Football Daily - Europa League Debrief: Manchester United into last eight with Fernandes hat-trick

Episode Date: March 13, 2025

Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick as Manchester United beat Real Sociedad 4-1 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate to make it through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Elsewhere, Wilson Odobert scored twice as Spurs overcame a first-leg deficit to beat AZ Alkmaar 3-1. Elly Oldroyd is joined by Rene Meulensteen, Dion Dublin and Conor McNamara to dissect a frenetic match with three penalties and a red card. Andy Stevenson and Michael Brown join the pod to talk Spurs and whether this team is getting much closer to the team Ange Postecoglou has been promising. Eilidh Barbour also brings us reaction from the Ibrox as Rangers win in dramatic fashion on penalties against Fenerbahçe. 00:20 Intro 02:50 Bruno Fernandes performance 06:50 Ruben Amorim 11:10 Ange‘s Spurs? 19:30 Solanke quieter? 21:30 Rangers win on penalties!BC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries this week: Sat 15 Mar 1500 Ipswich v Nottingham Forest in the Premier League Sun 16 Mar 1330 Arsenal v Chelsea in the Premier League Sun 16 Mar 1630 Liverpool v Newcastle in the EFL Cup Final Sun 16 Mar 1900 Leicester v Man Utd in the Premier League

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Hello, I'm Robin Ince. And I'm Brian Cox. And we would like to tell you about the new series of The Infinite Monkey Cage. We're going to have a planet off. Jupiter versus Saturn. It's very well done that because in the script it does say wrestling voice. After all of that, it's going to kind of chill out a bit and talk about ice.

And also in this series we're discussing history music recording with Brian Eno and looking at nature's shapes. So listen wherever you get your podcasts. So a big night in Europe in the Europa League as Manchester United have beaten Real Sociedad 4-1 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate. Elsewhere Tottenham Hotspur overcame AZ-Alkmaar 3-1, 3-2 on aggregate. In the Europa Conference League, Chelsea won against Copenhagen 1-0, 3-1 on aggregate. Alongside me to go through it all is René Möllenstein, former Manchester United assistant manager, former Manchester United striker Dion Dublin and Conor McNamara in Old Trafford tonight.

I mean, let's start then with the game that you are watching, a frantic match, three penalties and a red card. I mean, Connor, what was the turning point for United? Was it the point that Sociedad scored that first penalty? I think for me, it's the Bruno show. I think Bruno Fernandes has taken this game by the scruff of the neck. He has produced a hat-trick to fire the team into the quarter-final and that is the story. And yes, as a team, this was one of the better Manchester United performance of recent times, a team that has been massively underachieving, but there was evidence tonight of some of the potential.

And I don't think it can be overstressed, the backdrop to this, the speak of the potential and I don't think it can be overstressed the backdrop to this, the speak of the new stadium, the maybe realisation that Manchester United are going places, that there is this bright future to come and that players will want to be part of this. I remember when Newcastle had their takeover and even players who'd been there before, it's not all just about buying in new players with new money, guys like Joe Linton suddenly stepped up and got better. I think a similar thing happened here tonight with Manchester United realising, again this is a club going places, first time in a long time they'll feel that. Manchester is going places, we want to go places with them. And the team stood up, but no one stood up more than Bruno Fernandes.

Two penalties dispatched, at one stage he might have had a third penalty, but the VAR overruled that, but he was to score another goal from open play anyway. Diogo Delo put the cherry on top right at the very end after Sosi that really had thrown in the towel they were down to 10 men John Aramburu that was a big turning point in terms of their resistance to try and come back into a game but Ruben Amorim who let's face it it has been a dismal disappointing time since he's arrived from Portugal he finally has something to celebrate

tonight they're into a quarterfinal. There is still a chance, who knows, of silverware for Manchester United in this most bizarre of seasons. But perhaps in the bigger picture, even more importantly, there's still a chance of winning the Europa League to get in the Champions League next season, which would keep Manchester United amongst the elite clubs in Europe. That could be the real prize dangling at the end of all of this. Dion, for you, Brino Fernandes, what do you say about him, captain's performance,

an man who just seemed to inspire his players to greater heights? Yeah, you know what, he just seems to, I don't know how he does it, but every single game he seems to affect it in some way, shape or form with him as an assist or a goal or just something special. Tonight I'm watching him throw his arms around at the Anana, as I have to say, throw it fast, don't throw it. He's kind of in charge of the whole of the team. He's taking charge, he's the manager on the pitch and he's happy to have that responsibility.

