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      ITV FA Cup final presenter Laura Woods defied online trolls and stood up to Jose Mourinho on her journey to TV stardom

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      ENGAGING, insightful, entertaining, professional, feisty… Laura Woods has become the definitive radio and TV sports presenter.The award-winning host regularly brightens up talkSPORT listeners’ mornings with her personality, knowledge of the sporting world and ability to mix it up in the banter stakes with Ally McCoist, Jamie O’Hara and Co.
      Brilliant Laura Woods is your host for the FA Cup final on ITVCredit: Insatgram @layurawoodsy
      Woods also hosts talkSPORT’s breakfast showCredit: talkSPORT
      Woodsy, as she is affectionately called by her colleagues, has also become ITV’s go-to for their football coverage – meaning this Saturday’s FA Cup final couldn’t be in better hands.
      The 35-year-old has come a long way from scoring a job as a runner on Sky Sports in 2009.
      And the confident Dagenham-born Arsenal fan has shown courage through the years in dealing with sexist trolls determined to bring her down on social media.
      First job
      Laura graduated from Kingston University in 2009 after studying print journalism.
      Read more on Laura Woods
      Following work experience at the Croydon Advertiser, she scored her first job at Sky Sports, reporting to their Isleworth studios as a runner.
      Putting in the time, she would graft her way up to editorial assistant, assistant producer, associate and producer.
      A flair for presenting showed when Laura began working in front of the camera doing behind-the-scenes interviews for Sky Sports’ darts coverage on their YouTube channel.
      Wanting to do more than produce, she took a camera out with her, recorded footage, edited it together, and impressed TV chiefs with her natural talent. Online, it proved to be a big hit too.
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      Laura was then chosen to front Saturday morning kids’ show Game Changers, where she was the guinea pig for all sorts of daft experiments, including rollerskiing and smoothie biking.
      Her love for the NFL started at Sky Sports, before she scored a pitch-side reporter role on Super Sunday.
      It was interviewing football’s elite where she encountered her most difficult customer, Jose Mourinho.
      Ambitious Woods caught the attention of Sky TV chiefs interviewing darts stars
      A role on Soccer AM gave her a taste for interviewing footballers
      Woods began working for Soccer Sunday in 2018
      ‘Looked into my soul’
      Laura was tasked with questioning the ex-Tottenham manager, after Harry Kane saw a goal disallowed for Spurs. The Portuguese wasn’t happy about the decision, and let her know about it.
      Recalling the incident to Ian Wright on Wingmen, she said: “Harry Kane had just a scored a goal that was ruled out or something like that. Wrighty, he was looking into my soul! He was looking into my soul and he didn’t like what he saw. That’s how I felt.
      “Anyway, I started the interview, asking him questions and he immediately flipped it back on me and went, ‘Well, what did you think?’ And I was like, ‘Right, I have to put my big-girl pants on here’.
      “And I was like, ‘It’s not about me, it’s about you. No one cares about my opinion’. [Mourinho replied] ‘Well I care, what did you think?’ And I agreed with him but I just thought I had to hold my own.”
      Woods was adamant it was a test of her mettle – something that has stood her well as her career has progressed.
      She continued: “I think he was testing me but I like him as well. I miss him when he’s not around, like I miss that personality. That job, for any football fan looking in, it looks like a really simple job but it’s not.”
      talkSPORT
      In 2020, Laura became the main presenter for talkSPORT’s breakfast show, splitting duties with Alan Brazil.
      She was the perfect choice, combining a deep knowledge of all sports with an unparalleled wit, and has the perfect foil in McCoist – with the pair proving to be a ratings winner.
      But, not everyone thought she was a good choice at first. She was the target of online trolls who claimed she only got the job because of her good looks. Amusing considering it was radio.
      “I accept that as presenters we are putting ourselves out there; we’re essentially targets,” she told i.
      In 2020, Woods became talkSPORT’s breakfast presenter – sharing duties with Alan BrazilCredit: Paul Edwards – The Sun
      Online trolls targeted Woods claiming she only got the job because of her looksCredit: Instagram / @laurawoodsy
      Woods admits she takes all the criticism with a pinch of saltCredit: The Sun
      “I’m learning to live with it because that’s part of our job. You’re never going to please everybody.
      “It would hurt me a lot more if I took it all to heart, so I take it with a pinch of salt now as much as I can. The people with something bad to say will always shout the loudest, so I have learnt to care less about the reaction.”
      Goodbye Sky, hello ITV
      In 2022, Woods finally said goodbye to Sky Sports.
      Following her departure, it was announced she would join former American football stars Osi Umenyiora and Jason Bell to present ITV’s Friday night NFL highlights show.
      A few months later, she was named as one of ITV’s World Cup presenters in Qatar, alongside seasoned hand Mark Pougatch.
      Grumpy Des Lynam moaned in an opinion piece for the Telegraph about her familiarity with pundit Ian Wright, when she called him Wrighty during the coverage of Senegal v Netherlands and how it made him “wince”.
      Laura bit back on Twitter: “Jeez, of all the things covered this is what made Des wince?”
      Wright, himself, leapt to her defence. Not that she needed it. “How’s Des vexed that Laura called me ‘Wrighty’!!! Looking for something negative to write,” he wrote on social media.
      Today, she balances her ITV role alongside work with DAZN, where she reports on boxing and the Women’s Champions League for the streaming service, as well as Amazon Prime Video where she presents their Premier League output.
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      Since last year, Woods has presented ITV’s football coverageCredit: Getty
      Woods has been tipped to replace Jeff Stelling on Soccer Saturday and Jake Humphrey on BT Sport
      There is talk of a return to Sky, replacing Jeff Stelling on Soccer Saturday. While industry rumours suggest she is the frontrunner to take over from Jake Humphrey at BT Sport, which is soon to become TNT Sports. You feel she could ace both jobs.
      Ever ambitious, talented and a consummate pro, Saturday’s Cup final won’t be served better than with Woods at the helm introducing the coverage. More

