Premier League

PHIL FODEN wants talks with England and Manchester City over his summer plans – as he feels he needs a break.The Etihad favourite revealed he has been nursing an ankle ligament injury in recent weeks which has affected his form.Phil Foden admitted he is on the brink of burnoutCredit: ReutersThe playmaker might need to step back from his summer commitments for club or countryCredit: GettyHe also admitted the mental issues which he spoke about earlier in the campaign due to off-the-field problems are still affecting him.Foden has ten goals and six assists in 44 appearances across all competitions this season.It is a stark drop off from the 40 goal involvements that saw him crowned PFA, Football Writers’ and Premier League player of the year last term. Foden was an unused sub against Bournemouth on Tuesday night.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLCity round off their disappointing league campaign against Fulham on Sunday.But the season is far from over.Thomas Tuchel is due to name his squad on Friday for the World Cup qualifier against Andorra and the friendly with Senegal.For City and Chelsea players, that camp will be swiftly followed by preparations for the Club World Cup.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSPep Guardiola’s side are involved in the 32-team tournament, with their opening match on June 18 and the final on July 13.Should City go all the way, they will play seven matches in the United States.How to cure England’s Bellingham, Foden and Palmer headacheThe final is just 34 days before the 2025-26 Premier League season gets underway, with a record-breaking bumper next summer.So Foden needs a chat to work out how to navigate the next weeks as he battles the ankle issues while on the brink of burnout amid football’s relentless schedule.The six-time Premier League champion – who was part of the England squad that reached the Euro 2024 final last summer – said: “It’s been difficult. “I picked up an ankle injury against United in early April and it’s taken time to heal. It was a bad ligament damage to the ankle.“It took a while to heal before I can push myself back in training, I had to look after it.“Obviously it’s a difficult situation for me with the internationals right around the corner.“It’s something we have to speak with the club and national team to see maybe if it’s better to rest and get my ankle fully 100 per cent back how I want it.“I just don’t know at the moment, it’s a conversation to be had and we’ll see what happens.“I need a few weeks off it without playing football and obviously I can’t get it at the moment.”Foden candidly opened up on the injury being another negative note on what has been a “frustrating” season with his struggles on and off the pitch.But he will hope to hit the ground running in 2025-26 – as he looks to fill Kevin De Bruyne’s boots and break into the Three Lions’ starting XI for the World Cup. Foden added:He added: “It’s been a frustrating season for me. I’ve had a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally.“It’s one of them, sometimes there’s things in life that are bigger than football.“This season I’ve struggled a little bit. Hopefully come next year I can get my head mentally right, get back where I left the season before.“I know what I’m capable of doing and the quality I have. And I know if everything was okay I’d definitely be better on the field.“Sometimes things happen and you have to deal with it and move on.Unfortunately I’ve had a difficult season.“Now it’s just about improving and getting back to my best. I know my standards and what I can reach. I’m looking forward to getting back.”He added: “A lot of people don’t know what football players have to go through and play with. I’ve had a lot of ankle pain and playing with it in the last couple of months.Read More on The Sun“Some people don’t see what we go through, it’s frustrating for me because I know it’s been hard to get it right.“You need time for it to heal but me being me I just love to come back on the football pitch as soon as possible. Maybe I’ve come back too early for my liking. But it’s what I’m like.”Pep Guardiola may need to protect his playmaker ahead of next seasonCredit: GettyFoden picked up the ankle ligament damage in the Manchester derby on April 6Credit: Rex More

PEP GUARDIOLA has vowed to leave Manchester City if they do not trim their squad this summer.Going into next month’s revamped Club World Cup, City have endured their first trophyless season since 2016-17, Guardiola’s first at the Etihad.Pep Guardiola believes that his squad his too bloatedCredit: ReutersCity waved goodbye to Kevin De Bruyne last nightCredit: ReutersLast night the Etihad Stadium said a fond farewell to club legend Kevin De Bruyne as the Belgian played his last home game for City.Guardiola has admitted that he wants more exits to follow this summer as he prefers to work with a more streamlined squad.Following last night’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth, the 54-year-old admitted: “I said to the club I don’t want that [a bigger squad].”I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer. I don’t want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”It’s impossible for my soul to [tell] my players in the tribune [stands] that they cannot play.”Having all arrived at City in the last 12 months, Savinho, Abdukodir Khusanov, Claudio Echeverri and Vitor Reis all failed to make last night’s matchday squad.Highly thought of academy products Rico Lewis and James McAtee also missed out.Man City’s official website lists 28 first team players, in addition to Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, Joshua Wilson-Esbrand and Maximo Perrone out on loan.