Clinton Morrison's Predictions: Arsenal vs PSG, Palace's Final, England's World Cup Snubs & Guardiola's Legacy
One of the biggest weeks in English football is upon us. Arsenal face PSG in the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday. Crystal Palace face Real Valladolid tonight in the Conference League final. England have named their World Cup squad amid controversy. And Pep Guardiola has walked away from the Premier League after 10 extraordinary years.
Clinton Morrison joined us for his weekly column with his verdicts on all of it.
Here's what Clinton had to say, and don't forget to check out the best World Cup Free Bets & Betting Offers, courtesy of Free Bets.
IN FULL: Clinton Morrison's Verdicts
GUARDIOLA'S EXIT
As a coach, Guardiola is the best. It's two different things though. Sir Alex Ferguson managed a group of players, molded them together, rebuilt over many years in a totally different way. They both offer something completely different. But as a pure coach who makes players better and develops them, Guardiola is the best I've seen.
He won't be out of work for long when he's ready to go again. You want the best managers working and it's obviously sad he's left the Premier League. But when the right challenge comes along, he'll go again.
On Enzo Maresca as his replacement:
I can see it working. He worked under Pep so the people at City already know him, know what he's like and the style of football he'll want to play will be similar to what they've been used to. I thought it might be him or Vincent Kompany but Kompany has done a brilliant job at Bayern and I can't see him leaving anytime soon. Enzo Maresca for Man City is the right appointment.
SUNDERLAND IN EUROPE
If you'd spoken to most Sunderland fans at the start of the season they'd have said just staying up would have been a great achievement. But to actually go and get into the Europa League in their first season back in the Premier League? Fantastic. The manager should be in the conversation for manager of the season without a doubt.
The signings have been good so you have to credit the hierarchy too. Bringing in Granit Xhaka was one of the best pieces of business in the division this season. And their striker is a real handful, I've not seen many defenders contain him properly. For them to finish in Europe when you've got Chelsea and Tottenham below them, clubs way bigger than Sunderland? It's a great achievement.
CRYSTAL PALACE VS REAL VALLADOLID, CONFERENCE LEAGUE FINAL
You can't have favourites in a final. A lot of people are saying Palace are favourites but there are no favourites in finals. You've got to go in there and give it everything.
It'll be a big plus if Adam Wharton and Chris Richards are fit. They both trained yesterday and Glasner said he'd have to check with the medical staff. But it's a final. You play your best players. If Mateta starts, which I would do, Palace play on the counterattack and try to cause problems with Ishmael Saár. That's what they'll try to do.
The key thing for me is Glasner's experience. He's won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt. He's been here before and he knows what it takes. That experience is priceless going into a final.
Prediction: Palace 2-1 Real Valladolid
ARSENAL VS PSG, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
It'll be cagey. If Arsenal take the lead, I feel Arsenal will win it. Defensively this year they know how to dig out results. And just winning the Premier League will give them huge confidence going into Saturday.
But if PSG take the lead it's a completely different game. Arsenal then have to come out and chase it and that front three will just pick them off on the counter. So the first goal in this game is everything.
The key matchup for me is Dembélé against Timber if he's fit. And those PSG full backs, Hakimi and Nuno Mendes. If Arsenal's wide players don't track back against those two, they'll be opened up. That's where the game can be won and lost. Arsenal's plan has to be what they've done all season, be defensively disciplined, be hard to beat and take their chances when they come.
Luis Enrique is a brilliant coach. What he changed at PSG when he came in was remarkable. They press relentlessly now from the front. Dembélé is always the first one pressing and the others get out behind him. It'll be a proper tactical battle between two brilliant managers.
Prediction: PSG 2-1 Arsenal
WOULD ARTETA BE ARSENAL'S GREATEST EVER MANAGER IF HE WINS?
It's a great debate. I still think what Arsene Wenger did when he went to that football club and the way he changed the Premier League, for me it's still Wenger. But if Arsenal win the double, the Premier League and the Champions League, that's a special double. It's definitely in the conversation. The lesson from Arteta's story is simple. Don't just sack your managers when things aren't going right. Stick with them and believe in them.
ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP SQUAD
A few strange decisions. I thought Gibbs White deserved to be in it. I also can't believe Adam Wharton isn't there. When you're going to places like America in that heat, you want players who can manipulate the ball, play passes into Harry Kane's feet. I was so surprised. Harry Maguire as well. Those are probably the three who were really unfortunate. And Trent.
I like Dan Burn as a character and as a player. But he shouldn't have gone in ahead of Maguire. And you can't not have Trent Alexander Arnold in your squad when some of the players who have been included haven't been in good form recently.
Ivan Toney was the real left field selection. I cover a lot of Saudi games and he's been outstanding, scored around 30 goals. But people question it because you'd rather have another attacking creative player in there. That's what Thomas Tuchel does though. He keeps you on your toes and he picks players with good characters. Those players who have been left out will be devastated. But the ones in there have a job to do for England.
On Harry Maguire's social media statement:
He's entitled to do it. With over 60 caps for England and the way he's played this season, he's entitled to his opinion. Harry Maguire probably feels this was one of his last chances to go to a major tournament for his country and he's devastated. When people publicly agree with you, you feel more comfortable putting out a statement like that. And we all know he should have been in that squad.
Clinton Morrison's Predictions, At a Glance
| Match | Clinton's Prediction |
|---|---|
| CONFERENCE LEAGUE FINAL | |
| Crystal Palace vs Real Valladolid (Tonight) | Palace 2-1 |
| CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL | |
| Arsenal vs PSG (Saturday) | PSG 2-1 |
Make the most of Clinton Morrison's selections by checking out the latest free bet offers available at FreeBets.com.
