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‘We have a team for the future’ – Ten Hag hails Man Utd youngsters after Liverpool win

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Erik ten Hag hailed Manchester United’s young players after the Red Devils reached the FA Cup semi-finals with a dramatic 4-3 win over Liverpool, declaring: “We have a team for the future”.

Amad Diallo came off the bench to score a last-gasp winner in extra time as United ended Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of leading Liverpool to a farewell quadruple in a cup classic.

Liverpool had one foot in the semi-finals when goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah put them 2-1 up at the interval, only for Antony to equalise three minutes from full-time.

Read our other sports news stories here:
FA Cup semi-final draw: Man Utd to face Coventry after stunning Liverpool win
Man Utd 4-3 Liverpool: Diallo ends Klopp’s quadruple dream in FA Cup thriller
Man City vs Newcastle: Silva goals send holders to FA Cup semi-finals

United faced more adversity in the additional period as Harvey Elliott’s deflected strike put Liverpool 3-2 up, but Marcus Rashford equalised before Diallo’s winner sparked wild celebrations at Old Trafford.

Diallo fired into the bottom-right corner after taking in Alejandro Garnacho’s pass and was then sent off for removing his shirt amid the chaotic celebrations as United booked their ticket to Wembley.

After the win, Ten Hag heaped praise on United’s young players for the character they showed in sparking the fightback.

“The first 30 minutes was the best of our whole season, we were acting as a team but then we got gaps between the lines and you can’t allow this against one of the best teams in Europe,” he told BBC Sport.

“They outplayed us. Then we made changes, we took risks and the players were wonderful. The attitude was great, there was a strong belief we could win this game.

“We have a team that is for the future. Coming up are players who are developing very well like Diallo, Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.”

United have been handed a favourable draw in the last four, with Coventry City up next after the Sky Blues launched their own stunning comeback to beat Wolves 3-2 on Saturday.

A repeat of last year’s final against Manchester City could now be on the cards for United, but Ten Hag is refusing to look beyond Coventry.

“I think it’s always 50-50 in any semi-final,” he said. “To go to the final we have to win against Coventry, and we will have to play at our best.

“We saw that Coventry have great spirit yesterday, a great mentality. We will prepare our best to reach the final.”

FA Cup semi-final draw: Manchester United to face Coventry after stunning Liverpool win

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Manchester United will face Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-finals after Amad Diallo fired the Red Devils to a stunning 4-3 extra-time win over Liverpool in Sunday’s quarter-final classic.

Diallo fired across Caoimhin Kelleher in the 121st minute to decide a remarkable game at Old Trafford, where United were forced to fight back from 2-1 and 3-2 down.

The young winger was then sent off for removing his shirt amid the chaotic celebrations which followed his goal, which ended Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of a quadruple in his final campaign with Liverpool.

Read our other sports news stories here:
Man Utd 4-3 Liverpool (AET): Diallo ends Klopp’s quadruple dream in FA Cup thriller
Man City vs Newcastle: Silva goals send holders to FA Cup semi-finals
Six Nations: Ireland beat Scotland to retain title

United’s reward is a meeting with Coventry at Wembley Stadium, after the Championship team produced their own stunning comeback to beat Wolves 3-2 at Molineux on Saturday.

Coventry trailed 2-1 with 96 minutes played in the West Midlands, but stoppage-time strikes from Ellis Simms and Haji Wright fired Mark Robins’ men to a memorable success.

Should United overcome the Sky Blues at the national stadium, they could face a repeat of last season’s final against local rivals Manchester City, who beat Newcastle United 2-0 on Saturday.

City will face Chelsea in the final four, with Mauricio Pochettino’s men edging another thriller against Leicester City on Sunday, with substitutes Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke netting in stoppage time.

