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It took every last minute but the U.S. is one step closer to the Copa America after three late goals at the Q2 Stadium

All week long, the big question was painfully obvious: How would the U.S. men's national team cope with Tim Weah and Christian Pulisic? The answer, for long stretches of Thursday's match against Trinidad & Tobago, was not well. It was a game that felt like it was calling out for those two injured wingers, with the U.S. struggling to do much of anything right through 80 minutes.

Fortunately, though, games go 90 minutes, and the U.S. needed every last one of those 90 minutes to put this two-legged tie beyond doubt. With a 3-0 win over T&T in the first leg of their Nations League quarterfinal, the U.S. took one big step back towards defending their crown. They also took a big step towards the Copa America, with just a second leg in T&T standing between them and a major tournament next summer.

This program knows well enough not to overlook what a trip to T&T means, but you have to feel like the job is close to completion. GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from Q2 Stadium below…

GettyWINNER: Gio Reyna

Are you watching, Edin Terzic?

After several weeks being left out of the Borussia Dortmund squad, Reyna proved that he hasn't missed a beat, building on a brace from Ghana during the last international window. He was held to just one goal in this one, but what a goal it was: the third and final finish that put the icing on the cake of a big U.S. win.

Overall, it was a solid performance from Reyna, who, for most of the night, looked like he was the most likely to create something leading to a U.S. goal. Antonee Robinson and Ricardo Pepi beat him to it, but it was always coming, wasn't it?

Reyna continues to shine and has put any lingering doubts about his issues with Berhalter behind him. He's more vital than ever to this team, and it'll be interesting to see how the U.S. continues to use him as he matures as a player in the coming months and years.

AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Kevin Paredes & Malik Tillman

Paredes and Tillman entered this match in similar places. Both are young, rising stars starting to figure things out on the club level. The two are right on the edge of the USMNT roster, players that could very well play themselves into or out of key roles at the Copa America next summer.

Thursday won't help either of their cases, though. Thrown into the fire, both struggled.

We'll start with Paredes, who, like Tillman, was tossed into the starting XI with both Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah out. The Wolfsburg man has started to develop with the German side, but this was his biggest test yet with the USMNT. However, he struggled to really cope with T&T's physicality and was rightfully taken off early in the second half.

Tillman, too, was removed early after he had started on the other wing. To his credit, it's not his best position, as he seems to do his best work as a No. 10. On this evidence, it doesn't seem like he'll be able to add much to the wing position, which could limit his opportunities going forward with Reyna thriving centrally.

Overall, it wasn't the performance that either guy needed as they look to step up to international level.

GettyWINNER: Ricardo Pepi

Gregg Berhalter said it best during his postgame availability: despite everything that's gone against him, Pepi continues to do all he can do.

Pepi now has five goals as a substitute this year – a record with the USMNT. Regularly overlooked and overshadowed, Pepi continues to do the most important thing: score goals.

Is it enough for him to overtake Balogun? It'll be tough. The U.S. is still learning how to play with the Monaco man, and it'll take plenty of minutes to get the rest of the team on the same page as Balogun up top.

However, the two-striker look the U.S. went with late is an interesting one, especially with the tea dealing with injuries. Could the U.S. use that in different situations going forward?

Pepi, in general, continues to rise to the challenge and, when given the opportunity, it's safe to bet he'll take it.

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GettyLOSER: Trinidad & Tobago

For 80 minutes or so, the Soca Warriors gave themselves a chance. The game had gone against them and, to be fair, they had no real right to be in that game.

However, despite all of that good work, they couldn't hold on. And then, to make matters worse, they didn't just let the game slip away, but also the tie.

Had T&T escaped Austin with even a 1-0 defeat, they'd have gone home with some hope. They'd stunned the U.S. before, famously in fact, and, on Monday, they'd have backed themselves to have something of a chance.

Now though? Down three goals? It's hard to see a way forward for them.

