Erling Haaland said Manchester City must deliver in the FA Cup final on Saturday to salvage something from a “horrific” season that saw them deposed as English champions for the first time in five years.
City face Crystal Palace at Wembley aiming to avoid a first trophyless campaign since Pep Guardiola’s debut season in charge in 2016/17.
Guardiola’s men sit fourth in the Premier League, 18 points adrift of champions Liverpool, and in a battle just to secure a top-five finish and Champions League football next season in their final two league matches.
City were also dumped out of the Champions League before the last 16 for the first time in 12 years by Real Madrid in the play-off round.
“This season has been tough,” Haaland told the BBC. “It is not nice to lose so many games. It is boring and not fun. That’s why we need to finish well and get a trophy.
“It is a good habit to reach Wembley and always important to win trophies. We have the FA Cup final to play for and in a horrific season we still managed to do this.”
Haaland is set to start the final after making his comeback from a six-week injury layoff in last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Southampton.
Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has missed most of the season with a serious knee injury, while City have been beset by fitness troubles for a series of key defenders.
But Haaland said that should offer no excuses to a club with the resources at City’s disposal.
“Of course, we have had injuries throughout the season. But we should not search for excuses,” added the Norwegian.
“Every single one of us hasn’t been good enough and we haven’t been at our best, so when you are not at your best you aren’t going to win games in this country because it’s so hard.”
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim believes a return to the Champions League is even more important than winning his first trophy in charge of the Red Devils when they face Tottenham in the Europa League final.
Victory in Bilbao on May 21 will hand a lifeline to one of the struggling English giants by propelling them directly into the lucrative league phase of next season’s Champions League.
United and Tottenham sit just outside the Premier League relegation zone and the loser will miss out on European competition entirely next season.
A return to Europe’s elite tournament is estimated to be worth at least £70 million ($93 million) to United and would allow Amorim more resources to rebuild his squad.
“For me the Champions League is more important,” Amorim said at a press conference on Wednesday.
“For everything, to prepare the next season.
“We are supposed to be in the Champions League. Europa League here is not enough and you have to have that feeling here.
“The best way to help us to get to the top in a few years is the Champions League. It is not the title, the trophy.
“The most important thing is how this title could help us to get back to the top faster.”
A dramatic run to the final has salvaged a torrid start to Amorim’s time at Old Trafford.
READ ALSO: Tottenham’s Kulusevski To Miss Europa League Final Vs Man Utd After Surgery
Manchester United’s Portuguese head coach Ruben Amorim applauds fans on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on February 16, 2025. Tottenham won the game 1-0. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Since taking charge in November, he has won just six of 25 Premier League games.
The Portuguese coach has at times been brutal in the assessment of his team, including labelling them the worst in the club’s history.
However, he rejected suggestions he could resign if United compound a miserable season with defeat in Spain.
“I cannot see the team having these results, especially in the Premier League, and see nothing and not take the responsibility,” added Amorim.
“It’s just that I have a clear idea of what to do. I understand the problems of the team, so I’m far from quitting.
“What I’m saying is that we need to perform. In the future we need to perform or else they will change us.”
Amorim confirmed reports that he will help fund travel for the families of his backroom staff to the final.
United have made swingeing cuts off the field in the year since British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe bought a minority stake in the club, including 250 redundancies with up to 200 more to come.
Amorim said that negativity has played a part in United’s struggles this season but the Europa League offers the chance for a much-needed boost.
“This season has been really tough on everybody. The results and also the changes in the staff. You can feel it in our club.
“We had so many bad results in the Premier League, so the environment is tough at the moment. But I guarantee you that when we are preparing a game in the Europa League, the environment is a little bit different and you can feel the excitement.”
Carlos Alcaraz set up a semi-final meeting with Lorenzo Musetti at the Italian Open on Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Jack Draper in the last eight, while women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka was knocked out.
Madrid Open winner Sabalenka was sent packing in the quarter-finals by Chinese eighth-seed Zheng Qinwen 6-4, 6-3.
Third seed Alcaraz, meanwhile, produced what he called one of his best displays of the season to book a last four date with the man he beat in Monte Carlo last month.
