Former Chelsea star Tony Cascerino fears Arsenal will need a helping hand from his old side if they are to pip Manchester City to the Premier League title.

The Gunners remain in a commanding position given they hold a nine-point lead, albeit having played a game more, but successive cup defeats has put an entirely different complexion on the run-in.

Mikel Arteta had hoped that the Carabao Cup final would provide an opportunity to end a six-year silverware trophy doubts but a 2-0 loss has instead seen fresh doubts creep in and provided City with fresh impetus.

Pep Guardiola’s side turn in an ominous display against Liverpool on Saturday, romping to a 4-0 win, and would have taken fresh belief from the way in which a disjointed Arsenal team saw their FA Cup hopes go up in smoke against Southampton.

Arsenal are back in Champions League action in midweek against Sporting Lisbon before they resume their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth at home on Saturday lunchtime.

A win there would see them extend their lead, temporarily at least to 12 points, before City face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge 24 hours later.

With Arsenal’s trip to the Etihad also on the horizon, Cascarino believes extgending their current lead this coming weekend could prove to be essential if the north London club are to finally end their wait for the title.

He told talkSPORT: ‘I would say if you ask me today and Arsenal have to go to the Etihad and get a victory, I think City will beat them.

‘I think eight out 10 times at the moment City would beat Arsenal.

‘I think it’s really important that Chelsea who City play next away that Chelsea get some sort of result for Arsenal.

‘I think they need a bit more help from other teams. I don’t see Arsenal winning every game, I just don’t.

‘I think all Arsenal fans will be shell-shocked today at what they’ve witnessed. There a good side, we know they are.

‘They’ve led the way all season but for this period of the season to then look vulnerable that would be a concern.’

After talk of a quadruple gathered pace last month, Arsenal are now contemplating the unthinkable and another trophyless season following the upset at St Mary’s.

‘We have the most important period in both competitions ahead of us, and it’s now the moment when you have a difficult moment in the season, to show what we are made of – and it is now we have to show who we are,’ said Arteta after Shea Charles’ late goal condemned his side to back-to-back defeat for the first time this term.

‘Obviously, we’re very disappointed. We wanted to get back to Wembley as quickly as possible, and we haven’t managed to do that – so first of all, congratulations to Southampton for being there.

‘The game had moments, we had moments, where we had a lot of dominance from our side, and chances, and situations in and around the box that we didn’t capitalise on enough.

‘And then we have to accept we were poor in and around our box defending situations that normally we are excellent at. We paid the price.’

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By LUKE AUGUSTUS, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Published: 06:30 EDT, 5 April 2026 | Updated: 06:35 EDT, 5 April 2026

The fallout of Arsenal’s surprising FA Cup quarter-final exit at Southampton on Saturday night has continued, with some of their supporters fearing the worst for the rest of the season.

The Gunners suffered a 2-1 defeat on the south coast with Shea Charles’ 85th-minute winner seeing the Championship side progress to the FA Cup semi-finals.

Arsenal have now suffered back-to-back defeats in all competitions, either side of last month’s international break, having lost 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City at Wembley.

Those results have seen their quadruple dreams halve with the Premier League and Champions League now to play for.

Arsenal remain in the boxseat in the former, as they sit nine points clear of City on 70 points – albeit having played a game more. In the Champions League they travel to Lisbon to take on Sporting in the first leg of their quarter-final on Tuesday night.

But despite going well in the Premier League and Champions League, one of their celebrity supporters believes Arsenal could end the season empty-handed.

Jack Whitehall is among Arsenal fans fearing the worst after their FA Cup exit on Saturday 

After losing 2-1 at Southampton, Whitehall fears that the Gunners may end up empty-handed

Taking to X on Saturday night, comedian and actor Jack Whitehall bluntly wrote: ‘I actually think Arsenal might f*** everything’, with his caption accompanied by an ‘eek’ emoji.

Piers Morgan was another vocal about his beloved club, posting on X at half-time when they were trailing 1-0 at Southampton courtesy of Ross Stewart’s strike: ‘Do you actually want to win any trophies @Arsenal? Such a poor, lacklustre half.’