The red card should have doomed them, but it didn't. Several big chances could have ended it, but goalkeeper Denzil Smith made several massive steps. It all did eventually fall apart, though, as their hopes of winning this tie went out the window the moment Reyna's goal hit the back of the net.

A run of underwhelming performances has led to some fans to call for the coach's head, with crucial fixtures to come after the international break

After Barcelona's 2-1 win over Alaves on Sunday, Xavi immediately had to defend himself. His team, not for this first time in recent weeks, leaned on individual excellence to redeem a dour performance. This time around, it was Robert Lewandowski who saved face for the Blaugrana, but the striker's second-half double did little to hide the fact that Barca, once again, had been poor.

This has now become an annual tradition for Xavi. Just over a year into his Barca tenure, the boss faced similar questions. At that time, the Blaugrana were slumping in the Champions League and had suffered a demoralising Clasico loss, leading to some tough questions. Could this club legend, without top-class managerial experience, really handle the job?

Of course, Xavi survived — but only after publicly admitting that he would understand if Barca sacked him. A Liga trophy followed eight months later, one that restored winning ways but papered over some clear cracks in his side. Yes, Barca were good enough defensively to win the league, but their attacking quality was lacking. This was not the La Masia-bred, Cruyffian, Pep Guardiola football that Xavi had promised. This was a Jose Mourinho-esque side that grinded out results.

One year on, and while the situations are somewhat similar, things have also changed. On the field, the same defensive unit that carried the Blaugrana to the league title is markedly worse. At the other end, the litany of big-name signings that were supposed to make Barca an attacking force haven't really had the desired effect. They are third in La Liga, but if a surging Atletico Madrid can win their game in hand, the Blaugrana will slip down to fourth.

The press has, inevitably, snatched onto the narrative, and the usually calm manager took the bait after Sunday's victory, proclaiming that his players are feeling the pressure of an overeager local media — a remark that only fuelled the flames of scepticism.

And so just past his two-year anniversary in the job, Xavi finds himself under the spotlight again. But with a crucial run of games to come almost immediately after the international break, he must find the answers quickly to ensure Barca's season – and his future – isn't defined before the turn of the year.

Getty ImagesUnfair criticism

The term Xavi used to describe the recent coverage of his team was "not fair" following the Alaves win. He said that his side was "more tense than normal", and admitted that they weren't "at their best." It was his job, Xavi conceded, to turn things around, revive the mood, and inspire a comeback win, but the manager also claimed that he wouldn't have to if those covering the team wer more positive.

"Without doubt what the media say affects how the team plays," he said. "The [media] create situations and scenarios that, for me, are not real. And it affects, without any doubt, the team."

Stories and opinions around Barcelona are nothing new. Xavi himself admitted that media scrutiny affected him as a player, and set expectations for the of great teams he played in. It has, however, only grown in intensity in recent years.

Barca have borne the brunt of criticism from Spanish media, in particular, for their enumerate controversies off the pitch. Club president Joan Laporta's obsession with so-called "levers" to revive their fledgling finances, the ongoing investigation into their payments of a high-ranking refereeing official, and their inability to register academy products to first-team contracts have all added to what is already a frenzy for press both local and afar. His youngsters, Xavi admitted, were struggling with all of the scrutiny.

And in a sense, Xavi has a point here. Sixteen-year-old Lamine Yamal still goes to school, while 19-year-old Gavi only just learned how to drive. Fermin Lopez, practically ancient at 20, has only made five La Liga starts. But this is also Barcelona, and this is a manager who should know not only what the media pressures are, but also how to control them.

Xavi cannot snatch his players' phones away, or censor what they hear on the street. But he can control what comes out of his own mouth. Calling out members of the press who don't need any excuses to heighten their criticism has only increased the scrutiny on him and his team.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesInjury impact

Xavi is correct, though, in his summation that there are real reasons for the Blaugrana's struggles. In the same interview, he referred to "injuries and players coming back." Certainly, the manager cannot be blamed for how crowded his medical room has become in 2023-24.

