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Rooney hails Arsenal star Gyokeres in pursuit of historic double

Ű BY PHILIP DUNCAN

and Everton, articulated his admiration for the striker. “I’ve said this all season and I have been criti cised for saying it, but I actually really like him,” Rooney stated. “What he brings to that Arsenal team is that he occupies defenders. He makes them work, he makes them defend, he runs the channels.” Rooney further elaborated on Gyokeres’s tac tical importance: “And what we’ve seen recently is that it’s creating more space for Eberechi Eze and for Bukayo Saka – because if one, or both centrebacks have to go and cover him and then the full-back has to cover round, when you switch the ball quickly, it creates so much space

all-round contribution to Arsenal’s impressive winning streak. This resurgence has propelled the Gunners to within two victories of their first League title in 22 years, alongside securing a spot in the Champions League final. With 21 goals across all competitions this sea son, Gyokeres has emulated Arsenal legends Thierry Henry and Ian Wright by reaching the 20 goal mark in his debut campaign, despite trail ing Erling Haaland’s tally for Manchester City by 16 goals. Speaking on The Overlap EFL Fan Debate , Rooney, a prolific scorer himself with 208 Premier League goals for Manchester United

for everyone just in behind him. “Over the last few weeks he has been show ing that even more and if Arsenal go on to win the league and the Champions League, he’ll be a major reason behind it, because that’s where Arsenal have been short in the last few years,” he concluded. Arsenal’s quest for the Premier League title hinges on winning their remaining fixtures: against Burnley at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, followed by an away trip to Crystal Palace five days later. Their Champions League final against Paris St Germain is scheduled for May 30 May in Budapest. – The Independent

WAYNE ROONEY has lauded Viktor Gyokeres as a “major factor” in Arsenal’s ambitious pursuit of a historic Premier League and Champions League double this season. The Sweden international, a high-profile £64 million (RM339m) summer acquisition from Sporting Lisbon, initially faced a challenging start, netting just three times in his first 11 appearances and enduring a subsequent 10 game drought without a goal from open play. However, Gyokeres has since rediscovered his prolific form, scoring five times in his last nine matches and earning widespread praise for his PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN secured their fifth straight French Ligue 1 title yesterday as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s strike set up a decisive 2-0 win away to nearest rivals Lens. The Georgian netted his 19th goal of the season just before the half-hour mark and sub stitute Ibrahim Mbaye added a late second as PSG took an unassailable nine-point lead at the top with one match of the season remain ing. Luis Enrique’s team had all but clinched another league triumph last weekend when they beat Brest 1-0 to go six points clear of Lens with two games left while also boasting a far superior goal difference. That meant even a Lens victory here could not realistically have prevented the Parisians from extending their domestic dominance. There might yet be more to come, as the defending European champions face Arsenal in the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30 – they will become just the second team in the modern era to win back-to-back European Cups if they defeat the Gunners. “We wanted to come here and win, but we especially want to prepare for the final on May 30,” last year’s Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele told broadcaster beIN Sports . “We have one more game to come on Sunday (against Paris FC). We will celebrate this because it’s official now, we are champi ons.” Alaves end Barca’s 100-point bid NEWLY-CROWNED Spanish champions Barcelona suffered a 1-0 defeat by Alaves yes terday, ending their bid to match the all-time La Liga record points total of 100. Hansi Flick’s side needed to win their remaining three matches to reach that figure but fell at the first hurdle in Vitoria. Ibrahim Diabate’s goal in first half stop page time earned Alaves a vital victory in their battle against relegation, taking Quique Sanchez Flores’s team out of the drop zone and up to 15th. “It was not an easy game, they (battled) in a hard way, but it’s OK because they are fight ing to stay in La Liga and this is normal,” Flick told reporters. “We let in the goal in the last minute of the first half… “But for me it’s more the positives (I’ll take), the young players who played today and managing the minutes (for the others).” Flick gave 21-year-old centre-back Alvaro Cortes his debut, among several changes to the side that won the Clasico on Sunday to clinch back-to-back league titles. The Catalans celebrated winning La Liga on Monday with an open-top bus parade and their performance reflected that to some extent. Earlier, Sevilla produced a sensational comeback from two goals down to beat Villarreal 3-2 and climb towards safety while Mallorca, 17th, were left in trouble after a 3-1 defeat at Getafe. SHORTS PSG clinch fifth straight title

