It’s an important day on the Premier League press conference front, with the latest news awaited on Erling Haaland (£12.0m) – not that we’re expecting Pep Guardiola to be open and honest about the Norwegian’s fitness.
The City boss is due to face the media on Friday and you’ll find all the key quotes from him, and other Premier League managers, in this ‘live’ article.
What we do know is that Haaland has trained with his teammates this week, with one training ground image catching him mid-flight – hopefully a good sign that his troublesome groin is now able to withstand the rigours of competitive football:
There could be as many as 10 top-flight managers holding press conferences on Good Friday, while Eddie Howe did his in the aftermath of Newcastle United’s midweek win over West Ham United. You can read his comments in the article below, too.
Nine other Premier League managers faced reporters on Thursday and you can hear what they had to say in this round-up here.
KEY UPDATES FROM FRIDAY
FRIDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
The day’s press conference times will appear here when we receive the details.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Emil Krafth (knee) and Miguel Almiron (thigh) remain out but they were the only Newcastle players on the sidelines for the midweek win over West Ham United, with no obvious fresh concerns emerging from that match.
Howe staging his pre-Gameweek 30 presser on Wednesday evening isn’t ideal, however, as there could well be an injury or two belatedly discovered that now goes unreported.
The Newcastle boss did talk at length about his conundrum in attack, with Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak locked in a tussle for the Magpies’ centre-forward role.
“I think I’ll leave that decision for another day. I don’t think I’ll burn any energy doing that tonight! But they’re the problems you want to have. It’s a great situation for me to be in. I’ve been in other situations where you might not even have a player to fill the role. Now I’ve got two outstanding players, and I’ll try to make the right call for the next game.
“The players have to understand when they’re playing and they’re not playing. Both players have to be honest. Alex was excellent about my decision [not to start him at West Ham], and proved that when he came on and scored. The roles were reversed when Callum didn’t start against Manchester United, Alex played really well, Callum comes on and scores. It’s that competition that will hopefully drive both players on to give more.
“Callum and Alex can play together, as well, so it’s not just a case of one or the other. I do see a time and a place where they’ll be on the pitch at the same time.” – Eddie Howe
Kieran Trippier and the rest of the Newcastle backline look set to go again in west London, however.
“I am a believer in a consistent back four, that is an area of the team that I would not want to rotate much, if possible.” – Eddie Howe
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