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Leeds United are back in Championship action once again on Tuesday night as their seemingly relentless schedule of fixtures rampages on.

The Whites face the long travel down to Wales to take on Swansea City away from home as they go in search of a seventh straight win in the division.

Daniel Farke's side have won their last six matches in succession in the second tier and are heading into this match off the back of a 3-0 win over Rotherham at Elland Road on Saturday.

An opening goal from Patrick Bamford and two strikes from Crysencio Summerville sealed all three points for the hosts in, what was, an emphatic victory.

The unrelenting schedule in the Championship and the FA Cup, in which they travel to Chelsea later this month, means that the German head coach could make some changes to the starting XI from the win over the Millers.

With this in mind, here is FFC's predicted Leeds line-up to take on the Swans in Wales on Tuesday night…

1

Illan Meslier

Starting off between the sticks, number one Illan Meslier should be selected from the start. He kept his 12th clean sheet of the season in his 29th league appearance against Rotherham.

2

Connor Roberts

The first change to the starting XI could come at right-back as deadline day signing Connor Roberts could make his full debut for Leeds against his former club.

He came on for 15 minutes against the Millers to get a taste of the action at Elland Road and may now be itching to get his first start for the club.

A trip to a familiar setting, at the club where he started his career and came through the academy, could be the ideal place for that first start as Roberts knows the ground and should feel comfortable enough to hit the ground running.

This may be harsh on young Archie Gray, who won five of his eight duels against Rotherham, but it would provide the youngster with a breather and offer a chance for the new signing to impress.

3

Joe Rodon

Another Wales international could start at the heart of the defence. Joe Rodon has been a dominant force at the back for the Whites this season with a duel success rate of 66% across 28 appearances in the league since his move on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

4

Ethan Ampadu

To complete a Welsh trio at the back for Leeds, Ethan Ampadu could continue at centre-back. The midfielder by trade has helped the team to six wins and five clean sheets in six appearances as a central defender in all competitions in 2024.

5

Junior Firpo

Farke has confirmed that Sam Byram has suffered from muscle issues and will not be available for selection against the Swans, whilst Jamie Shackleton is also out for personal reasons.

This leaves Firpo as the only obvious option to start at left-back and the ex-Barcelona man should, therefore, retain his place in the starting XI.

His deflected cross, after a superb lung-bursting run down the left flank, provided the assist for Bamford's goal to open the scoring on Saturday.

6

Ilia Gruev

In the middle of the park, Ilia Gruev's recent performances suggest that the Bulgaria international deserves to maintain his place in the side for Leeds. He has recorded a Sofascore rating of 7.1 or higher in seven of his last eight appearances in all competitions.

7

Glen Kamara

Alongside the former Werder Bremen star, Finland international Glen Kamara should start in midfield as his ball retention is crucial to how the Whites want to play.

Farke wants his team to dominate and control the game, and the central midfielder's fantastic passing allows them to do that as he rarely gives the ball away.

Kamara has completed 93.2% of his attempted passes in the Championship this season, which places him in the top 2% of midfielders in the division.

8

Wilfried Gnonto

On the right side of the attack, Wilfried Gnonto's recent performances suggest that the Italy international should line up in the attack once again.

He did not register a goal or assist in the win over Rotherham but it was his sharp pass into the box that allowed Crysencio Summerville to win a penalty for his second goal of the afternoon. That came after the winger had scored in each of his last two starts – against Plymouth Argyle and Bristol City.

However, Daniel James is now back in training and available for selection, as per Farke, and will provide competition for that starting spot on the wing.

9

Georginio Rutter

Georginio Rutter should be selected in the number ten position after another impressive display as a creative force for Leeds against the Millers.

The French magician made four key passes and created one 'big chance', which was rewarded with an assist for Summerville's first goal, to take his tally to 19 'big chances' created in 30 league matches this season.

He has the ability in possession to consistently unlock opposition defences to create high-quality opportunities for his teammates, and the 21-year-old whiz will be hoping to do so once again against the Swans.

10

Crysencio Summerville

Selecting Crysencio Summerville is, possibly, the easiest decision that Farke has to make each game in the Championship as the Dutch forward continues to be a shining light for the club in the final third.

