MANCHESTER, England -- Gerard Pique warned former side Manchester United that Barcelona will put the tie to bed if they get the chance in Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal first leg.

Pique, who spent four years at United as a youngster, returns to Old Trafford this week for the first time since moving back to Barca in 2008.

Barca start the tie as favourites but United come into the clash buoyed by an impressive comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the last round. Pique says he watched both games against PSG and urged his teammates to take the chances which come their way to avoid suffering the same fate as the French champions.

"I think the PSG tie is a great example," the defender said in a news conference on Tuesday. "I think [at Old Trafford], PSG played better. In the second half they scored and could have scored more.

"But you can't leave United alive. If you can beat them [by] scoring a lot of goals, you have to do it. They have a great history and they showed that in Paris, even with a lot of young lads from the academy. It's a great example for us. We have to be switched on from the first minute until the last."

Pique, 32, spent his formative years at United under Sir Alex Ferguson. The Premier League side's form has suffered since Ferguson's retirement in 2013 but Pique still believes they're England's best club despite currently sitting sixth in the Premier League.

"Since I played here, they have always been one of England's great teams," he added. "Obviously, teams have ups and downs and moments of transition but they're the biggest team in England.

"They consider the Premier League the same as the Champions League here -- if not more important -- and since the Ferguson era they've been the biggest team and will keep on being the biggest team. Things aren't [going as well at the moment] but I hope they change and quickly they get back on top.

"I spent several years here, between 17 and 21, my first as a professional. I played in good games alongside great players and also had some crazy times off the pitch. I left my family and friends to come here and I returned to Barcelona an adult. It's a special game for me."

Pique was briefly teammates with current United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during his time at United and he has fond memories of the Norwegian, who has turned the English side's fortunes around since replacing Jose Mourinho in December.

"It was a great experience to train alongside him," Pique remembered. "He was one of the veterans and he helped me a lot when it came to adapting to the country and the club. I'm happy to see him in charge of Manchester United, he's done a great job, he's won lots of games playing much better. It will be tough and I hope we can win.

"I imagine we will have the ball, but we have to try and control their counters. They have strong, quick players on the break: [Romelu] Lukaku and [Marcus] Rashford. We have to be careful on dead balls, corners, free kicks. We have to avoid giving them away or defend them well."

Barca have won the Champions League four times since 2006 but have fallen at the quarterfinal stage in each of the last three seasons. It's increased their desire to win it this season -- especially after watching rivals Real Madrid win it three times in a row -- but Pique denied the players are under additional pressure to perform.

"Pressure would be if we'd never won it or if this was the only title left for us [to win] this season," he said. "That is not the case. We have done things well this season and that's why we are where we are: [11 points] clear in La Liga, in the Copa del Rey final and in the last eight in Europe.

"Look back and you will see that we have done very well in [all competitions] in recent seasons. So, there's no pressure. There's a lot of excitement."

Harry Kane exited Tottenham Hotspur's Champions League quarterfinal match against Manchester City on Monday with an apparent ankle injury.

Kane collided with City defender Fabian Delph on the sideline and limped off the Tottenham Stadium pitch toward the tunnel with the assistance of team trainers.

Lucas Moura came in for Kane.

Kane missed six weeks earlier this season after suffering ankle ligament damage in a Jan. 15 Premier League match against Manchester United.

Weeks after expressing his displeasure over the slow, low Chepauk track in the season opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni was once again critical of the pitch following another low-scoring match, against Kolkata Knight Riders.

After Super Kings inserted Knight Riders, keeping the dewy conditions in Chennai in mind, the visitors laboured to 108 for 9 in 20 overs, with only Andre Russell passing 20. Super Kings' spinners Imran Tahir, Harbhajan Singh and Ravindra Jadeja bowled 15 dots each and ended with combined figures of 12-0-53-5.

Super Kings' batsmen themselves struggled to get going in the chase, but opener Faf du Plessis ushered them home with seven wickets and 16 balls to spare.

