Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates

Football talking points: Zidane on Juventus v Real Madrid, Tottenham in the money & De Bruyne wants to win Player of the Year

17:21 · TUE April 03, 2018

Zinedine Zidane talks Champions League, De Bruyne talks about himself and Spurs are in the money as we look at the big football talking points on Tuesday.

Zidane plays down Real edge

Zinedine Zidane says Real Madrid do not hold any psychological advantage over Juventus from last season’s Champions League final victory.

The two European giants clash in the quarter-finals in Turin on Tuesday with Juve seeking revenge for last May’s 4-1 defeat in the Champions League final in Cardiff.

The win gave Real back-to-back Champions League victories but Zidane is keen to pay down any advantage they might have because of that result going into Tuesday’s quarter-final.

Zinedine Zidane with the Champions League trophy

“This game has nothing to do with what happened 10 months ago,” he told Real’s website. “It's another tie, another match and stage and we have to prepare things well.

"The game is completely different to the Cardiff final. We are not very different, because we are more or less the same players, but since then our season has not been as good as we expected."

With Real miles behind Barcelona in La Liga, Zidane knows he most likely has to win the Champions League for a third straight year just to keep his job.

Match Odds: Juventus 21/10 Draw 9/4 Real Madrid 7/5

De Bruyne deserves award

Kevin De Bruyne is also in Champions League action this week, and never short on confidence the Manchester City midfielder says he deserves to be named Player of the Year this season.

De Bruyne has been a star of Pepo Guardiola’s runaway Premier League leaders, who face Liverpool in the Champions League either side of possibly clinching the title against Manchester United at the weekend.

PFA Player of the Year odds

Kevin De Bruyne is also in Champions League action this week, and never short on confidence the Manchester City midfielder says he deserves to be named Player of the Year this season.

The Belgian comes up against fellow Player of the Year candidate Mohamed Salah in their Champions League clash, but De Bruyne claims that he deserves to be named Player of the Year.

“"If I get it, it would be nice I think for the team and for me. In one way I believe I deserve it because I have been very consistent in my form,” said De Bruyne.

"I am very happy with myself, I am very pleased with how I have played, I didn't expect to be this good this season, to be honest.

"I think there is almost no game where my standard has dropped, so I have been very constant, and I am very happy with myself. To maintain the level the amount of games I have played, the amount of minutes, I am very pleased with that."

Spurs in the money

Christian Eriksen celebrates against Chelsea

It’s been a great Easter for Tottenham, who ended 28 years of hurt at Stamford Bridge before then posting record revenues of £306.3m for the year ending June 30, 2017.

The numbers are almost £100m up on the previous year and is down mainly to the new Premier League television deal but still makes for good reading.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy knows that he still has a balancing act to manage as they prepare to move to a new stadium later this year.

"We are in an historic period for the club and there is a growing sense of excitement,” said Levy.

“There will, however, be many challenges in the coming months as we near the latter stages of the construction of the new stadium and its opening.”

Tottenham are 2/1 to win the FA Cup this season with Sky Bet

Fabio Capello takes England training

Capello warns of England burnout

Former England manager Fabio Capello has warned burnout could be the biggest problem for the Three Lions in Russia.

Capello led England to the 2010 tournament in South Africa, reaching the last 16 before going down 4-1 to a superior Germany side.

The Italian coach is impressed with the quality of Gareth Southgate's revamped squad but hinted the lack of a winter break in the Premier League, one of his bugbears when he held the post, could hamstring them at the competition.

England World Cup specials (odds via Sky Bet)

England to win the World Cup - 16/1
Jack Butland to start England's first game - 5/2
Jack Wilshere to start England's first game - 11/4
Jordan Henderson to be England's Captain for first game - 5/2
Glenn Murray to make the England World Cup squad - 25/1

Speaking to FIFA.com, he said: "For this World Cup, England have youngsters with great talent and knowledge.

"It is possible that these young men don't feel the pressure, so they might play without tension. A key problem, in my opinion, is that they come very physically tired to compete with teams, whose players are not so fatigued."

Andy Robertson celebrates with Sadio Mane

Robertson doesn't fear Manchester City

Andy Robertson insists Liverpool have no reason to be afraid as they head into their hugely-anticipated Champions League clash with Manchester City.

The Merseysiders host the runaway Premier League leaders in the first leg of the glamour tie at Anfield on Wednesday.

City are 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League and on the brink of being crowned champions, but their only loss in a magnificent campaign came at Anfield in January.

Reds left-back Robertson said: "I don't think we can be afraid. They won't be afraid of us and we won't be afraid of them.

"They've been the best team in our league this season and are going to win the league, undoubtedly, but this is two games in the Champions League, a one-off.

Liverpool v Manchester City betting (odds via Sky Bet)

Liverpool to win - 15/8
Match to be a draw - 13/5
Manchester City to win - 13/10
Mohamed Salah to score first - 11/2
Leroy Sane to score first - 12/1

"We have as much right to be in the quarter-finals as they do and there is no seeding in it. It will be a big occasion.

"Their movement is a joy to watch at times, and as a defender you need to be aware of that, but hopefully we'll be attacking as well and we can push them back into areas where they don't want to go."