Summary

  1. get involved

    FA Cup win or Champions League qualification?published at 15:00 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    As a Villa fan for 33 years, I have seen European nights and I've seen cold wet nights in the Championship in darkest December/January. Whilst Villa playing in the Champions League is huge for the club, winning a trophy (not the play-off final) would be the greatest day for me as a fan. Winning at Wembley (again) would be the biggest achievement in my lifetime. Especially with our FA Cup history over the past few years being patchy at best.

    Dom, Villa fan, London

  2. Zabarnyi suspension 'difficult' for the Cherriespublished at 14:56 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Bournemouth v Wolves (Sat, 15:00 GMT)

    Bournemouth

    A final word from Andoni Iraola on being without Illia Zabarnyi, as the defender serves a three-match suspension after picking up a straight red card: "It's difficult because obviously, when he has been available, we have used him. He is a very robust, reliable and key player for us.

    "But these things will happen to all of the teams over the season, so we will have to show that we have more players that can do his job. Zaba is definitely an important player for us though."

    Illia Zabarnyi looking sad after being sent offImage source, Getty Images
  3. 'Far too early' to start dreaming of Wembleypublished at 14:52 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Bournemouth v Wolves (Sat, 15:00 GMT)

    Bournemouth

    Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola echoed the comments of Wolves manager Vitor Pereira, saying it is still "far too early" to dream about winning the FA Cup this season, despite Liverpool and Arsenal already being knocked out of the competition and another four Premier League sides set to exit in the fifth round, because "you have to earn one more game" in cup competitions.

    Iraola added: "We will try not to fail against Wolves tomorrow."

  4. 'I can see it being difficult' - Iraola doesn't rule Christie outpublished at 14:47 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Bournemouth v Wolves (Sat, 15:00 GMT)

    Bournemouth

    Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has confirmed it will be "difficult" for Ryan Christie to feature this weekend, after being forced off with a groin injury in their 2-1 defeat to Brighton earlier this week.

    He added: "We have done an MRI [scan] just to make sure it was nothing acute, but it is nothing that happened against Brighton. He has been dealing with a groin injury for a lot of months, it's not something that's new.

    "Sometimes when you push and push and push, there is a moment where you cannot push more and you need a small break. I see it being very difficult that he is available tomorrow.

    "I don't want to rule him out because we still have one day and we will try until the end."

    Iraola has received "good news" about Julian Araujo's hamstring injury. The defender has been cleared to "start training with no limitations". He is available for this weekend but it could be "early for him".

    Ryan Christie is substitutedImage source, Getty Images
  5. Postpublished at 14:41 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    We will leave Vitor Pereira dreaming of FA Cup glory and move on to Andoni Iraola - the boss of Wolves' opponents Bournemouth...

  6. 'I cannot speak about dreams'published at 14:36 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Bournemouth v Wolves (Sat, 15:00 GMT)

    Wolves

    Wolves boss Vitor Pereira on Wolves winning the FA Cup four times: "In this moment football has changed a lot but you know, tomorrow is a chance and an opportunity for us to move forward and we cannot think about the draw.

    "We need to win. In my mind, in our mind, we need to go through with the intention to win the game and move forward. I cannot speak about dreams, it's like in life, if you have a lot of dreams and do nothing to achieve them, it's only dreams, but if you set the targets, we must take the steps to reach the target, this is one of those steps. It's difficult of course but we can do it."

  7. Wolves cannot go to Bournemouth 'sleeping'published at 14:27 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Bournemouth v Wolves (Sat, 15:00 GMT)

    Wolves

    Wolves boss Vitor Pereira on what his side need to improve on from the midweek Premier League defeat against Fulham: "We need to be different because the levels of concentration [were low], and we cannot start the first and second half [conceding] goals. It is impossible because here [Bournemouth] they punish you with goals. You cannot make these types of mistakes and go there sleeping.

    "The team knows we can play better football, attacking the space and not losing our position every time. There is a lot to correct. We want to be better than the last game because each game has to be a lesson."