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      Man Utd given glimmer of hope for FA Cup final against City as shocking stat about champions emerges

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have been given a glimmer of hope ahead of the FA Cup final against Manchester City. This is because a shocking stat against the Premier League champions has emerged.
      Manchester United have been given a glimmer of hope against Manchester CityCredit: Getty
      The final league table saw a 14-point gulf between Pep Guardiola’s and Erik ten Hag’s outfits.
      However, the two sides are level in their head-to-head record this season.
      But it is their respective away records which appear to have given the Red Devils a glimmer of hope as they aim to throw a spanner into Man City’s Treble dream.
      United’s woeful away record against the Premier League’s top nine has been well documented.
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      Man Utd’s away record is well-known to be poor
      City’s meanwhile is far from infallible and leaves a lot to be desired.
      While United failed to win any of their eight clashes, City only managed to do one better.
      This being said, the Cityzens sole victory came at the most important ground in the title race against Arsenal – the Emirates.
      In addition, City did manage to draw three matches, whereas United drew just one.
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      But Man City won just one more game
      It should also be noted that United held a gargantuan -20 goal difference from these matches.
      Meanwhile, Man City had a far more respectable -2 goal difference.
      With the relative frailties of both teams coming to bare ahead of the Wembley showdown, the neutral venue may prove to be a great equaliser.
      The two sides’ history when facing one another at Wembley boils down to two games in 2011, when City triumphed in an FA Cup semi-final before Utd won the Community Shield later on.
      United have history in the Cup on their side too.
      They have won it more times (12 to 6) and have beaten City in five of the last six meetings in the competition – with the one exception being the FA Cup semi-final in 2011.
      Man City have tasted FA Cup success under Pep Guardiola once beforeCredit: Reuters
      Though the Red Devils have already tasted cup success under Erik ten Hag this seasonCredit: Alamy More

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      Man Utd handed injury blow with Anthony Martial OUT of FA Cup final vs City with hamstring injury

