Sutton's predictions: Chelsea v Man Utdpublished at 08:58
08:58
Chelsea could not have picked a better time to play Manchester United. This is a great opportunity for them in their bid for a top-five finish.
Chelsea are without suspended striker Nicolas Jackson after his red card against Newcastle, which ended their hopes of getting anything at St James' Park.
I am not sure who will play up front on Friday instead of Jackson, or who will get their goals, but I still fully expect Enzo Maresca's side to win.
Manchester United have still been fielding strong teams despite all the changes they have been making around their Europa League ties, but you would not think it from their performances or results.
It is not as if Ruben Amorim has been putting out his Under-18s in recent weeks but their Premier League form is dismal and I can't see any reason why that will change here.
Gossip: Man Utd could explore Hojlund salepublished at 07:16
07:16
Manchester United's 22-year-old striker Rasmus Hojlund faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford, with boss Ruben Amorim having to sell players before he can buy this summer. (Telegraph - subscription required), external
Where could Rashford go? published at 19:01 15 May
19:01 15 May
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Marcus Rashford will return to Manchester United, at least for pre-season, as there has been no negotiations with Aston Villa regarding the possible extension of the forward's future.
The player's camp do not believe current United head coach Ruben Amorim wants to restore the player to his squad, while minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has previously spoken about his frustration at some of the team's highest earners not being on the pitch.
The simple truth is if Rashford sticks to his guns over his wages – and his United contract does not run out until 2028 - very few clubs in the world could afford him.
It means United have to offer an incentive to negotiate a sale, through a reduced fee or offering to pay a portion of his wages or both.
Rashford had harboured hopes of a move to Barcelona in January but no deal materialised. Ideally, he would prefer to play for a club who are in the Champions League next season. It is not clear whether Liverpool or Manchester City would be interested, or whether the player would be prepared to join United's fiercest rivals.
In addition, it is not certain whether Rashford would be inclined to stay at United should they lose next week's Europa League final, and with Ruben Amorim's future coming under more severe scrutiny than is currently the case.
Either way, another loan deal rather than a straight transfer cannot be ruled out.
Emery confirms Rashford's season is overpublished at 16:04 15 May
16:04 15 May
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Marcus Rashford will not play in Aston Villa's game against Tottenham
Marcus Rashford has potentially played his last game for Aston Villa after being ruled out of their game with Tottenham.
The striker, on loan from Manchester United, has failed to recover from a hamstring injury he suffered last month.
His absence for the rest of the season was anticipated, even if there was a slim hope he could play a part in Villa's Champions League push.
Rashford cannot play in Villa's final game at parent club United on 25 May and while Villa have a £40m option to buy his future remains unclear.
"Youri (Tielemans) and Marcus are not available and (Jacob) Ramsey is suspended and other players are ready," said boss Unai Emery at his pre-match press conference.
"We have to do each step forward, testing and analysing how they are recovering. I don't know exactly if they (injured players) will be (available next week). Marcus can't play next week.
"But they are working in the facilities every day and they are feeling better."
Rashford has made 17 appearances, scoring four goals, since joining from Old Trafford in February and earned an England recall in March after a 12-month absence.
Villa are sixth in the Premier League, level on points with Chelsea who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot with two games left.
Did you know?published at 14:58 15 May
14:58 15 May
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea vs Manchester United is the most drawn fixture in Premier League history (27). The reverse fixture at Old Trafford this season finished 1-1, with both meetings between the sides finishing level in seven previous campaigns (1998-99, 2000-01, 2006-07, 2015-16, 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2021-22).
Cole Palmer has scored four goals in his three Premier League games against Manchester United for Chelsea, including a hat-trick in this exact fixture last season. No Blues player has scored more against the Red Devils in the competition (Eidur Gudjohnsen also netted four).
Amorim on final preparation, focusing on Chelsea and player fitnesspublished at 13:31 15 May
13:31 15 May
Nicola Pearson BBC Sport journalist
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has spoken to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Chelsea (kick-off 20:15 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Amorim already knows what starting XI he is thinking for Friday's game but does not yet know for the Europa League final, so it is "clear" that players still have a chance to play Tottenham as the Chelsea match is "important" to that.
On if the match against the Blues can help preparation for the final: "The best way is to face the game like we should face the game and that is to win the game. We need to perform, need to win points in the Premier League and that is the feeling. We need to improve the way we face competitions, stay focused in every moment in the game."
The United boss said there is "time to recover" before the Europa League final so players need to "understand" that if they "play or don't play against Chelsea, it means nothing to the final".
On if players will not be focused on Chelsea and will be concerned about injuries: "It is going to be a massive part this game to the next one. We need to perform and they need to perform. If there is a player who is not fully recovered for this game and a risk for final, he will not play. But, if it is not that situation, then there is lots of time to recover."
He said his biggest concern about Leny Yoro's injury was for next season's squad and if he would need more players, "not just for the final".
