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ANTOINE SEMENYO GOAL ENOUGH AS BOURNEMOUTH BOOST EUROPEAN PUSH WITH FULHAM WIN

Antoine Semenyo struck inside 53 seconds as Bournemouth reignited their quest for continental qualification with a 1-0 Premier League victory over fellow European hopefuls Fulham at the Vitality Stadium.

Forward Semenyo clinically pounced on an early error from Cottagers captain Antonee Robinson to claim his 10th goal of the season and earn the Cherries a first win in seven league games.

Evanilson went close to doubling the hosts’ lead when he struck the woodwork before Andoni Iraola’s men hung on to climb to eighth – above their opponents and Brighton on goal difference.

Ryan Sessegnon wasted the best of Fulham’s chances to equalise – heading straight at Kepa Arrizabalaga in the first half – before seemingly being substituted incorrectly during the second period.

Bournemouth began the evening having taken just two points from a possible 18 during a dramatic drop-off in form since going fifth with a 3-1 success at relegated rivals Southampton on February 15.

Defender Marcos Senesi replaced Illia Zabarnyi in the only change from the Cherries’ 2-2 draw at West Ham, while Cottagers boss Marco Silva stuck with the team which defeated champions-elect Liverpool 3-2.

Bournemouth raced ahead inside a minute.

Alex Scott led the counter attack following a loose pass from Timothy Castagne and, after Robinson’s mistake, Semenyo nipped in to cut inside Joachim Andersen and curl the ball into the bottom-left corner.

The hosts should have increased their advantage in the 16th minute when Evanilson rattled the crossbar from only four yards out after Scott headed Milos Kerkez’s cross from the left back across goal.

Fulham also looked dangerous going forward during an entertaining first half.

Rodrigo Muniz threatened three times in quick succession, including flashing across goal following defensive dithering from Bournemouth centre-backs Senesi and Dean Huijsen, before the unmarked Sessegnon tamely nodded into the arms of Kepa.

Senesi was shown a yellow card for a lunging challenge on Andersen, despite winning the ball, while Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno kept out a low shot from Scott in added time.

Bournemouth boss Iraola replaced Senesi with Zabarnyi for the second half and almost saw his side double their lead in the 55th minute when the legs of Leno denied Tyler Adams.

Fulham manager Silva then looked unhappy amid confusion as he made a triple substitution which took around two-and-a-half minutes to complete.

Tom Cairney, Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez came on, with Sessegnon, who was withdrawn alongside Sander Berge and Muiz, appearing to be brought off incorrectly due to an admin error.

Bournemouth stopper Kepa clawed away an Alex Iwobi effort and comfortably saved from Sasa Lukic as the west London visitors pushed for a leveller.

At the other end, VAR deemed Leno got fingertips to the ball when Evanilson went down in the box seeking a penalty, 10 minutes from time.

The hosts comfortably held on during seven minutes of added time to claim an overdue victory – their first at home since thrashing Nottingham Forest 5-0 in January – and put their European push back on track.

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JAMIE REDKNAPP GIVEN 12-MONTH DRIVING BAN AFTER BEING CAUGHT SPEEDING

Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool footballer Jamie Redknapp has been banned from driving for 12 months after being caught speeding in his luxury SUV.

Redknapp, 51, admitted two counts of speeding in his Audi Q8 in June and November last year which took his licence over the points limit.

Bexley Magistrates’ Court heard the ex-England international was clocked doing 28mph in a 20mph zone in Wandsworth on June 26 last year, and on November 2 he was caught travelling at 58mph in a 50mph zone on the M4 near Reading.

Redknapp did not appear at the court hearing on Monday but had previously notified magistrates of a guilty plea.

This was his second “totting” offence, as he had a previous six-month disqualification in 2021, the court heard.

Before the two speeding counts last year, Redknapp already had 12 points on his licence.

Redknapp, of west London, was also ordered to pay costs of £608.

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VIRGIL VAN DIJK EXPECTS A BUSY LIVERPOOL SUMMER

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is expecting a big summer in the transfer market as the club look to build on their pending Premier League title triumph.

