01/04/2017 Football Focus

Quick thinking from Willian, disappointing from Lee Grant. It

came back to Gary Cahill, they are back in front, three points closer

to a sixth Championship. In George Eriksen who fires Tottenham ahead.

Penalty, 2-0. Penalty to Liverpool, Liverpool have the lead at the

Etihad. I Granero is they are, first chance of the game he has had.

Dawson scores, the pressure is beginning to mount again on Arsene

Wenger. Rifled into the net by Lingard. Manchester United seal the

points. Lukaku, could be four, surely it will be. Robert Huth

unmarked, Leicester mac two clear already, Jamie Vardy restores the

two goal advantage. Real chance, 2-0 Bournemouth. Into his own net,

Crystal Palace lead. Good afternoon, a reminder of the

twists and turns of a fortnight ago. After the international break we are

into the final straight of the domestic season. He's had a

miserable few years, Saido Berahino on that drugs ban and dealing with

his Demons. I was depressed every moment I walked onto the training

ground, I did not want to be there. Ben Gibson on avoiding the drop and

being related to the owner. As a kid people assumed you were only there

because of your uncle, to get a free tracksuit. Will this be the weekend

Celtic claim the Scottish title? Celtic is one of the great clubs in

the world, it's a real institution. Keeping the Saints on the straight

and narrow. And they are in crisis but still Coventry taking more than

40,000 to Wembley this weekend. This club will come again, no doubt about

it in my mind. We will also focus with Mark and

Kevin. Saido Berahino, no one has ever doubted his talent but he's

never been far from controversy. He rarely started in his final 18

months at West Brom and failed a drug test, now he is starting again

at Stoke City where he had a frank exchange this week with Juliette

Farrington. It's not an excuse, my mum raised me right and she sees the

negative stuff it hurts her and I can see it. I'm Saido Berahino and

this is my story. I was born in Burundi in 1993 and my dad passed

away in 1997. The country was unstable, always civil war, lots of

things happening. I was back in Burundi with my mum 's best friend

and then I came to England, I was about nine but we could not get a

hold of my mother. I went through about six months where I was kept in

care and then I finally met my mum and that was it. I moved to

Birmingham, I had one year in primary school. Could not speak

English, it was really hard. I got into football and it became easier

for me, I made friends and I grew and grew and grew. I got my trial in

year seven at West Brom, six weeks. That is where it all started. Did

you miss not having a father figure? I think other kids have had the

experience of fathers have told them you cannot do things like this

because it will lead you a certain way. It's been tough but I have had

to learn, quickly because I have made major mistakes, massive

mistakes at a young age. There is quite a list of these mistakes. The

drugs. What was that about? No one knows that story, I doubly want to

go into it. Tell us what you can if that is OK. All I can say is I did

not know how it got in my system. We had specialists analyse me, took my

hair follicle for six months, I've never taken drugs in my life and no

one in my family takes drugs. There was nothing in my here, no cannabis,

cocaine, nothing that they found. I was ten whatever is it called over.

