Inside Carrington: United’s Final Prep for Bilbao Showdown | The Samuel Luckhurst Show
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Well, it's pleasant weather here at Carrington. I'm joined by Tyrone Marshall. I'm, of course, Samuel Luckhurst. If you can hear some...

Some worrying going on in the background. That's builders hard at work trying to transform Manchester United's training ground. Manchester United transform into a different entity altogether in the Europa League as well. I try. That was completely natural, not scripted, but just trying to give the listeners the lay of the land. In terms of the land here, we're overlooking some training pitches which are in the midst of being...

I think it's safe to say resurface. Not the first team's training pitches at the moment. We've watched them for 15 minutes this morning. There are never really many takeaways from...

from these open sessions. But obviously we always want to come here, we always want the updates, but it's normally keep ball sessions. No Matias Alit, no surprise there. I suppose looking at the probable team tomorrow night now, that could well be the team for the final. Masrari in the back three, Ahmad on the right, do you think? Yeah, I think that's got a decent chance. I mean, you would think you'd want Ahmad in the final, but

And it feels like him playing at right wing back is a more natural fit now that certainly the four midfielders and the striker feels like it picks itself. It's obviously Hoyland. Casemiro and Nogati have been really good in the Europa League. Garnaccio and Fernandes have dovetailed pretty well. If you wanted to be a bit more cautious, maybe he'd play Ahmad instead of Garnaccio and play Masraoui again at wing back. But that would obviously depend on

on De Ligt's injury and we're speaking before the press conference so we're not really sure on that but it'd be a surprise if he was starting tomorrow night given he's not even been involved yeah given he's not even trained and you know I'd say I suppose it makes sense to bring Ahmad in tomorrow night and even if you give him

what did he get a half on yes sunday at halftime um so you give him an hour tomorrow night and i think given the athletic team news i think it should be a formality really and look i think either way i might have got to play in the final hasn't he yeah yeah i i think that's what amram is almost building up to as well his little cameo in bilbao last week giving him a half at the weekend against brentford whatever united's strongest team is i think everyone would agree that ahmad has to be in it um

Earlier in the press room, I think it was Rob Dawson who said that there have been 133 UEFA Cup or Europa League knockout ties and nobody has lost after winning the first leg away from home 3-0. We call it a comeback. Hipsters call it remontada. Spanish people call it remontada. But that does actually seem...

That feels pretty unforeseeable, especially looking at Athletic Bilbao's squad that's coming to Manchester. Yeah, absolutely. I think there's kind of this view around United of the worst possible outcome will happen given the way things have gone for them in recent years. And every time you feel like they've turned a corner, it turns out it's another dead end. So even when they win a first leg 3-0, I said to someone at the club on Sunday when I saw them, well, that week went better than expected.

And they said, yeah, wait until Thursday when we have a man sent off and concede a penalty in the first minute. And so it kind of feels like that's the view. They're still bracing themselves. They're still bracing themselves for the worst possible outcome. And everyone's kind of said, they're 1-0 down after 20 minutes. It's going to feel nervy. But you look, you know, they're without...

Sanset, Sansega, not sure he's doing a top scorer, without both Williams brothers, obviously Danny Vivian got sent off. I mean, it is almost impossible to think how Athletic can possibly, can mount a comeback, especially when United have looked so good in the Europa League and have had such a good record still on beating in 13 games now in this competition. Even for this United, when

mad things happen to them I mean it's almost impossible isn't it I think it is impossible to be honest to work out how athletic find a way back in it does feel that way I suppose if you're Ernesto Valverde a good coach

pre-match presentation team tour would be just to take the scoreboards from Old Trafford last season against Manchester City, Newcastle, Bournemouth and from Old Trafford this season against Liverpool, Tottenham and Bournemouth again. United have lost 3-0 at home six times in what is probably the space of about 14 months. Those City and Newcastle games were back-to-back. The City one was late October last season. So,

It felt interesting, or certainly telling, when Amrim came in the press conference room with Bilbao last week, his first words were about, we need to remember what happened in the first 20 minutes tonight and think about the second. He's essentially telling these players, do not dare get carried away. I don't think any of us feel as though they will. Even with Atleti, I mean, Anessa Valverde will speak later on at Old Trafford, but just looking at that squad,

