on the EPL log table.

• Europa League is their destination.

• Klopp saw it coming [No UCL football]

With Liverpool's fifth place finish confirmed, Jurgen Klopp says as optimistic as he is, he couldn't see his side qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, especially with Newcastle United needing just a point in their previous game to close the door on Liverpool.

"Of course in the moment when it’s then a fact that you cannot qualify for the Champions League anymore, that’s a moment where… because even when I knew after the last game they need one point or whatever, the other two teams need one point, for me it was clear they will get that point so I drew kind of a line underneath it," Klopp said as quoted by liverpoolfc.com.

"I’m a very optimistic person but in these moments I couldn’t see it."

The Liverpool boss has accepted fifth place, which, incidentally, he was not too optimistic about either.

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"If you don’t qualify for the Champions League the best possible place you can end up is fifth, that’s what we did. If you would have asked me that 10 games ago if that’s possible, I would have said, ‘No, I can’t see that, for that you have to play much better’ and all these kinds of things. That the boys did that is really good. It is not perfect. We didn’t end up in fifth place because of the last 10 games, we ended up there because of the lack of consistency before that."

Lack of consistency, is what landed Liverpool in fifth place according to Klopp.

He bemoans their horrible form after the World Cup, and says had they played the way they played in the last 10 games for the whole season, they would be telling a different story.  

"But, I’m not sure, I think the last 10 games, if I’m right even after Dubai since we were in the training camp, so after the World Cup, not everything was great but the amount of points we collected since then is pretty good and if we could have done that over the whole season we would be in a different place."

One thing that Klopp is optimistic about, is Liverpool's prospects for next season, based on the spirit at Anfield towards the end of the season.

"Of course there are reasons for optimistic views because the things we showed in the last few weeks, that’s definitely the case. We have another reason for an optimistic view.

"Because of the atmosphere our people created in the last home game, after the Villa game the atmosphere in the stadium, the way the club said farewell, the day after that how Bobby [Firmino] said farewell.

"All these kinds of things are absolutely the basis for a fantastic future, so we don’t have to make it bigger than it is. It’s a football season, we didn’t deliver what everybody wanted and everybody expected rightly so. But we are still really united and that’s the good thing about it."

Liverpool travel to St. Mary's Stadium on Sunday 28 May for their last English Premier League for their season finale against Southampton. Kick-off will be at 17:30.

First season in the EPL went beyond Haaland's expectations.

It can only be Haaland:

• 36 EPL goals.

• 52 goals across all competitions.

• A 29-year-old EPL goalscoring record broken in first season.

• 2023 Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.

Manchester City goal machine, Erling Haaland, is surprised by the success he has achieved at the Etihad in his debut season.

He said as much as he expected things to go well at City, he didn't expect them to be this good.

He was speaking after receiving his 2023 Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award, which he won with a whopping 80% of the votes.

"I didn’t expect it to be this good!" Haaland told amp.mancity.com.

“I expected it to be good of course.

"To come into a team that’s been scoring many goals while winning the Premier League a lot of times – two in a row now three, I expected to do good things but to do this I didn’t quite expect.

"It’s been a fantastic season so far and I’m happy.

"I like it [in Manchester] I’m enjoying it on and off the pitch, I’m enjoying my life.

"The vibe is fantastic. I really enjoy myself. I have a lot of friends.

"We joke a lot, we enjoy it a lot in the locker room and on the pitch. I am really enjoying it and there’s so many good guys in the team."

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The 22-year-old had special praises for his boss, Pep Guardiola.

Haaland said Guardiola's achievement of  five league titles in six years is 'unreal'. And also touched on the amazing stuff he makes them do in training.

"When you win your fifth Premier League in six years it’s unreal.

"He makes things look so easy on the training ground and in the games.

"It’s crazy what he’s doing and what he makes us do and how good we can play. It’s a big honour to have him as my coach. It’s a pleasure.  

"We don’t like to focus on the future or on the past. I like to live in the moment and I like to take it game-by-game, exactly like what he said and that’s we did.

"We focused and we achieved exactly what we wanted to achieve and in the end it was unreal what we did.

"To be behind all season and in the end just come like a unit together was amazing and an amazing feeling."

Man City will play their last English Premier League game of the season on Sunday 28 May against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. The game will kick-off at 17:30.

We deserved the result - De Zerbi on Man City draw.