The 2-1 victory at home to West Ham, secured by the centre-back’s 89th-minute winner, leaves the Reds a maximum of six points away from lifting a record-equalling 20th championship.

Van Dijk’s own future is likely to be secured later this week with the announcement of a two-year contract to match the commitment Mohamed Salah made on Friday, but with main rivals Manchester City and Arsenal certain to strengthen, Liverpool cannot afford to stand still.

Forward Federico Chiesa was the only addition to head coach Arne Slot’s squad but he has not even had a bit-part role and greater reinforcements are needed in all three areas of the pitch.

“I think Liverpool should be able to challenge for titles in the upcoming years,” said Van Dijk, who captained the team for the 100th time against West Ham.

“Whatever happens in terms of players going out, players coming in, I think it should be a big summer. I think they’re planning to make it a big summer, so we all have to trust the board to do the right job.

“I think we 100 per cent can improve. I think we shouldn’t forget the quality that the Premier League possesses, especially this season. It’s incredible how everyone can beat everyone.

“Brentford got a draw at Arsenal, Chelsea-Ipswich was a draw. We obviously lost against Fulham last week, so we can’t forget that either.

“This year, there is a training camp and there is time for the team to work on what the manager wants and I think that will then improve the team.

“I think a proper pre-season would definitely help the club in order to be even more consistent than we already have been.”
In terms of consistency there is no-one who is delivering more than Salah.

In line for a fourth Golden Boot in eight years, the Egypt international set a new record for a 38-game Premier League season with his assist for Luis Diaz’s opener his 45th involvement (27 goals, 18 assists).

The ending of his long-running contract saga provided a significant boost for the club, as will the conclusion of Van Dijk’s.

“You can’t put it in words how consistent he is,” added the Dutchman.

“Obviously his numbers but the work-rate he’s put in over those last eight years at the club is incredible and he can still show it for another few years.”

Van Dijk is set to become only the second Liverpool captain to lift the Premier League trophy and he is looking to add to that.

“Being successful with Liverpool, the culture of the club, everything that embodies Liverpool – that is just part of me,” he said.

“I love the club, that’s pretty obvious. I think you can see that in the way I speak about the club, the way I work for the club in terms of what I do on the pitch on and off the pitch, and that will always be the same.

“We are two wins, six points away from glory. I know what it means to the club and I know what it will bring us if it happens. Most of the players don’t so when it happens it will be beautiful but we still have a job to do.”

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RICE’S STUNNING FREEKICK DOUBLE FIRES ARSENAL TO 3-0 WIN OVER REAL MADRID.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice’s two fantastic free kicks and a striker’s finish from Mikel Merino secured a 3-0 victory over shocked holders Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at The Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

The hosts had the better of the first half as Real began slowly, with Eduardo Camavinga almost conceding a calamitous own goal when he blocked Antonio Rudiger’s clearance before Thomas Partey shot straight at goalkeeper Thibault Courtois.

Real, bidding for a record-extending 16th title in the competition, grew into the contest and threatened on the break, though their few opportunities came from Arsenal errors and the visitors looked disjointed throughout the contest.

Courtois was by far the busier keeper and produced a stunning double save, the first from a powerful Rice header, on the stroke of halftime.

There was no stopping Rice’s opener, though, a fierce curling shot around the wall and beyond Courtois in the 58th minute for his first senior goal from a direct free kick.

“It’s been in the locker, but I’ve hit the wall too many times or it’s gone over the bar. Originally I was going to cross it and then I’ve just have seen the wall with the goalkeeper’s position. I thought … just go for it,” Rice said.

Arsenal could have been 2-0 up shortly after but for more heroics from Courtois, who produced a diving stop from Gabriel Martinelli followed by another from makeshift striker Merino in between David Alaba’s goal-line block.

Rice’s second free kick was even better than the first, curled straight into the top corner in the 70th minute, to leave the 15-times European champions looking stunned.

