Football Daily - Europa League Debrief: Man Utd, Spurs & Rangers through to last 16

Episode Date: January 30, 2025

Man Utd, Spurs & Rangers progress to the last 16 of the Europa League. Steve Crossman has reaction to a dramatic night of European football that saw all British sides through.Alistair Bruce-Ball, Rene Meulensteen and Paul Robinson join Steve to reflect on Man Utd's win in Bucharest that gave them a third-place finish in the new format Europa League. Hear from United boss Ruben Amorim.Gavin Wallace has reaction from Ibrox as Rangers progress to the last 16 in dramatic fashion, and Andy Stevenson reacts to Spurs' youngsters shining in a big win for Ange Postecoglou's side.Timecodes: 00:25 All British sides progress 01:35 Manchester United safely through 04:10 Kobbie Mainoo in the 10 role 07:30 United going forward 08:25 Ruben Amorim post-match 10:15 Rangers sneak into eighth 13:55 Pressure on Philippe Clement 18:30 Spurs' youngsters shine5 LIVE COMMENTARIES THIS WEEK: Saturday 1st February PREMIER LEAGUE: Bournemouth v Liverpool 1500 KO – 5 Live PREMIER LEAGUE: Wolves v Aston Villa 1730 KO – Starts on Sports Extra and moves to 5 Live for 2nd Half Sunday 2nd February WOMEN'S SUPER LEAGUE: Manchester City v Arsenal 1200 KO – Sports Extra PREMIER LEAGUE: Manchester United v Crystal Palace 1400 KO – 5 Live PREMIER LEAGUE: Brentford v Spurs 1400 KO – Sports Extra PREMIER LEAGUE: Arsenal v Man City 1630 KO – 5 Live WOMEN'S SUPER LEAGUE: Tottenham v Manchester United 1845 KO – Sports Extra

BBC Sounds. Music, radio, podcasts. On the Football Daily Podcast, The Debrief. With Steve Crossman. Listen on BBC Sounds. Hello, welcome to the Europa League Debrief on a night where it's all happened. Another really fascinating, fun, enjoyable night of European football. All three British clubs in the Europa League go again in the competition and they are all through automatically. That was expected for the two English teams, both of whom won.

Manchester United 2-0 winners at FCSB. They finished third in the Europa League. They will play then, in the last 16, one of AZ Alkmaar, FC Michelin, Real Sociedad or Galatasaray. Tottenham beat Elfsborg by three goals to nil. They finish fourth. So in the last 16, they have the exact same possible opponents. AZ, Michelin, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray. And Manchester United and Spurs. If they're going

to meet in the Europa League this season, it can only be in the final. The story of the night is Rangers, who at the start of the evening looked highly unlikely to be able to go through automatically. They needed favours, they got them. They also did their own job, beating Union Saint-Gilois at Ibrox by two goals to one. Their possible opponents, Bodo Glimt, Anderlecht, FC Twente or Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce. So we will be at Ibrox very shortly. These are the sounds, though, of Bucharest. Paul Robinson, Ali Bruce Ball watching. Rene Merlinstein is with us in the studio as well.

Ali, Manchester United have had a few big results under Ruben Amorim, but they've rarely managed to couple that with a good performance. Did they do that tonight? They definitely did, Steve. I'm just looking at the TV screen on my left, and I can see that Ruben Amorim has started his round of post-match interviews. And, you know, he's not looking smug or self-satisfied, but I think deep down

inside he must be really pleased with the way that that went tonight because as Paul Robinson was saying during the commentary I think certainly when I've seen them and I've seen quite a bit of them under Amarim it's the best that system has looked in action for a full game difficult place to come and play let's not forget that FCSB as well had plenty to play for at the start of the night in a very intimidating venue fantastic atmosphere but Manchester United controlled the game from the start the goals didn't come until the second half Garnaccio had a real impact it was a double change at halftime Ahmad came on who's been the real star recently but Garnaccio really stood out this evening and it was Dallo and Mainu who got the two goals Mainu actually

crossed for the first and Dallo popped up the far post and side-footed that in but it was Dallo and Mainu who got the two goals Mainu actually crossed for the first and Dallo popped up the far post and side footed that in but it was Garnaccio's run and pull back that set up Mainu for the second goal as well and they were still positive after that Manchester United still coming forward and totally and utterly deserve the win so yes I think key

