Wednesday, November 20, 2024
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Latest football news: Hodgson, Crystal Palace, Ashworth, Man Utd – BBC

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Crystal Palace news conference cancelled after club says manager Roy Hodgson taken ill at training
Earlier reports suggested Palace set to sack Hodgson with former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner favourite to take over
Manchester United approach Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth about joining them
Build-up to tonight's Europa League and Conference League
No English sides in action as Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham & Aston Villa qualified directly for last 16 as group winners
Reaction to Wednesday's Champions League ties
Lazio beat Bayern Munich 1-0 & PSG win 2-0 against Real Sociedad
Rangers beat Ross County to go level on points with Celtic at top of Scottish Premiership
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Bobbie Jackson and Tasnim Chowdhury
Thank you for joining us today.
As is so often the case, you can never really predict how the day is going to pan out when we get things up and running at 07:00 GMT.
We were expecting to hear from four Premier League managers before their fixtures this weekend, but in the end it was just three – Burnley's Vincent Kompany, Manchester United's Erik ten Hag and Nottingham Forest's Nuno Espirito Santo.
Crystal Palace cancelled Roy Hodgson's news conference after he "was taken ill during this morning's training session."
Reports have suggested that Hodgson is close to being sacked by Palace with former Eintracht Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner in line for the job.
There are 16 matches scheduled to take place across the Europa League and Conference League tonight but no British sides are involved.
If you've missed any of today's big stories, here are a few for you to catch up on:
Thursday's gossip
Manchester City and Liverpool are among the clubs interested in Shakhtar Donetsk's 21-year-old Ukraine midfielder Georgiy Sudakov. (Calciomercato – in Italian), external
Sudakov has scored three goals in 12 appearances across all competitions this season and has won 12 caps for Ukraine.
Nottingham Forest v West Ham (Sat, 15:00 GMT)
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo on having a clear week of training without any midweek fixtures: “We had a good week, it is still ongoing because we still have tomorrow [to work on things]. It’s been a good week.
"The players have been working well and, at the same time, it has given us the chance to recover some players and give them some proper rest after such a busy schedule.”
Luton v Man Utd (Sun, 16:30 GMT)
Manchester United
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag on his previous experience of working with a sporting director as an approach has been made for Newcastle's Dan Ashworth: "It's very important you are on one page about football philosophy, football tactics, profiles of players you need in the team.
"It's important to have good communication that you get the right players. One of most important factors is to get the right players and right characters. It's a long process to get the right players in."
On whether he expects to have a say on who could come in as a sporting director at Old Trafford: "I’m here and I know the construction I am working in and I’m very happy.
"I don’t know anything about changes, I talk with the new sporting organisation, but it’s not up to me, I’m working, that’s my focus on this team.
"Yeah we plan for the future, so we look how we closed window in January and work on plans for the summer."
Nottingham Forest v West Ham (Sat, 15:00 GMT)
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo on West Ham: "They are a good team. The table shows it.
"What happened before, for sure there will be a reaction. We’re going to face a good team with good players and a good manager.
"We know how hard it is to play West Ham but we have to focus on ourselves. At the moment, we must do better so that we can win the game."
Nottingham Forest v West Ham (Sat, 15:00 GMT)
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo on their performance against Newcastle: "We have to overcome the disappointment of the game, we had a nice game, we played good. Like you said, I think that decision of the penalty changed everything. But we have to focus on what we can control. If we keep improving a lot, decisions will come and change, it's a momentum. Everybody is aware it was a bad decision. Now it's over. Let's focus on what we have to do and West Ham."
Luton v Man Utd (Sun, 16:30 GMT)
Manchester United
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag on developments off the field with Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment close to being officially completed: "You see and you feel that ambition, brings a mood and a spirit.
"The players and staff are aligned with the ambitions of Ineos, that’s why we are playing for Manchester United.
"We want to win and achieve the highest. We have to make strategies and execute them to prove the ambitions."
