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FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Hearts striker Steven MacLean has turned up the heat on Betfred Cup semi-final opponents Celtic by insisting he wants the Scottish champions to “get pumped” by RB Leipzig in the Europa League tonight. (Scotsman)[1]

Steven Gerrard says his Rangers team can’t be mentioned in the same breath as legends of the past whose European record they could beat tonight. (Herald)[2]

Brendan Rodgers is battling a Europa League injury crisis in Leipzig tonight but challenged his stand-in stars to prove they can crack it at Celtic. (Daily Record)[3]

Steven Gerrard has ordered Rangers to seize control of their Europa League destiny tonight — and pile the misery on sorry Spartak. (Scottish Sun)[4]

RB Leipzig manager Ralf Rangnick has insisted his club, one of the richest in Germany, could not afford to buy Celtic’s best young players. (Herald)[5]

St Mirren’s technical director Gus MacPherson has waded into the argument over the Irn-Bru Cup by saying that it is no longer a tournament run for clubs, but a tournament run to support political agendas. (Scotsman)[6]

Dundee are lining up a move for ex-Ross County and Partick Thistle midfielder Martin Woods. (Scottish Sun)[7]

Former Celtic midfielder Morten Wieghorst could face his old club as Rosenborg boss in the Europa League after he was named on a three-man shortlist. (Daily Record, print edition)

Steven Gerrard, the Rangers manager, believes following in the footsteps of strident, no-nonsense former Ibrox bosses Walter Smith and Graeme Souness is his blueprint for success, ahead of his side’s Europa League clash with Spartak Moscow. (The Times, subscription required)[8]

Aberdeen have confirmed they have sold their allocation of tickets for Sunday’s League Cup semi-final against Rangers. (Press and Journal)[9]

Influential Austrian midfielder Peter Haring is ready to return for Hearts’ Betfred Cup semi-final against Celtic, manager Craig Levein has confirmed. (Edinburgh Evening News)[10]

Lewis Ferguson says he joined Aberdeen to experience occasions like Sunday’s League Cup semi-final. (Aberdeen Evening Express)[11]

The SPFL are investigating Falkirk’s controversial recruitment of manager Ray McKinnon, who left Morton for the Bairns three months into a year-long contract at the end of August. (Daily Record, print edition)

Thursday’s English Gossip[12]

References

^ (Scotsman) (www.scotsman.com)

^ (Herald) (www.heraldscotland.com)

^ (Daily Record) (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)

^ (Scottish Sun) (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)

^ (Herald) (www.heraldscotland.com)

^ (Scotsman) (www.scotsman.com)

^ (Scottish Sun) (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)

^ (The Times, subscription required) (www.thetimes.co.uk)

^ (Press and Journal) (www.pressandjournal.co.uk)

^ (Edinburgh Evening News) (www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com)

^ (Aberdeen Evening Express) (www.eveningexpress.co.uk)

^ Thursday’s English Gossip (www.bbc.co.uk)

BBC Sport – Scottish

Hearts captain Christophe Berra has praised club-mate John Souttar’s improvement and insists he will not let the defender “get carried away”.

Uncapped Souttar, 21, has been called up to the Scotland squad[1] for this month’s matches against Belgium and Albania.

Berra, 33, has won 41 Scotland caps and is currently recovering from a hamstring injury.

“His concentration levels have got a lot better,” Berra said.

“Especially, as a defender. When at home, a lot of the time you’re dominating the game, you’ve got to be switched on. There will be tougher times ahead but going away with the squad, he might get a game. It’s only going to be of benefit.

“I’ll be watching out for John. Hopefully he gets on the pitch. Tough games. Albania, I think they’ve done well in the qualifiers in recent years. People might not think a lot of them but they’ve got a lot of good players. You don’t need to speak about Belgium, they’re world class, a top, top team.”

