Onana's mistakes cost Man Utd | Cantona blasts co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe | Tottenham held at home by Eintracht
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Welcome to Back Pages, bringing you everything you need to know about the biggest sports stories making the headlines in the morning's newspapers. I'm David Garrido and joining me are The Guardian sports writer Jonathan Liu and Mark Ogden, senior writer at ESPN. Welcome along to you both.

Welcome along once again to Jonathan and to Mark. Right, well, I think, as always, we say this, Manchester United, how often have we said it on the show, the gift that keeps on giving? We're going to start there, and their 2-2 draw away at Lyon, having been just moments away from taking a 2-1 lead back to Old Trafford. This is the back page of The Garden. You can see Andre Anana there with a rather pained expression on his face. Lyon lap up Anana's night to forget. How do we...

How do we approach this one, gents? You know, he has come in for criticism, but I guess you're sort of asking for it a little bit when you get in a row with a former Manchester United player in the build-up to this game, Mark. You know, it's just, you know, I guess Andreana just wants the world to swallow him up right now.

We've got to say that Nemanja Matic has kind of improved right tonight with Anana's performance. Anana is probably one of the worst Man Utd goalkeepers in living memory and Anana's given him every bit of evidence he needs tonight by making two massive mistakes. Certainly one massive mistake for the first goal, the second one wasn't as big, but it was certainly an error that he should have dealt with it. So Anana, he said that Lyon weren't as good as Nemanja United, he thought it would be an easy game. Matic had to go back and Anana made a fool of himself tonight in his performance. So it's left a tie in the balance because...

Because at 2-1 you'd have fancied United to go through, but at 2-2 this United team is so inconsistent and unreliable, especially at home where they've got a terrible record this season. You can't say with any confidence that United are favourites for the second leg. They should be because they're at home, but you just don't know. You just don't know whether they've got the goals in them anymore, whether they've got the defensive solidity at the back.

But it's a mess and, you know, Onana's really dropped his team in it. And, you know, Matic would have had a smile on his face all the way to the dressing room tonight after seeing what happened with Onana in goal. Jonathan, any redeeming qualities, anything that we can say in his defence? Maybe that Massimo Taibbi was a worse goalkeeper than him. What's your take on the situation right now surrounding Andre Onana? My God, you went there. You went to the T-words. Look, Onana is a...

He is a keeper with pedigree. I think his record across Europe has shown that United were not signing Haddad. I think he has made a few too many mistakes. I think actually his distribution, which...

putatively is what United signed him for, why he was supposed to be an upgrade on David De Gea. I haven't seen too much evidence of that, to be honest. And yeah, he's come up with strong performances. He's had good months. He's had good weeks. He's had good games. But I think

Still, there are too many of these areas cropping in. I mean, this is not the first time this season that United have dropped points because of things that Onana could have done better. Obviously, I'd give him to the end of the season. I don't think there's any viable alternative in the squad right now. But I think at a moment when basically everything at United is in a kind of flux from the back room to the football pitch,

everyone is fearing a little bit for, you know, whether they're really going to be a part of this project going forward under Ruben Amorim. I think it's the worst possible time for Inanna to make a mistake like this. He's an experienced enough player to know that, you know, timing in football is everything. And it's just not a great, it's just not a great time for him to be making mistakes of this magnitude.

What does Ruben Amram do, Mark? Because they've got Newcastle on Super Sunday and then, of course, the crucial return leg back at Old Trafford, where, as you say, they've looked like nowhere near a team that has had that aura at their home ground as they have done many, many years ago. So how does Ruben Amram approach it and what does he do about Andre Inanna? Because ultimately, you know, he can't keep counting the cost of these mistakes.

