05/03/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | MAR 5, 2025

30

Guardiola said his opinion was not new and was the “truth” – and comes after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta criticised the Puma ball used in the Carabao Cup following his side’s defeat to Newcastle in the semifinals. An FA spokesperson said: “Mitre’s Ultimax Pro ball – used in the Emirates FA Cup and all other FA competitions – has been tested in accordance with Fifa testing. “All footballs in the professional game are required to meet the Fifa Quality pro accreditation, and this ball delivers against all of the testing requirements. “Alongside Mitre, we understand that preference is subjective, but we’re confident that the ball performs well. With over 350 goals scored in the knockout competition so far, it provides an exciting element to such a competitive tournament.” opponents as United restart their bid for Europa League glory, with Friday’s (1.45am Malaysian time) round of 16 first leg in Spain taking on increased significance after their FA Cup exit. “We know that we had many injuries in this period and we don’t have as many players (as we would like),” Fernandes told MUTV . “We’ve been playing almost always with the same players for long spells and it’s been difficult, so we just now need to recover and focus ourselves to do the best we can, to get the best fresh legs to the next game. “It’s going to be a tough one. A Spanish team that plays brilliant football. “Very, very good players up front, very (good) quality coming out from the back, so we need to be fresh to run again, because they will make us run and then when we have the ball we have to make them run too.” – The Independent BRUNO FERNANDES says silverware remains misfiring Manchester United’s focus as attention turns to the Europa League following the FA Cup holders’ disappointing exit to Fulham. Last May’s Wembley win against Manchester City ended a poor season on a high for Erik ten Hag, whose successor Ruben Amorim oversaw a disappointing fifth-round exit at Old Trafford on Sunday. United skipper Fernandes took the game to extra-time by brilliantly cancelling out Calvin Bassey’s header, with it ending 1-1 after 120 minutes before Fulham won 4-3 on spot-kicks courtesy of two Bernd Leno saves. Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee were both denied in a shootout loss that leaves the Europa League as the only route to silverware and realistically continental qualification, for the side 14th in the Premier League. “Of course I helped the team to draw the game and to try to get back into the game to win it but unfortunately it was not enough today,” United captain Fernandes said. “But we look forward now to the rest of the season, obviously with the main focus now on the next game in a competition where we want to go forward. It’s one of our goals for this season to try and get a trophy.” Real Sociedad are the Focus on Europa League: Fernandes Ű BY SIMON PEACH

Millwall ban reporters over treatment of Mateta horror injury MILLWALL have reportedly banned journalists from The New Den after being unhappy with the coverage of their controversial FA Cup tie with Crystal Palace. matches and press conferences. They claim the ban followed their request to speak to Roberts, who was vociferously criticised by Mail columnist Chris Sutton on the It’s All Kicking Off podcast.

The Football Association cannot issue sanctions for the chants but have confirmed they are investigating allegations of homophobic abuse directed at Palace loanee Ben Chilwell. The authority could also still appeal the standard three-game suspension Roberts will get for a straight red card if they deem the punishment insufficient. During halftime of the clash, Palace chairman Steve Parish gave a BBC interviewwhere he fiercely criticised Roberts, saying: “In all the time I’ve watched football, I’ve never seen a challenge like it. “I looked to see how old the keeper was, and he’s 30 years old. That’s the most reckless challenge on a football pitch, I think I’ve ever seen. I think he needs to have a long, hard look at himself that lad.” – Express Newspapers

The Championship side lost 3-1 at Selhurst Park, but the game was overshadowed by a sickening injury to home striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. Mateta required 25 stitches after Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts caught him with a wreckless head-high challenge in the first half. Roberts received a red car for his horrific challenge, while Mateta was fitted with an oxygen mask before being stretchered off. As he left the field, chants of “Let him die” seemed to come from the away end. According to the Daily Mail , their reporters have now been barred from attending Millwall’s club

The media outlet has also said club chiefs were left unhappy over the lack of coverage of Palace fans allegedly copying the “Let him die” song when Millwall’s Camiel Neghli later went down with the injury. The Mail claims that the incident was sufficiently covered in their match reports and comment pieces. Furthermore, they say they have contacted other outlets who also reported the chanting of Millwall fans. However, their reporters have not been subjected to bans.

Sels keeps on saving Nuno ‘really happy’ as Forest reach FA Cup quarterfinals after another shootout win M ATZ SELS saved Jack Taylor’s penalty in the shootout to send Nottingham Forest through to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup following a 1-1 draw against Ipswich after extra-time at the City Ground. Premier League but the FA Cup is always going to be on our mind. “It’s not nice at all, anxiety, nervous, mix of emotions. I try not to watch and just wait for the noise.” games remaining. Boss Kieran McKenna was proud of his players and believes they can take heart from battling with one of the top teams in the league. He said: “We are disappointed to lose the game but that can happen in the penalty shoot out. Really tough way to lose a match.

