Oliver Glasner wants to sign off from Crystal Palace with a trophy as his Eagles side take on Rayo Vallecano in the final of the Conference League on Wednesday.
Phil Foden’s omission from England’s World Cup squad has drawn a strong rebuke about Manchester City’s schedule from PFA chief executive Maheta Molango.
Noni Madueke claimed Arsenal winning the Premier League will be “irrelevant” when they face Paris St Germain.
Glasner eyes fond farewell
Departing Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has told his Conference League finalists that the best leaving gift they could give him would be the opportunity to watch them in the Europa League next season.
The Eagles are 90 minutes away from turning Glasner’s dream into a reality, with just Rayo Vallecano standing in the way of more silverware under the Austrian, who will mark the end of his transformative Crystal Palace tenure when the final whistle blows in Leipzig.
He said: “Yesterday they had a nice farewell for me, and then I said a few words. I said that for me, the best thing would be, of course, winning tomorrow – but not for winning tomorrow, but because then they plan European football in the Europa League next year.
“They would get next year what we should have gotten this year. Then I said I would like to watch on TV that they would start their Europa League with the desire and the confidence that they can win the Europa League as well. This would make me really happy.”
Foden ‘victim’ of ‘crazy’ schedule – Molango
Phil Foden is a “victim” of football’s “crazy” schedule after being left out of England’s World Cup squad, according to PFA chief executive Maheta Molango.
Manchester City midfielder Foden was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2024 but was overlooked by Thomas Tuchel for the World Cup following an underwhelming season.
“Phil was voted less than two years ago by his peers as the best player of the (Premier) League,” said Molango, who is a board member of FIFPRO, the world players’ union.
“Unfortunately, he is one of the victims of this crazy calendar that only makes sense for those who pursue commercial gain to the detriment of the quality of the show, and to the detriment of the protection of those who should be football heritage.”
Madueke says pressure remains on Arsenal
Noni Madueke insists the pressure remains on Arsenal ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final.
The Gunners have faced huge expectations to win silverware this season, and they will head to Hungary riding the crest of a wave after they saw off Manchester City to take the Premier League title.
“It is definitely better that we won the Premier League before we go into the Champions League final,” Madueke said.
“But I just don’t know if we will be thinking about that. We will be thinking about getting another one, and the Premier League will be irrelevant on that night.”
Shankland makes Rangers silverware vow
Lawrence Shankland has targeted regular silverware with Rangers after securing his “dream” move to Ibrox on a two-year contract with the option of a further season.
The 30-year-old signed a new three-year deal with Hearts last summer after weighing up his options but the contract had a release clause which will allow him to become a Rangers player when the transfer window opens on June 15.
Shankland told Rangers TV: “I am delighted to be here and to have this opportunity. Rangers is my boyhood club, and it has always been a dream to play here, so I was really keen to get it done.
“The club are in a position where they want to get back to winning silverware more regularly and I want to be a big part of that, so that’s what I have come here to do.”
What’s on today?
Palace are bidding for their second major trophy – 12 months after lifting the FA Cup – when they take on Spanish outfit Rayo Vallecano in the final of the Conference League at the Red Bull Arena.