Yeah, I mean, the Newcastle game, first of all, I think they have to treat that as a test run for the Lyon game. The Lyon game is much more important. The United can't really climb any higher in the Premier League that, you know, the 13th or 14th, that's who it's going to be. So the Newcastle game really is kind of irrelevant to United. They have to make sure that

they have the players that they need for the Lyon game next week. He may decide to give Altai Bajandir a game at Newcastle to see, just to get him, you know, match ready in case he needs to make a change next week. Tom Heaton, obviously, as we know, never plays. And I'd imagine Tom Heaton is probably...

the best of all three, but he never seems to play. So what does he do with Inanna? He can't really make a change. You know, Bandeira's played a couple of cup ties for United this season, but he isn't that great a goalkeeper. So he doesn't really have much of an option, Amarim, in terms of changing it. And I think, you know, as Jonathan was saying about Inanna's future, the timing's not great. The one problem that United have got right now, and they've had it for a while, is that they always seem to have two or three bigger issues to address than some of the players that are failing. So Inanna will probably get away with this somewhat because

They need a centre-forward, they need a wing-back, maybe they need a midfielder. The likes of Victor Lindelof, Diogo Dallavs have been at United for seven, eight years and they've always been not quite good enough but they've always survived because they've had bigger issues to address. I think Andrea Nall is in that situation whereby he'll get by because it's too expensive for United without a lot of money to find a goalkeeper in the market this summer but they probably need one because he's never really been reliable enough since he arrived as David De Gea's replacement.

What about the wider context, Jonathan, of yet another former player speaking about what's happening at the club on this occasion? It's Eric Cantona, who's a legend for his five years that he spent at Old Trafford. This is the back page of the Mirror, so you can see it there on the right. Angry Eric, United has lost its soul. What do you make of his comments, Jonathan?

Yeah, to be honest, I mean, hard to disagree with the substance, I think, of a lot of what he's saying. It is hard to see the soul in this United team and the club as a whole when they are making redundancies across the board, when they're being treated by their largely absentee owners as a kind of

a cynical investment vehicle. This stuff, we go over this every single week. The timing of it is quite interesting. Cantona, he was at Old Trafford for the City game on Sunday, which is quite rare. I mean, he very rarely makes an appearance. Obviously, he's been a little bit more visible in the recent months in terms of his commercial endorsements and things like that. You can barely go through a commercial break without seeing Cantona advertising some betting company. So I'm more intrigued by...

by the timing of why he's decided to say this now. And because I think one of the things about Camden, he is still, you know, respected not just by United fans, but by football fans, I think across the sport. And I think it'd be a shame if he just turned into one of these kind of betting shills or, you know, these rent-a-quotes United ex-players, of which I think we have far too many already.

What about, I mean, you mentioned absentee owners, largely absentee owners, Jonathan. Mark, the Glazers were actually there in attendance for this game tonight. We don't see that all that often. It seemed a bit strange. What do you think is the significance of that, if there is any? It will be significant because it is really unusual. I think, you know, Avron Glazer does attend United games more often than...

than Joel. Joel Glazer is the chairman. He very rarely goes to games. I mean, he's the guy who controls the club. He's the one that we're constantly told by people who know the Glazers that he really cares about Man United. He's a big fan, but he never seems to go to any games, which is understandable considering the hostility towards him right now, or forever, basically. It's not just right now. But the fact that both Joel and I have run with the game tonight and John Radcliffe was there as well, that is significant. Now, going back over the years when I've covered United, the Glazers would often come

around Champions League quarter-finals when United used to be in them every season and they would have a transfer meeting, a budget meeting for the summer. So maybe it's just that. Maybe they've come to speak to Radcliffe and his team to talk about what they can do in the summer if they're in the Champions League. If they're not in the Champions League, it

It may be more significant than that. We know that the end game of Sir Jim Radcliffe was to buy the club, but that wasn't possible. I don't know this for a fact. I'm just speculating, but perhaps the Glazers speak to Radcliffe about bigger things, about stakes in the club or trying to seek new investment because United are desperate for investment in terms of the team and also the ground they're trying to build. So it will be significant, but right now, none of us know what the significance is, but hopefully in the next two or three days we'll find out. Cheers.

