Sutton's predictions: Newcastle v Man Utdpublished at 11:04 13 April
11:04 13 April
It does feel like Ruben Amorim is steadying the ship at Manchester United but there is nothing much for them to get excited about in the Premier League and it could be a pretty dull end to their domestic campaign, especially because they are finding it difficult to score goals.
United's season is hanging on the Europa League now, but their Premier League results still matter for Amorim because he needs to put some credit into the bank going into next season.
I just can't see past a Newcastle win here, though. They are one of the teams in this race for the Champions League places and are in great form. Now we know the top five are guaranteed to get in, I am confident they will make it.
It just shows the value of winning the Carabao Cup because it seems like it has given them a big leg up.
They will have enjoyed themselves celebrating for a few days but now they are focused on making it into the Champions League, which is so important because of the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.
If they make it, it gives them the opportunity to build.
'You have to front up every time there's a challenge at Man Utd'published at 11:08 12 April
11:08 12 April
Image source, Getty Images
Former Manchester United defender John O'Shea believes Andre Onana will still get the chance to show "what a quality keeper he can be" in the remaining weeks of the season.
His performance came a day after the former Ajax man was labelled "one of the worst goalkeepers in the club's history" by Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic, who spent five seasons at Old Trafford between 2017-2022.
"The chance will be there for Andre to show what a quality keeper he can be," O'Shea told BBC NI. "Players are going to have little mistakes now and again, but let's see what happens in the next game.
"You have to front up every time there's a challenge at Manchester United, you have to show your qualities then."
United travel to Newcastle United on Sunday (16:30 BST), with their only hope of qualifying for next season's Champions League being to win the Europa League.
They host Lyon at Old Trafford in the second leg of their quarter-final on Thursday (20:00 BST).
"I'm sure the Manchester United fanbase probably have a bit of frustration at the minute, but they could potentially be in a European final in a couple of weeks' time with a bit of luck," added O'Shea, who is currently assistant coach with Republic of Ireland.
"Manchester United, without a doubt, will be challenging for trophies again in the future, but it's going to take a bit of time, it's going to take a bit of patience."
Semi-automated offsides a 'step in right direction' but take 'with a pinch of salt'published at 11:07 12 April
11:07 12 April
Image source, Getty Images
There are lots of different perspectives in terms of how you watch a game of football, and I think for the majority of time the people in the stadium get the best atmosphere, but the worst views of how a game has actually gone.
You don't really get the chance to see multiple replays and have discussions about things, because you just get caught up in the moment.
With the incoming semi automated offsides, they did promise it earlier in the season - but I think the caveat was they're only going to do it when it's ready.
It is a positive that they didn't do it when it wasn't ready.
One upside to to the new technology is some of the arguments disappear. Previously you could say 'but it looks like it's this to me' or 'it looks like it's that to me'. When it is presented now, there aren't many people that will then be looking at the animation, going back to the video, and then going down a proper conspiracy rabbit hole.
So, it ends more arguments, not all arguments, but more arguments.
I think people, as a consequence, will be more accepting of it.
But, I still do believe that there's things for people to understand, because it can't be used in every situation. There are certain decisions which can still be a little bit more complex, and there's certain times where human intervention will still need to be brought in.
I wouldn't say it's as clear as, say, goal line technology, but it's a step in the direction to where most people feel more comfortable accepting the outcome and the speed of it as well will be encouraged.
It's not to say that it's going to be instant. If you believe this is going to be perfect, and always extremely fast, ask yourself, why do you think that?
Unless somebody has told you that from PGMOL, then take it with a pinch of salt and you see how it goes.
I think it's something that many people have seen before so hopefully there will be fewer arguments.
But, because it's football, there'll always be something to argue about the end of the day.
'Onana needs an arm around him'published at 16:53 11 April
16:53 11 April
Media caption,
Former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown tells The Football News Show that Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana will need "picking up" after two errors in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Lyon.
Amorim on team news, Zirkzee and Newcastle published at 13:41 11 April
13:41 11 April
Karan Vinod BBC Sport journalist
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Newcastle United (kick-off 16:30 BST).
Here are the key lines:
Amorim has said the squad at his disposal for the trip to Newcastle "is the same" as the one that travelled to France for the quarter-final against Lyon in the Europa League.