Brighton & Hove Albion needed all but a point to make sure of their Europa League spot, and they pushed Manchester City to the limit to earn it with an exciting 1-1 draw at the Amex on Wednesday evening.

Julio Enciso scored a stunning equalizer from long range in the 38th minute to cancel Phil Foden's earlier strike, earning Brighton a well deserved result.

Brighton boss, Roberto De Zerbi, says City didn't do them any favors, they deserved their point, in what he says was one of the best games of the season.

"We didn’t receive a gift of the one point, we deserved the result. I am really proud, because I think this one of the best games of the season. It was very tough, but we played with incredible quality and courage," De Zerbi said after the match as quoted by brightonandhovealbion.com.

"The improvement of the players has been fantastic and for me it’s very satisfying. We had to respect ourselves, the club and our fans and show the courage and that we believe in ourselves to win against the best team in the world. I think we did that."

When he took over the reigns at Brighton, De Zerbi says qualifying for Europe was not in his mind.

Learning about his players and the English Premier League was his main focus.

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But with just a game left in their season, Brighton have achieved the seemingly impossible under the Italian, qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history, while playing some brilliant football.

 "At the beginning I didn’t put my focus on the target of the Europa League. I had to analyse the players, learn about the Premier League and to understand the new country," he added.

"But step by step I started to think about our potential and in February it was clear in my head that we could fight for a big target."

Brighton, they destroy the other opponents - Guardiola.

       Image: Fabrizio Romano Facebook

Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday evening at the Falmer Stadium.

Phil Foden put the English Premier League champions ahead in the 25th minute, before Julio Enciso equalized for Brighton with a stunner in the 38th minute.

In a game where the only stat that went City's way is ball possession, which they had 61% of, Brighton, who showed City absolutely no respect, dominated the other aspects; with 20 goal attempts to City's 13, and seven shots on target, while City had four.

Man City boss, Pep Guardiola, says Brighton destroys the other opponents with the type of football they play, and he is happy with how his side responded to their threat, by not dropping the momentum they have been keeping in the past few weeks.

"Brighton, they destroy the other opponents they have been playing. They did it in certain moments, especially the last 10 or 15 minutes, we struggled but we did really well," Guardiola told Sky Sports after the game.

"We cannot drop momentum. I didn't see it, against Chelsea I didn't see it today. During the week we have to rest, recover mentally. It's been demanding for the past six months playing Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and chasing Arsenal. The training now is just relaxed."

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Guardiola says the game was exceptional, especially considering the fact that they played 48 hours after drinking all the alcohol in Manchester.

"Exceptional game. Congratulations to Brighton for their deserved qualification to the Europa League.

"The game we played, 48 hours after we drank all the alcohol in Manchester, 48 hours later we behaved and we showed why we were the champions against that team.

"We showed what we have done with and without the ball. I didn't see one drop in our intensity and idea. They had chances, we had chances, we scored a goal, they scored a goal.

"Both teams want the ball, both teams want to press. The keepers are fundamental in this game. The quality they have, they are an exceptional team."

We want to compete with the best - Ten Hag.

Manchester United will host Chelsea in a crucial English Premier League encounter on Thursday 25 May at Old Trafford, with the Kick-off at 21:00.

Man United needs just a point to secure a UEFA Champions League spot next season, with two matches remaining.

United boss, Erik Ten Hag, says they want to compete with the best, which means playing in the UCL, and that makes winning against Chelsea on Thursday evening non-negotiable.

"We want to compete with the best and then you have to be in the Champions League. It is simple," Ten Hag told journalists at Carrington earlier today, as quoted by manutd.com.

"First, we have to win the game tomorrow and get the job done. Then it is about the judgement from others. If it's a good performance or a bad performance or a poor performance."

Ten Hag says United are on a journey back to winning trophies, a journey that has been good with one trophy in the bag.

He insists though, that good is not good enough, they can always do better.

"We are in a project and we want to go back and win trophies, [we have] won one trophy and we want to win more trophies and we want to compete with the best. We are still in a journey, but we think we are in the right direction. We can always be better because good is not good enough.''

United will be boosted by the return to fitness of Marcus Rashford, who has been a revelation for them this season.

Rashford missed United's 1-0 win over Bournemouth due to illness.

"It looks like [he will be available], but yesterday he returns in training and he looks quite fit but we have to see today what the outcome is from the training - how did he recover and then we will make our choices," said Ten Hag regarding Rashford's return. 

Haaland credits a good environment for his City success.