That could not have got me high or nothing. It was just one of those

things, you go on a night out, you do not know who you are around and

there are people out there to get you. Of course I was in the

nightclub so I hold my hand up for being irresponsible and from there

it all crashed down. Until this day, I still cannot understand who would

want to do that to me. It's been really tough. There is a lot of

investigation work through the FA, they did help. It was good for them

but it was tough to take. Me and my mum, they have never seen me take

drugs so for me to get banned for something I have not done, it's hard

to take. So it was spiked? Definitely, because if I was going

to get high you would take an amount where you want to get high and the

threshold would have been higher, the numbers would have been higher

that they found in my system but it was really, really low. So why would

you want to take something and not get a buzz off it? But because I'm

in the Premier League PFA have to have zero tolerance which is why I

got the eight week 's. Tony Pulis said when you left you were not his

problem any more, what was the dynamic like between you? He was

often talking about you but protecting the inner way. No one

protected me at the club, the protected me towards the drug thing

but everything about my life was out there. I just wanted to get out of

West Brom, fresh start. It wasn't working for me and it was one of the

reasons I did not want to sign. The contracts they put on the table, it

was not about money it was about my happiness. If you had a promotion

and it was a great job for you you would not say no. It works the same

way in football, when you have an opportunity to go and progress your

career you want to but it does not mean I am disrespecting the club, it

is just at the time there were a lot of things happening around me with

the chairman not wanting to sell me, he wanted to sell the club and I was

a big asset to the club so I could not get sold because of that. That

is why so many windows I did not move. I was depressed every moment I

walked into the training ground and did not want to be there. That was

the hardest thing because from going from loving something and hating the

place that made you, it's hard to take. Even if I was not playing

there are ways of doing things, there are times I was training with

the youth team. That people would say you have been a bad lad. People

would say that as a punishment for what you have done. Maybe, but it

all started from how they treated me from the beginning. Because going to

pre-season I had teams that wanted to buy me. I did not move in the

summer, as soon as I rejected the first contract, there you go. One of

the clubs which did what you were Stoke and you are here now, look at

that smile, it is back! As soon as I moved I was excited to meet

everyone, get into the regime of what they do. You knew also there

was a manager here who had wanted you for quite some time. Yes and

that helps massively, when somebody really wants you. To learn from

them, he was a great striker himself so I have been like a sponge, taking

all the information on board and trying to get back to where I was a

couple of years ago. Do you think Mark Hughes can get that potential

out of you that everyone was talking about a couple of years ago, is he

the right guy? Definitely, I would not be here if I did not believe it.

I have to get back that level and kicked all, that is what I have been

trying to do since I got here, get back into what I used to do. The big

welcome for Saido Berahino, big cheer around the stadium. Long-term

you see yourself here? Of course, I feel at home already. I have made

some friends. What does your mum say? Young when are you going to

score your first goal? When are you? Soon, hopefully, when the chances

come. It's an interview that has divided

people over the last few days, do you feel sorry for him? Do you

understand where he's coming from, many people saying why does he not

take more responsibility for the bad decisions he has made Kevin? I think

he is quite remorseful, he has regrets about how he went about

things. I have seen these situations manifested in football clubs so

often where sometimes it's either the player 's agent, the player

himself goes to see the manager or the owners, get the conversation and

get it iron out. It was one of those things where it was a snowball

effect, it continued and got worse and worse for the club and the

player. I understand the situation about being an asset to the club

which was up for sale, all these things, but the underlying fact is

he could have done a lot more on the pitch for himself to help himself. I

agree with all of that, the thing about playing is that is your role

lease. Whatever the situation, we saw it with Jonathan Woodgate and

Lee Bowyer at Leeds United, Lee Bowyer could still play and that was

how he dealt with it, Jonathan Woodgate could not, but the thing

for Saido Berahino is go out and play. Yes lack of a father figure

but I was under the impression that Tony Pulis was that guy for a while

and I think in the end it seems even Tony Pulis has gone do you know

what, I can only take you to the water so many occasions at the end

you have to drink. When he looks at it, it's, he's a really good player,

and he still only 23 so still has a chance but he has wasted his time.

West Brom fans do feel he downed tools and partly because they felt

they had a player, the season where he came to life... If it was not

such a great player it would not be as bad, and that's the thing. We

have seen them all, we have seen all these lads with all this talent,

normally a bit earlier in their career, in the end completely

disappear for whatever reason. The thing with everyone saying to him,

he is such a good player, Mauricio Pochettino wanted him, he would have

been playing instead of Dele Alli. It shows there are flaws in the

system, there is so much a player can get financially from a

professional point of view, ever can go to a player when they are 17,

coming through, but a huge downside to it where a player might not be

able to cope with these things and suddenly he's been told the club is

in for him, he wants the move and goes about it the wrong way. The

other thing is did he or has he had a mental health issue? It would be

interesting to see. He has said he has had depression but he has not

been assessed officially that we know of. Exactly, I know it is

difficult for football supporters and West Brom supporters

particularly looking at that asking how he can be depressed with all

this God-given ability but it needs looking at. Even his mum wants to

know when he will score for Stoke City, you can see why Mark Hughes

has taken a gamble. I think it was February last year he last scored,

but he has the ability and has had streaks in his career when he goes

on runs. Stoke City at Leicester today taking on a side rejuvenated

in recent weeks, Steve Wilson is there for us, we talk about the

rejuvenation, they have won every game since Claudio Ranieri left and

in the last eight of the Champions League. When you think about it

these club are almost polar opposites. Leicester almost

relegated saved by the skin of their teeth, champions the following

season and then the ups and downs and change of manager this season,

they are the epitome of inconsistency where Stoke City the

last three seasons have finished ninth and guess where they stand

this morning? Ninth of course, they are like old faithful. They had a

very combustible match earlier this season are bad Stoke City, 2-2,

Jamie Vardy sent off, Leicester thought it was a harsh decision but

he served his time, got the ban. Leicester came back with ten men to

get a draw with two goals in the last 16 minutes so we are hoping for

similar excitement here today at the King Power Stadium. It's a big day

actually at the King Power Stadium, preparations going on to celebrate

the birthday of the chairman, a big banner and pyrotechnics and all

kinds of stuff and they are giving away beer to Leicester City

supporters which is always guaranteed to make you popular. It

is happy birthday to the chairman. Happy birthday to you.

