Football Daily - The Debrief: Manchester City beat Newcastle to set up League Cup final against Arsenal

Episode Date: February 4, 2026

Steve Crossman is joined by John Murray, former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown and former Newcastle midfielder Isaac Hayden to react to Wednesday's League Cup semi-final action as Manchester City beat Newcastle 5-1 on aggregate and will face Arsenal at Wembley on Sunday 22nd March.Hear reaction from City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and City manager Pep Guardiola.In the Scottish Premiership, Rangers beat 10-man Kilmarnock 5-1 to move to within three points of leaders Hearts. You can hear the thoughts of their manager Danny Rohl.3:00 – Should James Trafford start the League Cup final? 7:00– Pep Guardiola is ‘addicted to winning’ 10:00 – City ‘open’ without Guehi 15:00 – Tijjani Reijnders reaction 17:00 – ‘Sad’ League Cup ending for Newcastle 21:00 – Eddie Howe reaction 23:00 – More focus on Pep Guardiola 29:00 – Pep Guardiola reaction 33:00 – Rangers 5-1 Kilmarnock: Danny Rohl reaction

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Bring more gear, carry more passengers, face greater challenges. Welcome to the world of Defender, with seating up to eight, ample cargo space and legendary off-road capability. It's built to make the most of every adventure. Learn more at landrover.ca. On the Football Daily podcast, The Debrief, with Steve Crossman. We have our league-cut finalists in 2020. It will be Arsenal against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on the 22nd of March. City beating Newcastle by three goals to one in the semi-final second leg.

Five-one on aggregate. All the reaction on the way with correspondent John Murray and Michael Brown inside the stadium and former Newcastle midfielder Isaac Hayden as well. More to come on what's been happening in Scotland as well. Rangers beat Kilmarnock by five goals to one. So they're up into second. three points above Celtic, three behind hearts, but Celtic have a game in hand.

Looks like we're going to have a thrilling title race. Celtic should have been playing, but their game at Aberdeen was postponed, as was Dundee v. Motherwell. Other scores, Hibbs 3, Dundee United 2. Hibbs are fifth in the table, and Livingston won Falkirk 2. So Livingston, after that,

still just one win all season, and they are six points behind second bottom Kilmarnock in the table. Much of our focus, though, is on the Etihad. John Murray, Manchester City, into the final. We sort of expected at the start of the night it was going to happen. By the end of it, I mean, it could have been a different story. I'm not sure there was any doubt that the end of the story was going to be City going to Wembley.

Yeah, on the scoreline, Manchester City completed the job with some ease, really, to reach the final of this competition for the first time for five years. Newcastle's worst-case scenario was conceding an early goal and that's exactly what they did. In the seventh minute, Marmuch getting a fortunate bounce of the ball to deflect in. And if there was no way back for Newcastle after that, City completely took the tie away from them with two goals in three minutes around the half hour.

Rinders was involved in both. Marmush's second, a close-range header in the end and the Dutchman Rinder shooting in number three himself and with little over half an hour played, That was that really. Strangely, in the match, Newcastle had enough chances to actually have turned the tie around. James Trafford made some big saves.

Anthony Alangas scored the only goal of the second half is first for Newcastle United. Good goal as well it was when he came in from the right-hand side. But really, the tie had gone by then. Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, I think, looking ahead to Anfield on Sunday afternoon. And it was rather sad, really, for Newcastle, for what has been a great year for them

as the winners of the League Cup for it to end like this. But it does set up what is a very appealing final between the current top two in the Premier League. Isaac, I've been thinking, as John was talking there,

which individual player comes out of this in the most credit and maybe having achieved the most in the 90-minute? I think it might be James Trafford. Yeah, I think I think from a city perspective, definitely. It was, yeah, it's a strange game, really,

because he wouldn't think that especially leading how they did at half time, that the goalkeeper would be, for Manchester, would be a big talking point. But he proved crucial in certain moments, especially early on. The Willick, so the Willick safe was crucial for me. Just the timing of it could have gone 1-1, then the game's completely different. But I think that's where you want your goalkeeper to really bail you out

in those situations, the player. that breathes confidence for the rest of the game for him. But I think from a Newcastle perspective as well, you know, I think it's always difficult when you're in those moments. But I think, as I said, Alanga coming on in the second half, I think he'll take some pride with the goal. I think he could have scored a couple more. But I think certainly for his confidence,

it won't do him any harm. Michael, James Trafford has got to start the final, hasn't he? I mean, you would have expected to him anyway, but especially now. surely you would think so wouldn't you but you know how do you when you when you have donna rummer it's a final I think you'll have a look at the situation do you think yeah but I've seen this many times right

with Peth right and you sort of go right who starts the next game it's a former club comes along your way and you go right he's got to play against them he doesn't do it do you know of all managers sentiment just goes if he feels on the day that Dona Rummer is going to win him that running that game, he will make the change.

