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Karim Benzema says Lionel Messi “does everything for Barcelona”, with the Real Madrid striker readying himself for another Clasico clash with a “very dangerous” rival.

The Blancos are due to welcome their old adversaries to Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

That contest will take place with both teams looking to chase down the Liga title in 2020-21 and with key men starting to hit form at just the right time for Ronald Koeman and Zinedine Zidane.

What has been said?

On the obvious threats that Barca pose to Real, French frontman Benzema has told La Liga TV: “They always have possession, they have a good goalkeeper and Messi, the player who does everything for Barcelona. We have to be careful because he is very dangerous.”

Could Benzema be a match-winner?

While Real have every reason to be wary of facing Messi again, given all that he has achieved down the years, Barca will need no reminding that the Blancos have plenty of match-winners on their books.

Vinicius Junior stepped up to deliver on a Champions League stage in midweek, with the Brazilian bagging a brace in a 3-1 win over Liverpool that has Madrid in full control of that quarter-final contest.

Benzema has, however, remained the go-to man for Zidane’s side this season.

The 33-year-old is on track to enjoy the best campaign of his career on the goal-scoring front, with a key role taken on since Cristiano Ronaldo departed for Juventus in 2018.

Benzema has found the target on 24 occasions across all competitions – with his personal best sitting at 32 – but he is reluctant to give himself a big billing.

He added on his form: “I don't know if it's my best season, every year I start from scratch and I want to improve on the previous one.

“Now I'm on a scoring streak and if I can continue working to help my team win points and games, I'm going to do so. The important thing is to win.

He went on to say: “I feel free on the field, I do what I want, I help the team at the beginning of the play, I finish it.

“There are plenty of games left and this league will be decided at the end. It is very difficult, but we have to treat every game as if it were a final.”

Further reading

Takumi Minamino has aired his surprise at being allowed to leave Liverpool during the winter transfer window and offered a hint towards his future plans after being loaned out to Southampton.

The Japan international was facing fierce competition for places at Anfield when the decision was taken to let him see out the 2020-21 campaign with the Saints at St Mary’s.

A move elsewhere offered obvious benefits to all concerned, but it appeared at one stage as though the 25-year-old forward would be prevented from spreading his wings outside of Merseyside.

What has been said?

Minamino has told Southampton’s official website on his move came about: “It was the last day [of the transfer window], after training – around five o’clock, I think. Some guys called me, and it just happened.

“I didn’t expect it at all, so I was probably the most surprised of anyone when I got the call.

“It was a good feeling. For me it was a good opportunity, and I was getting a positive feeling. I wanted to take this chance, and I came here.”

How has Minamino fared in 2020-21?

Having been snapped up by Liverpool in January 2020, Minamino opened his goal account for the Reds early on in the current campaign.

He was, however, competing with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota for regular game time.

An opportunity to head elsewhere was expected to present itself in January, with Southampton eventually putting a short-term deal in place.

The 26-year-old has taken in six appearances for the Saints, scoring two goals.

What does the future hold?

Minamino is tied to a contract at Liverpool through to the summer of 2024.

Further opportunities could come his way when returning to Anfield, but the Japan international admits that he is eager to see as many minutes as possible at this stage of his career.

He has added: “For a football player, playing is the most important thing.

“Playing more is helping me to get more confidence back as a player. I want to play more; the more I am helping the team and contributing to wins, the more my confidence will grow.

“Playing in the Premier League has been a dream for me since I was a child. I am really enjoying getting the chance to play in the Premier League.

“I only have a few months left to help the team but I want to work hard and use my full abilities to make sure the team do well and climb up the league as much as possible.

“I just want to help the team by scoring and assisting as much as possible. I am an attacking player so it is my responsibility to score and assist to help the team. That is where I am focused.”

Further reading

Former Real Madrid midfielder Michel has claimed that the only team capable of overtaking Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga is Zinedine Zidane's side.

Atleti had been well out in front earlier this season as Barcelona and Los Blancos struggled for consistency, but their recent form has taken a dip.

Indeed, a recent loss to Sevilla has seen an in-form Barca side creep up behind them, with just one point separating the two sides, but Michel says that only Los Blancos are capable of taking the top spot from their cross-town rivals.

What has been said?