Just on what Jonathan has mentioned before on Eric Cantona's comments, you know, he used words like destroying my club, you know, being disrespecting Manchester United. Do you think they cover, they carry much weight, his words, perhaps given that, you know, we haven't heard from him too often?

they'll carry away with a certain age bracket of fans probably fans 15 upwards you know because can't start left united in 1997 so it's been almost 30 years now so you know the the modern generation of fans think his name but a lot of them will never have seen him play so and also we have to accept that eric canton has had no involvement in football for 30 years so the fact that said you actually turned down his offer to help the club should be a good thing because we don't know what eric canton would have been like as an administrator

So, will his words carry away? I think it's significant that his words were spoken at an FC United fans gathering. Obviously, the FC United group broke away from United 20 years ago, so he knew his audience when he was saying these things. I don't know. I'm with Jonathan a little bit. I think what Cantona says, he's playing to the gallery, he knows his audience. I don't think it's significant. He's made no contribution to football in the last 30 years. So, it's great, it makes noise, it's good for us in terms of the media reporting on a club legend, but

His day was past, his day was 30 years ago. I think United have got bigger issues right now than what Eric Cantona thinks. Yeah, so United, one of those teams who are underperforming domestically, who are in action tonight, and the other is Tottenham Hotspur. Their 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt. This was an opportunity, wasn't it? Jonathan Tureti take control of this tie. They had their chances in it. They just failed to do that. They had to come back.

into the game after going behind to Uge Eketike early on. Where do you think this leaves Ange Postakoglu in particular? Because we know that his future really is linked to Spurs' performances in this competition now. That's all they've got left. Yeah, this was a... I mean, I think this will go down as a slightly missed opportunity, partly because...

it's such a, frankly, the Deutsche Bank Arena is such a tough place to go to. Uh, and it has been for a lot of Bundesliga teams this season. It is really tough to get a result there. It's a hostile crowd. It's a hostile atmosphere. Uh,

They play a very quick transitional lightning quick style of football. And, you know, it's going to be hard to pull out a win there. You know, obviously, even in the post away goals era, you have to say that Eintracht are favourites for that. And Spurs did have a lot of opportunities after, like you say, going down to

early on to what was like an entirely avoidable situation. You know, they have at least three or four chances to get rid of the danger or deal with the danger before Eketike gets the ball and finishes it so well. But I thought the way Spurs reacted was really strong. They had a maturity to them and a game management ability

that we haven't actually seen from them a lot this season. They created a lot of chances in the second half. Santos, the Frankfurt keeper, had a great game. And I think, yeah, that they will slightly rue not putting Frankfurt away because, like you say, it does mean the margins for this season, for this whole campaign. It's not just about Postakoglu, but obviously it is his position on the line as well. But this entire campaign essentially rests on these 90 minutes in Frankfurt. And I don't think that's where Spurs...

what we're expecting their season to be going but that is basically what it all comes down to now yeah do you agree mark that you know ultimately it's next thursday or bus for angie pasta koglu should they go out of the europa league at the quarterfinal stage then that he's done at spurs

A lot of people think that it's bust whether they win the Europa League or not. I think the way it's gone with Anzis this season is it's kind of alienated so many people, players, fans, probably people in the boardroom as well, that it's going to be very hard for them to turn it around. But obviously, if they do lose next week and they're out of the competition, Champions League prospects...

close off no chance of Europe next season I think it's going to be impossible for him to survive but I think Eintracht are the best team in the competition at the moment they're pushing hard for a Champions League spot in the Bundesliga they won the competition I think three years ago they're a really good side they've got a lot of pace in the team I think Spurs probably did well to get a draw tonight despite the fact they probably had the last show of the game Frankfurt are a very good team

I think they'll go through and I think that could be the end for Ange. Gents, let's focus on Chelsea. They were involved in the conferencing quarter-final against Legia Walser away from home. 3-0 victory for Enzo Maresca's side. I mean, this is, I guess, the basic situation that Chelsea would have wanted to be in. A healthy lead to take back to Stamford Bridge, Mark. What did you make of their performance?