His mood did improve when Viktor Gyokeres equalised in the second half, but his frustrations came to the fore with the full-time result and then again on Easter Sunday morning.

With the latter, he wrote: ‘Not exactly in a celebratory mood’ in a quote post of Arsenal wishing all of their fans a happy Easter that celebrate it.

His posts have since seen him mocked by rival fans who are revelling in the club’s two most recent results.

One Chelsea supporter shared a video of actor Jim Royle, played by actor Ricky Tomlinson, just laughing from a scene of the hit comedy The Royle Family.

A Manchester City fan mocked up an AI image of an apple crumble rebranded as ‘Arsenal crumble’ too.

It wasn’t just his most recent tweets that Morgan was mocked for though, with Southampton digging up his post from March 9.

Piers Morgan was another celebrity fan to express his frustration on X after Arsenal’s loss

Morgan was quickly mocked by rivals and Southampton themselves on social media

Southampton also teased another Arsenal fan on X after their FA Cup quarter-final victory

On that day, Morgan declared it was a ‘Great draw for Arsenal’ in relation to their quarter-final tie and in response on Saturday night, Southampton merely put a picture of Charles’ face celebrating at the full-time whistle.

They also teased another Arsenal fan who labelled their victory as a ‘Fluke win’ by replying back: ‘Enjoy your quadruple, pal’.

Southampton can look forward to a FA Cup semi-final later this month when they’ll face either Chelsea, Liverpool or West Ham United/Leeds United.

Dietmar Hamann has described Nick Woltemade’s struggles at Newcastle United as ‘remarkable’ and says it has presented Eddie Howe with a ‘really tricky situation’.

Newcastle completed a £69m move for Germany international Woltemade after begrudgingly selling Alexander Isak to Liverpool for over £120m.

Woltemade had a decent record for his former club Wolfsburg – scoring 18 goals in 36 games – but it was suggested in Germany that Newcastle had overpaid for the striker.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a bright start to his St James’ Park career, however, scoring six goals before the start of November and impressing with his all-round play.

But Woltemade’s contributions began to fall away over the winter period and the German has now scored just once in his last 22 appearances in all competitions.

The towering forward has even been used slightly deeper by an increasingly desperate Howe but Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has dismissed the notion he can play in midfield.

Hamann insists his compatriot’s drop-off is ‘very strange’ and has raised the possibility that Woltemade will now be sold after just one season.

‘I couldn’t believe the developments in the last few weeks and months regarding Nick Woltemade,’ Hamann told BoyleSports.

‘There was a story in one of the German papers that he hasn’t settled in the North-east, which I personally think is a paradise for a footballer, because if you’ve got a bit of success, they treat you as a hero. 

‘He had a great start and was adored by the faithful, adored by the fans. It’s obviously a very strange situation because if you had told me this after six or eight weeks, where he scored a few goals, I would have said he’s going places and he’ll be one who might be there for a few years, who is loved and adored by the people.

‘To have the turnaround now in a short space of time is really remarkable. What you hear and what you see probably makes me think that there might be a summer exit, which is obviously not a good situation for the club because they paid an awful lot of money.

‘Do you force him to stay here? Is that a good solution? And who’s going to pay the money for him now?

‘So, yeah, I think it’s a really tricky situation for both of them, for both parties, but especially for the club.’

If Newcastle do end up selling Woltemade, Hamann believes former Manchester United and Chelsea transfer target Victor Osimhen would be the ‘perfect’ replacement.

Osimhen has scored an impressive 56 goals in 70 games since joining Galatasaray in 2024 and helped Napoli win the Serie A title before his move to Turkey.

‘I think Victor Osimhen is one of the top five centre forwards in Europe,’ ex-Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich midfielder Hamann added.

‘I couldn’t believe that he ended up in Turkey. Obviously, Napoli paid an awful lot of money for him, but I’m very surprised that none of the English teams signed him, because they all struggled for centre forwards in the summer.

‘They tried for players like Benjamin Sesko, and other players who have come in are only just starting to adapt now because they obviously needed some time.

