THOSE FAMOUS BIG CUP NIGHTS
With 12 teams already through to the knockout stages of Big Cup, there are just four more places up for grabs at the very top of European football’s top table. If Spurs are to snaffle one, they will have to complete the relatively routine task of beating Barcelona away from home, a feat they have never managed in one previous attempt. That was back in 1982 when Danish midfielder Alan Simonsen, who had previously – and rather weirdly – been the unwitting target of a sniper in Danish movie thriller named Skytten, scored the only goal of the game to send the Spanish side through to the final of Now Defunct Cup Winners’ Pot in 1982. In Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane, modern-day Spurs have their own diminutive Danish maestro and crack marksman and their supporters will be hoping both men have their eye in on Tuesday. If Inter beat PSV, as many expect them to, only a win will do for Spurs if they are to join their hosts in Uefa’s last-16 tombola.
Of course, Spurs fans will want the Spaniards to field an understrength lineup, ideally one comprised entirely of staff from the club shop, training-ground canteen and ticket office. Already without Luis Suárez, Barça boss Ernesto Valverde has hinted he may rest players, but refused to be drawn on whether he would rest a certain player, so Mauricio Pochettino will have to wait for an hour before kick-off to find out if his players will have to deal with Leo Messi. “It’s difficult to fight for a place with Suárez and Messi, and whoever plays will be very motivated to show they can compete for more minutes,” purred Pochettino. “I’m so optimistic and we need to think like this. It’s so important we think about the job we want to do, not what Barcelona want to do.”
Closer to home, Anfield is preparing itself for what could be another Special European Night™, as Liverpool take on Napoli in a game they have to win 1-0 or by two goals or more for reasons you don’t need to understand because they make The Fiver’s head hurt. “I know it will be difficult but I cannot help think about it without a smile on my face,” smiled Jürgen Klopp, blinding assembled journalists with the gleam from his recently revitalised gnashers. For a truly Special European Night™, Klopp’s side would ideally have to come back from, say, a three-goal half-time deficit before ultimately emerging triumphant amid chaotically jubilant scenes. Historically, such miracles tend not to happen very often when they’re playing important matches against Italian teams managed by Carlo Ancelotti in Big Cup, but those thronging Anfield will be optimistic this might mark the second time.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Fair enough, it doesn’t look great being filmed drinking at an airport in the morning, but I had the next two days off and I’m trying to make a career for myself after football” – Jon Parkin responds to criticism of his conduct after a video on Social Media Disgrace Twitter showed the York City forward partaking in some booze en route to watching Feyenoord v PSV for his Undr The Cosh podcast.
RECOMMENDED LOOKING
David Squires on … the mistreatment of Raheem Sterling.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING
In pod we trust: here’s the latest Football Weekly.
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NEWS, BITS AND BOBS
Pep Guardiola has noted that “racism is everywhere” following the alleged abuse of Raheem Sterling during Manchester City’s game at Chelsea. “It’s not just in football,” he said. How we treat immigrants and refugees, when once in our lives our grandfathers were refugees. How we treat them in society – it’s everywhere.”
Meanwhile, the Chelsea fan accused of abusing Sterling has reportedly denied using racist language, but did admit he was “deeply ashamed” of his behaviour. And The Sun have defended their coverage of Sterling.
FC Zurich have condemned fans who threw a banana at rival player Aldo Kalulu during Sunday’s match at FC Basel.
Lord Ouseley is standing down as Kick It Out chairman after 25 years.
Ongoing Old Trafford happiness dept.
Back off there, anyone hanging their nose over Phil Foden: the Manchester City sprite has signed a new five-and-a-half year contract.
And La Liga suits have promised to press on with the plan to hold one of their games in the USA! USA!! USA!!! despite both the Spanish federation and planned participants Barcelona telling them where to sling it.
STILL WANT MORE?
Musa Okwonga says Raheem Sterling shouldn’t have to educate the media about racism.
Daniel Taylor reflects on his 20-year career as a football writer and concludes that it is time for change in outdated newsrooms.
Uefa’s seven-year sponsorship deal with Visa could be a seminal moment for women’s football, writes Suzanne Wrack.
Ben Fisher has dusted off his calculator and worked out that Tottenham have a 5.5% chance of storming the Camp Nou.
What links Grimsby Town, Roman Abramovich, Vitaly Mutko, and an obscure film? Richard Williams explains all.
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