Ange Postecoglou has praised the “outstanding” job of Tottenham Women boss Robert Vilahamn ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final with Leicester.

Postecoglou’s side are away at Newcastle in the Premier League this weekend, which opened the door for the women’s team to play at the men’s 62,850-seater stadium for only a second time this season.

Spurs have already made history during Vilahamn’s debut campaign after they sealed a maiden FA Cup semi-final appearance last month, but they have been backed to go further and reach Wembley by the men’s boss.

“I think Rob and the girls have been outstanding this year,” Postecoglou said.

“You’ve got to remember that they’ve had a disappointing year last year. Rob has come in and he’s changed a lot of things in terms of their football. I can see that they’re building some real belief.

“It’s the semi-final of a cup and it’s great that it’s at the stadium. I’m sure the girls will get plenty of support and they’ve had a great deal of belief to get to this point.

“You need that for a cup run and hopefully that comes out again at the weekend and they get through to a final, which would be great for them and great for our club.”

A penalty shoot-out victory over Manchester City on March 10 sent Spurs into the FA Cup semi-finals.

Vilahamn added: “I didn’t really realise it when we won the quarter-final that it is huge in this country to be the semi-finals for the first time and I am proud of it.

“The girls this year have been great. We are taking some big steps and also making sure we put Tottenham on the map for women’s football to make sure we are up there competing. I love that.

“When the board told us we could play the game there (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium), I was so happy because we want to be there and they want us to play more and more games there.

“It’s the perfect match this game because it’s a big game and we are feeling that we can perform even better in that stadium.”

Massimiliano Allegri urges Juventus to secure ‘important’ Champions League spot

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri wants his players to ride an adrenaline wave to Champions League qualification.

The Bianconeri enter their Turin derby against Torino on Saturday sat in third place but knowing that the performance of Serie A sides in Europe this season means that as many as five could qualify for the 2024-25 Champions League.

With the Italian title out of reach – Inter Milan are in pole position – they have focused on securing a return to continental action after being banned for the current campaign for breaching financial fair play regulations.

And Allegri insists only Europe’s top competition will do as he looks to re-establish Juventus on the continent.

“It’s nice to get to this point in the season where the adrenalin is high. It will be an important match for us because the Champions League is fundamental for Juve, both on an image and economic level,” he said.

“We cannot be absent from Europe’s top competition for two years, so now 35 to 40 fundamental days begin in which points are extremely important and in which we must fight for victories in order to reach our objective.

“The Italian teams are doing well in Europe – and not only this season. We must be confident and continue to work to improve. I know we can improve and we work to always do so.

“We want to be in the Champions League next year, it’s a factor that makes all the difference at this club.”

A 1-0 victory over Fiorentina last Sunday came at a crucial time for Juventus following a poor run in Serie A.

It was only their second win in 10 league games, a sequence that included four defeats and has all but ended their title hopes.

“Winning helps and it was important to win against Fiorentina, in a hard clash, to get us out of this difficult moment,” Allegri said.

“We must have continuity but Torino will not be an easy opponent because they have their own objectives.”

Carlo Ancelotti backs Jude Bellingham to go on another goal scoring streak

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has backed Jude Bellingham to rediscover his golden touch in front of goal.

Bellingham made a stellar start to life in Madrid after his summer transfer from Borussia Dortmund and scored 16 times during the first half of the season.

Goals have been harder to come by since the turn of the year with Bellingham only able to find the net on four occasions in 2024 and not at all in two months, but Ancelotti is positive his drought will end soon.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to LaLiga struggles Mallorca, Ancelotti told a press conference: “The goals he was scoring have dropped off a bit.

“It was a surprise for everyone when he hit 20 goals in the first part of the season. Now he’s doing his job as a midfielder or a number 10, he’s not a centre forward.

“His performance levels have not dropped. He’s not lacking anything. He’ll get back to scoring goals again sooner or later.”

