13/05/2017 Football Focus

Oh, it's absolutely brilliant! This is getting better and better. It

goes to Cristiano Ronaldo! The history boys indeed. They have won

the cup. And it is a hat-trick! He has done it! Blue is the colour of

the Premier League winners again. It's just 307 days since the Italian

took over a Chelsea side who finished 10th

in the Premier League last season. All the action and celebrations

as Chelsea made history At the other end big Sam

is facing his Waterloo. He is hardly talking things down.

The whole future in terms of how it is going to progress, this football

club, is dependent on the next two games and getting safe.

But Palace will have to get past this fellow.

A trip down memory lane, Garth says a heartfelt goodbye.

Steph set her sights on Wembley glory.

Now it is all about going back next step and getting our hands on the

How is he doing this year? Is he winning?

Primed for punditry, Mark Lawrenson is alongside

Martin Keown with eight league titles between them.

What did you tell him? Nothing? I am winning!

That start with West Brom versus Chelsea.

Antonio Conte's table toppers went there and knowing they

We have got to win, we have got to see it, signed, sealed and delivered

tonight. What brings you here tonight? Something happening? We are

going to stop them getting the Championship. I have a girlfriend in

the south of France, but I flew back. Tonight we are winning the

Premier League. We will never leave the game before the end, but if we

are two or three down before the end I will go, I cannot watch them

celebrate. West Brom will be forgiven for

feeling like guests in their own house because this is all about

Chelsea. One more win for the Premier League title. It is Albion

who get the Friday night action started in an atmosphere at the

Hawthorns that feels more like Stamford Bridge. Chelsea taking over

this little part of the West Midlands tonight. It has been

reported that some Chelsea supporters have paid thousands.

Albion fashioned the first chance of the game and forced a save from

Thibault Courtois. They nearly silenced the blue hordes. Fabregas

went for goal. Moses! That was a super save by Ben

Foster. Really smart reactions. That went through the legs of Maclean.

The goalkeeper could not have been expecting that.

Eden Hazard pulled back. It was very nearly an own goal. Almost

calamitous for West Bromwich Albion's men at the back.

Livermore has acres of space and he plays it in, but it is wide.

Batshuayi is about to play for the 18th time. Every one of those has

been a substitute. Just the one goal against Watford. It came 70 minutes

after he took the field. Azpilicueta! And it is turned in by

Batshuayi. Chelsea have managed to find a way through. It is so close

now. The biggest Chelsea celebration of the season. Chris Brunt couldn't

stop Azpilicueta from keeping the ball moving. A ball into the middle

and Batshuayi, a bit part player for Chelsea all season, might just have

scored the goal that wins them the Premier League. Blue is the colour

of the Premier League winners again. A more familiar name again as

Chelsea win it for the fifth time. And an Italian who has masterminded

things again. All hail Antonio Conte. Three seasons, three titles

with Juventus, more than one with Chelsea. Missed the 100%. Chelsea

champions with two games to spare. Antonio, how important was it to do

it tonight? It was important because when you have the possibility to

kill the league and to win, you must do this. The players did a great

job. They showed me great professionalism and they showed me a

real commitment, a great workrate. We started the season with a lot of

problems, but I think in the problems we found the right way to

be stronger. It feels amazing, it feels a special moment. We said you

have to grab opportunities in football with both hands and we had

to do that today. I can't wait to get back into the changing room. I

thought we deserved it. Over the course of the season we have worked

very hard and we have been the better team. There is something

about this trophy that I know is special. Six teams can easily win

this league. It is the most competitive and difficult to win and

to be able to do it two times in three years with Chelsea is

fantastic, I am very proud. He celebrated with the fans, do you

feel like a fan? Yes, after a strong season like this, but I repeat it

was not easy. I think it it's right to celebrate. At 1.I really thought

it was not going to be our night because we had our chances and they

were not happening. But football is fantastic.

He managed not to swear in that one. Football is fantastic when you win.

