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FOOTBALL fans will finally begin returning to stadiums next month — but may not be allowed to sing. A further easing of lockdown rules will also see snooker lovers back in the Crucible this weekend for the World Championship. Rugby matches and racing at Goodwood are also on the list of approved “pilot” events in […] More
THE new football season will be the most hectic in history.
Premier League, FA and Carabao Cup dates were released yesterday as part of an eight-month coronavirus-enforced fixture pile-up. It means:
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Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool face a gruelling schedule to defend their Premier League crown, including cup congestion and a packed mid-seasonCredit: AFP or licensors
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This amazing breakdown of when the fixtures fall shows the demands on top-flight players in the coming term
Almost a third of all Prem fixtures will be crammed into December and January.
Four rounds of the Carabao Cup are to be played before the end of September.
Tottenham face playing Europa League and Carabao Cup games in 48 hours.
But FA Cup replays have been scrapped to try to ease congestion.
Fans will finally be allowed to return to stadiums next month — but the Government will cap the number allowed inside and supporters may be banned from singing for fear of spreading the killer Covid-19 bug.
The new Prem season kicks-off on September 12, concluding on May 23, with the Champions League and Europa League finals to be played in the following week.
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And that leaves less than a fortnight between the end of the club season and the first game of the rescheduled European Championship finals.
Prem clubs also face a nightmare festive period with 12 matches between December 5 and January 30 — plus a possible FOUR domestic cup games.
With two rounds of Champions and Europa League games also being staged in December, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Leicester, Arsenal and Spurs could be forced to play 18 games over nine weeks.
The bonkers fixture list will give fans a feast of football following the lockdown.
But world players’ union Fifpro chief Jonas Baer-Hoffmann has warned footballers face burn-out with an overcrowded calendar for three years.
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Spurs boss Jose Mourinho may end up having to field entirely different line-ups in the Europa League and Carabao Cup competitionsCredit: Reuters
He said: “There is a big question of how we manage the load in a very condensed period.
“Rather than eliminate fixtures, most leagues are cramming them into a shorter period of time.”
Wolves have just completed a 383-day season of 59 games, while Spurs are the first casualties of the fixture congestion.
Jose Mourinho’s men have to play three rounds of Europa League qualifying — on September 17, September 24 and October 1, all on Thursday nights two days after a Carabao Cup game.
Spurs are in talks with EFL chiefs to try to find a solution but they may have little choice but to field two separate teams in the two competitions throughout September.
PROSPECT OF NO PRE-SEASON
There will be a similar problem for Manchester City or Manchester United if either are needed to play in the Uefa Super Cup, which is also scheduled for September 24 in Budapest.
Both clubs also face the prospect of having no pre-season if they make it to this month’s Champions League final (August 23) and Europa League final (August 21) respectively.
And should City win the Champions League, they may well have to travel to Qatar to compete in the Fifa Club World Cup in December.
As it is, clubs who progress in the Carabao Cup will be expected to play a minimum of six league and cup games in the opening three weeks of the campaign.
The FA Cup begins on September 1 with the extra preliminary round, with the Wembley final set for May 15 — before the end of the Prem season.
But all replays have been scrapped, as have the two-legged Carabao Cup semi-finals, which will now be just one-off games.
The Premier League fixtures will be released before next weekend while the EFL games are announced at 9am next Friday.
Footie fans will be able to return to stadiums next month as lockdown measures are further eased More
FOOTBALL fans will finally begin returning to stadiums next month — but might not be allowed to sing.
A further easing of lockdown rules announced tonight will also see snooker lovers back in the Crucible this weekend for the World Championship.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
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Supporters will finally begin returning to football stadiums next monthCredit: PA:Press Association
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Footballs fans will soon be able to see stars like Harry Kane play as football stadiums reopenCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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Fans will likely be urged not to chant or shout for fear of spreading the virusCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Rugby matches and racing at Goodwood are also on the list of approved “pilot” events in the coming weeks.
But capacity will be capped and all fans will likely be urged not to chant or shout for fear of spreading the virus.