The Spaniard’s impressive win over Draper kept alive his chances of a third title of the season and also moved him up to number two in the world rankings behind Jannik Sinner.
“I lost focus a little bit in the second set but it wasn’t (for) too long, so it was pretty good,” said the four-time Grand Slam winner in search of a first Rome crown.
“Probably it was one of the most complete matches that I played this year.”
Alcaraz had to be at his best to down fifth seed Draper, who put in another strong showing on clay in Italy after losing the Madrid Open final to Casper Ruud.
The Briton lost control of the first set when, after taking a two-game lead, he was broken twice by Alcaraz who then took the lead in the match.
And Alcaraz made sure of victory by breaking Draper to love to go 5-4 ahead in the second set before serving out the match.
The day’s final match saw current world number two and defending champion Zverev lose his Rome crown in addition to his ranking as he went down to home hope Musetti 7-6 (7/1), 6-4.
After trading breaks earlier in the set, Zverev looked set to seal the opener after breaking Musetti at 5-5 and then leading on his next service game 40-0.
But the Italian improbably saved four set points to force a tiebreak, which he swept 7-1 in front of a raucous centre court.
An angered Zverev argued with the umpire in the second set but kept his cool on the court up to 4-4.
The German had looked the more likely to make a breakthrough until the ninth game when a stunning backhand winner gave Musetti break point, which he duly converted before holding to 30 to reach his third semi of the year on clay.
“I felt the adrenaline and energy from the first point, even if it was not an easy start, but I managed to come back and find a way, and that’s the key of this match,” said Musetti.
Ruud’s attempt at a Madrid and Rome double has a Sinner-shaped obstacle in its way after the world number seven won his postponed match with Jaume Munar 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals where he will face the top seed on Thursday.
READ ALSO: Tottenham’s Kulusevski To Miss Europa League Final Vs Man Utd After Surgery
FILE: Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her women’s singles quarter-final match against Chinas Zheng Qinwen of the WTA Rome Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome, on May 14, 2025. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)
Sabalenka’s stunning clay-court form deserted her at the Foro Italico as she fell in straight sets to Olympic gold medallist Zheng.
It was seventh time lucky for the world number eight as she at last got the better of her Belarusian opponent with a confident display under the lights in Rome.
After surviving early pressure on her own serve, Zheng broke Sabalenka to take a 3-2 lead in the first set before serving out.
Zheng then pounced in Sabalenka’s first service game in the second frame to go up a break.
Sabalenka showed determination to make gritty holds in the fifth and seventh games of the set, but she could not make inroads on Zheng’s service as the 22-year-old powered into the semis.
“It’s been a long time I haven’t arrived in semi-finals,” Zheng told Sky Sports after securing her first semi-final appearance of the season.
“It was not easy for me because at the beginning of the year I got some struggles with my arm.
“So right now I’m just perfectly in shape and trying to play better tennis all the time.”
Zheng will meet Coco Gauff in the last four after the American earlier beat Mirra Andreeva 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).
Gauff has guaranteed herself number two in the women’s world rankings with her solid displays in Rome, where she saw off seventh seed Andreeva.
Former US Open winner Gauff said that she had “a lot of confidence” for the last four, where she will face an opponent against whom she holds a 2-0 record.
Gauff, 21, is looking for her first title of the season ahead of Roland Garros, after losing the Madrid final to Sabalenka.
Dejan Kulusevski will miss Tottenham’s Europa League final against Manchester United after undergoing surgery on his knee, dealing a major blow to the club’s hopes of ending their trophy drought.
Kulusevski suffered the injury in Sunday’s 2-0 loss at home to Crystal Palace after being caught by Marc Guehi and was substituted in the 19th minute.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou provided a mixed assessment post-match, but further scans have shown the Swedish playmaker required surgery.
“We can confirm that Dejan Kulusevski suffered an injury to his right patella in our Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace last weekend,” a Tottenham statement said.
“Following further specialist consultation, the midfielder has undergone surgery today (Wednesday) and will commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff immediately.”
Midfielder James Maddison was last week ruled out for the rest of the season.
Spurs, 17th in the Premier League, take on United, one place above them, in Bilbao on May 21.
