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      Paolo Wanchope says Erling Haaland can win Champions League for Manchester City

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      PAOLO WANCHOPE says Erling Haaland can win the Champions League for Manchester City – because he’s a chip off the old block. When the striker was in nappies at just one month old, his dad Alf-Inge Haaland and Wanchope, were tearing it up at the club. 
      Paolo Wanchope played alongside Alf Haaland at Manchester City in 2000
      In July 2000, Alf-Inge joined City from Leeds in a £2.5million deal.
      Wanchope then became a record signing for a club preparing to play top-flight football for the first time in more than four years when he arrived for £3.65m at the start of August.
      And the duo enjoyed dream home debuts against Sunderland in May 2000.
      Costa Rica forward Wanchope combined with Haaland to complete a hat trick that day and also became the provider for the right-back to score in the 4-2 win at Maine Road. 
      Paulo Wanchope, speaking on behalf of 888sport said: “The atmosphere at Maine Road that day was crazy. 
      “To score three goals and to set up Alf, made all the fans go crazy. 
      “It was a great start for us both at home. I felt that connection with the people and now when I have the chance to go back to see City play the fans always remember me and treat me like I’m still playing.
      “Alf was a very competitive guy. I love seeing his son now competing and giving 100 percent like his dad used to give. 
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      “I remember Alf was a great professional, had a lovely personality to be around and to train with. I have great memories with him.”
      Wanchope has rubbed shoulders with some of the Premier League’s finest over the years, including Paolo Di Canio at West Ham and Robbie Fowler at Manchester City. 
      He scored 12 goals for the Hammers in a team also featuring the emerging talents of Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick.
      But he doesn’t know how Pep Guardiola would have coped if he had both him playing and Erling Haaland at City. 
      Wanchope added: “I played alongside great players, Di Canio, Fowler. 
      “I don’t know if me and Haaland could play together or not, that depends on the style. At the moment Guardiola could try me or Haaland but of course he would have to start Haaland!
      “He is incredible. A big striker and one of the best right now. He will improve even more at City with Guardiola and on the coaching staff.
      “They have a good chance to go all the way in the Champions League and play in the final and win it now with a top striker.”
      Wanchope has even recommended that Guardiola and his players listen to salsa music before their quarter-final second-leg tie with Bayern Munich to calm any nerves – despite them already being 3-0 ahead. 
      Afterall it was salsa music that formed the backdrop of the day that would change Wanchope’s life forever. 
      It helped him score a dazzling strike at Old Trafford, on the day he made his bow in English football for Derby County in a famous 3-2 victory.
      He cut Manchester United to ribbons, shimmying past Nicky Butt on halfway, dancing infield with the ball glued to his feet.
      He glided past Phil Neville and outmuscled Gary Pallister before rifling a low drive beyond Peter Schmeichel and into the goal.
      Wanchope said: “I will never forget what the manager Jim Smith did.
      “I was really anxious to play the game. The night before that game I couldn’t sleep. 
      “I woke up every two or three hours because I was really anxious. 
      “I always say it was really good from Smith when he asked me when we were going to Old Trafford what kind of music I like and I said to him salsa music.
      “He put it on the couch and the boss, and everyone was trying to dance salsa so that was really special from Smith. 
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      “Maybe City should listen to some salsa music to relax before Bayern Munich like I did before my debut.”
      Paulo Wanchope, was speaking on behalf of 888sport. Head to 888sport for the latest football odds. More

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      I fell out with Arteta and his Arsenal staff over their touchline antics – I hope Man City win the title