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      ANTHONY MARTIAL is out the FA Cup Final after picking up a hamstring issue in the final game of the Premier League season against Fulham.The injury-prone Frenchman had only come on as a 67th minute substitute in the 2-1 win which secured Manchester United’s third place finish.
      Anthony Martial is out of the FA Cup final with a hamstring injuryCredit: Getty
      Martial joins Antony and long-term absentee Lisandro Martinez on the sidelines.
      It is not a major headache for manager Erik ten Hag ahead of the Wembley final date with neighbours Manchester City, however.
      Marcus Rashford, the 30 goals top scorer this season, started as the main striker last Sunday and will do again.
      Martial has scored just nine goals in 29 appearances this season with the club willing to listen to offers for him this summer.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      Martial’s absence opens the door for Alejandro Garnacho to join Jadon Sancho on the wings.
      The Argentine ace is fully fit after returning from injury and looked sharp against Fulham on Sunday.
      Man Utd may also give a final start to Dutch striker Wout Weghorst, who is set to return to Burnley this summer.
      The Red Devils could end up replacing him with PSG forward Neymar.
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      The Brazilian looks set to leave the French capital this summer.
      And he is keen to link up with Ten Hag at Old Trafford.
      Neymar’s arrival could see him take over the left-wing spot, allowing Rashford to play through the middle. More

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      Antony spotted on crutches at Man Utd vs Fulham as Ten Hag gives injury update ahead of FA Cup final

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      ANTONY has been spotted arriving at Old Trafford on crutches with his foot in a protective boot.The Brazil winger, 23, was carried off in the 4-1 win over Chelsea on Thursday.
      Manchester United’s Brazilian midfielder Antony was carried off against ChelseaCredit: AFP

      The injury has cast a doubt over Antony’s availability ahead of next week’s FA Cup final.
      However, Erik ten Hag is hopeful that the £90million signing from Ajax will be fit to play at the Wembley showpiece.
      He told MUTV: “We’ve all seen how he came off and it didn’t look great but the first assessment is not too bad and there’s a good chance he’s available for the final next week.”
      Antony required medical treatment in the 29th minute at Old Trafford, following a robust challenge from Trevoh Chalobah.
      Read more on Man Utd
      Immediately, he went to ground clutching his foot in agony.
      He was taken away on a stretcher holding his head in his hands as he made his way off the pitch.
      The injury is understood to be a recurrence of the problem that kept him out of the final two months of last season at Ajax.
      He suffered that injury while on international duty with Brazil in a 4-0 win away to Bolivia on 30th March 2022 which ended his season.
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      Ten Hag entered the pitch to console his player and admitted after the match the injury was “serious”.
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      But, the Dutch tactician has seemingly changed his tune, with the hindsight of time providing to give Antony a chance of making next week’s FA Cup final.
      Antony hasn’t hit the heights expected of him since signing from Ajax.
      He has managed just eight goals in 44 appearances for the Red Devils – with several fans growing frustrated at his inconsistent form. More

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      I was an FA cup-winning captain but I quit & took on £60-a-week builder job… now I live in a hobbit hole with my wife