Despite Barca's recent good form and Real being behind them in third in La Liga, Michel told Cadena SER: “The only team that can overtake the lead from Atleti is [Real] Madrid. I was surprised that Atleti got so tangled up.

“Madrid are strong and have more strength in depth than Barca. Madrid's two starting centre-backs [Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos] have been injured and the two who have played in their place [Nacho and Eder Militao] have been excellent.”

Will Ramos leave Madrid?

While Nacho and Militao have been deputising well as Varane and Ramos spend time on the sidelines, the future of the Blancos captain has become a pressing matter in the Spanish capital.

The 35-year-old is yet to agree a contract extension to keep him at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Michel is hopeful a resolution can be sought.

“If I were Ramos and a Real Madrid player, I would never leave,” Michel said. “But I don't know what's happening with the negotiations. 

“I have lived in Real Madrid and I know what it means – not even the Spanish police could take me away. If Sergio Ramos stays it'll be much better for Madrid and for him.”

What's next?

Real Madrid will have their chance to make up ground on eternal rivals Barcelona when they host the Blaugrana at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on Saturday.

Victory in El Clasico would see Madrid leapfrog Barca and match Atleti on 66 points at the top of La Liga – at least until Diego Simeone's side play on Sunday.

Further reading

Sergio Ramos admits that Lionel Messi has made Real Madrid suffer down the years, with the Blancos captain of the opinion that he would have “more titles” to his name had an iconic Argentine not been at Barcelona.

A long-serving performer at Santiago Bernabeu has not done badly on the trophy front down the years, with domestic and continental success at club level complemented by World Cup and European Championship glory on an international stage with Spain.

Ramos has four Champions League crowns to his name and five La Liga successes , but Messi has helped Barca to 10 title triumphs and made a habit of dashing the dreams of Clasico rivals down the years.

What has been said?

Real’s talismanic skipper has told his documentary series ‘The Legend of Sergio Ramos’ : “We've suffered against Messi during these years.

“Perhaps if Barcelona didn't have him, we would have won more titles.

“There was a time when we faced the best Barcelona in history. We had a great coach like [Jose] Mourinho, but it was hard for us to beat them.

“We didn't win much and there was a lot of tension, caused by either them or by us.”

How many trophies has Ramos won?

Alongside his Champions League and La Liga prizes, Ramos has also helped Real to two Copa del Rey wins.

The UEFA Super Cup has been claimed on three occasions, while the FIFA Club World Cup has been hoisted aloft four times.

While taking in a record-setting 180 appearances for Spain, Ramos has sandwiched a World Cup success in 2010 between two European Championship triumphs.

In total, he has won 22 trophies at club level and a further three with his country.

What is next for Ramos?

Real are determined to defend their La Liga title in 2020-21, while a 3-1 lead has been established in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final clash with Liverpool.

Ramos will be hoping to play a significant role in pushes for silverware down both of those paths, but he is back on the sidelines at present with another muscle injury.

Questions are also being asked of how long he will be sticking around in the Spanish capital.

The 35-year-old will see his contract expire in the summer and no extension has been agreed as yet as he continues to edge towards free agency.

Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are among those to have seen moves for Ramos mooted as uncertainty reigns over his future at the Bernabeu.

Further reading

Yanga SC interim head coach Juma Mwambusi has explained how they have prepared for the Saturday Mainland Premier League match against Kinondoni Municipal Council FC.

KMC will be Yanga's first test since a 14-day break that was introduced in honour of the late president Pombe Magufuli. It will also be the first assignment for Timu ya Wannachi under a new man since Cedric Kaze left in early March.

Mwambusi, who has been leading the training sessions at Avic Town, has explained how they have planned to counter the Dar es Salaam club at the Benjamin Mkapa stadium.

"My mind is now set on the big weekend coming when we will play KMC. That is where our energy is focused specifically because we know teams will always face Yanga with a great determination to beat us," Mwambusi told Azam TV.

"They will come with the sole aim of preventing us get positive results but that is football. I can only say we need to prepare better in order to get past the challenges ahead successfully.

"Many teams will always face us with a mentality that they are playing in a final, but we are preparing knowing that KMC are a good team which we have played with before and gave us stiff competition.

"We are expecting a good game based on the good preparations we have had and we can only hope for better results that will make our fans happy."