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      MIKEL ARTETA and his coaching staff have no love lost with former Oxford United manager Karl Robinson.Robinson faced off against Arteta and Co when Arsenal paid Oxford a visit in the FA Cup third round.
      Karl Robinson is not Mikel Arteta’s biggest fanCredit: Getty
      He explained Arteta’s antics when Arsenal faced Oxford left a sour tasteCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      But despite losing 3-0 – courtesy of a brace from Eddie Nketiah and a Mohamed Elneny header – it was the antics of Arteta and his staff, rather than his team’s performance, which riled up Robinson.
      Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “I have seen it first hand (Arteta’s antics), it isn’t necessarily always him though.
      “I think there is one or two behind him that don’t conduct themselves great at time, which I was shocked by.
      “Listen, they were moaning at us for going down and wasting time. I tell you what, we will play Arsenal, right, and we will give you all the ball, 95 minutes.
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      “We are obviously going to be looking to set-plays and taking more long throw-ins.
      “It is part and parcel of what we have to do, but you are better than us. Then, they were having ago at me for doing that.
      “I think I said one or two things and I might have been wrong. They were calling me all sorts it was quite funny.
      “One of his staff members was calling me a cheat, this, and that, and I said ‘thank you.’”
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      Arsenal would be knocked out of the competition by title rivals Manchester City in the fourth round, and Robinson also hopes Pep Guardiola can clinch the title ahead of his former pupil.
      Robinson declared: “I want City to win it [the title], because of Guardiola.”
      And asked whether his rationale came down to his fractured relationship with Arteta, he added: “Yeh, probably. 
      “I just love Pep Guardiola and I’m just addicted to watching Man City play. I respect what Arsenal have done, they have been outstanding.
      “Without what Arsenal have done this season, the league would have been completely boring. It will go down to hopefully the last few games.
      “That’s why we do have the best leagues in the world, and part of that is having competition for Manchester City over the last three or four years and they are certainly going to do that.”
      Arsenal’s gap to City is now down to just four points after they threw away another two goal lead against West Ham.
      Consequently, the clash between the pair on April 26 has grown to be potentially the most pivotal game of the season. More

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      Gary Neville fears Man City will match Man Utd’s historic treble as Arsenal’s title race hits the rocks

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      MANCHESTER UNITED legend Gary Neville has revealed his fears that neighbours Man City could pull-off the Treble.The former England defender was part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary side that lifted the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 1999.
      Man Utd pulled off an incredible Treble in 1999 with title, FA Cup and Champions League successCredit: Getty
      Gary Neville fears that Man City will repeat that success this seasonCredit: Getty
      No English club has been able to repeat that feat since, but the now Sky Sports pundit believes Pep Guardiola’s team are “far too close for comfort” to pulling off the same this term.
      And Neville also insisted that it “is definitely on” as the Cityzens head to Bayern Munich with a 3-0 lead for the Champions League quarter final second-leg on Wednesday.
      Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast on Sky Sports, he said: “They’re purring, they’re playing well, they’re in great form, they’re serious now about it.”
      City beat Leicester 3-1 on Saturday and have closed the gap to just four points on top-flight leaders Arsenal, who they still have to play at home, to four points and have a game in hand.
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      Neville hailed the recent displays of trio of Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne and called them the “best midfield in the league” as well as praising the performances of attackers Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez.  
      He added: “They’re settled now – they’re hitting the home straight.
      “The treble was mentioned in the studio […] it’s definitely on. They can do the treble.
      “They can win the European Cup, they can win the FA Cup, they can win the Premier League.
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      “There’s a long way to go [and] they could come up against a team that does them on the way. But they’re very, very close to it. Far too close for comfort!”
      Should City see off Bayern then they will face the winners of Chelsea and Real Madrid, who hold a 2-0 first-leg lead over the Blues, in the Champions League semi-finals.
      And they will be at Wembley this Saturday to face Championship promotion contenders Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-final, with United and BRighton contesting the other one the following day. More

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      Arsenal blow with William Saliba NOT recovering in time for Premier League title-decider vs Man City