Man Utd 4-3 Liverpool (AET): Diallo ends Klopp’s quadruple dream in FA Cup thriller

Amad Diallo ended Jurgen Klopp’s dream of a farewell quadruple with a last-gasp, extra-time winner as Manchester United twice came from behind in a stunning 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Diallo was sent off for removing his shirt in celebration following his dramatic 121st-minute winner, which capped a remarkable game in which the Red Devils twice looked to be heading for defeat.

Liverpool appeared to be cruising into the semi-finals when first-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah put them 2-1 up, only for Antony to step off the bench to level things with three minutes of the 90 remaining.

Read our other sports news stories here:
Man City vs Newcastle: Silva goals send holders to FA Cup semi-finals
Carlo Ancelotti: ‘No favourite’ ahead of Man City-Real Madrid tie
Six Nations 2024: Ireland beat Scotland to retain title

Harvey Elliott’s deflected strike again put Liverpool on the brink in the additional period, but Marcus Rashford’s cool finish made it 3-3 and left both teams facing up to the prospect of a penalty shoot-out.

However, Diallo wrote the final chapter in a true FA Cup classic, finishing across Caoimhin Kelleher to send United to Wembley for the semi-finals and dash Liverpool’s dreams of ending the season with four trophies.

United shaded a high-octane start and were rewarded with the opener after 10 minutes. Rashford found Alejandro Garnacho darting in behind, and though Kelleher kept the Argentine’s effort out, Scott McTominay had the simplest of finishes on the rebound.

Liverpool were denied an equaliser by the offside flag when Wataru Endo steered Salah’s cutback home, but they got back on terms via a flowing move after 44 minutes, with Mac Allister’s strike taking a slight deflection off Kobbie Mainoo to beat Andre Onana.

Two minutes into first-half stoppage time, the visitors were ahead as Onana could only parry Darwin Nunez’s strike, allowing Salah to blast into an empty net on the follow-up.

United looked increasingly ragged in their bid for a leveller after the break, but Liverpool failed to punish them and were made to pay when Garnacho’s deflected shot dropped at the feet of Antony, who finished on the turn.

Rashford spurned a glorious chance when he side-footed wide in stoppage time after being played through by Bruno Fernandes, and that miss looked like being costly when Elliott’s long-range strike deflected in off Eriksen 15 minutes into extra time.

However, Rashford atoned for his earlier miss by slotting home after Diallo and McTominay combined to recover possession high up the pitch, and from there, the momentum was with the hosts.

With spot-kicks looming, Liverpool were caught out by a rapid United break, and though Garnacho’s pass was behind Diallo, the substitute got it out of his feet before tucking his finish into the bottom-right corner.

That goal sparked pandemonium at Old Trafford, with Diallo shown a second yellow card for removing his shirt. The youngster won’t mind one bit, however, after scoring a goal which will go down in the storied history of English football’s biggest rivalry.

Man City vs Newcastle: Silva goals send holders to FA Cup semi-finals

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Bernardo Silva scored two first-half goals to give holders Manchester City a routine 2-0 home win over Newcastle and a place in the FA Cup semi-finals for the seventh time in eight seasons under manager Pep Guardiola.

Playmaker Silva struck with two heavily deflected efforts in 19 minutes from inside the penalty area, the first hitting Dan Burn and the second wrong-footing goalkeeper Martin Dubravka via Sven Botman.

Alexander Isak had Newcastle’s best chance but failed to trouble Stefan Ortega – deputising for the injured Ederson – from close range.

City will discover their opponents in the final four at Wembley Stadium when the draw is made on Sunday evening.

Check out our other stories here: 
Ireland win Six Nations
Italy win in Wales

Cheltenham: Mullins caps incredible week

At a rain-lashed Etihad Stadium, Newcastle put in a damp squib of a performance as City scarcely appeared to build a sweat on their way to a comfortable victory.

The Magpies were unlucky to concede both goals but there rarely seemed a realistic prospect of Eddie Howe’s side exerting sustained control over a game in which they had 28% of possession.