The 22-year-old phenomenon added two more goals to his tally in the win over Rotherham and is now on 14 goals and seven assists in league appearances for Leeds this season.

Chelsea are close to signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for £30m ($38m), with the Leicester star set to undergo a medical on Sunday.

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• Leicester must raise funds
• Chelsea targeting Dewsbury-Hall
• Close to securing deal for midfielder

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are closing in on a deal to secure Dewsbury-Hall's signature. Leicester need to sell players by the end of Sunday as they look to comply with Profit and Sustainability regulations, and the midfielder is now poised to undergo a medical in west London as he closes in on a reunion with former boss Enzo Maresca.

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  Dewsbury-Hall is set to sign a deal until 2026, and he is set to sign his contract on Sunday. Leicester have rushed the deal through to comply with Profit and Sustainability regulations.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Dewsbury-Hall has also been linked with Brighton but it appears that Chelsea have beaten the Seagulls to the punch. There was some suggestion a player could be involved in a swap deal but that does not appear to be the case. Instead, Fabrizio Romano notes that Blues youngster Michael Golding will be joining Leicester in a entirely separate deal.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The deal is moving quickly as Leicester bid to avoid punishment from the Premier League when it comes to PSR. The switch will see Dewsbury-Hall link back up with Enzo Maresca, with whom he won the Championship with last season.

Celtic caught the eye on Wednesday night as they secured a staggering 7-1 win over Dundee in the Scottish Premiership at Parkhead under the lights.

The Hoops were ruthless in front of goal as they put Dundee to the sword with relative ease, as seven different players got their names on the scoresheet.

There was a potential preview into the future during the second half of the match as Brendan Rodgers brought on teenage sensation Daniel Kelly on at half-time for captain Callum McGregor.

The Northern Irish head coach could now unearth the 18-year-old dynamo as the long-term homegrown replacement for the Hoops skipper, if the youngster continues his development and emerges as a consistent first-team performer.

Callum McGregor's statistics this season

The Scotland international has started all 28 of the club's matches in the Premiership this season, and has been a consistent presence in the middle of the park.

McGregor has completed 91.8% of his attempted passes in the division so far during the 2023/24 campaign. Only Cameron Carter-Vickers (92.2%) boasts a higher success rate within the current squad.

The 30-year-old whiz has also put work in defensively with 1.3 tackles per match to cut out opposition attacks, to go along with his two goals and five assists at the top end of the pitch.

He is a well-rounded midfielder who can control matches with his passing whilst being able to make contributions defensively and offensively for the Hoops.

At the age of 30, and with a contract that does not expire until 2028, there is no immediate need to find an heir to his position as a regular starter.

However, Kelly does not turn 19 until October and has plenty of years left ahead of him to develop and improve, which also means that there is no immediate need for him to emerge as a starting XI option for Celtic.

Why Daniel Kelly could eventually replace Callum McGregor

The 18-year-old gem, like McGregor, is a versatile midfielder who can play as a deep-lying number six, as a traditional number eight, or as an attacking midfielder.

He has showcased his ability to make an impact at the top end of the pitch for Celtic and Celtic B this season with a return of four goals in 24 appearances in all competitions.

As you can see in the table above, Kelly enjoyed an impressive Premiership debut for the first-team with a goal off the bench against Dundee on Wednesday night.

Hyun-jun Yang cut the ball back across the box for the teenage talent to superbly finesse his finish into the top right corner from inside the box.

He also made one tackle, which would work out as two tackles won over a full 90, and completed 100% of his attempted dribbles, which shows that the young gem can offer quality defensively and in transition. Although, his pass accuracy may need to improve to get to McGregor's level.

The Scotland U19 international, who Rodgers claimed has an "incredible" attitude, proved that he has what it takes to compete in a senior environment.

However, the task for him now is to prove that he can do it consistently and to a level that makes him a regular starter for the Hoops first-team in the future.

Celtic: Parkhead academy graduate has seen his value soar by 5,567%

The central midfielder has established himself as a star for the first-team.

By
Dan Emery

Oct 2, 2023

There is no rush, though, for him to achieve that and Rodgers should look to manage him carefully over the coming weeks, months, and possibly years, ahead of Kelly potentially emerging as the dream homegrown replacement for McGregor, who is 12 years older than him, in midfield.

