13.6 C
Manchester
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Home Blog Page 183

Man City v Chelsea: No point to prove for Palmer in FA Cup semi-final, says Pochettino

0

Cole Palmer does not have anything to prove when he faces his former club Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday, insists Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino.

After struggling for regular gametime at the Etihad Stadium, Palmer joined Chelsea in a £40million deal on transfer deadline day last September.

He has been an immediate hit at Stamford Bridge, taking on a talismanic role within a young Blues team in an up-and-down campaign.

Read our other sports news stories here:
Man Utd v Coventry: Robins says Ten Hag’s side are ‘favourites by a million miles’
Man Utd v Coventry: Ten Hag says Garnacho has apologised for liking critical tweet
Chinese Grand Prix 2024: Norris beats Hamilton to P1 in ‘wild’ sprint qualifying session

Palmer drew level with City striker Erling Haaland in the Premier League’s Golden Boot race on Monday, reaching 20 goals for the season by netting four times in a 6-0 rout of Everton.

He also scored on his first appearance against his former club last November, his stoppage-time penalty salvaging a point for Chelsea in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Ahead of Saturday’s clash at Wembley Stadium, Pochettino insisted Palmer is not motivated by revenge after struggling to make the grade at City.

“Cole Palmer is performing above expectations, in a very good way. His consistency is good, but he’s young, so we need to be careful,” Pochettino said on Friday.

“He needs to evolve and develop, but of course, the expectation is far away from maybe what we thought in the beginning.

“He’s played Manchester City twice in the league already. He understood perfectly that he needed to prove himself in another club.

“He’s not the kind of person that wants to prove a point. He talks so highly of Pep and his time at City.”

At his own pre-match press conference, City boss Pep Guardiola said he did everything he could to keep Palmer, but the 21-year-old’s heart was set on pursuing first-team football elsewhere.

“He is an exceptional player, we knew when he was here, but I said many times I didn’t give him the minutes he maybe deserved or the minutes he now has at Chelsea,” Guardiola said.

“I’m happy for him. He’s a lovely guy, a shy guy with an incredible potential. He’s an incredible threat, he’s playing fantastically.

“He was asking to leave for two seasons. I was saying, ‘no, stay, stay’. In the end, he said he wanted to leave, so what could we do?”

Manchester City v Chelsea: Guardiola to wait on Haaland and De Bruyne

0

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will give Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne until the last minute to prove their fitness for tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

Haaland and De Bruyne both asked to come off during Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final, second leg defeat to Real Madrid – the Spanish side eventually prevailing on a penalty shoot-out – and will be assessed again before their availability is known for the game at Wembley.

Read our other sports news stories here:
Manchester United v Coventry City: Robins adamant his side are massive underdogs
Delhi Capitals v Sunrisers Hyderabad: preview and betting offers
Ten Hag: Garnacho has apologised for tweet

“Kevin seems well. Erling felt something, a muscular issue. Kevin felt exhausted, so tired, after five months out injured [at the start of the season], so that’s normal. We’ll see more tomorrow,” Guardiola said.

“It’s normal, with the amount of games we’ve played this season and in the previous seasons. There’s not much time for recovery, we played extra-time and the intensity we play…we are human beings, we are not machines, the fatigue is there.”

The Champions League exit ended City’s dream of registering the ‘double treble’ but with the FA Cup and Premier League – Guardiola’s men sit top of the table with six games to go – there is still plenty to play for.

He added: “I don’t want us to feel sorry for ourselves. In football you lose games. We performed at our best, we were not able to win. So what next?

“We don’t have time to reflect, we’ll do that in the summertime. You compete to win, but sometimes you lose games, and that’s what happened.

“I would prefer to play the title race and be in the Champions League. We are used [to that] because the last three years we arrive in semi-finals, finals. It is what it is.”

Manchester United v Coventry City: Robins says Ten Hag’s side are ‘favourites by a million miles’

0

Coventry City boss Mark Robins has dismissed Manchester United’s recent woes and claims Erik ten Hag’s side are the “favourites by a million miles” to win their FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.

Former United striker Robins – the scorer of a famous FA Cup goal that it’s claimed saved Alex Ferguson from the sack in 1990 – is now in charge of the Sky Blues, who remain an outside bet for a play-off place in the Championship.