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      ARSENAL have been handed a big blow as William Saliba will reportedly miss the vital Premier League clash against Manchester City.The Gunners face their title rivals on April 26 at the Etihad Stadium.
      William Saliba will miss the clash against Manchester CityCredit: Getty
      The Citizens closed the gap on Arsenal to just four points on the weekend with their win over Leicester City.
      Arsenal had the chance to increase their lead over Man City back to seven points but threw away a 2-0 lead against West Ham to draw.
      Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand on the North London side, but will not play a Premier League game until the clash in Manchester.
      Arsenal will have to face City without the help of defender Saliba, according to the Evening Standard.
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      The Frenchman is not expected to recover from the injury that he picked up in the Europa League clash against Sporting Lisbon.
      Arteta said on his injury last week: “He’s progressing well and we’re hopeful that we’ll have him available in the next few weeks.
      “We’ll have to see.”
      The Frenchman will remain on the treatment table with Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
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      The pair have been ruled out for the remainder of the season with their injuries. However Oleksandr Zinchenko will be back in contention.
      The Ukrainian defender missed the draw against the Hammers with a groin issue.
      But it is thought he will be back in time to face Southampton at the Emirates Stadium on Friday evening. More

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      How Chelsea could line up under Vincent Kompany including Aymeric Laporte and Ilkay Gundogan

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      CHELSEA could look to snap up several Manchester City outcasts if Vincent Kompany arrives as manager.The Burnley boss has reportedly been added to Chelsea’s shortlist of targets, with the Blues said to be admirers of the work he has done at Turf Moor.
      Vincent Kompany could try to reunite with some Manchester City pals
      Chelsea have added Kompany to their managerial shortlistCredit: Getty
      Kompany, 37, has guided the Clarets back to the Premier League at the first time of asking and is on course to achieve more than 100 points.
      Chelsea would be a big step up for the inexperienced manager so he could call on a few old pals if he gets the gig.

      Manchester City’s rotation policy means big names like Kyle Walker and Aymeric Laporte have found themselves out of the team in recent weeks.
      Walker’s long-term future was cast into doubt earlier this month after Pep Guardiola admitted the right-back is struggling to adapt to new tactical demands.
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      The City boss claims it might not be possible for Walker to change and with less than 18 months left on his contract the right-back could be available in the summer.
      Laporte is another player who has been frozen out at the Etihad and limited to just eight Prem appearances this season, while Ilkay Gundogan’s contract expires in June.
      Kompany played with both at City and would be able to count on their Prem experience at Stamford Bridge.
      Another player Kompany knows he can rely on is left-back Ian Maatsen.
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      The Belgian should have money to spend if he joins
      The 21-year-old has had a successful season on loan at Burnley and the positive for Chelsea is that he is already contracted to the club.
      He is already familiar with Kompany’s style of play and would add pace on the left flank – his return of four goals and six assists shows the Dutchman is capable of going forward too.
      Chelsea could even make a bold move for Joao Cancelo who joined Bayern Munich on loan in January after falling out with Guardiola.
      Kompany also has several contacts from his years playing with the Belgian national team.
      Romelu Lukaku, another Chelsea player currently out on loan, could be welcomed back into the set-up.
      His compatriot Yannick Carrasco could add versatility and has been linked to Chelsea in the past, as has Borussia Dortmund right-back and Belgium international Thomas Meunier.
      Finally, Kompany could look to bolster his midfield with the capture of Romeo Lavia.
      The Southampton star has caught the eye since his summer move from City, but Chelsea are believed to be leading the race for the Belgian amid interest from Manchester United. More

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      Fears Levi Colwill could snub new Chelsea deal amid manager uncertainty and transfer interest from Premier League rivals

