Football news and talking points: AVB's message for Harry Kane, Alan Pardew latest and Premier League top four
After another eventful weekend in the world of football, we take a look at the top stories dominating Monday's evening headlines.
Andre Villas-Boas: Harry Kane must move to become regular trophy winner
Harry Kane's former Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas expects the striker will eventually leave Spurs if he craves "trophies and notoriety".
Villas-Boas, who was in charge of Spurs between 2012 and 2013, gave Kane his Premier League bow but disagreed with the youngster over how he could best develop, with the player unwilling to leave on loan at the start of the 2013-14 term.
It was after Villas-Boas departed in December of that campaign when Kane truly came to the fore and following four seasons of 30-plus goals for club and country, the 24-year-old has constantly found himself linked with Real Madrid.
And though Kane has an emotional attachment to his boyhood club, Villas-Boas has said that such a factor could be outweighed by the wish to claim multiple winners' medals elsewhere.
"It depends on Harry and his ambitions for the future and how he sees his career going forward," said the Portuguese, who was speaking in Monaco as an ambassador for Laureus.
"If he has a hunger for trophies and for notoriety he would have to leave Spurs, if he has no hunger for that, but (wants) recognition and stability, he would stay at Spurs.
"Spurs are in that breakout moment of becoming a great football team - the (new) stadium, infrastructure, training ground is there, the team is building up, very well managed.
"The trophy cabinet is still what is missing for this great club. That is in the end what footballers chase - glory, winning.
"I think for Harry, one or two more years at Spurs wouldn't be bad and then see how the club develops. With the new stadium coming through I also think that Spurs should have that margin from him."
In Villas-Boas' time in charge of Tottenham, Kane made just seven appearances while also embarking on disappointing loan spells with Norwich and Leicester.
Top four race: Tottenham leapfrog Chelsea
Wins for Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham boosted their hopes of a top-four finish as Chelsea dropped to fifth with ten games to go.
Jose Mourinho’s Red Devils went back to second with a 2-1 win over Chelsea, after Liverpool’s 3-1 win over West Ham kept the Merseysiders in the running for a second-placed finish.
Tottenham are now fourth and two points ahead of Chelsea, while sixth-place Arsenal are nine adrift of their north London rivals with a game in hand – v Man City on Thursday.
Top four odds (via Sky Bet)
Manchester United - 1/16
Liverpool - 1/10
Tottenham - 2/7
Chelsea - 11/8
Arsenal - 18/1
Alan Pardew's West Brom lifeline
West Brom have opted to stick with manager Alan Pardew for now, and he will be in charge for Saturday’s game against Watford, according to reports.
It is understood the team's performance at Vicarage Road at the weekend could be key in deciding whether Pardew remains in charge for the rest of the season.
Sky Bet: Alan Pardew 2/5 to be the next Premier League manager to leave, Antonio Conte 9/2
Pardew has won just one of his 14 Premier League games since taking over at The Hawthorns in November. Defeat at home to Huddersfield on Saturday left the club seven points adrift at the bottom.
Meanwhile, in managerial news elsewhere, Grant McCann left Sky Bet League One side Peterborough on Sunday and current caretaker David Oldfield is 8/1 favourite to be his replacement – see the odds for his replacement here.
Keith Hill: Wembley trip is not just a day out for Rochdale
Rochdale boss Keith Hill has reminded his players that their FA Cup replay with Tottenham at Wembley is not a sightseeing trip.
Sky Bet League One's bottom side will play at the national stadium for the first time in a decade on Wednesday after forcing a memorable draw with Mauricio Pochettino's Champions League challengers last week.
Sky Bet: Tottenham v Rochdale: FA Cup odds, including Tottenham to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 at 2/1
With the task of facing the side who are currently fourth in the Premier League difficult enough, Hill has tried to downplay the significance of the Wembley factor for the fifth-round rematch.
Hill said: "I'm looking forward to the game, not the trip. It's not a day out.
"We are trying to do what would be an impossible task - play at Tottenham's home ground and win an FA Cup fixture, a replay. It is a very difficult task for Premier League sides, never mind ourselves.
"Is it a dream to play at Wembley? It is a dream to win at Wembley. You'd rather be playing at Wembley in a cup final.
"It just happens that it's Tottenham's home ground this season. Too much is made of the special occasion - we are playing Tottenham in a replay.
"If it was a play-off final that would be special. It could be special if you win. I don't draw too much relevance to it, personally. I just see it as a game.
"Cut out the sideshows and make sure we focus on trying to win a match."
Before Wednesday’s match, Swansea will play Sheffield Wednesday in the other FA Cup fifth-round replay – see Sporting Life’s betting preview and tips here.
Atalanta charged following fans' alleged 'monkey chants' at Michy Batshuayi
UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Atalanta following alleged monkey chants from the club's fans during last week's Europa League clash with Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund's Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi, on loan from Chelsea, claimed after the second leg of the last-32 tie in Italy that he was the subject of alleged racist abuse.
European football's governing body confirmed on Monday afternoon that Atalanta faced charges of "racist behaviour (monkey chants)", the setting-off of fireworks, throwing of objects and blocked stairways, while Dortmund were charged with the setting-off of fireworks and throwing of objects.
UEFA's control, ethics and disciplinary body will deal with the case on March 22.
Batshuayi played the entire 90 minutes of last Thursday's second leg as substitute Marcel Schmelzer's 82nd-minute equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw on the night which sent Dortmund into the last 16 with a 4-3 aggregate win.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers backs Scott Brown's 'sensible' call to quit Scotland
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has described captain Scott Brown's international retirement as a "real, real sensible decision".
The 32-year-old midfielder on Monday morning called time on his Scotland career for a second time, having won 55 caps across two spells.
"I think he means it this time," Rodgers said of Brown, who reversed his initial decision to retire in August 2016 to help out then national manager Gordon Strachan, his former Hoops boss.
"It is obviously great news for Celtic and sad for the Scottish team.
"I think the last time he went back it was probably for Gordon, to help someone he was very close to.
"But for him and his career going forward, he wants to prolong career at club level and, with the amount of games we have at club level, taking away international football, it is a real, real sensible decision."
Brown informed new Scotland boss Alex McLeish of his decision over the weekend and told Celtic's website: "I wasn't able to give both my club and country my best and I needed to focus purely on Celtic at this time."
Last updated at 1630 GMT 26/02/2018