On his part, midfielder Deus Kaseke has revealed they are aware of how good their opponents are but urged fans to give the necessary support.

"We respect KMC for who they are, the experienced players they have but we believe we are going to win as we chase points to make us champions," Kaseke said.

"This is going to be the first game since the break and the national mourning we have had so we expect our fans to come out in numbers and support the team."

Although Yanga have not appointed Kaze's successor, the club's media officer Hassan Bumbuli praised the work that has been done by Mwambusi.

"The technical bench is almost complete following the arrival of Razak Siwa and Mwambusi's interim appointment," Bumbuli stated.

"The first training sessions were meant to bring the physical fitness of all players to the same level before focus turned to sharpening our strikers. This was key because we had been winning but by slim margins.

"We were also creating a lot of chances and we were not getting enough goals from them. The coaches have now promised us that there is proper development in that area."

Yanga have collected 50 points from 23 games so far as they hope to consolidate the campaign and win the title at the end of the season.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta can appreciate why Lucas Torreira is looking to secure a summer switch to Boca Juniors, but the Spaniard says no decision has been made on the Uruguayan’s future.

The 25-year-old’s father has revealed that, in the wake of his mother passing away, a return to South America – preferably in Argentina – will be sought in the next window.

It would appear as though the Gunners are open to talks, given that they sanctioned a season-long loan move to Atletico Madrid in 2020-21, but Arteta is eager to point out that there are no guarantees on the transfer front.

What has been said?

Quizzed on Torreira’s future and the comments coming out of his camp ahead of a Europa League quarter-final clash with Slavia Prague, Arteta told reporters: “Of course we contacted him.

“We have spoken to him and we know how difficult a time this is for him. He was really attached to his mum and he's really attached to his family.

“It's a hard time for him and emotionally there is a lot of thoughts that will go through his mind. When things are like that, it's not the moment to make decisions.

“I understand how he's feeling emotionally. He probably feels the need and responsibility to be closer to his family.

“But it's not the moment to make any decisions and it certainly is a decision that has to be made by different parties. Now, nothing is going to change. It's just an interview with some comments. Let's see what happens.

“We know that when you recruit a player from a foreign country, when they have that struggle sometimes to adapt to a new culture, a new language, a new way of doing things. This risk is there and then you have to be able to manage that risk and make the right decisions at the right time.”

Where does Torreira stand at Arsenal?

A combative performer was snapped up by the Gunners in 2018.

Torreira has taken in 89 appearances for Arsenal, scoring four goals, but found himself slipping down the pecking order after suffering an unfortunate ankle fracture in March 2020.

That led to a loan move being made, but further struggles for regular starts have been endured at Atletico.

Another move could be on the cards, with Thomas Partey filling a holding role at Emirates Stadium as further additions in that area of the field are mooted.

An exit door may swing open for Torreira, who was a boyhood Boca fan, but there are several discussions that need to take place before any agreement is pushed through.

Further reading

Simeon Nwankwo chose to look ahead to Saturday’s Italian top-flight showdown with Spezia rather than celebrate his individual milestone as a Crotone player.

The Nigeria international beat goalkeeper Alex Meret twice, although the Pythagoreans bowed 4-3 to Napoli during their last Serie A encounter at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

It was Serse Cosmi’s men’s third defeat on the bounce, albeit, the seven-goal thriller was a chance for the 28-year-old to score his 150th goal for the Stadio Ezio Scida giants.

To him, achieving that feat remains ‘a source of pride’ since joining the Italian elite division outfit from Portuguese side Gil Vicente five years ago.

However, he is more concerned about helping his team iron their deficiencies against Vincenzo Italiano’s side in their next league outing.

"I don't like to speak on a personal level as you know,” Nwankwo told the club website.

“150 games wearing this shirt are a source of pride for me and I am very proud of what has been done in these 5 years, from the first day I arrived I felt the affection and love of everyone.

"Making three goals at home to Napoli is a lot of stuff but in the end it did not help because it was important to score points. We have to raise our heads and keep pedalling.

"It will be a direct clash [versus Spezia], we have to put everything on the pitch because it is a race that can give us so much.”

After 20 matches played so far in the 2020-21 season, Crotone sit at the base of the table having accrued 15 points. As it stands, they look destined for demotion at the end of the current campaign.