Erling Haaland has had a dream debut season in the English Premier League, scoring 52 goals so far for Manchester City across all competitions.

The Norwegian goal machine, City's focal point in attack this season, has credited the enabling environment, and the hunger for success from everyone around him at the club for his amazing debut season. 

"The environment allows me to be myself every day," Haaland told amp.mancity.com

"There are hungry people around me that want to become better every single day and want to help me to become better every single day.

"That is where everything starts from.

"From Pep, to the physios, to everyone, we want to help each other.

"We want to have a good time together and we want to make every single person in the club better.

"That is the most important thing.

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Haaland admits that the EPL is the toughest league in the world, but he has had an amazing journey since his Man City debut in August.

With his teammates having lifted the EPL title for two seasons in a row before he joined the club, Haaland says it was his goal to win the title as well this season.

"It has been an amazing journey, ever since my first game in August," Haaland added. 

"It is the toughest league, the most difficult league, every single game is tough.

"But we managed to win it and that is what has really been on my mind the whole season.

"All of my teammates have won it in the last few years and I wanted to do the same."

Guardiola wants City to keep going.

If Brighton & Hove Albion, as well as Brentford, think they are going to meet a Manchester City side with its foot of the pedal after wrapping up the English Premier League title last weekend, they better think again.

Man City boss, Pep Guardiola insists that he wants his charges to maintain their tone leading up to the to cup finals awaiting them.

Man City will face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on 03 June, before clashing against Inter Milan for the UEFA Champions League title on the 10th of June.

"It would be better to maintain our tone," Guardiola said as quoted by amp.mancity.com.

"I’m not talking about win or lose, I want to see that our tone is there.

"We cannot play like we have won [the Premier League]. Against these two teams, if we aren’t ready we will suffer a lot. And after it would be a problem.

"But if we maintain the tone and they beat us, they beat us – it can happen."

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Guardiola expects Brighton and Brentford to raise their game against the EPL champions.

"It is understandable because they play against Manchester City, the winners in the last years of the Premier League and they want to show how good they are, that’s normal."

"The target of the Premier League is done. But we cannot drop much otherwise it will be more difficult."

City will face Brighton tonight (Wednesday 24 May) at the Falmer Stadium at 21:00.

A win or draw for City will stretch their unbeaten run in the EPL to 16 matches. 

Man City vs Brighton, a football romantic's dream.

English Premier League champions, Manchester City, will travel to Falmer Stadium to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday 24 May, with the kick-off at 21:00.

City have dominated this fixture, having won four out of their last five meetings.

But this will be a different game altogether, with both teams on cloud nine.

City go into the encounter already wearing their EPL champions crown, while Brighton are also in a celebratory mood having secured their dream Europa League spot.

Now, picture these two ball playing sides, both in a party mood, coming face-to-face, with nothing to lose, the stage is set, we can expect them to dance without fear nor care, as if the world is not watching.

Nothing but a superb football should be on display, in true Pep Guardiola and Roberto De Zerbi style.

Brighton boss, De Zerbi has pushed the boundaries a bit with the style of play he has implemented at the club, just like his counterpart, Pep Guardiola did with City, with much success.

To think that Brighton have managed to qualify for Europe, playing the way they do, which is considered to be a risky approach, is just exceptional.

The saying, 'the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward' is epitomized by teams like City and Brighton, but it is even more admirable when it is done by a team like Brighton, and successfully so, without the quality in personnel that City possesses.

Brighton play football without fear, cutting edge stuff at times, averaging 61% ball possession per match in the EPL this season, very close to Man City's 65% possession average.

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On Wednesday evening, quality might be the only difference between the two sides, with City having it in abundance.

But De Zerbi's men will play, they will definitely give it a good go, making the game worth watching.

They can even go a step further, and possibly end City's 12 match winning streak in the EPL.

He keeps surprising us - Ten Hag on Casemiro.

Casemiro scored a beautiful overhead kick goal, Brazilian style, on Saturday when Manchester United beat Bournemouth 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium.

The midfield kingpin, who formed part of a mean midfield partnership with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos at Real Madrid before his move to United, has continued to show how great a talent he is with his contribution at Old Trafford this season.

His has done some sterling work on and off the ball in his 44 appearances for Man United across all competitions, scoring four goals and contributing six assists.

That has left Man United boss, Erik Ten Hag, without any regrets for signing the 31-year-old, whom he says keeps surprising them with his excellent performances.

