Tuesday’s briefing: Klopp rejects Real rumours and Romero’s Tottenham rally cry

Jurgen Klopp has rejected rumours of a move back into club management with Real Madrid, while the fall-out continues from Manchester City’s Carabao Cup win over Arsenal at Wembley, with both sides insisting they are ready to reset.

Cristiano Romero is calling on Tottenham fans to back his side’s increasingly desperate battle to avoid a stunning Premier League relegation, while England head coach Thomas Tuchel has explained why Kansas City is at the core of England’s World Cup bid.

Klopp dismisses “nonsense” Real Madrid link

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has described speculation that he will take over at Real Madrid this summer as “nonsense”.

The German stood down after nearly nine years in charge at Anfield following the end of the 2023-24 season and has since fulfilled a role as head of global football with Red Bull.

He has not ruled out a return to football management in the future, and has been mentioned as a candidate for the Real job to replace Alvaro Arbeloa at the end of the campaign.

But Klopp told reporters at the Magenta TV World Cup team presentation in Munich: “If Real Madrid had phoned, we would have heard about it by now.

“But that’s all nonsense. They haven’t called even once, not once. My agent is there, you can ask him. They haven’t called him either.”

Nico O’Reilly “smells blood” in title race after Manchester City’s Carabao Cup triumph

Manchester City’s Carabao Cup final hero Nico O’Reilly is “smelling blood” in the title race after delivering a major blow to Arsenal at Wembley.

O’Reilly capped a remarkable few days – that included an England call-up and 21st birthday celebrations – by scoring both goals as City beat the Gunners 2-0 in Sunday’s showpiece.

The victory has given City renewed hope in their pursuit of Arsenal, to whom they current trail by nine points but with a game in hand.

Asked by CBS if City now sensed an opening in the title race, O’Reilly said: “Yes, 100 per cent. The blood never went – we’ve always smelt blood. We’re confident in ourselves, we know we can do it.

“They’ve got to come to our place which is a tough place to come to as everyone has seen this season. So we do smell blood and we’ve got to keep going.”

Viktor Gyokeres determined to inspire Arsenal fightback

Viktor Gyokeres insisted Arsenal would be “even more motivated” in their title pursuit after defeat in the Carabao Cup final.

The Gunners’ quadruple hopes were ended on Sunday as they were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City – their nearest challengers in the Premier League – at Wembley.

The result could give City energy in their bid to claw back Arsenal’s nine-point lead at the top of the league table, but Gyokeres is confident the setback will sharpen his side’s focus.

The Arsenal forward said: “Of course we don’t feel great right now, but it’s not like we have another game in three days. It’s a few weeks until the next one.

“For sure we’ll go again and be even more motivated for those games coming up.”

Romero vows to lead Tottenham survival fight

Cristian Romero promised to put 200 per cent into Tottenham’s seven remaining “finals” in order to avoid a seismic Premier League exit.

Spurs’ survival hopes took an almighty hit after they suffered a demoralising 3-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest on Sunday to drop to 17th in the table and increase the possibility of a first relegation since 1977.

Tottenham’s winless run in the Premier League stands at 13 matches and the pre-match optimism was swapped for a sense of inevitability after another abject defeat.

“It’s a difficult day for everyone, but the first thing is to speak about the fans. Thank you for today and always staying with us,” Romero said.

“They gave us fantastic support, but about us, it’s a bad day. Now it is finished and the most important thing is to understand the situation.”

Thomas Tuchel believes Kansas City base will boost World Cup bid

Thomas Tuchel believes making Kansas City their home away from home will boost England’s World Cup chances as they look to emerge triumphant from a taxing travel and fixture schedule.

The biggest ever edition of tournament will be spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico, presenting unique challenges as the Euro 2024 runners-up look to go one better this summer.

England face travelling almost 9,000 miles to group games in Dallas, Boston and New Jersey, but Tuchel hopes his team can stay in Kansas City for the duration.

“We’re trying to because, basically that was the choice, to have a home, to have a home base, to have a bed that you’re used to sleeping in, to have a bed with a good mattress, to have a hotel with privacy, a small hotel,” said Tuchel.

“Not a 400, 500, 800-bed hotel where we see each other maybe just in the elevators or in the floor between breakfast and meeting, air-conditioning is on and you cannot open the windows.”

What’s on today

Port Vale’s unlikely bid for League One survival continues with a trip to Doncaster while in League Two, Notts County can move into the automatic promotion places with victory at Oldham. York can move back to the top of the Enterprise National League if they win at Gateshead.