Pep Guardiola has admitted his Manchester City stars are "so, so tired" following their emotional battle with Arsenal. Ahead of the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton, the City boss expressed concerns over the thick Wembley grass and the risk of season-ending injuries.
Southampton have ditched their traditional red and white stripes for a special yellow kit against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. The commemorative strip marks the 50th anniversary of the Saints' iconic 1976 victory over Manchester United - the only major trophy in the club's history. Tonda Eckert’s side hope the "lucky charm" kit can inspire another Wembley miracle against the Premier League leaders.
Southampton could boast a secret weapon in the FA Cup semi-finals, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis having the ear of Roy Keane - a man that loved to slay Manchester City in his playing days. The United legend is on hand to offer words of wisdom if required, although Saints icon Shane Long has told GOAL why asking questions of the enigmatic Irishman is not always the best of ideas.
To paraphrase the great Homer Simpson, it is not only easy to criticise, but fun, too. It is quite simple to sit and judge from this ivory tower, but hey, that's football after all, merely a game of opinions. Being a Premier League manager must be one of the loneliest gigs in the world, particularly when results are wayward and your job security is the subject of international speculation.
Oriol Romeu’s return to Southampton has not played out as planned, but Lionel Messi’s former Barcelona team-mate - with two spells at Camp Nou on his CV - can still play an important role in dashing Manchester City’s domestic treble dreams of 2025-26. Saints legend Shane Long has explained to GOAL, ahead of the FA Cup semi-finals, why that is the case.
Southampton have seen the likes of Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk pass through St Mary’s, but could Shea Charles - who has already been compared to Jude Bellingham while heading down a similar career path to Morgan Rogers - become their latest superstar? Saints legend Shane Long has attempted to answer that question during an exclusive interview with GOAL.
Jonjo Shelvey is calling time on his distinguished playing career to immediately transition into management with UAE third-tier outfit Arabian Falcons FC. The former Liverpool and England playmaker is stepping into the dugout to lead a promotion charge, marking a swift end to his playing days in the Middle East alongside Ravel Morrison.
Stuttgart are bracing for a busy summer as Europe's heavyweights circle their prize assets. Midfield lynchpin Angelo Stiller has emerged as a primary target for Real Madrid and Manchester United. To ward off these elite suitors, Stuttgart have slapped a €50 million asking price on their star, making it clear they will only part with him for a premium fee.
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson was left reeling after witnessing his side suffer a humiliating 5-1 home defeat at the hands of Southampton. The result marks a significant blow to the Premier League promotion aspirations of co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac as the Red Dragons slipped down the Championship table.
Manchester United have joined the race for Southampton’s Shea Charles after the midfielder dumped Arsenal out of the FA Cup. The Red Devils face competition from Premier League rivals for the former Manchester City prodigy.
The road to Wembley is reaching its climax after the draw for the 2025-26 FA Cup semi-finals was officially confirmed on Sunday. Four teams remain in the hunt for major silverware as the competition moves to the national stadium for the penultimate stage of the tournament.
Gabriel Martinelli is facing heavy criticism after shoving referee Sam Barrott during Arsenal's shock FA Cup defeat to Southampton. Former Premier League official Mark Halsey believes the Brazilian forward should have received a red card for the late incident, labelling his actions as a complete lack of respect that sets a terrible example for grassroots football across the country.
Former Arsenal man Theo Walcott has claimed that Mikel Arteta’s "nervous energy" on the touchline filtered through to his players during their disappointing FA Cup exit at Southampton. The Gunners saw their trophy dreams further diminished as a late Shea Charles strike secured a 2-1 victory for the Championship side on the south coast.
Christian Norgaard has hit out at his Arsenal team-mates following their shock 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Southampton, labelling their defensive lapse for the winning goal as "very stupid". The Gunners saw this season's hopes of a domestic trophy vanish at St Mary's as the Championship side executed a perfect giant-killing to dump the Premier League leaders out of the competition.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has launched a passionate defence of his players following their surprise FA Cup exit at the hands of Southampton. Despite the disappointment of missing out on a return to Wembley, the Spaniard refused to point fingers at a squad that he believes has given everything over a gruelling campaign.
Southampton’s social media team rubbed salt into Arsenal's wounds following their shock FA Cup exit on Saturday. After securing a 2-1 victory over the Premier League leaders, the Championship side's official account delivered a brutal response to a disgruntled Gunners supporter online.
Mikel Arteta has hit back at suggestions that Arsenal players have prioritised club over country after a staggering 11 members of his squad withdrew from international duty. The Gunners boss insists that the medical decisions were necessary and the club maintains a transparent relationship with national team managers, including England's Thomas Tuchel.
Southampton
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