Man City ‘host’ Arsenal in last clash of EPL big three
UEFA will listen if Euro 2024 coaches want larger squads
NYON, Switzerland, March 28, (AP): European Championship organizer UEFA said on Thursday it will listen to national team coaches if they want bigger squads of 26 players instead of 23 for the tournament in Germany.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said this week the number of injuries in modern soccer meant it was absurd to return to the traditional squad size of 23.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, increased 26-man squads were allowed by UEFA at Euro 2020, a delayed edition played in 2021, and at FIFA’s 2022 World Cup.
If players were isolated for health reasons, their replacements were already in camp and complying with the mandatory protocols.
UEFA decided last year on 23-player squads for Euro 2024.
It will host coaches and officials from the 24 teams in two weeks in Duesseldorf, Germany.
“A workshop with the participating teams will be held on April 8 and on that occasion UEFA will listen to the views of the coaches,” the European soccer body said. “Any idea in this respect will then be considered and assessed.”
Koeman wants his national federation to ask UEFA for an increase and noted this week “you have to deal more with injuries these days.”
“It is about the load carrying ability of the players,” Koeman said on Tuesday after his team’s 2-1 loss to Germany, suggesting host team coach Julian Nagelsmann agreed.
England coach Gareth Southgate said there had been a “little bit of talk amongst some of the coaches” to ask for 26.
Southgate said he did not plan to pressure UEFA for an increase, though acknowledged the extra numbers would lessen the risk of selecting preferred players who carried injuries.
“We’ve been able to give people time,” said Southgate, who is taking England to his fourth major tournament as the coach, “but with 23 that’s definitely more difficult.”
It is unclear how many of the 24 coaches want a larger squad that would include more players likely not getting game time on the field.
Euro 2024 is from June 14-July 14 in 10 German cities.
MANCHESTER, England, March 28, (AP): Win against Arsenal on Sunday and Manchester City’s path to a record fourth straight English Premier League title becomes clearer.
Lose, and Arsenal takes a giant step towards becoming league champion for the first time in 20 years.
Draw, and the big winner this weekend could be Liverpool.
With 10 rounds to go, the clash at Etihad Stadium is the last time any of the three title rivals will go head to head.
Arsenal leads the league. Liverpool is second on goal difference. City is a point behind both of them.
An element of risk and reward hangs over
City and Arsenal.
History is clearly on
City’s side, having won its last eight home games against the Gunners.
City’s last home loss in this fixture was in 2015.
But Arsenal has been better this season after beating City in a penalty shootout to win the Community Shield in August, followed by a 1-0 victory at Emirates Stadium in October.
City manager Pep Guardiola’s preparations haven’t been helped by injuries to key defenders Kyle Walker and John Stones during the international break.
Mikel Arteta was once Guardiola’s trusted lieutenant at City. Arteta was spoken of as a future City manager but is working on creating his own legacy at Arsenal after transforming the club’s fortunes since taking charge in 2019.
He has been backed with money and time, and that faith has paid off with Arsenal leading the league and advancing to the Champions League quarterfinals. After falling away badly at the end of last season to allow City to take the English title, it remains to be seen if Arteta and his players have learned from that experience.
Those two wins against City this season suggest Arsenal is more prepared to go head to head against the champion.
Arsenal stands as the last major test for City, which has arguably the smoothest run of games to the end of the league. Arsenal and Liverpool both have to travel to Manchester United and face respective derbies against Tottenham and Everton.
All three teams still have to face Aston Villa and Spurs, who are competing for fourth spot and Champions League qualification.
Liverpool plays Brighton on Sunday with the chance to go to the top of the standings before City and Arsenal kick off.
There is little to choose between the challengers.
City is on an ominous 22-game unbeaten run in all competitions, dating to the start of December.
Liverpool has lost two of its last 23 games and already has its first trophy of the season after winning the English League Cup in February.
One of those defeats was Manchester United’s extra time winner in the FA Cup quarterfinals this month. The other was 3-1 to Arsenal in the league in February.
Arsenal, meanwhile, has risen to the top of the league on the back of an eight-game winning streak.
All three teams are battling on multiple fronts.
City is defending its Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble of last season.
Liverpool is no longer competing for a quadruple, but after winning the League Cup it is also still in contention for the Europa League.
Arsenal is in the Champions League quarters, where it faces Bayern Munich.
City was given the toughest draw of all against Real Madrid.
Guardiola could make history by winning back-to-back trebles including an unprecedented fourth Premier League in a row. Not even Alex Ferguson managed that at Man United.