It feels like they've switched from prioritising the Europa League to prioritising La Liga because they're not secure of fourth place. Does it feel that way? Yeah, I think so. I mean, obviously, he'll put more meat on the bones, I guess, of those injuries. I think on the Athletic website, it said Inaki Williams had got a problem. It was a bit vague about

about Nico Williams I think there's I mean he was he trained on his own I think before the game last week didn't he and I think there was suggestions his fitness was kind of 50-50 heading into last week I don't think he had a particularly good game against United last week to be honest maybe they don't want to risk it I think

Anthony's rail Bettis have closed the gap to four points in that race for fourth and of course they have Anthony so and his resale value is going up unfortunately his resale value is going up a hell of a lot he's even scoring with his right foot past Abdehaya all sorts of mad things are happening so maybe they're looking at that and thinking

You know, it's extremely unlikely they get back into this tie, even with the Williams brothers. If they were to lose Nico for the run-in, I think they've still got Barcelona to play. If they were to not get in the Champions League at all, I would feel disastrous for them to lose in the Europa League semi and not get in the Champions League. So maybe they are just looking at it and thinking we need to prioritise that. I'm sure Valverde will say later, we still believe it's possible, anything's possible.

But it certainly feels like they are thinking now we need to just make sure of fourth. And for a club like Athletic, being in the Champions League would be massive. And, you know, we've touched on it before. They are a phenomenal story and only picking Basque players. It's an amazing, amazing success story. And...

For them, obviously winning, getting to the final in their home stadium would have been incredible for them. I think it brings a lot of pressure, which you maybe saw in their meltdown last week. But to reach the Champions League for a club with that kind of policy...

would equally be a phenomenal story. I must confess, when I was walking around Bilbao on match day last week, I became even more convinced that Athletic would get to the final purely because I've never seen a more football-centric city in Spain. They were geared up for it, the national holiday as well. So you had kids kicking balls in the streets. It was really quite captivating. But of course, they lost their heads. United kept their heads. We made the mistake

last Wednesday evening, Bilbao, of prioritising tapas between 10 men, which is insufficient rather than watching Barcelona against Inter Milan. You didn't make that mistake, you watched it. We all had that second treat, if you like, last night of just a semi-final for the ages, an absolute instant classic.

From a journalistic perspective, having experienced Leon recently, Tomorrow Night, do you want that kind of epic to cover? Or do you want the serene, paint-by-numbers kind of day that we had at Brentford on Sunday? I guess you want a bit of both. And as stressful as Leon is...

It was an amazing game to watch. And from our point of view, yes, when it turns around like that, you are despairing. But one of our colleagues actually in the, Mark Critchley, who works for Athletic, said afterwards that you just got in that flow state where you kind of know it has to be done and you know you have to rewrite something and write something. And it just sort of comes out. And to be honest, there is...

There's an adrenaline and a buzz about the job when you're in those games. I guess it's like saying to a player, do you want a routine 3-0 Premier League win or do you want to play in a stressful cup final? Do they want to play in a stressful cup final? It's like...

Fernandes did a... Oh, in a... They don't want just a... Sorry, instead of a league... They want the pressure of a stressful, tense, close cup final. That's what they... That they win. That they win, yeah. It was interesting listening to Fernandes when he did TNT last week and he did this kind of pitch-eyed chat with Rio and... Maybe it's Paul Scholes, can't remember. I think it was Scholes. And I think Rio said to him, you look like the coolest man on the stage and taking that penalty.

and Fernandes went on this kind of monologue about how like I still feel the pressure I feel the pressure with every penalty and he's like I'll stop feeling the pressure when I retire and then he said that's why he says when when Ruben Amorim in the fitness staff say to him you need to rest he says there'll be time for resting when I'm dead and it struck me as like that kind of thing that you want you want to feel that pressure and I'm not comparing what we do to what Bruno Fernandes does but you do want those sort of games and

I mean, what a game last night was. What two legs. A perfect, I said a few words about it, a perfect stylistic fit in terms of how the two approaches kind of made that game like a style makes fights kind of thing in boxing. And interesting that team playing wingbacks are in the Champions League final. A team, a manager wedded to wingbacks is going to get the Real Madrid job.