Robertson named new Scotland captain[2]

Souttar thanks Berra for Scotland call[3]

I’ll be back stronger than ever – Berra[4]

Scotland Under-21 cap Souttar joined Hearts from Tynecastle manager Craig Levein’s former club Dundee United in 2016 and Berra returned to Edinburgh last year from Ipswich Town.

“He’s come on leaps and bounds,” said Berra of his team-mate. “He’s got a good right foot, he’s good with the ball at his feet but he’s worked hard on his defending. He’s got really good at just doing the basics right. Great attitude – he wants to learn wants to get better and the only way is up for him.

“His time will come to move on from Hearts. He’s served his club well but there’s a lot of hard work to get done first and foremost. I know he won’t get carried away and I won’t let him get carried away.”

Berra had been ruled for six months after going off injured in last month’s win over Celtic.

And he said of a possible earlier return: “You never know, I’m a quick healer. I’m not going to put a timescale on it.”

References

^ called up to the Scotland squad (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Robertson named new Scotland captain (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Souttar thanks Berra for Scotland call (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ I’ll be back stronger than ever – Berra (www.bbc.co.uk)

BBC Sport – Scottish

Manager Csaba Laszlo will be given the chance to “play his team, play his tactics, and get Dundee United promoted”, says chairman Mike Martin.

Laszlo has come under scrutiny after United finished fourth[1] in their Scottish League Cup group, having won just 10 of 28 games this year.

They are starting a third season in the Championship after losing to Livingston[2] in the Premiership play-offs in May.

“He’s built his squad, he’s built his coaching staff,” Martin said.

“And he’s going to use that to help us achieve our Premiership ambitions.”

Speaking to BBC Scotland, Martin said he expects there to be “one or two” more additions to United’s squad before the end of August, to add to the 12 players already signed this summer.

The chairman also said that “overseas buyers” are still in talks with the club over a potential takeover.

Negotiations have been ongoing[3] for several months with investors in America, and Martin insists those are continuing.

“They have asked not to be identified but come from a sporting background, and are well aware of the club, its history and its potential,” he said.

“We would like to put in place a solution that really helps Dundee United achieve its long-term ambitions and the discussions we are having would do just that.”

Martin said that United are “anticipating making a loss this year” and that being in the Championship is “a costly business”.

However, he insists the club are not overreaching in an attempt to get back to the top flight.

“If they don’t get the success, their wages will be adjusted accordingly,” he said of the players. “They won’t attain the bonus levels that are available to them.

“We’ve put a budget in place that the owners are overwriting for this year, and the wage structure fits in to that.

“I am very positive about the club – Tannadice is a different place nowadays. We’re not arrogant or overly confident but have a steely determination to get back to the Premiership.”

References

^ finished fourth (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ losing to Livingston (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Negotiations have been ongoing (www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk)

BBC Sport – Scottish

Women’s 2019 World Cup qualifying: Wales v Russia Venue: Spytty Park, Newport Date: Tuesday, 12 June Kick-off: 19:00 BST Coverage: Live on BBC Two Wales, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app.

Wales will “get in Russia’s faces” on Tuesday as they try to take another step towards reaching the 2019 Women’s World Cup, manager Jayne Ludlow says.

Beating Russia in Newport would set up a winner-takes-all game against Group One leaders England in August.

Russia lost 3-1 to England[1] in Moscow on Friday, while Wales beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0[2] in Swansea on Thursday.

“Our plan is to step on the pitch and get in their faces and not give them any breathing time,” said Ludlow.

“I’m sure if we do that then we’ll shock them a little bit.”

Wales go into the game two points behind England[3] with victory against Russia guaranteeing at least second, which would be their best finish in a World Cup qualifying campaign.

Ludlow’s side host England on 31 August in their final fixture, but could also qualify via the play-offs if they finish as one of the four best runners-up from the seven groups.

The Arsenal midfield great says she has a fully fit squad, including playmaker Jess Fishlock, who was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.[4]

Fishlock said: “I feel quietly confident. I have so much belief in this group of players.