‘I think he’s an outstanding player and I think he’s probably the reason why Galatasaray is doing well in the league.

‘I love watching him and I think, if he were to play in the Premier League, there are teams he would make much better.

‘Obviously, Liverpool have got two players there now, so he won’t end up there, but he’s an outstanding player. He’s got pace, he’s got power, he can finish, a wonderful player.

‘If Newcastle do sell Nick Woltemade, he could be the perfect fit.’

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Arsenal are sweating on another potential injury blow after Gabriel Magalhaes was forced off in their FA Cup defeat against Southampton.

After Manchester City ended their quadruple bid, the Gunners crashed out of a second competition on Saturday night after a shock defeat at St Mary’s.

Mikel Arteta’s side trailed at half-time after an error from Ben White led to Ross Stewart scoring the opener for the hosts before Viktor Gyokeres levelled the quarter-final tie after 68 minutes with.

Shea Charles scored a winner for Saints five minutes from the final whistle, sparking jubilant celebrations among the home crowd.

It was a woeful night for Arsenal and there will be concern for Gabriel who was forced off with 20 minutes of the game remaining.

The Brazil international was among the clutch of players not involved for their respective nations during the international break but was named in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI at St Mary’s on Saturday night.

His evening came to an end after 73 minutes with the centre-half replaced by Gabriel Saliba. Gabriel was seen sat among the Arsenal subs with his right knee elevated with an ice pack applied.

Speaking after the game, Arteta revealed Gabriel asked to be replaced, describing the situation as ‘not ideal.’

Arteta said in his post-match press conference when asked about the Brazilian: ‘I don’t know. He felt something, we don’t know exactly what it is.

‘But when a player asks to be substituted, it is not ideal.’

Saliba, who replaced his teammate after the knock, was another who missed the international break as he recovered from an ankle issue.

Gabriel missed 10 games earlier in the season with a thigh injury he suffered while on international duty with Brazil last November.

Arsenal will be hoping the issue is not a serious one with a hectic fiixture schedule ahead, back in action away to Sporting CP in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

Bournemouth visit the Emirates next weekend before Sporting come to town for the return leg.

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Pressure will only intensify on Liverpool manager Arne Slot after his side were knocked out of the FA Cup following an emphatic 4-0 defeat to Manchester City.

A hat-trick from Erling Haaland and a well-taken finish from Antoine Semenyo saw City thrash Liverpool to advance to the semi-finals later this month.

Pep Guardiola’s side also keep alive their hopes of a cup double after winning the Carabao Cup last month at Wembley.

Liverpool, meanwhile, will come in for renewed criticism as their hopes of silverware this season took another huge blow.

The Reds face a daunting task against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in midweek, and still have work to do to ensure they secure a top-five finish and a return to the competition next season.

Earlier in the week, former Reds captain Jamie Carragher said a big defeat today could ‘ramp up the pressure to a potentially intolerable degree’.

And the manner of Saturday’s defeat will surely see questions resurface about the long-term future of Slot, who has failed to hit the same heights after guiding the Reds to the Premier League title in his first season in charge.

Who is favourite to be next Liverpool manager?

Former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is the shortest price to become the next Liverpool boss

The 44-year-old played 210 times for the Reds from 2004-09, winning the Champions League and FA Cup along the way.

His immense playing career also saw him win a string of trophies for Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Spain.

Next Permanent Liverpool manager odds

Xabi Alonso 1/3 

Luis Enrique 3/1

Julian Nagelsmann 8/1

Steven Gerrard 8/1

Jurgen Klopp 12/1

Oliver Glasner 16/1

Simone Inzaghi 16/1

Andoni Iraola 20/1

Enzo Maresca 25/1

Cesc Fabregas 25/1

Odds via BetVictor (subject to change)

The former midfielder quickly became one of the most wanted managers on the planet thanks to his heroics in charge of Bayer Leverkusen from 2022-25, winning the Bundesliga in 2024.

A move to Real Madrid in June last year did not work out, with the Spaniard sacked in January, but Alonso’s managerial stock is still high, especially at a club where he was an immensely popular player.