Super Kings and Knight Riders played on the same pitch that was used for the hosts' fixture against Kings XI Punjab on Saturday. Dhoni likened the pitch to the opening game of the season that produced a mere a 141 runs. The spinners accounted for 10 of the 13 wickets to fall in that game.

"Well, again, it became like the first game," Dhoni said at the post-match presentation on Tuesday. "We were cribbing about the track but we ended up winning the game. And [after] losing Bravo, it's slightly difficult for us to get the combination right because we're missing an allrounder and David [Willey] is not here, so it can't be a straight swap.

"So, if you look it looks a good wicket to us. But, I don't think we want to play on wickets like these because it becomes too low-scoring and it becomes slightly difficult for our batters to get going. And also what happens is that it's slightly more difficult if you're batting first. As the dew comes in, it becomes slightly easier in the second half."

Seamer Deepak Chahar, who claimed 3 for 20, echoed his captain Dhoni's thoughts and said Super Kings want a "better" pitch at home. He put down the sluggish nature of the pitches down to the extreme heat and humidity in Chennai.

Ahead of the matches and during practice sessions, the groundstaff have shielded the playing square from getting to dry under the blazing Chennai sun by setting up a tent-like structure.

"I'm happy I performed well, but obviously we're looking for a better wicket," Chahar said. "Nobody wants this type of a wicket. It's [because of] the soil and heat and you can't help it. It's very hot here and the pitch curators are doing their best job to give us a good track. But, at the end of the day you can't help it."

After a week of rumblings, Chris Mullin has officially stepped down as the men's basketball head coach at St. John's, it was announced Tuesday.

"This has been an extremely emotional decision, but after a recent personal loss, I took time to reflect upon my true values and believe this is the right time to make a change," Mullin said in a statement issued by the school. "I am extremely grateful to the administration, which has supported me and our basketball program on every level.

"I've been amazed by our coaches, trainers, managers and staff who work relentless hours, which enables this team to grow and thrive. I've been honored to coach the young men who are the heart and soul of this program. It's a job I will always cherish."

Mullin, the greatest player in St. John's basketball history, took over as head coach in 2015, replacing Steve Lavin. Mullin struggled in his first three years at the helm, going a combined 38-60 and failing to finish above .500 in any of his first three seasons.

This season, St. John's had one of the most talented rosters in the Big East and made the NCAA tournament, but it stumbled down the stretch, losing five of its final six games. The Red Storm lost to Arizona State in the First Four, finishing their season 21-13.

Speculation surfaced this week amid reports of contentious meetings between Mullin and athletic director Mike Cragg, who issued a statement of support on Saturday.

The past four years at St. John's University have been one of the most thrilling and challenging points of my career," Mullin said in the statement. "... I am proud of our accomplishments. NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday will be a lifetime memory. I am forever grateful to St. John's for giving me the opportunity to hear Carnesecca Arena and Madison Square Garden roar again for college basketball and especially for our players."

Mullin, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, had no coaching experience before he took the job. He worked in the Golden State Warriors' front office for five years as the executive vice president of basketball operations. He also spent time working as an adviser in the Sacramento Kings organization.

The top target for St. John's is expected to be Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley, sources told ESPN on Monday. Hurley played at Duke, where Cragg spent 31 years before being hired at St. John's in September.

Another name expected to be considered is Iona coach Tim Cluess, who played at St. John's for two seasons and has coached in the New York area his entire career.

Whomever replaces Mullin will have a roster in flux. Leading scorer Shamorie Ponds turned pro after the season ended, while Marvin Clark was a senior. The Red Storm's top recruit, highly-touted junior college point guard Cam Mack, recently requested his release from the school, and four-star junior Nate Tabor decommitted Monday night. There are zero 2019 or 2020 prospects currently committed to St. John's.