Nottingham Forest v West Ham (Sat, 15:00 GMT)
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo on whether he has spoken to Nigerian defender Ola Aina after his side's defeat in the Africa Cup of Nations final: "No, not yet. We expect him today to arrive. We mentioned before it was a final. Ola for sure will be disappointed but for sure he'll have the chance in the future."
On his squad availability: "It is basically the same, a lot of issues."
Luton v Man Utd (Sun, 16:30 GMT)
BBC Sounds
Manchester United "look like they are going to score goals when they go forward", says Fulham captain Tom Cairney.
United have won five and drawn one of their six games so far in 2024, scoring at least twice in each fixture.
Speaking to the Footballer's Football Podcast, Cairney said: "I feel like they're a bit of a threat at the minute, I enjoy watching them, the Wolves game was amazing.
"I want them to be a top team, just for the Premier League in general. I enjoy watching them again, I thought they were good against Villa.
"Going forward they're a threat and it's nice to see, it's refreshing to see Manchester United going forward and looking like they're going to score goals, even though their top [Premier League] goalscorer is a midfield player [Scott McTominay with seven]."
He added: "I'd expect Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes by the end of the season to both be in double figures."
Rashford has five Premier League goals so far this season, while captain Fernandes has scored three.
Fulham are scheduled to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on 24 February.
Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds
Luton v Man Utd (Sun, 16:30 GMT)
Manchester United
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag on the difficulties of facing Luton at Kenilworth Road: "The pitch is smaller or longer? 11v 11? No referees are coming?
"Of course, every ambience is different, we have to deal with the circumstances. It's about playing football 11 v 11 – we have to make it our game.
"We are not in a position to underestimate any opponent so we will not.
"We have to play our best because we've seen their performances across the season are really good and they are improving. I have a lot of respect for this team."
Luton v Man Utd (Sun, 16:30 GMT)
Manchester United
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag on team news: "Luke Shaw is doubtful for the weekend.
"Aaron Wan-Bissaka will take some weeks because he picked up another injury training last week.
"Mason Mount and Tyrell Malacia need some more weeks.
"Malacia had setbacks during his rehab process. It takes too long, it's bad for him and bad for us. We have turned a point and he will return to the pitch, it won't be long until he is in team training."
Nottingham Forest v West Ham (Sat, 15:00 GMT)
Nottingham Forest are in danger. They made the manager change and they got an initial bounce but it hasn't been easy for Nuno Espirito Santo.
His first match was a home game that was quite strange against Bournemouth with the controversial straight red card for Willy Boly. They then got a win at Newcastle and beat Manchester United too. I covered them last week in the FA Cup, but with a very depleted squad with lots of players away, injured, suspended and not eligible, they only just squeezed through against Bristol City on penalties.
They are in and around it, and I don't think they're doing poorly, I just feel like they've had a real depth of squad issue. You know going forward that they're going to get results, it's just a matter of getting more of the players back into the side, more of the players available.
They've got some talent, they've got some goalscorers, people who can change games. Morgan Gibbs-White has been excellent, Anthony Elanga when he's available has pace, Callum Hudson-Odoi has done well and Taiwo Awoniyi coming back will make a difference if he can get fit quite quickly. Things will settle down now the transfer window has gone, players coming back and they've got an experienced manager.
I don't think Nuno will be used to being right at the bottom in that relegation fight, but I think he has gained experiences from his last couple of appointments since Wolves. He'll be ready for the challenge. Half the problem is just juggling the squad, finding out what is the best starting XI. As you think you're getting there, the window comes, players leave again, injury happens, suspensions, so I think in a couple of weeks we'll see an improvement from Forest.
Nottingham Forest v West Ham (Sat, 15:00 GMT)
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo says his returnees from the African Cup of Nations, Ola Aina, Ibrahim Sangaré and Willy Boly, will not be available for Saturday's match with West Ham at the City Ground.
More to come from Nuno shortly.
Luton v Man Utd (Sun, 16:30 GMT)
Even with their current form, Manchester United are not yet favourites for a top-four spot.