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      CHELSEA defender Levi Colwill could reject a new contract due to the Blues’ managerial uncertainty, according to reports.The 20-year-old centre-back has attracted interest from the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool following an impressive campaign on loan at Brighton.
      Levi Colwill has had a superb season with BrightonCredit: Getty
      The Seagulls are also monitoring the possibility of securing a permanent move for the England U21 international in the summer.
      Chelsea are hoping to tie Colwill down to a long-term deal and do not want to sell the young defender.
      He is under contract until 2025 – with the option of an additional 12 months if he plays a certain number of games.
      However, The Athletic are reporting that Colwill wants to wait until the Blues announce their new permanent head coach before deciding his future.
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      Frank Lampard has taken charge of the club on an interim basis, but is expected to depart in the summer.
      Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann have been mooted as potential successors to Graham Potter – who was sacked earlier this month.
      And while the club have plans for Colwill, he is still assessing his options before he considers a contract extension.
      Chelsea have a host of centre-backs in their squad – including Kalidou Koulibaly, Benoit Badiashile, Thiago Silva, Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah.
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      Marc Cucurella, Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta can also fill in at centre-half.
      And the Blues are set to miss out on European football next season, meaning Colwill’s opportunities could be limited at Stamford Bridge.
      And if he does not pen a new deal, Chelsea may choose to sell him to raise funds in order to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.
      Owner Todd Boehly has spent £600million across the last two transfer windows.
      Colwill has made 15 appearances for Brighton this season, keeping six clean sheets.
      As well as his loan spell with the South Coast side, he also turned heads with his displays on loan at Huddersfield during their 2021/22 Championship campaign.
      He made 32 appearances for The Terriers, helping them reach the play-off final before they were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest.
      Colwill wore the No26 shirt while at Huddersfield, leading many Chelsea fans to label him the “new John Terry”. More

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      Man City began Jude Bellingham transfer charm offensive last October with gift to Borussia Dortmund star

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      MANCHESTER CITY began ramping up their charm offensive to land Jude Bellingham last October.They presented the midfielder with a shirt signed by Erling Haaland after the 0-0 draw with Borussia Dortmund.
      Man City hinted at their interest for Jude Bellingham after meeting Dortmund in a Champions League group game six months agoCredit: Getty
      Bellingham, 19, was invited into City’s dressing room and given the top his old team-mate  wore in the Champions League tie.
      Boss Pep Guardiola has made signing the England star his priority this  summer and City are  confident of  winning a bidding war with Real Madrid, despite Dortmund likely to want £130million.
      They feel the chance to work under Guardiola and link up again with Haaland  also gives them the edge.
      Manchester United are also thought to be keen.
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      But any serious offer from Old Trafford could depend on a potential takeover being completed in time for the summer window.
      Liverpool, however, appear to have backed out of the hunt because of the expected fee
      And Dortmund still believe they can keep Bellingham.
      The Bundesliga giants reckon the £138m deal they received from Barcelona for Ousmane Dembele in 2017 is a fair indicator of how much the ex-Birmingham teenager should command.
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      At the time France winger Dembele was just 20 — a few months older than Bellingham is now.
      Any move seems certain to shatter the £106m Chelsea paid Benfica for Enzo Fernandez in January. More

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      Chelsea star Levi Colwill wanted by Man City and Liverpool in shock transfer after impressive Brighton loan

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      CHELSEA youngster Levi Colwill is reportedly receiving interest from Manchester City and Liverpool.The 20-year-old centre-back has enjoyed an impressive season on loan at Brighton.
      Levi Colwill has produced some good displays while on loan at BrightonCredit: Alamy
      He has made 15 appearances for the Seagulls this season, keeping six clean sheets.
      With two years left on his Chelsea contract, he is set to return to West London at the end of the season.
      But the Evening Standard are now reporting Man City and Liverpool are sensing an opportunity to poach him away from Stamford Bridge.
      Chelsea have spent £600million across the last two transfer windows.
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      And they are expected to offload players in the summer to recoup some of those funds.
      The likes of Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher have been linked with moves away.
      And Colwill is understood to be another attracting interest from elsewhere.
      Man City could show Aymeric Laporte the exit door and bring Colwill in as another option at the heart of their back line.
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      Jurgen Klopp is also looking to bolster his defence and Liverpool have identified the England U21 international as a potential acquisition.
      Brighton are another team monitoring Colwill’s situation as they mull over the possibility of trying to make his loan a permanent move.
      As well as his loan spell with Brighton, the centre-half also turned heads with his displays on loan at Huddersfield during their 2021/22 Championship campaign.
      He made 32 appearances for The Terriers, helping them reach the play-off final before they were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest.
      Colwill wore the No26 shirt while at Huddersfield, leading many Chelsea fans to label him the “new John Terry”. More