Steve that they've gone through and got through to the last 16 automatically but I think most satisfying for Amerim will be, that's the kind of thing I am looking for. That's how I want my team to play. And I think, Rene, Manchester United fans are not going to be getting carried away because they won't have watched that game and thought, oh, wow, we were brilliant. Because they weren't brilliant, but they were connected. They looked connected.

Yeah, I think they they took control of the game really well in the first half like Ali and Paul said dominated possession you know I do think it was

at times a bit too slow too laboured FC ESB to be fairly honest surprised me with the way that they set up you have got to

to thank the owner for that coming out coming out in a different system they were passive they were sitting back they never laid a glove on it got to thank the owner for that, coming out in a different system. They were passive, they were sitting back, they never laid a glove on it.

But Emery made some clever substitutions in the second half and I thought the second half there was more urgency, more looking to play forward, more penetration and they scored two really good goals. So he will be overall very, very pleased with his performance and the result. Kobi Mainu as a number 10, Paul Robinson, a lot of people will have enjoyed seeing that. It's worked as well. I think with the Bruno Fernandes in that deeper midfield role,

in the first half he has more control over the pace of the game and actually with United the way that FCSB sat off them, they were at risk of just having possession for possession's sake but Fernandes made sure that the ball travelled and it travelled at pace and they went forward with intent. Molassio in the first half down the left-hand side, Garnaccio again made a real difference when he came on at half-time. I must just say about Garnaccio his attitude the way that he is because of this speculation around his future that he may be leaving Old Trafford. Last week against Rangers and again tonight he made the difference in the second half.

There were a big threat down that left-hand side in the first half, but the pace of him and Ahmad in those wide areas, that system, it looked like it worked tonight. They looked like they'd finally got it. But actually with Garnaccio playing in that ten-roll, he does allow him to drift wider because we know that's where Garnaccio's at his best. And Ahmad on the right-hand side, it's the same system that they set up but there is a little

bit of flexibility creeping in allowing Ahmad to drift wider to the right and allowing Garnaccio to drift on the left hand side which creates those pockets of space in the middle as well. It sounds a strange thing to say Rene but I was at the Etihad when Manchester United won the derby late on

but there was a bit of chaos and craziness about that. In a way, do they get more from a night like this than that? Because you could actually see it play out. You could see the plan, which for so long, especially under the previous manager, has been absent. Yeah, no, I agree. But I think today was, from the start to the end, a good, I agree. But I think today was like a real, from the start to the end, a good, solid performance.

If you go back to previous performances, even last Sunday against Fulham, that wasn't great. Good, solid is an upgrade, isn't it? It is an upgrade. Paul keeps saying the system worked. And I'm a little bit reluctant to say the system worked because I thought FC SB were not present

in any shape or form you know whatever they never laid a glove on them and United could take full advantage of it in the right way and they did

fantastic but you go back to other games the same system like at Fulham away was a poor game they win the game with a deflection a few weeks ago

against Southampton at home it takes up to 80 whatever 81st minute before they kick into gear and then you got the Diallo show now this was for the first time like you said a bit of an upgrade because right from the start

United took control, they never lost control they actually got better through the game with the substitutions they made, with Garnaccio coming in. And obviously, they created chances. And they took two good goals. And that's, for me, that's the upgrade. I think it's worth saying as well, Ali,

that it would be easy at this stage to kind of say, don't forget the Europa League is a route into the Champions League. But it's not even that early to start thinking about it because we now have the opportunity to look at the bracket of where Manchester United can go. And actually, this is no disrespect, there's some big names from European football

that they could potentially play. Absolutely there is. But equally, you look at the other teams, the other group teams that have gone through automatically, Frankfurt, Lyon, Olympiacos, Rangers, Lazio, Athletic, Bilbao. If that's the opposition, Manchester United will feel they do have every chance to get through to a final. Yeah, if they continue to improve and put in performances like that, Steve.