The new Premier League season starts on September 12.
Trials of allowing some fans back in stadiums will be tested later that month ahead of a planned full rollout in October.
Spectators will be made to sign up to a new code of behaviour.
It will make them take full responsibility for themselves and others by not attending if they have Covid symptoms or have been exposed to anyone with them.
STRICT CROWD MANAGEMENT
And strict crowd management plans will be enforced with one-way entry and exit and staggered arrival times.
Seating will be socially distanced and hand washing and sanitiser stations set up.
But no trials are scheduled for the North West, which remains under stricter control.
Tonight Boris Johnson said: “At every stage I have said our plan to reopen society and the economy is conditional.
“Today we are able to announce some further changes which will allow more people to return to work and the public to get back to more of the things they have missed.
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Snooker lovers will be back in the Crucible this weekend for the World ChampionshipCredit: Rex Features
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Racing at Goodwood is on the list of approved ‘pilot’ events in the coming weeksCredit: PA:Press Association
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Rugby matches are also among those to be trialledCredit: Alamy
The Sun Says
GET in there!
The return of football since mid-June has been an absolute joy, with no shortage of excitement on the pitch, but something has definitely been missing.
That something is the crowd.
Supporters are the lifeblood of the game so it’s great news that stadiums could see a return of fans for the new season, albeit at a quarter of capacity.
It’s just a shame they might not be allowed to sing, whether they’re winning or not.
“However, as I have always said, we will not hesitate to put on the brakes if required, or to continue to implement local measures to help to control the spread of the virus.”
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden added: “The nation’s hard work to keep the virus under control means we can now make further careful progress.
“We must all continue to Stay Alert but today’s welcome news means these organisations can finally get going safely, and we can enjoy more of the things we love as a nation.”
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Boris Johnson warned that the Government ‘will not hesitate to put on the brakes if required’Credit: EPA
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PEP GUARDIOLA wants Manchester City to make a shock move for Harry Winks.
The England midfielder is facing an uncertain future under Jose Mourinho at Tottenham – but his old rival Guardiola is a serious admirer of the player.
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Pep Guardiola wants Manchester City to make a shock move for Harry Winks
Winks, 24, signed a new five-year contract with Spurs only last summer under Mauricio Pochettino.
But the arrival of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Southampton is likely to see his first-team chances limited next term.
Spurs are always reluctant to sell to big-six rivals but Mourinho is desperate to make more signings to put his own stamp on his squad and knows he needs to sell if there are to be any significant signings.
Winks is believed to be one valuable asset who could be allowed to go, if Spurs attract a bid in excess of £40million.
Despite Mourinho’s problems with £56m club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele, it is highly unlikely that the Frenchman would attract a bid for anything like the sum Spurs paid to sign him from Lyon last summer.
Winks is seen as a Spanish-style midfielder, excellent in possession, and regarded as ‘very much a Pep player and not a Jose player’.
Guardiola does have decent options in central midfield but is said to be intrigued by the prospect of developing Winks to his full potential.
Winks was a regular starter for Spurs in the later stages of the season but the club fought hand to land Hojbjerg, despite stiff competition from Everton.
And the Dane has been lined up for the deep-lying midfield role held by Winks.
If Tottenham indicate they will allow Winks to go, there is likely to be strong interest from Spain and Italy.
But clubs from those leagues would be less likely than City to make a bid which could tempt Spurs to sell.
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RIO FERDINAND almost choked on his ice cream as Pep Guardiola tried to convince the hundreds and thousands.
Manchester City boss Pep insisted this week he would not be a failure if he did not deliver the Champions League trophy to the Etihad.
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Whatever he claims, manager Pep Guardiola will be defined at Man City by whether or not he helps them win the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Rio Ferdinand turns the heat up on Pep Guardiola as he keeps cool with BT presenter James RichardsonCredit: C1 MEDIA
The Spaniard claimed the friendships he has formed in the UK, as well as the six domestic honours he has guided the club to since his appointment as manager in 2016, would more than compensate for missing out on the prize he was brought into win.