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      A NEWCASTLE FC star who captained an FA cup-winning side gave it up to take on a £60-a-week builder job – and now lives in a “hobbit hole” with his wife.In a career that spanned nearly two decades, Brian Kilcline established himself as one of football’s cult heroes.
      Brian Kilcline spent two seasons at Newcastle UnitedCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Kilcline captained Coventry City when they won the the FA Cup in 1987Credit: PA:Empics Sport
      But after hanging up his boots, Kilcline took on a job as a builder’s labourer – where he earned a weekly £60 for 18 months work.
      He told the Daily Mail: “It wasn’t about money, I was learning the trade.
      “When you stop learning in life, you might as well give up”.
      It was these skills that gave him the nuts and bolts to carve out his Cornwall “hobbit hole”.
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      The 6ft 4in centre-half – who was Coventry City’s 1987 FA Cup-winning captain – lives in the bizarre space in St Austell, Cornwall.
      The outside of the house includes a muddy bank, a pond and a statue of a naked mermaid.
      Pointing to the pond, Kilcline said: “This is now the swimming pool.
      “There were 20 newts in it yesterday and one very bad-tempered frog.
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      “We had to serve them an eviction notice!”
      The body of the house – put together two months earlier – comes complete with a wood-panelled door which opens to reveal a tiny bed.
      Lynn said: “Before you state the obvious, it extends so Brian can sleep,” she said.
      “Either that or I put him in the little shed outside, if he misbehaves.”
      Inside the home, the walls are decorated with feathered arrows, with a long bow hung up close by.
      Both are used to get in some practice on the target which sits outside.
      The site’s main house sits 20 yards away and in dire need of renovation, but Kilcline insists that isn’t a priority just yet.
      “Ah, that can wait,” Kilcline says.
      “This is the fun part. The journey is better than the destination.
      “We’re in no hurry to leave this.”
      Brian, who was famous for his long hair and moustache, played for a number of teams during an illustrious career.
      He enjoyed stints at Notts County, Newcastle United and Swindon Town among others.
      His crowning moment, however, came when he captained Coventry City to a dramatic extra time victory against Tottenham Hotspur to win the FA Cup in 1987.

      It comes after a former football ace who played Champions League football for Manchester United hung up his boots and trained as a builder and plumber.
      Elsewhere, a former Man City right-back who capped for England’s U20 side now rakes in £35m-per-year after launching his own clothing line. More

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      Pep Guardiola brutally roasted by fans after bizarre comment about watching Man Utd’s 1999 Treble ‘as a little boy’

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      FOOTBALL fans have been left dumbfounded after Pep Guardiola’s remark about watching Manchester United’s treble-winning side “as a little boy”.The Spaniard, 52, is hoping to replicate Sir Alex Ferguson’s 1998/99 team with Manchester City as they eye the FA Cup and Champions League titles to go with their Premier League trophy.
      Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are going for the Treble this seasonCredit: PA
      🗣️ “It was once in the lifetime in the UK, one team, it was United, the way they won against Bayern Munich in Camp Nou. I was there as a little boy.”Pep Guardiola is not thinking about achieving a treble until he has two of the three secured 🏆 pic.twitter.com/pQNUiwu5JG— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 24, 2023

      Sir Alex Ferguson’s 1998/99 Man Utd side are the only English side to complete the TrebleCredit: Getty
      If they accomplish the feat, they will become just the second side in English history to win all three trophies in the same season.
      But Guardiola has baffled the footballing community with comments about where he was during Man Utd’s Treble triumph.
      Aged 28, he was captain of Barcelona at the time.
      And the Catalan giants even came up against Ferguson’s United in the group stage of the Champions League that season, albeit without Guardiola as he was ruled out of both games with a knee injury.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      Yet despite being in the prime of his career, Guardiola has bizarrely claimed he was a child at the final – held in Barcelona – when United secured the Champions League in dramatic fashion against Bayern Munich.
      Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “I will start to think about the treble if we are able to go to Istanbul [to face Inter in the Champions League final] with the two titles in the pocket.
      “Then after, I will concede: ‘Okay, we won one title, we can do it’.
      “It was once in the lifetime in the UK, one team, it was United, the way they won against Bayern Munich in Camp Nou. I was there as a little boy.”
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      Guardiola was playing for Barcelona when Man Utd won the Treble in 1999Credit: Getty
      Guardiola’s comments have been ridiculed by fans on social media – who were quick to point out his age in 1999.
      One said: “As a little boy? Bro was 28 years old and Barcelona captain lmao 😂😂.”
      Another added: “I am shocked….. this man can lie 😂😂😂 Pep was almost at the end of his playing career in 1999 😂😂 little boy.”
      And a third replied: “Dude was 28 years old and captain of FC Barcelona in 1999. Who is he kidding??”
      It has been suggested the phrase “little boy” was lost in translation, with Guardiola meaning “young man”.
      He had won five LaLiga titles and one European Cup by the time Man Utd claimed their Treble.
      The last of his 11 seasons in Barcelona’s first team came in 2000/01, before he moved to Italy and ended up retiring in 2006 after stints in Qatar and Mexico.
      Guardiola is gearing his Man City side up for their final Premier League game of the season away at Brentford on Sunday.
      They then face Man Utd in the FA Cup final on June 3, before the Champions League final seven days later against Inter Milan. More

