LONDON (REUTERS) - Aston Villa face Derby County in the Championship play-off final on Monday (May 27) with both clubs desperate for a return to the Premier League in a game billed as the richest in world football with at least £170 million (S$297 million) on the line.
Villa have been out of the top flight for three seasons while Derby have been stuck in the second tier of English football since relegation in 2008.
A 10-match winning streak during the run-in propelled Dean Smith's Villa into the playoffs where they got past West Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion.
"The key thing is momentum," said former Brentford manager Smith, who took over from Steve Bruce at Villa Park in October. "I feel we have a lot of that going into it (the final), given our run towards the end of the season and our two dominant play-off games. We can take it into the final."
Derby produced a brilliant performance with a 4-2 win over Leeds United in their play-off second leg at Elland Road earning them a place at Wembley.
Derby manager Frank Lampard, the former Chelsea and England midfielder who is in his first season as a manager, believes his team are well suited for the high-pressure encounter.
"The 'Cup' football feeling has been good for us. We've had to get results for a while now, going back to probably the QPR game (a 2-0 home win on April 22). We'll need big game mentality on Monday," he said.
Lampard is up against his former club and international team-mate John Terry, who is Smith's assistant at Villa.
The two clubs have proud histories. Seven-time English champions Villa were European Cup winners in 1982, while Derby were twice English champions in the 1970s.
Champions Norwich City and runners-up Sheffield United have already secured promotion to the top flight and the rewards for Villa and Derby joining them are eye-watering.
According to analysis from Deloitte's Sports Business Group, promotion will bring an increase in revenue of at least £170 million, rising to a minimum of £300 million if the play-off winners avoid relegation in their first season.
The £170 million includes £95 million in revenue from playing in the Premier League in 2019-20, mostly from broadcast and commercial revenue, and a total of £75 million in parachute payments in 2020-21 and 2021-22 if they go straight down.
However, the £170 million rises to at least £300 million if they survive their first season in the top flight.
Football: Watford's Andre Gray strikes late winner to spoil Brendan Rodgers' Leicester debut against former side Mar 3, 2019, 10:47 pm Subscribe to The Straits Times
Brendan rodgers News: Brendan rodgers Latest News and
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp excited by Premier League title fight Manchester City climbed to the top of the table on goal difference with victory against Everton in midweek but Liverpool's
Klopp Excited By Premier League Title Fight - channelstv.com
Raheem Sterling was recognised for his fight against racism in the sport and for using his platform to call for more action to be taken. England's Sterling honoured with award for fighting
Sterling honoured with award for fighting racism - Reuters
Singapore-based Australian DJ Adam Sky was found dead in a luxury resort in Bali on Saturday (May 4). Australian news outlet Nine News said that the body of the 42-year-old DJ, whose real name is Adam Neat, was found in a pool of blood around 10am that day at the Hillstone Villas Resort.
Football Association of Singapore - spl.sg
spl.sg/singapore-premier-league-week-10-roundup/
SINGAPORE, 6 MAY 2019 - Brunei DPMM were arguably the biggest winners over the weekend as they extended their lead at the top of the table to six points thanks to their victory over Home United, coupled with Tampines Rovers and Hougang United cancelling each other out.
Alexis Sanchez came back to haunt Arsenal as the Chilean opened the scoring in Manchester United's 3-1 FA Cup fourth-round win on Friday to maintain Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 100 percent record as
Sanchez haunts Arsenal as Man Utd maintain perfect record
LONDON (AFP) - Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Scholes has been appointed manager of Oldham Athletic, the club announced on Monday (Feb 11).. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Man United great Scholes appointed manager of Oldham
#Real Madrid #Paris Saint-Germain #Neymar father #PSG extension more likely #Ream Madrid switch # India football: इगोर स्टिमैक ने
Neymar PSG extension more likely than Madrid switch: Father
Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Cardiff City - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 29, 2018 Cardiff City's Victor Camarasa scores their first goal Action Images vi
Football: Cardiff earn first away win with late Camarasa
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been crowned PFA Player of the Year for 2018-19, with Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling winning the Young Player of the Year award.
Virgil van Dijk and Vivianne Miedema named PFA players of the
Pep Guardiola's bid to win the Champions League for the first time since 2011 will come under threat from his old friend Mauricio Pochettino when Manchester City face Tottenham in the quarter
Pochettino plans to ruin old pal Guardiola's Champions League
Juventus deny making an approach for Guardiola Serie A champions Juventus have dismissed reports they are set to make Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola their new head coach.
Juventus deny making an approach for Pep Guardiola
Mourinho humiliated by fall at Russian hockey league face-off Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho embarrassingly slipped after presenting a symbolic face-off to a match in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on Monday.
Mourinho humiliated by fall at Russian hockey league face-off
LIVERPOOL. — Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool's record-breaking season is just the "first step" for his team after they were pipped to the English Premier League football title by Manchester City. Liverpool beat Wolves 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday, but City's 4-1 win at Brighton meant Klopp's
Klopp: This is just the first step | The Herald
Atletico Madrid fell to their heaviest league defeat of the season as they were crushed 3-0 by Espanyol on Saturday. Atletico thus, , missed the chance to mathematically guarantee they finish second in La Liga ahead of neighbours Real Madrid.
Atletico slump to biggest defeat of season against ruthless
Italian World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was named coach of China, spearheading the country's attempts to become a force at last. Italian legend Cannavaro named new coach of China | Sport24
Italian legend Cannavaro named new coach of China
0 comments:
Post a Comment