Elsewhere, PSG boss Luis Enrique is high up on the odds list, with the Spaniard’s current contract in the French capital expires next year.

Other candidates include current Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann and former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

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The FA Cup returns this weekend with eight teams competing for a place in the semi-final at Wembley later this month.

Manchester City and Liverpool kick off the action with their tie at the Etihad Stadium at 12:45pm on Saturday.

Chelsea are next up as they host League One side Port Vale at Stamford Bridge at 5:15pm before Southampton host Premier League leaders Arsenal at St Mary’s at 8pm.

In the only FA Cup tie held on Sunday, West Ham play Leeds United at the London Stadium at 4:30pm.

When is the FA Cup semi-final draw?

The FA Cup semi-final draw will be held on Sunday, April 5, after West Ham’s quarter-final tie against Leeds United at the London Stadium.

The match kicks off at 4.30pm and the draw will take place approximately 15 minutes after full-time.

How to watch the FA Cup draw on TV and live stream

The draw will be available for fans to watch on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max.

The draw will also be streamed live for free on the TNT Sports YouTube channel.

When will the semi-final games be played?

The two semi-final ties will take place on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26 at Wembley.

Are there replays in the FA Cup this year?

Replays are not in use in any of the full rounds of this season’s FA Cup.

The FA scrapped replays from the first round onwards in last year’s competition and that has continued into the 2025/26 campaign.

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Ally McCoist believes Julian Alvarez has a straightforward decision to make this summer when it comes to choosing his next club.

The Argentina international already has plenty of Premier League experience under his belt having played a key role in Manchester City’s historic treble-winning campaign.

Disenchanted at the prospect of continuing to play second fiddle to Erling Haaland, however, the 26-year-old joined Atletico Madrid two years ago where he has continued to enhance his reputation as one of world football’s most complete forwards.

The Spanish side are reluctant to lose one of their prize assets this summer but manager Diego Simeone left the door ajar when asked about Alvarez’s future after his devastating display in the Champions League win over Tottenham.

‘He looks happy to me,’ Simeone said. ‘He’s scoring goals, if you look at the teams he’s been at [River Plate and Man City], Atletico is the team where he’s scored the most goals.

‘He looks committed, positive. There isn’t much difference between this season and last season in terms of the goals he’s scored.

‘Let’s hope he can stay for many years at Atletico Madrid, and we can keep building a team so that important players want to stay.’

Asked whether he would be at Atletico next season, Alvarez, meanwhile, said: ‘I don’t know, I might be, or I might not. I’m happy. I’m thinking about the day to day.’

Despite Atletico’s stance and their £129million valuation, the Premier League giants continue to circle ahead of what is likely to be an intense transfer tug of war.

Arsenal and Chelsea are both reported to have registered an interest but McCoist feels Alvarez should snub the champions-elect and opt for their west London rivals where he could be almost guaranteed a starting spot.

He told talkSPORT Bet Casino: ‘Oh, without a doubt. I think he’s got a better chance of playing more regularly at Chelsea, to tell you the truth, than he would at Arsenal. The squad at Arsenal is phenomenal. 

‘They’re playing Kai Havertz, sometimes as a false nine, Gabriel Jesus is through the middle, and Leandro Trossard has played there.

‘Alvarez is a real talent. As I say, it would surprise me to see him coming back. But in terms of where he went, I think he’d probably get more game time.

‘And you know something? Chelsea might appeal to him because of that, because of those factors you’ve mentioned, particularly the one about a young side with a lot of potential. 

‘If he came to Arsenal, they still haven’t got over the line at this moment in time.

‘I think they will, and I think they will in a couple of years, but it’s a big six weeks coming up for Arsenal, there’s no doubt. You look at the size of Arsenal’s squad, it’s absolutely massive.

‘So, he’s probably got a better chance of getting more regular playing time with Chelsea.’

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Jason Cundy believes Arsenal ‘are not on the same football level’ as Paris Saint-Germain but insists Mikel Arteta’s side can still win the Champions League this season.

Arsenal remain the only unbeaten team in the Champions League this term after their 3-1 aggregate victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16.