And obviously another one of the differences with the competitions this season, there's no drop down from the Champions League. So those teams that have been eliminated in the bottom part of that Champions League table don't drop into the Europa League. The Europa League stays as it is. And I think, yeah, it will be interesting, won't it, to see that draw tomorrow. So for the Europa League, that's at midday

when we'll start to see, you know, potential opponents and paths they can take and whatever. And as you mentioned as well, Steve, right at the top there, you know, the fact that Manchester United and Tottenham fans, it's a long way off, I know, and both teams have had their problems this season, can't meet now until the final. Both could desperately do with a really good run

in this competition as well. But I think for Amarim still, it will be back to right, improve next game, step by step. What's next? Two o'clock Sunday at home against Crystal Palace. Let's do that again. Let's hear from the Manchester United manager. Here's Ruben Amarin. That is really, really important for us to have time to train, to create connection between

everybody, even the staff, everybody there in training, go to the pitch, know each other in the right environment. I think it's really important. Then you can have one week to prepare shumë të shumë të shumë, në një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një një nj I can understand better my players and put together the Kobe position today. We need time to understand the players. He was struggling a lot defending as a midfielder. Now more as a 10. You can feel that he was so free playing the ball near the box. And near the box is really good. The small connections.

So we need time to work with the players to understand what is the best position for them. This is the Football Daily Podcast with Steve Crossman. The Euroleagues on the Football Daily. Thursdays on the Football Daily, join the Euroleagues team as we bring you the latest from across the continent with a host of top European football journalists.

It's okay to be able to play the ball, but you need to actually fight for the ball as well. That's what he wants of his players. I think that maybe it would be the club that could revive his self-esteem and his confidence, and I think it could do wonders for the player to really grow. The Euroleague's only on the Football Daily. Listen on BBC Sounds.

On the Football Daily podcast, The Debrief. With Steve Crossman. Listen on BBC Sounds. Right, let's go to Ibrox now then, shall we? Gavin Wallace, they're through automatically. Didn't look likely at the start of the night. Has Ibrox calmed down yet?

Yes, considerably it has calmed down. The only people left in here are stewards, some fellow broadcasters, our colleagues from BBC Radio Scotland and the Union Saint-Germain fans. They're being held in that corner just now, which is par for the course at European fixtures. It allows the

home fans just to disperse and things to get a bit easier. But I spoke to a few Rangers fans that were sitting just behind me and there was plenty of colourful language to describe how they were feeling, to be fair, but they are absolutely buzzing. A few of them, I spoke to a couple of them and said, here's who are your potential opponents, as we discussed earlier, FC20, Anderlecht, Podoglimt and Fenerbahce are the four that they could get

and the consensus from the six, seven Rangers fans that I spoke to was we'll take any of them we're delighted and there's a chance quote, we could beat all of them maybe Fenerbahce is the one that really kind of sticks out for them a bit

obviously with Jose Mourinho but I think the general consensus amongst the Rangers support is that they feel they could go a lot further in this competition with any one of those teams in that draw. And the other thing about Rangers, obviously, they're not some sort of plucky underdog in this competition.

They were the finalists in 2022. So I think if your Rangers fans looking at this, do you think, Gavin, that they look at that and think, give us Fenerbahce, we'd love Fenerbahce, Jose Mourinho at Ibrox that would be great or are they looking at it thinking I tell you what I wouldn't mind an FC Twente or a Bodo Glimt I think obviously you want you want the big names you want the big stars you'd love to see Jose Mourinho at Ibrox but I think realistically the realism or the realistic Rangers fans would probably want

the likes of Anderlecht or maybe even Bodo Glimt. Bodo Glimt have played Celtic in the past as well. They're no mugs, they're no pushovers. But I think those are the two, as you rightly say, Anderlecht and Bodo Glimt, I think, Steve, are the ones that Rangers fans would really, really like because it gives them, in my opinion, and I think their opinion, the best chance of progressing beyond that stage as well.

