Football Daily - Europa League Debrief: Manchester United and Spurs into Europa League final

Episode Date: May 9, 2025

After underwhelming Premier League seasons for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur is the Europa League more important for Ruben Amorim or Ange Postecoglou?Mark Chapman is joined by Ian Dennis, Phil Jones and Izzy Christiansen at Old Trafford, plus Paul Robinson and Ali Bruce-Ball in the Norway to react to the comprehensive semi-final wins that set up an all English Europa League final. Amorim gives his view on Manchester United's 7-1 aggregate win over Athletic Club and what it would mean to secure Champions League football next season. Ange shares his thoughts on the negativity around the two sides reaching the final despite their domestic struggles and the importance of ending Tottenham’s trophy drought. Away from the Europa League, Carl Asaba joins us from Ashton Gate where Sheffield United beat Bristol City 3-0 in the first leg of their Championship playoff semi-final. TIMECODES: 01:03 – Manchester United 4-1 (7-1) Athletic Club 09:02 – Ruben Amorim reaction 11:50 – Bodo/Glimt 0-2 (1-5) Tottenham Hotspur 16:52 – Ange Postecoglou reaction 20:50 – Who is the Europa League final more important for? 25:51 – Chris Wilder interview 28:18 – Bristol City 0-3 Sheffield United – Carl AsabaCOMMENTARIES THIS WEEK: Saturday 10th May WOMENS SUPER LEAGUE: Chelsea v Liverpool 1230 KO - SPORTS EXTRA PREMIER LEAGUE: Southampton v Manchester City 1500 KO - 5 LIVE PREMIER LEAGUE: Bournemouth v Aston Villa 1730 KO - 5 LIVE Sunday 11th May PREMIER LEAGUE: Nottingham Forest v Leicester 1415 KO - 5 LIVE PREMIER LEAGUE: Manchester United v West Ham 1415 KO - SPORTS EXTRA PREMIER LEAGUE: Spurs v Crystal Palace 1415 KO - BBC SPORT WEBSITE PREMIER LEAGUE: Liverpool v Arsenal 1630 KO - 5 LIVE

BBC Sounds music radio podcasts On the Football Daily Podcasts The Debrief with Mark Chapman Listen on BBC Sounds So we're going to have an all English Europa League final on the 21st of May Tottenham Hotspur against Manchester United Spurs winning 2-0 in Norway tonight against Bodo Glimt. To go through 5-1 on aggregate Manchester United beating Athletic Club 4-1 this evening.

So 7-1 on aggregate. Sheffield United have beaten Bristol City 3-0 in the first leg of the Championship Playoff Semi-Final. We'll go there. Chelsea through to the Conference League final after beating Jurgaarden this evening by a goal to nil. So that is 5-1 on aggregate as well. Let's go to Ian Dennis at Old Trafford. First of all, Phil Jones and Izzy Christensen are alongside him but they had to come from behind did United? Yes they did and it was the triple change of Sean Mountain-Ama just past the hour that changed this game as Manchester United breeze their way past Athletic Bilbao to book a return ticket to the Spanish City for the final but it certainly wasn't straightforward for an hour. Henry Githers wonder strike

in the first half gave Athletic Bilbao a glimmer of hope in the second half a Unai Nunes far post header almost crept in. However, Manchester United after that triple change scored four goals in 19 minutes. A turn and shot from Mount was a beauty. Casemiro's header, a tap in from Hoylan, from Amad's burst down the right, and then an outrageous finish from Mount

from a goalkeeping clearance into an empty net. Nothing empty about Bilbao. It'll be brimming for that all English affair. It will. Where would you start, Phil Jones, with tonight and United? They don't make it easy for themselves. Going to goal down, albeit it was a wonderful strike in the top corner.