England were blasted by Rafael van der Vaart after clinching a "really unbelievable" win over the Netherlands at Euro 2024.

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• Three Lions awarded controversial penalty
• Referee Felix Zwayerunder scrutiny
• Dutch legend Van der Vaart furious with result

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  England secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final, setting the stage for a final showdown against Spain in Berlin on Sunday. The match, held on Wednesday night, saw Ollie Watkins score a last-minute winner, propelling Gareth Southgate’s team into the final.

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  However, when Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries attempted to block a shot from England captain Harry Kane he was adjudged to have clipped Kane in the process. Initially, referee Felix Zwayer did not award a penalty. However, after a VAR review, Zwayer overturned his original decision, awarding the spot-kick to England and Kane converted the penalty, levelling the score.

• WHAT VAN DER VAART SAID

  Former Dutch footballers were quick to express their anger over the match's officiating. Rafael van der Vaart, who featured for Real Madrid and Tottenham during his playing career, was livid.

  "I was getting so worked up about those English guys," he told . "What a sh*t team they are. Slowly, they didn't want to do anything anymore. They have such top players on the field. We didn't do much either. We had a few chances. There could have been so much more in it."

  "I find it really unbelievable. When you see that second half, in a semi-final, and then such a lousy team… such top players on the field and I think they played well for half an hour. Keep going, show that you are the best. At a certain point, you just felt that the Netherlands were getting better and better. We were getting more and more out of it. We had two or three chances if they played out a bit better [Netherlands might've won]. And then in the last second [to lose it is hard to take]…."

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• WHAT VAN HOOIJDONK SAID

  Pierre van Hooijdonk, the ex-striker who had successful stints at Celtic and Nottingham Forest, called for the referee to be banned from officiating in major matches.

  "They (England) can thank Felix Zwayer. He really needs to be blacklisted. Terrible," Van Hooijdonk told

  "Also in the second half. A duel with Cody Gakpo where he simply blew his whistle again, ten metres from the linesman. Those are moments that were crucial in this match. Where England was much better in the first half, the Netherlands really had the better of the game in the second half. The Dutch team did not come in front of the opponent’s goal much, but it was balanced.

  "We can talk about it at length, but if you’re going to award a penalty for this then you could end up with eight of them in the final. Really terrible."

One of Cristiano Ronaldo's former Manchester United team-mates is reportedly in talks to make his boxing debut on KSI's Misfits platform.

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• Misfits Boxing welcomes footballers
• Wayne Rooney was in talks with Misfits
• Ex-team-mate could now step into the ring

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Danny Simpson, who played alongside Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford, is currently in discussions for a fight with Misfits Boxing. Simpson is a familiar face on MUTV, having spent four years at the club from 2006 to 2010. During this period, under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, he could make only eight appearances as he was shipped out on loan to various outfits including Royal Antwerp, Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United. Despite limited opportunities at United, he achieved notable success later in his career, forming part of the Leicester City squad that famously won the Premier League title in 2016.

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  Simpson’s most recent footballing stint was with Bristol City, where his contract was mutually terminated in March 2022. Since then, he has focused on his boxing training, which began as early as 2020, and now he seems poised for a debut bout on the Misfits platform co-founded by KSI and Mams Taylor. Simpson trains at Punchline Boxing Gym in Macclesfield, where he has honed his skills alongside other former footballers, including Wes Brown.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Misfits Boxing has previously featured participants from the realms of social media, MMA, and traditional boxing. The platform has become a melting pot for various talents looking to try their hand at boxing. Rooney was also in talks to participate in Misfits Boxing but ultimately pulled out as he was signed by Plymouth as their new manager.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI and music mogul Taylor have been eager to bring footballers into Misfits and this ambition aligns with the platform’s ethos of featuring high-profile crossover fights that draw significant attention from diverse audiences. And Simpson looks set to be the first footballer to try his luck in this format of the sport.

Tomorrow night's clash between West Bromwich Albion and Queens Park Rangers sees teams at opposite ends of the Championship face off against each other, with the Baggies vying for promotion and QPR just content surviving in the division.

Carlos Corberan won't go into the clash at the Hawthorns underestimating his lowly opponents however, the Hoops pulling off an unbelievable 2-1 win away at table-topping Leicester City just last match.