    Matheus Cunha covering his face in disappointment during Wolves' defeat to FulhamImage source, Getty Images
  8. Hee-chan available for Bournemouth tiepublished at 14:18 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Bournemouth v Wolves (Sat, 15:00 GMT)

    Wolves

    Wolves boss Vitor Pereira on fitness of Emmanuel Agbadou, Hwang Hee-chan, Goncalo Guedes and Rodrigo Gomes ahead of Saturday's FA Cup trip to Bournemouth: "They are recovering. I think for this match, Hee-chan will recover and be available. The other ones we'll need to wait a bit more."

    Hwang Hee-chanImage source, Getty Images
  9. Postpublished at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Nuno is definitely in straight bat mode today. Not biting on anything.

  10. 'There are no favourites in a football match'published at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Nottm Forest v Ipswich (Mon, 19:30 GMT)

    Nottingham Forest

    More from Nuno Espirito Santo on whether his high-flying Nottingham Forest side should be considered as favourites against Premier League strugglers Ipswich:

    "No, that's not the way we look at it. We have to play the game. There are no favourites in a football match. There are two teams that go against each other in a fair way."

    On whether there is a change in mentality when facing a struggling side: "Not at all. Totally the opposite. Just look at the data and you will see there is no difference in the games. There is no belief that players run more based on their opponent. It is not about that."

  11. 'All the help is needed' - Nuno on using a sports psychologistpublished at 14:01 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Nottm Forest v Ipswich (Mon, 19:30 GMT)

    Nottingham Forest

    Nuno Espirito Santo on whether he advocates the use of sports psychologists in and around the squad to help with players' mental health:

    "That is normal in these days. The players even have their own people who helps in that part - mental coaches, there's a lot. It's important in sports now."

    Nuno on whether he has someone he leans on for help with his mental health?: "Of course. All the help is needed, and it's welcome."

  12. 'Some' players a cause for concern - Nuno coy on team newspublished at 13:58 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Nottm Forest v Ipswich (Mon, 19:30 GMT)

    Nottingham Forest

    Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo said that there were "some" players who were a cause for concern, when asked for team news before Monday's FA Cup tie at Ipswich, but refused to elaborate any further.

    He said that there was "a lot of contacts" in Wednesday's goalless draw at home to Arsenal and his full squad would be assessed for injuries today.

    On whether the FA Cup was a chance to give an opportunity to players not considered a regular first-team starter, Nuno added: "It is a good opportunity for some players due to the schedule, but let's assess and try to make a good decision for the game. Everybody is first team - there is no difference between players. It's always the approach for each game to see what is best and to assess - to see how the players are and to look at your opponent and try to make the good decision."

  13. 'Players need help to deal with criticism'published at 13:55 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Man Utd v Fulham (Sun, 16:30 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on Erik ten Hag's comments this week about players being 'soft' and whether Alejandro Garnacho going down the tunnel was an example of that: "He is a young kid that will learn. The important thing is that the next morning he was speaking with me. We have to understand the situation, the context, the age of the players. They have to be better and understand that perception here is really important but like I said you can deal with that the next day and move on. So, let's move on."

    On whether modern day players have to be able to handle criticism better: "I think it's completely different for players now. Before it was just newspapers and nothing more. With social media it is completely different. You cannot go on social media without seeing news or a photo or if you read something bad then you focus on that. You can have 100 good things but one bad thing and you will focus on that.

    "I think it is really hard for them. You can call it soft but they have access to criticism that is hard to deal with. They need help to deal with that. It's modern football and they have to be prepared for that."

    Alejandro Garnacho heading towards the tunnel after being substitutedImage source, Getty Images
  14. 'Dorgu is going to be a very important player for us'published at 13:46 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Man Utd v Fulham (Sun, 16:30 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on Patrick Dorgu following his sending off in midweek: "It is business as usual. You don't want a player sent off because it is really hard to play with 10 men and you lose a player for three games. Of course there is a lot of noise because this is Manchester United and everything is a big issue but for me it is a normal thing.

    "He already knows. When you go inside the dressing room he already knows - he is talking to me without talking. I don't need to say anything. He is frustrated and he is said but he is working and preparing for the next games. He is going to be a very important player for us."

    Patrick Dorgu being shown the red card against IpswichImage source, Getty Images
  15. No change with Man Utd team newspublished at 13:42 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Man Utd v Fulham (Sun, 16:30 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on team news: "Nobody different is back. They are still trying to recover for the next games."

