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Man Utd Boss Ten Hag Says Season Schedule Tests Players’ Limits

Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag applauds at the end of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Luton Town at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on November 11, 2023. (AFP)
Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag applauds at the end of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Luton Town at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on November 11, 2023. (AFP)
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Man Utd Boss Ten Hag Says Season Schedule Tests Players’ Limits

Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag applauds at the end of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Luton Town at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on November 11, 2023. (AFP)
Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag applauds at the end of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Luton Town at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on November 11, 2023. (AFP)

Manchester United's rising tally of injuries this season and the Premier League club's busy run of fixtures ahead have left manager Erik ten Hag lamenting that the top-level football schedule has gone beyond what players can handle.

Denmark duo Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund added to United's injury problems over the international break, with Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro already among long-term absentees.

The record 20-time top-flight champions sit eighth after picking up 21 points from 12 matches for their worst start to a season since 1962.

Under the new format from the 2024-25 season, the Champions League group stage will expand to 36 teams from 32, playing in a single-league format. Each team will play a minimum of 10 games, instead of the current six, against 10 different opponents.

"Every manager is complaining about the schedule," Ten Hag told reporters. "But still, they keep adding games to the schedule.

"Next year they add again two games (in the new Champions League format) and the limits are ... we already achieved the limits. I think we already crossed the limits of what players can handle."

United face a crunch week away from Old Trafford, visiting Turkish side Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday, followed by a trip to sixth-placed Newcastle United at St James' Park in the Premier League on Saturday.

"And then what we see now in the first 12 Premier League games, the physical standards are even higher in comparison to last year. You have a choice to make. Either you match it by training and preparation, or you drop off," the Dutchman said.

"So that is a decision that every club has to make, every team has to make, every individual has to make."

United take on Everton, which last week became the first Premier League club to be deducted points for breaching financial sustainability rules, at Goodison Park later on Sunday.

Everton have dropped to second-from-bottom from 14th after an independent commission imposed an immediate 10-point deduction.

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Vacherot Savors Home Semi-Final Showdown with Alcaraz

Monaco's Valentin Vacherot celebrates after winning against Australia's Alex De Minaur during the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament quarter final tennis match on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, south-eastern France on April 10, 2026. (AFP)
Monaco's Valentin Vacherot celebrates after winning against Australia's Alex De Minaur during the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament quarter final tennis match on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, south-eastern France on April 10, 2026. (AFP)
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Vacherot Savors Home Semi-Final Showdown with Alcaraz

Monaco's Valentin Vacherot celebrates after winning against Australia's Alex De Minaur during the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament quarter final tennis match on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, south-eastern France on April 10, 2026. (AFP)
Monaco's Valentin Vacherot celebrates after winning against Australia's Alex De Minaur during the Monte Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament quarter final tennis match on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, south-eastern France on April 10, 2026. (AFP)

Monaco's Valentin ‌Vacherot said he was relishing the chance to take on world number one Carlos Alcaraz in front of friends and family after his fairytale run at the Monte Carlo Masters took him into the semi-finals on home soil.

Vacherot, who was ranked outside the top 200 before his shock Shanghai Masters triumph last year, downed Alex de Minaur 6-4 3-6 6-3 in front of roaring fans on Friday ‌and became ‌the first Monegasque player to reach ‌the ⁠last-four at Monte ⁠Carlo.

World number two Jannik Sinner, who has the opportunity to reclaim top spot from Alcaraz, meets the third-ranked Alexander Zverev in the other semi-final.

"It's such an honor to be part of the semi-finals with the three best players of the past ⁠few years," Vacherot said shortly after his ‌win in Monte Carlo ‌on Friday.

"I can't wait to play Carlos in my ‌hometown, it's amazing.

"The guys in the crowd chanting, ‌they're my best friends from when I was nine or 10 years old. It's rare for a player to have this chance to have this many people around.

"I'm ‌so lucky to have a tournament in my club."

Vacherot is projected to ⁠break into ⁠the top 20 when the ATP rankings are updated on Monday. Alcaraz was left impressed by the 27-year-old's rise.

"It's impressive, his story. He has a lot of motivation playing at home," Alcaraz said shortly before Vacherot set up their last-four clash, which takes place later on Saturday.

"He has won great matches this tournament this year. I've never played against him before, I just practiced with him once at Indian Wells. I know he's a pretty tough opponent to play."

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Arteta Urges Arsenal to Pile Pressure on Man City in Title Race

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
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Arteta Urges Arsenal to Pile Pressure on Man City in Title Race

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)

Mikel Arteta challenged Arsenal to pile pressure on Manchester City by extending their lead at the top of the Premier League before their title rivals play 24 hours later.

