PFA AWARD FOR RED-HOT SALAH
Olivier Giroud proved the scourge of Southampton once again, setting Chelsea on course for FA Cup semi-final success and a mouth-watering clash with Manchester United.
A week after coming off the bench to net a brace and inspire a remarkable comeback win at embattled Saints in the Premier League, the 31-year-old yesterday returned to haunt Mark Hughes’ side at Wembley.
Southampton’s first FA Cup semi-final appearance since 2003 ended in disappointment as Giroud showed impressive composure to slot home a goal added to by substitute Alvaro Morata as Chelsea ran out 2-0 victors.
Ex-bluesbossjosemourinho (whose United side came from behind to beat Spurs 2-1 at Wembley the previous day) lies in wait for Antonio Conte’s men on 19 May, when the west Londoners can atone for last year’s shock FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal.
There will be much fuss made over the rivalry between
0 Olivier Giroud wheels away in delight after opening the scoring for Chelsea, much to the delight of Antonio Conte, left. Conte and Mourinho – who were involved in a verbal spat earlier this season – but Conte said at full-time yesterday that the pair have resolved their differences.
“With Jose, we have clarified the situation,” Conte said. “There is not a problem between him and I.
“We are talking about two managers with strong characters, and two winners.
“When in your mind and your heart and your blood there is the will to win, for sure, we want to try to win this trophy. The same way Manchester United want to do this. I repeat, I have great respect for United’s story, for Mourinho’s story. They have the same respect, I think, for Chelsea’s story and my story.”
Chelsea were firm favourites to win this semi-final and Willian hit the crossbar early in a one-sided first half, yet Saints managed to batten down the hatches.
But just seconds after halftime that hard work was undone as Giroud was all too easily allowed to jink through and turn home a smart individual goal. Southampton rallied as substitute Nathan Redmond came close, but Morata headed the Blues through to a second successive FA Cup final as Saints’ dreams of adding to their 1976 triumph died. Southampton manager Mark Hughes was baffled as to why the video assistant referee was not consulted for what he described as a “match-defining” moment in the second half, when Chelsea were 1-0 up.
Blues keeper Willy Caballero dropped the ball into his own net but referee Martin Atkinson disallowed the goal and penalised Saints striker Charlie Austin for a foul.
“There’s disappointment because the situation where the goalkeeper’s made a wrong decision, basically thrown the ball into the back of his net,” Hughes said. “If ever there was a situation for VAR to play a hand and step in to review that, I would have thought that was an opportunity.
“It was a match-defining moment, a key moment. Why it wasn’t referred? I have no idea. We’re disappointed with the officials and whoever it is who sits in a darkened room.” Mohamed Salah has been crowned the PFA Player of the Year after an explosive first season at Liverpool.
Few could have foreseen the Egyptian magician’s impact after he swapped Roma for Anfield last summer in a £34.3 million deal. But the 25-year-old’s performances have been exceptional and last night that brought recognition from his peers as he was named Player of the Year at the 45th PFA Awards at Grosvenor House in central London.
Salah, pictured, held off tough competition from Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, who has played an integral role as Pep Guardiola’s swashbuckling side won the Premier League in style.
Leroy Sane – crowned PFA Young Player of the Year last night – and David Silva were the other City players on the six-man shortlist, with outstanding Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea and free-scoring Tottenham striker Harry Kane completing the nominees.
But the Liverpool striker has been the standout and on Saturday his goal in the 2-2 league draw with West Bromwich Albion meant he matched the record of 31 goals for a 38-game top-flight season set by Alan Shearer (1995-96), Cristiano Ronaldo (2007-08) and Luis Suarez (2013-14) with three matches still to spare.
Suarez, now at Barcelona, was the last Reds player to win the award in 2014 and Salah, too, could do the double by winning the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award, which will be announced on 1 May.
The PFA’S Merit award went posthumously to Cyrille Regis, the former West Brom forward who died aged 59 in January.
The award was recognition of Regis’ pioneering role in changing attitudes towards black footballers in England.