I think you see the athletic supporters now. They can be really proud of the team tonight, especially for the first 60 minutes, I thought they had a right good go. Lacked a little bit of quality in the final third but caused United problems as they did in the first 10-15 minutes of the the first leg over there. So look, United got the job done. The three certainly changed the game. What I did think was, I thought the timing of the substitutions was really keen, quite savvy from the manager tonight. You know, when just when all the

effort, all the energy that Athlete put into the first 60 minutes, he changed it on about 60, 65 minutes. And you know, those three substitutions changed the game on a, in the flash of a pan. It was, it was that simple. Ahmad Diallo down the right hand side causing all sorts of problems, Mason Mount, very tidy with his feet great finish so yeah really really the timing of the substitution was worked well for Man United tonight. And there is he, basically Ahmad and Mount both came on as 10s didn't they I mean we've seen Ahmad being used as a wind back in the past but tonight they were both 10s. Yeah that's sort of inside yeah winger 10 role and you know what what? If I could pick Mason my own

up and put him in a position where I think you get the best from him, I think it's that position. But we said it during the commentary that he just needs rhythm and consistency of games. You know, he needs to have a spell where he's injury free and he can enjoy his football. But I tell you what, you know, as a player to play or former player to player there's nothing better than seeing a player do well off the back of a series of injuries and setbacks and the fact that he just banged two in in a in a European semi-final will do wonders for his confidence and he's you know he was smiling he was happy of course he is and that's such good such a good thing to see and a big boost for Manchester United in that area of the pitch. I mean you will both go through your own frustrations but Phil you know he's he's had such terrible luck since joining United and as he said you know he's

banged two in in front of the Stratford End in a European semi-final. I'm delighted for him I think you know it's always difficult when you're out for a lengthy spell of time. All you want to do is play football. And he's a lad who works extremely hard. He wants to prove people at this football club. He's a wonderful player. He's proven that for England. He's got a good goal scoring record, left foot, right foot, complaining a number of positions along the top line.

And I'm delighted for him. You know, you've got to keep him, kind of keep him fit now and he's got to obviously look after himself. But what two or three games left at the end of the season, managing, manage his minutes as well as Ahmad, probably give more a few more kids a little run in the team, see, see how they fare. Then you're looking for pre-season, see how they can, can they, can they take them on pre-season, see where they're at. But I think keeping those, especially Amad Diallo now and Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes, keeping those fit is absolutely vital now.

He is exactly the kind of player that you would think would flourish in what Ameren wants to do, isn't he? Yeah, without a doubt. And, you know, when Ameren took the role and we looked at that system and then we looked at the players that were going to fit and didn't fit in the system we all have our views and stuff but I think that Mason Mount is a player who I would suggest works well in this system. We've seen it before at Chelsea under Tuchel in that sort of inverted inside role and it's almost like it's a free attacking role and I think that's what you saw for Mason Mount tonight for the 30 minutes or so where he played He looked free looked clean. He looked happy in terms of the way he's playing He was moving freely. You just you know, he just looked at home and it kind of felt I don't know Phil would agree with this It kind of felt like it was the birth of his Manchester United career at Old Trafford because he lit it up

Yeah, it was definitely a moment that's gonna stick out in the fans mind. I do agree with, as he said, I think when you allow Mason to, obviously you can't say play wherever, but allow him to take the shackles off, go and pop into that pocket, go and spin him behind. Don't try and commit to a certain position on the pitch, let him be free, let him be free on the pitch. You get the best out of him. Listen, he's got the technical ability, left foot and right foot, but he's the energy he brings as well. You see his pressing ability when he comes on and you know, he's tracking 40 yards back, he's sprinting 30, 40 yards forward and just his all-round game. He's a terrific player. I'm delighted for him and now we just have to keep him fit. Mason Mountain has said to TNT this evening, it was too long waiting for a night like that.

I've worked hard in training every day. I stay positive. I always come on and want to make an impact. It was a tight game today. I wanted to come on and calm things down. Ruben Amerim said about Mount, I'm so happy for him. He's a great guy, great player. He needed this. Every player needs goals. Every day he works hard, eats well, ice bath, rests. He does everything. So I was like, you don't know, he does everything, I just want to help him, he's perfect for that position, he can run, he can play as a winger and he can hold the ball up. Just from a tactical point of view is he as well and the things that Amerin wants, I thought it was quite interesting that two of the goals came from Leni Yoroh carrying the ball forward from his position in the back three.

