Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been named the Premier League manager of the month for February, while in-form Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane picked up his fourth player of the month award.
City were unbeaten last month, winning all three of their Premier League games, scoring eight goals and conceding once, against West Ham, Swansea and Bournemouth.
The 23-year-old Kane received his award after propelling Tottenham to second in the table by netting four goals in three league matches, including a hat-trick in last month’s win over Stoke City.
Boss Howe defends ‘gentle giant’ Mings
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe says defender Tyrone Mings is a “gentle giant” despite his five-game ban for violent conduct in last weekend’s Premier League draw at Man. United.
Mings landed on Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s head with his studs just before half-time and the United striker caught the left back in the face with his elbow soon after. Neither incident were seen by match officials but caught on video.
Ibrahimovic received a three-match ban and Mings was banned for five.
“Although Mings is a beast in stature he is a gentle giant on and off the pitch,” Howe told reporters.
“We are disappointed for Tyrone, we feel it was accidental. I don’t think he has that kind of streak in him. It’s a real shame.”
Players confronted by angry fans – PSG
Police have launched an investigation after Paris St Germain’s players were confronted by angry supporters upon their return to the French capital in midweek following their 6-1 Champions League defeat in Barcelona.
Upon their return to Paris, the club alleges the travelling party were verbally abused and several vehicles damaged at Bourget Airport, while players had to be escorted from the scene.
“On Wednesday night... the PSG players were confronted and threatened by several individuals at Bourget Airport,” PSG said.
The club added that the crowd was “physically threatening the players and their families”.
Hart sees no future at Manchester City
Joe Hart is not expecting a return to the Premier League after his loan spell at Torino as he believes he is “surplus to requirements” at parent club Manchester City.
Hart, who joined Torino on a season-long loan after realising he would not be first choice under Pep Guardiola, feels it is more important to play for a club that wants him to be their goalkeeper.
“I’d say I’m pretty much surplus to requirements at my parent club at the moment and I don’t see that changing,” the 29-year-old said.
“I love the Premier League... I know it really well but I wouldn’t say it was top of my wish list.”
No rush on new contract – Pulis
WBA boss Tony Pulis is set to enter talks with the club over another contract extension but has stressed there is “no rush”.
Pulis, whose side are currently eighth in the Premier League, signed a one-year extension in October that runs to 2018.
On the prospect of another new deal for the 59-year-old, Baggies chairman John Williams said that he was ready to open talks.
Asked if he was ready to talk to Williams about that, Pulis said: “Yes, I’ll sit down with John and we’ll have a chat.
“He’s coming up to Everton, so we’ll sit down and have a chat.
“But there’s no rush. There’s no problems in anything we do here.”
Barca fans create minor earthquake
Barcelona fans literally made the earth move at the Nou Camp when Sergi Roberto’s late goal saw them claim a remarkable win over PSG on Wednesday.
Roberto scored five minutes into stoppage time to complete a 6-1 win on the night as Barca, who trailed 4-0 after the first leg, progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League with one of football’s greatest-ever comebacks.
The roar and celebrations from Barcelona’s fans was recorded on the Richter scale at the Jaume Almera Institute of Earth Sciences (ICTJA-CSIC), which is 500 metres away from the stadium.
Barca’s second and third goals nudged the centre’s recordings slightly before the match-winning goal measured one on the Richter scale – making it a micro-earthquake.
Bilic tactics made me leave says Payet
Dimitri Payet has revealed he first told West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic last summer that he wanted a move and played his final games for the Londoners “without any pleasure”.
Payet forced a move away from the London Stadium in January after going on strike.
He joined Marseille for £25m, having become unhappy in London and fearing his talent was being stifled by Bilic’s tactics.
“I didn’t want to play my last roles in the league,” he said.
“Our way of approaching matches, the defensive system put in place, it didn’t please me. It was difficult to express myself. I was annoyed. I was going through games without taking any pleasure.”