'S last bit! P 45 legs that game is one of fate in the Premier League on

a very busy Saturday, let's have a look at it.

Let's concentrate on the bottom of the table. Middlesbrough are

desperate for a win at Swansea and Ben Gibson has been speaking this

week to us. The Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson... His first

senior England call-up... Firstly, you might or your

girlfriend a holiday. I believe so and I don't think he let me forget

it, to be honest. It was international break, Friday morning,

went to training. The gaffer had us an early because the land is often

go away with their days off. Printed off the boarding card for a little

trip to Spain, checked in and finish trading was ready to go. The

secretary told me I had been called up for England. I was shocked,

delighted, it was mad. How did you break the news to your girlfriend,

did you go round and say we're not going any more? Actually, you won't

believe this, I rang her and the last international break, I

pretended I was injured just to wind her up, so I said we cannot go, I've

got training tomorrow, something of that nature, he was gutted and I

started laughing. This time I told her I was in the England squad and

he didn't believe me, he was waiting for me to start laughing and it was

only after my little brother had rang her to say how good is this

that he realised and celebrated properly.

How was it to go and join up with the England team, you didn't play

but it must have been an amazing experience? It was phenomenal,

everyone in the country dreams of thing for England when you're in the

park and this is what my friends were saying to me, we used to

pretend when we were kids, in Wembley we used to shout Beckham and

it's every young boy 's dream and to do that it was such an honour,

phenomenal and something I'd never forget. No! That's me! Quarter

schoolboy. I'm in the middle of an interview. That's Jonathan Woodgate.

He's my new coach. He's a top man. In the latter years he was here,

fantastic person to have around the dressing room, role model, leader,

the natural progression. Hassey, and at a good enough time to change

anything? Without a doubt, still ten games of the season left, massive

end. He's a legend, played at the highest level of the game, not many

English defenders get moves to Real Madrid, that happens for a reason.

Towards the back end of his career he was always helping me, taking

nearside and telling me what I could do better, what I've done well,

analysing my clips and took a long time to do that. Steve Agnew has

come on, second game in charge this week and, what's the atmosphere

like? It's really positive, we've been in difficult positions before,

so we still believe in ourselves that we have to get out of the

predicament we're in, we've known Steve Agnew for a long time and he's

a fantastic coach, encourages players to be expansive and try

things and looking forward to having a change of and mentality and trying

something different because what we're doing hasn't been working,

results and our league position shows that. Aitor Karanka really

helped your progression. I can only say positive things about him, my

career took a real upturn when he came. I have to say thanks for that

but we're in a new chapter and it starts now and have to make sure

it's a successful start to remain in the league. Having an uncle as

chairman, has it ever helped or hindered your career because some

might think you were born with a Silva spoon and had your uncle Bear.

You sound like one of the lads on the training ground! Have people

said to you, you've had it easy? Of course, that's what happens,

unfortunately. People in this world are cynical, particularly as a kid

you get jealous people and parents and I had to compete against that,

it's helped me and it's given me on. I've always had to work harder

because I was written off at the start, people assumed you were only

there because of your uncle, you were only there to get a free

tracksuit. Every manager going up through the academy, every player I

come across, every parent my mum and dad hat is stand next to they've

always thought the same, so I've had to change their own opinions and

it's a challenge and I really enjoy it. COMMENTATOR: Gibson! Playing for

your hometown club is a real roller-coaster. The apps are really

higher than your average play but the laws are really Law. You can't

get away from it but it's something you buy into that I've relished it.

It's a make or break week and it's one that we're just excited by

because we're in the relegation zone and looking at this week, it's an

opportunity to put it right. We should see in a Football Focus

first, he paid for everyone's lunch on the day of the interview, more

sign that he's a very nice young man. Mark Lawrenson is concerned

that he doesn't tackle but played every minute and you can see why

he's been linked with Chelsea. They've got the sixth best defence

in the Premier League and seeing him play for Chelsea, couldn't see him

playing for a side that were Open and expensive for one of the other

top four clubs. You just see here, Lawro talking about his tackling but

his positional sense. The blocks he gets in and how he gets back into

position, sees the run from Iheanacho. Tracks the run but maybe

doesn't look particularly quick. I think it's because he reads the

game. This is a brilliantly timed tackle because he's gone with the

wrong leg and it has to be well timed. If he doesn't he gives away

the penalty. I really like this because I think this is where his

biggest strength is, when he's in the penalty area and he is seeing

runners around him, just running it on slowly, you see his positional

sense that he takes up between the width of the goal, quite happy to

stand, his present positional sense in line with the near post, you see

his head movement, looking where Fellaini is, constantly on the

half-time, looking where the run from Fellaini will come from and he

makes a good block off the back of it. I think he's a good player but

he's seriously helped by the fact. This trend here is his strength.