Devils make up mind Man United bosses set to speak with Carrick about permanent role M ANCHESTER UNITED are report edly set to speak to Michael Carrick about staying in charge beyond the end of the 2025/26 season. Germain, and Emery is keen to remain with Aston Villa. It means Carrick is now in pole position to become United’s seventh per manent boss since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. And while Fergie

of Carrick’s appointment. Carrick will want assurances the club will do whatever it can to land their leading transfer targets this summer. But he has made no secret of the fact he would love the chance to lead the club back into the big time. United are keen to get Carrick in place before the end of this month, so he can start planning for next season. Carrick has proved a hugely popu lar figure within the squad and has been the frontrunner for several weeks. And Carrick’s imminent appointment is expected to result in captain Bruno Fernandes committing his long term future to United as well The interim United boss is set to face the media today ahead of Sunday’s final home game of the season against Nottingham Forest, when Casemiro will get a chance to bid farewell to the Old Trafford faithful.

The 44-year-old has surpassed the expecta tions of many since taking over for the remain der of the campaign in January following an acrimonious end to Ruben Amorim’s rocky Red Devils reign. Carrick has overseen a marked improve ment in mood and results, with United clinch ing Champions League qualification with three matches to spare and on the verge of securing third spot in the Premier League. That upturn has put the club’s former mid fielder, captain and coach in pole position to stay in a post it is understood he will speak to the club about before the end of the season. United have explored other options but Carrick has long been considered the front-run ner for a job that he has been publicly backed for by a number of players. Some bookmakers have suspended betting on his appointment, and The Athletic reports that chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox will rec ommend at an executive meeting this week that he be offered the role. Other candidates have been dis

has not been con sulted during the process, it’s under stood he approves

The popular 34-year-old midfielder, who joined from Real Madrid in 2022, confirmed in January that he would be leaving United when his contract expired this summer. Casemiro has shone since then, scoring five goals, and has missed only one game – Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Sunderland – in the Carrick era. But the Brazil interna tional was back training with the group yesterday along with Manuel Ugarte, who was also absent for the Wearside trip due to a back complaint. – The Independent/Express Newspapers

cussed, including Thomas Tuchel, Luis Enrique, Julian Negalsmann and Unai Emery but United know that luring one of these to Old Trafford would be unrealistic, for various reasons. Both Tuchel and Nagelsmann are tied up

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick. – REUTERSPIC

until after the World Cup at least while Enrique is not prepared to leave Paris Saint

Richards wants Foden in England’s World Cup squad

Ű BY CHRIS WILSON

He’s not played well at times for England, it’s not worked for him but he brings something different in a big squad. “He’s just got that magic,” added the former City defender. While Richards was quick to praise Foden, he did conceded that the City man might struggle to make the final England squad after a disappointing season that has yielded just seven goals and five assists in the Premier League. “I wish he could have showed it more this season. I hope he gets in but I don’t think he gets in. He’d be in my squad,” added Richards. Tuchel is set to name his final squad for the World Cup next week, with England set to fly to the USA in early June ahead of pre-tournament friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica on June 6 and June 10 respectively. – The Independent

path of Omar Marmoush, who added a second before halftime. It marked a positive performance for Foden at a key part of the season, and perhaps pro vided a reminder of his talents to Thomas Tuchel as the England boss prepares to name his squad for the World Cup. And Richards highlighted how Foden’s assist shows that he “brings something differ ent” to the England set-up. “As it’s a 26-man squad, there are certain games where teams will play a low block and Foden can unlock the door,” said Richards, who was on pundit duty for Sky Sports . “I know he’s not had the best of seasons. But in a World Cup, when you need something spe cial, he can produce that,” said Richards as he analysed Foden’s first assist. “Tuchel likes Morgan Rogers but in terms of passing and football brain I’d be taking Foden.

MICAH RICHARDS has called for Phil Foden to be included in the England squad for this year’s World Cup, arguing that the Manchester City midfielder can produce “magic” when it’s needed. Foden was the star as City earned a com fortable 3-0 win over Crystal Palace yesterday, with the England international providing two assists including a superb backheel to set up Antoine Semenyo for the opener. The midfielder picked up the ball with his back to goal and produced a brilliant through ball into the path of Semenyo, who simply had to drag a first-time finish into the far corner to open the scoring. It set the foundations for a dominant win for City, and Foden had another assist soon after as he helped on Josko Gvardiol’s cross into the