At various points this season, Barca have been without the following players: Frenkie de Jong, Jules Kounde, Pedri, Lewandowski, Raphinha and Ronald Araujo. Gavi was also suspended for Sunday night's fixture. No team, regardless of quality, competition or level of self-inflicted media scrutiny, can survive without six players who would undoubtedly make the first XI every week when fit.

And the manager himself, despite having depth at his disposal, hasn't found it easy to work those injured legs back into the team. Lewandowski was thrust back into action too early, and failed to find the net for six straight games after coming back from an ankle ailment. Pedri has been chucked into three consecutive midfield battles, and admitted himself that he isn't fully fit — even agreeing to sit out Spain's final Euro 2024 qualifiers.

The same goes for Kounde — a slight centre-back on the best of days — who was pushed around so badly in his return that he was forced to switch positions with right-back Araujo. Raphinha, meanwhile, has produced all of his signature moves — pretty dribbles, sharp cuts and angled passes — but is yet to score or assist since returning from injury in late October.

Getty ImagesMistakes creeping in

One thing the injuries of those players cannot account for, though, is the form of the rest of Xavi's squad, and particularly those new faces who arrived during the summer.

A lot of Barcelona's transfer business was centred on experience. Oriol Romeu and Ilkay Gundogan, both brought in on cut-rate deals, are north of 30. Joao Cancelo, signed on loan, has won the Premier League three times. Joao Felix, although just 24, has played over 210 top-flight football matches, and certainly learned about dysfunction after spending four months at Chelsea at the start of 2023.

Those big names haven't lived up to the billing yet. Romeu enjoyed a few solid weeks when Barca played weaker teams, but has since been budged out of the line-up. Felix, after starting his Catalan career with three goals in three games, hasn't scored since mid-September. Cancelo has also failed to build on the praise heaped on him in the early goings of the campaign.

Last year's star performers have seen a drop, too. Alejandro Balde, once good enough to send Jordi Alba off to the Miami sun, hasn't been named to the most recent Spain squad. Marc-Andre ter Stegen is conceding at double the rate of last season. Lewandowski has experienced two goal droughts of at least five games. Perhaps only Gavi, who has plugged holes all over the midfield, can claim to have improved – even if he remains a walking yellow card.

And then there have been the mistakes. There were three that allowed Granada to take a 1-0 lead within 17 seconds last month. First, Andreas Christensen played the ball to a surrounded Gavi. Four seconds later, he stepped too early to make a tackle, and allowed Bryan Zaragoza to take up possession. The winger then fired a shot at goal that Ter Stegen of last year would have comfortably saved, but instead it found the back of the net. Gundogan got involved in the trend last weekend, first losing the ball in the centre circle, then failing to track runners as Alaves swept down the pitch to establish a 1-0 advantage after 18 seconds.

Other errors could have proved costly, too. Kounde made a litany of mistakes against Real Sociedad two weeks ago, and was fortunate to avoid a red card. Had it not been for some loose La Real finishing — and a late Araujo header — the France international would have been largely culpable in a damning loss.

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Getty Time for changes?

Media angst aside, Xavi painted a positive picture following Sunday's win. While he admitted that Barca's disastrous start — going 1-0 down before the majority of their players had touched the ball — could certainly have been avoided, the manager praised his side for their "improvement at times".

Three points are, of course, little cause for complaint. This is a tight league, where every goal could could matter. It really doesn't matter how the wins come — something last year's title-winning side proved — but could the manager be doing anything more to make life easier?

Xavi has proven to be painfully married to his tactical principles. The manager first employed his lop-sided, morphing, Guardiola-lite 4-4-2 in January 2023, and hasn't strayed too far from it since. He still relies too heavily on his advanced midfielder to create, still asks Balde to run through two-on-ones and still can't quite find the right position for Kounde — who perhaps just doesn't fit into this team.

Asking for tactical flexibility, or a change of system, then, seems unrealistic. Instead, Barca will need to 'principle' their way out of this thing. Perhaps Cancelo moves to right-back, instead of being used on the wing? Maybe Yamal will come in for Raphinha full-time? There are personnel tweaks to be made here, but this is not a manager who will overhaul something outright.