And he seems to like it, he's closing down, he's expecting all his teammates to come in behind him. And, you know, when it comes to finishing, I mean, his third goal, yes, he got two penalties, but his third goal, he's in on goal and he could have tried to find Hoylan, but he knew how important it was to score, to make sure. And I just think tonight, he was the conductor.

He got it right. His performance was just brilliant. And I've got to say that about everybody else in a red shirt as well. Mazraoui, brilliant down the right hand side. Delo gets his goal. Hoyland, you know, I'm so frustrated for him, but he worked hard and I do believe he helped the team

get over the line again tonight. So some really good performances. Aidan Hevinder, the new boy, the 18 year old lad playing at left back, was brilliant as well. First game for United in Europe. Wow, he looked like he'd played there all season. United brilliant, Bruno Fernandes fantastic. First time in two years that United have scored four goals, René,

is that getting close to what you expect from Manchester United or what the United fans expect them to perform like? Well, yes, you know, especially at home games and European nights like this, you know when they turn it out like this It's very hard, you know for any team, you know to deal with that But I think the third the third goal of Bruno Fernandes sums sums him up because just a few seconds before He gives the ball away in front of his own box. Obviously United didn't lead to anything. United gets it back. They counter. He runs from one his own box all the way to the other end to get the ball from Gennaccio and put it in the back of the net. That's the kind of desire he has and

it rubs off to other players. You know and sometimes some players are short of confidence but like Dion said so often and so many times, he leads by example, he takes responsibilities when it comes to free kicks or penalties and he took them today and he was the driving force like Dion says, he was the conductor and you know I think she'd be very very happy to have a player of that caliber. I just want to jump in very quickly sorry because I did mention that that stand about the four goals which I saw off Opta tonight. I've just looked it up now they have scored four goals because they scored four goals against Everton recently that must be four goals in European competition which wasn't specified on the on the after. I know it's only a small thing but but these

pedantic moments do matter as you well know. Absolutely right yes okay stop writing in right now or texting or doing whatever you're going to do. Just to go back to Rasmus Hoyland, Dion, some quotes from Bruno Fernandes tonight. He said, Strikers are all about goals. We want Rasmus to score, of course, but his movements have been great and he's attracting defenders to give me space. He created two of my goals and he laid on the pass for Dallo as well to score the fourth. There's a lot that he does that people don't see but we recognise him and is that the kind of thing as a striker that would give you confidence in the end? Yeah I don't want people to say about me with a number nine on my back, oh he's a

good team player. I don't want that, I want goals, I want goals if I'm number nine I'm afraid. It's great being that kind of player who works hard and he will work hard and he will work hard and he will get into good goal scoring positions but I want where are we now this I want 12 15 goals at least with with Hoyland's name on he hasn't done that I believe if he didn't if he didn't play well and scored three goals I think he'd be a lot happier. Well, let's hear from Manchester United manager Ruben Amarin. I think it's not just the team, it's the club. They spoke about Bruno a lot of times. We know that he sometimes is frustrated. We know that he wants to win so bad that sometimes

when the things are not, we are not playing well, he's changing position and goes after the ball and sometimes he needs to trust a little bit more in his teammates to allow him to do their job and help him also to play better. But when we need it, his wall is there in a set of pieces, he can change position, he can bring the ball forward, he can score goals, he can make transitions like he showed today in the last 10 minutes of the game. He can defend, so it's a perfect captain for our team and we need to help him to win titles because he deserves a lot. The feeling, you can feel it in the fans, the noise, it's hard to explain. You feel it confident from the supporters,

the players. It was a really good night and we have this competition, we have Premier League, it gives us a lot of energy and confidence to go to our games in Premier League. We feel we can go and we feel we can go to the next stage and we believe that we can go to another stage. This week was a different week. We dealt with a lot of problems of the present, we showed the future, so we finished that. It's not finished because we have gaming on Sunday, but this game today was really good for everybody in the club, the staff, the players and especially the fans. Well that was Ruben Amerim, you know he's had a limited amount of time to build the squad that he wants. Rene, are we starting to see though that some of the players that he has brought in, for example Patrick Dorggo, are playing for him and are giving

