Category Sports News

Scottish Cup semi-final: Hearts v Aberdeen

Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Saturday 19 April Time: 12:30 BST

“Overall, I would say I am a more complete player,” is the assessment of Kevin Nisbet who has been enjoying a career “reset” at Aberdeen.

Twelve goals from the 28-year-old Scotland striker have helped the Pittodrie club in the league chase for European places, while two of those have come in a Scottish Cup run that continues with Saturday’s semi-final against Hearts at Hampden.

After a frustrating, injury-hit first campaign at Millwall, Nisbet joined the Dons on loan last summer but did not complete 90 minutes in the Premiership until February.

“I probably wasn’t fit enough, due to not playing a lot last season,” Nisbet told BBC Scotland. “It took me a while to get up to speed but I feel sharp now.”

Seven of Nisbet’s goals have come in his past 10 outings, along with five assists.

The former Hibs player credits extra work off the pitch for his upturn in form, admitting that he hasn’t always been as diligent.

“Coming in on days off, doing the gym, looking after myself, stretching a lot, just the kind of things I probably wasn’t doing in the past year if I am brutally honest.

“I started in October and I have just consistently done it. Now I am reaping the rewards.

“I have improved a lot on the defensive side, the tracking back as well and working for the team. It’s probably something I lost in the last few years and I have got that back thanks to the club.

“I feel I am in a place now that is beneficial to me.

“Coming up here was just about a complete reset on myself, getting back to scoring goals and enjoying my football. I have got that smile back on my face when I am playing.”

Nisbet has 11 Scotland caps, the last of which came in June 2023. However, his eye-catching displays in red earned a recall to the national squad earlier this year.

“I had kind of put that to the back of my mind,” he explained. “I had other priorities to get back to and when I started doing that the Scotland squad came.”

With his loan up at the end of the season, and with a year of his Millwall contract still to run, Nisbet is not giving too much thought to what comes next.

“I just tend to stay well clear of it all,” he said. “I have learned from when I was at Hibs, I got too involved in some situations. For me, it is just about head down and taking it game by game and it starts on Saturday.

Reece James’ criticism of his team-mates is “absolutely” the kind of leadership he expects from the Blues captain, according to Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca.

James, 25, criticized Chelsea’s “poor performance” in Thursday’s 2-1 defeat by Legia Warsaw at Stamford Bridge.

Although the Blues managed to reach the Europa Conference League semifinals 4-2 on aggregate, James claimed their performance had shown “disrespect” of the competition.

Maresca remarked, “Absolutely, absolutely, yes,” when asked if James displayed his leadership qualities in his remarks. He is one of the captains and is in charge of that.

Because of the initial outcome, we tried to manage the game improperly, I believe he was correct.

He probably is correct in what he said, he said. He sort of leads us into the changing area.

Maresca earlier this year criticized James for his lack of leadership abilities, claiming that he “expected more” from the England right-back in his captaincy.

Maresca continued, “I complained a little bit about how he led me.”

Chelsea made the final four appearances despite being booed off at Stamford Bridge.

On goal difference, the Blues are sixth in the Premier League, trailing only Manchester City, who is fifth.

Maresca claims he still has “unwavering support” from the board and will continue to uphold his principles despite fanfare murmurs in the fanbase.

We are currently playing in the semi-finals of a European competition. So why do we need to “change something” now? Maresca remarked.

“I don’t have any doubts about what we’re doing, how we’re doing it, and for various reasons,” I believe.

As the England international failed to score against Legia Warsaw, Cole Palmer’s goal drought reached 15 games.

The 22-year-old scored his final goal against Bournemouth on January 14th, ending 2-2.

Without Palmer and Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson, 23, who are both 23 years old, Palmer claims Chelsea can’t finish in the top five this season.

They have already scored goals. They only need to turn a little bit in that particular moment, Palmer said.

In 20 Premier League games, Cole scored 14 goals, so he scored goals. Before the injury, Nicki was the same.

Arne Slot argued that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future is still “not done” and that keeping his Liverpool team together would be a “big summer” for the club.

Due to the summer expiration of Alexander Arnold’s contract, the Reds have signed captain Virgil van Dijk and leading scorer Mohamed Salah on new two-year deals.

According to Slot, “It’s already a big summer.” Can we hold on to them now that it was a big thing? ‘.

Let’s see what the rest of the summer will bring, and by holding on for two more days, it’s already a big summer.

“I’ve said it for a year, so we’re happy with the team we have,” I said, which is strange. If we can even keep that team, it would already be a big summer.

Let’s see what the future holds, said head coach Slot when asked about Alexander-Arnold’s situation.

Real Madrid, who have endured a troubling week, are looking for the England defender.

After only about five weeks with an ankle injury, Alexander-Arnold might miss Liverpool’s league game against Leicester City on Sunday.

Slot defended his position that he would not discuss players’ contractual arrangements, but the Dutchman praised the 26-year-old’s character and attitude.

As long as things aren’t finished yet and they aren’t, “we don’t talk about this thing [contracts],” said Slot. “That’s why we don’t talk about his situation in public,” he said.