For Spezia, they occupy 16th position with 29 points from the same number of outings and are seven points above the drop zone.

Win or lose, Nwankwo would be hoping to continue on his impressive goalscoring form. He has scored eight goals in his last six outings for his side to take his tally to 15 so far.

Overall, he is the joint-fourth leading scorer in Serie A alongside Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan).

Borussia Dortmund are weighing up a move for Spartak Moscow forward Jordan Larsson amid intense speculation over the future of star striker Erling Haaland, Goal can confirm.

The Bundesliga side may have a battle on for his services, however, as West Ham are also monitoring the Sweden international.

Larsson has scored 12 goals for Spartak in 23 Russian Premier League games so far this season and was voted the club's player of the month for March.

What is the situation?

Dortmund may soon be in a position where they need to acquire a new forward, with Haaland expected to leave the club either this summer or in 2022.

Even if Haaland were to stay at Signal Iduna Park, they need depth up front as caretaker boss Edin Terzic currently has no other options available due to an injury to teenager Youssoufa Moukoko.

Moukoko became the Bundesliga's youngest ever player this season, making his debut just one day after turning 16. However, a foot injury suffered on international duty with Germany's Under-21 side has ruled him out for the rest of the campaign. 

Borussia Monchengladbach head coach Marco Rose will take charge at Dortmund next season and the club need to strengthen in many areas of the pitch to go back to being title challengers in Germany.

Larsson is seen as an ideal addition to the squad as he has big potential and can develop under Rose's tutelage.

The son of former Barcelona and Celtic striker Henrik Larsson was signed by Spartak Moscow for €4 million in 2019 and scored seven league goals last season as we alternated between playing as a winger and a centre-forward.

This season, he has mostly played through the middle and has a much better return, with 12 goals so far in the Russian Premier League for a Spartak side who are four points behind leaders Zenit in the table.

Larsson's good form has also drawn the attention of Premier League side West Ham, who are also looking for attacking depth for 2021-22.

Will Haaland leave Dortmund?

At the moment, Dortmund have no plans to sell Haaland and view him as an integral part of their rebuild under incoming coach Rose.

However, failure to qualify for the Champions League could force their hand, despite CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke insisting that agent Mino Raiola's mini-tour of Europe did not guarantee Haaland's exit this summer.

"We do not have a parallel plan. We will discuss this with Erling, his father and his agent Mino Raiola," Watzke told Goal and DAZN. "We also want him to be happy to stay with us, to score goals for BVB next year with conviction. There is no alternative plan."

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been linked with moves for the 20-year-old, but a 2021 transfer would prove very costly.

Haaland has a release clause which kicks in next summer, so a transfer in 2022 could be more likely.

Should Haaland stay at Dortmund, the Bundesliga side could still make a move for Larsson as it will allow him a chance to develop under Rose before becoming the club's first-choice centre forward in 2022-23.

Further reading

East Bengal's central defender Sarthak Golui is set to join Bengaluru FC on a free transfer in the upcoming summer transfer window, Goal can confirm.

Along with Golui, Bengaluru have also targetted ATK Mohun Bagan midfielder Jayesh Rane to bolster their squad this season.

The 23-year-old Bengali defender was a part of Mumbai City FC's squad at the beginning of the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) season where he had appeared in four matches out of which he had started in two.

During the January transfer window, Golui mutually terminated his contract with the Islanders to join East Bengal for the remainder of the season. At the Red and Golds, the centre-back became a regular starter and appeared in five matches.

Due to the ongoing deadlock between East Bengal officials and their investors, Shree Cement Limited regarding the signing of the final agreement, the current team management of Shree Cement East Bengal Foundation (the joint venture between the club and the investors) have intimated to all the players that no further contract negotiations will take place until the agreement is signed.

With doubt over his future at the Kolkata club, Golui is likely now to jump ship to join the Blues.

Along with the defender, the former ISL champions are also looking to strengthen their midfield and thus they are interested likely to rope in ATK Mohun Bagan's Jayesh Rane.

The former Chennaiyin FC footballer appeared in 16 matches this season but he did not score any goal or provide any assist.

The two signings from the two Kolkata giants can prove to be good additions to the Blues' squad who had an unimpressive outing in the ISL this season. They finished seventh on the league table with 22 points from 20 matches and did not make it to the ISL play-offs for the first time in their history.