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      Rashford and Grealish’s Wags put Man Utd vs City rivalry behind them at lunch ahead of FA Cup final

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      THE Wags of Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish put the Manchester United versus Manchester City rivalry behind them as they went out for lunch.The England duo will go head-to-head at Wembley in the Manchester derby FA Cup final on June 3.
      Sasha Attwood, left, and Lucia Loi went out for lunchCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      The partners of Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish put their on-field rivalry asideCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      The duo dined in CheshireCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      Lucia is Marcus Rashford’s fianceeCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      Sasha carried a luxury handbagCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      But in the meantime, Rashford’s fiancee Lucia Loi and Grealish’s girlfriend Sasha Attwood hung out together.
      The pair are friends from their time cheering on the Three Lions and both live in Manchester.
      They were spotted in Cheshire coming out of a luxury restaurant.
      Lucia wore jeans and a stylish jacket.
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      Meanwhile, Sasha carried a Chanel handbag worth an apparent £8,000 to go with her outfit.
      They were supposedly joined by United star Luke Shaw’s long-term partner Anouska Santos too.
      This is not the first time they have all gone out together, previously going on a brunch date last month.
      Sasha is a model and influencer, who met Grealish while at school in Birmingham.
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      And Lucia keeps a lower profile as a business graduate and is thought to have dated Rashford for around nine years.
      They got engaged last year in a romantic proposal in the United States.
      Rashford is expected to return to full fitness by the FA Cup final after missing Man Utd’s last two games with a minor injury.
      On the other hand, Grealish will be desperate to secure a second trophy of the season after winning the Premier League title at the weekend.
      Man City are aiming for the treble this term as they are also in the Champions League final against Inter Milan on June 10.
      Lucia Loi has dated Marcus Rashford for a rumoured nine yearsCredit: @lucialoi
      Jack Grealish and Sasha Attwood met in schoolCredit: Instagram
      Lucia and Rashford are also childhood sweetheartsCredit: @lucialoi
      Sasha is a model and influencerCredit: Instagram @sasha__rebecca More

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      Man City fans reveal FA Cup final fear BIGGER than missing out on treble ahead of Man Utd derby clash

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      MANCHESTER CITY fans fear an injury to one of their star players in the FA Cup final against Manchester United.There is a great deal riding on the game, including City’s treble hopes.
      Manchester City fans fear an injury to Kevin De Bruyne or Erling HaalandCredit: Getty
      United, who are the only English team to have won the treble, will be going all out to prevent their rivals from achieving the feat.
      And City fans are concerned that could result in an injury to one of their key players ahead of the Champions League final, which takes place a week later.
      In particular, some supporters are concerned about Kevin De Bruyne and his risk of injury coming up against Casemiro.
      The Red Devils midfielder is not one to shirk a tackle and he has already been sent off twice this season.
      READ MORE ON MAN CITY
      De Bruyne, 31, was forced off with an injury the last time City reached the Champions League final in 2021, when he was bodychecked by Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger.
      Fans shared their injury fears ahead of the FA Cup final, although the Citizens still have to take on Brentford this Sunday too.
      One said: “What if Casemiro tries to injure KDB a week before the UCL final.”
      Another added: “What if [Raphael] Varane tries to injure Haaland?”
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      A third wrote: “It’s been on my mind 😭 I fear we might lose a key player to injury in that game.”
      And another commented: “Man, I am scared for the injuries. We need these players. We need the UCL.” More