Yeah, well, if you look at the system, you've got three centre backs and four across the middle, so that's seven players that start, plus the goalkeeper in the build-up phase of the pitch. So with that in mind, one of the centre backs, if not two of them, are going to be up and supporting the attack, and they will find the overloads and they have to step in and play forward. You have to be a ball carrier and that's why Maguire plays in that central role because he entices the pressure and then releases one of the centre backs either side of him

and Yoro is that profile of player who can carry the ball and we've got to remember that Yoro is still very young, you know he's still very early on in his Manchester United career and if he can start having a massive impact in that sense in the build-up phase, Manchester United are going to become more variable in the way that they can build and then they start getting players on the ball like the Bruno Fernandes, like the Mason Mounts, but the ball has to be moved up the pitch somehow and by ball carrying in the system it's one of the ways you can do that. He's nearly at a full squad, isn't

he? I know there are still some players missing feeling. He said afterwards as well, when I have a full squad, I can think about the game. We've had players out of position and no options, but today we could push forward. We could defend. We could play the game. We need to in the final. We have to have a full squad, we need to study the game well, need a bit of luck. Today we transitioned well but we didn't score so we need to be more clinical. They had options all over the pitch tonight on the bench and I do agree with him when you got a full squad he's got decisions to make and tough ones and there's no better time

now to have a full squad. You know a few weeks, three weeks before the final. Listen, it's never going to be an easy game in the final. Tottenham, it's a one-off game, but you'd like to think United have got a little bit more quality to beat them in the final. However, Tottenham have beaten them three times already this season, so who knows? Let's hear from Ruben Ameren. It was a good result.

I think if you look at both games, it was so much tougher than if you look just to the result. We have so many weaknesses and you can understand that in the game. But we are fighting and we managed to pass. I think we deserve, if you look at two games, to be in the final. You've said that winning it won't mask a lot of things, but winning it would surely give you and your team huge belief going forward, quite apart from the money that you get. It'd be a trophy, it'll tell everybody that you are on the right path? I think that is clear and I agree the money is not the most important, even the title to win a title as a coach is that feeling. Is that feeling that we can do good things,

the feeling to give something to our fans, especially in this kind of season. So I agree, it's not just playing Champions League next year, it's that feeling that we can change things. I'll go to Tottenham very shortly, but United have gone through a European campaign unbeaten, is he? It's whether they can view the final as a European game. Well, anything's going to happen and you know if you put the evidence of this season and last season on the table between the two sides, Tottenham and Manchester United, I think we can safely say the final is going to be exquisite in terms of it's going to be dramatic because both teams are unable to see a game out right

now. But let's be honest, and that actually creates more excitement for the fans. I imagine both managers don't necessarily want to see that as such. But I think the finals poised to be absolutely brilliant. You've got two teams there who've got a point to prove. Many parallels in the Premier League this season. And I, for one, can't wait for it. Do you mean brilliant in quality? Or do you mean brilliant in just nerves and panic and every neutral loving the suffering of both clubs? That's exactly it.

I mean, if you need a reminder, go back and watch the Lyon game here at Old Trafford in the second leg. the club. That's exactly it. I mean, if you need if you need if you need a reminder, go back and watch the Leon game here at Old Trafford in the second leg. I mean, the drama attached to the last 5 10 minutes of that game

was just incredible. But if you're the manager in the dugout, I don't think you're enjoying that as much. But of coursetenham with Madison in particular out, he's a player with a lot of quality, but I just think that there are players there who can make things happen in a final as well. Let's bring in Paul Robertson alongside Alistair Bruce Ball in Norway, where Spurs have won 2-0 to go through 5-1 aggregate

against Bodo Glint, but is he in? Phil will stay with us. Do you think it'll be a brilliant, exquisite final, Paul? No, I don't give either of them a chance. It's Wednesday. It's Wednesday night. They can only play well on a Thursday, exquisite final, Paul? No, I don't give either of them a chance. It's Wednesday. It's Wednesday night. They can only play well on a Thursday, these two teams, can't they? They're only Thursday night teams, but the finals are Wednesday night.