"He keeps surprising us," said Ten Hag in his post-match press conference as quoted by manutd.com.

"He’s such a brilliant football player, we know him as very good organisation, positioning, anticipating, intercepting a lot of balls, winning duels, a fighter, keeping the team together, but also in possession his passing, his distribution, but also finishing. Just a great football player. 

"We emphasise a lot and where we train on a lot, it’s about the movements when we are in the final third and movements of course has to come from the front line, second line just behind but also from the third line with fullbacks and with Casemiro coming from there.

“The movement is great, the touch from Christian Eriksen I think is great and the finish is brilliant."

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Ten Hag says Casemiro has exceeded the expectations they had when they signed him, in terms of what he brings to the club.

"Absolutely, by far,"

"One of the things that came out of our analysis, we missed a player in the midfield. A strategist and we searched for the strategist – it was not easy because they are not many in that profile who fits to the standard of Manchester United and so we are happy we found him."

My arms are ready to lift two more titles - Gundogan.

After Manchester City lifted their third English Premier League title in a row on Sunday afternoon, captain, Ilkay Gundogan said his arms are now strong enough to lift two more trophies.

Man City have the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League finals coming up against Manchester United and Inter Milan respectively.

According to Gundogan, there is no special secret to his leadership role as the Cityzens captain besides staying calm and focusing on what is important.

"I have no secrets," Gundogan told amp.mancity.com.

"Maybe my secret is to stay calm and stay patient. I focused on the important things and that is the success of the team.

"This is what we’re doing day by day. Today is special, it feels more special than previous years. Because of the atmosphere in the training ground, we’re here for each other, we fight for each other in tough periods.

"Two more finals to go, we’re looking forward to it. My arms are ready to lift two more titles."

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In 30 appearances, Gundogan contributed eight goals and five assists to City's EPL success this season.

Adaptation is what he credits his positive contribution to.

"It’s adaptation. The holding position requires different things to the offensive roles. This is what Pep [Guardiola] appreciates about me.

"I’m not special in times of giving decisive goals and assists, my qualities are in terms of bringing my teammates in the best possible situations.

"Leading them to these kind of simple situations. My football is simple, I try to make it as simple."

We have done something exceptional - Guardiola.

Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola has described winning the English Premier League title as something exceptional.

Exceptional it is, as the Cityzens have become only the fifth English top flight side to win the league title three times in a row.

They have equaled a record set by Huddersfield Town (1924-26), Arsenal (1933-35), Liverpool (1982-84), and Manchester United (1999-2001, and 2007-09).

While the celebrations are still very much going on, Guardiola is already plotting a way to create Man City's own history, that of becoming the first ever English top flight side to win four league titles in a row.

"When we start next season, we are going to try to be the first team to win four Premier Leagues," Guardiola told amp.mancity.com.

"We don’t need decades to think about how good it was. We have the feeling we have done something exceptional."

But for now, it is the UEFA Champions League trophy that Guardiola has set his sights on, which will confirm Man City as one of the greatest teams in Europe.

"To be one of the greatest teams in Europe you have to win the Champions League otherwise maybe people will say it’s not complete," he added.

"But just in case we cannot do it against Inter or next season, what we have done is extraordinary. Everybody knows it."

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Guardiola expects a strong challenge for the title next season, which he believes will require top mental preparations if they are to defend their crown.

"The next season all the teams will want to beat us, it’s normal.

"Defending our crown, mentally we have to prepare for that. That will be the challenge.

"We are going to play with the quality that we have - and human quality. The quality will be there."

City next travel to Falmer Stadium on Wednesday 24 May to face Brighton & Hove Albion, with the kick-off at 21:00.

It’s special, I am going to enjoy this day - Haaland.

Sometimes, one forgets that Erling Haaland is only 22-years-old. His influence in the world of football is so phenomenal it surpasses his age.

But that is what the best in the beautiful game do, they make an immediate impact, and that is what Haaland has done in his first season with Manchester City, by netting a record 36 goals.

After their win over Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, Haaland said lifting the English Premier League title is a memory he will cherish forever.

"These are memories I will remember for the rest of my life. We’ve been fighting so hard," he told www.mancity.com.

"[I feel] unreal. I honestly don’t know what to say. You see me smiling and everything, I’m so happy!"

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While he said he will enjoy this day, and lifting the title in his debut season, the Norwegian goal machine is salivating at the prospect of featuring in the FA Cup final as well as the UEFA Champions League finale.