Tottenham have not won a trophy since the 2008 League Cup, and have not tasted European glory since winning the UEFA Cup in 1984.
READ ALSO: Bologna Beat AC Milan To Win Italian Cup
Champions League Return More Important
Manchester United’s Dutch striker #11 Joshua Zirkzee is consoled by Manchester United’s Portuguese head coach Ruben Amorim after missing the final penalty in the penalty shoot-out in the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on March 2, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)
Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim believes a return to the Champions League is even more important than winning his first trophy in charge of the Red Devils when they face Tottenham in the Europa League final.
Victory in Bilbao on May 21 will hand a lifeline to one of the struggling English giants by propelling them directly into the lucrative league phase of next season’s Champions League.United and Tottenham sit just outside the Premier League relegation zone and the loser will miss out on European competition entirely next season.A return to Europe’s elite tournament is estimated to be worth at least £70 million ($93 million) to United and would allow Amorim more resources to rebuild his squad.
“For me the Champions League is more important,” Amorim said at a press conference on Wednesday.
“For everything, to prepare the next season.
“We are supposed to be in the Champions League. Europa League here is not enough and you have to have that feeling here.
“The best way to help us to get to the top in a few years is the Champions League. It is not the title, the trophy.
“The most important thing is how this title could help us to get back to the top faster.”
A dramatic run to the final has salvaged a torrid start to Amorim’s time at Old Trafford.
Since taking charge in November, he has won just six of 25 Premier League games.
The Portuguese coach has at times been brutal in the assessment of his team, including labelling them the worst in the club’s history.
However, he rejected suggestions he could resign if United compound a miserable season with defeat in Spain.
“I cannot see the team having these results, especially in the Premier League, and see nothing and not take the responsibility,” added Amorim.
“It’s just that I have a clear idea of what to do. I understand the problems of the team, so I’m far from quitting.
“What I’m saying is that we need to perform. In the future we need to perform or else they will change us.”
Amorim confirmed reports that he will help fund travel for the families of his backroom staff to the final.
United have made swingeing cuts off the field in the year since British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe bought a minority stake in the club, including 250 redundancies with up to 200 more to come.
Amorim said that negativity has played a part in United’s struggles this season but the Europa League offers the chance for a much-needed boost.
“This season has been really tough on everybody. The results and also the changes in the staff. You can feel it in our club.
Bologna won the Italian Cup on Wednesday after beating AC Milan 1-0 in Rome and ending a 51-year wait for a major trophy.
Dan Ndoye scored the goal in the 53rd minute which gave Bologna a historic victory, their first honour since last winning the cup in 1974.
Bologna hadn’t even been in a major tournament final since last winning the Italian Cup — the second of their two domestic cup triumphs.
Bologna’s players hold the trophy and celebrate after winning the Italian Cup Final (Coppa Italia) final football match between AC Milan and Bologna at the Olympic stadium in Rome, on May 14, 2025. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP)
But coach Vincenzo Italiano has a done a brilliant job since arriving to replace Thiago Motta at Bologna, who have won the Italian championship seven times but last did so in 1964.
Wednesday’s victory was also Italiano’s first major honour as a coach as he lost three finals with his previous club Fiorentina, including the 2023 Italian Cup final.
READ ALSO: Tottenham’s Kulusevski To Miss Europa League Final Vs Man Utd After Surgery
Bologna’s Swiss midfielder #08 Remus Freuler holds the trophy after winning the Italian Cup Final (Coppa Italia) final football match between AC Milan and Bologna at the Olympic stadium in Rome, on May 14, 2025. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP)
Italiano hugged his jubilant players as Bologna fans danced and cried in the Stadio Olimpico stands after seeing what many thought they’d never see.
Milan were crowned European champions the same season they last won the cup in 2003, a different time for a club once owned by deceased former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Bologna’s players hold the trophy and celebrate after winning the Italian Cup Final (Coppa Italia) final football match between AC Milan and Bologna at the Olympic stadium in Rome, on May 14, 2025. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP)
Rivals Inter Milan are in the Champions League final and trying to retain their Serie A title while Milan are in battle to qualify for Europe after missing out on the cup.