Read our other sports news stories here:
Chinese Grand Prix 2024: Stroll leads first practice ahead of sprint qualifying
Delhi Capitals v Sunrisers Hyderabad: preview and betting offers
Ten Hag: Garnacho has apologised for tweet

They take on a United side with one win in seven Premier League games and seemingly persistently lurching from one crisis to another.

Nevertheless, Robins is adamant Ten Hag’s squad still possesses plenty of quality.

He said: “We know it’s a really difficult challenge. I hear people saying Manchester United are this or that. The truth is they have top players. We have got to be able to deal with the situation and the threat they pose.

“You have to go into this game understanding what the threats are. For people who are talking about United conceding a lot of shots, you are talking about a team which is full of talented top players.

“Most of them are international players, if not all of them, with a lot of really positive attributes. We know they are favourites to win this game by a million miles.

“We have to understand what this game is going to be, what the occasion is and the fact there shouldn’t be any fear.

“Manchester United are the biggest club in the world, we know they have got top talents. If you cannot go and enjoy that, you shouldn’t be playing.”

Coventry are also scratching round for their best form having won just one of their last four games.

Manchester United v Coventry City: Ten Hag says Garnacho has apologised for liking critical tweet

0

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag says winger Alejandro Garnacho has apologised for liking a tweet that criticised the Dutchman following the draw at Bournemouth last weekend.

Garnacho was substituted at half-time at the Vitality Stadium and later liked a tweet that claimed Ten Hag had “thrown him under the bus”.

Read our other sports news stories here:
Chinese Grand Prix 2024: Stroll leads first practice ahead of sprint qualifying
Delhi Capitals v Sunrisers Hyderabad: preview and betting offers
Archer targets T20 World Cup in home island of Barbados

Ten Hag has spoken to the Argentina international and, ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City, said it is time to focus on on-field matters.

He said: “Alejandro is a young player, has to learn a lot. He apologised for it and after that we move on.”

United have won just one of their last seven Premier League games, a run that has seen them slip to seventh in the table.

That means the FA Cup has taken on even greater importance but Ten Hag is wary of a Coventry side he described as “dangerous” under former United striker Mark Robins.

He added: “We have done our job and we are prepared. We know their team, we know how they play, their individual abilities and we know their manager, he’s doing a fantastic job.

“Of course, they are dangerous, they are in the semi-final. Last season they were close to [reaching] the Premier League. We saw their game against Wolves [in the quarter-final]. The mentality of the team is fabulous and we have to play to our best levels.”

Ten Hag is backing Brazil midfielder Casemiro to put a poor season behind him and come good when it really matters, starting at Wembley.

He said: “We needed a six when I arrived here and, last season, Casemiro was fantastic. I don’t think he ever scored so many goals. He was so important for the team.

“This season he has struggled with a bad injury but I know he is such a winner, just see his career. Always he has won. Wherever he was, there has been success.

“I trust that he will also give us success. He needs games but I am very optimistic about him, he’s a fighter and that’s why he has won big trophies. He’s a very important player for us.”

Antony and Scott McTominay should be fit after missing the Bournemouth game while Ten Hag also expects Harry Maguire to be available.

“Yeah, Antony and Scott I expect them to be back,” he said. “Scott didn’t train all week, partial on Wednesday, today I expect him full. Antony did train the whole week.”

“As I’ve already said, Harry, all game against Bournemouth, he struggled. He had an issue. He had a small injury and didn’t train this week, so far. But, now, he’s back on the pitch. So we expect him, today, back in the team training. He will be available, I think and I hope, for Sunday.”

Do you live in the UK’s ‘mouldiest’ place?

0

From damp flats to poorly ventilated houses, the battle against mould seems constant for many UK residents.

Awaab’s Law, introduced in 2023, came in the wake of tragic toddler Awaab Ishak, who died due to the damp and mould in his home, which was managed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing.

The new law was brought in to tackle this very problem by mandating faster response times from social housing landlords for dealing with damp and mould issues.

But despite the new legislation, mould continues to be a major problem up and down the country.

New research by thermal imaging experts at Tester measured the average monthly search volume for various mould-related terms over the past 12 months, including ‘mould removal cost’ and ‘black mould removal,’ to determine the UK’s mouldiest towns and cities.

And it’s Bolton that takes the title of the UK’s mouldiest town, with an average monthly search volume for mould related terms of 945 per 100,000 people. ‘Magic mould’ was the most searched term in Bolton, averaging 148 searches, with residents eager to find a simple solution to their ever-growing mould problems.

