Manchester United

Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag on Jason Wilcox, who has just been appointed as technical director at Old Trafford: "I met him yesterday, for the first time. From Monday on we will go forward. I know his profile. I am looking forward to our partnership."

Manchester United

Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has provided a team news update ahead of Wednesday's clash with Sheffield United.

While he expects captain Bruno Fernandes and winger Alejandro Garnacho to feature amid injury concerns, forward Marcus Rashford and midfielder Scott McTominay are both serious doubts for the fixture.

"Garnacho, took him off, think he will be fine. Assess Scott, really doubtful, Marcus doubtful, Bruno hand, think he can make it," said Ten Hag.

"Yes, but we have to win every game. That is what United stands for. We have to qualify for Europe."

Manchester United

Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has come out fighting in his press conference today, ahead of their Premier League game at home to Sheffield United tomorrow.

When asked if he understood the negative reaction to their FA Cup semi-final against Coventry - despite winning on penalties - he said: "You asked me after Sunday if we were embarrassed. The reaction from you [the media] is embarrassing. It is a disgrace."

Full quotes from Ten Hag to come.

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Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Unai Emery is in the perfect place to thrive at Aston Villa.

It has been clear for a while he is the right man at the right time for a club with burning ambitions to return to the elite.

When he was appointed as Steven Gerrard’s successor in November 2022, Villa were 14th and three points above the Premier League’s relegation zone.

Now, Emery is on the verge of taking the club to the next level as they edge closer to Champions League qualification and ending a 28-year trophy drought.

A Europa Conference League semi-final against Olympiacos next month stands between Villa and a major final as they look to win their first piece of silverware since the 1996 League Cup.

A workaholic, he has transformed a struggling side to become one of the most consistent in the division, turning inconsistent players like Leon Bailey into key performers while Ollie Watkins has taken his advice to play more centrally to become one of the most feared strikers in the Premier League.

It is no surprise to see Villa tie Emery down, with links to Bayern Munich having circulated and been dismissed, and it is now time for him to write their next chapter.

Aston Villa

Unai Emery has worked wonders since taking charge of Aston Villa in November 2022.

In all competitions as Villa manager, Emery has won 44 of his 77 matches, drawing 13 and losing 20. He has a win percentage of 57% as Aston Villa boss.

Since November 6, 2022, when Emery took charge, Villa have picked up 115 points in the Premier League. In that time, only Manchester City (130), Arsenal (127) and Liverpool (125) have earned more Premier League points.

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa

Some breaking lunchtime news for you - Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has extended his contract with the club until 2027.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Sutton
Former Blackburn striker on BBC 5 Live's Monday Night Club

We would all expect Manchester United to see the game through against a Championship side, but the performance after 70 minutes was symptomatic of their season. They lost control and could not regain it. Coventry got momentum and belief, they got a head of steam and the United subs then come into question.

I think, after the game, people are looking at Ten Hag's subs, but even he could not concieve the worst case scenario.

Rory Smith
Chief Soccer Correspondent for The New York Times, on BBC Radio 5 Live

They have had injuries, but so have lots of teams. The thing with United is the chaos of the performances, even when they are good they are chaotic. They are good to watch, but two years in it is hard to see what Ten Hag's plan is.

It's a shame, because I think he is a good coach. He will coach someone else in Europe and do a really good job. But I don't see how he survives [at Manchester United].

The first year there were positive signs, but this year they have massively regressed. On a human level it is not nice to say, but the writing is on the wall.

Shay Given
Former Man City goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

There are statements dropping like confetti from all sorts of parties over the past day after a very important game and a very important three points at the bottom of the league. If you want to isolate the three penalties I’d have to say they have a strong case for all three: the first guy has been clipped, the second one sees Ashley Young clearly move his hand towards the ball and the third one he’s tackled from behind. If you’re looking at it from a football perspective there is a strong case that all three should have been given.

What can happen now though? They aren’t going to get points back and the game isn’t going to be replayed – they are just going to upset people. There must be better avenues to take with the FA and PGMOL.

I don’t know why Stuart Attwell didn’t tell Anthony Taylor to go and look at the screen, particularly for the third one where Taylor clearly signals that Young got the ball. The referee on the pitch only has a split-second but the VAR can see numerous angles and slow-mos. There seems to have been some misunderstanding with the officials and it shouldn’t happen at this crucial stage, or any stage, of the season.

It feels like Forest maybe feel like they’ve gone down the proper routes before and nothing has happened so they’ve come to his head-on car crash or whatever this weekend and felt like they can’t take anymore or accept this. Marinakis is a volatile character and he’s gone nuclear.

Let's get some more now from the Monday Night Club, who were discussing the Nottingham Forest-PGMOL row, Erik ten Hag's future at Manchester United, and much more...

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is due to speak to the media shortly.

United have not won an actual match since they beat Liverpool in the FA Cup sixth round last month.

Even for a side as notoriously inconsistent as United, surely that run has to come to an end this week given they play Sheffield United and Burnley at home?

Image source, BBC Sport

Martyn was also asked about the future of Leeds forward Crysencio Summerville, who was named Championship Player of the Year.

"A lot of that depends on the results of the next few days probably. He has had an exceptional season and probably has been the best player in the division and scored a lot of goals coming from wide.

"You can see the attraction there for other teams as well. I think it is making sure of promotion and then you turn and have a look at who you need to keep hold of and he’s certainly the key one for them."

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Former Leeds United goalkeeper Nigel Martyn was on BBC 5 Live Breakfast this morning, discussing the excitement of the Championship promotion race.

"I think Leicester are in the box seat. I think a positive result tonight and it is pretty much done for them. I would say Leicester are favourites. That would leave one more game to win, they go away to Preston which could be tricky, but then they’ve got a home game against Blackburn which I think is the last game of the season. They only need two wins, so if they can get one tonight, that seals it for them I think.

"Ipswich have got a couple of away games, I think they’ve got Hull and Coventry away, which would have been a lot tougher, had they had to play those probably two or three weeks ago, both of those teams would really push for a play-off place themselves but they’ve both missed out on that.

"Coventry in the semi-final had a great game against United, so I don’t know how they are going to come up in the next games, so timing wise, Ipswich are going to play them two teams with probably at the best time of the season for them."

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Former Leeds United goalkeeper Nigel Martyn was on BBC 5 Live Breakfast this morning, discussing the excitement of the Championship promotion race.

"Looking at Leeds, they have to win their two remaining games I think to get automatics and that six points means Leicester have to win two of their three games. For the title to make it more exciting, I think a Southampton win would be good tonight.

"Looking at it, Leicester have got two more games that are winnable, so I think it is down to Leeds and to Ipswich to win their remaining games and if they can both do that, I think Ipswich go up so the pressure is on and there are some tough games still to be played."

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Former Leeds United goalkeeper Nigel Martyn was on BBC 5 Live Breakfast this morning, discussing the excitement of the Championship promotion race.

"It seems to deliver every year, doesn’t it? The teams that come down will always be at the top end of the table and will always be strong. There are other sides that get a good team together and challenge every year and Ipswich are doing that fantastically well this year.

"I support Plymouth Argyle and Plymouth finished as champions last year in [League One] and Ipswich finished second, so to see them up there challenging is quite something."

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