And rightly or wrongly... I don't think he will. You probably won't, right? But rightly or wrongly, he would do it if he feels that's going to give him the edge. Let's see what his defensive lines like. Let's see who he's got around it. What's the situation over the next few weeks? Do regards to the Premier League, towards

Champions League, Cup games, etc? And then he'll have a look at it. I mean, I don't think it's a certainty. I'd be very disappointed if it was... If it happened to me, but I think we have to look at the bigger picture here, wants to end with the trophy. Has he done everything he can tonight, James Trafford,

to give himself that opportunity, as long as he's good in training. He's set the tone, hasn't he? You know, he might get another opportunity in the FA Cup coming as well, just around the corner, and then he's got to produce again. So, listen, it was a great performance for him. He's got to enjoy these nights.

It'll have been a disappointment. Couple of months for him. You almost get a sniffer going, right, I could be number one, and then it's taken away quite quickly, and clearly you're not going to display on a rummer and and that's the one for him but yeah positive but it's not a definite shoe at shoo in for me I must say as well Steve it was quite striking how pep

Guardiola here went around the stadium after the match even though many of the city fans actually had gone but for those who had remained in the stadium he went around very pointedly didn't he Michael clapping those who were inside the ground you know they've just won through to another final and that's the thing you know that wasn't many there, but he went and said thank you to everybody and what it means to him to get to a final and those fans appreciating it. So he did it for a long time, didn't he? Really late, waited all the way around and he was giving everybody a big wave.

And I think he's got his backup, I know, regards to what he's produced. He knows the tenure's coming towards an end and what this manager, but John was telling you about what he's won and how many trophies and how many cup finals he's been involved in. I mean, it's just incredible. And not only being involved with them, how many... But he's only only lost a couple, John. In his career as a coach, this is the 22nd final he's been in. The previous 21, he's lost only four. But he has lost the last two.

The FAA Cup finals of 24 and 25 against Manchester United... Just the Palace. Those stats like that have started to question what he's done. This is why he doesn't like it, Steve. And something like John goes in the press and goes, well, you have lost the last two, he goes, about the others. Isaac, I think that with PEP, though, is

and you could see it throughout the game. So, I mean, he was the most animated man inside the stadium from minute one to minute 90. He's just addicted to winning, isn't he? I mean, that is just PEP Guardiola. Yeah, that's just him in a nutshell. I think even the goals going in, even the second and third goal tonight,

you saw him celebrating and he was over the moon with the results tonight. But I think, Just touching on the Donoruma point before, whether he'd play the final or not, you know, PEP's a ruthless winner. He'll do whatever he sees fit to get that win. There's no sentiment involved there.

Obviously, the performance tonight would have done Trafford any harm at all, but he's in the business to win. Traffat has played in all five matches for Manchester City in this competition. And remember, Ortega would regularly be the Cup goal game. I think the first league cup final I did with you, John, was City beating Tottenham, which was the one where Joseo Marino got sacked just before the final.

And he played Zach Stephan. Played Zach, yeah, that one. He played Zach Stephan in that game and left Edison on the bench. So he's going to play James Trafford, isn't he? I would expect so. I mean, if you were James Trafford, Michael, imagine if you didn't get picked.

You'd be devastated. But, you know, all he can do is train as well as he can. That's what I'm saying. Yeah. And just wait and see, and you might get more minutes. You never know what happens with certain situations. And let's hope he does get that chance. But a lot of factors will come into to play because if Pep thinks that is the one or two percent

to get him over the line with this strong Arsenal side, if it was a different, if it was a different personnel, he might be able to approach it slightly different. And I think what will hang over, Pep, is like John said there, the last couple haven't gone his way. And some of that's down to winning lots of other things, one of them in particular, and you sort of just take it for granted. It wasn't top, it was like a big balloon going off of you've done the Champions League and then, you know, then it's not necessarily top of your list. And I think this season now, after last season, he wants to deliver a trophy.