Gavin, it was actually Nice's draw with Bodo Glint that was one of the results that put Rangers through. So given it's Nice, any news on the Promenade des Anglais becoming the Promenade des Cosses or not? It could be the Promenade de Ibrox, the Promenade de Govan. It could be anything, really. There'll be statues there pretty soon, and they're feeling very nice about themselves in Ibrox, the Promenade, the Govan it could be anything really there'll be statues there pretty soon and they're feeling very nice about themselves

in Ibrox, that's twice I've used that joke tonight and I make no apologies for it but I think it's the Union's fans are now actually just dispersing they've had a really good night, their team though Steve, it gave us this really nervy ending and you just thought we've been here before with Scottish teams

in Europe, they're going to blow a chance here to get right the way through to be fair though, I think they would still fancy their chances because Ibrox is a fortress, we talked about it on Sunday at Dundee United you'll remember about how their domestic form is just so all over the place

they came back, won the game against Dundee United and they played very well, so maybe they're turning a corner, but as a couple of the Rangers fans and a couple of people that work at Rangers said, well actually, there is probably next to no chance that we're going to win the league, so let's focus on Europe. Could we win the Europa League? Can we

get to the final? I really think now with the league so far gone, this is the biggest thing for it, outwith any domestic trophies that they want to win now as well. Right, let's talk about Philippe Clément, because just before the Rangers game, when we were all inside Old Trafford, I was speaking to the BBC Scotland's Tom English. I asked him about Philippe Clément, and he was basically saying, look, he goes week to week.

One week he's fine, another week he's under severe pressure. Surely this is going to lift him clear of the danger zone, isn't it? No. I don't know. See, Ranger, yes, I think it probably will. And just a no more. It'll give them a little bit more credit in the bank. But they really do have to work on that abysmal form in the league.

They've got off to a rotten start in the league this season. They were so far behind. They've started clawing little bits back. Celtic are, if you look at both teams, and when they've both got their respective squads fully fit, Celtic are by far a better team. And I think most Rangers fans,

if not all Rangers fans, would admit that. But, they have to get domestic. There's so much rides on domestic results here at Ibrox. They demand, they've got these massive high, really high standards, and quite rightly so when you spend the money and you've got the fan base

that Rangers have. They demand big performances week in, week out. They demand that you don't concede silly goals. They demand that the performance is 110% every single week. And when it's not, the four stands here at Ibrox are very quick to get on the managers. But I don't think he's complete. I think the pressure cooker has probably just came down

a notch or two, and it's not ready to blow anytime soon. But should the form continue in the league, then I think, or it gets worse, then I think that pressure will build back up again. René, you were with us for Manchester United's narrow, very narrow, very late win over Rangers last week. When you look at this Rangers team, and you can see what the support was like as well,

like Gavin was saying, I know it's a bit of a cliché, but Ibrox is going to be a big weapon for them now. Absolutely, but listening in, I think Rangers and Rangers fans need to be really careful where they wish for with respect to Clermont. And obviously, yes, I can understand that. And the expectations should be as they should be. But it is what it is. And also the form within Europe, the campaign has been good.

And I think part of that is that the experience that Clermont brings to it, to the table last week was an unfortunate loss, to be fairly honest, because of the first goal they conceded with Butland, but they never gave up. They kept going. They had to drag people off because of injuries. And they scored a tremendous goal. I said it to you, Steve, as well.

I think if United would not have scored, because United was by far not at the same level last week as they were tonight but also credit to Rangers if Dezsos would have scored that goal at 0-0 so it would have been 0-1 Rangers I think the Old Trafford roof would have caved in

but like I said I would not, if I would be Rangers you have to be obviously always look ahead, plan ahead, think ahead but you have to be obviously always look ahead plan ahead think ahead but you need to look at the whole process to make sure

and not get carried away too much with the emotions of the results at times because you can really shoot yourself in the foot and I think again Rangers is a force

in Europe and they've built that aura around them at this moment in time and I think Clermont's experience could be very vital for them. And Gavin, just before we let you

go, this could also be a bit of a transfer window boost as well, couldn't it? Because there have been players being linked with moves away big Rangers players, well they now know, if I stay, that's knockout round European football. Of course it is, that's massive and you've got players that maybe want to go away, they maybe think they can go to a

quote-unquote bigger club, not necessarily bigger. Fan base, maybe just bigger with regards to the wage packet they're going to get. Are they going to get regular football? But as you say, they now have a chance to play in knockout phases, the real business end of a big European competition.

