United cannot make a slow showing again in Milan
Despite losing two seats and gaining a net through Amad Diallo’s super-fast goal, it’s fair to say that Man Utd deserved very little from this groove at Old’s first leg. Trafford.
At times, the performance was as slow as it got a few months ago from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men.
Did they disrespect Milan? Before the game, there was talk of several Milan absences and doubts about the strength of Serie A. Those doubts look silly now; Milan’s stand-ins were excellent and energetic, brilliantly limiting United’s threat and creating a number of great chances for themselves.
But for Diallo’s magic, which came through United’s same 15-minute forward spell at the start of the second half, and another questionable VAR call for handball on Franck Kessie’s early strike, United’s move to Milan would require little goals. As it happens, they need at least one.
No matter how much Solskjaer continues to be United at home, he knows he needs cup success to show visible evolution.
Solskjaer’s side need to show far more in the second leg if they are to go ahead and fight for those affordable silverware.
Brand Gerard
Arsenal need to eliminate the mistakes
Mikel Arteta said his Arsenal project is set to “bang” earlier in the week and there have certainly been some encouraging signs in recent months. But until they find a way to stop them shooting themselves in the leg, the progress will not go so far.
Against Olympiakos, despite being completely under control from the outset, they tried to push the self-destruction button not once, but twice.
Olympiakos failed to deliver the first penalty, Georgios Masouras exploding to waste after David Luiz lost possession in his own box shortly after the opening goal, but Dani Ceballos was less fortunate to join. Youssef El-Arabi equality.
He was troubled by Bernd Leno’s poor selection option – the gamekeeper was partly to blame for Granit Xhaka’s error against Burnley on Saturday as well – but it was another example of carelessness from a player whose mistakes costing Arsenal a last-16 place against Benfica.
Arsenal have fought back again in Athens, late goals from Mohamed Elneny and Gabriel Magalhaes get a 3-1 win, but they have used unexpectedly to surrender strength positions with non-critical errors and the a move going back beyond the recent meetings with Burnley and Benfica.
In February, Molineux had a red card for David Luiz that allowed Wolves their way back. In December, Xhaka found himself put off in a 1-0 loss to Burnley at the Emirates Stadium, while Gabriel won two yellow cards in four minutes during a 1-1 draw with Southampton. Back in November, Nicolas Pepe had a useless red card during a goalless draw by Leeds.
There were many more examples of mistakes that were costly last season – who would forget how their previous meeting with Olympiakos ended? – but Arsenal now need to make sure there isn’t too much more.
In fact, although their achievements have greatly improved since Christmas, the desire for self-destruction means that their results are not visible for it. Arteta’s Arsenal project may still be “bragging” – but for now it still looks more likely to explode.
Nick Wright
The Rangers scoring run continues in Prague
Rangers left the Czech capital with a 1-1 credit draw on Thursday, including a crucial away goal that could be sure to be the final relegation this time around next week, though that should come as no surprise to anyone who has been following Steven Gerrard ‘s exciting side this season.
Not only have the Scottish Premier League winners newly crowned their last 23 away games in all competitions – they have finally found the back of the net in a goalless draw at Livingston back in August.
But Rangers have also scored more away goals than any other Europa League team so far this season (12), giving them a big challenge for the European second-tier competition.
Richard Morgan
Half job done for Spurs and Kane
A year and a day since their Champions League trip came to an end with RB Leipzig, Tottenham are looking stunning again. This has been a spring of revival for Jose Mourinho’s men, who amassed a fifth straight win in all competitions against Dinamo Zagreb.
Tottenham will take a two-goal lead with them to the Croatian capital for the last-16 final leg next week, and although Gareth Bale missed a late chance to add further glory to this latest success. , there is a real swagger about the men in white right now.
Jose Mourinho has talked about how much he would like to celebrate Daniel Levy’s 20th birthday at the club with silverware and in the week of that anniversary, Spurs are looking in poor health to see more to give glory.
With Kane in such ominous form, anything is possible for Tottenham and England – as long as he is kept healthy.
Spurs fans will be filled with horror when ice was inserted into Kane’s troubled right knee after he pulled back, but he was out of his chair and walking cheerfully on the whistle finally. It was only a precautionary measure.
Zagreb are not completely out of this yet, but they have left a lot of work alone. If Tottenham reach the final in Gdansk, they will have to play a further 18 games this season, while six of their seven recorded games are away from home, including the Cup final. League with Manchester City next month.
Every game is important, as Hugo Lloris said after this win, but after scoring 37 goals in 12 Europa League games so far this term, he certainly finished in the top four. high in the Premier League this is not Tottenham ‘s only chance to capture Levy’ s two decades at the helm with their sixth Champions League campaign.
Ben Grounds