Wayne Rooney won his first game as Birmingham City boss at the sixth attempt in a 2-1 comeback win over lowly Sheffield Wednesday.

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Birmingham beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1Bacuna and James cancel out Byers openerFirst win under manager RooneyGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The former D.C. United manager has had a tough start to life in Birmingham as results and the fans went against him. The Blues were sixth in the Championship but sacked then-manager John Eustace due to a "misalignment with the leadership of the club" in early October. As Birmingham's winless run under Rooney continued, some fans told the former Manchester United star to to 'f*** off back to America'. It looked like the West Midlands outfit could lose to bottom side Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday after George Byers gave them the lead, only for Juninho Bacuna to level in first-half stoppage time. And the much-needed three points were finally delivered when substitute Jordan James scored the winner nine minutes from time at St Andrew's.

AdvertisementWHAT TOM BRADY SAID

NFL icon Tom Brady, who is a minority owner at Birmingham, was thrilled to see Bacuna equalise against Wednesday. The 46-year-old, who is chairman of the club's advisory board, tweeted: "All about the Blues today. Banger."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Rooney era at Birmingham has been a tense and underwhelming tenure so far. Many viewed the fact that he got this role because the club wanted a big name at the helm. Now that he has got his first win as manager, the task will be to fire them up the Championship and to prove he has got the chops to succeed in the dugout.

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GettyDID YOU KNOW?

In Rooney's time in management, he has a win percentage of just 26.6% after being in charge at Derby County, D.C. United and Birmingham.

American coach Jesse Marsch believes the USMNT need a 'signature win' under Gregg Berhalter to prove themselves on the world's stage.

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CBS interview Jesse Marsch on USMNTAmerican says squad needs 'signature win"Analyst on-site for BVB-Milan UCL matchGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Ahead of Borussia Dortmund's clash against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League – a match featuring USMNT stars Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna – Marsch was asked about the state of Gregg Berhalter's side. Despite their success of late, the ex-Leeds boss thinks they're still missing something.

AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPGetty ImagesWHAT MARSCH SAID

"Yeah, I mean, listen, that's not for me to say, but I will say this. We've talked a lot about this golden generation and being so talented. They don't have a signature win yet, don't have a win against the big opponent where you can look at and go: 'yeah, that was an incredible performance'," Marsch said. "And that shows that this team is ready for the biggest games, and that's what Copa America has to be for us. It has to be the moment where this group of players, they put all this idea of potential and all the talk about what they can become, and it has to now mean something come big opponents in a big tournament at a big moment."

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THE BIGGER PICTURE

Since being removed from his position at Leeds United in the spring, Marsch has been away from coaching. He was a candidate for the USMNT head coach opening during the USSF investigation into allegations into Berhalter, but the U.S. boss was eventually reinstated. Now, after qualifying for the 2024 Copa America, Marsch believes it's on Berhalter to prove his coaching ability. With the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia participating, there will surely be an opportunity for the statement victory Marsch craves.

Pep Guardiola responded with a sarcastic dig to Mauricio Pochettino's claims that Chelsea could have beaten Manchester City.

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City equalised late to earn a drawPochettino "proud" of Chelsea's displayGuardiola seemed to believe otherwise(C)Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

City and Chelsea battled to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium, with Raheem Sterling and Rodri scoring for their respective teams in a tense Premier League encounter. After the match, Pochettino expressed his satisfaction with Chelsea's performance and commended his team's spirit and resilience against the reigning champions. He even suggested that City are the best team in the world before once again lavishing praise on his defenders who kept Erling Haaland & Co. in check.

AdvertisementWHAT POCHETTINO SAID

"I’m so pleased. I told the players I feel so proud," said Pochettino. "In the last three games we’ve started to create a very good spirit. That’s the way we want to build our team. Today was a very good opportunity to show we’re going where we want… In the second half they force you to go deep, but we created chances to score the second goal and things could have been different. It’s important that the players realise that football is really competitive and to reach the level we want, we need to suffer."