The Premier League leaders will now play Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-final with the first leg of their tie against the Portuguese side to be played next Tuesday

PSG, meanwhile, needed to beat Monaco in the playoffs to reach the Champions League last-16 but Luis Enrique’s side impressed in their 8-2 aggregate win over Chelsea last month.

Arsenal’s hopes of winning the quadruple this season ended before the international break with a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.

Cundy maintains Arsenal can still win the Champions League but claims Arteta’s side are ‘nowhere near’ the level PSG have shown.

‘We [the Premier League] are an unbelievable league but the truth of it is the last couple of seasons the league is actually pretty goal,’ Cundy told talkSPORT.

‘I watched PSG [against Chelsea], all jokes aside, that is a football team, a proper football team. Don’t rely on long balls, don’t rely on set-pieces, don’t rely on long throws, they are a proper team.

‘Last season, they were the best side I saw in any competition and they went on to win the Champions League.

‘But that doesn’t necessarily mean to say that Arsenal, who have had their criticism, aren’t capable of going and doing what they’re doing in the Premier League and overpowering teams.

‘I’ve got no love, I hope Arsenal fall at the last every time, but you’ve got to appreciate a good side, you’ve got to appreciate what they do and they do it well, dark arts and all that.

‘I’ve said this, I want my side Chelsea to be more like them. I want to be more like Arsenal. I want the dark arts, go down in the box, throw yourself down, goalkeeper’s holding his head.

‘Arsenal can go on and win this Champions League by being who they are. But if you’re talking about a football club and a football team, PSG have embodied everything, they are just a brilliant team, moving the ball, creativity.

‘Going forward, Barcelona, that’s the beautiful game, the way they move the ball through the thirds, Arsenal are not that team and that’s okay, you don’t have to be like that.

‘What I saw [PSG beating Chelsea] was just an eye opener. They are miles ahead of anything in the Premier League in terms of football, PSG, no team can touch them with the ball at their feet.

‘And Arsenal, as good as they are, they’re not on the same level as a football team as PSG, nowhere near it, but Arsenal can do it in a different way and they’re going to have to find a way.

‘Liverpool have got to find a way. From what I’ve seen of Liverpool this season and PSG in the Champions League, I don’t think they are capable, I genuinely don’t think they are capable of matching PSG because they have got the lot and they are ruthless, utterly ruthless.’

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Steven Gerrard shut down Gary Neville’s suggestion that Mohamed Salah could ‘rock up’ at Chelsea or Arsenal after leaving Liverpool.

Salah, one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players, announced last month that he would be leaving Anfield at the end of the season.

Since joining Liverpool in 2017, Salah has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances, putting his third in the club’s list of all-time record goalscorers.

The Egyptian superstar, 33, has helped Liverpool win two Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues and three domestic cups.

Salah signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool last summer but will leave on a free transfer at the end of the season after ‘reaching an agreement’ with the club.

The Anfield legend has been heavily linked with moves to Saudi Arabia and the MLS since announcing his imminent departure.

But Neville has questioned if Salah will try to keep playing at the top level for another season or two before perhaps moving to Saudi or America at a future date.

If that proves to be the case, landing spots for Salah are not entirely clear, with Neville dismissing moves to the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and PSG as unrealistic.

The former Manchester United and England defender raised a ‘ridiculous’ suggestion after questioning whether Salah could ‘rock up’ at one of Liverpool’s Premier League rivals, Chelsea or Arsenal.

But Liverpool hero Gerrard was quick to dismiss that theory and tipped Salah to move to the Saudi Pro League, where he himself managed between 2023 and 2025.

Speaking to Gerrard, fellow ex-Liverpool star Jamie Carragher said on The Overlap: ‘You went to LA Galaxy and with Mo Salah now, do you think he will do a MLS or a Saudi move or do you think he will still think he can play at the top level and move to another big club?’

Gerrard responded: ‘Knowing him, he’ll still have himself down as one of the best players in the world.

‘That’s why the fallout [at Liverpool] came apart, he was probably struggling with the transition of not starting every game. But I think that’s his mentality.’