him just that bit of a cutting edge. I mean he created havoc today, doled good didn't he? Yeah he has and then the system that he prefers, which is obviously playing with wing backs, you have to have players that can really basically play the whole length of the pitch. They have to be able to obviously defend when they ask to do so but more than anything he wants them to come to be going forward so you need legs, you need energy, you need the ability when the ball comes to you to put a good cross in or even you know take on somebody in a 1v1 but and he's got that

you know he was a constant threat then it was a constant problem for Real Sociedad. He had 10 touches inside the box coming in on the left wing, Dion, so do you think he's somebody who will be part of that Ruben Ameriem system going forward? Yeah I do because there was moments in the game tonight where he tried to play a pass either back to his teammate, Heaven, or to Delict across the pitch and he realised that the pass wasn't on so he had to do something a little bit special and he was happy the pass wasn't on so he had to do something a little bit special and he was happy to take contact, he was happy to try and do a little bit of skill to get himself out of it and on those occasions that he needed to he got himself out of

a bit of a mess with a bit of skill and I'm thinking okay so you've got that as well of strength and speed and determination so yeah I do believe he's going to be one of those players that we'll see more and more of and I think if we do we'll see more chances created for Hoyland as well. Conor you mentioned that it's going to be Leon next in the quarterfinals for United, a bit apart from the fact that you're looking forward to a culinary trip. You've put yourself down for that already. Not just him, not just him. Yeah, you both put yourself down for that already. Not just him, not just him. You've both put yourself down for that. I tell you what, Rena and I could be on that bus as well. But what kind of a challenge will Lyon present and can United start looking ahead to further adventures and to potentially semi-finals and finals? I think they have to and I think the Europa League is not the Champions League in terms of that complete elite level

of team. And by the standards of the Real Madrids and Paris Saint-Germain and the other teams that the likes of Arsenal Liverpool would have to come up against, this is very achievable for Manchester United. And that is not to say it's easy. They're going to have to play as well as they did tonight. They're going to have to do it over two legs. Leon have got a decent record in getting to the latter stages of European competition.

I remember going with West Ham when they were going on a Europa League run, which was I think the season before they won the conference league, but they played against Lyon. So they've got experience of playing against English clubs from that. They've got plenty of recognised players and they've obviously got that fantastic stadium there, which has been used for major tournaments, etc. So it'll feel like a proper European tie for Manchester United. You look at their domestic form, their position, the Premier League, you don't

really fancy them to do anything but tonight's the reminder, the quality in the squad. That little mix, you know, Casamiro at one of his better games, the mix of that experience with some of the younger players like Aidan Evans stepping up, so many. This is why we've been so perplexed, this is why we've spoken about Manchester United so much this season and recent years because they should be doing better than they are. Tonight was a glimmer of what that future could hold. Can they go on and win this René? Yes they can. On the evidence of tonight, like I said if you don't have to play like play like this, they can beat any team, absolutely.

Like I said, I'm so pleased to see that we saw some of the old Manchester United tonight. If you look at some of the passages of play, the movement, the passes, there was some really good one-touch football in and around the box as well. It was 4-1, it could have actually been even more. Really, I think it was nice what you said. I mean, the word you used, penetration, and like just those passes that, you know, they just split the defence and players running at players as well, just being really direct. It was like watching, you know, when you were here, this is how United were playing with the gaffer, this is how they were playing. Really quick,

really pacey and creating lots of chances. Dion, I always remember when the manager brought me into his offers about, you know... I bet that was scary. Not at that particular time, but when he said, you know, when I see the best United attack, I want him to see attack with pace, power, penetration and unpredictability. And that is, I think, what we saw tonight.

Well, exactly. He had a winner at Cheltenham today, so maybe it's the touch of Sir Alex. Yeah, fantastic. What a day for him, yeah. Absolutely. Thank you so much to René. Thank you to Dion and Connor as well.