Croydon ranks second on the list, with an average monthly search volume of 933 per 100,000 residents. ‘Anti-mould paint’ was one of the highest-ranking terms for residents of Croydon, averaging 46 searches per month.

Placing third on the list is Manchester, with an average monthly search volume of 922 per 100,000 people. Residents of Manchester searched for ‘black mould’ an average of 163 times per month.

Rank

Location

Average Monthly Search Volume Per 100K

1

Bolton

945.18

2

Croydon

933.28

3

Manchester

922.43

4

Bath

914.10

5

Bristol

847.53

6

Lincoln

826.00

7

Bournemouth

776.28

8

Norwich

763.85

9

Stockport

761.71

10

Wakefield

727.30

A spokesperson for Tester said: “The surge in searches for mould related terms in the UK is worrying to say the least. The study shows that UK residents are actively seeking out mould removal solutions, pointing to a wider problem of mould and mildew growth in homes not being properly dealt with, either by landlords or homeowners themselves.”

Investigation continues after baby remains found at Wigan property

0

Human remains of a baby were discovered at a property on Marsh Green, Wigan, last Friday.

Specialist officers and crime scene investigators have been carrying out searches and enquiries, and have closed scenes at Marsh Green and Valley Road in Pemberton.

Five people, aged between 20 and 70, were initially arrested on suspicion of concealing a death and unlawful burial, but have since been put on police bail whilst enquiries continue.

Detective chief inspector John Davies leading the investigation said, “I completely understand why the news of this discovery has shocked the community. It really is a tragic set of circumstances.

“I want to provide reassurance to those residing locally that our continued presence in the area is simply to ensure we are being as diligent and thorough as possible, and to listen to any concerns you may have, not because there is any risk to the public. I am confident in saying there is no wider threat.

“This is an incredibly complex investigation, and as such is going to take some time to arrive at answers both we and the community want; we are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances leading up to the recovery of the remains. At this stage of our investigation, we have not found any other remains and believe this to be an isolated incident.

“As soon as we are able to confirm further details about the circumstances, we will do so. The cooperation and understanding of the community have not gone unnoticed.”

Anyone with any information which they believe could assist police enquiries, can call 101 quoting log 1609 of 10/04/24. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Manchester Airport Taxis

0

Manchester Airport, located in Greater Manchester, England, is one of the busiest and largest airports in the United Kingdom. 

Many flights operate here regularly, so people are interested in the service Manchester Airport Taxis

Airport Features Manchester

Here’s an overview of what Manchester Airport is like:

  • Size and Facilities: Manchester Airport spans over 1,400 acres and consists of three passenger terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3. Each terminal offers a range of facilities, including check-in counters, security checkpoints, lounges, shops, restaurants, and duty-free stores.
  • Passenger Traffic: As one of the UK’s busiest airports, Manchester Airport serves millions of passengers annually, connecting them to domestic, European, and international destinations. It serves as a hub for various airlines and offers flights to over 200 destinations worldwide.
  • Transportation Options: Manchester Airport is well-connected to the city center and surrounding areas via various transportation options. These include trains, buses, coaches, taxis, rental cars, and private transfers. The airport has its own train station, the Manchester Airport railway station, which provides direct rail services to Manchester city center and other major cities in the UK.
  • Shopping and Dining: The airport features a wide array of shopping and dining options to cater to passengers’ needs and preferences. From high-street brands and designer boutiques to cafes, bars, and restaurants, travelers can find plenty of choices to shop, dine, and relax before or after their flights.
  • Lounges and Services: Manchester Airport offers several lounges, including airline lounges and independent lounges, where passengers can enjoy complimentary refreshments, Wi-Fi access, workstations, and comfortable seating. Additionally, the airport provides various services such as currency exchange, luggage storage, prayer rooms, medical assistance, and special assistance for passengers with reduced mobility.
  • Parking and Hotels: The airport offers a range of parking options, including short-stay, long-stay, and meet-and-greet parking, as well as valet services. Additionally, there are several hotels located within close proximity to the airport, offering convenient accommodation options for passengers with early morning departures or late-night arrivals.
  • Airport Expansion: Manchester Airport has undergone significant expansion and redevelopment projects in recent years to enhance its capacity, efficiency, and passenger experience. This includes terminal upgrades, runway extensions, and infrastructure improvements to accommodate the growing demand for air travel.