They just sit three in front all the time Middlesbrough. It will be

interesting to see now with Agnew being in charge, will they try to

change it because they have to start winning some games. They have to

become a bit more Open and that will be interesting to see his

performances then. They did at show a try, they made a tactical change.

Scoring less than a game. This was the problem, we saw against

Manchester United. Playing against Manchester United, we'll circle

Negredo. He's found himself very isolated. Look at the amount of Man

United bodies in the way of the Middlesbrough man on the ball.

Difficult ball to get it into. If you watch the midfield players,

nobody actually looks forward. It's ingrained into the three midfield

players, just keep the ball. You just need to highlight the body

language of Negredo. He knows it's not coming. The ball is never coming

to him. When it gets to the wide area, Negredo wants the ball to his

feet it's the quality of the ball played into him, that's the thing,

almost as if they need a change. Agnew recognised that and in the

second half he went with two upfront. Traore has got something,

maybe inconsistent but he does have something but what Agnew recognised

in the second half was that we need to get bodies into the penalty area

so he went with two upfront and you see immediately, straight

into the game derogating bodies into the penalty area and that is where

you will get chances. That is where Middlesbrough have been negative,

spoke about the defensive record but if they're going to get out of

trouble they had to get bodies into the position to get goals. Every

team that gets promoted at the start of the season from the Championship

they wonder who will get the goal is to keep them in the league. The game

against Swansea, that is why it's so important, if Swansea witnessed a

move away from Middlesbrough and the bottom three. If you look at

Middlesbrough's next few games, it's such an important period for them.

It's huge for them tomorrow, what a massive game that is. If they win it

the right back in touch, if they lose it you can say goodbye because

the Hull City result is immaterial. Burnley to come and they face

Sunderland on the 26 April. Sunderland have two huge games,

Watford this weekend and then Leicester on Tuesday and able now

and everyone knows that momentum is key at this stage of the season and

Crystal Palace have that in bucketloads.

Crystal Palace keeping an eagle eye on those around them at the wrong

end of the table. Van Aanholt on his right foot, he's put it in. Like at

the end of the tunnel for Palace. Wilfried Zaha brings it down well

and puts it away with aplomb! It's Andros Townsend! Sensational goal.

Troy Deeney into his own net and Crystal Palace lead. Doesn't matter

how they go on when you're on the bottom of the table, as long as they

go on. Where in the bottom seven league and can't get to the top that

if we can. That run will be severely tested this afternoon and Palace

travel to Chelsea. Jonathan Pearce at Stamford Bridge. They did enjoy

themselves last season. They certainly did and they come here

with three clean sheets in a row. Mark Schwarzer is with me, former

Chelsea goalkeeper. They will be stubborn for the league leaders

today? They certainly will be. The last three games they have won,

clean sheet as well and it will be very tough at Chelsea to try keep

another clean sheet, you look at Chelsea's record with the last ten

games scoring 30 goals and conceding five, they have to rely heavily on

players like Zaha and Townsend to make inroads. What a difference to

an Palace came here at the start of last season, Chelsea's must start to

a top-flight campaign since 1978. What difference in man management

has Conte made in the dressing room? He's come down and lay down the

rules right from the start. Key players with Eden Hazard, Pedro,

keeping cost here was a big thing. He made it public he wanted to leave

in the summer, Conte has put his arm around and said you are my main man,

you stay here, we can do something special this season and he's back it

up. Players have bought into the way he wants to play and the club has

not looked back since. He's made a difference to Eden Hazard as well,

he missed the store game and the international games, we think he

will be back today. Will he be a mix is because Chelsea fans fear the

Real Madrid interest. It's a tough one, as big as Chelsea are and it

looks like it's a foregone conclusion that Chelsea will win the

title, they will be in the Champions League next season. It's very

difficult to turn down Real Madrid if they come knocking. For Chelsea,

if Real Madrid. A lot of money for Chelsea to reinvest in a few

players. Chelsea fans will be hoping he does stay here. The same question

applies to Wilfried Zaha who scored a cracking individual goal for

Nigeria against Russia but Palace fans fear he will be off to

Tottenham. Another interesting scenario could unfold because we all

know that Zaha gone to Man United in the past and didn't work out but

Tottenham would be different. Pochettino as a manager who's done

really well with the younger players, Zaha would see that as a

better option than when he went to Manchester United. More stability at

Tottenham. If a club like Spurs come in for him that could really suit

him and it would be difficult for him to say no. How difficult will it

be for Chelsea? Palace won here last year. Another victory for them today

against a team that is ten points clear, can you see that? I can, we

can't underestimate Palace, they are fighting for survival, they are on a

good run of form, Chelsea are trying to win the title, ten points clear,

I think it will be a real uphill battle for Palace today, you look at

all the stats and the professionals, they say Chelsea will win it, I'll

say the same. If you haven't seen that Zaha goal, I hope we get

another one as good and goals from quality players all over the pitch.