When asked if he thought Alexander-Arnold saw his potential with the Reds, Slot replied, “Trent is recovering from an injury and trained with us yesterday. He shows his commitment whenever he participates in our activities.

He has already put in a lot of effort to be back, and when he is on the field, he demonstrates to me how great a football player he is and how committed he is to helping us achieve our goals this year.

He has put in a lot of effort throughout the entire season, and he is now recovering.

Everyone who has watched football for the past five, six, or seven years knows that Liverpool is an incredible full-back, has played an incredible full-back for this club, and we’ll see what the future holds for the club.

If Liverpool beat Leicester, which is 13 points clear of the Premier League, and second-placed Arsenal lose to Ipswich earlier on Sunday, leaving them with a 20th title.

In Slot’s first season since replacing Jurgen Klopp, who had only signed forward Federico Chiesa for the 2024-2005 campaign, they appear to be champions.

As long as the members of the team are performing as best as they can together, “I think the core,” Slot said.

Van Dijk said he had not “worked with a player like him in terms of leadership,” and that he had committed his future to Liverpool after Salah had done so with his Dutch counterpart.

I’m delighted that both have gotten longer. “Virgil has been a great personality and player for us defensively, offensively, and around the dressing room,” Slot said.

I haven’t worked with a player like him in terms of leadership because of the leader he is in and around the training center. He constantly inspires his team, especially the younger ones, and he shows how professional he is in every training session. At this club, he is having a significant impact.

Van Dijk helped Liverpool win the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Club World Cup, and EFL Cup twice since signing for £75 million from Southampton in January 2018.

When asked how long the 33-year-old Netherlands international might play at the highest level, Slot believes that remaining uninjured will be a factor in that decision.

Harry Maguire, a defender for Manchester United, describes their 5-4 victory over Lyon as his “strangest game” to date.

With a 7-6 aggregate victory, United advanced to the semi-finals of the Europa League with the second of two goals in the 120th minute of extra time.

Lyon, who had gone up 2-0 with Corentin Tolisso, scored four times without reply and was sent off before conceding three more times in seven extra-time minutes.

In the first extra-time game in European history, five goals were scored in extra time, and United became the first team to score twice in a tie lasting 120 minutes.

The winner of such a significant game, in a one of the most intense emotions and the strangest, maddest games I’ve ever played in or witnessed, was an incredible feeling, according to Maguire.

“I’ve been here for six years, and I’ve had good and bad times as well.”

To be honest, “I think that game pretty much sums up my time at this club.

After goals from Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot, United had been leading 2-0 heading into half-time.

Tolisso’s header cut the deficit 19 minutes from time, but Nicolas Tagliafico equalized just after the break.

Rayan Cherki gave Lyon the lead on aggregate in extra time before Alexandre Lacazette, a former Arsenal striker, added a fourth penalty kick from the spot.

11 minutes from time, Lyon’s players flocked to Lacazette’s effort by running to the other end of the pitch, where the penalty was awarded.

“I believe they [Lyon] thought they had won it because of how they were celebrating,” Maguire said.

“That gave us more motivation to turn things around.”

We felt like we had lost the game at the time, and I think that’s how we managed to get ourselves into that situation because even with the sending off in extra time, we shouldn’t end up in that situation.

“We have to do much better than that if we want to win this competition,” he said. “We can’t be doing that and leaving it to turn things around.”

Wales vs. Ireland at the Women’s Six Nations

Rodney Parade Date: Sunday, April 20th Kick-off: 5:00 BST

Wales’ penultimate Women’s Six Nations game against Ireland will be played on Sunday under the direction of Alex Callender.

The 24-year-old back row has been one of Wales’ standout players in recent years, but she has not yet played in the campaign due to a foot injury sustained against Harlequins.

As Wales attempt to capture their first victory in 2025 and a first under new head coach Sean Lynn, Callender makes his debut in the top eight-minute slot.

Kelsey Jones is preferred as the starting hooker while Georgia Evans moves to the second row.

Lleucu George, who was unavailable for the defeat in France, is named as one of the replacements, while Kayleigh Powell maintains her position at fly-half.

As Wales attempt to improve their physicality in the middle, Courtney Keight once more partners captain Hannah Jones in the center.

Wales, which has lost to Scotland, England, and France, is currently at the bottom of the Six Nations table, while Ireland, who have won only once, are third.

With a 36-5 victory over Ireland in Cork, the two teams’ final meeting will be decided as favorites for Rodney Parade.

We need to keep improving our performances and focusing on developing our play style and what we want to achieve as a squad, according to Wales head coach Sean Lynn. This is our final game at home in the Guinness Six Nations.

The players have grown to accept the attacking tactic we are using, but we need to work harder for one another and use the pressure points we are putting forth.

Ireland has demonstrated their quality throughout the tournament, and we are aware of what they will bring.

Replacements: Catherine Richards, Maisie Davies, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Alaw Pyrs, Sian Jones, Lleucu George, and Carys Phillips.

Ireland TBC

Referee: Lauren Jenner (FIR)

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Assistants: Maria Heitor (FPR), Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR), and Maria Heitor (FPR).

Ian Tempest (RFU) TMO