Yeah, obviously it was quite a hostile start to the game, but Chelsea negotiated that pretty well. Big win. I mean, this competition...

it really, really should be a cakewalk for Chelsea because the teams that are in it are nowhere near the standard that they are. I think they're going to get, I think they'll probably get Rapid Vienna in the semi-finals, which again, you know, is not one of the giants of Europe. So, Chelsea should win this competition, but I think they've got bigger issues to address. This season's all about qualifying for the Champions League, isn't it? They have to finish in the top five because they've got, again, a big, massive, you know, transfer outlet to cover. They need to be in the Champions League to do that and as we know, they've got targets to sign in the summer again. They'll be busy, so...

Winning the Conference League is great, and I'm sure they will do, but it's getting in the Champions League that matters for Chelsea.

One of the transfer stories around Chelsea today, Jonathan, involving four strikers that have been named that ultimately want to sign one of these over the course of the summer. The likes of Ugo Jekutica, we spoke to our viewers about him earlier, scoring for Eintracht Frankfurt, Jonathan David, also Liam Dalat. And Ben Di Minchesco, who we know has been linked with Arsenal before. So what do you make of that in terms of the ambition to sign a striker like that? And who do you think might be the best fit for Ante Moresca's side?

Yeah, I mean, I think it's fairly common knowledge that they're looking to sign a striker. All quite different profiles of striker, actually. Dudaq, obviously, more of a target man. TK, sort of a wide forward who cuts in. David, obviously, the same. And Sesko, we know, is again, he's more of a number 10 slash target man. Lots of pace and obviously a great finisher as well. So, yeah, I think...

It's more of a necessity, I think, for Chelsea, because as well as getting in, you know, they've packed their squad with young talent, you know, lots of potential, lots of resale value. We all know about this, but I think they just need a little bit of poise. They need a strike. And the best Chelsea teams, whether it was through Diego Costa or through Drogba, have had a number nine or a striker in that position who has been able to lead the team as well, who's been able to lead not just through example, but through setting standards, through being a talisman.

And I think the Chelsea teams that have struggled in recent years have actually lacked that kind of presence. I think De Lappe is a very promising player. I don't think he quite has that sort of presence yet. So I think, you know, based on his pedigree, based on his record, I think Cesco would be a great signing for them. They are obviously going to plough through a lot of different avenues to try and find the targets that they've identified. It's not just, of course, Chelsea who are after a number nine or a striker.

We know that Arsenal have been looking for one, Liverpool as well. We know talk of them needing a different force up front. Out of those names that we mentioned, Mark, which one excites you the most for Chelsea? Because we know that the weight of the nine is pretty heavy at Stamford Bridge and not many have been able to carry it. Yeah, I think the lap's got real potential. I've seen him a couple of times this season and...

This is going to sound like real hyperbole, and I'm sorry about this, but he does remind me of young Alan Shearer in the way that he plays. Oh, that is a call. That is a call. Yeah, sorry about that. Obviously, his goal output isn't the same league, but he's aggressive, he can hold the ball up, he can turn his defender, he can lay the ball off. He's got all the qualities of a top striker. Now, can he take the step up to play for a very big club like a Chelsea or a Man United that are interested in him? That is the big question, but I think he's got the credentials. And, yeah...

Sorry Liam, I didn't want to compare you to Aaron Shearer too early in your career. But he has got those credentials and I think that's what big clubs are looking for. He's young, he's cheap, or will be relatively cheap. So I think De Lappe, but obviously it's whether he can make the next step. He knows Enzo Maresca, he worked with him at Man City, but will Maresca be at Chelsea long enough to work with him? That's another question mark as well. So he's got a big summer, Liam De Lappe. I think he's going to be the player that a lot of Premier League players are looking at because he's really good, because he's younger, because he's relatively cheap.

