Liverpool have the best chance of winning a coveted quadruple this year, as they are still in the running for success across four major competitions

Winning one major trophy in any given season is a notable achievement, not to mention two or three.

Certain teams are, however, capable of sustaining challenges for silverware on multiple fronts, with several additions being made to well-stocked cabinets.

Has a club ever managed to sweep the board by completing a quadruple in a single campaign? GOAL takes a look…

What is a quadruple?

For a club to win a quadruple it means that they have won four trophies in a single season.

For example, if a team has won the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League, they have won the quadruple.

In official terms, a ‘true’ quadruple is when a club wins all four of the major trophies in a single campaign, not across a calendar year.

A team can win four trophies and call it winning a quadruple, but true pedants and football purists will say that trophies like the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup do not count towards ‘quadruple’ tallies as they are not considered to be major trophies by the majority of people.

Similarly, a ‘treble’ is when a single team wins three major trophies in a single season, and the ‘double’ is when a team collects two pieces of major silverware.

Bayern won the unofficial quadruple when they lifted the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and Champions League in 2019-20. They went on to win the Club World Cup a few months later, which means that they won four titles but not the true quadruple.

Similarly, Pep Guardiola won six trophies in the 2009 calendar year as manager of Barcelona – the Champions League, La Liga, Spanish Cup, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and the Copa del Rey.

But he was unable to win the proper quadruple in 2009-10, falling short in the Champions League semi-finals while picking up the Spanish Cup and La Liga trophies.

Has a Premier League team ever won the quadruple?

No Premier League side has managed to win the quadruple.

The closest any side has got was in 1998-99 when – with a League Cup triumph eluding the Red Devils as they tumbled out of that competition at the quarter-final stage against Tottenham.

Manchester City, meanwhile, collected all three domestic trophies in 2018-19 but slipped out of continental competition in the quarter-finals – they also won the Community Shield that year.

– the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Champions League – in the 2021-22 season.

The Reds have already savoured League Cup glory, are through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup, quarter-finals in Europe and sit just a point off the pace in a domestic title race.

Article continues belowClubs to win four titles

No team in the top five major European leagues has won the true quadruple, though many clubs have won four titles in a season.

Celtic won the true quadruple in 1966-67, as they had won the European Cup, Scottish First Division, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup in a single season.

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Bayern Munich2019-20Bundesliga, DFB Pokal, Champions League, Club World CupReal Madrid2017-18Supercopa de Espana, Super Cup, Club World Cup, Champions LeagueParis St-Germain2014-15, 2015-16, 2017-18Trophee des Champions, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Coupe de la LigueReal Madrid2016-17Super Cup, Club World Cup, La Liga, Champions LeagueBarcelona2015-16Super Cup, Club World Cup, La Liga, Copa del ReyBayern Munich2012-13DFL Supercup, Bundesliga, DFB Pokal, Champions LeagueCeltic1966-67European Cup, Scottish First Division, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup

The Red Devils forward has 46 international caps to his name, but he has been overlooked in Gareth Southgate’s latest selection

England will be in international friendly action against Switzerland at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, before then playing host to Ivory Coast on Tuesday, but Marcus Rashford will not be figuring in either of those fixtures.

The Manchester United forward has represented his country on 46 occasions, scoring 12 goals, but will not be adding to his collection of Three Lions caps any time soon after being .

Why has the Red Devils star been overlooked and could his place in plans being drawn up for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar later this year be under threat? GOAL takes a look…

Why is Marcus Rashford not in the England squad?

The 24-year-old has been a regular for England since bursting onto the scene as a teenager in 2016, with appearances made at two European Championships – including a Euro 2020 final against Italy – the 2018 World Cup and UEFA Nations League finals.

His in the 2021-22 campaign – on the back of becoming an MBE for his charity work off the field – and Southgate is looking for a proven performer to rediscover a spark at Old Trafford before being welcomed back into the international arena.

The Three Lions boss has said of his decision to snub Rashford: “I think it is important, perhaps after this camp, for me to go and sit with him and find out a bit more about what is going on.

“We know he is desperate to do well.

“I think Marcus is very realistic. He knows he is in a situation where he has not been getting in the United team consistently and he will be searching as much as anybody to get that form back.

