Wednesday cannon fodder: aggressive overdue flamingo

Premier League/England

Man City 7-0 Schalke (agg: 10-2): City ease through to quarter-finals - BBC Sport
Manchester City thrash Schalke in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie to confirm their passage to the quarter-finals.

Jurgen Klopp says it is ‘mad’ to think Liverpool Champions League exit would help title bid - BBC Sport
Jurgen Klopp says it is “mad” to suggest a Champions League exit could help Liverpool’s bid for a first domestic league title in 29 years.

Reading 0-3 Leeds United: Pablo Hernandez scores twice as Leeds return to the top - BBC Sport
Pablo Hernandez scores two fine goals to steer Leeds back to the top of the Championship with victory against Reading.

FA reveals what ‘aggressive’ Poch allegedly said to Dean - Football365
An “aggressive” Mauricio Pochettino is alleged to have continuously told Mike Dean “you know what you are”.

Is there even a case for Everton keeping Marco Silva now? The jury’s out | FourFourTwo
In the bottom half, one win in six and no sign of improvement on the horizon. Just how patient is Farhad Moshiri?

Bolton Wanderers players paid overdue February wages - BBC Sport
Bolton Wanderers’ players are paid their overdue February wages, the Championship club confirms.

How Spurs’ poor form is changing the top four race - Cartilage Free Captain
Bad luck or bottlers?

Vivianne Miedema: ‘There’s a big difference playing with boys and with girls’ | Football | The Guardian
Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema, the record-breaking striker, on her footballing upbringing, Netherlands’ World Cup hopes and why her club deserve to win the WSL.

Europe

Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick against Atlético fires Juventus into last eight | Football | The Guardian
Cristiano Ronaldo relished a ‘magical night’ as Juventus beat Atlético Madrid 3-0 and 3-2 on aggregate thanks to his latest goal spree.

Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid return a masterstroke and he has all the aces | Sid Lowe | Football | The Guardian
The Frenchman must have had assurances to take the job again and now wields significant power at the Bernabéu.

Rangers 0-2 Aberdeen: Derek McInnes’ men set up Scottish Cup semi-final with Celtic - BBC Sport
Aberdeen clinch a second win over Rangers at Ibrox this season to earn a Scottish Cup semi-final with Celtic after edging their last-eight replay.

Declan Rice wins Irish Young Player of the Year award despite declaring for England - BBC Sport
Declan Rice is to be named Ireland’s Young Player of the Year at the FAI International Awards despite switching allegiance to England.

Eden Hazard determined to join Real Madrid after Zinedine Zidane’s return | Football | The Guardian
Real Madrid have finally formalised their pursuit of Eden Hazard by lodging a proposal with Chelsea.

How Schalke’s ‘melting pot’ academy produced a string of young players | Football | The Guardian
Schalke academy graduates have already shone for both sides in their Champions League tie against Manchester City.

MLS/Americas

Maradona’s boyhood club reveal giant inflatable tunnel tribute at ‘El Diego Stadium’ – video | Football | The Guardian
Argentinos Juniors have paid homage to their most famous son with an eye-catching tribute – an enormous inflatable tunnel in Diego Maradona’s image.

Tyler Adams, Christian Pulisic headline USMNT roster for friendlies against Ecuador, Chile | Pro Soccer USA
New U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter has called in 24 players ahead of friendlies against Ecuador in Orlando and Chile in Houston.

Forward Madison’s new kits turn the creativity up to full-mingo - E Pluribus Loonum
All four jerseys are unique and fun designs.

Rest of the World

APNewsBreak: FIFA study backs 48-team ‘22 WC, Qatar sharing
LONDON (AP) — A FIFA feasibility study concluded the 2022 World Cup can expand to 48 teams by using at least one of Qatar’s neighbors as an additional host.

Other

The Football Stats War May Not Be Over But One Side Is Winning | StatsBomb
Expected goals are in the news again as Man Utd have rocketed back into the top four race under the tutelage of Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer.

David Beckham pranked by James Corden with hilarious fake statue | Pro Soccer USA
James Corden, good friend of David Beckham, coordinated with the Galaxy to reveal a fake statue to Beckham before the actual statue was revealed.

The web is 30: How people had to 'do' football before the web - BBC Three
Ceefax!