"It’s special. I am going to enjoy this day," he said.

"It’s a special moment with the trophy. Without the club this would not be possible. It is amazing.

"Debut season, 36 goals so far, Premier League trophy and two finals left, not a bad start!"

We won everything together - Firmino on his time at Liverpool.

Roberto Firmino marked the end of his Liverpool journey with a goal against Aston Villa in their 1-1 draw at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

To say goodbye to Anfield with a goal, was fitting for Firmino, a proven goal scorer who lives Liverpool with 110 goals in his name.

Firmino featured 361 times for Liverpool, and won seven medals, including the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.

The 31-year-old Brazilian forward spent eight years at Anfield.

He said as much as it was hard to adapt to the environment and the type of football played, he is grateful to have achieved so much with the club.

"In the beginning when I arrived it was hard to adapt to the climate, the football, everything. As for every player, it’s the same," Firmino told liverpoolfc.com.

"But thank you God, we achieved everything here, we won everything together. Without my teammates, my family, the manager, you cannot do this. I’m very proud of the history, for everything we achieved together."

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On scoring in his last game for the club, Firmino said although they didn't win, he was happy to score a goal in his final Anfield appearance on a Liverpool shirt.

"Yes, unfortunately we didn’t get the win, it wasn’t the result that you want.

"But the last game at home with the fans, my family here, everyone, friends, I was very emotional and happy for this, to score my last goal at home. With this shirt, this big club, I’m very happy."

Today is too painful - Arteta after Nottingham loss.

It is the last six games of the season that Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta, believes a team challenging for the title should be at their best, and it is the last six games that the gunners were at their worst.

While Manchester City were firing from all cylinders, Arsenal simply disintegrated.

The Gunners have lost three out of their last five games, and so the dream ended.

Speaking after the loss to Nottingham Forest, Arteta admitted that his troops came up short towards the end of the battle for the English Premier League title.

“(We’re) sad because we lost the game, sad because obviously it’s the day we have lost the championship,” said Arteta as quoted by www.arsenal.com

“After 10 and a half months fighting for it, working every single day, just trying to get to that dream that we all had, and that we all fought for so hard.

“But at the end, we came up short. You need to get the team in the best moment in the last six league games; everybody healthy, everybody playing at their best and in the key moments, take those moments and maintain the momentum, and we haven’t been able to do that.

While losing to Nottingham, therefore confirming City as EPL champions is painful, Arteta still wants to prepare well and give the Gunners supporters the best possible display in their next game.

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“Today is too painful and I think we have to heal now for the next three days,” he said. “Make sure we prepare well this week, we have a huge responsibility to give our people the best possible performance and a win, with the support and everything that they’ve done for the team, and we need to do that first."

In their next match, Arsenal will host Wolves on Sunday 28 May at the Emirates Stadium. The game will kick-off at 17:30.

No celebrations should City win the EPL on Sunday.

Manchester City will host Chelsea on Sunday 21 May at the Etihad, with the kick-off at 17:00.

While a Man City win on Sunday is expected to spark wild celebrations following the manner in which they overtook Arsenal in the EPL title race, modest City boss, Pep Guardiola has other ideas.

Guardiola said a breakfast and a small celebration with 'our people' will be enough.

According to Pep, the big celebrations will be saved for the end of the season.

"We are satisfied to be able to play the Champions League final," said Guardiola in his press conference ahead of the game with Chelsea, as quoted by www.mancity.com

"It is non-stop and now comes the most difficult thing at the end. All the tennis players serve to win Wimbledon know it is the most difficult one.

"On Sunday, the game is in our hands to win the most important competition - the Premier League is the most important because for 11 months it’s every week."

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On celebrations...

"I don’t think so. Maybe we will do a breakfast because we have a game the day after.

"Chelsea deserve it. I would like to feel that we have to win to be champions, but we cannot control Nottingham. We have to win on Sunday.

"We will have time to celebrate at the end of the season.

"On Sunday, if we win we will celebrate with our people."

It's not in our hands - Klopp on Liverpool's top four finish hopes.

Liverpool will host Aston Villa tomorrow (Saturday 20 May) at Anfield Stadium, with the kick-off at 16:00.

While everyone who is anyone in the world of football is talking about Liverpool's hopes for a top four finish, Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp, it seems, is not a man who banks on hope.