Use your chance to see that goal in the international break, it was very

special. It was a rare beauty. Going back to the top of the table,

Chelsea ten points clear of spas. Chelsea haven't lost in 12 and half

weeks. Middlesbrough have won in 15 weeks and you look at the next few

games. Got Manchester City and Man United to come and then play

Tottenham in the FA Cup. Home games for them as well. Looking at the Man

United game as a key game away from home, Bournemouth might be tricky.

There just so solid, even if they go away from home they might not win,

you don't fancy to lose. We are assuming all the other teams will

win at the top, which they want. They are playing each other. Spurs

keep saying we need to win every game to keep the pressure on

Chelsea, they are at Burnley today and five boys better off than this

stage last season and still way off the leaders.

The form of Chelsea has just been superb, you cannot see them slopping

up so much to allow Tottenham or Manchester City, you cannot see it.

It's more the fight for the other three Champions League spot is that

the season is about. Fourth against seventh, the Merseyside derby, a

match with a little bit of history. Liverpool children they say are

taught to walk by taking them to football matches. Would you like to

play for Liverpool? Everton, the millionaires, money no object to the

chairman said. It's going to fall for Andy King!

He's got it! Congratulations. Ian Rush good score his fourth. What a

fantastic goal! That's a lovely goal!

Boats followed up by Mane! Surely that is the goal which will win the

Derby! Today's match at Anfield, the first Liverpool home game since the

death of former player and coach Ronnie Moran, marked with a minutes

applause which we can show you now. He was so well loved at Liverpool,

so many generations of players coming through, I know you went to

his funeral on Thursday and everyone turned up. It was like a who's Who

of players from free, maybe for generations but generally somewhat

underrated by a lot of people but not anyone at that football club. He

should be up there amongst the legends. A special match day

programme as well, lovely piece on him. That was his son in the

picture. And a lovely banner. You can see more on that on Match of the

Day tonight. In terms of the teams, Liverpool, we have talked a lot

about their injury concerns and not having the strongest squad, we knew

Adam Lallana would not play, Lucas comes in for him. Firmino and

Coutinho both play after long distance international travel. Could

that affect them? I think the private plane will have helped! I

think it's a huge boost for Liverpool getting was to be up front

but Adam Lallana is huge and missing him, and they are without Jordan

Henderson as well so it is who has the discipline in midfield. Everton

have gone to three at the back, they are without Seamus Coleman and will

be for a long time but tactically what is Ronald Koeman thinking? Key

is trying to get Ross Barkley, playing like an outside number ten,

little triangle alongside Lukaku. The three at the back is

interesting, Jagielka in the middle. It's as if you are trying to say at

times become a five. Everton have legs which is unusual for them,

Gareth Barry on the bench, I think with the legs they have got in the

side... I think that is so important, these games are hectic,

quite often you don't need a ball for a while which has changed a

little bit. They are mad games. I think Liverpool will find it

difficult to break Everton down. Could be an interesting one with

Pennington, we know about Seamus Coleman but James McCarthy of

Everton has cost a bit of a star, Ronald Koeman having a pop at his

International side, the treatment from Martin O'Neill and Martin

O'Neill came straight back saying a master tactician in the blame game

is what he called Ronald Koeman, saying quiet introspection might

serve the energy manager and his staff better -- the Everton manager.

Did he not lump on the other night for the warm up in the first game?

The player himself must flag up the fact he has a problem. James

McCarthy has faced criticism regarding his availability for

games, I think in the last few games he has proven he is willing to play

through it. I can only speak for myself, I targeted international

games, if I had injuries I would try to play through desperately wanting

to play for Ireland. Turn up, then go to the doctor, if you are not

affect you are not fit. I don't think people are going to criticise

him because he's not fit, at least... If you asked the player if

he is fit and he says he is he will get played. This was 2006, Kevin

Kilbane with tricky feat leading to a red card for Steven Gerrard, do

you remember this? What a challenge. Second yellow, should have been a

second, a straight red. I have heard it said that I was diving but I

think that is debatable. That is what the Derby can be about,

reaction to that on that match this afternoon.