This was the Chelsea dressing room afterwards. Understandably delighted

after a long but a brilliant season. Let's deal with the game first of

all last night. I am sure Antonio Conte and the Chelsea players knew

that going to West Brom Tony Pulis always makes it difficult and they

did that and they really restricted the space. Where the likes of Eden

Hazard and Pedro operates in the game. It is a professional thing and

everyone in the country is watching the game and thinking Chelsea are

going there to win. If you are a West Brom play where cash player,

you say over my dead body. You are going to make it difficult and they

did. They played a 1-9- one formation. It is almost back six at

one stage. So it was extremely difficult for Chelsea to play them

down. But they would have expected that, Martin? For sure and that is

always the challenge. They are so much better than everyone else in

the Premier League and West Brom is very difficult with Tony Pulis plane

that system. But this is what Antonio Conte is about, making those

changes, and every player has a major part. Batshuayi but the

all-important goal. It was down to numbers, they flooded people

forward. Williams provided the cross. It is a scrappy goal to

score, but it is down to the numbers. Azpilicueta is playing

centre halves. The other centre-half, Gary Cahill, has a

shot. Then Azpilicueta gets on the end of

it and it is a tap in. Antonio Conte has been immense. Batshuayi is a

perfect example of having that squad to win the title because he has not

played much. No stars in the season. Not only that, when he came on a

couple of times, remember when Diego Costa was unavailable and we thought

he would bring on Batshuayi. He did not even play him. It is almost like

saying, I do not think you are good enough. They have all played their

part. They have used minimum amount of players. That was against

Watford. That is the reaction when people like Batshuayi come in. I

think he left Nemanja Matic out on a couple of occasions and that is the

reaction you have to have if you are going to win the league. Fabregas

coming off the bench. Ten assists. He has taken Eden Hazard off the

pitch. Let's take him of an use the tactics to win the match. Nobody

spotted the dummy in Chelsea. They are playing completely differently

to a year ago. We will have a look at the comparison in a minute.

Batshuayi has done incredibly well to come on in that situation. He

scored the goal that He scored the goal

that Seals the deal. So a great week for Chelsea and it

comes at the end of an extraordinary Chelsea producing football of the

highest quality. Individuals are taking responsibility. They are

relentless, I cannot see a weakness. They have a will to win and they are

champions. There are days in the Premier League when you see

champions in the making. Short from Gary Cahill. He does the

job. A sensational goal! It is three. The club that had dished out

a few nightmares in recent years, but the boot is on the other foot

today. In my mind I thought this team could play with 42 four. We

tried it a lot. I thought we could find this new system. If you lose

like you lose against Arsenal, you need to change something. And he did

that and they won an when you win people start to believe in it and

from there they built up. Eden Hazard! A great goal. A wonderful

goal by Eden Hazard. After Arsenal we changed the system and it was

much better. I think of real beauty. I do not want to be like Lionel

Messi, I just want to be like me and be the best. We have seen countless

times this season defending in numbers and breaking quickly and

they are so clinical, they have so much quality going forward and they

score a lot of goals as well. When you look at the Chelsea system you

see how so well they are linked when they have the ball, but they have

the ability to go back into a very secure shape. Diego Costa is still

there. It is a goal! Diego Costa, and that's the 13th consecutive win

surely. The major story in the papers is

about this man. A potential move to China. Diego Costa left at home

after a row. Suddenly he falls out with his manager and he has brought

him to heal and he will come back quietly with an apology. He was very

clever in saying to Diego Costa, go away and sort your head out. Think

about the possibilities of your future. At the moment it is here at

the club and we need to win this title.

Diego Costa! The man they said who was heading to China. I see him

every day and I see his commitment. His behaviour is very involved in

the team. He loves this club. Chelsea fans rise to Eden Hazard.

Into the box, brilliant. A total winning display by Chelsea.

The most important thing for me is to build a team. Every single player

must put their talent into the team. The manager brought the whole team

together. You have to push for it. Not everyday you can become a league

champions. What a fantastic goal by Pedro! And it's turned in by

Batshuayi! Chelsea win for the fifth time. All hail Antonio Conte. It was

just a matter of time but it came quick. This was the first year, but

he did well. Pre-match meals of knots, bottles of prisoner Coke,

attention to detail. -- bottles of Prosecco. Whatever way you look at

it Conte has had a big impact on the club. He was playing a back four and

it was almost like he didn't understand the role as well as a

back three. He changed it to three and everyone thought he must gone

mad. From then on it was a 13 game run they went on. He understands the

role of every player. At two more wins they'll be 34 the season which

is quite remarkable. Maybe next season they could go unbeaten.