Neville then said: ‘You’ve both said the same thing now about Salah, that he will still think he’s the best player in the world and you don’t think it’s right for him to go to the US or Saudi.

‘Has he got a shock in him though? I’m going to put something ridiculous out there… could he rock up at Chelsea or Arsenal?

‘He’s been to Italy before and he’s not going to Barcelona or Real Madrid. In a different time I could have seen him at PSG but that’s not going to happen now.

‘These players have egos that means they have to play at clubs that suit their brand and way of thinking.’

Responding to Neville’s theory, Gerrard said: ‘I’m not saying it’s not right for him to go to Saudi or MLS. I’m talking about what he might be thinking in his head and where does he see himself… 

‘I don’t think he will do that [join a Premier League rival]. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s another big club somewhere else, but I don’t think he would move to a rival.

‘I think it will be Saudi. I’ve lived over there and knowing how he’s thought of over there, I think it will be Saudi.

‘It wouldn’t shock me if he moved to Italy but if I had to put money on it I would go with Saudi.

‘There’s some good players in the top-end out there and he would be playing with some good players, some very good players.’

Carragher, meanwhile, tipped Salah for a move back to Serie A and suggested he would regret joining a Saudi Pro League side this summer.

‘I could see Italy, I could see Milan or Inter,’ Carragher added. ‘I think he thinks he’s still one of the best players in the world.

‘And that’s almost retiring going over there in my eyes. I think he could do another two or three years somewhere and then go there.’

While Liverpool failed to retain their Premier League trophy this season, Salah will hope to help the Reds salvage a poor campaign by qualifying for the Champions League.

Arne Slot’s side also have aspirations of winning the Champions League and FA Cup ahead of quarter-final ties against PSG and Manchester City.

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Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor felt her players ‘deserved more respect’ after the Blues hopes of reaching the Champions League semi-finals were dashed by a 3-2 aggregate loss to Arsenal.

Sjoeke Nusken scored in stoppage time at Stamford Bridge to inspire the hosts to a 1-0 second-leg quarter-final victory which was overshadowed by a late incident that appeared to show Arsenal defender Katie McCabe pulling the ponytail of Chelsea forward Alyssa Thompson, who was left in tears.

McCabe later claimed on Instagram that she was ‘genuinely’ reaching for Thompson’s shirt, offering her opponent ‘full respect’, but Bompastor felt the episode deserved a review by the match officials.

‘I just think it’s not good enough,’ said Bompastor, who was visibly outraged on the touchline.

‘At the end I’m the one who gets a red card where I think the Arsenal player should be the one who gets a red card.

‘What is the VAR doing in these games? If we have the VAR, why are we not checking these situations? I don’t understand, and it’s not good enough.’

Bompastor was still raging by the time she gave her TV interview with the BBC, arriving armed with a mobile phone in hand and a clip of the moment McCabe pulled Thompson’s hair asking: ‘Why do we have VAR?’.

She added: ‘I don’t want to speak to them [the officials] because it’s always the same story.

‘Even if I go and speak to them, they will not give me a clear answer. It’s difficult for me because I don’t want to be the only one talking about this situation.

‘Everyone needs to understand that’s the difference between being qualified and not being qualified. It has a big impact on players.’

Chelsea, meanwhile, look unlikely to catch Manchester City in the WSL title chase but remain alive in the FA Cup, and will take on Tottenham in Monday’s quarter-final.

‘The reality is, for a club like Chelsea, (our season) is not good enough,’ admitted Bompastor. ‘I’m not happy about the fact that I can’t help the team more than we did this season.’

Arsenal’s Champions League title defence continues with a semi-final matchup against either Lyon or Wolfsburg, who enter Friday’s decider locked in a goalless aggregate stalemate.

Boss Renee Slegers, who did not feel the hair pull was deliberate, said: ‘It was an unbelievable performance from the team, because it is a hard scenario.

‘I think it’s special to be a part of this. I really enjoy being with these people every single day and the process that we’re in and the results that we’re getting.

‘I think everyone feels this way about what we’re doing at the moment. We can never get comfortable in this, even though we have to enjoy where we are at, but we have to keep on striving for more and better.’

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