maybe they're making a comeback and the interesting thing I've written a piece about this this morning the interesting thing is you look at that inter side and to a degree the Bayer Leverkusen side that Alonso had and they're successful because of their wing backs aren't they the inter side I mean Dumfries scored two and set up three I think of the seven goals I messaged a friend last night saying Eric

Eric Ten Haag stockpiled Dutch players or Dutch school players at United. What was he thinking not even going for Denzel Dumfries? Well, I think if he had, Ruben Amarin would be, you know, a lot happier. Thank you very much. And those, you know, those, like Alonso's Leverkusen, Frimpong is basically your winger. Another Dutchman. Another Dutchman. He did actually want that one as well for a period. And Grimaldo on the left is kind of more of a cultured,

kind of passer and crosser you see the same sort of thing i think at inter with dumfries is just up and down constantly in the final third demarco is a more you know again a really good passer a really good crosser and look at those teams i think it works because the wing backs and it makes you think

this United team can work but it probably needs better wing backs I don't think Masraoui's the answer I'm not convinced Dalot is Dorgou is still young I think there's probably more to come from him but you watch United under Amarim in that system and then you watch Leverkusen last year or you watch

into last night and you think the difference is in the wing backs and it's as simple as that. Yeah, so there's maybe a future in it. I think that's just, we heard some commotion going on in the background but the press conference fortunately hasn't started without us yet. It would, yeah, yeah, yeah. Ruben Amarin will just be looking out the balcony thinking what are these two doing? So we've boxed all that off. Can I go where you want me?

I suppose we'd be forgiven if during the game last night we had on our smartphones the other semi-final up because it feels like there is a lot more jeopardy there where it's only a two-goal advantage.

Bodo got that final goal. It was in the final 10 minutes against Tottenham. Psychologically, that feels potentially significant. They play on their plastic pitch. It's the Arctic Circle. There's a narrative here developing that game against Roma years ago when they annihilated them 6-1.

when Jose Mourinho was Roman manager. Tottenham players seem to be dropping like flies as well. I have a slight soft spot for Tottenham, but speaking selfishly,

I think it's in our interest going to Bilbao that Bodo Glimm actually reached this final. Yeah, I mean, United fans listening to this will know full well now if they've tried to book that accommodation is disastrous. You know, flights are slightly less disastrous, but still pretty bad accommodation. The dynamic pricing would make Oasis blush. Yeah, it really would. It really would. I mean, the hoteliers in Bilbao...

I mean, they will be delighted that Athletic have been knocked out the hoteliers, I think. The prices are extortionate to the point that a lot of people here today are talking about staying outside of Bilbao. Santander, San Sebastian have been mentioned. Our colleague said that they're getting a ferry to Bilbao, which I think has been ruled out for various reasons, shall we say. I think the ferry would become the booze cruise with a few of them who were floating that idea. Yeah, definitely. But yeah, I think it would make life easier for us if Tottenham got knocked out. And it's...

I mean, you wouldn't be shocked if Bodo Glimp won that tie. There is this narrative about their home record and they are great at home. The 6-1 against Roma. I think they played Roma again later in that season. And Roma knocked them out. And they knocked them out. And I can't remember the score in Norway at that time. I know they beat Lazio. It's awful.

In the quarters. In the last, in the quarters. But I think it was, did they draw both games maybe? I can't exactly remember. It went to extra time anyway. I think they won the first one but then they got... They won the first one and lose at home maybe. And lose the second in... I think there was only one goal... It went to extra time. It went to extra time, yeah. It did go to extra time. It happened on the night of the second against Lyon so forgive us for not being able to keep up with what was going on with Bodo Glimpse. But I think, you know, their home record's amazing. Someone said before they win 70% of their home games. I said, well, yeah,

95% of them against Norwegian teams. And yeah, there is the whole plastic pitch, Arctic Circle thing. I mean, you'd think Tottenham would be prepared for that given how much has been made of it. But lads, it's Tottenham. Lads, it's Tottenham. I'm sure Mourinho, when he went back with Roma, was better prepared for it second time round. So you would think Tottenham would kind of be ready for it. I think Postacoglu has maybe got a little bit more

street-wise recently. I don't think they've been quite as cavalier as they were. So, you know, maybe they'll do a professional performance and see it through, like they did in Frankfurt, I guess, in the quarter-finals. Yeah, they did. And that was a professional performance. So, I still think it will be Tottenham. But like you say, lads, it's Tottenham. And,

you know anything could happen it wouldn't surprise you if Bodo got the first goal in that game and it became a bit wild We are at the risk of getting ahead of ourselves but Postacoglu's Tottenham have got a very good record against United as well which maybe it'd be significant going into the final maybe not but I think they've won four and drawn only one and even that draw at Old Trafford last season they were

the better side. United, fortunately for them, are a very different side from them. Moving on to a couple of other bits of house key. You did a story on Tuesday about Tom Heaton, the possibility, probability that he could stay for, what would that be, another fifth year, in fact, I think. He came back to United in 2021. I suppose,