And while former Champions League-winning captain Rio is still able to scoff down a Mr Whippy with the best of them, he could not swallow Guardiola’s comments.
Ferdinand, who skippered Manchester United to Europe’s biggest honour in 2008, said: “Listen, with the competitive spirit Guardiola has, the perfectionist he seems to be and the obsessive nature he has, he would not be happy if he walked away from City without winning the Champions League.
“He was probably more successful at Bayern Munich than he has been at City but the fact he didn’t win the Champions League in Germany will always taint his time there.
“That is due to the level he has operated at in the past and the standards he set himself at Barcelona.
I’m not saying he would be unsuccessful if he doesn’t manage to win it. But he would not have done what was on the tin.
Rio Ferdinand
“I think it would be the same if this was to happen again at City.
“He has been brought in by their owners specifically to win the Champions League, whether he likes it or not.
“They were winning the Premier League before he arrived.
“So he hasn’t so far achieved anything at City that nobody else has.
“He can say what he wants about not being judged on the Champions League because he has to protect himself — but he has been brought in to win this tournament.
“I’m not saying he would be unsuccessful if he doesn’t manage to win it. But he would not have done what was on the tin.”
City take on Lyon in their Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon tomorrow night.
Guardiola, 49, guided Barcelona to the trophy twice during his four years in charge at the Nou Camp.
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Lyon players arrive at their hotel ahead of facing overwhelming favourites Man CityCredit: AFP or licensors
But he was unable to boss Bayern to the top Euro crown, despite three Bundesliga titles.
Pep has led City to back-to-back Premier League triumphs but the Champions League has so far eluded them and him.
They are massive favourites to reach the semi-finals but Lyon took four points off them in the group stage during the 2018-19 campaign.
Rio said: “That will still be in the back of City’s players’ minds.
“So they’ll need to come out of the blocks quickly to erase those memories, because there can be hangovers if you don’t start well.
“What I like about this Lyon team is they set up mainly three at the back and they can defend really well.
“But they don’t show people too much respect and they could be a banana skin for City.
“There is no way they are going to come out, look at City and all the players they have and sit back.
“They’ll be remembering they took four points off them last season as well, and they will know City are not unbeatable.
“This is a difficult tie for Guardiola. I am sure he would have picked a number of other teams to play ahead of Lyon.
“All the pressure is on City because they are massive favourites. But they are used to it.
It’s about being adaptable and respecting the tournament. City sometimes have been their own worst enemy in Europe.
Rio Ferdinand
“They’ve probably won 85 per cent of domestic trophies in the last five years.
“They have been tremendous in that respect, so being favourites will not be an issue for them, I am sure.”
But Ferdinand, 41, believes City have to make changes to their game if they are to transfer their domestic superiority into Europe.
He added: “You have to play differently in the Champions League to the way you do in the Premier League.
“It’s very different. You’re playing against different players and better players more often than not, because it’s the elite tournament. So you have to adapt your game.
“For many years at United we were going into Champions League games gung-ho and still playing attacking, free-flowing football as if we were in the Premier League.
“But if you look at the years we were successful in Europe, in the big games we were stiff and hard to play against.”
‘MORE LIKE FA CUP’
Ferdinand continued: “We knew we had players who could hurt teams on the attack in Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney, Nani, Louis Saha and Dimitar Berbatov.
“But we had to be solid first and that was a very different approach to when we’d play teams in the Premier League.
“It’s about being adaptable and respecting the tournament.
“City sometimes have been their own worst enemy in Europe.
“There have been times when they’ve had games by scruff of the neck and they’ve stuck to their guns and played to their principles — instead of saying ‘Right, let’s shut the tie down and keep what we’ve got’ — and they’ve been punished.
“With the ties just one game this time, game management is even more important this time.
“The format means the Champions League will be almost like the FA Cup and we know the shocks that can happen when it’s just one game. Anyone can beat anyone.
