Football news and talking points: Steve Evans in at Peterborough, duo to miss out for Manchester City and Luis Enrique at stumbling block with Chelsea
We take a look at the top football stories dominating Wednesday's headlines.
Manchester City duo set to miss Arsenal clash
Manchester City are set to be without Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho for Thursday's Premier League trip to Arsenal.
England international Sterling is again doubtful after missing two games with a muscular problem while midfielder Fernandinho is definitely out with a hamstring strain.
Fernandinho featured in Sunday’s Carabao Cup victory over the North London side at Wembley, with the two meeting again in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium.
Sterling didn’t play through injury, but Pep Guardiola confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that he is hopeful of having the winger back soon.
"Raheem is much, much better," Guardiola said. "I don't know if he can play tomorrow but hopefully Chelsea (on Sunday) or Basel (on March 7)."
Left-back Fabian Delph serves the second match of a three-game suspension while Benjamin Mendy (knee) is a long-term absentee.
Evans in at Peterborough
Peterborough have appointed "serial promotion winner" Steve Evans as their new manager a day after his resignation as Mansfield boss.
Evans, who will be joined at the League One club by assistant Paul Rayner with both having signed long-term contracts, replaces Grant McCann at The ABAX Stadium.
Chairman Darragh MacAnthony told the club's official website, www.theposh.com: "The football club, its staff, Academy and first team players need an experienced promotion winner as first team manager to take us forward for the immediate future.
"As soon as somebody of the calibre of Steve Evans called to register their interest in the vacant position, there was no time to waste and I made the phone call, potential terms were discussed and we are now in a position to announce Steve as our manager.
"He is a serial promotion winner, including promotion from League One, has managed multiple clubs in the Championship and has an incredible reputation for getting the best out of his players with a never say die attitude and will to win.
"We are delighted to have both Steve and his assistant Paul Rayner on board for what we hope will be a fruitful, productive and successful long-term partnership for many years to come."
Wenger refuses to talk about future
Arsene Wenger refused to confirm whether he will be in charge of Arsenal next season when he faced the media on Wednesday morning.
The Frenchman has come under renewed fire from Gunners fans since an abject display in Sunday's 3-0 hammering at the hands of Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday's Premier League game against Pep Guardiola's team, Wenger said: "Does it stop you to sleep that my position is uncertain or certain? No. What is important in football is the game. All the rest makes headlines but it is not interesting.
"I'm just amazed I'm always to answer things that are the same. I turned the whole world down to respect my contract."
The Gunners face City again on Thursday night in a Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Enrique has to accept lower wage to manage Chelsea
Former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique’s hopes of succeeding Antonio Conte at Chelsea could rest on whether or not he is prepared to accept a lower wage than what he was on at the La Liga club.
The Telegraph says that Enrique is keen on taking up the role at Stamford Bridge as he looks to kick off his Premier League managerial career.
It’s reported that Enrique earned in the region of £16.5 million-a-year by the time he stood down from his Barca role at the end of last season.
Sky Bet: Antonio Conte is 12/1 to be the next Premier League manager to leave.
He won two La Liga titles, the Champions League and three Copa del Rey trophies in his time at the club.
Chelsea currently pay Conte £9.5m-a-year in wages after they rewarded him with a pay rise for winning the Premier League title last season.
Enrique’s fee is even more than Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho earn at Manchester City and Manchester United.
Conte is the highest-paid manager in Chelsea’s history and the club will not want to pay his successor more than £9.5m-a-year before they have achieved anything with the club.
Lewandowski in demand
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski is gaining interest from a number of clubs, with Real Madrid reportedly turning their attentions to the Polish forward after Spurs refused to sell Harry Kane.
The 29-year-old is also interesting Chelsea, who may be preparing to move for him in the summer.
Lewandowski has 29 goals in 34 appearances in all competitions this season, including five goals in six Champions League games.
It’s reported that Madrid’s iconic trio of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo is reaching the end of its time together.
Sky Bet: Robert Lewandowski is 18/1 to finish as the Champions League top scorer this season.
The Spanish giants are looking at Lewandowski and the world’s most expensive player, Neymar, as their next generation of forwards.
A positive for Real is that the Bayern forward has recently swapped agents and upgraded to Pini Zahavi.
Zahavi has helped secure some of football’s biggest transfers and has a strong working relationship with Real and president Florentino Perez.
Tottenham v Rochdale: Mauricio Pochettino missing Belgian duo for FA Cup replay
Tottenham will be without central defenders Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld for the FA Cup replay against Rochdale.
Vertonghen misses out with an ankle injury but could return to face Huddersfield on Saturday, while Alderweireld remains on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.
Michel Vorm returns in goal while Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose, Harry Winks and Son Heung-min are also set to start.
Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino insists Harry Kane is happy at the club and can fulfil his desire to win silverware in north London.
Former Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas this week claimed England striker Kane would have to quit the club if he wants "trophies and notoriety".
But current Tottenham chief Pochettino hit back by saying: "We are here to develop, to help the club achieve and win titles.
"Harry is happy here and of course he wants to win titles here like all of us do, but I respect all opinions."
And finally…
Van Gaal says City can’t become kings of Europe
Former Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal has said that runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City won’t become European champions, because of the side’s defence.
The 66-year-old was in charge of United for two seasons, where he won the FA Cup in 2016.
As quoted by the Mirror, Van Gaal said: “There is no way another team will claim the Premier League title this season. The quality of Pep’s players is just too high for them to slip up now.
“But I have concerns over the Manchester City back line. I watched them against Arsenal and Aubameyang could have punished them. He should have scored.
Sky Bet: Manchester City are 11/4 favourites to win the Champions League this season
“The big teams, who dare to play a pressing game against City and who will put their central defenders under pressure, can put Pep’s team in trouble.
“Arsenal should have played with more flair. If they would have put more pressure on those central defenders, I don’t think City would have been able to cope.
“In the first half of the final at Wembley, Arsenal seemed in control and they did press a number of times. It was clear for me that Man City could not play themselves out of that situation.
“I know why, because they don’t have the right central defenders to get out of situations with a lot of pressure.”
Last updated 1605 GMT 28/02/18
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