“We all believe he can be an asset for his club and for his country.

“With one or two of our players in the past, who have had dips and come through them, you can say, ‘look, they came through that, they responded well and became more strong and they showed the character needed’.

“That is what he is going to have to prove now in the coming weeks and months. Nobody’s career goes smoothly from start to finish and of course his rise from when he first broke into the team at United was incredible, really.”

How many goals & assists does Marcus Rashford have in 2021-22?

Southgate is right to suggest that Rashford needs to knuckle down at club level and once more.

A home-grown academy graduate at Old Trafford has started only 10 Premier League games this season and has not completed a 90-minute outing for the Red Devils in 2022.

He has in total this term, with a .

Only five goals, the most recent of which came on January 22 against West Ham, and two assists have been recorded across 26 appearances in all competitions and he has not turned out in the colours of his country since being introduced as an extra-time substitute late on in the Euro 2020 final – an outing in which he .

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Competition

Appearances

Mins played

Goals

Assists

Premier League

19

936

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4

2

FA Cup

2

168

0

0

Champions League

5

258

1

0

Table correct at time of writing on 22/03/2022

He will be desperate to make amends for his failure from the spot, particularly at a major tournament, but the clock is now ticking for him as the countdown to the 2022 World Cup continues.

That event is due to get under way in Qatar on November 21 and Rashford will need to force his way back into contention for UEFA Nations League fixtures across June and September in order to secure himself one of 23 much sought-after tickets that are set to be handed out by Southgate.

The England international is enjoying a prolific debut season at Stadio Olimpico after overcoming his initial doubts about a move to Italy

Tammy Abraham has revealed what he first thought about a transfer to Roma and how he is still “starstruck” by his “uncle of Rome” Jose Mourinho.

After six years on Chelsea’s books, Abraham left the club to join Roma in a £34 million ($45m) deal last summer, committing to a five-year contract.

, but has now admitted that he wasn’t initially attracted to the opportunity at Stadio Olimpico.

What’s been said?

Abraham says he ended up changing his mind because of the trust Roma placed in his abilities, telling : “At first, when they initially contacted me, I thought to myself: ‘This isn’t for me’.

“But then, when people explain to your their ambitions, and show that they have faith you and make you feel valuable, that’s when you want to give them everything you can.

“As soon as I arrived here, I fell in love with this place.”

Abraham on Mourinho

Roma boss Mourinho also played a key role in convincing Abraham to take up a new challenge in the Italian capital.

The Portuguese, who worked with Abraham briefly during his second stint in charge of Chelsea between 2013 and 2015, made it a priority to bring in the forward after taking the top job at Stadio Olimpico.

Abraham has rewarded his manager by scoring 23 goals in 40 games, including a .

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“I still look up to him as an idol,” the England international said when quizzed on what it’s like to play under Mourinho. “And I never told him this, but every time I see him I’m still starstruck even though I see him every day.

“When he was at Chelsea, I was there, but I was still a young kid. I trained with him a couple of times so I knew what he was like a little bit and since coming here, I call him my uncle of Rome.”

Further reading

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The Brazilians star is back in the national team and is relishing the prospect of coming up against many stars in world football

Mamelodi Sundowns left-back Lyle Lakay is hoping to get the chance to play for Bafana Bafana against France in the March 29 international friendly match.

Bafana clash against the reigning world champions in Lille after playing Guinea in Belgium four days earlier.

Cape Town City’s Terrence Mashego is Lakay’s direct challenger for the left-back position as they face Les Bleus who have the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Karim Benzema in their side.

“If I do make it, I’ll be happy, you know, if not, that’s not the end of the world. I’ll just continue working hard,” Lakay told the Sundowns media department.

“People will talk and say ‘No, that’s people that we watch on TV on the European stage, you know, in the Champions League’, Mbappe is one of the top players in the world right now.

“Then you got to Benzema and Griezmann and those guys. But for me, personally, I’ll take this as something you tell yourself, you can test yourself against the best in the world.

“Obviously their level, people will tell you, it’s higher than our level, but at the end of the day, you get to test yourself against the best in the world.

“[It] is something you know, everybody wants to do. You want to see where you stand, you want to compete against the best, obviously, to see how far you can go.”