On Joshua Zirkzee showing character since his 33rd-minute substitution against Newcastle in December: "Yes, he is doing a great job. But also a very important thing was the way the fans reacted after that incident. Even if Josh is not playing, if you see every time he gets on the pitch or is just warming up, our fans sing the Josh song. That is massive for the boy. So its 50-50 - 50% the fans and 50% on the part of Josh."
Amorim insisted he explained the reasoning behind the substitution to Zirkzee and then "worked with him" to give him "confidence".
On squad rotation but remaining competitive and not thinking about the upcoming fixtures: "Of course, I am going to be careful with some players but again we need to be competitive. When you are playing for Manchester United you cannot go to the game thinking about the next one. So we are going to face this one and then we have three days, we are going to prepare for the next one without a lot of running and a lot of training. It's just recovering and then we will be fine on Thursday with our fans. But we need to face Newcastle in a way that we can win."
Amorim said he will refer to the "data" and his staff before making a decision on resting captain Bruno Fernandes at any stage.
On Newcastle's qualities: "They have top players, really good on set-pieces, the physicality and the way they are running when they are beaten in the first pressure. They have played together for a while and they won a title that was really emotional for everybody, you can see it during that week."
'We have to win it' - Zirkzeepublished at 13:04 11 April
13:04 11 April
Image source, Getty Images
Joshua Zirkzee says Manchester United "have to win" the Europa League.
The Red Devils drew 2-2 with Lyon in their quarter-final first leg and host the second leg at Old Trafford next Thursday (20:00 BST).
With the Red Devils 13th in the Premier League table, their only realistic hope of qualifying for European football next season is through the Champions League spot afforded to the Europa League winner.
"We have to win it, we all know that," Zirkzee said afterwards. "There's no way around that. It's the only thing we have to do.
"To draw in this way is always a little bit - I don't want to say frustrating - but it hurts for it to go this way, but we just have to focus on the next game and that's Newcastle away. And then we all know what we have to do when we face them again at home next week.
"I'm sure with the full support of the stadium it's going to be difficult for them and easier for us, but they're a great team, let's not forget that, and it's not going to be easy, but we all want to win, we have to win, so we'll see."
Lyon 2-2 Manchester United - the fans' verdict published at 12:03 11 April
12:03 11 April
Image source, PA Media
We asked for your views on Manchester United's 2-2 draw against Lyon in the Europa League.
Here are some of your comments:
Dave: We look like quite a solid, well organised team now. Credit to Amorim, but don't seem to know how to close out or kill off a game. Keeper, striker and attacking winger are the positions that are sorely lacking and need to be upgraded soon.
Anton: Onana will make the headlines but that second goal was poorly defended all round to let Lyon get the first shot off. However, Amorim's style is coming through. We've looked pretty solid for a while now and we know this is not his squad. We are in a good position in this tie going back to Old Trafford.
Derek: I blame Onana for yet another error on the first goal but the defence were at fault on the second allowing the shot inside the box in the final seconds. Could Bayindir do any worse? I doubt it.
Rohan: The football actually looked half decent - we are definitely improving under Amorim, and with summer signings, I have hope for next season. We defended well, but like pretty much every match this season, there was a lack of true attacking threat. We desperately need somebody who can sprint through lines - like Amad. Garnacho again made too many mistakes in the final third, I imagine he will be sold in the summer. Dorgu looks promising, but also made mistakes.
Did you know?published at 12:03 11 April
12:03 11 April
Image source, Getty Images
Bruno Fernandes has created more chances than any player in the Premier League this season (75).
It is the fifth time he has created 75 or more chances in a single season in the competition, with the only player on record (from 2003-04) to do so more times is Kevin de Bruyne (seven).
Your Onana frustrationspublished at 09:38 11 April
09:38 11 April
Image source, Getty Images
While leaving your thoughts on Manchester United's draw Europa League match against Lyon, a lot of you vented your frustrations with Andre Onana.
Here are some of your comments:
Emmanuel: Onana just proved Matic right about being United's worst goal keeper.
Adam: What is going on with this goalkeeper? I still remember people claiming Onana was amazing for having a handful of clean sheets at the start of the season. Well, look at him now - yet more mistakes, leading to two costly goals. If I was Zirkzee and Yoro, I'd be livid. As a fan, all I can do is shake my head in utter disbelief.