Alan Shearer and Martin Keown in the pundit cheers for Match of the Day

tonight. It depends what day it is?

Roadworks. It's an extra 15 minutes with all the speed bumps. Cambridge

are sinking. This is going to be an unbelievable finish.

By the time the boat race starts, Celtic could be Scottish champions

after Aberdeen 7-0 win over Dundee United last night they need to beat

Hearts for the sixth straight title, their first under Brendan Rodgers

who has been speaking to Napoli. We tried to win get the best way we

possibly could. For myself and my staff, we wanted to come and do it

in our way. I think the players have tried to take that on board, it was

going to be our first together. It was important we could do it and

really go and attack the league and do it in the best way we possibly

could. It's not just about winning here, it's about doing it in a

certain way. It's always been that tradition here at Celtic, you go

back to the great Lisbon Lions. The European Cup is on its way to

Glasgow. They are the pioneers of this club, we will never be as good

as them but they have given us a great path to follow. So in order to

do what we did and beat the record was special. It was a proud moment

but what we wanted to do was not just beat it but go on and set the

standard for as long as we could. And Celtic have beaten the record

set by the Lisbon Lions. How often do you talk about going unbeaten?

The unbeaten one is very difficult, I have always said that, the run we

are on has been incredible. It's not an easy thing to do but we want to

win every game we play and these players are doing that. If they do

not I know they have given everything. For the remainder of the

season we are going to push as hard as we have done all season. It's

inevitably raised questions about the standard of the league. If you

look at a lot of the teams in Europe you normally get one or two teams

running away with it. Or you can be is as good as you can. Celtic one of

the great clubs in the world, it truly is an institution. The club

can do no more off the field. We want to keep pushing on the field.

If that means winning the league by five points, 25 points, we will

always do the best we can. It seems you have found somewhere you are

very comfortable. I love it here, of course, because it really is a dream

for me, a boy from Northern Ireland who grew up supporting Celtic and

always wanted to play for Celtic but never had the chance. To manage is a

real honour, to be here. My whole decision to come to Scotland was

based on Glasgow Celtic. But I also had great memories of Liverpool when

I was there. Did not end so well but I am very proud that when I meet

Liverpool supporters they are very appreciative of the work we had,

everyone talks about the season we went close and the level of football

and I learned from that as a coach and manager. Maybe one day I will go

back to the Premier League but I have come here to try to build

something, create something that leaves the club in a better place. I

am really happy in my life and like I say, really looking to the future

to hopefully keep developing and improving the club. To correct

myself, Dundee beaten last night, not Dundee United, my fault, got

carried away. As Brendan Rodgers was saying, unbeaten domestic way all

season, it's an achievement and it would be important for him to win

the title. Most definitely, signing Dembele was a masterstroke, they

splashed out on him and he has been a massive bonus. It's no good going

on about the league because it is not Celtic's fault that some of the

opposition are very ordinarily, you still have to beat them and you can

only beat the team in front of you. They had a decent run in the

Champions League and next season 's Champions League football but that

is the acid test. That is how Brendan Rodgers will be judged, how

they perform in the Champions League. Do you think we will see him

back in the Premier League in this country? It was good for him to get

away after what happened at Liverpool in the end. You cannot say

you are out of the limelight managing Celtic but he has stepped

away for a for awhile. But I could see him back. I think he would get a

job in the Premier definitely. Busy Sunday in the Premier League,

another rather tasty offering as Manchester take on Arsenal, the

Gunners desperate to take on the top four is the uncertainty over the

boss continues. I personally respect him hugely as a manager and think he

has done an exceptional, he has had an exceptional career. It's his

first season. Once he has been a Manchester City for 20 years we will

get the same treatment! I am sure the fans respect a lot what Arsene

Wenger has done and is doing. People should understand how difficult it

is today, the football, all the teams are well prepared. When the

bosses or Arsene Wenger decides to stay our keep going, they believe

it's the best solution for Arsenal. I am very clear in my mind, do I

stayed two months saute years? My commitment will be exactly the same.