Lakay is in the Bafana fold for the first time under coach Hugo Broos after being ignored since the Belgian was appointed South Africa coach in May 2021.

Mashego has been the preferred left-back, while once right-back Nyiko Mobbie played on the left side of the defence.

Lakay feels playing against Africa’s best team in the Caf Champions League has handed him experience.

“Beating Al Ahly was a big achievement for us [Sundowns]. I don’t know when a team last beat Al Ahly home and away,” said Lakay.

“Playing in the Champions League, you get experience because you are playing on the continent. For example, Al Ahly have about eight players in the Egypt national team who played recently in the Afcon final.

“Obviously you have that experience of playing on the continent which you can take into the national team. Going to into the national team obviously, we are going to play against European opposition in France which will help us because they are not the same people we play on the continent.

“It will help us in terms of experience. The camp itself will be a good experience not only for me but for all of us because of the competition. The teams we are playing against play at a high level. I’m looking forward to it and I’m sure the players are also looking forward to it.”

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Broos called up other Sundowns players like Khuliso Mudau, Rushine De Reuck, Teboho Mokoena and Mothobio Mvala who have been playing Champions League football.

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AmaZulu goalkeeper Veli Mothwa and Pyramids’ Fagrie Lakay have also been playing at that level while Orlando Pirates’ Thabang Monare, Bandile Shandu and Goodman Mosele participate in the Caf Confederation Cup.

GOAL considers which factors could decide the first meeting between the West African giants on Friday

GettyGhana vs Nigeria

While both nations will relish the prospect of outdoing the other for a World Cup berth, claiming bragging rights in this regional derby represents one of the narratives heading into this double-header.

Having largely underperformed at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana and Nigeria seek a response to early exits in Cameroon.

Securing the ticket to Qatar will undoubtedly soften the blow of the respective group stage and Round of 16 exits at the finals, but only one side can come out on top.

In this feature, GOAL looks into the different elements that can possibly swing the game in either side’s favour.

BackpagepixNigeria’s issues in defence

While it would be easy to go along with the backline that featured at Afcon 2021, it is not quite simple.

Of the starting quartet in Cameroon — William Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Zaidu Sanusi and Ola Aina — only the Porto left-back has received significant game time since the continental showpiece.

The Watford centre-back has not played for the Hornets since New Year’s Day, Aina has not played for Torino this year and Omeruo has failed to kick a ball for Leganes in the last five games.

With Augustine Eguavoen unlikely to make too many changes to the team from Afcon, this poses questions owing to the aforementioned players’ fitness before facing Ghana.

Click Here: BackpagepixWilfred Ndidi’s absence

If you were hoping for someone to help to mask potential issues at the back, Ndidi’s protection of the rearguard would have come in handy.

However, Nigeria do not even have that. The Leicester City midfielder’s absence complicates the situation for Eguavoen who may be forced to recalibrate his side in the middle.

Ndidi’s layoff could not be more ill-timed, leaving Nigeria with an uphill battle over both games.

Thomas Partey’s influence

With Wilfred Ndidi absent, Peter Etebo without significant minutes since September and Innocent Bonke (the Leicester midfielder’s replacement) still wet behind the ears at this level, the in-form Partey could dominate in the middle of the park.

The Arsenal star has enjoyed a rich vein of form since returning from Ghana’s dismal Afcon showing and could carry that into the pair of games against the Super Eagles.

Winning the midfield battle could make or mar Nigeria’s chances, so Eguavoen will enjoin his team to dominate in that area.

GettyOne-dimensional Eagles?

While Nigeria’s menace from wide positions caused opponents loads of problems in the Africa Nations Cup, the inability to be multi-dimensional against Tunisia ultimately cost Eguavoen’s troops a quarter-final place.

Channelling attacks with greater balance makes the side less predictable and harder to defend against, but it remains to be seen how the three-time African champions adapt against the Black Stars.

BackpagepixGetting the best from Victor Osimhen

The Napoli frontman has been in red-hot form for Napoli in recent weeks but has not played for Nigeria since November.

There has been a change in the dugout since Osimhen last played for the Super Eagles, prompting a change in the team’s approach.

While the 23-year-old remains a menace on his day, there must be a concerted effort to fashion opportunities for the player at every opportunity.