Overall, Manchester Airport provides a modern and efficient travel experience for passengers, offering a wide range of services, amenities, and connectivity options to meet the needs of travelers flying to and from the North of England.

Taxi in Manchester Airport

Getting to Manchester Airport quickly by taxi is a convenient option for travelers looking to avoid the hassle of driving, parking, or relying on public transport. Here’s how you can quickly get to Manchester Airport by taxi:

  • Pre-Book a Taxi: To ensure a seamless journey, it’s advisable to pre-book a taxi in advance, especially during peak travel times or if you have a tight schedule. You can book a taxi through various taxi companies, online booking platforms, or by calling a local taxi service provider.
  • Choose a Reliable Taxi Service: Select a reputable taxi service known for its reliability, punctuality, and quality of service. Look for licensed taxi companies with experienced drivers and well-maintained vehicles equipped with GPS navigation systems to ensure a smooth and efficient journey.
  • Provide Pickup Details: When booking your taxi, provide accurate pickup details, including your location, desired pickup time, and destination (Manchester Airport). Clearly communicate any specific requirements or preferences, such as luggage space, vehicle type, or additional stops along the way.
  • Plan Your Route: Opt for the most direct and efficient route to Manchester Airport to minimize travel time and avoid traffic congestion. Experienced taxi drivers are familiar with the best routes and traffic conditions, allowing them to navigate the roads swiftly and safely.
  • Monitor Traffic Conditions: Keep an eye on traffic updates and potential delays, especially if you’re traveling during peak hours or inclement weather. Taxi drivers can adjust their routes in real-time to avoid traffic jams and ensure timely arrival at the airport.
  • Arrive Early: To allow for any unforeseen delays or unexpected traffic, aim to arrive at Manchester Airport well in advance of your departure time. It’s recommended to arrive at least 2-3 hours before your scheduled flight departure for domestic flights and 3-4 hours for international flights.
  • Airport Drop-Off: Upon arrival at Manchester Airport, your taxi driver will drop you off at the designated drop-off area outside the terminal building. Follow the signage and airport instructions to access the check-in counters, security checkpoints, and departure gates for your flight.
  • Payment and Gratuity: Pay the fare for your taxi ride upon arrival at Manchester Airport. Tipping is customary but not mandatory in the UK. If you’re satisfied with the service provided by your taxi driver, you can offer a gratuity as a token of appreciation.

By following these tips and booking a reliable taxi service, you can quickly and efficiently get to Manchester Airport, allowing you to start your journey stress-free and on time.

Chinese Grand Prix 2024: Norris beats Hamilton to P1 in ‘wild’ sprint qualifying session

Lando Norris beat Lewis Hamilton to pole position in sprint qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix on Friday, having his fastest lap reinstated at the end of a dramatic, rain-affected session.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton had appeared to take pole for Saturday’s sprint race when Norris’ time of 1:57.940 was deleted for exceeding track limits.

However, stewards reinstated his lap in the closing moments of a wet session in Shanghai, lifting him back above Hamilton to ensure he will lead Saturday’s 19-lap sprint from the front.

Read our other sports news stories here:
Chinese Grand Prix 2024: Stroll leads first practice ahead of sprint qualifying
Rafael Nadal sees Barcelona Open comeback halted by Alex de Minaur
Archer targets T20 World Cup in home island of Barbados

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was third while Max Verstappen finished fourth, the rain derailing Red Bull’s efforts after the reigning champion was fastest in dry conditions at the start of the session.

Speaking after the session, Norris admitted he was surprised to find himself at the top of the timesheets, saying: “It was wild. I am extremely happy, big thanks to the team. It was tricky.

“I was quite happy with how we were in the dry, I was nervous. I was quick, I kept catching the Ferrari so had to keep backing off. I got a good final lap.

“I’m sad it is not for a proper qualifying but it’s good enough. It was good fun, it gets your heart going. It’s a nice surprise and a good position for tomorrow.”

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said he had no issues with Norris’ lap being reinstated, but he was frustrated to see George Russell eliminated in SQ2, sitting in 11th.

“Our car generating grip is not an easy task. We failed in SQ1 and SQ2 but got it right in SQ3,” Wolff said. “The driving is the most important thing in the wet but it’s also about tyre preparation.

“We did the right thing on the final run, the tyres were in the sweet spot, combined with the driving.”