Klopp said he doesn't need hope in football, all he needs is to win matches.

"There’s no problem. I never hope, I never had hope for that, I don’t need that. I know that we have to win all the football games and then there’s maybe a chance, a big maybe, but that's all," said Klopp as quoted by www.liverpoolfc.com.

"I watched the game [Newcastle United’s win over Brighton & Hove Albion] last night but I didn’t watch it and thought when they scored goals and stuff like this that I was disappointed. I was that once in my life and it was when Vincent Kompany fired the ball in the goal [for Manchester City against Leicester City in 2019]. That was the moment, but never around that.

"It’s not in our hands, whatever they get they deserve, easy as that. So we have to do our job and then we will see what that means. But my hope is not big or lesser than before, because I never had."

According to Klopp, the biggest prize in football is three points, and that is exactly what Liverpool will go for.

"The biggest prize in football are three points. There’s a misunderstanding that it’s about trophies and stuff like this because that’s true as well definitely, but when you win a football game in a very decisive moment it’s always the same: you go and try everything to win the game and that’s the reward you get, most of the time three points and sometimes a trophy.

"That’s exactly how I see it. There’s no better reason to go into a football game and want to win it than you could get three points, and that’s what we want," Klopp added.

As much as he has three points on his mind, Klopp is wary of the Aston Villa threat, especially since Unai Emery took over.

ALSO READ: Guardiola on City's success.https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/i-never-think-it-belongs-to-me.html?m=1

He has likened them to the Villareal side Emery coached before his move to Aston Villa, with a very clear identity in the way they approach the game.

"But we know it’s not about us only this story tomorrow, because Aston Villa since Unai [Emery] is there, I don’t know where they would be in the table if he would have been there from the beginning, that’s the truth.

"They play clear, their football is like Villarreal a little bit when he was there, obviously very successful, difficult to play against, super-confident, now super-settled into what they want to do. So that will be tricky definitely. But it must be tricky for them as well and thank God it became a bit more tricky for opponents recently against us. We should try to make sure that it will happen again."

I never think it belongs to me - Guardiola on City's success.

Manchester City reached their second UEFA Champions League final in three seasons when they defeated Real Madrid 4-0 on Wednesday.

City are also in line to win their fifth English Premier League title in six seasons on Sunday should they beat Chelsea.

On top of that, the Cityzens have a date in the FA Cup against their homeboys, Manchester United.

With his team enjoying some great success, manager, Pep Guardiola has been showered with praises from across the globe.

While he welcomes the kudos, Pep has insisted that City's success is not his alone, but a team effort.

"As a manager, I feel part of something," he said in Friday's press conference as quoted by www.mancity.com

"I never think it belongs to me. I am part of that, I don’t deny it but without the incredible work of sporting director or board. Players are the most important thing.

ALSO READ: Melinda Kgadiete on Sundowns Ladies vs UJ. https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-atmosphere-in-dressing-room-is.html?m=1

"I am part of it and I feel really proud to be here again and have it in our hands. I am part of that. I am not the only person when we lose the semi-final or final of the Champions League. I don’t feel only responsible for that."

Man City will host Chelsea on Sunday 21 May at the Etihad stadium. Kick-off is at 17:00.

Liverpool letting old guard go for new blood at Anfield.

Liverpool FC have confirmed the departure from Anfield of Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain when their contracts expire this summer.

The four have enjoyed much success with Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, winning the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup and the English Premier League title amongst other honors.

This season, the quartet have appeared 69 times for Liverpool in the English Premier League matches combined, contributing 10 goals and five assists.

Among them, it is Firmino who has made more of an impact, scoring nine goals in 23 appearances, with four assists in his name.

While James Milner has amassed the most appearances in the EPL, with 29.

Having seen the club losing ground both in the EPL and the UEFA Champions League recently, the management at Anfield could be looking to refresh their side for another assault on the domestic league and the UCL.

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/humility-key-to-man-citys-success.html?m=1

It has been a frustrating season for Liverpool, and Jurgen Klopp in particular.

They are currently 5th on the EPL table with 65 points after 36 matches, still with a chance to qualify for the UCL after an impressive run of seven wins in a row.

Jurgen Klopp, guaranteed, still believes Liverpool can emulate the glory of 2019, with the current squad having reached what one might call a point of stagnation, new blood might give the team a new lease on life.

Liverpool will host Aston Villa on Saturday 20 May in a crucial EPL encounter at Anfield.