They'll keep pushing the bar. He inherited a squad of players who had

almost fallen out of love with game. Look what they've done ever since.

They've been a settled side. If you look at the number of changes he's

made compared to some of the other sides in a top six, 38 changes to

that starting line-up for Chelsea. Man city 112 at the other end of

things. It's one of those things. I always believed, what's a team this

week? Pick your best team. If you are trying to win the best leagues,

you can't mess around with your team that much. You seriously can't. They

found a way to play. If you'd said the start of the season when we were

sat here in the first programme that Victor Moses would be outstanding

playing for Chelsea and win the Premier League medal yet have gone,

see you later. Yet have said there's no chance. Particularly right

wingback. That's what I'm trying to say. You can see how well he's done

with all of them. There's been a lot of lot of analysis of at the back

three. He said after the Arsenal game, we are only a good team on

paper, it's time to be good on the pitch. What you like is the

attention to detail. In fact he's the only manager who is used all

three substitutes in every game in the Premier League. Definitely. They

say football is a numbers game and he definitely gets the maximum from

every player. Makes you feel a part of the squad. Uses the substitutes

to win matches. We are looking at Alonso, Eden Hazard has come in and

done well again. There are so many possibilities with the system they

play. I can't remember anyone else winning it with a back three, it is

quite unique. You talked about the 13 games on the trot and part of

that was the 1-0 wins back-to-back and that's the steel of champions.

When you look back over the season, these are the games that win it. You

may be don't play particularly well, that was very late at home against

West Brom. This was away at Sunderland and Martin mentioned

about Fabregas coming in and out of the team. They were distinctly

ordinary, Chelsea, but managed to win. That's the difference. You

bring the subs on and managed to win the game, they won the games when

they weren't playing well. There will be people shouting at the TV

this morning, saying, hold on a minute, they've not played in

Europe. They played six games fewer than Spurs and have been fortunate

with injuries. Last season they finished tenth. Can you understand

the frustration from others asked Mark Pochettino and the Spurs

players don't have two approaches themselves. It will have to go for

another year. Chelsea have been so good. It doesn't matter, the best

team have won the league. All the talk before Everton's game

with Watford surrounded the future of Ross Barkley with manager

Ronald Koeman giving the 23-year-old a week to sign a new contract

or he would be sold. And it was Barkley who then scored

the only goal of the game and Goodison Park and he was given

a standing ovation when he was substituted by Koeman

with ten minutes to go. After the game Koeman

reiterated his demand for the England international

to quickly commit his Everybody knows the quality of the

player. OK, it's not up to the club, it's not up to the manager, it's up

to the player. Still we hope that he will sign that contract. If not, OK,

he will search for another place. But you like the opportunity to make

a focal point of your team again? Yes, because we offered Ross is a

really good contract. You need to sign it or you don't sign it. It's

unusual to conduct things so publicly. I think it's good. He

might disagree with it. They are saying, there is your contract, what

are you doing? As a manager of a club, I need to try and move this

forward but I need to know or are you with us or are you leaving us?

It's a really simple question. It's not about personalities, it's

actually about the business side of football which is massive now.

Listen, the manager left Southampton very quickly himself. But he needs

to know what direction they are going in this season and Barkley is

a top player and he needs to sign him. Where would he go? He can come

to Preston if he wants! LAUGHTER They are talking about Spurs and

that can be the anyplace but he needs to make a decision quickly.

On we go to the rest of the weekend, then.

We will also be live to Sunderland as Swansea head to the north-east.

But time now to talk about the race for those final Champions League

places starting at the Etihad where Manchester City and Leicester

We can bring you the team News on this one. Talking about team

changes, the first time Pep Guardiola has named an unchanged

side in the Premier League. Aguero back on the bench. Two changes for

Leicester as Chilwell starts left back and King replaces Drinkwater.

When you look at man city, they look pretty good to finish in the top

four. I surprised they haven't challenged for the title this

season? Lack of consistency. Pep Guardiola doesn't know his

formation, doesn't know the players he wants to use. I feel that he is

less pragmatic in his management and he's more artistic. It's going to

take longer and they are starting to per a bit now. Next year I expect

them to be major challenges. They will spend big in the summer and

take Chelsea on. He messed around with the defence from so many

different occasions. Personnel change. Since Christmas they've done

really, really well but I am surprised they are where they are. I

think he's made of mistakes but I think he knows that. Will see what

Manchester City do over the summer and next as well.