Mateo Kovacic was a major part of City’s dominance in the absence of the injured Kevin De Bruyne, while Silva, Phil Foden, Rodri and Jeremy Doku – preferred to the returning Jack Grealish – were too quick and too slick for Newcastle to stop.

FA Cup result: City outclass Newcastle

Isak should have done better with the half-chances he was afforded and Dan Burn was reticent when offered a presentable chance to shoot from a promising position.

A trip to City is the cup draw no team wants but a return of two shots was the visitors’ lowest in a game for almost nine years and the tameness of their showing could provide Howe with real concern.

Erling Haaland went closest to scoring a third for City, collecting a pass from Kovacic and racing forward before sending his drive against a post.

The forward was replaced by Julian Alvarez as the Cityzens closed in on a fourth successive home win in all competitions which keeps their ambitions of the treble firmly intact.

League leaders Arsenal are the visitors in their next game on March 31, when they will start a point behind the Gunners and second-placed Liverpool.

Tenth-placed Newcastle could leapfrog West Ham into seventh if they beat the Hammers the previous day and other results are favourable for them.

Six Nations 2024 result: Ireland beat Scotland to regain title and end England and France hopes

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Ireland beat Scotland 17-13 to retain the Six Nations 2024 and deny their opponents, England and France the chance to beat them to the title at Dublin Arena.

Finn Russell kicked penalties either side of Dan Sheehan capitalising on a calamitous Scotland throw to score the only try of the first half before and give Ireland a 7-6 half-time lead.

Tadhg Furlong thought he had gone over shortly after a second-half Jack Crowley penalty but was denied following a lengthy review.

Andrew Porter extended Ireland’s advantage to 11 points but Russell’s conversion from Huw Jones’ try ensured a nervy final two minutes.

Ireland have now won 19 successive home games, while Scotland’s defeat meant they missed out on a first ever Triple Crown.

Check out our other stories here: 
Italy win in Wales
Cheltenham: Mullins caps incredible week
Rashford not for sale despite PSG interest – Ten Hag

Ireland’s last-gasp defeat against England at Twickenham a week ago had thrown open the prospect of one of four teams becoming champions at the start of a day dubbed by some as ‘Super Saturday’ in the Six Nations.

The bonus points system led to some complicated permutations, but Andy Farrell’s side had by far the most straightforward of them to process: win or draw to guarantee glory.

Ireland win Six Nations

France and England will have been encouraged by Scotland going ahead but their dreams have been ended before they meet at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais at 20:00 GMT.

Gregor Townsend’s players lost in Italy last weekend but pushed Ireland hard at times, arguably having the better of the first half.

“Scotland are a team that always stick in there,” Porter told ITV. “You could see that in the last few minutes, there. We were on the edge of our seats – credit to them.

“They were a tough team to break down, their defence put it up to us. You’ve just got to keep backing yourself and that’s what we did.”

Six Nations 2024: Wales vs Italy result ends in Wooden Spoon for whitewashed hosts

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Wales ended their Six Nations 2024 campaign with the Wooden Spoon and five defeats from five as Warren Gatland’s side lost 24-21 to Italy at the Principality Stadium.

Monty Ioane’s opening try provided the ideal start for an Italy team who shocked Scotland a week earlier.

Lorenzo Pani scored the visitors’ second try shortly after the break, with Paolo Garbisi kicking a conversion and three penalties, while Martin Page-Relo gave them breathing space before a late Wales rally.

The result represented a miserable farewell for George North, who hobbled off injured with full-time looming, in the final match of the centre’s Test career.

Check out our other stories here: 
Cheltenham: Mullins caps incredible week
Rashford not for sale despite PSG interest – Ten Hag

Ten Hag: United always rise to the big occasion

Elliot Dee gave Wales hope with a 65th-minute try which was confirmed following a lengthy review, Sam Costelow converting.

But Garbisi scored two more penalties to leave the home fans disgruntled and Wales condemned to finishing a forgettable campaign pointless.