He's going to start, I'm sure of it, but you can never say never. This manager will not consider anybody else if he feels he has to do it. That is a really interesting point around this being a different final, Isaac, because we spoke at the start of the night about how things are a bit different with Pep Guardiola and the future planning and that kind of thing. If he thinks there's a possibility, this could be my last trophy, that might actually impact what he does for that Arsenal final. Yeah, 100%.

And I think also just psychologically for the Premier League, for the Tata race as well, you don't know how the games are going to go between now and the final. that could also play a psychological effect on on how close they are to Arsenal for the Premier League as well so I think there's a lot of stories to play out here and I think that especially with it being Arsenal and obviously the rivalry that they've kind of had

the last couple of years I think it'll be really, really interesting final. Yeah. It also, John, really underlined tonight I thought just how much Manchester City need Mark Gaye who's not going to be able to play in the League Cup of course but they were so open. Yeah, and that has been a common theme, hasn't it, during the course of this season. But Ruben Diaz, back on the substitutes bench tonight.

So you never know. Might be involved on Sunday at Anfield against Liverpool, so he's not far away from coming back. So that clearly will help things. I just think in terms of the rivalry with Arsenal, I think the way that it's set up now, okay, there's six points between them right at the moment in the Premier League, but who knows what the situation will be by the time we come to March the 22nd. And as I mentioned, there

is still the possibility that they could end up playing each other in the FA Cup final. They could end up playing each other potentially in the Champions League, depending on how the draw eventually works out in that, in that. And they could end up going toe to toe into the final straight of the Premier League as well if that turns out to be the case this could be

quite a couple of months three months that we've got ahead of us for Manchester City and Arsenal which makes it all the more important Michael for them

to keep players fit this is what Pep said about Erling Harland after the Manchester Derby so this is January the 17th hopefully Omar Mahmooh will be back soon

to give a rest to Erling because he is exhausted I did think it was interesting that he brought him and Rodry actually who has spoken quite passionate

before about players playing too much football. Were you surprised that you brought them on? So the game was long since finished, wasn't it? In the commentary, I was watching, obviously got a great view right behind the technical area. And I sort of going, right, look who they're getting here to go and have a warm-up here, because they hadn't even moved,

and it was Rodry and Harlan. I sort of said, of all those two, surely are you going to wait? Because it is Liverpool. And over the years, I've looked at Pep And it's going, right, we'll leave those players because it's Champions League and you've got a particular team at home in the Premier League. So you go, right, well, it's Rio Madrid on Tuesday. They can't play because surely you've got to save them.

And he plays them. And he's always gone on and done it. And he's took the risk. And I think like he just says, you know what, they're better off having 20 minutes, 25 minutes tonight. So it's on the buildup. Just keeps them fresh. Keeps them on the front. He talks about rhythm a lot.

And he wants to get them ready in that way. other managers, other people would be sat there going, well, if they've played a lot, why do they need any of it? Why don't they just wait? And he probably feels it's just that 20 minutes. No, Isaac things, whether you're going, like, do you know what, that's about right? I'm just ready. Just do you know for it? Obviously, if you lose two or three days training, it's just watching the guys now on top up doing running, I've never really seen do that too much. Yeah, no, I was going to say that actually. The sports science for me now in the game is such a huge part and even 15, 20 minutes for Roderoy and Harlan tonight, that might mean that they do less

top-up runs after the game. They might not train tomorrow. Might have a recovery day with the rest of the starters. And then it keeps them fresh and ticking over. So I think honestly, sports science nowadays, it's so pivotal and to keep everybody fresh and to stay the way of the injuries. I think we saw that last night as well with the Arsenal Chelsea game. Obviously, Cole Palmer was only able to play 30 minutes. Estabal as well as only 30 minutes. So I think that it's really having an impact on what managers can do and what they can select from their side. That's a really interesting point, Isaac, because there is obviously a lot of science to it, and they wouldn't be making these decisions if they haven't sort of crunched the numbers

with all the staff behind the scenes. However, from the outside, that is the kind of thing that leads to people saying, well, you can't really complain about too much football if you have an opportunity to give someone a night off and you don't take it. Yeah, no, I did get it from both sides to be honest, but it's one of those where you could play tonight, you could play Roderian Hall and they could pick up an injury and everyone goes, well, why have you done that? And then you could rest them equally and not play them and they could play the next game and pull up an injury as well. So you can't really navigate for certain injuries. but I do think that the sports science has taken a real first line of staving away injuries and making sure that everyone's fit.