Merino then coolly fired Myles Lewis-Skelly’s pull-back into the bottom corner 15 minutes from time, following a pass from substitute Leandro Trossard, to give Arsenal a sizeable lead to take to Madrid next week.

The winners of the tie will face either Aston Villa or Paris St Germain, who meet on Wednesday, in the semi-finals.

‘BRILLIANT GAME’

“We’ve had a brilliant game, we had a lot of motivation, that’s why we won,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “We have a game next week in the Bernabeu, we have to demonstrate we can do that again next week.”

Real will have to try and overhaul Arsenal’s lead without Camavinga, who was shown a second yellow card in the closing seconds for kicking the ball away.

The visitors did have some half-chances, most notably through Kylian Mbappe who scuffed his shot at the end of a fast break with the score at 0-0 in the first half.

But Real were unconvincing in attack and have now conceded 11 goals in their last four games in all competitions, while Arsenal have not lost a European tie when scoring three goals in the first leg.

Unused substitute Lucas Vazquez conceded Real were nowhere near their best but nonetheless, given his side’s European pedigree, warned Arsenal his team were far from finished.

“The tie is complicated, but if there’s one team in the world that can turn it around, it’s us, in our stadium and with our fans,” he told Movistar Plus.

Real will hope to take heart from the 1975-76 European Cup when they lost 4-1 away to Derby County in the first leg of the second round but won the return 5-1 at home.

REUTERS

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NEWCASTLE BOOST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BID AS LEICESTER MOVE STEP CLOSER TO RELEGATION

Newcastle blew Leicester away with three first-half goals to inflict a miserable 3-0 defeat on the Foxes who moved a step closer to suffering relegation from the Premier League.

The Magpies flexed their muscles in front of Sky Bet Championship-bound Leicester in a ruthless start to boost their hopes of returning to the Champions League by moving level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea.

Jacob Murphy set the tone for the evening when he tapped in with 113 seconds on the clock and he grabbed his brace when he knocked in the rebound after Fabian Schar struck the crossbar from inside his own half.

Many of the Leicester fans who decided to turn up seemingly headed early for the exit doors when Harvey Barnes haunted his old club with the third goal on his return to leave Leicester 15 points adrift of safety with seven games to go.

Leicester last scored in front of their own fans against Brighton on December 8 and drawing another blank meant they became the first side in Football League history to lose eight home league games in a row without scoring a goal.

The Foxes forced Nick Pope into action 10 seconds into the contest as Jamie Vardy blasted an effort on goal from a tight angle but the England international was alert enough to tip it round a post.

Leicester went behind to a goal inside two minutes for a second straight game.

The Magpies hardly had to break a sweat as former Leicester man Barnes easily unlocked the frail home defence with a pass in behind and Tino Livramento fizzed it across goal for Murphy, who was waiting to tap home at the far post.

Newcastle doubled their advantage nine minutes later in quite outstanding fashion.

Schar picked the ball up inside his own half and lifted his head to find Mads Hermansen way of his line. He decided to audaciously have a crack which bounced flush off the upright and fell kindly for Murphy to bury his second.

The hosts were trying to demonstrate their attacking ability, this time Bilal El Khannouss sprinting down the left and unleashing an effort which drew a second stop from Pope.

The visitors were in no mood to show mercy and they punished Leicester with a third in the 34th minute.

Joelinton had the freedom of the King Power Stadium as he forced a save from Hermansen but Leicester were unable to stop the follow-up again as Barnes tapped in the rebound.

Leicester were inches away from scoring their first home goal of this calendar year. Patson Daka’s strike had the beating of Pope only to see the ball bounce off one post, hit the other and roll to safety.
The Magpies seemed content with their first-half showing and took their foot off the gas but Schar again tried his luck which Hermansen saved – he was greeted with sarcastic cheers from the dejected home fans.

Leicester were trying to find that elusive first home goal, though, with Wout Faes coming close with a header which was glanced the wrong side of a post to sum up another bleak night for the Foxes.