On if taking Luke Shaw off was an insurance policy for the left-back position: "Yes it was. It was clear we cannot take risks in several players. That was to save particularly that kind of position." He added: "It is the history [with Shaw]. We have to manage the minutes, like with Mason Mount. Mount is ready, but trying to build these guys a little longer so in the future they can cope and be okay."
Amorim said he will look "like a crazy guy" if he talks about them being close to clicking when they are 16th in the league: "If you see the xG for example in the last games, ours is bigger. Against Wolves, you could see we were so near but they score set-pieces... I can understand that, but hard to talk about in this moment."
'Can any manager survive finishing 17th with Man Utd?'published at 12:09 15 May
12:09 15 May
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Radio Manchester's Joe McGrath says Manchester United are currently "giving with one hand and taking with the other" after fans experienced the highs of getting to the Europa League final followed by the lows of losing to West Ham in the Premier League.
Speaking on The Devils' Advocate podcast, McGrath said: "I think Ruben Amorim has brought the players down to such a level, with his way of speaking, that when they go up against a team like West Ham they can lose.
"If we got knocked out of the Europa League against Athletic Club and we played how we did against West Ham, I would have sacked him," he added.
When asked whether the club should sack Amorim if they lose the Europa League final against Tottenham, McGrath said: "It depends on how we lose the final.
"This season has been a disgrace - six wins out of 24 and 17 defeat overall in the Premier League.
"But we had a decent team out against West Ham, so why were we beaten? Are we one striker away from glory? Am I being too critical?"
BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater added: "I do think that no matter what happens, we do have to ask questions about a manager that has come in and put Manchester United potentially 17th place in the Premier League.
"Can any manager survive finishing 17th with Manchester United?
"What worries me is that it stinks of the Erik ten Hag situation. At the start of next season, Amorim is going to be under an unbelievable amount of pressure and there is a very high possibility that he won't be Manchester United manager at Christmas."
Final defeat a 'waste of time' - Amorimpublished at 17:41 14 May
17:41 14 May
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Ruben Amorim was in clarification mood at Wednesday's news conference.
He clarified his remarks on Sunday and dismissed any suggestion they should be interpreted as a hint he is ready to quit.
He also clarified why he felt the need to step in - along with the players - to ensure the families of his staff could get to Bilbao for next week's Europa League final.
But he also inserted a true-ism.
He played in a Europa League final for Benfica in 2014.
He lost on penalties to Sevilla. He knows the experience is not one he wants to go through again.
"I will never say I was a finalist," he said. "It doesn't change anything. The feeling has to be, what a waste of time.
"My message to the players - we have to win it or it doesn't matter."
Win or bust.
Amorim on injuries, helping staff families and being under pressurepublished at 17:38 14 May
17:38 14 May
Nicola Pearson BBC Sport journalist
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking at a media day before the side's Europa League final against Tottenham on 21 May (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Amorim is unsure if players like Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro will be available for the final, but they will push hard to make it "as it is a final and all the players want to play that really bad".
On Diogo Dalot's fitness: "He is trying really hard. I don't want to risk Dalot because when you start getting one injury, second injury, it is a big thing and we can't have these kinds of problems in the squad so we will see. He is working really hard to get back in the squad."
On him paying for staff members' families to go to the game in Bilbao: "The situation is simple. You know we have a lot things [going on], people leaving, lots of changes in staff. In this moment for our club, sometimes it is hard to know when to give, when to take, when to respect the people we are taking their jobs in certain moments to survive and rebuild. It is complicated for the club to start giving to other members of staff so it is a really hard position."
He continued: "That situation was explained and in that moment my reaction was to help. It is not going to change my life. To help the staff to be there, comfortable and be better staff for the final. Then we talk to players and the players had same reaction, so everybody wants staff and families there. It is hard to manage things in this club, so it is a simple thing."
On comments he made about walking away from the club: "What I'm saying is that since I arrive here, I'm always talking about standards. I can't see the team having these results in Premier League and not say nothing, not take the responsibility. I have a clear idea what to do, I understand the problems of the team. What I am saying is we need to perform. In the future we need to perform or there will be changes, that is a normal thing."
Getting into the Champions League is "more important" than winning the trophy for Amorim because "Europa League here is not enough" and being in Europe's biggest cup competition is "the best way to help us get into the top in the next few years".
Amorim said it is "clear" pressure will increase on him and it will be "really bad" if they do not qualify for the Champions League next year: "I don't want to use that as an excuse, and the patience of the fans and you guys next year, if we don't win, it is going to be on the limit."
'It should never happen' - has offside rule been a 'time bomb'?published at 13:14 14 May
13:14 14 May
Image source, Getty Images
For the players and fans, Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi getting this injury in a situation where the offside flag should have been raised is so frustrating.
