LiveScore Daily: The latest football news in bite-sized chunks

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Grealish: City focused on European glory

Jack Grealish says winning the Champions League is Manchester City’s top priority.

Grealish, 26, joined the Citizens from Aston Villa in a £100million move last summer and has featured in six of City’s nine European outings so far this term.

Ahead of tonight’s quarter-final second leg at the Wanda Metropolitano, where City arrive holding a slender 1-0 advantage, the midfieler insists he and his team-mates have their eyes firmly set on a maiden continental crown.

Grealish said: "Most of the lads here, they've won everything, numerous times. The Champions League is the one that everyone wants this year.

"Obviously, it's brilliant if we can go and win every competition that we're in, but that being one that we haven't won yet, I think that's what we have our eyes on.

"To have the start that I did, scoring and assisting in the same game, on my Champions League debut, was a dream for me."

Without a goal or assist since that RB Leipzig victory in September, he will be desperate to make an impact in the Spanish capital this evening.

Xhaka still scarred

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka says he is still haunted by abuse he received from a section of Gunners supporters back in October 2019. 

The Swiss international memorably clashed with his own fans when substituted in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace — an incident which nearly saw him leave North London for good.

Though he has since revived his Emirates career under Mikel Arteta, the 29-year-old believes his relationship with the Arsenal fans suffered lasting damage.

The former club captain told the Players’ Tribune: "When I close my eyes now, I can still see their faces. I can see their anger. It's not that they don't like me. No, it's different. This is hate. Pure hate. I am really not exaggerating this.

"That day, I felt very disrespected. The comments were over the line. It felt personal.

"Still to this day, if we have lost, I hate walking those last metres to the tunnel, because I still recognise the faces. The same people are sitting there.

"Today I know I made the right decision, absolutely, because I'm still here. But I can't pretend that my relationship with the fans will ever be the same because that moment will always be in my heart."

Zouma sidelined

West Ham defender Kurt Zouma is set to miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury. 

The Hammers travel to France tomorrow night to face Lyon in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final with the tie delicately poised at 1-1. 

But they will be without the 27-year-old Frenchman, who limped off during his side’s 2-0 defeat at Brentford last Sunday. 

Initial scans suggest Zouma is likely to be sidelined for at least a month, though there remains faint hope he could return earlier. 

Hammers boss David Moyes is now expected to turn to Craig Dawson and Issa Diop as his first-choice centre-back pairing as Angelo Ogbonna remains a long-term absentee.

Shiels comments mar England win

Northern Ireland manager Kenny Shiels claimed women being "more emotional than men" was a contributing factor in his side’s 5-0 defeat to England last night.

The comments left a sour taste on what was an historic evening at Windsor Park, as a record-breaking crowd of 15,348 turned out for the Women’s World Cup qualifier between the two home nations.

Shiels said at full-time: "In the women’s game, I’ve noticed, as I’m sure you’re aware, if you go through the patterns, when a team concedes a goal they concede a second one in a very, very short period of time.

"It’s right through the whole spectrum of the women’s game, because girls and women are more emotional than men. So, they take a goal going in not very well."

However, the 65-year-old has since released a brief statement this morning apologising for his outburst. 

He said: "I wish to apologise for my comments made in the post-match press conference last night. I am sorry for the offence they have caused.

"Last night was a special occasion for the women’s game in Northern Ireland and I am proud to manage a group of players who are role models for so many girls, and boys, across the country.

"I am an advocate for the women’s game and passionate about developing opportunities for women and girls to flourish."

Conte tests positive

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has tested positive for coronavirus but is still expected to take charge against Brighton on Saturday.

The Italian, 52, is said to have discovered the result following last weekend’s impressive 4-0 victory at Aston Villa, which put Spurs in pole position for a Champions League spot.

Conte has been socially distancing all week and has remained symptom-free, leaving the club confident he will be able to take to the touchline against the Seagulls.

He is also set to undertake his usual media duties virtually on Thursday as a precautionary measure.