“It’s hard to sum up how important this game is on Tuesday, especially with England having beaten them.

“If we can get a result against Russia, it’s going to be exceptional.

“Jayne has got everything right so far and I have no doubt that whatever she has planned, we’ll look forward to getting it done.”

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Fishlock was on the end of some rough challenges during the win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday, but Ludlow says her own side are prepared to fight and seize their opportunity.

“This group fights for things,” Ludlow said. “We’re a very small nation and for us to have any success in tournaments – male or female – we have to step on the pitch and fight every time we put the jersey on.

“We’re not expected to out-possess most teams, but we are expected to win battles and this game is no different.”

England manager Phil Neville says he has plans to change his team’s approach after seeing sides set out to frustrate a Lionesses side ranked second in the world.

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Ludlow, though, said she would not be looking to alter Wales’ set-up even if their unbeaten run – during which they are yet to concede a goal – has earned them a new-found respect.

“You’re talking about a national team that could name five squads,” Ludlow said of Neville’s England, who Wales held to a goalless draw[5] in Southampton in April.

“Great for him, happy days. We’re very different. We’re a very small nation with a very small pool of players and when we step on the pitch we play to our strengths.

“We obviously understand everything the opposition will bring, and we prepare for certain things, but our game is always about trying to get these guys to shine with all the things we’re good at.”

A sell-out crowd of around 1,200 is expected at Newport’s Spytty Park for the fixture with Russia.

Wales squad: Claire Skinner (Cardiff City Women), Olivia Clarke (Boston United), Laura O’Sullivan (Cyncoed Ladies); Loren Dykes (Bristol City Women), Sophie Ingle (Liverpool Ladies), Alice Griffiths (Wales Performance Squad), Rhiannon Roberts (Doncaster Rovers Belles), Rachel Rowe (Reading Women), Elise Hughes (Everton Ladies); Jess Fishlock (Seattle Reign), Hayley Ladd (Birmingham City Ladies), Angharad James (Everton Ladies), Nadia Lawrence (Wales Performance Squad), Natasha Harding (Reading Women) Gemma Evans (Yeovil Town Ladies), Ffion Morgan (Wales Performance Squad), Tamsyn Sibanda (Arsenal); Helen Ward (Watford Ladies), Kylie Nolan (Wales Performance Squad), Melissa Fletcher (Reading Women), Kayleigh Green (Yeovil Town Ladies), Hannah Miles (Yeovil Town Ladies), Grace Horrell (Cyncoed Ladies).

You can now add WSL 1 notifications for line-ups, goals, kick-off, half-time and results in the BBC Sport app. Visit this page to find out how to sign-up.[6]

References

^ Russia lost 3-1 to England (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Wales beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ two points behind England (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Wales held to a goalless draw (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ this page (www.bbc.co.uk)

BBC Sport – Football

Billionaire Shahid Khan says people need to “get past the emotion” to see his proposed purchase of Wembley Stadium is a good deal for fans.

He also confirmed the deal to buy it from the Football Association, revealed last week,[1] would be worth around £1bn.

Many fans have said they are against the sale of the national stadium.

Meanwhile, former FA chairman Lord Triesman says he fears people at the organisation “who know very little about it taking the final decision”.

American Khan, the owner of Championship side Fulham and NFL franchise Jacksonville Jaguars, has been in discussions with FA chief executive Martin Glenn and chairman Greg Clarke, who he says are “happy with the offer – or we wouldn’t be discussing it at this stage”.

It is understood the proceeds from the sale of the 90,000-capacity stadium, originally opened in 1923 but redeveloped since, would allow the FA to make a major investment into football at grassroots level.

“I think once people get past the initial emotion, look at it with the logic, the reason why it’s good for English football, why it’s good for the FA, why it’s good for the consumer,” Khan told BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportweek.[2]

“Once you look at all of that, I think this is a very good deal for all parties involved.”