Sergio Conceicao’s team sit eighth in Serie A, three points behind Roma who sit in the Conference League spot and host Milan on Sunday.
Carlos Alcaraz is feeling good about his tennis after striding into the semi-finals of the Italian Open on Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Jack Draper as women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka was knocked out.
Madrid Open winner Sabalenka was sent packing in the quarter-finals by Chinese eighth-seed Zheng Qinwen 6-4, 6-3.
Third seed Alcaraz meanwhile produced what he called one of his best displays of the season to book a last four date with either reigning Rome champion Alexander Zverev or home hope Lorenzo Musetti, the day’s final pairing on centre court at the Foro Italico.
His impressive win over Draper kept alive the Spaniard’s chances of a third title of the season and also moved him up to number two in the world rankings behind Jannik Sinner.
On top of that, Alcaraz bagged a top-two seeding at the French Open which begins later this month.
“I think I started pretty well and I ended the match pretty well as well,” said the four-time Grand Slam winner in search of a first Rome crown.
“I lost focus a little bit in the second set but it wasn’t (for) too long, so it was pretty good. Probably it was one of the most complete matches that I played this year.”
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz (L) and Britain’s Jack Draper embrace at the end of their quarter-final match of the men’s ATP Rome Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome on May 14, 2025. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)Great Britain’s Jack Draper reacts after a point against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz during their men’s singles match at the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome on May 14, 2025. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz reacts after a point against Great Britain’s Jack Draper during their men’s singles match of the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome on May 14, 2025. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)
Alcaraz had to be at his best to down fifth seed Draper, who put in another strong showing on clay in Italy after losing the Madrid Open final to Casper Ruud.
The Briton lost control of the first set when after taking a two-game lead he was broken twice by Alcaraz who then took the lead in the match.
And Alcaraz made sure of victory by saving two break points in a 10-minute game eight of the second set, before breaking Draper to love to go 5-4 ahead in the set and then serve out the match at the first time of asking.
Ruud’s attempt at a Madrid and Rome double has a Sinner-shaped obstacle in its way after the world number seven won his postponed match with Jaume Munar 6-3, 6-4.
“Tomorrow will be one of the toughest matches of the year, probably,” said sixth-seed Ruud of facing Sinner. “I got beaten pretty bad by Jannik last time in Turin (at the ATP Finals)… Let’s see, he’s been looking good since the first match.”
Chinas Zheng Qinwen celebrates after winning against Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in their women’s single quarter-final match against of the WTA Rome Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome, on May 14, 2025. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her women’s single quarter-final match against Chinas Zheng Qinwen of the WTA Rome Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome, on May 14, 2025. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)
Sabalenka stunned
Sabalenka’s stunning clay-court form deserted her as she fell in straight sets to Olympic gold medallist Zheng.
It was seventh time lucky for the world number eight as she at last got the better of her Belarusian opponent with a confident display under the lights in Rome.
After surviving early pressure on her own serve, Zheng broke Sabalenka to take a 3-2 lead in the first set before serving out.
Zheng then pounced in Sabalenka’s first service game in the second frame to go up a break.
Sabalenka showed determination to make gritty holds in the fifth and seventh games of the set, but she could not make inroads on Zheng’s service as the 22-year-old powered into the semis.
“It’s been a long time I haven’t arrived in semi-finals,” Zheng told Sky Sports after securing her first semi-final appearance of the season.
“It was not easy for me because at the beginning of the year I got some struggle with my arm.
“So right now I’m just perfectly in shape and trying to play better tennis all the time.”
Zheng will meet Coco Gauff in the last four after the American earlier beat Mirra Andreeva 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).
Gauff has guaranteed herself number two in the women’s world rankings with her solid displays in Rome, where she saw off seventh seed Andreeva.
Former US Open winner Gauff said that she had “a lot of confidence” for the last four, where she will face an opponent against whom she holds a 2-0 record.
Gauff, 21, is looking for her first title of the season ahead of Roland Garros, after losing the Madrid final to Sabalenka.
Indian Wells champion Andreeva, at 18 years old the youngest woman to reach the last eight at the Foro Italico since Gauff in 2021, put up surprisingly little resistance in a low-key first set.