Arteta's side host Bournemouth on Saturday and second-placed City travel to Chelsea on Sunday as the title race approaches a pivotal moment.

The Gunners are nine points ahead of City, having played a game more than Pep Guardiola's team.

That lead would increase to 12 points if Arsenal defeat Bournemouth, putting City under intense pressure to take maximum points from their tricky trip to Stamford Bridge.

Asked how important it would be to move further ahead of City, Arteta told reporters on Friday: "The closer we get, the relevance and importance of the match increases, obviously, and tomorrow is a big day for us.

"The players know it, our supporters know it, it's early kick-off, so get up early, have an early breakfast, bring your lunch, bring your dinner, as you say in England, and let's go all together for it because it has to be a big day."

After losing to City in the League Cup final and to second tier Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals, Arsenal bounced back with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg on Tuesday.

The Gunners are chasing a first English title in 22 years, as well as their maiden Champions League crown.

And Arteta is convinced that they can finish the season with both trophies, which would finally end their six-year silverware drought since lifting the FA Cup.

"First of all, the capacity we have as a club and as a team, the will to win," Arteta said to explain his belief.

"We recognize the opportunity ahead and we are going to do our best to achieve it."

Arteta's Arsenal contract expires in 2027 and the Spaniard remains fully committed to the club after reports of talks over a new deal.

"There's no news on that. We have no time to discuss that now. The full focus is on what we have to do from here until the end of the season," he said.

"I am fully committed and really happy and I feel good. My family is good and I still have so much ambition to do with this football club, and for now we are in a good place.

"This job is about the present and what you do on the day. Give your very best and feel that you are the person that can lead and inspire the group to achieve great things for the club."

Sports

Barca Face Espanyol Derby Dilemma Ahead of Atletico Return

Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick gestures during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, in Barcelona, Spain, 08 April 2026. (EPA)
Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick gestures during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, in Barcelona, Spain, 08 April 2026. (EPA)
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Barca Face Espanyol Derby Dilemma Ahead of Atletico Return

Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick gestures during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, in Barcelona, Spain, 08 April 2026. (EPA)
Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick gestures during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, in Barcelona, Spain, 08 April 2026. (EPA)

In the wake of Barcelona's Champions League quarter-final first leg defeat by Atletico Madrid, coach Hansi Flick faces a dilemma for Saturday's La Liga derby clash against Espanyol.

With the champions seven points clear of second-placed Real Madrid at the top of the table, Flick may be tempted to rotate heavily ahead of Tuesday's crucial second leg visit to face Atletico, trailing 2-0.

Alvaro Arbeloa's Madrid host Girona on Friday and could cut the gap down to four points with a victory, which would make Flick's choice harder.

Los Blancos are also in a tough spot following their 2-1 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League, but have a bigger gap between the Girona game and the second leg in Bavaria next Wednesday.

"We have also a derby in three days on Saturday, our next match, it's also important for us to win," said Flick.

"We will see, we will analyze everything, what kind of options we have."

The worst case scenario would be suffering a first league defeat at Camp Nou since its reopening before being eliminated from the Champions League anyway in the Spanish capital.

With the league Clasico against Real Madrid on May 10 appearing on the horizon, Flick is keen to maintain Barca's lead, but the Champions League may take precedence.

Several players who have been reserves for much of the season like Ronald Araujo, Marc Casado and Roony Bardghji could come into the side to take on an Espanyol team in free-fall.

After a strong start to the season Manolo Gonzalez's team have failed to win in 2026, which began with a 2-0 home defeat by Barca that set off their slump.

Midfielder Pedri Gonzalez is fundamental for Barca but came off at half-time in the defeat by Atletico, with a minor physical issue.

"Pedri had some problems. No big problems but in this situation we need him (going forwards) -- so we made the decision to take him off the pitch," said Flick.

Flick will hope to have midfielder Frenkie de Jong available for the second leg at Atletico and the Dutchman returned to training this week after a hamstring injury.

The Dutchman has a chance of being included in the squad to face Espanyol, while Barca can also find encouragement in Gavi's performance against Atletico as a substitute.

It could buy the 21-year-old more game time at the weekend as he continues to find fitness following a long injury lay-off. "Gavi had a fantastic game," said Flick.

Atletico Madrid visit Sevilla on Saturday and Diego Simeone is certain to rest several key players.

The Argentine coach has been focused on the cup competitions in recent weeks with his team fourth in La Liga and unlikely to slip with Real Betis 12 points behind in fifth.

Player to watch: Vedat Muriqi

Mallorca's Kosovan target man Muriqi scored a vital goal last week to help the team beat Real Madrid and boost their chances of avoiding relegation.

The forward has 19 goals this season, trailing only La Liga's top goalscorer Kylian Mbappe and will look to add to his tally against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday in another important game.