Khan hopes England will play at Wembley

The Pakistan-born businessman, who has a net worth of $ 7.2bn (£5.2bn), is the 217th richest person in the world, according to the 2018 Forbes rich list.

He said the offer for the stadium is £600m but the FA would retain all the national games and cup games, which generate revenue for the association, and have a value of about £400m.

However, he could not rule out the possibility of the association opting to move games in the future.

What next for England and the Football Association?[3]

Wembley deal ‘could take eight weeks[4]‘

“I would hope they choose Wembley in the future for as many of those,” he said. “But they might decide they want some of these events distributed throughout England. We want them all to be at Wembley.”

The FA did not own the old Wembley until 1999 and England are also the only team among the home nations whose FA owns the national stadium.

Their latest financial results show they still owe £113m to public bodies such as Sport England, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the London Development Agency and it said in January it would finish paying for the ground by the end of 2024.

‘Wembley is a piece of real estate’

Triesman, who became the FA’s first independent chairman in January 2008 but resigned in 2010, said he had “real misgivings” about the sale of the stadium, but was more concerned about the influence the FA council will have on the decision-making process.

“One thing I know from the FA is that the internal structures, the people on the board and on the council, in the final analysis they have the final say,” he explained.

“I think however skilled the FA’s specialist advisors may be, unless you have got absolutely the right team we will find that a number of people who know very little about it are taking the final decisions.

“The top executive team is very good – beyond that there isn’t much skill.

“When the first arrangements were made for the re-building of Wembley it was true that people with knowledge of the football business were involved but I wouldn’t say there were people who were real experts on real estate.

“Wembley is a piece of real estate, like it or not, and I don’t know whether that knowledge is there now.”

The Labour peer added that although he thought it was in the power of the council to veto any vote, he hoped that it would back Khan’s bid, which could see his NFL side take up permanent residency at Wembley.

“I hope they would say we may know a lot about grassroots football around the country, but we know nothing about the finances and the economics of a huge stadium which is a piece of the national legacy,” he said.

“I want to know exactly how the stadium will be used once it is in private hands because there was a great deal of public money and public interest in the re-creation of a national stadium and I’d want to know it will still be going to meet some of those objectives that people had at the time.

“Given it was public money, I can’t see why there should be no full disclosure of the negotiations which are going on.”

‘Enhancing the experience’

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As well as football, Wembley hosts rugby league’s Challenge Cup final, plus music events over the summer months and while an NFL franchise at the venue would add extra revenue, Khan knows the venue has huge future potential.

“We would be trying to run a stadium, improve the game-day experience and adding more events to make it a venue that adds value, adds revenue and improves the experience and quality of life for all the people around it,” he said.

“It’s much more than money, it’s being a steward of a civic asset – it’s about really enhancing the experience, you have to invest more in Wembley, which it’s ready for at this point.

“It’s 12 years old, it needs investment. It needs to have other events to create more revenue. NFL games, about 70% of the attendees are not from Greater London so that ties in with the mission of tourism and creating economic growth.”

Meanwhile, former England manager Kevin Keegan, who resigned after the team’s last match at the venue in 2000 before it was redeveloped and opened again in 2007, said he supported Khan’s bid to buy the venue.

“As long as England can play there, why not?” he said. “It’s been used for years and years and years for other things. It’s much more than a football stadium. It’s a boxing ring, it’s a concert hall.

“I’m old enough to remember when it had greyhound racing.”

References

^ revealed last week, (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportweek. (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ What next for England and the Football Association? (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Wembley deal ‘could take eight weeks (www.bbc.co.uk)

BBC Sport – Football

Match of the Day 2 Extra pundit and former Stoke City goalkeeper Shay Given expresses his anger at Potters midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri’s recent comments in which the Swiss international doubted the ability of his team-mates.

Watch highlights of Arsenal v Stoke and all the weekend’s Premier League goals on Match of the Day 2 on Sunday at 2230 BST on BBC One.

BBC Sport – Football