To keep his side fresh for the task of the Loftus Road side away from home, the Spanish manager could be tempted into making a couple of changes here and there to the XI that was victorious against Coventry City 2-1 last game.

Here is what the predicted lineup could look like as a result, with Conor Townsend ruled out for the trip to London in two potential changes…

1

GK – Alex Palmer

It's almost a guarantee at this point in time that Alex Palmer will stick it out as Corberan's number one goalkeeper, with the 27-year-old shot-stopper ever-present in the Championship this season for the promotion-seeking Baggies.

2

RB – Darnell Furlong

Darnell Furlong has also been present in every single second-tier match for West Brom this campaign to date, unsurprisingly keeping that streak going by remaining at right-back for the trip to QPR tomorrow.

Furlong did have an off-day in the 2-1 Sky Blues win by his standards – winning just three of his nine duels at the Hawthorns – but that shouldn't be enough for Corberan to axe his number two from the XI to face the relegation-threatened Hoops.

3

CB – Kyle Bartley

Cedric Kipre, however, could face the wrath of Corberan's cut-throat nature instead with Kyle Bartley getting closer to a first-team start after battling back from injury.

Kipre struggled, much like Furlong, against Coventry in patches – the former Cardiff City loanee even giving away a penalty late on in the tight affair that was dispatched confidently by Sky Blues attacker Haji Wright.

Bartley – who was once described as "incredible" by ex-Baggies attacker Kevin Campbell – was given a run-out late on in the 2-1 win and will be itching for more minutes to come his way soon, with his manager tempted to reinstate the imposing 6 foot 1 centre-back into his lineup for the test of QPR.

4

CB – Erik Pieters

Erik Pieters, despite not naturally being a centre-back, could still remain in the XI regardless of Kipre being dropped.

The Dutch defender bravely went about his defensive duties against Mark Robins' men with two aerial duels won, whilst also remaining measured with the ball at his feet by only misplacing six of his 70 passes at the Hawthorns.

5

LB – Adam Reach

The second personnel switch to the side that won last Friday night will see Townsend removed from the lineup, the West Brom number three coming off against the Sky Blues late on owing to an injury niggle.

Adam Reach will be more than trusted to do a job in place of the bandaged-up 31-year-old against QPR, the versatile former Sheffield Wednesday man competently filling in for Townsend late on last time out.

Reach would manage to muster up one key pass from just 25 minutes of action, with the Baggies number 20 hoping to unlock a susceptible QPR defence from deep tomorrow night if selected.

6

CM – Okay Yokuslu

Okay Yokuslu should be safe knowing that his holding midfield spot isn't up for grabs travelling down to QPR tomorrow night, the Turkish midfielder competently putting in a shift against Coventry to ensure the Baggies remained solid at the back.

The Baggies number 35 would come away from the closely fought affair with an impressive 95% passing accuracy next to his name, on top of winning his fair share of duels with three ground duels successfully ground out.

7

CM – Alex Mowatt

Whilst Yokuslu often gives West Brom another gritty, defensively sound figure to help out at the back, Alex Mowatt likes to orchestrate attacking moves from deep alongside his holding midfield partner.

The former Leeds United man wasn't at his creative best in the Coventry win but still performed well against a strong away side, calmly ending the game with a fantastic 97% pass accuracy.

Mowatt would also roll up his sleeves when necessary, bettering Yokuslu's numbers in terms of winning ground duels with three notched up.

8

RM – Tom Fellows

Tom Fellows continues to go from strength to strength in the senior fold at the Baggies, the homegrown product constantly playing with a beaming smile on his face for the promotion hopefuls.

Fellows would pick up an assist in the 2-1 win, teeing up Grady Diangana for the decisive second goal of the contest late into the first 45 minutes after twisting and turning his Coventry marker.

Away from that positive contribution, the exciting 20-year-old winger would have one off-target effort on Ben Wilson's shaky goal.

Corberan will hope Fellows can be more accurate in front of goal when selected to play against QPR, on the way to the Baggies picking up another win.

9

CAM – Grady Diangana

Grady Diangana was arguably back to his explosive best against Coventry last Friday night, converting Fellows' cross with ease to give his team a two-goal cushion after just 36 minutes.

