Chelsea

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been utilising his squad in the Conference League this season.

Ahead of the game he brought Cole Palmer, Trevor Chalobah and January recruit Mathis Amougou into their squad for Europe.

Palmer and Chalobah both came straight into the starting eleven. Benoit Badiashile also returned after a spell on the sidelines with an injury he picked up in training.

Forward Shumaira Mheuka became Chelsea's youngest player to start a match in a major European competition at 17 years 137 days. He was part of a triple substitution at half time.

Chelsea

After their win in Denmark, Chelsea need just a draw in the second leg to book their place in the quarter-finals where they would face either Norwegian side Molde or Poland's Legia Warsaw.

In the semi-finals they could face one of four - Djurgardens from Sweden, Austrian side Rapid Wien, Bosnia's Borac Banja Luka or Cypriot side Pafos.

Chelsea could meet any of the eight clubs on the other side of the draw in the final, set to be held in Wroclaw.

Real Betis and Fiorentina are the two most high profile sides they could meet. The Serie A side, who have been Conference League runners-up for the past two seasons, were beaten 3-2 at Panathinaikos last night, while Betis drew 2-2 at home to Vitoria Guimaraes.

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca speaking about goalscorer Reece James: "I see Reece as a midfielder. Since day one. I sent him a clip when he was on holiday about how he can be a midfielder. He has played in full-back, central defender, so the main target for us is to keep him fit.

"We know how important he is for us. He's our captain, a fantastic player. We need him fit, so that is our duty, our target, because for sure he is going to help us. He can play in many positions because the good players can play in many positions."

It is just past 09:00 so the first Premier League news conference of day - Brighton's Fabian Hurzeler - is upon us. We will bring you all the top lines as soon as we have them.

This is what the rest of the day looks like (all times GMT and subject to change):

• 0930: Newcastle / Howe
• 1000: Liverpool / Slot
• 1100: Tottenham / Postecoglou
• 1100: Everton / Moyes
• 1115: Leicester / Van Nistelrooy
• 1300: Arsenal / Arteta
• 1300: Bournemouth / Iraola
• 1330: Man Utd/Amorim
• 1330: Brentford / Frank
• 1330: Wolves / Pereira
• 1330: Crystal Palace / Glasner
• 1330: West Ham / Potter
• 1400: Aston Villa / Emery
• 1400: Man City / Guardiola

Michael Emons
BBC Sport

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Conference League favourites Chelsea took control of their last-16 tie against Copenhagen with a narrow first-leg win in Denmark.

After failing to register a first-half shot on target, Enzo Maresca's side took the lead within a minute of the restart through Reece James

Cucurella was again involved for Chelsea's second on 65 minutes when he won the ball close to the left touchline and Christopher Nkunku released Tyrique George, whose cut-back was side-footed into the net by substitute Enzo Fernandez.

Copenhagen did manage to get a goal back when Gabriel Pereira produced a powerful header to convert Marcos Lopez's deep free-kick, although Chelsea are still in a strong position to move into the quarter-finals.

"Surviving physically". Doesn't sound great.

Just the small matter of Arsenal for Manchester United on Sunday...

Manchester United

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, speaking to TNT Sports: "It could be better, but it could have been worse. When the momentum changed, we got tired more easily.

"One thing that I am sure - they [the players] are anxious to score goals and win games. They are doing their best and sometimes when they want to do their best, but they're not deciding the best way in their position.

"I felt until the penalty we had control of the game and the penalty changed the momentum. Our team in the last minutes were really tired. We take this stage to Old Trafford and it is going to be a different game. The pressure will be on us in that stadium.

"We will be surviving physically to get to Sunday. The momentum changed, but I think it was clearly fatigue."

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Alejandro Garnacho has been a mainstay in the Manchester United side this season.

He's already racked up 42 appearances in all competitions - scoring eight times and providing seven assists.

Although his performance yesterday evening was criticised, he did provide an assist - his second in as many Europa League fixtures.

He hasn't, however, found the net in any competition since November.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

I wonder what will happen with Alejandro Garnacho in the summer?

The Manchester United youngster is one of Ruben Amorim's biggest attacking threats.

However, he has not scored since November and after he was taken off in last night's draw with Real Sociedad, was shown shaking his head on the bench - it wasn't clear why.

Asked about Garnacho after the game, Amorim said he felt the Argentina international was getting tired and indicated he wasn't getting back far enough.

With United's finances in such a delicate state and 'home-grown' players offering more room to spend under the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules when they are sold, thought must be given to Garnacho's future.

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Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes questioned winger Alejandro Garnacho's attitude after the 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad on Thursday evening.

Speaking on TNT Sports, Scholes claimed that he believed Garnacho "was sulking a little bit" after a frustrating evening.

Manager Ruben Amorim was questioned about the winger's application and said: "He was tired and you see it because we did a lot of transitions in the second half.

“Sometimes he was late to defend [in the second half]. I felt like he was tired to recover and do the same things.”

To Spain and a tie that is on a knife edge.

Joshua Zirkzee scored his first European goal for Manchester United againstReal Sociedad, but the Red Devils were denied a win late on.

Dutch forward Zirkzee deservedly put the visitors ahead in Spain 12 minutes into the second half with a low strike from the edge of the box that caught out home goalkeeper Alex Remiro.

But Real Sociedad equalised through a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty, awarded after a review by the video assistant referee for a handball by Bruno Fernandes.

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Strip Son of the captaincy? Oof.

Ruthless, Chris. Ruthless.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, speaking to TNT Sports: "Not a great night for us. Obviously, it's a disappointing result but a really disappointing performance.

"We never got a grip on the game, never really got control at any stage. We were always struggling both on and off the ball. It wasn't a great night, but it's only halfway and we're still in the tie.

"It was a tricky pitch and we didn't really handle it really well. Aside from that, we just weren't aggressive enough and we were way too passive in terms of the way we pressed.

"Too many times we were just circulating the ball without any real intent to hurt them. No fault for the goal, it happens. It's more about the collective tonight rather than the individuals.

"Collectively, we were nowhere near the level we needed to be and that's the thing we need to address."

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Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min, speaking to TNT Sports: "It's nowhere near where we should perform. It was very disappointing that we performed like this, including me. It's a big wake up call because next week is the biggest game of the season.

"I really don't think there was too much caution. It's always tough to play away in the Europa League. We didn't create anything in the first half, sloppiness, not performing the way we should.

"Everyone is very disappointed about the individual performance and the team performance, we have to look at ourselves. There is no excuses, we were not good enough. It's just 1-0, it's still not finished, and next week we have to be much better."

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If it rains, it pours.

A miserable night for Spurs was compounded by an injury to Dominic Solanke.

The England striker was making his return after seven weeks out with a knee injury, but had to be replaced 20 minutes after coming on and hobbled off the pitch.

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If you are just joining us - good morning and happy Friday!

Here is a reminder of the Premier League news conferences scheduled for the next few hours. We will bring you the best lines as soon as they arrive.

(all times GMT)

• 0900: Brighton / Hurzeler
• 0930: Newcastle / Howe
• 1000: Liverpool / Slot
• 1100: Tottenham / Postecoglou
• 1100: Everton / Moyes
• 1115: Leicester / Van Nistelrooy