Great to have you with us. And looking forward to that trip to Lyon at some point. Maybe not all of us. The commentator's view on the football daily. I'm Alistair Bruce Ball. I'm John Murray. Hello, me and Dennis. at some point, maybe not all of us. told stories along the way. A wasp flew into my mouth while I was talking and I panicked. The commentator's view only on the Football Daily. Listen on BBC Sounds. On the Football Daily podcast, the debrief. Listen on BBC Sounds. Hello, I'm Robin Ince. And I'm Brian Cox. And we would like to tell you about the new series of The Infinite Monkey Cage.

We're going to have a planet off. Jupiter versus Saturn! Well, it's very well done that because in the script it does say wrestling voice. After all of that, it's going to kind of chill out a bit and talk about ice. And also in this series we're discussing history music recording with Brian Eno and looking at nature's shapes. So listen wherever you get your podcasts. Let's move on to Spurs now. Michael Brown, former Spurs midfielder and Andy Stevenson, who was at the game with me now much closer to the Spurs that Ange Postocoglu has been promising us. Yeah I mean it was nervy in the end I would say and as you say

I think you know Ange Postocoglu for months now has been saying judge this team when I have my key players back and I think we saw something much more like the real Tottenham this evening there's no doubt about that you know van der Ven and Romero at the back were just so solid Pedro Poro and then Jed Spence on either wing as full backs were bombing forward and there's no doubt I think and I hope Michael agrees that this is the Tottenham that Ange Postocoglie wants to be kind of putting on for the fans if you like this is more like the the lineup he needs out there to play in the style that he wants. And yes, it was nervy in the end, but for most of the match, Tottenham were very much in control.

Well, obviously that's making a massive difference for him. You see James Madison getting interviewed for the TV, talks about men, leaders, senior players in the dressing room. When he looks around, he says, they'll have my back. Do you know, I think that's what's important for every every player that you feel like you've got that strength in depth so he'll be really pleased he knows he's got a long way to go obviously he's a little bit of concern with van de Ven but overall to get through to get a result to score the goals yes there was a bit of tension later on in the game

but you would expect that wouldn't you when there's only a slight margin a lead that they've obviously conceded goals many, many times late on in games. So it's a big, big result. It's something to go at. I think the next few weeks we're going to start to judge Spur, Fulham away, then there's the break, then Chelsea home, Southampton home, and then on again into Europe. So some good times. I think it comes at a nice week maybe to get away get an international break but they've got the small matter of Fulham but really really positive it looks a lot better but still we have to be cautious long way to go but yeah getting players back. The third goal that Tottenham scored was

fantastic all the way out from the back Madison carrying it on on you know on a midfield and then the cross on the left hand side, a little overlap with it's a second goal from... Audubet. Audubet, yeah, fantastic for him. Yeah, it was a really good goal, wasn't it? They were brave taking it out as they do, then Madison into the middle and then from there on, once it goes wide, Son's clever isn't he?

He waits but it's about determination and runs, making runs sometimes that you don't think you're gonna get. The overlap came and then the ball came across and we had that long wait didn't we? Anxious is it gonna be offside is it not going to be? It was tight there's just a little flick and Oderberg can't believe his luck on that back post but Madison contributing as well so it it was a positive, but again, we can't get too carried away, can we? Because they've done the job, but still a little bit fragile.

Was there a nervous sense in the stadium, Andy, because it was a bit tense towards those final closing stages? Oh, absolutely. And I just want to pick up on that third goal because the guys are absolutely right. It's an incredible goal when you watch it. And it's one of those goals where I hope when you see the replay on tv or when you see the clip on social

media they show the whole thing because the other interesting aspect of it was that a few minutes before that Vicario had had a very very nervous moment he'd been caught in possession in his own area by one of the Altmar attackers so then when it goes to Vicario again a few minutes later the fans around me again were like you know sharp intake of breath just get rid of it kick it into the stands and instead you know he passed it across I think it was to Archie Gray who'd come on as a substitute and as the guy said there Madison's role in that third goal is brilliant when you see it back because he really transitions the move from defense into attack. But yeah there's no

doubt you know the fans around me, I think I said at the start of the evening that this, I felt anyway that this was kind of Spurs season, you know, this competition will define how Spurs fans feel at the end of this season, you know, if they go on and win it, qualify for Europe again. Did you get the feeling in the stadium? Did you get the feeling in the stadium that it was in the balance? That, you know, it could have swung either way if they didn't get the