And as I said, he would have been in constant contact throughout the game with the sports science scene. I had the data, live data, so they'll be able to see everyone's running distances and intensities. And he'll be making decisions for that. From a small village on the banks of the River Nile. Everybody call me Mohammed, but it's her name or nickname. to the biggest stages of world football. Sala is more than just a player. He's an icon, a symbol, a king.

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Learn more at Landrover.ca. Bull Daily Podcast, The Debrief, with Steve Crossman. We can hear from City Midfielder to Johnny Rinders. Yeah, very good, great team performance. Of course, there has been spoken a lot about our second halves the last couple weeks, and yeah, today we show that, We were more stable and very happy to reach the final. This club has won so many trophies in recent seasons.

But there's obviously new blood in the dressing room. What would it mean to win that first trophy for Manchester City? A lot. Yeah, what you say, there is a lot of new blood. So it will be amazing if we can win our first silverware for the guys who are new here. And it gives us an extra boost as well. And the manager has often talked in the past about the, the League Cup being the springboard to the rest of the season. Has that been mentioned at all this time?

No, not that much, but yeah, we know, of course, we speak as well in the dressing room about it with the teammates, and of course, it can give us a big boost, yeah. Just a quick word for your teammate, Omar Marmush, two early goals and really put the game to bed this evening, and you'll need goals from him as you move forwards for the rest of the season. Yes, no, he's a great attacker, great player, and today was very important for us.

And yeah, he helps us a lot, of course. Let's flip it back to Newcastle, John. I thought you used exactly the right word there at full time when you said it's sad for them. That's sort of how it felt. And probably because of all the mischances as well. It just sort of felt like a flat way to finish their league up. Yeah, tough time for them at the moment and for Eddie Howe.

To lose Anthony Gordon as well, that really twists the knife tonight in terms of, you know, the way that the evening has gone. As I mentioned, they're down in the bottom half of the Premier League. They're in this really tough run of matches. You know, how close they could get to the top four or probably five to qualify for the Champions League next season. But of course, they are still chasing success on other fronts as well.

I feel that their FAA Cup tie at Aston Villa, which is the tea time match on the FAA Cup fourth round Saturday, feel that the FAA Cup now actually becomes really important for Newcastle United. And also, you know, Champions League. A match against Carabag, two legs, second leg at St. James's Park. Newcastle, even though they'll be missing players. I don't know how many of them will be back

by the time we get to that in a couple of weeks' time. But if they get through that tie, the potential against either Barcelona or Chelsea in the round of 16 for Newcastle United when the second leg would be away from home. So that's why I feel that the FA Cup does take on, you know, important to the Newcastle this season.

I have a feeling, Isaac, that Eddie Howe will probably have to say, you know, we'll wait on a scan or if there's swelling, we'll wait for that to go down, whatever it is with Anthony Gordon. It feels unlikely we're going to learn too much about that tonight. But if you're a Newcastle fan, if you're a Newcastle player, that is the thing you're going home thinking about, isn't it? How is Anthony Gordon? Yeah, I mean, the amount of players that they've lost already, I mean, to have a player of the quality of Anthony Gordon, that as a player, you don't want to see your teammate injured at all, but especially one that can produce moments of magic and real quality.

And even if you look at the midfield area, I mean, Sandro Tanali played another 90 minutes tonight with Bruno being injured. He's what you'd probably call on the red zone. And there's so many big games coming up. I think that's obviously just touched on it. They've got Brentford at the weekend and another tough game. Two Champions League games, games. obviously all that travel and then that towards the end of this sort of period of games they've got the they got the time with that Derby so the Derby will be another big game towards the end of this towards March so there's a lot of games for them and they just hope that they recover some players quickly and hopefully

with Gordon didn't pull up too sharply so hopefully we've been walking off and obviously holding this hamstring it's not too bad that is a good point when he when he did it it wasn't like necessarily he's sort of glided, you know, and just towards that stop. You realized he couldn't get any. What was good, he wasn't in a full chase. So it wasn't at max sprint. He was always a way away from it.

And then he walked without sort of, you know what I mean, where you have to, you're sort of pulling it up as you're going and you're walking away. He walked quite clean. So hopefully, you know, he could be your lower back and tighten up, pull that hamstring. Hopefully there's a bit of release work. That's not too bad. But he's so explosive.

