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Hello! And well… has anyone recovered from extra time at Old Trafford?
On the way:
🎆 An all-time European classic
🏆 Will the PL be won this weekend?
❓ A Marcus Rashford transfer update
❌ English football’s fixing scandal
Game Of The Season So Far? 🤯
A portrait of pandemonium
Manchester United have a long and storied history, but they’ve never had an evening like this. Five goals were scored in extra time of their Europa League quarter-final second-leg tie against Lyon — the first time that has ever happened in major European football history.
The Athletic’s Manchester United writer Laurie Whitwell calls it “a portrait of pandemonium”. The club emerged from the maelstrom with a 5-4 victory on the night and a 7-6 win on aggregate.
It did not look like it would ever be this way. With less than 20 minutes remaining, United were comfortably leading the tie thanks to first-half goals from Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot. But strikes from Corentin Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico locked the score up, sending the game to extra time.
The home side received a much-needed boost with a minute of normal time remaining when Tolisso was sent off, but extra-time strikes from Rayan Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette put Lyon, against all odds, two goals up on aggregate.
This has been a season of embarrassment for Manchester United, sitting 14th in the Premier League, and this looked like being the latest of many low points.
But Bruno Fernandes’ penalty in the 114th minute gave them hope, and then came the extraordinary final minute of the game. Kobbie Mainoo, playing out of position as a striker, quickly rearranged his feet and fired in to level the game — and before the final embers of Old Trafford’s cheers had died, Harry Maguire powered a header in. 5-4 to Manchester United. Bedlam.
A magical moment for Amorim
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim had said last month that “nothing can save our season”, not even the Europa League, but the explosion of joy and relief at full time showed the importance of this competition.
“I just want to keep that sound,” Amorim said of the roar when Mainoo and Maguire’s goals went in. “It’s the best sound in the world.”
Amorim has not yet convinced in the Premier League, but a trophy would at least represent some early proof of concept. The Portuguese manager said Manchester United would “take a risk” with younger players in domestic matches to prioritise the Europa League — priorities have very much switched. They will take on La Liga’s Athletic Club in the semi-finals next month.
Naked ambition elsewhere in Europe
Speaking of managers under pressure…
Tottenham Hotspur will join United in the semi-finals after Dominic Solanke’s penalty secured a 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt (2-1 on aggregate). Sitting 15th in the league, this has been Spurs’ worst season for a generation, leaving head coach Ange Postecoglou embattled.
The Australian was in defiant form post-match, telling reporters: “Unfortunately for a lot of you, you’re going to have to put up with me for a little bit longer.” His side will face Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt in the last four.
Instead, the evening’s real ire came at Chelsea, who were booed off after losing 2-1 to Legia Warsaw. Chelsea still progressed to the Europa Conference League semi-finals after a 3-0 win in Poland last week (they will play Swedish side Djurgarden next), but it was a blow for a club where all is not well.
“Today was not progress,” said their England defender Reece James post-match. “If anything, it was a step back.”
In all fairness, the Legia away end was intimidating — have you ever seen a sight like the one below? “This is worse than the time I shared a hot tub with 15 other blokes on a stag do,” regular newsletter writer Phil Hay texts from his holiday sunbed.
Is This Liverpool’s Moment? 🏆
Liverpool are 13 points ahead of Arsenal and the Premier League title could be secured this weekend with six games left.
Here’s the equation. Liverpool travel to Leicester City on Sunday, who last scored at home on December 8. If Arsenal have already lost at Ipswich Town earlier that afternoon, victory would send the Premier League trophy to Merseyside — it would be just their second title in 35 years.
Think Arsenal are unlikely to lose? Don’t worry, there are other matters at stake this weekend. The race for fifth — and Champions League football — is the most intriguing sub-plot of the Premier League season. Here’s a breakdown of where all the runners and riders stand.
And keep an eye on the Championship — Leeds United and Sheffield United could find themselves resurrected to the Premier League on Easter Monday.
Ask Ornstein
What next for Rashford?
As we come towards the end of the season, The Athletic’s transfer guru David Ornstein is only warming up. He spent his Thursday doing his two great loves — hitting the phones and answering subscribers’ questions.