result? Were you getting that sort of chat beforehand? We normally get a feel don't we when we're out on the grounds? Yeah I mean it's a good question. I think the fans tonight would have cut Postokoglu some slack because what they saw in the first half was so much more impressive than what had gone before in recent weeks. So I think he would have been okay. I'm not sure the atmosphere would have turned nasty but I think there would certainly have been real sort of sadness if their season had effectively ended tonight. And now of course you look ahead to a quarterfinal against Eintracht Frankfurt and suddenly you know just

like the Man United fans will, the Tottenham fans will be thinking, well hold on a minute, we can win this tournament now and lift the whole season. So I don't think there was going to be anger if they'd lost tonight, but I think there would have been real frustration at an opportunity missed. I think Andy, when I looked at it just before the 3-1, there was this moment from Arsene when the ball was sort of half cleared of the line. That was a bit of a moment where I thought, oh, it could have swung the other way because Arsene had to take some risk.

But then the 3-1 went in and I think that gave a lot of relief to everybody, to players, to Anish Postokoglu and the fans in the stadium. Looking forward to André Frankfurturt which is going to be a great game as well because they knocked out Ajax obviously they beat them at home in Amsterdam and they beat them comfortably tonight 4-1 so this is going to be another interesting tie. And all the Dutch teams out in Europe as well you're saying? Don't mention that Ellie. Sorry, sorry. Let's talk a little bit about Dominic Solanke because he, I mean a bit like, we've talked about Rasmus Hoyland already in terms of Manchester United. Four touches

in the box, you've got two assists from the touches despite numerous touches from Son and Odaber in the box and on the wings as well. Is it a bit of a frustrating time for Solanke, Michael, as he comes back? I don't think it's a frustrating time. He'd be just delighted to be getting minutes, you know, to contribute into playing. Obviously you know how they have to play the high intensity sprints that you've got to to field in this spurside, but it takes time doesn't it? You can't miss long periods and then come back and then everything just go for you and a side that are not clicking it's only natural so I think it'd be just be

delighted to be on the grass so not too much frustration you always want to do better you always want to build but everything takes time you know you look at this team the lack of minutes myself I've already talked about it before the game of of minutes that have been played yes you've got experience and everything takes time so they've done their job all around I don't think there'd be too much frustration regards to individual or collective because they've got the job done. Yeah I think all the senior players coming back with making of an event but also Solanke, a good fit Solanke is an important player you know for Tottenham

because he obviously can score goals himself but he can also bring other players into play you know with, with players around him. So, yeah, good to see him back on the pitch and again he had another assist. Great, thank you very much indeed to René Millenstein, to Andy Stevenson at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and of course to Michael Brown as well. So Rangers are also through in the Europa League after beating Fenerbahce on penalties. Ailey Barber watched all the action unfold at Ibrox. Party time at Ibrox as Rangers seal their place in the quarterfinals on a penalty shootout.

Fenerbahce came to Glasgow trailing by two goals but dragged themselves level thanks to two goals from Sebastian Simanski and a feisty end to end ding-dong of a Europa League tie. Josie Mourinho may well point towards a penalty claim in extra time as Yielen has looked to have caught the boot of Yandas but nothing was given and the teams couldn't be split. So to penalties where Jack Butland pulled off two huge saves before Yandas ballooned over his spot kick to ensure it would be Rangers who would progress. Cue wild celebrations and frantic booking of flights to Spain where Rangers will face Athleticville Battle in the quarterfinals. Great drama and Rangers

win it. 3-3 on aggregate, 3-2 on penalty. Thanks Ailey. Well that's all from us on the Football Daily and on the next episode it is The Commentator's View. Hello, I'm Robin Ince. And I'm Brian Cox. And we would like to tell you about the new series of The Infinite Monkey Cage. We're going to have a planet on. Jupiter versus Saturn! Well it's very well done that because in the script it does say wrestling voice.

After all of that it's going to kind of chill out a bit and talk about ice. And also in this series we're discussing history of music recording with Brian Eno and looking at nature's shapes. So listen wherever you get your podcasts.