He added: "But I think we sustained the effort and we created chances that we should score and win the game. I am so happy."

HOW DID GUARDIOLA RESPOND

However, when Pochettino's comments were brought to Guardiola's attention, the City manager responded with a touch of sarcasm.

"Good, congratulations," Guardiola told . "If he believes that, that is good for his team."

Despite the dig, Guardiola acknowledged Chelsea's challenge but also praised his team's second-half performance.

"We knew it [Chelsea would be a challenge]," Guardiola added. "That was a good game. We played incredible in the second half. The first half was not our levels but to compete against them teams you have to play 90 minutes not just one half."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

After sharing the spoils with Chelsea, City cannot overtake Liverpool even with their game in hand against Brentford on Tuesday. The Reds emerged 4-1 triumphant against the Bees before City took the pitch and will head into Matchday 26 as the leaders of England.

If the Red Devils are committed to enacting genuine change at Old Trafford, they need to pay Newcastle what they want

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is used to side-stepping difficult questions in press conferences, but even he struggled to evade the media's recent bombardment regarding the future of sporting director Dan Ashworth. Ex-England development chief Ashworth has been heavily tipped to join Manchester United and, speaking before his side's draw with Bournemouth on Saturday, Howe admitted that his presence at the game felt a little strange.

Asked whether the 52-year-old should even still be working at the club, due to the sensitive information he has access to, the Magpies boss replied: "That is not a question I can answer, it is for someone above me. I think your concerns are relevant. I share your feelings."

Newcastle's decision-makers were clearly listening to this uncomfortable press conference, and on Monday, Ashworth was placed on gardening leave while the club hammered out terms with United. If he does make the move to one of the world's biggest sporting institutions, it would represent a quite staggering rise, considering his unexceptional early football career.

Getty ImagesHumble beginnings

Long before he was placed in charge of an entire nation's footballing future, Ashworth was released by Norwich City as a youngster. Wanting to stay in the game, he took in non-league spells at the likes of Eastbourne Town and St. Leonards, as well as travelling to the United States to play at West Florida Fury. He supplemented his income by working as a PE teacher.

But he soon discovered that his talents may be better utilised off the pitch, rather than on it. Ashworth earned his first coaching badge as a teenager and after his modest playing career came to an end, he took over as Peterborough's academy director at the turn of the millennium.

A year later, he would be appointed Cambridge United's centre of excellence director and soon started turning heads. So much so that, in March 2004, Aidy Boothroyd recruited him to assist in the running of West Brom's own youth development centre.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe big break

Boothroyd's departure for Leeds United a few months later kickstarted Ashworth's ascent to the top. Instead of hiring from the outside, West Brom promoted him to the top job, placing the young man in charge of all of the Baggies' youth development.

Chairman Jeremy Peace was seriously impressed with his performance in this position, and three years into his tenure he was bumped up again, this time to sporting and technical director. While this kind of role is now familiar to British football fans, at the time it was a bold step. Then-West Brom manager Tony Mowbray was certainly impressed, lavishing both Peace and Ashworth with praise in a recent interview with .

“Dan took a lot of the burden off me,” he said. “I’d even call Jeremy Peace a bit of a visionary for appointing him.” He added: “Dan’s very good at bringing people together and getting the maximum out of everything and everyone. He dilutes conflict and oils the machine to make it run seamlessly.”

GettyThe impossible job

And it wasn't just Mowbray that Ashworth impressed during his time at The Hawthorns. By the early 2010s, English football's powerbrokers were also taking notice.

In 2012, the Three Lions were at the lowest ebb of their modern history. The men's 'Golden Generation' had not lived up to their sky-high potential, failing to deliver a single piece of silverware, while the women's team were reaching the end of the Hope Powell era, with chronic underfunding contributing to disappointing tournament finishes in 2011 and 2013.