“Whereas over two legs you would have fancied the bigger, stronger clubs with deep squads, one-legged ties make it a bit of a leveller.”
Watch every Uefa Champions League and Uefa Europa League game exclusively live on BT Sport. Sign up contract-free with a BT Sport Monthly Pass for just £25 per month. For more info visit bt.com/sport
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TYSON FURY is eyeing up a sensational return to a British boxing ring before the end of this year.
The Gypsy King’s hopes of taking on American Deontay Wilder again in 2020 could be KO’d by Covid-19 travel restrictions.
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Tyson Fury is eyeing up a sensational return to a British boxing ring before the end of this year
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Fury’s hopes of taking on American Deontay Wilder again in 2020 could be KO’d by Covid-19 travel restriction
So Fury has ordered promoter Frank Warren to find him another fight.
Warren revealed: “Tyson made it very clear I’ve got to give him a fight by the end of the year.
“I don’t want him fighting behind closed doors.
“But Tyson’s been in lockdown since February so, by December, it’s ten months out of the ring.”
Fury, 32, lost three years battling depression and a doping ban.
The world heavyweight champ claims the best mental health medicine is training regularly.
Warren said: “The only way the Wilder fight works financially is in front of a crowd.
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“In the meantime, let’s think about what works health-wise for Tyson.
“So a fight here, behind closed doors, is something to look at.”
Asked about Fury’s two-fight deal with Anthony Joshua, Warren added: “It must happen next year and be in the UK.”
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Fury has ordered promoter Frank Warren to find him another fight
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NEYMAR kept his eye on the ball winning over new flame Natalia Barulich.
The Croatian-Cuban model no doubt became his love-match of the day with shots like this in a sequin bikini.
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Neymar’s new flame Natalia Barulich wows in a sequin bikiniCredit: RAQUEL RISCHARD/APIX SYNDICATION/LICKERISH
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The couple confirmed their relationship in February
The couple, both 28, confirmed their relationship back in February.
Natalia’s football beau will be playing in the Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain.
The French champions will play Italy’s Atalanta.
The man who crossed the Atlantic full of dreams now has to overcome Atalanta to make them come true.
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The model sparked rumours that she was more than just friends with the former Barcelona ace with her social media activity Credit: Instagram
The responsibility rests on the slender shoulders of the Brazilian.
Manchester City are tipped to win the trophy, but Neymar is Natalia’s clear favourite.
The model sparked rumours that she was more than just friends with the former Barcelona ace with her social media activity .
Barulich split with Colombian singer Maluma last year.
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Neymar will be playing in the Champions League quarter-final with PSGCredit: Reuters
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The stunning model split with Colombian singer Maluma last yearCredit: Instagram
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Barulich met Neymar at one of his previous birthday bashesCredit: Instagram
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RELEGATED Watford have told Crystal Palace they will not take a loss on £30million record signing Ismaila Sarr.
Palace boss Roy Hodgson wants the Senegal international, 22, to replace unsettled Wilfried Zaha at Selhurst Park.
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Watford have told Crystal Palace they will not take a loss on Ismaila SarrCredit: Reuters
And the Eagles are keen to sign Sarr even if Zaha does not get the big money summer move he is seeking.
But managerless Watford have no intention of reducing their valuation of the winger, despite having to cut costs to adjust to life outside the top flight.
And they are even hoping to start a bidding war to push the player’s price beyond the £30m they paid Rennes for him last summer.
A number of Premier League clubs have been linked with Sarr in recent weeks but Palace are the only one to have made a firm inquiry.
It took Sarr, who still has four years to run on his Vicarage Road contract, a while to adjust to the physical nature of the Premier League.
It was not until the end of November that he started to feature regularly in Watford’s team.
But his two goals in the Hornets’ shock 3-0 win over Liverpool in February confirmed him as an exciting prospect.
Now Hodgson wants to utilise Sarr’s blistering pace to bolster his goal-shy Palace line-up.
And he hopes to persuade chairman Steve Parish and sporting director Dougie Freedman to make a firm offer.
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