But no, I'm with you. I think it'll be edgy, I think it'll be cagey. And I think the pressure on both sets of players, more so Tottenham because of the lack of silverware in recent years and the big thing that's made of that regularly by other sets of supporters, other sets of of fans and the Tottenham fans so desperately wanting a trophy but for Manchester United it's different it's part of the rebuilding process under Ruben Amerin I just think it'll be edgy I think it'll be cagey I don't think we're really tight game in all honesty

so do you think do you think the pressure is on Tottenham from a footballing perspective and the pressure is on Manchester United from a getting to the Champions League perspective? Yeah, I said to you before the game that I didn't think either of these squads are ready for the Champions League. Both need the Champions League and they need the influx of money that that brings and they'll have to recruit heavily in the summer to be able to compete at the top end of that competition. I think the club, the size and stature of Manchester United and the recent history of, you know, where they've been and where they're trying to get to Champions League was part of their staple diet and it hasn't been for a number of years

now, you know, regularly guaranteed, especially now with the changing manager and where they are this season underperforming like they are. You know, Arsene Wenger only said this week didn't he quite openly that neither of these two teams deserves deserves a place in the Champions League. So I think for Tottenham the immediate silverware and the the influx of money that the Champions League brings and some kind of stability is important but Manchester United just being associated with that competition once again. Ali we ought to mention how how Tottenham won tonight. Yeah, I mean that is the thing, you know, like Manchester United, particularly in the Premier League, they have been woeful at times this season,

but watching them recently in the Europa League, they have focused in on this competition late in the season and produced some really good performances. Before this game tonight, we were talking about the win away to Eintracht Frankfurt, they blew Bodo Glimt away in the first half last week and we weren't trying to build the game up I genuinely thought this was going to be a really tough task for Tottenham tonight Because I watched that first leg of Bodo Glimt against Lazio when they beat them 2-0 in the quarterfinal blew them away and could have scored five and you only have to look at the numbers of What they've done in Europe this season and it tells the story but Tottenham dealt with it

brilliantly Mark and as Paul was saying in the commentary I felt, we both felt, they did the things well tonight that they've just not done in the Premier League this season. They made it ugly at times and bitty and ran everything down and slowed the game down and then when the chances came they took them, Solanke poked in from from close range just after the hour mark. Pedro Poro scored six minutes later. I mean, he'll say he meant it. I'm pretty sure he didn't because I was giving it the old commentary.

He's trying to whip one into the far post and it sort of swerved on the wind and ended up in the top corner. But they managed to close it out from there and all that sort of anxiety we've heard from the Tottenham fans and I felt it at the end of the game last week and felt it in the build up to the game this week. The Tottenham fans and I felt it at the end of the game last week and felt it in the build-up to The game this week the Tottenham players Dismissed that and dealt with it and and and you have to say deserve their place in the final Pedro Poro has said to television my goal was a cross

I'll be honest, but it doesn't matter. We're in the final Postococcal you said afterwards Paul we've grown in maturity throughout this competition. The lads know what's required and that's how we won the game. In this competition we've had to use every player in the squad, we've battled and we've got players back. All three knockout ties we handled really well. I mean actually the similarities between the two even to the

extent of getting their players back around this time is uncanny. And big players standing up and taking responsibility, listening to what the guys at Old Trafford said about Maguire, Fernandes, Casimiro standing up at the right time for Manchester United, Christian Romero did that tonight for Tottenham, and he's not regularly done it week in and week out for Tottenham. Van de Ven, another one tonight. Solanke playing potentially, you know, not fully fit as well.

