Journalists will be eagerly filing stories from Pep Guardiola’s press conference this afternoon, but there’s still plenty to be discussed before then in today’s media round-up.
We’ll start with Leicester City and it’s centre-half Yohan Benalouane who has shared his thoughts with the club’s TV channel ahead of Saturday’s early kick off.
“We have to be confident because we are in a good moment. When you play one game, you have to play your best,” the Tunisian told Leicester’s official website.
“Guardiola teams have a lot of shape and quality. In this moment, we have to focus on the Leicester team. If you want to make something good, you have to not think about the other team.”
Meanwhile, as the season draws to a close the Sky Sports‘ pundits have been picking their favourite Premier League playmaker with, Matt Le Tissier opting for our number 21.
“I’m going for David Silva”, he said.
“I know the stats don’t back it up but he’s still one of my favourite players and he’s just a joy to watch.
“The others are having terrific seasons but if I had to pick one to play in my team every week then I think I’d go for Silva. He just makes the game look so easy and is often underappreciated.”
Elsewhere, the Manchester Evening News have been speculating as to the plans for Diaz’s development, with a loan spell and the possibility of his inclusion in the first team squad discussed.
Stuart Brennan writes: “Manchester City starlet Brahim Diaz is wanted on loan by his old club Malaga next season.
“But Blues boss Pep Guardiola is expected to run the rule over the exciting 17-year-old this summer as he seeks young recruits to his first team squad.
“Once he has assessed where he thinks Diaz is in terms of his career, a decision will be made on whether the teenager remains in the elite development squad, moves up to join the first team players – or heads out on loan.”
Leicester aside, there is another City game on Saturday, with Man City Women set for their first FA Cup final appearance at Wembley.
Bronze has been interviewed by the Daily Express ahead of the game, in which she discusses the impact of recent signing, Carli Lloyd.
“She lifts the level,” said the full back.
“She holds herself to a very high standard. She always says she’s not competing with other players, she’s competing with the Carli Lloyd of the previous game and she just wants to prove people wrong.
“Her mentality towards herself makes us look at ourselves and think, ‘right, well I’ve got to get that kind of mentality’.
“She doesn’t necessarily go around screaming her head off at people. She gets frustrated at herself because she wants to improve and that’s a good mentality to have and it’s helping the players grow, especially the younger players.”
That’s all for today, folks. Join us again at the same time tomorrow for more from the nation’s journalists.