It was the second straight FA Cup game in which Forest have come out on top in a penalty shoot-out after Sels produced saves in the last round against League One side Exeter. Nuno added: “Every FA Cup draw we have to practice penalties, we kept the same order as Exeter. “We did really well, they were good penalties. I believe it makes part of the game preparations, the same time as the goalkeeper to practice and to get as much info as possible. It’s dedication.” Ipswich’s exit from the

Forest’s dream season continued as they moved one step closer to a first trophy since 1990 while Ipswich now switch their attention to staying in the Premier League. Both sides were far from impressive in a first period void of any sort of quality with the goalkeepers bystanders as the game finished goalless at the break. England manager Thomas Tuchel was watching on in the stands and would have taken very little from a dull first 45 minutes but the second half offered more entertainment. George Hirst’s third goal of the season put the visitors on track for a first win over any Premier League side this calendar year until Ryan Yates’ equalising header sent the match into extra time. No goals came in the extra 30 minutes and Sels dived low to his left to stop Taylor from the spot to secure a 5-4 shootout success, setting up a quarterfinal clash at Brighton. Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo was relieved to see his side take a step closer to a Wembley date and insists he could not bear to watch his team’s penalties. He said: “I’m really happy. We had so many hopes on the FA Cup to go as far as we can and in penalties the emotion is always big, so really happy. “It was huge for us. The players did their jobs well, they were good penalties and Matz – amazing for us. “It’s a good moment, it’s important for the club to give it a real go. Now we have to focus on the

“Really proud of the efforts of the players, they couldn’t have put anything more into the game, they left everything out on the pitch. “We can take a lot of positives from tonight but the main outcome we wanted was to go through.

“I think the players come into the training ground with a renewed confidence the way they competed.” – The Independent

competition means they now switch their full focus to trying to stay in the Premier League with 11

Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels saves a penalty from Ipswich Town’s Jack Taylor (not pictured) to win the penalty shootout during the English FA Cup fifth round match yesterday. – AFPPIC

SHORTS

“But he’s touching the ball today, in the locker room making touches with the players. He feels confident, he feels more happy. “I could not expect (him to return) before the end of the season, not even the (Club) World Cup, in the Premier League (but now) maybe it’s going to happen.” FA defends Mitre match ball after criticism THE Football Association has defended the ball used in the FA Cup after it came under attack from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. Guardiola said the FA Cup ball – Mitre’s Ultimax Pro ball – was “not proper” and compared it negatively to those used in the Premier League and Champions League after City beat Plymouth on Saturday.

“We strongly condemn this abhorrent behaviour which has no place in football or society. Such actions are entirely unacceptable, and we stand in full support of Calvin Bassey, who will continue to receive our full backing. “We will do everything in our power to work with the relevant authorities in identifying the perpetrators of these vile messages and taking the strongest form of action against them.” Fulham will play Crystal Palace for a place in the FA Cup semifinals. Pep optimistic on Rodri return PEP GUARDIOLA said he has hope that Rodri could play again before the end of the season after the Ballon d’Or winner returned to training earlier than expected.

The Manchester City manager said he was excited to see the midfielder on the training pitches, though he pledged not to take any“stupid decisions”to rush Rodri into his team and suggested he is still several weeks away from playing. But he feels it is possible the 28-year old will feature before the finish of the Premier League campaign, in the Club World Cup, or possibly in the FA Cup final, if City get there. Rodri suffered a cruciate ligament injury in September’s draw with Arsenal and has only made three appearances this season. And Guardiola said: “The fans must know they are not the only ones who are excited. It’s been five or six months. But one step at a time “We don’t have to make stupid decisions to (pick him) weeks earlier. It’s good but still he’s not close to coming back, I’d say.

Fulham slam racist abuse aimed at defender FULHAM have condemned the “appalling” racist and homophobic abuse received by defender Calvin Bassey after their FA Cup victory against Manchester United on Monday. Bassey scored Fulham’s opening goal at Old Trafford and although Bruno Fernandes equalised, the Cottagers triumphed in a penalty shoot-out to reach the quarterfinals. “Fulham Football Club is utterly appalled at the racist and homophobic abuse received and subsequently shared by Calvin Bassey on social media after yesterday’s FA Cup tie against Manchester United,” Fulham said in a statement yesterday.