The lively Baggies number 11 also won five ground duels in the narrow win, excelling in a number ten role for Corberan's men when he's often been deployed down the wing this season for the West Midlands-based outfit.

10

LM – Michael Johnston

West Brom fans would have been crying out for the Baggies to permanently sign Michael Johnston after his devastating performance against Coventry, the Celtic loanee's sensational solo strike hitting the back of the net with some venom to open the scoring at 1-0.

Johnston also gave West Brom a composed head in attack away from his unbelievable opening goal, only accumulating two inaccurate passes from his impactful 65 minutes on the pitch.

A £165,000-per-week forward wants to be at Tottenham next season, and he's a player who manager Ange Postecoglou has previously called "quality".

Spurs' transfer plans ahead of the summer

The north Londoners need to back Postecoglou in the summer after his fine debut season in the dugout.

Next few weeks "crucial" as Tottenham look to "finalise" move for striker

The north Londoners have stepped up their efforts to bring him in.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 13, 2024

While the club have gone another season trophyless, Postecoglou has still won over plenty of admirers with his brand of exciting, high-pressing football. It's been a breath of fresh air since Antonio Conte's departure, and Spurs are currently in the driving seat to seal Champions League qualification for next season.

Aston Villa sit above them in fourth, but Postecoglou's victory over the Villans last weekend means they're just two points above Tottenham, with the north Londoners possessing a game in hand on them.

If Spurs do secure a place in next season's Champions League group stage pot, there is reason to believe they could have a larger transfer kitty to play with, and technical director Johan Lange is thought to be targeting new additions in a few areas.

Indeed, Tottenham apparently want a new winger as their major signing this summer, while other reports suggest Spurs are keen on a striker, new-centre-back and back up full-back.

In terms of wide players, the likes of Wolves winger Pedro Neto and Crystal Palace ace Eberechi Eze are being repeatedly linked, with ex-Spurs scout Bryan King telling Tottenham News that the latter is ideal.

“Eze is a good player, I have liked him ever since he was at QPR," said King. “I like him and I like the way he plays his football. He reminds me of Maddison. He is the player who provides those cute little passes in attacking areas of the pitch for Crystal Palace.”

There is also the matter of Timo Werner, and whether his loan deal from RB Leipzig will be made permanent.

The German has made a fantastic start to life at N17, and reports suggest that Spurs are likely to trigger Werner's £15m buy option.

Werner wants to be a Spurs player next season

Now, according to Bild (via Sport Witness), Werner has decided he wants to be a Tottenham player next season as well – as he decides to remain.

The £165,000-per-week forward has two goals and two assists since arriving from RB Leipzig highlight just how much he suits Postecoglou's system, with the Australian calling him "quality".

“I thought he was great. First half we probably didn’t support him enough in that left channel, he was a little bit isolated. Second half we got some better service to him," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's January arrival.

“He’s a quality player, I think he’s proven at this level, and as he gets stronger and fitter and understands our game a little bit better, I think he’ll become even more effective and I know there’s goals in him as well that will come for Tottenham, so I thought he was good.”

Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly opened talks with Manchester United over a transfer for Jadon Sancho.

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• PSG want Sancho from Man Utd
• Club look to replace Mbappe
• Personal terms not expected to be a problem

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth, the Ligue 1 champions have reportedly initiated talks with the Red Devils over the possible transfer of Sancho this summer. Sheth further claimed that the two clubs have discussed the possible structure of the potential deal, with Sancho said to be open to the move.

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  The 24-year-old had a public fallout with manager Erik ten Hag last season which resulted in him getting banished from the first-team squad before United sent him out on a short-term loan deal to Borussia Dortmund. Sancho, though, is now back in the United setup and it seems like he has reconciled with the Dutch manager.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ten Hag has given Sancho regular game time during pre-season and recently hinted that he is considering deploying the English winger in a new position, at least in the first few matches of the upcoming 2024-25 campaign.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JADON SANCHO?

  With Kylian Mbappe joining Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer, Luis Enrique is in search of a quality winger who could take the former captain's place in his lineup and Sancho fits the bill. The Red Devils have also enquired about PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte and the two teams now have an open line of communication with regard Sancho.

Aston Villa will be hoping to put their recent 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League behind them as they face Ajax this evening.

