Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter in Istanbul

French referee Clement Turpin takes charge of tonight's game.

He was also the official when Manchester United were beaten 11-10 on penalties by Villarreal in the 2021 Europa League final.

The game is viewed very much as a sliding doors moment for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

If United had won in Gdansk that night, Solskjaer would have had some insurance to help him when results turned sour the following season.

As it turned out, United lost when David de Gea missed his spot-kick and within six months Solskjaer had been sacked.

Fenerbahce

Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho talking to TNT Sports: "I feel good. Of course, I would love an easier draw. I would love to play easier matches than the ones we get, especially this one against a very good Premier League which is from a different level, but it's also a challenge for us, it's also an opportunity for the players to play at the highest level.

"[There were] so many Champions League matches, Tuesday and Wednesday, not many as good as this one can be, so we are going to try, we have four points in two matches which I think goes with the average that you need to qualify which is our objective but let's go to the game, let's try to win it.

"Tactically, Manchester United know what they want to do, especially with the ball. They know perfectly what they want to do, they have certainly dynamics, it can be difficult to identify the players more than the movements so we have to focus on the movements and not on the players so I'm not saying that my team has a huge tactical culture but you try and prepare them the best for this match.

"The Turkish culture can go in both directions, but hopefully [the fans] understand that it's a very difficult match for us, they will for sure understand that Manchester United will have more of the ball than we are going to have, but if they can support us and push it will be very good for us."

"I see people moaning about a few Manchester United players that are not playing. You shouldn't moan at that level, but when I was there I was also moaning!"

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter in Istanbul

Former Manchester United duo Fred and Sofyan Amrabat are Fenerbahce's midfield pairing this evening.

It gives Manuel Ugarte a test given United committed to spending £50m on the Uruguayan to buy him from PSG in August.

Ugarte has not looked completely comfortable in his time at Old Trafford.

Tonight he needs a show he is a class above the players United let go.

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender

Image source, Getty Images

After Tottenham midfielder James Maddison was replaced by Pape Sarr at half time in the 4-1 win over West Ham on Saturday, with the score at 1-1...

We are still seeing a very good version of Tottenham that features James Maddison.

It does not feel fair to say Maddison does not work hard enough, especially given Ange Postecoglou starts him often. Yes, he has been substituted off in recent weeks but that is probably more to do with tactics.

Postecoglou knows the balance of his team and what is right in each moment. His desire and impact on the game is the same as other people's, so if he is not doing well in this moment then it is not because he is a bad player. It is the same for one or two other players in the team as well.

His role as vice-captain goes beyond just being a leader on the pitch and is also important out on the training ground. It is about being respected and Postecoglou chose him because of that.

If Postecoglou was not picking him altogether then that would suggest a larger issue. But as a manager he is very good at picking players in the moment for the game at hand.

It will click at Tottenham and that is when we will also get back to seeing the best of Maddison.

Chris Wathan
BBC Sport Wales at New Meadow

A crowd of around 2,000 expected here in Shrewsbury where The New Saints are playing their first home game of their groundbreaking campaign – 21 miles from their home ground.

Uefa regulations mean that Park Hall can’t host group stage games and fixture clashes during the campaign at both Wrexham and Cardiff meant The New Meadow was the best option for the Welsh champions.

They’ve done their best to make it feel like home with some branding, and staff have been working around the clock to add all the Uefa touches – including adding new temporary floodlights to bring it up to competition standard.

Manchester United

Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag, speaking to TNT Sports: "Noussair Mazraoui in a 10 position. Sometimes at Ajax I have played him there before - he is capable of doing this job.

"He can do good pressing and we can see during the game what is needed. We can go with him in another position if needed, he can play a more offensive position."

On the game: "The atmosphere will be very loud and hostile. We know the style of the manager and he will play from the underdog position and he can do that very good.

"We have to be prepared, read the game and play it smart."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter in Istanbul

Erik ten Hag has confirmed the evidence provided by UEFA's official team sheet in naming Noussair Mazraoui as Manchester United's number ten for tonight's game.

With Bruno Fernandes suspended and Casemiro presumably being saved for Sunday's trip to West Ham, Ten Hag has told BT Sport he has had to be 'creative' with his team selection.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Micky van de Ven spent time in the AZ Alkmaar academy before reaching the Premier League via another Dutch club, Volendam, and German club Wolfsburg.

However despite the link to his formative years, the 23-year-old Dutch international says the fixture does not carry any special significance for him personally.

"Maybe me playing against AZ is more special for the people around me, not so much for me. Of course, I have friends who support AZ. For me, it's like playing against each other team," he said.

Van de Ven does still hold a sweet spot for the city, which is where his dad Marcel still lives - including one restaurant in particular which is owned by a friend of his dad.

"I don't think I will get a discount [at the restaurant] if I play well because then probably we will beat them," Van de Ven said.

For The New Saints head coach Craig Harrison, it has been some journey. One he had not meant - or even wanted - to take.

“I honestly couldn’t have thought of anything worse than being a manager or a coach at a football club,” Harrison, 46, admits.

“Me and football had parted ways permanently as far as I was concerned. I didn’t want anything to do with the game.”

The former Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace defender was forced into early retirement at the age of 24 following a horrific leg injury.

Now, Harrison is preparing to be in the dugout for his side's first ever home match in the Europa Conference League.