Reigning Indian Super League (ISL) champions Mumbai City FC are all set to rope in Bengaluru FC right-back Rahul Bheke and FC Goa goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz, Goal can confirm.

Rahul Bheke had an injury-laden season this year and had played in only 15 matches. The full-back scored one goal and provided one assist. He also made 47 tackles, 20 interceptions, 23 clearances and 10 blocks.

Bheke had joined Bengaluru FC in 2017 and was an integral part of their squad in the last four seasons. He had appeared in 70 ISL matches for the Blues where he scored four goals. He had also scored the winning goal in the 2018-19 ISL final against Mumbai City which helped the Blues clinch their maiden ISL title.

Rahul Bheke started his career at Air India and later moved to Mumbai FC in the I-League. In 2015, he left Mumbai FC to join East Bengal. Bheke now is all set to return to his hometown after a gap of six years.

Mohammad Nawaz, made his ISL debut at FC Goa during the 2018-19 season and under coach Sergio Lobera he appeared in 33 ISL matches for the Gaurs in his first two years at the club. But last season under new coach Juan Ferrando, the Manipuri custodian was initially the team's first-choice goalkeeper but after 10 matches he fell out of favour.

Since the arrival of India international goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh, who joined the club in the January transfer window, Nawaz became the team's third choice custodian. For more game time, the 21-year-old goalkeeper is all set to reunite with his former coach at Mumbai City.

With Nawaz joining Mumbai City, it is understood that Amrinder Singh is all set to leave the club and join ISL 2020-21 runners-up ATK Mohun Bagan FC in the upcoming window.

In the 50th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup, Shabab Al Ahli will lock horns with Al Nasr in the final at the Sharjah Stadium on Friday. 

Al Nasr are the defending champions and coach Ramon Diaz is not willing to settle with anything less than silverware. 

"We will be looking to put in a good performance in the final. Reaching the final wasn’t an easy task but we made it thanks to the players’ efforts. We (have) identified Shabab Al Ahli’s strengths and weaknesses and we are confident we can win the title,” Diaz explained. 

If his troops manage to win, it will be their third Arabian Gulf Cup title. “It’s a new challenge and we are ready for it,” he added.

Al Nasr defender Mahmoud Khamis is aware that it is a tough task to win the trophy as he thinks defending the title is more difficult than winning it. 

"We will do our best and fight for the title. We are up against a strong team and we are expecting a balanced matchup against Shabab Al Ahli. It's the small details that make all the difference. It is more difficult to stay on top than to get there and we are ready to retain the title," he stated. 

Meanwhile, Al Ahli coach Mahdi Ali expects a 'balanced final' and like his opposite number believes that reaching the final is not an achievement, but winning the title is what matters. 

He stressed on maintaining focus and concentration throughout the game as the minor details are more likely to alter the complexion of the match. 

It will be their second title in 2021 as they have already won the Arabian Gulf Super Cup against Sharjah. 

We will seek to replicate our [Arabian Gulf Super Cup] performance against Al Nasr. We had a full week to prepare for the match and we look to maintain our good performances when we face Al Nasr,” he stated. 

Veteran player Hamdan Al Kamali echoed his coach's sentiments and stated that although they respect Al Nasr, he and his teammates are ready to give their all in the final and win the coveted trophy. 

Southampton midfielder Ibrahima Diallo is not thinking of switching his international allegiance at the moment as he looks to find his way through France national team.

Diallo, born in France, is of Senegalese descent and his elder brother Abdou Diallo who plays for Paris Saint-Germain recently pledged his international allegiance to the West African country after playing across the French youth teams.

Abdou made his Senegal debut during 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo on March 26 which ended in a goalless draw.

Ibrahima, on his part, has also played for France U18, U19, U19, U20 and U21 teams, and he is ready to fight for his place in Didier Deschamps’ team.

“For the moment I am part of the French under-21 team and, for the minute, that’s the only thing in my head,” Diallo told Daily Echo.

“Playing for another national team is a personal choice.

“Personally, I have been through all the different age groups in the French national system – there is big competition for places and that’s all I am concentrating on at the moment.”

Diallo moved to the Premier League from Ligue 1 club Brest last October and he has made 18 appearances so far in all competitions.

With Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final and 10 points clear of the relegation zone, the former Monaco midfielder stated that he is having  a good debut campaign in England.

“I have really enjoyed the season. I must stress it’s not finished yet so we must stay concentrated but up until now I have really enjoyed it,” the 22-year-old continued.

“The process has gone very well. The manager welcomed me into the club very well and he explained clearly what he wanted from me on the pitch.

“I asked him lots of questions. There’s probably not enough time to go through them all! But they were mostly about his game.

“I wanted to know what he wanted from a player and I wanted to know if, what he had in mind was what I had in mind, in terms of style of play but also my progression as a player - because it was an important decision for me, an important step in my career.

“Gradually, as the games have gone by, I feel like I have adapted myself well.”

Andrea Pirlo admitted he's made many mistakes in his first season as Juventus head coach, but said he'd do it all again as they are all part of his learning process.

Pirlo's side grabbed a much-needed win on Wednesday, defeating Napoli 2-1 to move into third place in Serie A. 

More was expected from Juventus this season than battling for a Champions League qualification place, and their underwhelming campaign has put Pirlo's position under scrutiny. The club were bounced from Europe by Porto and their chase for a 10th straight Serie A title will almost certainly come up short.

What was said?

“I made many mistakes, but I’d make them all again," Pirlo told Sky Italia. "This is my first season, I needed those experiences for the present and the future.

“This was a more complicated campaign not just for me, but for many other coaches too. Everyone makes mistakes, including me, but I can learn from those and not repeat them in future.

“Our objective now is a top-four finish, because it’s difficult to get to the top. There are 10 games to go, it’s a mini-season we hope to win, and then prepare for the Coppa Italia.”

Asked if his biggest regret was missing out on the Champions League or Serie A, Pirlo replied: “Both really, as when you are at Juventus, you don’t choose objectives, you have to get them all. We had the opportunity to go forward in the Champions League, as Porto were on our level, but we didn’t play the right way.

“In the weeks after that, we also lost to Benevento and that took us out of the Scudetto race. Watching last night’s Champions League game really angered us, because we know that we could’ve been one of those teams.”

The bigger picture

Pirlo was a surprise appointment as Juventus boss ahead of the season as the legendary former midfielder had never managed any team before, let alone one of Europe's top sides. 

Maurizio Sarri was sacked after just one season as Juve boss despite leading the Bianconeri to the Serie A championship - a feat Pirlo likely won't be able to match with his side sitting 11 points back of first-place Inter.

Pirlo was brought in to lead Juventus to European success and he also fell short in that department as Porto shocked his side in the last 16. 

Juve's only realistic chance for silverware this season will come in the Coppa Italia final against Atalanta on May 19.

Further reading

Thomas Tuchel was largely happy following Chelsea's 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first leg win over Porto, but he did admit that both Timo Werner and Kai Havertz underperformed.

Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell provided two away goals in the first leg on neutral soil at Sevilla's Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.

However, the scoreline doesn't tell the story of the match where the Blues struggled for large sections against the Portuguese champions. It was partly because they struggled to create chances, aside from Mount's moment of magic, until both their German attackers were substituted in the 65th minute.

What did Tuchel say?

Tuchel admitted that he wanted more from the duo and praised the impact of Christian Pulisic and Olivier Giroud, who came on in their place.

"I accept that it was a tough match for Timo and for Kai today, they did not have their best day and we did not deliver so good, the connection between the deep seven players that we needed for the build-up and the front three, we lost a bit the connection to them," Tuchel said after the win.

"To have a bit more of an impact, the balls we delivered were not the best balls. I could feel our two German players up front, Kai and Timo, do not play on their highest level today so I wanted to have an impact from the bench.

"Christian [Pulisic] is in a good moment. Oli [Giroud] waited long and has good experience and memories of this stadium. We wanted to give the sign that we keep on going. This is the general mentality that I like about this club and this team and that we also want to implement.

"It is very hard that once you lead that you do not play with a mentality of now we have something to lose, let’s keep what we have, but just to go and try to win the next half and go and try to win the next duel and try to score the next goal.

"The best way to defend is to attack. The best way to impress the opponents is to have ball possession to be couraged and to always be a threat. I am happy about the impact of our substitutions."

Who is performing well in attack at Chelsea?