The first few runs were so, so much. much intensity around them. He knew he was gonna go press the goalkeeper. I knew he got down that right-hand side, that ball across for that early chance, wasn't it, from Willick that he created. And do you know, they're just not having it right, but they've been used to this type of loading for some time.

He has to have them to a fine edge, doesn't he, Eddie, how with the squad and the amount of games that he's going through. So yeah, it's another one he doesn't need. But you look at the positives, they've created lots of chances, the Lange are coming on there and getting a decent goal. They had lots of chances after that.

They should have certainly got more. And that's all they can do, really. They will be hurting. The Premier League form is so inconsistent. Really, really tough night for Newcastle head coach, Eddie Howe. Here he is. Yeah, tough 45 minutes, opening 45 minutes for us. I thought we wanted the fast start

the Manchester City got and wasn't for the want to try. The lads were all out in the game, but we looked like we were lacking in energy, first half, lacking in the normal intensity that we play at. We were a little bit reactive, poor in jewels, considered some poor goals. Albeit that, as you said,

there were chances in and around their chances for us, which we didn't take. Second half was much better. I thought we were, yeah, our physicality showed in the second half. Substitutes made a big difference. Could have been very different, but we didn't take our opportunities when they came.

And of course, we're stretched and we're chasing the game. To come here to two-goldown is the, this is the worst stadium, I think, you're chasing and you're leaving yourself a little bit exposed at the back, which we felt we had to do today to have any chance of scoring the goals we needed to get through. But so, yeah, the damage was done in that first leg and we were trying to claw it back today, but it wasn't to be.

So Newcastle fans are going to be kind of hanging on the words of Eddie Howe when he's asked about Anthony Gordon, Manchester City fans when they hear from Pep Guardiola, which hopefully we should be able to do very shortly. They're John going to be hanging on every word at the minute as well, aren't there? because it's almost every time he speaks at the moment, you're really analysing everything he's saying. For all of the reasons we've talked about, not least what we were saying about Sammy Mockbell's piece earlier, about all the discussion that's happening with what city do in the next few months.

Yeah, but I don't think we should worry about any further clues. I think he's going to, he'll make it all too clear that his focus of attention now is on Liverpool on Sunday and he will park the prospect of Arsenal in the cup final until we get to the middle of, next month. He will feel, even though, you know, I sat in the room with him on Sunday when he came in to speak to the media after the Tottenham match, and it was suggested that maybe it might

be the time for Manchester City to focus on perhaps the other competitions. He was having absolutely none of that. He's not going to give this up until it's mathematically impossible. He also seems, Michael, to be sort of turning up his level of mischief with journalists. I've noticed, like, if you watch a Pep Guardiola press conference now, he's calling people by their name a lot. He's always been a little bit sarcastic, hasn't he? Let's be honest.

But he seems to be dialing it up a little bit as well. Well, there's a couple of different sort of feelings, isn't there? Where you ask that question, he fires one back at you. It's quite a short first one just to see where you go to try and say, don't you get too confident when asking me certain difficult ones? There is a bit of that, isn't it? Yeah, and he has. And then there's the other one where he's the laughy, jockey.

You'll take on the room. He'll ask the questions back. and opinions of we see with Rob Northman asking him what did you think did you think it was a foul well do you know what you're saying no we want to hear what the listeners want to hear what you think about that situation pep then he comes out in the week and talks about more my owners they should have spent miles more money do you know in other words like it's only money that what's what he's delivered do you know for what he's given to this sport in this country and to this football club is not just about the finances. Yes, he's had a helping hand in that. But we've

seen somebody who's produced things that we hadn't seen before. And I think you look right throughout the pyramid system, all of the managers, all the coaches are saying, right, who am I going to follow? Who's my leader? And it's Pep Guardiola. Do you know, it has been a joy for every neutral or every Manchester City fan and everybody who works with in the sport. And I feel like he is just firing shots to say you're still not appreciating what I've give you. And because it's natural, isn't it, to point out certain negatives when we, when we analyze certain sports and football and what the funders say, what a manager would come out and say. And he's just saying, you know what, he's just having a little dig to

say, I'm still here, I'm still fighting and I want to get some at the end of the season. I don't feel that what we've seen has been particularly out with, out of keeping with how Pep Guardiola has been in terms of his media performances over the whole time that I've seen him going back to you know when we covered his Barcelona on a team we would go there they would come here I would see him sometimes he would speak eloquently for you know minutes and minutes and minutes other times he would be prickly brief sharp you think what's buying him today and he's still like that it's a mixed bag is that it's always been and that is I think that's how he wants it. He doesn't want his inquisitors to be comfortable. He wants to keep them on their toes. And he's like that now. He's always been like that.