After Page-Relo put the Azzurri out of sight with a 74th-minute penalty, Will Rowlands went over a minute from time and Ioan Lloyd converted.

There was time for more consolation in the final play as replacement Mason Grady scored and Lloyd added points again.

Wales vs Italy: Azzurri win again

Italy have now won successive visits to Wales, having prevailed 22-21 at the Millennium Stadium in the Six Nations almost exactly two years ago.

The underdogs were worthy winners, proving superior in every aspect of their play before breaking out champagne to celebrate once the full-time whistle had sounded.

Wales’ inexperienced squad became their first to finish bottom of the Six Nations in 21 years, securing only four points along the way.

Ireland host Scotland (16:45 GMT) and England visit France (20:00 GMT) on a day which has been dubbed ‘Super Saturday’ because any of the teams involved could become this year’s champions.

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Cheltenham Festival 2024: Mullins caps incredible week as Galopin Des Champs retains the Gold Cup

Willie Mullins was left to reflect on a week that he found “so good” as he rounded off the Cheltenham Festival with another Gold Cup success with Galopin Des Champs.

Galopin Des Champs retained the trophy he won last year in devastating fashion to win the 100th running of the race. He stayed with pacesetter The Real Whacker before cruising through the gears and ignoring the irritating presence of the unseated Fastorslow to win at a canter and justify his status as 10/11 favourite.

Check out our other stories here: 
Rashford not for sale despite PSG interest – Ten Hag
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Gerri Colombe was second at 13/2 with Corach Rambler third at 14/1.

The win was the icing on the cake for Mullins, who racked up 100 Cheltenham Festival wins on Wednesday and claimed nine in total this week.

He said: “It feels a bit overwhelming to win the 100th Gold Cup.

“The week has been so good, the horses have done well, the jockeys have ridden well. It is like a perfect storm.

“We were sitting at home last week and I turned around to Patrick [Mullins’ son] and some of the others from the team and said ‘is it me or is everything going eerily well’. They all looked at each other and said it was.

“Preparations had gone perfectly. We knew it could be a hell of a week and it has worked out like that.”

Paul Townend gave Galopin Des Champs the perfect ride for Mullins and owners Audrey and Greg Turley with the trainer already targeting a three-peat in 2025. 

He added: “I think he put himself in the superstar category to do what he did in the way he did it. 

“Paul was so positive on him and we’ll have to come back next year and try to win a third one with him. He has the ability to do it, he just has to stay sound I think.”

Mullins also enjoyed success in the opening two races on the fourth and final day of the Festival, starting with Majborough winning the JCB Triumph Hurdle under Mark Walsh ahead of Kargese at 4/1 and Salver at 10/1.

Walsh told ITV Racing: “He’s not your typical juvenile hurdler, he’s a big chaser.

“He’s such a big four-year-old, he’s so strong. He was a little bit keen in my hands early but I was just happy to sit and get a lead for as long as I could.”

Mullins followed up that success with Absurde winning the 14.10, the County Hurdle thanks largely to a brilliant ride from the ever-reliable Townend, who was able to carve a path through the field to deny 7/2 favourite L’Eau Du Sud.

I loved that,” said Townend with Absurde coming in at 12/1. “I got a lot of satisfaction out of it to tell you the truth. What a horse to travel the world and come back and put in a performance like that on that ground.”

Mullins missed out in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle with 2/1 favourite Readin Tommy Wrong pulled up, allowing Stellar Story (33/1) to edge out the Harry Redknapp-owned The Jukebox Man (18/1) with Dancing City (8/1) third.

There was a nice story in the Hunters’ Chase with Fiona Needham training the winning horse, Sine Nomine.

Needham was the winning jockey in the same race 22 years ago on Last Option with John Dawson taking the honours this time round.

Dawson said: “Just a phenomenal buzz. She’s a lovely mare. She’s come through and progressed all the time. We all believe in her. We’re chuffed.”

Golden Ace won the Ryanair Mares’ Novices Hurdle at 10/1 and the Festival was completed when Better Days Ahead won the last race of the day, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at 5/1.