Arsenal kept their hopes of a top four place alive with a 2-0

Alexis Sanchez became only the fifth Arsenal player to reach 20

Premier League goals with this brilliant effort before

Olivier Giroud made sure of the victory late on.

Sanchez involved with the ball across for Ramsey to find Giroud.

But is his 14th goal of the season. Martin, if Arsenal finish top four,

and win the FA Cup, is that a good season? Not bad. I think Arsenal

fans are getting a bit fed up. They want to have true champions. As a

club again. That's the goal for Arsene Wenger. There's so much

speculation going on around the club is he going to stay. The important

thing is that Sanchez and Ozil do well at the club. Sanchez has

started to perform. For too long they haven't done that. Lets have a

look at them. We talk a lot about them and the way they bring other

players in. They've been crucial to all the good stuff Arsenal have done

this season. I feel this new system doesn't help Ozil. A lot of people

are criticising him. But Sanchez, you can't dispute that they pivotal

at the moment to the creativity Arsene Wenger needs in the Arsenal

team. It would be a backward step to lose them. If he's overindulged the

players and acted in a spoilt manner it could be time to cut loose. If

you look at Arsenal and say, discuss them, you'd say more questions than

answers. What happened to Ozil and Sanchez and most of all the manager?

Makes Liverpool's game this weekend look really interesting. I think

Liverpool need to win both games to guarantee full. I just have a

feeling that Arsenal will win all three including Stoke away which is

difficult. Stoke hasn't been a good game for Arsenal. If they can win I

think Arsenal will fancy it. If I asked you to name a team to get the

fourth would you say Arsenal? Not at the moment. Man city are in that

seat. Liverpool. I think that's clear!

With Middlesborough joining Sunderland in the Championship

following that defeat to Chelsea on Monday night, tomorrow's game

between Crystal Palace and Hull will go a long way

to deciding who fills that final relegation place.

Palace need just one point to secure Premier League survival.

Ivan Gaskell has been to see if big Sam has a plan.

COMMENTATOR: A miserable afternoon for Crystal Palace. Sam, a huge

match this weekend against your rivals Hull. How are you sleeping? A

little uneasy. I think that we've just lost the principles of why we

clawed our way up to such a difficult position on the basis that

our defensive mentality was so good. But we actually pulled off some

fantastic results against the top five, six teams that wasn't

expected. Because defensively we were so sound. We've lost that

resilience and maybe a bit of complacency. But certainly the

injury process has caused us these problems. You put them both together

and results have slipped away to three defeats on the trot. No goals

and back into a nervous disposition going into the last two games. The

only thing I can say to the players is you've worked so hard, lads, to

put your own destiny in your own hands, which it still is. Make sure

you get it right on Sunday. This club has an FA Cup final this time

last year, how does this game compare? Much, much bigger. I think

the whole future of the football club in terms of how it will

progress is dependent on the next two games and getting safe. If it

doesn't then it falls into cutbacks, into redundancy, into cutting across

the board at every level and then fighting to try and get back. If you

look at the record of teams bouncing back, it's not very good. Take us

inside the dressing room if you can in the hour before kick-off on

Sunday. I won't be there. Most of the staff won't be there. We'll have

done our work before we get there. I don't like all this screaming and

shouting in the dressing room. We don't need all that. Do the warm up,

get the players ready. The odd visit to the toilet, a bit more maybe than

normal. What about you? I won't be too bad I don't think. This week

planning the team, getting it ready to play, and then the decisions I

make for the game is going on to try and help the team over the line will

be critical. For me to use that experience, hopefully I don't need

to do too much. Hopefully the players will do it for me. If I need

to do it be brave enough to. You were once relegated with Notts

County. You've never been relegated from the top flight. How personally

would you take it if that were to happen now? It's more important to

me about the club than about myself. But obviously when you been doing it

as long as I have you don't want a blemish on your record. As tough as

these jobs are, and as many people have said, one day, Sam, you'll take

on too much. Whatever happens on Sunday we still have Man United

away. There's still a chance if it goes horribly wrong on Sunday. But

I'm betting the players won't allow that to happen. He has been in this

sort of position before. Fireman Sam is often in this perilous position.