If he has his shooting boots on, Nigeria’s chances of success improve.

The 21-year-old is nearing his return to the field after months out with a heart condition

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies has vowed to bulk up after his return to training.

The full-back has not featured since December since he was diagnosed with a heart condition following a bout of Covid-19.

Davies has been left out of the Canada squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches but is continuing his work towards a return to the field by hitting the gym.

Click Here: What has been said?

The 21-year-old posted a video on his Instagram story of him inside the gym.

He then shouts: “Time to get swole. Project Adama.”

The Canada star is likely referring to Adama Traore, who drastically increased his upper-body strength over the space of a few years.

When will Davies play again?

It remains unclear when exactly Davies will be back in the Bayern Munich squad, but Julian Nagelsmann said last week that he could be back in time to face Villarreal in the Champions League next month.

“We have had a good checkup [on Friday] as well but it’s just slowly getting back into it,” the coach told reporters.

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“He probably will be back in about three to four weeks, at least that is still our goal.

“So he will be playing that Champions League game hopefully against Villarreal if everything works as usual.”

Further reading

The 22-year-old was called up this week after several players were ruled out because of injuries

Crystal Palace full-back Tyrick Mitchell says a dream has come true for his mum after he received his first England call up.

England announced on Monday that the 22-year-old was among the through injury ahead of the friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.

Mitchell did not represent England at any age level on his way to the senior game and was surprised to be called into the team so soon.

What has been said?

“It’s a dream come true. I never, ever thought it would happen so quickly, so I’m literally over the moon,” he told . “I found out [Saturday]. I got the text. I couldn’t believe it, I was just lost for words.”

Asked if he had shared the news with his mum, Mitchell said: “I didn’t even tell her. I was waiting for it to get announced. That’s one of her dreams, to see me play at Wembley.

“Wembley is so close to home so to be called up for England and be around it and be in Wembley Stadium is literally a dream come true itself.”

How has Mitchell performed this season?

The left-back made his senior debut in April 2020 and has made 33 appearances in all competitions for the club this season.

He has started all 29 of Palace’s Premier League matches so far, failing to finish the full 90 minutes on just one occasion.

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“I think my team-mates, the manager, everything about Palace has pushed me to understand that last year I did well, but this year I know what I’m capable of and I’m just trying to show it,” he said.

“This season has been amazing. There are hopefully many more successes until the end of the season; it’s been amazing.”

Further reading

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The Sweden star does not intend to retire this year but admits that the time will come to hang up his boots

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has confessed that he feels a panic when he thinks about retiring from football.

The 40-year-old is not expected to hang up his boots this summer as he is in talks to sign a new contract at AC Milan.

However, he is aware the day to call time on his career will come and he expects life after football to have a “strange feeling”.

What has been said?

“I do feel a slight sense of panic at the prospect of retirement,” Ibrahimovic told reporters.

“I will certainly keep playing for as long as possible, as long as I can get results and am not suffering. I want to end my career without regrets, so I have to maximise my time.”

He added: “I know the adrenaline I feel at the moment will never be the same. We are programmed to wake up, go to training, return home and rest.

“This goes on for 20-25 years, but one day I will wake up and have nothing planned, and that will be a strange feeling.”

But the Sweden star says football fans will feel his absence more than he will miss the game, adding: “I think the greatest sadness will be yours, as you won’t get to watch me play anymore. You should enjoy it now, because you’ll never see the likes of me again.”

How has Ibrahimovic performed this season?

The AC Milan star is currently on international duty with Sweden ahead of their World Cup qualifying play-off against Czech Republic on Thursday.

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The attacker has featured 18 times in Serie A this season and scored eight goals for the San Siro outfit.

However, Ibrahimovic has not started any of his last four appearances for the club.

Further reading

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Since the Afcon finals were staged in Cameroon, 10 teams are back in action as they bid to make it to Qatar

The first leg matches of the final round of the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers are about to kick off with mouthwatering fixtures on the cards.

10 of Africa’s best teams return to action for the quest to book places at Qatar 2022.

It will be the first time for international football on the continent to take place since Senegal lifted the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations title in February after beating Egypt in the tournament held in Cameroon.

GOAL gives you all the information you need to know about the games which will put Africa on a standstill as they bid for the five remaining slots for Qatar.