He has an update on Marcus Rashford, who terrorised Paris Saint-Germain for an hour on Tuesday night before being controversially subbed off. His parent club are pleased he is doing well on loan at Aston Villa and David reports that Manchester United believe they can raise significant funds by selling him.
There are no guarantees Rashford will be at Villa next season, but the Birmingham club look to have beaten a host of European giants to the signing of Norwegian prospect Sverre Nypan. The midfielder visited Arsenal as part of the recruitment process and though Mikel Arteta’s side are expected to bring in Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, David would not be surprised if further reinforcements are sought.
News Round-Up 🗞
- Some extremely sad news to bring you. Joe Thompson, the 36-year-old midfielder who came through the Manchester United academy before spending most of his career in the EFL with Rochdale, has died. He was diagnosed with cancer for a third time in April 2024, five years after he finished playing.
- Barcelona news from Pol Ballus — delays to the redevelopment of the Camp Nou mean the Catalan club are considering asking La Liga if they can play their opening games of next season away from home. The legendary stadium is slated to be ready from September, 10 months later than initially planned.
- Canada coach Jesse Marsch is in a spot of bother. Having been sent off for unacceptable conduct towards match officials against the USMNT in March, CONCACAF’s disciplinary committee has handed him an extra one-match ban — he will be absent from the touchline for June’s games against Honduras and Curacao.
A Match-Fixing Mystery 🤔
Thomas Fairfoul played 71 times for Liverpool between 1913 and 1915. He is now buried in an unmarked grave in the city’s West Derby cemetery.
The final press clippings about him are from the 1950 FA Cup final, when he was invited to Wembley by Liverpool as a guest, two years before his death. His presence there would have been controversial, writes The Athletic’s Simon Hughes.
It was on Good Friday 110 years ago that Fairfoul, along with three Liverpool team-mates, were found by the Football Association to have fixed a game against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Three United players were also found guilty.
The referee told the investigation the game was “the most extraordinary match” he had been involved in. The Manchester Dispatch newspaper described the “lifeless football” of the second half.
Conditions at the time made football particularly vulnerable to match-fixing — many clubs were in financial trouble, with attendances falling during the First World War. It was later claimed that the players had met in a Manchester pub before the game to plan the fix.
All seven were banned for life but were later allowed to return after assisting the war effort. Only Fairfoul never played again — he was at retirement age when the conflict ended. There is no record of Fairfoul speaking publicly about his role in the scandal, or why he was rehabilitated by the club. The mystery looks likely never to be solved.
Around The Athletic FC 🔄
- Yesterday, we brought you the news that Virgil van Dijk had signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool. Attackers have always struggled to dribble past the giant Dutchman — Michael Cox explains why.
- Yankuba Minteh was at the centre of Newcastle’s PSR fire sale last summer, but the Gambia international is now flying at Brighton & Hove Albion. Andy Naylor has spoken to him about Fabian Hurzeler, humble beginnings and various acronyms…
- It’s the biggest double gameweek of the FPL season. Still debating strategy? Holly Shand and Abdul Rehman have you covered.
- Most-clicked in yesterday’s TAFC: Breaking down the chaos of Arsenal’s win at Real Madrid.
Quiz Question 🤔
Six players have featured in the knockout stage of the Champions League in both the 2010-11 and 2024-25 seasons. Can you name them?
Stuck? The answers will be revealed here later today.
Catch A Match (Times ET/UK) 📺
(Selected games)
Saturday: UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final: Arsenal vs Lyon, 7.30am/12.30pm — DAZN/YouTube; Premier League: Aston Villa vs Newcastle United, 12.30pm/5.30pm — Peacock/Sky Sports.
Sunday: UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final: Barcelona vs Chelsea, noon/5pm — DAZN/YouTube; Premier League: Ipswich Town vs Arsenal, 9am/2pm — Peacock/Sky Sports; Leicester City vs Liverpool, 11.30am/4.30pm — USA Network, Fubo/Sky Sports.
(Top photo: Oli Scarff AFP via Getty Images)