It was in this deflated atmosphere that Ashworth began work as England's director of elite development. He was given a wide-ranging remit, being tasked with making the country's new St George's Park training base feel like home, as well as orchestrating a turnaround in fortunes at the men's, women's and youth-team levels.

It would be simplistic to say that Ashworth's work is entirely embodied in the England DNA document he helped draft, though it provides an extremely useful insight into his influence.

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(C)GettyImagesEngland DNA

Published in 2014, Ashworth said at the time: “As a football nation we have long been characterised by our passion, fighting spirit and effort. Although there are aspects of these characteristics we wish to retain, we do not wish to be solely defined by them.”

The blueprint was long, but the most relevant sections were a detailed breakdown outlining the various England teams' collective style of play. Key points were a desire to "intelligently dominate possession, selecting the right moments to progress the play and penetrate the opposition" and aiming "to regain possession intelligently and as early and as efficiently as possible."

There was a focus on uniformity through the age groups, too. "England development teams will play with tactical flexibility, influenced by the profile of the players and the requirements of the match or competition," another passage read.

The other key aspect detailed what the "future England player" would look like, with "technical, tactical, physical, psychological and social" elements all emphasised. This holistic approach was much needed, as part of the failure of the 'Golden Generation' was down to players from competing Premier League clubs being unable to put rivalries aside when they met up for international camps, as well as the collective mental strain so many years of failure took on the group.

In addition, during Ashworth's time at the helm, the popularity of all England teams has skyrocketed, with the strict code of conduct he helped implement a big reason why.

Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly been punished by the Saudi FA after making an obscene gesture to fans chanting Lionel Messi's name.

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Fans again taunt Ronaldo with Messi's namePortuguese responds with obscene gestureAl-Nassr star reportedly hit with fine and banWHAT HAPPENED?

Ronaldo was subject to more customary chants of his Argentine rival from opposition supporters on Sunday night. Al-Shabab fans sang for Messi throughout the Saudi Pro League clash which saw Ronaldo score in an eventual 3-2 win. However, a goal and three points were clearly not enough to soothe the Portugal star, who responded to such chants by gesturing towards his crotch in the direction of the home crowd. Ronaldo came in for immediate criticism and has now reportedly been punished.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

According to Saudi media, via the , Ronaldo has been hit with a two-match suspension for making the X-rated gesture, along with an undisclosed fine. While the monetary punishment will be of no worry to Ronaldo given his £175 million ($222m)-per-year salary, the ban will be a blow to him and his side. The Portuguese will now miss Thursday's league fixture against Al-Hazm and could also be absent for Al-Nassr's AFC Champions League quarter-final clash in a week's time.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ronaldo's reaction on Sunday was certainly surprising, not only because players tend to ignore abuse from rival fans but because Messi chants have become commonplace throughout his 14 months in the Middle East. It is also not the first time Ronaldo has faced backlash over an X-rated gesture, as he avoided punishment for grabbing his crotch back in April 2023.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

While the details of the ban are yet to be finalised, Ronaldo is likely set for a spell on the sidelines. If reports from Saudi Arabia are correct, the Portuguese forward won't be back in action until March 7, when Al-Nassr host Al-Raed in the league.

Eric Dier will stay with Harry Kane at Bayern Munich as the defender completed permanent transfer from Tottenham.

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Dier joined Bayern from Spurs on loanHas exercised option to sign permanentlyBayern had already paid €4m loan feeGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The initial deal, inked during the January transfer window, stipulated a loan period until the culmination of the ongoing season, with an option for Bayern to extend it for an additional 12 months. On Saturdaythe Bavarians confirmed officially that they have exercised this option, binding Dier to the club until June 2025, demonstrating their confidence in his abilities and potential contributions to the team.

AdvertisementWHAT ERIC DIER SAID?