Fixture

Date

Time

Egypt vs Senegal

March 25

21.30hrs (SAST)

Ghana vs Nigeria

March 25

21.30hrs (SAST)

Cameroon vs Algeria

March 25

19.00hrs (SAST)

DR Congo vs Morocco

March 25

17.00hrs (SAST)

Mali vs Tunisia

March 25

19.00hrs (SAST)

Afcon final ‘replay’ in Cairo 

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Egypt and Cameroon will clash in what would be a rematch of the 2021 Afcon final.

The first leg between the two sides will be played at Cairo International Stadium and comes almost two months after Senegal beat Egypt.

The Teranga Lions beat the Pharaohs 4-2 on penalties following a 0-0 draw after extra time.

Egypt would want to take a healthy first-leg league as they seek to deny Senegal a spot in Qatar.

West African old foes renew rivalry

BackpagePix.

Ghana will be the first team to be at home at Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi in this battle of traditional rivals.

The Black Stars were in the same group as Bafana Bafana from where they secured a play-off spot.

They now have Nigeria to deal with in this potentially stormy affair and they will be tested to the fullest.

Nigeria were at the last World Cup edition in Russia while Ghana missed that tournament and would be seeking a healthy lead ahead of visiting the Super Eagles in Abuja.

Indomitable Lions out to atone for Afcon disappointment

Getty Images

Cameroon legend Rigobert Song begins his tenure as Cameroon coach and what a stage to kick off his reign – against Algeria.

It will be a monumental test of Song facing Algeria as he seeks to soothe the spirits of Cameroonians who endured the agony of watching their team failing to win Afcon on home soil.

The burden to tone for the disappointment lies on Song and his men who start at home at Japoma Stadium before travelling to Algeria.

They face the Desert Foxes looking for redemption after finishing bottom of Group E at Afcon.

Leopards out to end 38-year wait

TFF

DR Congo have not been at the World Cup since 1974 which was their only participation at the quadrennial global football competition.

They now face Morocco in their bid to break that long wait and they start at home at Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecote.

They come up against a Morocco side that was in Russia the last time out and reached the 2021 Afcon quarter-finals where they were knocked out by Egypt.

Confrontation of the Eagles Getty

This will be the battle between the Malian Eagles and the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia.

They begin their confrontation at Venue Stade 26 Mars in Bamako, before switching battleground to Rades.

To reach this play-off stage, Mali emerged from a group that had Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, while Tunisia saw off the challenge of Equatorial-Guinea, Zambia and Mauritania in their pool.

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The West Africans have never been at the World Cup before and Tunisia have been there five times.

All information is accurate at the time of publication.

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The teenager has been finding out more about his idol by watching a documentary on his life

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Liverpool winger Harvey Elliott has praised Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar as one of the best players in football history.

The 18-year-old, who came in , says the Brazil star is one of his idols.

Elliott has been learning more about the 30-year-old since watching the documentary Neymar: The Perfect Chaos.

What has been said?

Asked on the Youtube channel if Neymar was his idol, Elliott said: “That is very true, yeah. I’ve been watching his documentary recently and to see the background he has come from, and how he has got to where he has today is very inspirational. 

“I personally think he’s a great player and one of the best to ever play the game.”

Elliott on Klopp’s bear hugs

As one of his side’s most promising young players, Elliott has regularly been embraced by coach Jurgen Klopp.

The winger was asked if the manager’s bear hugs hurt, to which he replied: “No, no! The warmth that he brings – it’s a joke.

“He is [a father figure]. You see it a lot, how he is with players, his players, his staff and how he interacts with the fans. 

“He’s the best possible man for the job, I can say, and the best possible person to be learning off.”

Elliott missed almost four months of action this month after dislocating his ankle in September, which Klopp described as one of the worst injuries he has seen.

“That’s down to him, really,” Harvey said when asked about the German’s comments.

“I’m sure he’s seen horrible injuries and injuries in the past that have played on his mind. It’s not nice for anyone to be injured.

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“I tried to give positivity to the team and especially to him. It’s nice to see how he feels, at the same time I don’t like people feeling that way towards me and feeling upset.

“It does give me a boost to show how he cares about me and how he thinks and feels about me.”

Further reading