At the moment not sorted completely out. It's so much uncertainty around

the club at the moment, in their worst run of form in his entire time

there. I think it has made them rudderless. When you throw in what

has happened with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez's contracts it's a

strange situation to be in. I have to say at the moment I don't think

they will finish in the top four and that will sully his record because

his record in the Champions League is nothing short of sensational. He

has been a fantastic manager, you look at it now and you think maybe

now is the time. I do not agree with his assessment when he is saying

about his own uncertainty not affecting the players because the

players are constantly asked, you have to go out and perform for

yourself and team-mates but it is affecting the players. Players sit

there and you either manager, I am listening to you and I am secretly

thinking you might not be here in a few weeks, that is how players are

and always will be. Consequently, lost the last four in five, you can

understand why. From the Manchester City point of view, Pep Guardiola

saying he has great admiration for Sanchez, had him at Barcelona and

Chelsea are sniffing around. Our Manchester City finding form at the

right time and will be finish the season well? They are exciting to

watch, no matter what anyone says about them defensively, the game

against Liverpool, either side could have won. Perhaps if they sign one

or two more defenders and perhaps get a good goalkeeper they could be

serious force. They have been better defensively

since they went back to four. Regular players. It's not brain...

Rocket science! Man City's women through to the semifinals of the

women's Champions League thanks to a 2-0 aggregate lead and a face to

holders Lyon in the semifinal on the final is in Cardiff in May. As go to

Old Trafford where Manchester United, unbeaten in 18 Premier

League games stretching all the way back to October, ten wins, eight

draws, up to fifth, West Brom today for them. West Brom have got a good

recent record against Manchester United. They do, if West Brom can

win this game it would be four seasons in a row that West Bromich

Albion would have beaten Manchester United. We remember the last game

that Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge, 5-5 draw. Since he has

departed, West Brom have beaten Manchester United at least once per

season. Big injury problems for Jose Mourinho. Juan Mata has had to have

groin surgery, Fellaini picked up a tall injury on international duty

and we don't know if he will be involved, Smalling and Jones

clattered into each other in training for the national team, so

they are both out injured. A long list and then you put in the

suspensions to Ibrahimovic and Herrera as well. The week that

Bastian Schweinsteiger went to join the MLS, he is the tenor player Jose

Mourinho could do with. At the moment, used to be a joke around

here that Manchester United never play at three o'clock a Saturday.

And the moment, today is their third Premier League game in 48 days. They

have been so involved with cup competitions but now it's going to

get really busy and this is the sort of nine games in the month of April

that could define Manchester United's season. Plenty more

tomorrow's EFL Trophy final will see more than 40,000 Coventry City fans

heading to Wembley to see the team take on Oxford United. It is a rare

ray of sunshine for a club suffering big time. Bottom of League 1 and of

the owners. They may be going to Wembley this

weekend but there is no sugar-coating Coventry City's

decline since. The four seasons in the top flight came to an end in

2001, particularly since they were taken over in 2007 by a hedge fund

Sisu who had designs on Southampton. No academy based on this year, no

stadium to play and from summer next year. Unless things change, there

will be no football club. Our stance is the football club's owners need

to put the club up for sale, they've had a decade to try to turn this

football club around and in that time almost every conceivable merger

of the football club has gone backwards. Administration, a year in

exile in Northampton, supporter protests, nine permanent managers

and now heading for the fourth tier for the first time since 1959. This

is a club that is etched in your hand, was the vision that's been

sold to you? Getting a really good team and successful team on the

pitch but that is in the future. The problem is you know what you've

walked into, hence my question. Where does this club go long-term?

Obviously that is a question for higher up in the club. You must have

asked that, you wouldn't have come back otherwise? For me, all I can

affect us on the pitch. The Sky Blues are sky-high! Can you believe

the contrast of the club back then until now. There's no escaping the

fact we've been very disappointing this year and the club is a lot

different to what it was 30 years ago. Just won back-to-back games

which was important coming into this, so they feel a bit better

about themselves, feel more confident and they believe they can

win a football match, Mark has done that in a short space of time.

Presumably the fans can appreciate the human effort that has been put

in by a procession of managers that are trying their best and also the

players. Coventry City is not the owners and most fans are aware of

that, Coventry City is run by people who care about this football club,

people who are passionate about what they do and many other people in

Coventry City do a fantastic job and nobody has said anything different.