  16. 'I think my opinion is more important than Roy Keane's'published at 13:38 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Man Utd v Fulham (Sun, 16:30 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on Roy Keane's comments on Bruno Fernandes and his personal opinion on how Fernandes is as a captain: "I heard about that. I have a different opinion. Bruno is really important for us and the club. He is playing well in a difficult context. He wants always the responsibility. I know sometimes as a captain he does things with his arms but most of all it is a lot of frustration for this year and the last year. He wants to win and sometimes it is hard to deal with that frustration.

    "Everyone has an opinion. Roy Keane has big standards from his time at the club and it is normal to have an opinion. I have an opposite opinion and I think my opinion is more important than Roy Keane's because I am the coach."

  17. Garnacho to pay for dinnerpublished at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

    Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says winger Alejandro Garnacho will pay for a meal for his team-mates as punishment for heading straight to the tunnel after being substituted in Wednesday’s win over Ipswich.

    Garnacho went to see Amorim on Thursday after the former Sporting boss expressed his displeasure at Garnacho’s actions.

    “He came to me, to my office,” said Amorim.

    “I did some investigation. He [Garnacho] went to dressing room, watched the game, then went home. It is not an issue but I told him that at Manchester United everything is an issue. At this club, perception is important, perception is important.

    “He will pay for dinner for all the team. That is it.”

    Amorim says he expects Garnacho to be fit for Sunday’s FA Cup fifth round tie with Fulham, although he does have ‘a knock’.

    Alejandro Garnacho walking down the tunnelImage source, Getty Images
  18. Semi-automated offside technology explainedpublished at 13:32 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    The system aims to remove some elements of human subjectivity by replacing decisions made by officials with automated ones taken by technology.

    As things stand, when a player scores after a borderline offside situation, officials in the video assistant referee (VAR) room must decide on three key things - when the ball was kicked, where and at what angle the defender's body was when the ball was kicked, and where and what angle the attacker's body was.

    All three of those decisions will now be automatically taken by the technology.

    Bespoke cameras will monitor a variety of key elements involved in any tight offside decision have been installed beneath the roof at all 20 Premier League stadiums.

    The cameras will track the exact movement of the ball as well as 10,000 surface mesh data points on the bodies of all 22 players, meaning it can be automatically determined whether or not an attacking player's body was beyond the last defender's at the exact time the ball was played.

    Artificial intelligence manages the process, monitoring ball and player movement, before coming up with a decision as to whether the player was onside or offside.

    VAR officials check the system has correctly determined the three key points it measures before confirming the decision. The on-field officials then inform the players.

    A 3D animation of the decision produced by the artificial intelligence will then be played on television for viewers at home and on big screens in the stadium.

    An example of automated offside graphicImage source, The FA
  19. Semi-automated offsides in use this weekendpublished at 13:28 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Semi-automated offside technology will be used in English domestic football for the first time during the fifth round of the FA Cup.

    The technology will be used in the seven games taking place at Premier League stadiums.

    The system aims to remove some elements of human subjectivity by replacing decisions made by officials with automated ones taken by technology.

  20. Guardiola on new signing Echeverripublished at 13:20 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February

    Man City v Plymouth (Sat, 17:45 GMT)

    Manchester City

    A final word from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on 19-year-old new signing Claudio Echeverri, who arrived at the club this week after completing his switch from River Plate: "He arrived yesterday. Good skills. Welcome. We want to help him and we will see."

    On whether Echeverri will feature in the first team this season: "I don't know. He arrived with two months left in the season and every game is a final for us. Now are are fourth but if we don't get results we are sixth or seventh. We lose one or two games right now we go down to eighth. When things are so tight every game is a final.

    "We have two games in the Premier League before the international break that are massively important - because Nottingham [Forest] are third and Brighton are up there and making an incredible run.

    "The focus is on that. We have long weeks to train and prepare well. Everyone must focus - the players first and me second.

    "After the season we have done in the Premier League and Champions League, anyone cannot say much, cannot complain. To be focused is what the team needs and what the club needs and this is the most important thing right now."

    Claudio Echeverri playing for Argentina U20sImage source, Getty Images