Do you think Palace thought they were safe? I'd be surprised with Sam

in charge, because as you rightly say he's been there before. What's

gone wrong? The thing about big Sam, when he

went to Sunderland, everybody thought they would win games, but

they did not, they really struggled. The same with Palace as well. But at

the moment they just looked like they are going to concede in every

game. If you only need one point at home against Hull. I was at the

Burnley match and there were a lot of nerves around the place. Their

home record is not great at all. There were two breakaway goals at

the end. When you lose 5-0 at city then the question, that comes in.

Some were saying he will not go to the dressing room beforehand and

bang heads together. He should not need to. So the preparation is done

during the week. That is the whole thing and if anything, you go in an

hour before and talk to the players and say, this is the way we are and

get on with it, but you leave them to their own thoughts and let them

warm up etc. The most important thing for a manager is if you have

got the prep right, if you have not you have got 15 minutes at half-time

to change it and in the second tab when you make substitutions. Palace

need to be brave, it is in their hands, do not be frightened of it.

You are in the same group with a team that could take it all away,

but if it goes wrong for them, it goes to another game and even then

they play Manchester United. They are in the Europa League. The other

thing today is what do Hull do? They really need to win. You have done

that very nicely. I read the script! Victory for Palace could relegate

visitors Hull who are looking to bounce back from defeat

to Sunderland last week. Damian Johnson caught

up with their keeper. Hollywood. A brilliant save by

Jakupovic. A brilliant save by Jakupovic. Have you got Sunderland

and that defeat last weekend out of your system? Not yet. After a losing

game and cannot forget, especially this game. This game was for us very

important. We lost 2-0 and we have another chance to show that this was

only a bad day for us. Did last weekend, though experience of it

then your belief that Hull can stay up? I think if we win both games, we

will have a good chance to stay. Palace first, how do you view it? It

is a massive game for both teams. They have to win and we have to win

so... It is going to be a good day and hopefully better for us. We have

had to wait patiently for your chance to become number one here.

What was that like? The first 18 months, two years, was not easy for

me. Jakupovic, the third choice goalkeeper at Hull City is coming on

for an unexpected appearance here. I knew a chance was going to come and

the gaffer was going to trust me. Do you appreciate it more because it

was a difficult road to travel? I thought there was an easier way, but

this five years as a person I am stronger now. The fans here love

you, you are a cult figure. How do you feel about that? Yes, a lot of

people tell me that. I am just doing my job. Sometimes I am a bit crazy,

but that is me, I like to celebrate with every goal, my saves. Sometimes

I say to myself, you have to change this. When I am watching in the

evening the highlights I go with my little daughter in another room and

my wife is watching and she is laughing. Yes, it is fun, but you

can't change. Now we are here we are two more games left and I know what

everybody is saying, one goal down with ten points and blah, blah. I

want to prove everybody wrong. He seems like a lovely guy. He has

made a bit of a difference. I am going to ask you the question, how

do Hull approach this? Last week they seemed to be in a good position

with a great home record and now it has switched around. Yes, Swansea

beat Everton. You do not want to let Palace score and they will you are

really starting to chase the game. I think they play in periods. You look

at what Palace have got and made sure you do not concede and as the

game goes on, you have got to change. There is so much riding on

it, it is about how you handle the tension and the pressure. It will be

the biggest game of his life and everybody wants to be part of the

Premier League party. That is what you identify with as a person. The

whole thing about Hull is they seriously messed up the start of the

season in terms of recruitment. Would that not make it an believable

if they stayed up? They sold Snodgrass and Livermore and yet they

could still stay up. My answer is yes. Lucas never gets a mention and

he is a fantastic player in there. The wire. One after another, but the

Paul Clement Storey and both managers doing well to keep their

managers doing well to keep their teams up.

So to the third team in danger of the drop.