Hrundi: Onana's mistakes eliminated United from the Champions League in a previous season, that was enough for me to know he couldn't handle the pressure. Now we fans continue to be let down because club and coaches will not take action.
Peter: Why did Ten Hag sell a world class goalkeeper and replace him with Onana? It was one of many poor decisions by that manager. Amorin should give other keepers a chance.
Rowan: Onana has single-handedly fumbled what would've been either a 2-1 or 2-0 advantage if a half-decent keeper (like Bayindir) was playing. It should be three games out for him, given his performance and comments before this game!
John: Onana, who is a great person, sadly is not a great keeper at United. He has let the team down too often and twice in this game.
Can Onana recover?published at 08:29 11 April
08:29 11 April
Image source, Getty Images
Former England midfielder Aaron Lennon believes Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana can recover from his two blunders at Lyon but the "uncertainty" he creates in the team is a real problem.
Since the start of last season, Onana has made eight errors leading to goals in all competitions - the most of any keeper playing for a Premier League club - and he was at fault for both of Lyon's goals in Thursday's 2-2 draw.
"He is more than in the spotlight," said Lennon on BBC Radio 5 Live. "He has had two disasters as he was at fault for both goals.
"In the first goal he sees it all the way but he goes down too late. He has to do better. He tries to push it round the post and he gets it all wrong. The second is a massive mistake.
"There have always been question marks over Onana and they are now really big question marks.
"He strikes me as a confident guy so I think he can recover from this. I don't think Amorim will drop him because that would be huge and he would then probably have to leave him out for the rest of the season.
"There were a couple of times where Harry Maguire kicked it out of play because he was unsure whether his goalkeeper was going to come out. That creates uncertainty in the back line and that is the problem."
Hojlund and Garnacho struggle again published at 23:48 10 April
23:48 10 April
Joe Rindl BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
The headlines will be on Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana. But United's forwards also had a poor game in Lyon.
For large periods Ruben Amorim's side looked well-organised, motivated and were probably the better team.
But, as has often been the case this season, United were hampered by poor finishing.
In the first half Rasmus Hojlund skewed a Patrick Dorgu cutback well wide, while Bruno Fernandes had a shot deflected over and Casemiro struck an overhead kick straight at the goalkeeper.
In the second period, an Alejandro Garnacho strike from a Dorgu cross was tipped over and Casemiro headed a corner just wide.
United forwards Hojlund and Garnacho both appeared to lack confidence.
Hojlund has now scored just one goal in his past 25 United appearances in all competitions, while Garnacho has one from his past 28.
Ruben Amorim will hope both will be able to turn their form around in time for the second leg.
'When one player has a mistake, all the team has a mistake' - Amorimpublished at 23:08 10 April
23:08 10 April
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, speaking to TNT Sports: "We are really disappointed [to concede late].
"We should have taken a one goal advantage to the next game but we have the next game at home - we will try to win that game."
On Andre Onana's mistakes: "[It is] important to focus on the next game for the league and then think about the second leg against Lyon. When one player has a mistake, all the team has a mistake so we continue like that."
On whether Onana retains his faith: "No we continue to do the same thing. Training, seeing the games, trying to choose the best eleven to win every match."
'We need to keep our heads up' - Yoropublished at 22:49 10 April
22:49 10 April
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United defender Leny Yoro, speaking to TNT Sports: "I think this is the worst moment to concede a goal like that. We were winning 2-1, I think away this was a good score but we go with a draw and we try to win the game at home.
"We defended really well but they are a good team, a good striker, so we need to be ready for everything but unfortunately we concede the goal."
On his first goal for Manchester United: "I didn't enjoy too much - no celebration because it's normal, we want to win. No time for celebration. Really happy to score my first goal. We don't have the win but it's okay.
"Honestly, it was really quick, I don't even think about anything, I just put my head, try to score."
On what they can take from the performance into the second leg: "I think to be together like that, defend really well. I think we did really well. It was compact, we tried to block every counter-attack, things like that we need to keep it and to give everything at Old Trafford.
"I think if we won 2-1 we would be more confident [to make it through] for sure. We concede this goal, it's difficult but we need to keep our heads up. We didn't lose, we can win at Old Trafford."