Ancelotti also leapt to the defence of other stars across world football following a week where it was noted that Kylian Mbappe of Paris St Germain and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland failed to make an impact in Champions League matches, which was also the case for Bellingham.

“Perhaps these big stars haven’t delivered their best displays in the first games but there are more matches to come and we have to be careful with Haaland, Mbappe and  Bellingham,” Ancelotti warned.

While Madrid have a quarter-final second leg to come next week in Manchester, Ancelotti insisted they were fully focused on the trip to Mallorca.

Madrid boast an eight-point advantage over nearest challenger Barcelona but will face a Mallorca side still reeling from last Saturday’s Copa del Rey final loss to Athletic Bilbao.

Ancelotti added: “I’m not sure how the Copa final defeat will affect Mallorca.

“I doubt it will have too much influence because they have a big challenge, which is to ensure their survival as soon as possible.

“For us, it’s a key game in trying to win the league as quickly as we can.

“It will be a tough game, as ever, they will fight hard. We’re up against a very committed team who have shown an incredible attitude as a unit.

“We’re expecting an intense game and we have to try and match the things the opposition do superbly well, which is their collective commitment.

“The whole squad is ready. Our priority is tomorrow’s game. We have a lot to play for this week.

“Our confidence is just the same as it was a few days ago, unchanged, but we have to remember that tomorrow is a crucial game in the battle to win LaLiga.”

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Talking Transfers
Tottenham step up search for new midfielder with Conor Gallagher still of interest
Tottenham want to sign new midfielder this summer with winger and striker also on wish-list
Conor Gallagher remains key target but Chelsea's asking price could see Spurs move on to other targets
Joao Gomes and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall among midfielders also liked by Tottenham

By Sean Walsh, Ben Jacobs
Apr 12, 2024
Gallagher could yet join Tottenham
Gallagher could yet join Tottenham / Mike Hewitt/Getty Images, Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Tottenham Hotspur are still interested in signing Conor Gallagher from Chelsea but are also considering other options ahead of the summer transfer window, 90min understands.

Gallagher's current contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of the 2024/25 season. They are open-minded about his future - the sale of another academy product would ease any lingering PSR concerns - though are unlikely to make a definitive decision until the summer.

If Chelsea were to sell Gallagher, 90min understands they would look for a fee in a similar ballpark to the £55m package they received for Mason Mount from Manchester United last year.

Spurs, however, value the midfielder somewhere between £35m and £40m - a stumbling block which saw them back away from a deal for Gallagher last summer and never seriously advance their interest in the January window.

The problem for Tottenham this summer could be trying to facilitate an expensive deal for Gallagher as well as hoping to strengthen in other areas.

Joao Gomes
Gomes is also under consideration at Tottenham / Visionhaus/GettyImages
Beyond Gallagher, Tottenham are looking at various other midfielders, including Brazil international Joao Gomes of Wolves. The 23-year-old, who has recently been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United, scored a match-winning brace in Wolves' 2-1 win at Spurs in February.

Leicester City's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is also of interest to Tottenham and he could be available for a relatively modest £25m if they fail to secure promotion back to the Premier League this season.

The Foxes previously valued Dewsbury-Hall at £45m and rejected a £20m bid from Brighton & Hove Albion out of hand in January. But with Leicester facing a potential points deduction due to PSR breaches, they may lower their valuation to under £40m if they are promoted.

90min previously reported United too are keen on Dewsbury-Hall, who has registered 12 goals and 13 assists in 40 Championship appearances.

Tottenham would also like to bring in another winger this summer. They have the option to make Timo Werner's loan move from RB Leipzig permanent for around £15m and Werner would be glad to stay.

Wolves' Pedro Neto is also admired by Spurs, though his £80m price tag may prove prohibitive.

If Tottenham have extra room in their budget, they will try to bring in a belated replacement to Harry Kane. Richarlison and Son Heung-min have filled in up front following his move to Bayern Munich, with youngster Alejo Veliz spending the second half of this season out on loan at Sevilla.

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