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• Xavi 'convinced' Barcelona U-turn is right decision

  Xavi believes staying at Barcelona is the right decision after he performed a U-turn on leaving the club.

  Reports emerged on Wednesday that Xavi, who had initially decided to leave Barca at the end of the season, had changed his mind.

  Confirmation arrived on Thursday, with Xavi and Barca's club president Joan Laporta holding a press conference.

  And Xavi has no doubt he is making the right call.

  “You know that I am a very big Barcelona fan and I always try to do the best for the club," he said, as reported by Football Espana.

  "The most important thing is to think about the institution. When we met with the president I put my position at his disposal, but I saw that I enjoy great confidence from the president and the entire board.

  "The players have been very important, they have made me see that this project has to continue. We are working well, it is a winning project. The project is not finished.

  "The fans have also made me see that I must continue. The staff too. I think about what is best for the club.

  "In January I thought it was best to leave, but now I see it differently. I think it is the best decision.

  "I am 100 per cent committed. The trust they have placed in me again is spectacular. Let's get to work."

  Crunch talks with Laporta were reportedly key to Xavi's decision, and Barca's president added: "It's great news that Xavi is staying. Stability is one of the keys to success."

  Since taking charge of Barca in 2022, he has taken charge of 137 games in all competitions, winning 85 of them (62 per cent), drawing 24 and losing 28.

  His team have scored 261 goals, winning two trophies – the 2022-23 LaLiga title and the 2022-23 Supercopa de Espana.

  Barca's last-gasp defeat in El Clasico last weekend saw them fall 11 points behind LaLiga leaders Real Madrid with just six games remaining.

• Man Utd matchwinner Fernandes: Criticism part of the job

  Bruno Fernandes said Manchester United's players cannot afford to get annoyed by outside criticism, after he scored twice to fire the Red Devils to a much-needed win over Sheffield United.

  Erik ten Hag's team were roundly criticised for their performance in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City, as they surrendered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 before inching through in a penalty shoot-out.

  They had also gone four Premier League games without a win (three draws, one defeat) prior to Wednesday's meeting with the rock-bottom Blades, with their hopes of Champions League football all-but over.

  They twice trailed as Sheffield United threatened a huge upset, but Fernandes scored twice and supplied an assist as they fought back to claim a 4-2 win.

  Asked whether the noise around Sunday's semi-final win had affected the mood at Old Trafford, Fernandes told Sky Sports: "That's part of the job. 

  "You can be in a run of games where you win eight or nine in a row, and when you lose one you know you'll be criticised. 

  "Being at Manchester United demands winning every game, so it's part of the job. If there is anyone in the dressing room still not used to that, they will get used to it!

  "Being a Manchester United player demands being ready to receive as much criticism as praise. We receive praise when we do good things so we can't be annoyed by the criticism.

  "When people want to do that, they might have a point. We can think in a different way, but we have to take it in the same way as we take the credit they give us."

  Ten Hag's team did look disjointed for long periods on Wednesday, though, and they have now conceded 50 Premier League goals this season.

  The Red Devils have now shipped a half-century of goals in two of their last three Premier League campaigns, having done so just once in their previous 29.

  Ten Hag, though, was content with most aspects of their performance, saying: "It was a good game for the crowd, they saw four goals and many chances that we created.

  "I think we played quite well, we created many more chances, so there's many positives. But also negatives. Conceding two goals from giveaways, that's unacceptable.

  "We want to play dynamic, attacking football. That is what we want to see. Since the winter we have created lots of chances and also scored a lot of those chances."

• Premier League record falls as 2023-24 becomes most goal-laden 20-team season

  The current Premier League season has become the most goal-laden 20-team campaign in the competition's history, with Harry Maguire the unlikely man to seal 2023-24's place in history.

  Maguire scored Manchester United's first equaliser as they twice fought from behind to clinch a 4-2 win over Sheffield United on Wednesday, with Bruno Fernandes netting twice in the second half.

  The centre-back's 42nd-minute header was a significant moment, representing the 1,085th goal scored in the Premier League this term.

  That is the most ever scored in a season containing 20 teams, since 1995-96.

  The 2022-23 season saw 1,084 goals scored, a tally that was reached on the final day to surpass the previous 20-team record of 1,072, set in 2018-19.

  It was somewhat fitting for the record-breaking goal to be conceded by Sheffield United, who have certainly played their part in making 2023-24 the most goal-laden season to date. 

  The Blades have now shipped 92 goals this term, the most ever conceded in a 38-game Premier League campaign. 

  With four games to come, including a rematch with a Newcastle United team that thrashed them 8-0 earlier this campaign, the prospect of Chris Wilder's men bringing up triple figures is a realistic one.