Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Lars Sivertsen and Paul Watson as Spurs and Manchester United progress to the Europa League final Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast and Stitcher, and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and email. On the podcast today: there’s very little jeopardy for either Spurs or Manchester United, who both deservedly progress to the Europa League final with comfortable two-legged wins over Bodø/Glimt and Athletic Club, respectively. Continue reading...

Manchester United 4-1 Athletic Club (7-1 agg): The manager’s decision to make a triple substitution early in the second half proved telling as Mason Mount scored twice from the bench

United beaten 4-3 in 16th loss of league season‘As a club we need to understand our responsibility’ Ruben Amorim kept his focus firmly on the Europa League despite Manchester United losing their 16th Premier League match of the season in being beaten 4-3 by Brentford. “I think it’s stressful to lose games – when we’re fighting for a title it’s not stressful,” Amorim said in reference to United’s midweek need to defend their 3-0 lead against Athletic Club to reach the Europa League final. He made eight changes here, for the third youngest Premier League starting XI on record. Continue reading...

Rangers’ resistance lasted for over two hours and then a briefer rebellion brought hope that they could do something truly extraordinary but reaching the semi-final of the Europa League was a step too far. Instead, it is Athletic Club of Bilbao, hosts of this year’s final and still searching for a first continental trophy in their 124-year history, who reach the last four. Barry Ferguson’s side were still standing at the end of a first leg that finished 0-0, despite spending most of the night a man down, and they still hadn’t conceded 48 minutes into the second, but then a penalty finally gave the Basques a breakthrough. Liam Kelly had been the hero seven days ago, saving from the spot; here though he could not stop Oihan Sancet’s shot. Rangers still might have been revived when Nicolas Raskin hit the post, but in the end Athletic were too good, racking up 21 shots here, 40 over the two legs, until the 41st was headed in by Nico Williams, the nerves finally gone at San Mamés, the stadium they call the Cathedral, and replaced by songs of praise. Continue reading...

Athletic Club earn 4-3 aggregate win over 10-man RomaLazio and Bodø/Glimt progress | Frankfurt rout Ajax Nico Williams scored twice as Athletic Club advanced to the Europa League quarter-finals with a 3-1 second-leg win over 10-man Roma on Thursday and Lazio progressed after a 1-1 home draw with Viktoria Plzen. Lazio will face Bodø/Glimt in the last eight after the Norwegian club continued their impressive European adventure despite losing 2-1 at Olympiakos, while Eintracht Frankfurt had little trouble finishing off Ajax with a 4-1 win. Roma, 2-1 up from the first leg, were down to 10 men in the 11th minute after Mats Hummels saw red for taking down Maroan Sannadi who had intercepted his sloppy pass and Williams levelled the tie on aggregate in added time before the break. His shot took a deflection off Roma’s Angeliño before finding the net and Athletic went ahead on aggregate with 22 minutes left when Yuri Berchiche headed in from a corner. Continue reading...