Swansea jumped over Hull last weekend with a vital win

They're at Sunderland today, and Steve Wilson is our man

Good afternoon, a lovely gesture from the Swansea players as well,

not only playing for the travel of the fans, but the lunch vouchers as

well. Do you know how many are travelling? 3000 Swansea fans are

coming here today and all of their tickets have been paid for by the

Swansea players and it will cost about ?75,000. Each Swansea

supporter is being given a luncheon voucher and ?1 of those lunch

vouchers is going to the Bradley's fight fund. Bradley will be here

today, the young man who has captured everybody's Hearts. That is

the plan, but he is very unwell at the moment and we are hoping he will

be here today. They will play that by ear. It is a great gesture and

Leon Brittan was the inspiration behind raising that money to get the

Swansea fans here. It was his idea and he has been the man going around

with the collecting part. They will be showing DVDs of how important it

is to stay in the Premier League. We were talking about the importance of

the next two games for Hull. From Swansea's point of view, how do you

think Paul Clement will approach this? He will approach it to win. I

was at the game against Everton last week and Hull played first. He made

the point that come what may, whatever Hull did against

Sunderland, Swansea had to beat Everton, and he is approaching this

in the same way. Swansea play first today and Hull play Palace tomorrow.

He is approaching this game as a match they have two win. Sunderland

relegated and Paul Clement made the point that in a way his players have

had a warning shot because Sunderland won at Hull and they know

Sunderland will be playing with a certain freedom that they have not

been able to borrow a few weeks. This is not a given for Swansea by

any means. If Swansea stay up, it would be a great achievement for

Paul Clement. The club will have had three full-time managers for one

season and actually stay in the Premier League. Players get

slaughtered for all sorts of things, but for 75 grand to pay for the

supporters, I am trying to work out how big the collection ball is!

trying to work out how big the collection ball is!

Martin is putting in a double shift today.

He'll be casting his eye over the afternoon games on Final Score

Alan Shearer and Ian Wright make up the pundit panel for MOTD tonight.

The power of Eurovision pushes them on to BBC 2

About 200 million is expected to watch Eurovision.

There is a record crowd for a women's FA Cup final expected

at Wembley later today where Steph Houghton n

will lead Manchester City out against Birmingham.

The England captain has been speaking to Sue Smith.

In terms of your career achievements, where does leading

Manchester City out at Wembley rank? You always dream of Wembley and

captaining your side and ever since I have joined the club it is about

winning the FA Cup and we are one step closer. It definitely stands

out for the things I have achieved so far. What does it mean to have

reached the final? This is what we have been trying to reach ever since

I have got here. We have been knocked out in a semifinal in the

last three years and it is disappointing because you get so

close to being at Wembley, but that was one of the focus is, to get to

Wembley, and we have done that and it is about the next step in getting

our hands on the trophy. Few imagined yourself yet walking up the

steps and getting your hands on the trophy? You do imagine it because I

love winning the FA Cup with Arsenal, but I have been on the

disappointing side of losing it with Leeds. I have got to keep my feet on

the floor and not think about that moment of lifting the trophy, but it

does give you goose bumps when people mention in it to you and it

is exciting. She could not score again, could she? Yes, she could.

This is incredible. What an Olympic Games Steph Houghton is having. You

have played at Wembley before and scored at Wembley, what will you be

telling your team-mates about playing at the National Stadium? You

have got to enjoy it. Not many people get a chance to play at

Wembley and we have got a massive opportunity to show how good we are

as a team and there is a trophy at the end of it. It will not be easy

because Birmingham is a tough team to play. They will be up for the

whole occasion as well. We have got to keep our feet on the floor and do

everything we have done over the last few years. Who are the players

to watch? I think Connie Lloyd without a doubt. She won the World

Cup with the USA and she has a physical presence and she can score

important goals. Oh, what a go! She has a hat-trick. Jill Scott is our

engine and she gets up and down the pitch and makes things tick. Lucy

has been outstanding in the last few seasons and is rightly one of the

best in the world. There are too many to pick out, but we have got a

very good squad with a lot of very good individuals as well.

And Sue is at Wembley this afternoon alongside Jonathan Pearce

where somewhere between 30 and 40,000 are expected today.