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ENZO FERNANDEZ HEADER SENDS CHELSEA BACK INTO TOP FOUR AFTER WIN OVER TOTTENHAM

Chelsea climbed back into the Premier League’s top four as Enzo Fernandez’s header early in the second half earned a 1-0 derby win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Maresca’s side were under pressure after limping into the international break playing football that had ceased to excite home fans, but they largely had the better of a disappointing Spurs team that failed to take advantage of the growing discontent surrounding the home side.

As when these teams met in north London last season, VAR played a prominent role, ruling out goals from Moises Caicedo and Pape Sarr after half-time, but Chelsea deserved the points as their Champions League challenge got back on track.

They had begun with far greater energy than in recent lacklustre performances. In the first minute Nicolas Jackson on his return to the side was denied one-on-one by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario then saw Micky van de Ven’s fluffed clearance ricochet off him and against the post, before moments later Malo Gusto rifled Marc Cucurella’s cross into the side-netting.

Destiny Udogie almost then turned Cole Palmer’s cross past his own goalkeeper under pressure from Fernandez as Spurs seemingly improvised their way defensively through the early exchanges.

A concerning sight for Maresca was Caicedo requiring treatment on the pitch for a hamstring issue, particularly so with Romeo Lavia having suffered a setback in his rehabilitation from injury. The head coach need not have worried, as Caicedo recovered to give an outstanding first-half display of power and poise to snuff out Spurs’ limited attacking presence.

There were signs of life at last in the visitors after 37 minutes when Son Heung-min found space in the box and drew a one-handed stop from Robert Sanchez. Levi Colwill then cleared sloppily but James Maddison failed to take advantage and was easily shrugged off the ball.

Jadon Sancho had been lively on the left but was chastised by home fans for failing to shoot when in good positions. He finally gave them their wish late in the first half, striking low at goal from an angle via a deflection off Djed Spence and drawing an excellent flying stop from Vicario.

Spurs had themselves to blame for Chelsea’s winner five minutes into the second half. After Sancho had been given freedom inside the box to pirouette on the ball, assess options and lay it off, Udogie did little but stand and watch as Fernandez drifted across him to meet Palmer’s cross and nod his side in front with the simplest header.

Caicedo then thumped the ball into the bottom corner only to be denied after a hugely protracted VAR check that judged Colwill to have strayed offside by an almost imperceptible margin.

Spurs were then themselves denied by a pitchside review after Sarr had lashed in what looked a stunning equaliser from long range, the Spurs substitute having caught Caicedo on the knee in winning the ball for which he was shown a yellow card.

Sanchez kept out Son for a second time after a Spurs counter in the final minute of the 90, before 12 additional minutes during which Ange Postecoglou’s side failed to put Chelsea under much pressure to challenge their lead.

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NEWCASTLE SEAL DOMINANT WIN OVER ARSENAL TO REACH CARABAO CUP FINAL

Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon fired Newcastle to a second Carabao Cup final in three years as the Magpies secured a thumping aggregate win over Arsenal and moved a step closer to ending their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy.

Murphy and Gordon struck either side of half-time to seal a 2-0 victory over the Gunners at St James’ Park, to go with their win by the same scoreline at the Emirates Stadium last month, to book a Wembley showdown with either Liverpool or Tottenham.

Fourteen years to the day from a remarkable 4-4 Premier League draw between the sides which was secured by the late Cheick Tiote’s wonder strike, his son Rafael was among the mascots as the Magpies dispelled the pre-match nerves of the home fans to claim a 4-0 semi-final win on aggregate.

If Eddie Howe’s three-man rearguard – he had drafted in central defender Sven Botman as a replacement for injured midfielder Joelinton – set the tone for an uncompromising display, it was the pace and potency of striker Alexander Isak, for so long the subject of speculation linking him with the North London club, which terrified the visitors.

Isak’s stunning early finish may have been ruled out by VAR but it was his incision which led to the opening goal and the attention the Gunners had to pay to him throughout was instrumental in what followed.

The game kicked off amidst a cacophony as the home fans attempted to roar their side on after back-to-back home defeats.