Read more about his remarkable football journey here.

Image source, Getty Images

Philippe Clement is urging fans to keep faith with him and says he is "200% confident" Rangers are on the right track.

The Ibrox side lost at Kilmarnock on Sunday, leaving them six points behind leaders Celtic and Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

Belgian Clement, whose side host FCSB of Romania in the Europa League on Thursday, had guided his team to the top of the table in late February.

However, five domestic defeats contributed to missing out on the Premiership title and Scottish Cup to Celtic, while four losses this campaign have hindered their domestic and European ambitions.

"The fans will see that we’ll be better," Clement said. "The people who’re unhappy now, I understand but I’m working even harder than I was before."

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter in Istanbul

Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez is named Manchester United's captain this evening.

It is a show of faith by Erik ten Hag given there are more long-standing United players in his team, not least Victor Lindelof, who makes his first start since March.

UEFA's team formation has Noussair Mazraoui as a number 10 but there are other options for Ten Hag.

Mazraoui could play right wing back and Diogo Dalot on the left. Or Dalot could play in midfield with Christian Eriksen further forward.

Rene Meulensteen
Former Manchester United coach on BBC Radio 5 Live

It gives a special colour to this game between Erik ten Hag and Jose Mourinho.

Everyone is looking forward to it, but playing in Turkey is never easy.

Like Erik ten Hag said, he likes his players rising to the challenge.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter in Istanbul

You could see the glint in Jose Mourinho's eyes yesterday when he walked into the press room at Fenerbahce's training ground and spotted some familiar faces amongst the travelling media contingent.

Mourinho knew instantly whatever he said would make huge headlines and he didn't waste the opportunity, mentioning Manchester City's ongoing disciplinary case with the Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson being stripped of his ambassadorial role by Manchester United at the end of the season and comparing the treatment he felt he received at Old Trafford with that of Erik ten Hag.

Mourinho's managerial abilities are open to debate these days but in the modern game he is unmatched at capturing attention.

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

There's going to be huge pressure on Erik ten Hag. We keep hearing the same messages from him every week - the plan, the process and sticking with the method. What is it?

It's the same system every week with different players.

His game plan when they were losing against FC Porto was to bring on Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire. We all looked at it and thought, why is he doing that.

In hindsight, Maguire scored the equaliser, but that wasn't his masterplan. It's a fine line between genius and insanity, isn't it?

This year marks 20 years since Wayne Rooney's debut hat-trick against tonight's opponents in the Champions League.

Today, incidentally, the Plymouth Argyle manager is celebrating his 39th birthday.

The Red Devils won 6-2 that September night in 2004 with Rooney just 18 years old.

As a result of the win, United went top of Champions League Group D.

Asked if he had ever seen such a fine debut, then manager Sir Alex Ferguson said at the time: "I don't suppose so. It is a great start for him."

How Reds fans would be wishing for a similar scoreline this evening.

Image source, Getty Images

27 May 2016: Manchester United appoint Jose Mourinho as boss on a three-year contract.

"I want to focus on the history of this giant club and give what I have and what I don't have, so I will give absolutely everything to try and go in the direction we all want," the Portuguese tells BBC Sport.

18 December 2018: Mourinho is sacked by United.

Image source, Getty Images

Micky van de Ven says Tottenham are determined to end their trophy drought and achieve "beautiful things".

Spurs are up against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in their latest Europa League fixture at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening, aiming to make it three wins from three in the competition.

Tottenham, as their fans will not need reminding, are seeking a first piece of silverware since 2008.

"Of course we want to win a trophy," defender Van de Ven, 23, said.

"That is something we all want and we are working towards every day."

Earlier this season, manager Ange Postecoglou said he "always wins things" in his second year in charge, having won the Australian title with both South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar, and the Japanese league with Yokohama F Marinos in his second season or second full season in charge of those clubs.

"I think even if the gaffer didn't say this, we still had the same belief as a group," said Van de Ven.

"We all trust in the process and the system that the gaffer wants to play. We all trust in each other and we know we can achieve some beautiful things. Hopefully we can win a prize - that's a big thing for us."

A huge night ahead for Cymru Premier winners The New Saints this evening as they take on Kazakhstan side Astana in their opening home match of the Europa Conference League.

The Oswestry-based club are the first Welsh league side to host a Uefa Conference group game but they won't be doing so at their usual home of Park Hall but instead at nearby Shrewsbury Town's ground - The Crowd Meadow.

TNS's ground was deemed not up to Uefa regulations.

The Saints lost 2-0 at Fiorentina in their group opener last month but head coach Craig Harrison said their first home match is a "historical" occasion.

“Obviously, the Fiorentina one was huge, but I think this one’s probably as big if not bigger," he said.

Image source, Getty Images

Pat Nevin
Former Everton winger on the Football Daily podcast

Image source, Getty Images

Jose Mourinho reminded me of a boxing promoter [in the pre-match press conference].

He knows when he's giving headlines out and he's good at it. We are all smiling and there's an awareness that this is part of the gig.

I think he likes being in the limelight.

Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast here.

Image source, Getty Images

Rob: Everyone is super critical of Mourinho at United but I honestly think he's been the best manager there since Fergie. He said finishing second with that team was his greatest ever achievement. We ridiculed him at the time, but in hindsight he was speaking in complete sense. I think he should have been treated with more respect considering the impossible job he did with a decaying team.