Do you reckon he has a routine? You know, he almost going right? I think he's totally unpredictable. What did I do next? I'm going to do the opposite. I've always thought that with him, you know, on the occasions that I've gone to interview him, you never quite know.

They can have won brilliantly and played magnificent football. And he's monosyllabic. that then so do you know an experience person is going to do that first question what do you what do you think then when you go to sit with him and like the media are going to take him on in a second what what is the mindset then of people to go to say to pep like like how do you how do you draw him out and and other times they can have had a really bad night really disappointing and you think oh it's going to be prickly here and he's actually he's actually quite forthcoming and that's That is the, that's the, that's the tricky thing about it.

He's very easy to interview Michael away from a game. Yeah, Steve, do you remember the sit downs with him, haven't you? Well, I was going to say, do you remember the program he did with, which was like a Desert Island Discs program? Pet Music, with Guillem Ballaget in Salford, yeah. Which was brilliant. It was fantastic. That was when he just arrived.

Yeah, people probably will have forgotten. I hope you can find it on BBC Sounds. I'm certainly going to check. He was appointed manager of Manchester City and then about three days later, later he appeared at Media City, or offices where I'm sitting right now with Guillem Ballagay, and they did this brilliant program, which is,

and that actually links in nicely, Michael. I find that if you talk to him about things other than football, you do that though, don't you? He can't get enough of it. I've watched your interviews and you always think of something, you look into something away from that first, don't you? Or quite early in your interview when you sit to have a chat with him just to sort of say,

we want to find out about you a little bit more. But you can't do that in a post-match interview, can you? so that's where it becomes difficult and unpredictable. I mean, there was a funny one the other week when we're in Norway in the Arctic Circle and one of the Norwegian journalists who was there asked him about the Northern Lights. He just suddenly went off on a complete tangent

and seemed to quite enjoy that line of discussion. He also, Isaac, is one of those where if you're playing against his Manchester City team, as you have, you never know if you're coming off the pitch as a player if he's going to run over and try and grab you all of a sudden for a random chat. Yeah, he's done that to many players, to be fair. I mean, I remember years ago when we played at St James's Park, and I think we beat them.

It was in 2019. We beat him 2-1. And I remember that game after then. He was very complimentary of all the players. Yeah, you don't really quite know what you're going to get like we just discussed. But as said, for me, he's a pioneer of, for managers, especially in the last 10 years, what he's brought to the game has been unbelievable. The way that he's developed the game and the way that coaches see how he plays

football, I think it's likened to almost Arsum Benga when he came to England and he's bringing new things forward. All right, let's get the thoughts of the Manchester City manager. Here is Pep Guadiola. Pep, good to see you as always. Many congratulations. You are going to Wembley again. How does that feel? Many years, many times, yeah, probably ripe good. All fit in March to compete. against exceptional top-class team. In terms of tonight, you've done so well in the first leg. How much was about the mentality of your players today?

Well, it's not just that game. It's another one. The two games, and the two games we make a good result. So we start the game now with zero-zero with two-zero. But we start, you know, that games, they consider a goal, everything can happen. And we start with the right pace, momentum and everything. It was really, really good. And yeah, we stored goals, finish three zero for a time, was good.

And in the second half, of course, our rhythm was difficult to sustain it for a long time. We bring energy. At the end, it went Roder, Ryan and Erling, you know, come on. You felt you needed to make that change? The energy dropping, yeah, of course. Today, the football and that rhythm. And Newcastle never stopped to press and run and run and press. They put three players like Morphy, like a Lange, like a Wiza,

that is completely the opposite that we're looking for. It's incredible, in behind, and run and run. And we suffer, you know, that. But, yeah, we are really pleased for in general what they have done. And obviously, a day of celebration, we noticed you go and fight the fans after the game. What did you make of the atmosphere tonight? Because, to be fair, once that first goal went in, you were three goals to the good at that point.