Big players in big moments. And the way that Tottenham played tonight, honestly, it was built up, the whole town was buzzing, it was this massive game. They were party poopers. They looked like a team of experienced pros who came here

to ruin everyone's party. The game is not one that I'll be looking up to watch again. It wasn't a great game. They came here, they did a job and for the first time since the Antrapt-Frankfurt game when he set them out in a way not to be beaten, I saw that in them again tonight. The resilience, the toughness, the spine, the backbone that hasn't been there in Tottenham all this season in the Premier League, which is why they sit 16th with 19 defeats. Here's Anshposta Koglu. It's a great opportunity. A fourth year in European football, there are plenty of people who have been in European

football for a lot longer than I have that haven't got to a final, so you can't understand that it's something that you need to kind of appreciate and I certainly do that. I really thought a lot about it because obviously the focus is on tonight, but more importantly, just really sort of pleased for the players and the staff and particularly our supporters. There'll be debates now raging. I've heard the latest one is that neither of us will be able to get a trophy if we win. We're just going to take a team photo because we're not worthy. I mean, who cares if we're struggling in the league? Why is that important when

is it so easy to get to a final, then why doesn't everyone who finishes in the top three do it? I mean, it's a separate thing. It's got nothing to do with league form. We understand our league form hasn't been great. We understand the struggles three do it. I mean it's a separate thing, it's got nothing to do with league form. We understand our league form hasn't been great, we understand the struggles we've had and a lot of them are because of the situation we've been in but how that diminishes the achievement of getting to a final. Like I said this club and others have finished you know in first, second or third in in the Premier League or you know and haven't made finals so you know why should that be diminished? I couldn't

care less who's struggling and who's not. I think both us and Man City United have earned the right to be there. I think we're probably beating teams that will be in the Champions League next year on our road to getting there. So I'm looking forward to it. It should be a great game. United have constantly said that this competition won't save their season. The managers said it and players have said it. Would it save Tottenham's season? Is it different for Tottenham? Why do I care what Man United think? Why is that relevant to me?

Ask the Man United manager why he says that. Me, I've said all along that this is important. To rephrase, what does it mean for Tottenham's season? To be fair, you know better than me, you follow this club probably more than I have. What do you think a trophy would do for this club? Exactly right. The question answers itself. It doesn't need me to...

But you know what? What's happening right now is that people are fearing that, that it actually might happen. And because it might happen, let's see how we can tear it down somehow, diminish it somehow by saying that it's been a poor season and we don't deserve this or we don't deserve that or somehow comparing us to Manchester United. Maybe if we had Manchester United's success, maybe I'd have a different view. But I came into this role, like you said, you know better than me. I could have been sitting here, exactly the same time,

in fifth position. And I guarantee you that the commentary around me would be, well, that's great, Ange, but this club needs to win something. That's exactly what everyone would be saying. So of course it's massive. Of course it is. Because you have to frame it against what this club has been through over the last 15,

20 years, what the supporters have been through. Man United have got their own journey to go on. And maybe if they go 15 years without winning something, they'll change their perspective on things as well. The Commentators View on the Football Daily. The Commentators View on the Football Daily. The Commentators View on the Football Daily. The Commentators View on the Football Daily. The Commentators View on the Football Daily.

The Commentators View on the Football Daily. I'm Alistair Bruce-Born. I'm John Murray. Hello, I'm Ian Dennis and Fridays on the Football Daily means one thing. The Commentators View episode. You use the word scenes. If I did use words like that. Join us every Friday as we look ahead to the weekend's football action

with a few untold stories along the way. The Commentators View. Only on The Football Daily. Listen on BBC Sounds. The Football Daily podcast Listen on BBC Sounds. If I was to ask you Izzy, who the final is more important for, would that be a rubbish question and impossible to answer? No, you never ask rubbish questions.

Well, I do. No, you don't. Well, sometimes. I want to ask somebody involved in the dressage at the Olympics where the horses could get jet lag. Do you know what? I'm really annoyed. What was the answer? That really annoys me Phil because I can't remember the answer. It was to do with the Tokyo Olympics, not the one in Paris. I realised we're not going to get jet lag from here there. And I'm so annoyed I can't remember the answer. Anyhow back to tonight. I think Manchester United to answer your question it's more important for them because I think that the noise you know the noise around Amerem the noise around the club needing to be back into that ilk of European competition of the Champions League and obviously the

finances that come with that, I think they could be on the cusp of achieving what they want to achieve, to reset and to restart this sort of Amorim era that's been a little bit bitty so far but I think that they have got the capacity to start building and I do think that getting the Champions League will be absolutely massive for their summer recruitment and who they attract to the football club in order for Amriem to just continue progressing the way he wants this team to play. OK, Paul?