Unai Emery’s men escaped Amsterdam with a 0-0 draw last week, meaning that a win of any kind will send them through to the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League.

The loss to Spurs halted the momentum that the Midlands side had been building, and several players were underwhelming to say the least.

This could force Emery to make a couple of changes, with Youri Tielemans one who could well be dropped from the starting XI that takes on the Dutch giants.

Youri Tielemans’ game in numbers vs Spurs

The Spaniard deployed a 3-5-2 formation which featured Tielemans on the left of a three-man midfield.

The Belgian failed to impress, however, completing only seven passes during his time on the pitch, along with taking 21 touches, having zero shots on target, and attempting zero dribbles.

The former Leicester City midfielder was largely ineffective and was subbed off in the 58th minute to make way for Moussa Diaby.

The change in formation did not help the side and Emery could perhaps turn towards utilising a 4-2-3-1 system against Ajax tonight.

This could see Tielemans dropped to the bench, with the former Paris Saint-Germain manager calling on Morgan Rogers to come into the starting XI on the left wing.

The Aston Villa star to replace Youri Tielemans

Rogers joined the club from Middlesbrough in the January transfer window for a fee which could potentially rise to £16m as Emery bolstered his attacking options for the final few months of the campaign.

He was clearly enticed by Rogers’ effectiveness in the final third, which enabled the 21-year-old to score seven goals and grab nine assists for Boro before making the move to the Premier League.

He has made just four appearances for Villa thus far, but he did look lively against Ajax last week during the first leg.

The “outstanding” dynamo – as so dubbed by former boss Michael Appleton – took the game to the Ajax defence as he succeeded with five of his six attempted dribbles during his spell on the pitch, along with having a shot off target.

Defensively, the youngster did not allow himself to be fazed by the occasion, and he won seven of the ten ground duels that he contested, while also making a tackle. This maturity to not be bullied easily off the ball could see him unleashed in the second leg.

Rogers remained on the bench for the defeat to Spurs, which means that he will be fresh and raring to go against the Eredivisie side.

It will be a tough challenge, no doubt about it, but considering Villa have defeated Manchester City, Arsenal and Spurs this season, they are a match for anyone on their day.

Emery will certainly tinker with his starting XI ahead of tonight’s match, but given how solid he looked last Thursday, surely Rogers will be unleashed from the very first whistle at Villa Park this evening.

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has hit out at football's "big bosses" at FIFA and the Premier League over the condition of his players.

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• Guardiola slammed FIFA and Premier League bosses
• Warned against players' burnout after intense season
• Travelled to US without several first-team stars

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The reigning Premier League champions have travelled to the United States for their pre-season tour with a depleted squad as several first-team players – who played in international tournaments in the summer – are yet to join the team.

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  With a handful of first-team players at his disposal at the moment, manager Guardiola admitted that City will not be able to prepare fully in the pre-season ahead of their title defence in the 2024-25 campaign. The Catalan coach even hit out at the officials of FIFA, UEFA and the Premier League over their scheduling of matches while claiming that the players would 'die' if they continued to play so many games round the year.

• WHAT PEP GUARDIOLA SAID

  Speaking to reporters, the City boss said: "We will arrive late but not [just] against Manchester United [in the Community Shield], against Chelsea and Ipswich too. We will be late. It's about trying not to drop many points, try to compete well. We don't have players because they have to rest.

  "If the big bosses and all the institutions like FIFA, UEFA and the Premier League don't think about the players then the managers have to think about them, otherwise they will die. It's too much. That's why three weeks or one month is necessary, but the competition is there and you have to adapt."

  He added: "There's no solution, there will not be a solution because there is no intention to find a solution. The clubs have to travel to show our brand around the world, to let other continents and places see our players, and we have to adapt.

  "We would like to have had proper preparation but it's impossible because national teams deserve to play and every institution like FIFA and UEFA and local competitions want to defend their product and make games. We have a good squad when everybody comes back. We have three, four, five interesting [young] players just in case we need them. We will do what we have done in the previous seasons when we have had success having the same calendar as this year."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

  After back-to-back losses against Celtic and AC Milan, Guardiola's side will next take on Barcelona on Tuesday at Camping World Stadium in Orland, Florida.