Yeah, it was really good. The second half was a little more calm, because we were not in that pace. We know we had to do for them. We have to embrace them through our game, our game. So we have to do it. And the first half was really good. And as you say, Arsenal in the final,

your good friend, Mikhail Arteta, in the opposite dugout, a quality team. I mean, in many ways, the perfect final? It's what it is. I don't know, it's a perfect final. Only if you win? Maybe for, no, listen, being there is good now, listen, we are in the beginning of January,

you know? The final is in the end of March, or 22? Several weeks to go. Lots of football to play. Many things are going to happen. Hopefully we're right. Feet, fine, well, everybody's ready. I'm looking for for that. That's all.

Let's just finish with a bit on Eddie How, shall we? Because I'm really interested to know is somebody who played under him. Where you think he stands at the minute at Newcastle, That amazing afternoon last year, finally winning them a trophy, taking them into the Champions League twice. They're in the playoff round to get into the last 16. And yet sometimes, especially when they are really turned over by a team,

even as good as Manchester City, I find myself wondering, like, how secure is he in that job? There's a difference between what's fair and what might happen, you know? Yeah, definitely. I think it's, for me, as I said, I've played under him, For me, he's a club legend. For what he's done for the club, taking them from when he first joins to where they are now,

it's chalk and cheese, really. And I know obviously there's been a lot of investment, but like I said before earlier, there needed to be a lot of investment to compete with where he's competing now. And for me, the progress that he's made with some of the players that have been there a long time, you know, the Joe Linton's, the Fabian Shars, they've all improved, Jacob Murphy.

He improves players, he makes players better. And yeah, okay, people would look at it and go and be disappointed, especially fans tonight with the result. But I think when you look at the overall picture and you don't sort of take small bites of it, I think you can see that what he's done for the club is fantastic. In the Scottish Premiership, Rangers moved to within three points of leaders' hearts, a five-one win for them over 10-man-kilmarnock at Ibrox. Here's manager, Danny Roel.

Yeah, nice goals, I think. we played down really with courage I think even after the red card I felt every minute we had a situation in the box of the opponent it was never that we played backwards we tried to get something but it's not easy against 10 men

because you have to break them at first down and it means sometimes you have to prepare you have to need a good structure you have to be careful for the counterattacks you never know if you play two against one in the last line if there's a long ball in behind But at the end, all the players make the fantastic job today. We carry on, recover, and then we have a big week ahead.

You got off to such a great start, and then the substitutes at the end give you a really strong finish to the game as well. Yeah, 100%. I think the one null, how we come to this point, I think that was – I'm really happy for this situation because we spoke in the last two days exactly about this runs. what we have to do more aggressive runs in behind in the right moments, good timing, gas, fantastic, not just around, inside the run. And then you can create something. And then it was also clear for me in the first half.

You need the patient, you need the structure right for the next moment, and then the game goes open, the opponent will be tired, and then it was about not 1-0, 2-0, 3-0. Now we were again and again, we were really happy, and you feel that we want to score more and more, and it was good at the end, yeah. This small conceded goals we will not speak about again because we have so many clean sheets. But general, I like and I love the performance today.

Well, the team is going in the right direction. You're now within three points over the top of the premiership and you've got real momentum about you. Yeah, we've worked hard for this momentum. I think now, hopefully I'm right from the last 10 games. What is it, nine wins, one draw. Hopefully I'm right. I'm not really sure. It goes not overnight, it's hard, hard, hard working and we had a lot of tough opponents

and we will have in the next week two tough opponents. And I think after the Hips game I said this, sometimes you have to accept the point, even we are not happy. This point in Hips is a tough one, a tough place to go more important most direction today. I think you asked me about which opportunity we had, yeah, we took the opportunity for the next three points and the next opportunity will come for the next three points. more, not less. Elsewhere, Hibs scored two late goals to beat Dundee United 3-2 at Easter Road.

Falkirk won 2-1 at bottom of the table, Livingston. Big thanks to John Murray, Michael Brown and Isaac Hayden for being with us. That's all for this episode of the Football Daily podcast. Next time, it's the Euroleagues. I'll have Julianne, Archie Rintot and Guillem Ballaget with me for that. As always, thank you so much for listening. Live sport. Our referee for this afternoon.

Close her whistle. Rondaway. BBC Women's Football Weekly. The latest news, insights and analysis from across the women's game. Lucy Bruns, welcome back. What one lioness do you think would make the best rugby player? Me? Listen.

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