No, listen, I disagree. I think, as I've said to you before, it's for Tottenham, for the restructure of the whole club, because if Tottenham don't win this competition, they'll lose the manager. You then lose players at the club, good quality players will want to leave. How do you attract players to a team that's potentially going to finish 16th or 17th in the Premier League? I've said before, I think the Champions League is too early for both of these two teams, but actually for the damage that it does to Tottenham, both off the field with the manager etc. Do you think his future rests on one 90-minute game? I think the decision is still to be made on his future.

There's a lot of talk that he may still vacate his post if they win that competition because of how poor they've been domestically. With a trophy in Champions League, it gives a new manager some foundations to build on. Without Champions League and without that budget that comes in in the summer, a new manager comes into a side that's finished 16th in the Premier League,

without a Champions League budget, with the players leaving the club, and a recruitment. Manchester United are mid-cycle. They're in a rebuilding process already with Ruben Ameren. The board are gonna stick with him. If he doesn't win that competition, he is in charge of Manchester United

at the start of next season. Listen, it's vitally important for both of them to win it but I just think the damage that it does to Tottenham is more lasting than what it would do to Manchester United because they would keep going with what they've got, how they are with Ruben Ameren playing the same way, supporting him in the transfer window, giving him the players that he needs to continue what he's doing. If Tottenham don't win it, you're back to the drawing board again. Do you think, Phil, that there are certain players that Manchester United, who may be on their list, they will only get if they're in the Champions League?

I'm not talking about because they could then afford them, I'm talking about because of the players' desire. Possibly, possibly, but I think United will always have that attraction. I don't think you'll ever lose that. I know, I spoke about it earlier, I know people will talk about United's lost its attraction for players and stuff. It will never lose that because it's the biggest club in the world. But to go back to Paul's point, I think it's a bit disrespectful not to say that it's bigger for one club or the other club. It's biggest claim for both clubs in that scenario. But I do think for Man United to get back into the Champions League is a huge step in the right direction. OK, the league form has been nowhere near where it's been expected this season, but

it gives them a platform to then, you know, try and implement something a little bit better next season and trying to attract more high caliber players. But again, Tottenham as well, it's a huge, you can't call it, you can't call it, it's a massive game for both clubs. And I tend to think that even if Spurs don't win the final or do win the final, I'm not sure Ange Postocoglu is still in the job at the end of the season, I think they've already made the mind up. I just want to replay the Mesa Mount goal. One more time Tottenham and Manchester United are going to meet in the UEFA Europa League final. It will be on May the 21st back in Bilbao and we will have full commentary of that. Chelsea are into

the Europa Conference League final they beat Jurgaard and by a goal to nil at Stamford Bridge so they go through 5-1 on aggregate they'll now face Rail Betis. Let's go to Ashton Gate next Sheffield United have beaten Bristol City 3-0 in the first leg of their Championship Playoffs Semi-Final. We can hear now from Chris Wilder. A really professional performance, everybody played the part. I saw a glint in the eyes as they talked about after the Burnley game, really focused, ready for this. The game was what the game was going to be in my opinion off the back of them

you know doing really well to get into the playoffs and knowing that they come out the traps and press and there'd be an energy about them, be a sharpness about them you know backed by a vociferous passionate home support it was about patience seeing what their shape was when they came out at half time, how would they go about it? And then knowing that maybe we'd get an opportunity to be clinical when we had those opportunities and we certainly were. And yeah, of course, I'm delighted that we've got a free goal lead, but it's still a lot of work to go into this. There must be a full house at Bramall Lane, there must be a full house at Bramall Lane for this team in my opinion. Because it's not going to be that Tuesday night when we play them, when it's no disrespect when you're playing the

teams that maybe don't bring an awful lot on a Tuesday night and it's a little bit cold and this, that and the other. This is Bramall Lane hopefully at our best, like it was against Coventry, like it was in the Derby, like it was against Leeds, like it was against Middlesbrough and giving the players the energy to push them on to hopefully a Wembley appearance. We've all seen stories in the past of games overturned, haven't we? Football's a strange game and it is half a job done, half a job done well but half a job done. Absolutely, I think you've seen with my approach tonight, we were into the players straight away, up to our punters who were outstanding and then straight in.