And just finally to go back on what we were talking about Philippe Clement, the one thing as well that I would agree with what's just been said is he brings this experience but he brings this um kind of calmness and awe about him where as Tom English said to you earlier he is day-to-day he will put a lid on any emotions and he will just flatten things out forget about this this will get parked now as Philippe Clermont and his staff will park this and we'll now look at games at the weekend and the following week because they know they need to keep turning out results,

but they need to keep that momentum going for when this phase comes out. But he is very good at keeping a lid on all of those emotions. Gavin, thank you very much indeed. Gavin Wallace there at Ibrox. The Rangers finish eighth in the final, the crucial final automatic qualification place.

Manchester United third. Tottenham fourth after a 3-0 victory over Elfsborg. Andy Stevenson was watching, wasn't quite as comfortable as it sounds. No, they took a long time to break Elfsborg down. But do you know what, Steve? I think this could be a really significant night for Tottenham's season because three of their academy players, when you consider the injury problems that we all know Spurs have got, three of their academy players have stepped up and scored their first goals for the club. And it's been pointed out to me that the combined age of their three goal scorers tonight, three goal scorers, 56 years old. Dane Scarlett is 20,

Damola Ajayi on his debut tonight scored at the age of 19 and Mikey Moore just 17. And you could see from the reaction, one of the interesting things we saw on the monitor was the likes of Dominic Solanke, James Madison were down there on the touchline just watching the match like the rest of us. And the way they celebrated those youngsters goals as well was quite significant. So I think this does release a bit of pressure on Ange-Poster Coglou. This competition has been pretty kind to Spurs going through and forth, excuse me, and not having those extra midweek matches in the playoffs,

I think is going to be huge for Tottenham now going forward. Did you say 57 for those three goals? 56 for three goals. That's younger than Ange-Poster Coghlu between the three of them. I'll let you say that to him. Obviously for Spurs fans who expected to go through tonight was really about Mickey van der Ven, who started, he went off at half-time. I kind of assume, or Tottenham fans will certainly hope, that that was planned.

How much better did he make Spurs look when he was on the pitch? I think considerably. You know, him and Archie Gray together at the back there, it looked just comfortable with the two of them. I mean, there was a bit of bad news for Tottenham defensively because Radu Dragusin who actually came on as a replacement for Van de Ven at half-time Dragusin himself went off injured he landed awkwardly grabbed his knee straight away it wasn't super serious he did limp off rather than being carried off but you would think he might now miss some matches ironically Dane Scarlett actually came on for Radu Dragutin and they had to change things around formation-wise. I'm not sure Scarlett would have come on, the 20-year-old,

had the Romanian stayed on the pitch. But anyway, that's a bit of a side issue. But Van de Ven, you can see he slotted in nicely again. It was his first start since December. And if he can stay fit, I imagine he might be given the full 90. What is it? Away at Brentford on Sunday for Tottenham.

Right. Okay. Thank you very much, Andy. Of course, Rene, Dragoosin had to get injured because Spurs are at their complement of one fit centre-back. So someone had to go.

Yeah. Well, I mean, obviously sometimes, you know, you can't legislate for Yeah. Well, I mean, obviously, sometimes, you know, you can't legislate for it. But, you know, when you get these runs of bad luck at times. But good news is that Mickey van der Waal was back, got through 45 minutes.

I think that is a really upside. Right. Thank you, everybody. That's it for this episode of the Football Daily. On the next one, Alistair Bruce Ball, John Murray and Ian Dennis, back with another episode of the Commentator's View. And on a special episode of In Focus, Gary Lineker will be speaking to the Liverpool manager,

Arne Slott. As always, thank you so much for listening.