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBernardo Silva could be on the way out this summerCredit: GettyJack Grealish has endured a disappointing seasonCredit: GettyOn City’s bloated squad, Guardiola added: “Maybe [for] three, four months we couldn’t select 11 players, we didn’t have defenders, it was so difficult. After, people came back, but next season it cannot be like that.”As a manager I cannot train 24 players and every time I select I have to have four, five, six stay in Manchester at home because they cannot play. Kevin De Bruyne given emotional Etihad send off as Man City take huge leap towards return to Champions League”This is not going to happen. I said to the club, I don’t want that.”Guardiola signed a contract extension to 2027 last November.City have been boosted by recent returns for long-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb.By way of comparison, Manchester United’s squad also lists 28 players, Chelsea’s 31 and Liverpool’s just 24.Nine members of Guardiola’s first team squad are in their 30s; Ederson, Stefan Ortega, Scott Carson, Nathan Ake, John Stones, De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva.Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji, meanwhile, will turn 30 in the next few months.Read More on The SunCity have spent around £200million on transfers this season, and can be expected to splash out more this summer.Last year’s Prem champions have been linked with Lyon starlet Rayan Cherki, but have reportedly pulled out of the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.Kyle Walker was loaned out to AC Milan in JanuaryCredit: Getty More

SELHURST PARK put on an almighty FA Cup after-party as Crystal Palace brushed aside Wolves and made more history.After winning the first trophy in the club’s history only 72 hours earlier, Oliver Glasner claimed another record by taking the Eagles past 50 points in the Premier League for the first time.Eddie Nketiah stepped up as Crystal Palace smashed Wolves 4-2Credit: ReutersThe Eagles got the FA Cup party going at Selhurst ParkCredit: GettyEddie Nketiah’s brace and Ben Chilwell’s first goal for the club, as well as another for Eberechi Eze, saw them past Wolves despite what must have been a few days of well-deserved celebrations.The result was another thing to celebrate, though this night had little to do with the actual football.Eagles fans had celebrated loud and proud under the Wembley arch, and now got to do it all over again.No one likes the fact that the Cup final was not the final game of the domestic season – but an evening like this is a persuasive argument for having it earlier.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLPalace will have a trophy parade in south London on Monday, but this was a proper party at their place.Fans arrived early – many still in a happy daze.They were streaming out of the club shop with their limited edition Cup winners shirts.Bumper match day programmes, with the FA Cup on the front and emotional words from Marc Guehi, Steve Parish and Glasner, were being snapped up alongside commemorative scarves.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSParish, the chairman, gushed: “Saturday felt like a coming of age, the day we announced ourselves as a ‘proper football club’.”He was flanked in the stands by Mark Bright and former boss Alan Pardew, all with beaming smiles still fixed in place.How Crystal Palace outsmarted Man City in FA Cup finalSelhurst Park has long been the most atmospheric stadium in the capital, but it has rarely been this colourful and united, all four sides bouncing to their new ditty of “12th again, who gives a f***? We’ve won the FA Cup!”The Holmesdale End ran through the chants for each and every one of their Cup heroes – with the rest of the stadium following their lead.Red and blue balloons, as well as a few blow-up FA Cups, were tossed around the stands – where almost every fan had come in their colours.Substitutes were given huge ovations on their way to the dugout before Palace were led out by Ward, carrying his five-day old daughter, ahead of his final home game for the club.  Emmanuel Agbadou gave Wolves the leadCredit: PANketiah equalised just moments laterCredit: Shutterstock EditorialGlasner had tried to give the players as long as possible to celebrate Saturday’s triumph – not getting them back to prepare for this until Monday afternoon.He made seven changes, Guehi and Adam Wharton missing out with concussion injuries from the weekend and a couple of others on the bench likely still nursing sore heads for different reasons.For the most part it was easy to forget there was a game being played out in front of everyone.Selhurst sang about Saturday, about Glasner and their upcoming European tour.Nketiah bagged his second to put Palace aheadCredit: ReutersBen Chilwell then netted for his loan sideCredit: GettyThere was some football to enjoy along with the celebrations, however.Wolves took the lead through Emmanuel Agbadou, heading in after Jorgen Strand Larsen had nodded a corner across goal.Nketiah tried to clear but could not stop the ball before it had crossed the line.The Eagles No9 more than made up for that a moment later. The Wolves goal had not stopped the Palace party – but Nketiah took it up a notch.Jorgen Strand Larsen pulled one back for WolvesCredit: ReutersEbere Eze put the game to bed with a goal late onCredit: PASigned from Arsenal last summer, the striker had just one Premier League goal all season before tonight, but suddenly grabbed two in just five minutes.Nketiah first dispatched Romain Esse’s cutback with a well taken first-time finish before meeting an Ismaila Sarr cross six yards out – which came