After his transfer was made permanent, the English defender told the club's official website, "I’m happy in Munich. Now my future is sorted, and I can focus on playing well for the club and trying to help the club to win games, win competitions, even though it’s been a difficult period for us."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The earlier agreement involved Bayern paying a reported €4 million (£3.4m/$4.3m) loan fee to Tottenham. However, they can register Dier as a free agent once his contract in north London expires at the end of the campaign. The club's hierarchy has hailed his performance in his six appearances for the club and was particularly impressed with him during Bayern's recent 2-1 victory against RB Leipzig.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Dier's departure from Tottenham was partly influenced by his diminishing role within the team after Ange Postceoglou took over. The arrival of Radu Dragusin during the winter transfer window further limited Dier's playing time, with other defensive options like Ben Davies and Emerson Royal often being preferred over him.

A worrying Rangers transfer claim has emerged ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Dean Jones has suggested that several Gers players could be looking for a way out of Glasgow at the end of the season.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I think for younger players in that Rangers squad, this is going to be extremely exciting.

“For the more experienced ones, a lot of them are at a key point in their career when they are still going to have to consider a transfer this summer.”

Van Bronckhorst will be deflated

Light Blues head coach Gio van Bronckhorst will surely be deflated by the prospect of a number of his first-team stalwarts wanting to leave in the summer.

In spite of Celtic securing the Premiership title earlier this week, Rangers are on a high and have the chance to end the campaign with two trophies to show for their efforts. They play Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final next week before facing Hearts in the Scottish Cup final later in the month.

It is an exciting time to play for, support or manage the Gers with these huge matches to come in the next few weeks, but that excitement and joy (if they win) will soon fade if several key players start to head for the exit door.

Jones believes that some of the more experienced heads may want to move on at this point in their careers, and leaving after a major European final would be the ideal send-off from their perspective. However, Van Bronckhorst will still be frustrated at the thought of losing the likes of Connor Goldson and Ryan Kent.

The former is out of contract in the summer and it remains to be seen whether or not he will want to extend his terms, whilst the latter has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs.

Both players have averaged SofaScore ratings of 7.06 or higher in the Premiership this season and have been putting in consistently brilliant displays throughout the campaign. This illustrates how important they have been for the Light Blues, as they have been mainstays in the team.

Therefore, Van Bronckhorst will be feeling deflated at the thought of both of them leaving the club in the summer, as they would leave huge holes for Ross Wilson to fill if they depart.

AND in other news, Wilson heading for big Rangers disaster on “ridiculous” £6.4k-p/w tank, GvB needs him…

Mohamed Salah is hopeful that he will be fit for Liverpool’s Champions League final clash against Real Madrid, according to journalist James Pearce.

The Lowdown: Salah injured in final win

The Reds enjoyed FA Cup glory on Saturday following a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea at Wembley, winning their second trophy of the season.

Salah didn’t even make it to half-time, though, limping off with a groin injury and immediately sparking concern surrounding his involvement in the Champions League final on May 28th.

However, a hopeful update has now emerged regarding the 29-year-old’s situation.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-32/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

The Latest: Pearce provides Salah injury update

Taking to Twitter on Saturday night a few hours after the FA Cup final, Pearce confirmed that Salah is confident of being fit for the Champions League showpiece against Real Madrid in Paris.

The journalist tweeted: ” ‘Of course, all good’ says Mo Salah when asked if he will be fit for the CL final in Paris.”

The Verdict: Wrap him in cotton wool

While there is no official confirmation surrounding the severity of Salah’s injury, that he believes he will be fit for the 28th is certainly an enormous positive.

Having gone off injured in the 2018 decider against the same opposition, it would be cruel for the 29-year-old to suffer Champions League final heartache yet again – more importantly, Liverpool need arguably their best player on the pitch.

Salah will do all he can to prove himself, although Jurgen Klopp should be wary of not letting his heart rule his head in the meantime, only starting the Egyptian if he is ready.

There is enough depth in the squad to make do without him from the start these days, which is a very different situation to four years ago. Therefore, Klopp must wrap the 29-year-old in cotton wool for the Premier League games against Southampton and Wolves this week.

In other news, Klopp has reportedly set his sights on one Liverpool signing. Read more here.