Being in the game long enough, I said in the presser before, being in the game long enough, got too much respect for the game, got too much respect for what can happen in the game. So many times if you try and shortcut anything, we intend not to get hurt, we're backing tomorrow, we'll reflate, we'll do all the preparation we need and we need another big performance from everybody. Like I said, there's not many times I really ask for, because I don't need to ask for but Bramallain rocking on a Monday night and showing everybody that this club is connected and it's together and supporting the boys and giving the energy to the players that their punters

have given their boys tonight is an absolute must for me. Former Sheffield United forward Karl Asaba has been watching at Ashton Gate and they were helped a little bit on their way weren't they Karl with a red card for Bristol City? Yeah it was a exciting first 20 minutes. Bristol City fans created a really good atmosphere and the players they gave everything they made it very scrappy. Sheffield United couldn't get into their flow and until you know there was a goal disallowed but until the red card it was pretty even and yeah it was a shame I felt for the lad because the moment that that happened Sheffield

United just overpowered Bristol City the quality throughout the team and it it was very difficult a difficult evening for Bristol. Rob Dickey put his arms around Kiefer Moore and then semi-hauled him down whilst winning the ball with his feet. Therefore the red card is for not attempting to play the ball by dragging him down? Yeah, well they play rugby here as well don't they? They do and they play it very well. Yeah and you would have seen that on many a Saturday here. It was unfortunate for him just because they worked all season for this chance. It was a tough ask anyway.

But when the red card came out you didn't see any of the Sheffield United players asking for it. It was a shame for him but on the balance of play up to then the moments of quality Sheffield United had opened them up two or three times and their keeper had made them good saves one-on-one saves so you know it was just a strong performance Sheffield United were in second gear and the quality players just just gave good moments. And they kind of needed that performance and statement win, didn't they? Missing out on the top two and there have been a couple of results that maybe weren't

as favourable in recent weeks. They needed to lay down that marker tonight. Yeah, and I think it's going to be very important Monday night as well to go to Bramall Lane and really put in a top performance and give the fans, you know, it could be a celebration of what they've done this season. They accrued 92 points so even though, you know, they had the two point deduction, you go in and you, you know, you've got three goals already but if you go and go to Bramall Lane and put on a performance and take real momentum into the final because it's now about confidence and performing on the occasion. You think

it's important they put the foot down at Bramall Lane do you? Yes it's so difficult do you rest players and and make sure you don't take any of your key players in injured it's either way you is the right can be the right decision or the wrong decision but personally I've lost in three playoff finals I only won one and the one we actually won we went in with a bit of momentum the other playoff finals we We thought we were better than the opposition and the opposition came out on beaters I think if you can go into that match with full momentum, you're in a better mental place.

Carl, thank you very much for joining us this evening. I appreciate it. Carl Asaba, who has been part of the BBC Radio Sheffield team at Ashton Gate, where Sheffield United have won the first leg of the play-off by three goals to nil against Bristol City. Thanks to Paul and Ali, Izzy, Phil and Ian as well. We have an all-English Europa League final, then Tottenham against Manchester United, Chelsea are through to the Conference League final as well. That's it for this episode of the Football Daily. Back tomorrow with the latest episode of the Commentator's View. The new series of Match of the Day Top 10 is out now, only available on BBC Sounds.

Join myself, Garel Enneka, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and my dog as we dig into the Top 10 of the Champions League. We go through our favourite goalscorers, best moment and even our all-time 11s. Now that, gentlemen, is a list. Oh, well, he didn't get on the list. Correct. He didn't get on the reserve list. You can listen right now on BBC Sounds.