Yeah, £30 million at the release course should Epswich get relegated and also Manchester City set to earn as well should he move. Let's go to a story on the inside page of the Daily Telegraph sports section. Private schools turning to Premier League talent...

factories, the picture of Arsenal's Ethan Warnery who attended St John's in Enfield and it's got there five of the best as well on the right hand side. Top establishments that are preparing pupils for life on and off the pitch. It seems odd to talk about this because you know it didn't seem the way that private schools would embrace football Jonathan but it seems that they really are right now.

Yeah, and it's important to note this is a long-term development. I mean, I remember writing about this 10, 12 years ago, the likes of Victor Moses, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming through, and they would often come through with a scholarship to a private school. And if you've got a talented 13-, 14-year-old or even younger, it is a real point of difference. If you are a club who can offer parents opportunities

I guess, a private education or an expensive education, as well as a football training or a contract at a big club. And I think it's also an element of the way in which academy scouts, scouting and talent scouting and talent development in this country has become kind of industrialized in the way that players are not coming through. They're not coming off the street corners anymore. They're not coming through local clubs. They are being put in a system

a very professional, efficient system very early on. And I think it's only a matter of time before private schools, who of course have long been associated with the establishment, with the means of wealth in this country, we're going to get on the act and try and produce Premier League standard players for themselves.

Can we just quickly switch our focus to the Masters, guys? And again, the inside pages of the Daily Telegraph sports section. Amateur in hot water after spending a penny in Rays Creek. Right, Jonathan, I'm going to stick with you on this one. Listen, this is a pretty strange story. So it is José Luis Ballester, I believe, highly rated Spanish amateur, who urinated into Rays Creek from a bridge,

to the 13th green. He said that he didn't know that there was restrooms out on the course. What did you make of this? Yeah, well, it's an interesting story. I have to be honest, I don't know the rules. I know golf has a lot of rules on things like etiquette and rules

you know, fair play. I don't know where this, as long as he's not getting any kind of advantage, he's not sort of doing it anywhere near his lie. I know Ballesteros has got a reputation as a bit of a maverick, a bit of a hothead onto a young Spanish player. This is, I don't know, you would need quite a lot of daring, I think, given the amount of rules and customs and tradition and, you know, the censorious nature of a lot of the rules, you know, the officiating at Augusta.

to do something like that. I think one of the saving graces is that spectators aren't allowed camera phones. Their phones aren't allowed on the course, so nobody would have got this dirty deed committed to video. He said here, he remained unrepentant. It was not embarrassing at all for me. If I had to do it again, I would do it again. So that's clear from Jose Luis. But just Mark, generally on the Masters, here we go again. A little gust of these edits are out. How much are you looking forward to watching the action over the next four days?

It's not about Rory McIlroy, isn't it? Unfortunately, every time a Masters comes around, it's about can Rory McIlroy get the career slam. We know he's won three other majors, but he's been over 10 years now since his last one. I feel kind of sorry for him a little bit because he's had a great career. He's had a fantastic career as a golfer. He's one of Britain's most successful sportsmen ever. We're all talking about can he do the career-brand slam, but he's already won three other majors as it is.

No matter what happens, whether he makes the cut, finishing the top two, whatever, if he doesn't win it, we'll be talking about rolling his weight again. So hopefully he does win it and then we can end that talk and move on to somebody else. Well, he's doing all right. We'll keep an eye on him, of course, over the course of the next three days. He's made a decent start, as has Justin Rose. And Scottish Sheffield are looking ominously consistent around the course at Augusta National. Gents, it's been a pleasure as always. Jonathan, Mark, we'll speak to you again soon.