after some typically restless work from Daniel Munoz.There were still more feel-good stories after the break.Chilwell, a January signing from Chelsea, scored his first in red and blue when his free-kick took a heavy deflection off Agbadou in the Wolves wall and found the bottom corner.The result saw Palace reach 50 points in the Premier League for the first timeCredit: PAThe fans were in party mode after Oliver Glasner led them to FA Cup victoryCredit: AlamyWolves grabbed another back, Strand Larsen nodding in unmarked from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s corner and Dean Henderson put on another display of the heroics which had denied Manchester City, saving from Goncalo Guedes.No one was concerned whether Wolves would get level or not, but Eze made sure with a superb goal from the bench.Ward, who had collected a farewell card from the referee for a trip on Matheus Cunha, provided the most emotional moment of the night.Substituted in the 70th minute, the Eagles legend fell to his knees in the centre circle and could not stop the tears and neither could Parish watching from the stands.Read More on The SunThe right-back is departing after 13 years and could never have imagined he would do so to the sound of chants about him lifting the Cup.This was a night of celebration and saying goodbye, but another which showed Palace are going places. 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SOUTHAMPTON hope to appoint Will Still as their new manager this week.Saints have held extensive talks with the 32-year-old, who is leaving French club Lens and wants to be closer to family in England.Will Still is set to become Southampton’s new managerCredit: GettyStill has agreed terms on a contract, and the south coast side hope he will be confirmed in time to attend their final Premier League game of the season.Saints, who were relegated in early April, host Arsenal on the final day of the season this weekend.The club also held talks with Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl.Rohl had been the No1 choice for some time, but wants to take more time to make a decision over his future.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe German, a former assistant manager to Ralph Hasenhuttl at St. Mary’s, has interest from his home country which could prove more attractive than a Championship job.Saints were reluctant to be left waiting and moved quickly to land Still, who has also managed Reims in Ligue 1 as well as Lierse and Beerschot in Belgium.Lens are not owed any compensation should Still leave, though the same cannot be said for his coaching staff, which include brothers Edward and Nicolas.Still was born in Belgium to English parents and began his managerial career aged 24, admitting that his love of coaching was born through playing the much-loved Football Manager game.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSTalks over compensation for his coaching staff are ongoing and remain the only sticking point before the appointment can be confirmed.Saints have endured a horror season following promotion from the Championship last year.Adam Lallana reflects on going back to his boyhood club Southampton Russell Martin, who guided them back to the top flight, was sacked in December while his replacement, Ivan Juric, was axed once relegation was confirmed.Interim boss Simon Rusk has taken charge since then and managed to get the club past Derby’s all-time low points record of 11.They will, however, take some unwelcome records back to the Championship, becoming the first club to be relegated with seven games of a season left to be played. More

EVERTON have released a statement condemning “threatening” abuse aimed at Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s wife.Sandra Calvert-Lewin received a backlash from some fans on social media after posting in the wake of Everton’s final game at Goodison Park.Everton have condemned abuse aimed at the wife of striker Dominic Calvert-LewinCredit: Instagram / @jerzeUploading a picture of her hubby, who was a late sub in the 2-0 win over Southampton, she said: “30 goals at Goodison.”Top 3 ever. They might not shout about it – but we’re proud every single day.”After receiving some vile abuse, Sandra doubled down on her support for Calvert-Lewin.She added: “I’ve seen the unseen moments – the recovery, the doubt, the strength it took to keep going. The world saw Dominic Calvert-Lewin the footballer. I see the man I love. And I’m endlessly proud of both.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd now, Everton have released a statement slamming the disgraceful comments aimed at Calvert-Lewin’s partner.It read: “Everton Football Club strongly condemns the threatening, racist and misogynistic abuse directed towards the wife of Dominic Calvert-Lewin on social media.“This sinister and intimidating behaviour is not only deeply hurtful and distressing, it is also criminal — and does not represent the values of Everton or the overwhelming majority of our supporters.“The Club has a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of discriminatory and abuse behaviour.Most read in Football“We are working closely with Merseyside Police and the Premier League to ensure the individuals responsible are identified and held accountable for their actions.“Threats or abuse of any kind — whether online or in person — are completely unacceptable and have no place in our game or in society.“The Club urges anyone who sees or experiences such behaviour to report it to the authorities and relevant social media platforms immediately.“We will continue to offer our full support to Dominic and his family.”THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. More