Carlo Ancelotti: ‘No favourite’ ahead of Man City-Real Madrid tie

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Carlo Ancelotti cannot pick a favourite ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final tie against Manchester City and is relishing the challenge of attempting to eliminate the holders.

Fourteen-time European champions Madrid were paired with City in Friday’s quarter-final draw, having clung on for a nervy 2-1 aggregate win over RB Leipzig in the round of 16 last week.

Los Blancos overcame City in dramatic circumstances in the 2021-22 semi-finals, with Rodrygo scoring a stoppage-time double to send the second leg to extra time, before a Karim Benzema penalty sealed a 6-5 aggregate win for the Spanish giants.

Read our other sports news stories here:
Cheltenham Festival 2024: Galopin Des Champs wins the Gold Cup
Manchester United v Liverpool: Ten Hag says Rashford is not for sale
Pep Guardiola: Real Madrid tie ‘special’ for Manchester City

However, City got their revenge at the same stage last campaign, thrashing Madrid 5-1 on aggregate en route to winning the treble.

While most onlookers saw City as the team to avoid ahead of Friday’s draw, Ancelotti is embracing the challenge of facing the reigning champions.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Saturday’s clash with Osasuna in LaLiga, Ancelotti said: “I think the idea is to win the competition and if you want to win it, you have to beat the best.

“It could be that City are the best team, but if we want to win the Champions League we have to beat City.

“Everyone has their opinion. For me it is very even and there is no favourite.”

Madrid were trounced 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium in the second leg of last season’s semi-final tie, with Bernardo Silva scoring twice as Pep Guardiola’s men produced a mesmerising display.

Ancelotti, however, is not viewing next month’s tie as an opportunity for revenge, saying: “There is no revenge.

“It is an opportunity to reach the semi-finals. Nothing more. They are a difficult opponent but in the quarter-finals, that will always happen.

“The second leg was not a good game for many reasons and now we will have time to think about this. We are focused on tomorrow’s game. The draw is just a small detail for us.”

Cheltenham Festival 2024: Galopin Des Champs wins the Gold Cup

Galopin Des Champs won back-to-back Gold Cups this afternoon with a brilliant ride at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Willie Mullins-trained horse, ridden by Paul Townend, stayed in contention behind pacesetter The Real Whacker for much of the trip but moved through the gears to cruise home as the 10/11 favourite and become just the third horse this century to retain the trophy.

Gerri Colombe was second at 13/2 with Corach Rambler third at 14/1.

Check out our other stories here: 
Rashford not for sale despite PSG interest – Ten Hag
Ten Hag: United always rise to the big occasion
Guardiola excited by Real Madrid draw

Although the outcome was the same, Townend said he rode him very differently to his win in 2023.

He told ITV Sport: “Unbelievable. We had to go through his reserves.

“I rode him completely different to last year and he was so brave for me. I was afraid we didn’t have enough but it’s the Gold Cup so we had to go for it.

“What makes him a champion? His heart probably. We had to go through reserves which only special horses have.”

Winning owner Audrey Turley was thrilled with her horse’s achievement. She said: “We are so happy and excited. It is just fantastic.

“He is a fantastic horse. It isn’t easy to win back to back Gold Cups. We couldn’t be more thrilled and to do it on the 100th anniversary of the Gold Cup – what a moment.”

Mullins, who racked up 100 wins at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday, was impressed with the way Galopin Des Champs dismissed the threat of Fastorslow, who unseated his rider and became a nuisance to the leaders, and believes the win gives Galopin Des Champs elite status.

He said: “I think he just put himself into the superstar category, to do what he did and the way he did it with the loose horse.

“We will come back and try to win it for a third time. He has the ability to do it.

“He gave us no concern really, it was the loose horse which was the one concern.

“He hit one fence early, third or fourth, but after that it was very easy. Paul got him into position and he was travelling easily.”