The frustration is when it is clear and obvious. Officials have been overseeing games for many years and they would always flag whether they were right or wrong.
Now technology has come into it, they are very reliant on VAR to make the right decision, the factual decision, about an offside. But, I think when an offside is so clear and obvious, it should be the duty of the assistant referee to put their flag up and stop play from the off.
When it is marginal, I understand we are a bit more hesitant when there are really fine margins, and we have seen those fine margins when goals have been given and it is a toenail to keep them on-side. I would understand it from that point of view, but it was on the halfway-line where the offside happened on Sunday, only for play to be allowed to continue.
It has been a matter of time. It has been a time bomb waiting to go off for somebody to get seriously injured. Awoniyi is the one that has got that injury - that horrific injury - because of it. Some will say it is only the first time it has happened in the duration of this rule, but it should never happen. That is how players will be looking at it, how fans and managers will be looking at it and saying 'it should never happen'. We should not wait for something to happen to reassess rules like this.
I don't like the ruling of it - it is on the halfway-line, it is clear and obviously offside, everybody in the stadium could probably see it. It should be for the assistant referee to make the decision. There are small margins in the box, I understand why they are a bit hesitant, but in open play, if somebody is sprinting, you could cause hamstring, quad, and all types of muscle injuries.
I am totally against this rule of waiting to put up the flag and I think most players and managers are as well. It's disappointing. I think it's a rule that nobody likes, and I'm sure in the summer off the back of this injury, one that will probably be reassessed.
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson
Eyes on training: Amorim waits on defensive optionspublished at 12:45 14 May
12:45 14 May
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United centre-backs Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Ayden Heaven sat out training a week before the make-or-break Europa League final against Tottenham.
The Red Devils travel to Chelsea on Friday for their penultimate match of a miserable Premier League season, but all eyes are on next Wednesday's showpiece in Bilbao.
Ruben Amorim could be dealing with a depleted backline against Spurs, judging by United's open training session at Carrington on Wednesday.
Heaven did individual work ahead of last week's Europa League semi-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao but was not seen at Wednesday's session, while Diogo Dalot did an individual session before the main group trained as he seeks to make the final.
Transfer Q&A: Youth or experience?published at 11:47 14 May
11:47 14 May
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Sport chief football news reporter Simon Stone has been asnwering your questions on the upcoming transfer window.
Justin: I've been hearing discussions about Manchester United's interest in Liam Delap and Victor Osimhen. Given our recent challenges in front of goal, particularly with younger strikers, would it not be more strategic to pursue a proven talent?
Simon: The issue is who? Osimhen will cost a lot. Delap not nearly as much because he has a release clause.
If you try a player for £30m and it doesn't work out, the damage is not as great as if you spend £70m, which is why the spotlight is shining so fiercely on Rasmus Hojlund. United are not on their own in being interested in Delap.
They are also keen on Wolves' Matheus Cunha, who is not an orthodox number nine but has proved himself to be a goal threat in the Premier League. In the situation they are in, I think "local knowledge" will minimise the risk.
Plane, coach or motorhome? The Europa League final adventurepublished at 10:31 14 May
10:31 14 May
Image source, Getty Images
We asked you to tell us how you are getting to Bilbao for the Europa League final against Tottenham.
Here are some of your travel plans:
Jan: Flying to Asturias via Brussels on Tuesday evening costing £165. Then £40 for hotel, three hour drive to Bilbao (car hire £45) then return on Thursday morning back in Manchester by lunchtime.
Paul: As a Manchester United fan in my 50s, I thought my Interrail days were long behind me… but here I am, reliving my youth by backpacking across Europe with two of my sons to get to the Europa League final in Bilbao. We're squeezing onto trains from Manchester to London, then Paris, then all the way to the Spanish border, with a taxi dash and a hire car thrown in for good measure. We'll catch the match, sleep in said hire car like true budget adventurers, then do it all in reverse.
Rob: Five regular United fans from Manchester, Oxford and Kings Lynn are getting a motorhome and driving to Bilbao. Meeting the people along the way like some Man Utd mega bus, a stupidly early Dover crossing reminiscent of the Italian Job, French motorways, rest stops, refuelling and campsites with a day in Bilbao and then coming back the next day. Going to be four days of mayhem and memories - never letting the football get in the way of a good day at the football.
Andy: Fly to Murcia for three nights. Flights cost £149 return. Means an eight hour car journey to Bilbao but four sharing the driving.
Paul: Going by coach from Old Trafford via Dover/Calais. Setting off midday Tuesday expected arrival by 15:00 Wednesday, return straight after the match.
Gossip: Red Devils hold Semenyo talkspublished at 07:31 14 May
07:31 14 May
Manchester United are leading the race to sign Ipswich's English forward Liam Delap, 22, who would be happy to move to Old Trafford this summer. (Sky Sports, external)
United have also held talks with Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo, 25, over a possible move from Bournemouth. (Talksport, external)