They haven't painted the lines yet. Yes, Wembley is buzzing on a big

occasion. You have to walk out of the tube station and it captures

your imagination. This is so crucial for the women's game it is at

Wembley again. And the fact the crowd is getting bigger and better

and it shows the growth and development of the women's game. As

a young boy and girl growing up your dream is to play cup finals and at

Wembley and that is what these girls will be doing and the atmosphere

will be better last year. She has been talking to them or outside, it

is a wonder I can get the word in edgeways! In terms of the game,

Manchester City come into this the overwhelming favourite is taking on

a Birmingham side they have already beaten in the Continental cup this

season as well. Yes, but they drew 1-1 a few days ago and Birmingham

played very well that day and they have got good players. White has

joined them this season. They have got some very good players. And

their route to the final has been difficult and they had to play

Chelsea and Arsenal and the fact that they have drawn with them. They

are underdogs but they have got good players. Now they have a management

system in place which has given them a real belief they can go out and

win any game and it is important to have that belief and they have

recruited very well. Ellen White is a key player, but they will make it

difficult for Manchester City and they will be solid at the back. They

do not score many goals, Birmingham, but Manchester City do and they have

got some superstars and when they play at their best, it will be

difficult for Birmingham. And you can see live coverage

from Wembley this evening Wembley will be a temporary home

for Tottenham next season, Spurs play their final game

at White Hart Lane against Garth Crooks has been

taking a look back. Stam they're the finest team in

Great Britain and one of the best in the world. It was underneath this

lamp post that in September 1882 a group of young members of the

Tottenham Hotspur Cricket club looked for a dash of style and

called themselves Tottenham Hotspur. So many great players have played

here at White Hart Lane. But it was Danny Blanchflower who said the game

is about glory. We've got to keep to this tradition of being a really

good footballing outfit. There is no one who epitomises Tottenham Hotspur

FC better than this man. This was my part of the dressing room. This was

where I sat and it brings back amazing memories. I remember the

first time I put on a Tottenham Hotspur shirt, and thinking that I'd

joined something very special. It was all about the history. When

you're at a club like Tottenham they expect you to win all the time. I

was always envious of Steve Archibald because they had this

wonderful chance. I'm looking forward to them singing that song

again, just hear that. That would for me. Archibald scored his 22nd of

the season! Bill Nicholson, Keith Birkenshaw, Terry Venables, Harry

Redknapp, and of course Mauricio Pochettino. And this wonderful old

stadium had so many of those European glory nights. I was in this

seat when Tony Parkes made that save. CHEERING

There have been some fantastic goals scored here he's done it again!

Imagine being a fan here and watching some of the players who

graced this pitch. # Hallelujah

# # White Hart Lane will always be the

home of Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs will go marching on.

That goal from Hoddle is just brilliant. I'm sure you too must

have some fond memories of the place. I lived in digs near the

ground and my landlord was a massive fan of Tottenham. We'd go and watch

the games, I remember going there as a young central defender with Tony

Adams to watch. Gillespie was playing on the day. So there was a

massive rivalry between Arsenal and Tottenham. Them losing their

stadium, it's so close, pretty well on the same footprint. They will go

on to better things now. I have a great picture at home that involves

my father. He made his debut for Preston North End. There's three

guys on the photograph and my dad is in the middle and either side is Sir

Tom Finney and Sir Alf Ramsey. A few years ago the old programme editor

of Tottenham found it in a drawer and sent it to me. It's a fantastic

picture to have. It has been a special place for Spurs fans over

the year. But they've got to move on and next season they will play their

home games at Wembley. It will be tough. If you look at the quality of

opposition they played this season, do you think they will be OK at

Wembley? I think it will have a detrimental effect on their

performances. It doesn't feel like a home game and it's not their home.

They will be there for two seasons. They've got to turn it round,

they've had practised this year in the Champions League and it hasn't

looked good for them. I think it's definitely one season. It might make

the other side play better because it's at Wembley. They wanted all

that money and wealth to go into the Champions League but actually we

didn't do anything in the Champions League. That final game will be

against Manchester United who are focusing on the Europa League final.

This summer will be interesting for them. I know Paul Pogba move is

being investigated for how much money the agent got but also Wayne

Rooney will be interesting. I think he'll go. In relation to the

transfer market, I think they'll kick on again. Listen, the manager

might win two competitions, quite possibly win two competitions. He's

had a good season. Your first season as manager and you win two cups? I

think he's done well but for Wayne Rooney now, surely he needs to go

somewhere else. He needs to play. He's been too nice about it, where's

the anger? He's only 31. He needs a pep talk from you!