There is a solid core on the roster, though. Mustapha Heron (14.6 PPG), LJ Figueroa (14.4 PPG) and Justin Simon (10.4 PPG) all have eligibility left, while transfers Eli Wright (Mississippi State), David Caraher (Houston Baptist) and Ian Steere (NC State) sat out this past season.

ESPN's Jeff Borzello contributed to this report.

PLANO, Texas — Toyota and Kalitta Motorsports announced the auto maker will be the primary sponsor of Doug Kalitta’s Top Fuel dragster during this weekend’s SpringNationals at Houston Raceway Park.

“This is an extension of the exceptional partnership Toyota has enjoyed with Kalitta Motorsports both marketing and technology-wise,” said Laura Pierce, general manager, Motorsports, Toyota Motor North America. “We are looking forward to sponsoring Doug Kalitta, one of the sport’s most successful drivers, in Houston.”

Toyota has a rich history with Kalitta Motorsports, having won 31 races and two Funny Car world championships with the team since joining forces in 2011. Among those wins was Doug Kalitta’s victory in the season-opening NHRA Winternationals.

“The Toyota wrap on the car looks really good and I’m looking forward to trying to go down to Houston and get the win with it,” said Kalitta, the Top Fuel point leader. “Toyota has been a great partner and it’s been a real bonus for our team technically having TRD out there with us. I’m a true believer that having TRD’s involvement was a big part in winning the Funny Car championship last year.”

Kalitta has registered 45 career Top Fuel wins, the fifth-most in Top Fuel history. In addition, he will take a 33-point lead into Houston.

The race will take place just over 200 miles from the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas plant in San Antonio.

FRISCO, Texas -- Fresh off signing a five-year, $105 million deal that included $65 million guaranteed, Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder Wednesday.

Lawrence is looking at a four- to six-month rehabilitation process, which could put the opening of the season in jeopardy.

"I'll be ready for the start of the season," Lawrence said. "I'm not worried about it. It's just about getting it over with."

Lawrence, who has had two back surgeries and a thumb operation, has played with the injury since the 2017 season but has not missed a game, recording 25 sacks and earning two Pro Bowl trips. While the Cowboys had until July 15 to sign Lawrence to a long-term deal, the timing of the surgery was a factor in speeding up the negotiations between the team and his agent, David Canter.

"We were aware of it, and I knew we were getting to a point where we needed to make it happen," executive vice president Stephen Jones said. "I think DeMarcus was aware of that, too. I mean, he loves to play the game. Certainly, having that looming out there was probably important for both of us to really push and make the push we did there to get it done."

Lawrence is likely to start training camp on the physically unable to perform list. The Cowboys, however, can take him off the list at any point over the summer. If he were to start the season on PUP, he would miss the first six games of the season.

The plan is for Lawrence to work with associate athletic trainer and director of rehabilitation Britt Brown.

"We've got one of the best in the business in Britt Brown," Jones said, "and he'll be spending a lot of time with Britt and hopefully get him ready to go and be ready for the opener."

As for the financial windfall, Lawrence, who was joined by his parents, fiancée and son at Tuesday's announcement, was grateful.

"The contract is a big accomplishment, but my goal is still to have a gold jacket," Lawrence said, making reference to the Hall of Fame. "That's what I'm hitting on. I'm so honored just to be a Cowboy and to be able to do it here. I've got a lot of work to keep doing. I'm just in my moment right now, so y'all got to excuse me.

"This is very special to me. But I've just got to keep building, keep building on my resume. You never know ... they might give me a third contract or something."

Lawrence's $21 million average per year and $65 million guaranteed is the most in franchise history, but Jones acknowledged it might not last long as discussions with Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper are expected to heat up this spring and into training camp.

"When you're getting ready to do a quarterback who is a franchise quarterback and already has put some serious skins on the wall like Dak has, no, probably not going to be there long," Jones said of Lawrence's financial marks. "But he can always say he held the mantle, albeit it might be a short time."