Aston Villa were getting results and, yes, they're falling away, but they've done incredibly and they're still only just behind Tottenham. I feel Spurs are the favourites naturally to finish in the top four, but Manchester United are going extremely well. Their inconsistency has now turned to a positive again, but can they sustain it? Because that's what keeps happening, they get results and dip.
We've seen some movements in the ownership off the pitch which could create a little bit of positivity going forward. Players are coming back as well from injury, so they've got every chance of finishing fourth, but they're just not favourites yet.
From a player's point of view, there won't be any real interest in what's happening off the pitch, they are used to dealing with it good or bad. But, from a supporter's perspective, the positivity can help the players because the mentality could change now they see a future. Players just feed off that.
They have a really big game coming up in a couple of weeks with the Manchester derby and I think that's the one where people start to say 'what's going to happen with this Manchester United side?'
They are going to be judged on whether they can win their next three games and then going and getting a positive result against Manchester City.
We thought United were going to be challenging for the title this season when it all set off because they won a trophy last year, finished in a good position and the squad looked better. So the top four now is a bare minimum. If not, it's a complete failure for Manchester United. The FA Cup would be another positive, but they cannot finish lower than fourth.
That's all from Burnley manager Vincent Kompany, next up in the hot seat is Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag.
#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Having the most expensive squad in history yet being 6th and out of the Champions League, clearly illustrates the Glazers and their stooges failure! That's why United fans want change and that's why these appointments are so important. If the same analysis is done in 5 years time, I'd put good money on United not having a squad anywhere near as expensive, yet being much more consistent on the pitch!
Adam, Manchester
Burnley v Arsenal (Sat, 15:00 GMT)
Burnley
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany on whether the team's home form hampered their chances of points: "It's results all over, it’s the results side of things.
"We have had plenty of good games, plenty of good performances, we can't feel sorry for ourselves, it’s the reality we're trying to improve. Every game is a new opportunity."
On Burnley's chances of staying in the league: "My past experiences in being in this industry, if you read our numbers it's not great.
"I've experienced having to score two goals to win the league. What's the odds a kid from Brussels, from a diverse background, making it to this league and lifting trophies in Manchester?
"This is a consistency I will always carry."
Burnley v Arsenal (Sat, 15:00 GMT)
Burnley
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany on his touchline ban: "I guess I'll have to deal with it. We are still sorting the logistics, I hope the team is prepared. The game at Turf Moor will be good.
"I've given up on trying to figure it out, you get given the punishment and you take it. We have to prioritise the team and the collective, I can't dwell on it, we have to move on."
On Jurgen Klopp's comment about blue cards: "Me and him would’ve been sat together in the dugout together at some point.
"If you look at the whole season and don't see consistency, then you can complain."
Burnley v Arsenal (Sat, 15:00 GMT)
Burnley
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany on Arsenal: "They're a top team, it hasn’t changed from when we played Spurs, Liverpool, City, you need things to go your way. These teams have tools to hurt you, but you need to make most of the moments. It's practice and belief in the end you have to believe that when you get in the situation next time, you have to put it in the net.
On Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta: "We have a common history and that’s what remains. Still in contact over random things, player related. We're all busy, it's seasonal, let's put it that way.
On how he knew Arteta would be a manager: "Passionate, I think I liked how he handled, it's not for me to judge, how he handled his first season at Arsenal, the complexity and the change of important players and working with a young group and gradually building his team.
"He's a talented person, he has the clarity of thought."
BBC Sport has a dedicated Burnley page packed with news, analysis and fan views – get it here
Burnley v Arsenal (Sat, 15:00 GMT)
Burnley
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany on team news: "Let's just name one and we will see the rest. Lyle Foster won't be available. He had surgery on a chronic issue that needed resolving. Its not season over, he will certainly miss out for a period of time.
"Jordan [Beyer] is progressing, everything is going well. His return depends on a number of factors.
"Charlie [Taylor] was close for the Liverpool game. He's a quality player."
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