They thought they had got their reward within four minutes when Gordon slid Isak in behind Gabriel and he sent a thunderous shot high past David Raya and into the top corner, only for a lengthy VAR review to result in an offside decision.

Relieved as the Gunners were, they looked rattled as the Magpies pressed high, although they gradually began to impose themselves with Leandro Trossard in particular making in-roads down the right.

Lewis Hall volleyed Jacob Murphy’s 15th-minute cross into the side-netting from an unlikely angle but Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard forced a block from Botman and then clipped the outside of the post seconds later.

However, Newcastle made the most of their escape with 19 minutes gone when Gordon once again picked out Isak’s run and, although the Sweden international’s shot came back off the post, Murphy steered the rebound past the stranded Raya.

Opposite number Martin Dubravka had to make a solid reaction save to deny Trossard four minutes later with the visitors scrapping for a lifeline.

Mikel Arteta’s men were dominating both possession and territory but they were playing largely in front of the massed black and white ranks.

Early substitute Ethan Nwaneri’s pace down the right gave the Gunners renewed threat but Gordon curled a right-foot shot just wide in first-half stoppage time after leaving Declan Rice for dead.

The former Everton forward might have put the game beyond doubt within four minutes of the restart when he robbed William Saliba with Raya out of his goal but he could not find the target from distance.

But Gordon made no mistake with 52 minutes gone when Fabian Schar caught Rice in possession from Raya’s ill-judged pass and the England international gleefully fired home.

The Gunners were laboured in their efforts to claw their way back into the tie, with Dubravka fielding Nwaneri’s tame 74th-minute attempt comfortably as Howe’s men saw out a third win of the season over Arsenal with little difficulty.

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MAN CITY PROBLEM ‘NOT ABOUT ONE PLAYER’ – PEP GUARDIOLA DEFENDS ERLING HAALAND

Pep Guardiola has stressed Manchester City’s current malaise is not down to one player as he again defended Erling Haaland.

City’s 2-1 loss at Aston Villa on Saturday, the Premier League champions’ ninth defeat in 12 matches in all competitions, saw Haaland fail to score for the fifth time in six outings.

After the game the Norway striker told TNT Sports: “First I’m looking at myself. I haven’t been scoring my chances. I have to do better, I haven’t been good enough.”

City boss Guardiola subsequently stuck up for Haaland, who has netted 108 times for the club since joining in 2022, saying that “without him we will be even worse” and that “he needs to be delivered the right balls in the right spots”.

And speaking on Christmas Eve at his press conference ahead of the Boxing Day home clash with Everton, Guardiola said: “It’s about us, not just one player.

“When in the past we score goals and Erling was so prolific, helping us, it was because of the team.

“And when you have problems at the back, in the middle, it is for everyone, it is a team, it is not about one player. It would be easy, if it was just one player, the reason why. It’s not about that.

“Erling is so important for us, will be so important for us, has been. (We have to) try to do things better, to use him better.”

He added: “In this situation, this tendency for all of us (is to say) ‘the reason why is this one, and this one and this one’. It’s about us, about everyone.

“The guys are running, making effort more than ever. All the tendency ‘it’s because we don’t run, because we don’t fight, the reason why is this situation or this player or this manager’… It’s not about that.

“It’s many little details or big details that make all together not as good as we were. But we have another opportunity on Boxing Day.”

City have a sidelined list that includes key midfielder Rodri, recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in September, and Ruben Dias, who was ruled out for up to four weeks after sustaining a muscular problem in the 2-1 loss to Manchester United on December 15.

Fellow defender John Stones made his return to action in the Villa game after a foot issue, only to be substituted at half-time. City have been assessing him, along with goalkeeper Ederson and midfielder Matheus Nunes, both of whom were absent on Saturday.

What is an unprecedented slump in results in Guardiola’s managerial career has featured six losses in eight in the league.

And City, who had gone into the season targeting a fifth successive title under the 53-year-old, head into Christmas lying seventh in the table, 12 points adrift of leaders Liverpool having played a game more.

Their next five league fixtures are all against sides currently in the bottom half, with Everton sat 15th.