it is pure escapism this weekend. The possibility of country going out

of existence and we have 46,000 fans following them to Wembley. The crowd

are so passionate, desperate to cheer them, they don't want to do

anything negative. They want to be behind the team in a positive way

and they can make such a difference. Sunday is a big opportunity for them

to go and enjoy the occasion. It's been 30 years since that happened

and you can see what happened last and they were underdogs. One club

City, the fact we are taking 40,000 people to Wembley shows what a big

club this is. The potential for the future as well. There is real

potential. This club will come again, no doubt about that. It's

just how long it takes. Proper club hero. Kevin, you ended your career

at Coventry, just listen to the fans, you watch the fans on the

phone-ins, they are so frustrated and it's understandable. Hard to see

a way out, isn't it? At the moment yes, the club has to be sold to move

in a different direction. I feel like it's been totally mismanaged

since leaving Highfield Road and it seems like an eternity since they

left Highfield Road. When I signed for the club you sensed that

desperation from what the club wanted to achieve, League 1 at the

time, desperate to get back into the Championship but there are no

revenues are being generated to give Mark Robins or whoever will manage

the club long term the platform to get back into the Championship and

then try to get back into the Premier League. They are in a real

rot at the moment and in a dire situation. Any money that comes

through the gate does not go to the football club? It's a difficult one

to assess but essentially the match day revenue, they're not generating

it. Who agreed that? This is part of the frustration of the fans. How can

you get yourself in a position where you would agree that? They are in a

horrible rot at the moment and would be a good weekend if they could win

the trophy. Oxford United are taking potentially 30,000 there as well.

Great occasion. Avoiding and 40 at all costs! 70,000 people for this

game, fantastic. We talked about the Merseyside derby today, we should

update you on ago. Sadio Mane with an early goal for Liverpool. 1-0

Liverpool is the latest. But let's go to El Clasico. Southampton

against Bournemouth, separated by 27 miles and just one place in league.

Claude Puel the Southampton manager has been speaking to us about his

coaching philosophy. Is the Premier League, has English

football lived up to expectations? Of course, it's a great Premier

League and the best Championship in the world. A great opportunity to

participate against great managers but it's very interesting to train

here Naidin. What has it been like been adapting to the English

lifestyle? To speaking Bush, it's difficult at the beginning. To find

the good words and a good sentence and to give a good message -- to

speak English. It's a great place, very interesting. The fans are

fantastic. Unlike in England you have the atmosphere around the

football. Is it starting to feel at home, Southampton, for you? It's

like Monaco, with the sea and the boats, I live in a village, it's

beautiful. I like the place, it's a good club, it has a good philosophy.

Good academy. It's important for me to work with young players and to

develop them and to improve them. You have known Arsene Wenger for a

long time. Did you ask him for advice before coming to England? I

discussed a little before I signed. He was my former trainer for seven

years at Monaco. It's... He's an important man in an important period

and he told me that Southampton are fantastic and it was a good

challenge for me. I think he is right. You've been involved in some

great derbies in your career, the game against Bournemouth coming up,

how do you approach that, can that develop into a big derby for

Southampton? It's an important game for the fans. The first match, it's

important to make the fans happy. It's also important to win this game

and to have a good result because it's important to get up the table.

He faced a big challenge when you came to the club because Southampton

has this reputation as a selling club, selling some of the big stars,

how worried are you about the summer and perhaps losing more players? We

will see what happens at the end of the season but I think it's

important, of course, to try to keep our best players and to continue to

develop players and the team. If we sell an important player, it's

important to have the solution to replace him but for me and for the

club and for Southampton it's important to start with a strong

team for the next season, of course. He's had quite a career in France.

Come on to the Southampton hot seat and followed their system, which has

been so successful. Incredible what they keep on doing. Nobody had

really heard of Claude Puel when he came into the Premier League but got

them to the League Cup final. The story of Southampton is amazing.

Even bringing Gabbiadini NMT looks a real find. Overall the whole

structure of the club, they're almost like the benchmark for a lot

of others. Eddie Howe Manager of the Month for March but they've never

ever won at Southampton. Ever. Have they played their much? 12 times.

Not an impressive stat! The image of the week, if you haven't seen it,

this is Cristiano Ronaldo. The thing behind him is meant to be Cristiano

Ronaldo. Here it is full frame at the airport which is being named

after the Portuguese star. And this is Niall Quinn. What do you think?

Ronaldo is not too proud of that. Have a look at this. What do you

think? I'm not accepting that's been run on Football Focus! What about

the goalkeeper? Third touch of the game. Mohammed. Look how far the

goalkeeper as a way. Don't talk to him about it! That's it for this

week, we'll see you next Saturday at midday. Predictions of a Chelsea fan

who like Jason hits a decent deadbolt. -- dead ball.

I like goals when you have to watch them again and again. Gianfranco is

although's backheel against Norwich, fourth round of the cup. I watch it

on YouTube once a month. Conti's and hair transplant is amazing. I didn't

even realise it was a transplant, it's only when I saw clips of him. I

don't know how he's maintained it. I'm hoping for a Burnley win.

Tottenham are too good at the moment, I think Burnley will score.

West Brom didn't surprise anyone by beating Arsenal and I think it's

time for another surprise,. Palace are going to come out fighting. Zaha

will impress. I don't think they will score under think Chelsea will

run out easy winners.