From the Champions League to the Championship play-offs,

the team with the "M" word this season are Fulham, who overhauled

Leeds in the closing stages to seal sixth spot.

They face Reading in this weekend's semifinal first leg and Mark Clemmit

has been talking momentum with midfielder and

Where did this role come from? Your 11 points adrift of leaders that the

last international break and suddenly 19 from the last 24 points

available. And your five points clear of them. Was there a click

point? I don't know, I think we've been brilliant since the New Year. I

think might equalise against Leeds was a click point. I think it was a

big turning point. If they got three points against tick-macro against us

that night we wouldn't be able to catch up. Can it be a four and a

too, can it be two banks of three, can it be a five under one? I don't

know what it is, everything interchanges with me. It's very

un-championship like. I want a sentence that describes full.

Extremely attacking and quite open. At the back! LAUGHTER You seemed a

bit reluctant to put that bit on the end! Is that a concern? You can't

have one without the other. We are the highest scorers in the league

but you have to bring them forward. There will be times when we are

short at the back. But that's what's worked for us and our players. Tell

me about the gaffer. He looks quite stern and fierce. He frightens me.

He's got a presence when he walks in a room. He's got that face, stone

cold killer sometimes. He's been brilliant since he came in. He made

me captain which the type of player I am in the championship is quite

rare. I've tried to repay the faith he has shown in me. I think I been

able to do that this season. Today it is exactly seven years the day

you last set foot in the Premier League, Hull Liverpool. Yeah, it's

crazy. Did you expect it to take this long to get another crack at

it? I thought it would be within a couple of years. When you've got

these play-offs impending, is it like you're coming up to three games

potentially that are life changing? It is life changing. It's life to

defining. I find it frightening that our team... What we've done is

brilliant. We've got the feel-good factor back at full. When we are out

there I don't feel like we're ever going to lose but if we can deliver

that at the weekend is another thing. We'll attack, attack, attack.

He's a great season. Dropped from the Leeds Academy for only being

five foot one and he's gone on to have great success. He's gone on to

grow! It never works out that simply in the play-offs. Know, and he's

just said there that they want to attack. That's what they'll have to

do. Be positive. The games are massive, it's over ?150 million for

them to go up. These games couldn't be bigger. My son has been dreading

watching some of play-off games with Brian McDermott. The nerves grab

you. It's about handling the occasions. I've seen all full -- all

four. Along the best. It's whether they can hold their nerve. They are

a great system. Tom Cairney has been outstanding for them. It's eight

toss of a coin. You just never know. Huddersfield Sheffield Wednesday are

the other ones. They are the only ones to reach the play-offs with a

negative goal difference since Brighton in 1991.

In Scotland it was first against second last night

and champions Celtic's unbeaten run continued with a 3-1

Interestingly, all four of those goals, three foot felt Aberdeen's

consolation goal were all scored in the first 12 minutes of the game.

Celtic now have 100 points, 99 goals and have two games left to negotiate

a full league season without defeat. Hibernian are already

celebrating a league win, much to the delight of Sir Andy Murray,

who also has a bit We caught up with the Wimbledon

Champion at Queen's Club to deliver When I was younger I played a lot. I

played five-a-side football when I was at home. Normally at least once

a week until I was in my early to mid 20s. Then I stopped. I was

having problems with my back. When I finish my tennis I'll start playing

again. They just got promoted back into the top league after a few

years of struggle. So that's great. Neil Lennon has done a good job.

Hopefully they can stay up there next season and build from that.

Scottish football isn't shown when I'm in the States so I've been

following the Premier League for years now. I've always enjoyed

watching Arsenal play, I like the way they play football. I'm hoping

that Arsenal win that one. Obviously still fighting to get into the top

four. So hopefully... I'll go for Arsenal 2-0. Palace to win that one.

I think Palace 2-0. Benteke brace. It's going to be a tight match. I'm

going to take a draw although both teams will probably need a win. 1-1.

A Benteke brace would go down very nicely for my fantasy league team.

All Sir Andy Murray's predictions are on the website.

We'll be back next week, but time now to celebrate

COMMENTATOR: What a save by Thibaut Courtois. Cahill! Victor Moses!

Alonso, it's in. Kante finds a way. Brilliant play from Diego Costa. A

goal to savour. Blue is the colour of the Premier League winners again.