Guardiola emphasised the Toffees should not be regarded as the “perfect opponent”, and added: “It’s about us, to come back at our best. We will take time because we don’t have players, but we have to get results as quick as possible.”

Ahead of the 12.30pm kick-off, City’s players are set to train on Christmas Day before staying at the training ground that night, and Guardiola said: “Today they will be at home with the families, tomorrow (they will be) in the morning and in the night they will be here – hopefully they want to be here, because it’s our job and our duty.”

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REFEREE DAVID COOTE WILL NOT APPEAL AGAINST TERMINATION OF CONTRACT

David Coote will not appeal against the termination of his contract by the referees’ body PGMOL, reports have say.

Coote was sacked earlier this month after the emergence of a video in which he made derogatory remarks about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp.

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said a thorough investigation had concluded he was “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable”.

“Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare,” PGMOL’s statement on December 9 added.

Coote had the right to appeal against the decision but PA understands the Nottinghamshire referee has decided not to.

The video which triggered PGMOL’s investigation into Coote’s conduct first came to public attention on November 11.

In it, Coote is asked for his views on a Liverpool match where he has just been fourth official, and describes them as “s***”.

He then describes Klopp as a “c***”, and, asked why he felt that way, Coote says the German had “a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown” and had accused him of lying.

“I have got no interest in speaking to someone who’s f***g arrogant, so I do my best not to speak to him,” Coote said.

Later in the video, Coote again refers to Klopp, this time as a “German c***”.

The Football Association opened its own investigation into that video, understood to be centred on that last comment and whether Coote’s reference to Klopp’s nationality constituted an aggravated breach of its misconduct rules.

The investigation by PGMOL which led to Coote’s contract being terminated is also understood to have looked at another video which appeared to show Coote snorting a white powder, purportedly during Euro 2024 where he was one of the assistant VARs for the tournament.

European football’s governing body UEFA also appointed an ethics investigator to look into the matter.

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MAN CITY NOT STRONG ENOUGH AT THE MOMENT – GUNDOGAN

Ilkay Gundogan admits Manchester City are “not strong enough right now” and cannot find the switch to turn their season around.

City’s torrid spell continued as they suffered a damaging 2-0 loss at Juventus on Wednesday that left them in danger of failing to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages.

It was their seventh defeat in 10 games in all competitions – a dramatic and uncharacteristic loss of form for a side that have swept all before them in recent seasons.

Midfield veteran Gundogan said: “It just feels like we are not strong enough right now and we have to work on that. The situation is not easy.

“It’s about trying to find the switch to turn things around. We have to do the simple things.

“If we don’t find that click, it’s going to be tough. Every single player has to push themselves individually to be better.

“Individually and collectively – everyone now has to question themselves and try to figure out what to change and what to do to contribute to the team in the best possible way.”

City’s slump has seen them fall well off the pace in their quest to win an unprecedented fifth successive Premier League title.

They trail leaders Liverpool by eight points having played a game more and face a further test of their resolve as they host derby rivals Manchester United on Sunday.

“I feel we are not playing that bad, but something is missing,” said 2023 treble-winning captain Gundogan, who rejoined the club in the summer after a year at Barcelona.

“It’s not the time to give away the whole season because there are so many games still to play, which is an opportunity on one side, but we have to turn things around quite quickly.”
City had plenty of possession against Juve but lacked creativity against a side set up to soak up pressure.

Kevin De Bruyne did create a gilt-edged chance for Erling Haaland before the break but he was thwarted by a fine save by goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.

Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie then struck in the second half to leave City languishing in 22nd place in the league standings and facing a crucial trip to another struggling giant, Paris St Germain, next month.

City defender Ruben Dias said: “Essentially we were not good enough. Our biggest problem will always be ourselves not being at the best level.

“Juventus are a very strong side but the main focus is on ourselves – we have to be better.

“A moment like this for us at this club doesn’t come very often. Obviously difficult periods always come but we have to look forward, be positive and try and be better every day. That’s the only way to get through it.”