Meanwhile, Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu made the top 10 on his first outing in his home country, with COVID-19 restrictions seeing the last four editions of the Chinese Grand Prix cancelled.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Guanyu said of his dream home debut: “I am just happy with the first day and it was great to have everyone here.

“The pressure before the weekend was so extreme, like I felt when I made my debut. Everyone is here and that is when you want to do well. We will give everything.”

Chinese Grand Prix 2024: Stroll leads first practice ahead of sprint qualifying

Lance Stroll was the unexpected pacesetter in the first practice session at the Chinese Grand Prix ahead of sprint qualifying taking place on Friday.

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen was top of the pile for much of the opening session at the Shanghai International Circuit, with the Chinese event returning after a five-year absence caused by COVID-19 restrictions.

However, the Red Bull driver was overhauled by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who in turn couldn’t keep up with Aston Martin’s Stroll, the Canadian finishing 0.327 seconds clear of Piastri.

Read our other sports news stories here:
Archer targets T20 World Cup in home island of Barbados
Rafael Nadal sees Barcelona Open comeback halted by Alex de Minaur
Will Kobbie Mainoo Force His Way Into Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 Plans?

Verstappen was third with his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez following him in fourth, with the timesheets giving little away ahead of the fifth race of the season.

Mercedes duo George Russell and Lewis Hamilton came in 17th and 18th, respectively, with the latter complaining that the W15 car was “really bad” over team radio while running on hard tyres.

Just 15 minutes into the session, racing was halted after a small patch of grass caught on fire near turn seven, the cars returning to the pit lane under a red flag to allow marshals to extinguish the flames.

The bizarre incident took mere minutes to be resolved, with organisers believing a spark generated by the underside of a car striking the ground may have caused the fire in dry conditions.

Following changes to the scheduling of sprint race weekends for 2024, the teams will now compete in sprint qualifying on Friday, with the 19-lap sprint race taking place early on Saturday.

Communisis Group’s Printing Facilities’ Equipment Set for Auction

0

NCM Auctions, specialists in auctioneering and asset management, are overseeing the sale of assets from Communisis Group’s print production, mailing, and fulfilment sites in Leeds and Liverpool.

Communisis, a prominent provider in integrated marketing services, has played a crucial role in supplying print and mailing solutions to some of the UK’s leading financial and public organisations. Following the company’s move into administration last year, the Leeds-based firm is now auctioning off its assets.

The sale features the equipment and contents from the Leeds and Liverpool printing and fulfilment locations. The auction includes exclusive sales of everything from advanced printing and finishing equipment to lifting devices, workshop tools, storage solutions, and office essentials, presenting extensive opportunities for those in the printing industry.

A special live auction on 25 April will spotlight the primary production lines, including printing presses and finishing equipment that were used for creating financial documents, marketing materials, cheque books, polling cards, and various other specialised items.

Key pieces of equipment on offer include a Hewlett-Packard T300 colour inkjet web press, a high-capacity Rotoman EDE 6-station web press with dryer, Drent and Goebel presses ideal for cheque books and financial printing, a Roland R700 6-colour press, Heidelberg printing presses, and a Scitex personalisation line suited for high-speed variable data overprinting, accompanied by a 15-part finishing line.

Additionally, the auction will cover items from the pre-press and plate-making room, large-format proofing printers, Polar guillotines, Hohner, and MBO finishing machines, and more.

Emma Humble, Head of Partnerships at NCM Auctions, stated: “This sale for Communisis is a large project across multiple sites and brings a lot of infrequent and specialist machinery to the market. Our circular approach helps to extend the life cycle of this equipment. It means there are hundreds of pieces of machinery across these sales that will go on to be used by a range of businesses, from start-ups and smaller organisations to those in the print industry who understand the production capacity and quality of the end product they can achieve with this combination of print and finishing equipment.”

“We’ve already seen a great deal of interest from potential buyers both in the UK and overseas. With an auction like this, I would urge potential bidders to book with us and arrange a viewing with our team before the auction.” The live auction of the equipment and machinery from the Leeds site is scheduled for 11am on 25 April.

Subsequent timed auctions will feature the remaining factory equipment, workshop tools, lifting and handling gear, office contents, and smaller machines, running from 24 April to 3 May.

Interested bidders are invited to view the catalogue, register, and place pre-auction bids.

Appointments for viewings are available upon request. To arrange a viewing or for more information, contact the NCM auction team at 01302 898260 or email [email protected].