Mount is Chelsea's best attacker under Tuchel having scored five goals during his time at the club. It means that he is the leading scorer in that time and his total is up to seven in 2021, which also puts him out in front.

The 22-year-old has quickly become a big game player for Tuchel this season and it comes amid struggles from both Werner and Havertz.

On Wednesday night, Tuchel admitted that Mount's goal was key because it came against the run of play and settled Chelsea's nerves.

"The first goal was very important for us because it came at a moment after which we had suffered a lot, that the team was too tense, we were not precise enough, we lacked rhythm, lacked the freedom to adapt to positions and be more active," he said.

"Our game was a bit static. The finishing was clinical and the finish was excellent from Mason. He has the quality to do this and to do it in a quarter-final is a big step for him and a big help for the team. I am very happy about the two."

Further reading

Mauricio Pochettino has called on his PSG side to give a better second-leg showing than they did at Barcelona last month.

PSG secured a huge 3-2 away win at Bayern Munich on Wednesday, as a Kylian Mbappe brace helped Pochettino's side take a major step toward the Champions League semi-finals.

There is still work to be done at Parc des Princes on Tuesday though, and Pochettino wants his side to be ready to face another challenge against the Bavarians.

What was said?

“I am happy with the result, with the attitude of the team which found itself in difficult situations against the best team in Europe," Pochettino told RMC Sport. "We must congratulate the players for their sense of sacrifice. We are trying to repeat this kind of performance.

"When you win, it's always easier to explain your decisions, everyone thinks you made the right choices. The credit goes to the players, they are the main protagonists, it is their quality that must be highlighted.

"There were a lot of sacrifices tonight, but we still have one game, 90 minutes to play. The first leg is favourable but the return will be difficult as we know.

“It's a totally different result from the first leg against Barca, the advantage there is as small as possible. We hope that our performance in the return will be better than against Barcelona, that's our desire."

What happened against Barca?

Mbappe was inspirational in the last-16 first leg at Camp Nou, as his hat-trick led PSG to a 4-1 win over Barcelona. 

PSG started the second leg on the back foot as Barca piled on the pressure, but the Catalans were unable to find an opener before Mbappe scored from the spot 30 minutes in.

Lionel Messi countered with a goal from distance but his missed penalty before the break virtually ended Barca's chances, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw, with PSG advancing 5-2 on aggregate.

Will Marquinhos be ready for the second leg?

One of the major negatives for PSG on Wednesday was an injury to Marquinhos, who scored in the first half but then had to be removed shortly after. Pochettino admitted that the status of one of his key players is unclear moving forward.

"He felt pain in his adductor, we hope it's not serious and that he will be available quickly," Pochettino said of the Brazilian.

Further reading

Victor Osimhen won a penalty that helped Napoli score their only goal in the 2-1 defeat to Juventus in Wednesday's Serie A match.

After scoring a goal against Crotone on Saturday, the Nigeria international could not add to his tally of four league goals after 15 appearances so far this season but he made a key contribution for the visitors.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for Juventus with his 13th-minute effort while Paulo Dybala doubled the lead in the 73rd minute.

Osimhen was later introduced for Diego Demme in the 54th minute, and he was brought down by Giorgio Chiellini in the penalty area on the stroke of full-time.

Lorenzo Insigne stepped forward to convert the resulting spot-kick and it led to a tense finish to the encounter, but Juventus held on for the maximum points which ended the Parthenopeans’ six-game unbeaten streak in the Italian top-flight.

Following his introduction in the second half, Osimhen registered three shots but none was on target, and he was fouled three times.

Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly was also on parade in Turin and he received a yellow card in the 22nd minute.

The triumph pushed Andrea Pirlo's side to third in the Serie A with 59 points after 29 matches while Napoli sit in the fifth spot and they trail the defending champions by three points.

The defeat might have dealt a blow to Napoli’s Uefa Champions League hopes, but club President Aurelio De Laurentiis encouraged Gennaro Gattuso and his men for their resilience at the Allianz Stadium.

“Well done lads. We leave with heads held high and above all I enjoyed myself to the end… Well done everyone!," De Laurentiis tweeted.

Osimhen will aim to return to the scoresheet and help Napoli bounce back to winning ways when they visit Keita Balde's Sampdoria for their Serie A fixture on April 11.