1
Seventh heaven for new-look City
A seventh semi-final in succession showed that Manchester City, at least, see magic in the FA Cup. The quarter-finals saw them cast as unwelcome outsiders, lacking the romance of their fellow hopefuls. None of the other seven had won a major trophy this century, four never in their history. Pep Guardiola’s frenzied reaction after Omar Marmoush scored his team’s second at Bournemouth showed his fire still burns brightly. Surely nearing the end at City, Kevin De Bruyne played the 90 minutes, remaining influential and mobile throughout. He and his teammates have played better this season but this display at the Vitality saw real gutsiness, a key part of the makeup during the glory years. If the hosts, shorn of Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez, were incapable of holding City’s hand to the fire as they had in November, a new City is emerging. Nico O’Reilly added impetus from the bench. So did Marmoush, both offering the pace, strength and vigour their manager now desires. John Brewin
2
Rashford shows signs of best form
There have been starts. There have been assists, England caps, awkward questions to Jim Ratcliffe. Now, for the first time in four months, there are goals to gild Marcus Rashford’s comeback yarn. A tap-in and a dodgy penalty against Preston, yes, but also lots of energetic running, a swagger and a poise, the sharpness and acceleration that evokes Rashford at his best. Inevitably there will be talk of whether Manchester United will take him back (probably not) or whether Aston Villa can afford to take him on (also probably not). But as well as opening up his future, Rashford’s performances allow us to relitigate the recent past. Was he really as bad, as indolent, as toxic, as United and their gormless PR machine allowed us to believe? Or was he simply a struggling player thrown to the wolves by a failing regime desperate to cover up its own flaws? Jonathan Liew
3
Sels saves take Forest to Wembley
With 11 minutes of extra time remaining, Simon Adingra backpedalled sharply to take a wayward pass on his chest and keep the ball in play. He slipped in Brajan Gruda, who crossed for Diego Gómez. The Paraguayan placed a firm header back across goalperhaps he could have guided it slightly nearer the corner but, still, contact was good and the header firm. Gómez must have thought he’d scored, only for Matz Sels to hurl himself up and to his left and tip the ball over the bar. It was a remarkable save, and the Belgian would go on to make two more saves in the penalty shootout. Although he was a marked upgrade on Matt Turner after arriving from Strasbourg in January last year, he has hit fresh heights this season, when he has arguably been the best goalkeeper in the Premier League. There are many reasons for Forest’s improvement this season, but Sels is a huge part of it. Jonathan Wilson
4
Eze the entertainer is a rare talent
A golden week for Eberechi Eze, including a first England goal and a match-winning performance in the FA Cup. There is something old school in Eze’s gradual rise to become his club’s wizard and true star. After a series of misfiring apprenticeships, Eze starred for QPR and will now lead Palace to Wembley. On his day, there are few more entertaining players to watch in England. Eze is full of swing and swagger and despite injuries that have occasionally held him back, Olivier Glasner’s careful, assiduous management allows such a player his chance to shine. He works hard, too, and is not simply indulged. Football’s economic realities suggest Crystal Palace might one day have to cash out his asset though such is his value to the club, his departure seems less viable than that of Michael Olise last summer. Eze’s contract extends to 2027 so intentions will soon become apparent; Palace will surely hope they get the best from him. John Brewin
5
Protests show grim reality of Ratcliffe era
On Saturday, Manchester United fan group The 1958 joined FC United fans at their game against Stockton to protest against 20 years of the Glazers’ ownership. A sit-in is also scheduled for next Sunday’s Manchester derby, the latest step in the increasing divide under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s stewardship. In theory, minority owner Ratcliffe should be the perfect figurehead for Manchester United: a local boy with unlimited funds, seeking a legacy as the man who made them great again. The reality, though, is somewhat different: a billionaire tax exile never likely to care much about supporters or employees, nor feel honour-bound to take responsibility for his own incompetence. Consequently, the rich men who awarded Erik ten Hag a new contract before hiring then firing Dan Ashworth – at a cost of £14.5m – have passed the bill on to regular workers and match-goers, claiming they had no choice and casting themselves as altruists sacrificing for the greater good. The message from supporters is clear: whatever the share certificates say, moral ownership of a club remains with the fans in perpetuity, and there can be no glory without integrity. Daniel Harris
6
Meslier mistakes cost Leeds
Illan Meslier went from hero to zero as Leeds conceded a late equaliser at home, stumbling again in the Championship promotion race. The goalkeeper saved a penalty from Josh Tymon early in the match to preserve Leeds’ 1-0 lead after Brenden Aaronson had put the hosts ahead after just 35 seconds. But Meslier’s heroics were forgotten when he dropped the ball straight to the feet of Harry Darling midway through the second half, resulting in an equaliser. Leeds thought they had a late winner when Wilfried Gnonto came off the bench to score, but another questionable moment from Meslier saw the visitors level the score again. As a result, Leeds failed to go top of the table and allowed Burnley to catch them on 81 points. “I’m far away from punishing a player because we win together, lose together and draw together,” the Leeds manager Daniel Farke said. “After such a game and such a heartbreaking finish, they don’t need a manager who puts the result on the shoulders of players.” Emillia Hawkins
7
Party (and an elephant) on the Toon
Ant and Dec showing up was a given, as was Alan Shearer’s appearance – though where were Jimmy Nail and Sting? And surely Shola Ameobi deserved an open-top bus pass? The Wor Flags tifo that blew up Eddie Howe to King Kong proportions on the side of the Sandman Hotel was chillingly impressive. Nobody doubted the end of Newcastle’s trophy drought would be a party to end all parties, a reported 300,000 joining the full throng, with 150,000 ticketed fans waiting for many hours on the Town Moor for the two buses to arrive. In the words of fanzine The Mag, the parade “was simply a reminder of how MASSIVE this football club is AND always has been”. The association of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund with Newcastle’s success will leave many cold, though, the size of an unapologetically grateful crowd suggesting just the kind of “bread and circuses” effect the oil-rich, autocratic owners were looking for. John Brewin
8
Iheanacho ends drought for Boro
Kelechi Iheanacho scored his first league goal in almost 18 months as Middlesbrough survived a scare against Oxford United. The striker, on loan from Sevilla, equalised for Boro just minutes into the second half following Michal Helik’s opener, firing home on the edge of the six-yard box from Samuel Iling-Junior’s cross. The Nigeria international’s first goal for Middlesbrough, 54 days after joining, set up playoff-chasing Boro for a 2-1 win sealed by Neto Borges’ late goal. The Middlesbrough head coach, Michael Carrick, has now backed Iheanacho to get more goals before the end of the campaign. “He is happy,” Carrick insisted. “Kel knows it. He has played at a level, and goals make you feel a bit better, naturally. I wasn’t concerned, I knew he would score and hopefully he has got more in him, I’m sure he has. It was a massive goal for us.” Emillia Hawkins