There's a lot of logic to it. I mean, I think he's quite comfortably the second, at least the second best goalkeeper at United watching outside by Indira again at the weekend.

There could be some upheaval in the goalkeeping department in the summer. It's pretty clear that Ruben Amarin wants to bring a new goalkeeper in. I suppose there'd be too much upheaval if there were two keepers coming out and then you're having to bring two in and you've got a goalkeeping coach who's still pretty green to working at Manchester United, working with Manchester United goalkeepers. So although Tom Heaton will be turning 40 next year, looking at him, certainly, I know he's had injury issues, which is a pity for a third choice.

but he still looks in pretty fine fettle. Yeah, he does. I think it probably makes sense for a couple of reasons. A, what you mentioned about the goalkeepers. I think there's a good chance Bayern there goes and looks at first-team football. And Arne probably only goes if a Saudi club comes in with big money for him, but he couldn't entirely rule it out. I think having that continuity makes sense. And also, he's a homegrown player and a club-trained player. And in UEFA rules, you need four of them. I think the four this year were Heaton, me, Evans and Rashford.

Evans is going to go. Dermot Meen, not you. Not me. You're a goalkeeper. I am a goalkeeper, yes. We've seen a few goalkeepers that you're better than, so maybe you can get signed up. Yeah, Dermot Meen on this occasion. Maybe it'll be me, me, me next year. But Rashford's going to go. Evans is going to go. So you kind of need those club-trained players. And I think Cobby Maynard and Gannaccio are on the B list and would qualify. But we know there's a chance at least one of those goes. I've been...

I'd be very surprised if both went, but there's a chance one goes. So you are kind of short of those academy-trained players that you need, certainly for your European squad. I think the Premier League worlds are slightly different, but he ticks a box as a homegrown player. It's what you want from a third-choice keeper. And, you know, watching him, you don't often see the goalkeepers in the rondos, but watching him today, you know, I was doing a Facebook Live and filming a lot of it, but he was, I thought he was the most vocal presence, to be honest. Like, joking with teammates, a lot of,

And they've said that before, I think that leadership group that existed under Ten Hag, he was well-resolved in the face of seniority. He struck up a really good rapport and friendship with Bruno Fernandes, I think. And like I say, I think he's seen in the dressing room as something of a leader with his experience, with having been here

20, 25 years ago. And yeah, I thought you saw it today and that he was possibly the most vocal presence, a lot of mick taking with teammates and just that kind of character that adds something to the group. And maybe when the group's down and needs a lift, he brings something. So yeah, even though he's going to be 40 next year, I think it makes perfect sense. And it just shows that 40 is no age really. Indeed. Well, you would speak from experience there, but no surprise whatsoever about Bruno Fernandes there. I mean, there were pictures recently of him out at lunch with

John Allen, who is not exactly a name that rings a bell with a lot of United fans. I think they recognise him from that infamous...

Pogba Mourinho video in 2018, but he worked at the club for 25 years. He was fortunately made redundant last year, but he was out with Bruno Fernandes recently for lunch. And again, I think that speaks volumes of Fernandes' character and the attachment and bonds that he does foster with people at the club, whether it's a teammate who's a third-choice goalkeeper, whether it's someone who speaks the same language with him, or whether it's one of the press officers. So it's not...

gone unnoticed that all that chat about Fernandes not being worthy of captain in United has significantly subsided because I think he clearly is we'll leave it there because I think we're just about to hopefully Ruben Amarin and Alejandro Garnaccio will be coming into the press conference room at Carrington

shortly. And there'll be another one of these podcasts on Friday to dissect what will hopefully have been a pretty routine and straightforward night for Manchester United ahead of their Europa League final or ahead of them being in the Europa League final later this month.