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Live Reporting

Mantej Mann

All times stated are UK

  1. Goodbye

    That's all from the Man Utd boss - so it's also time for us to end our coverage.

    Remember, you can follow live text commentary of this evening's Champions League action shortly.

    Until then...

  2. 'He was brought up here'

    Man Utd v AC Milan (Thurs, 17:55 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Manchester United have appointed former midfielder Darren Fletcher as the club's first technical director, and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says the Scot was "brought up" by the club.

    "We wanted Darren at Man Utd," said Solskjaer.

    "He was brought up here as a young boy to become a serial winner.

    "He has the Man Utd side of it but he has been outside with different clubs.

    "Little bit less coaching but maybe more of an influence on the other side."

    Darren Fletcher
  3. Midfield trio all out

    Man Utd v AC Milan (Thurs, 17:55 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Midfield trio Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Donny van de Beek are all out Manchester United's Europa League first leg last 16 tie with AC Milan.

    Striker Marcus Rashford is also unlikely to play after he hurt his ankle in Sunday’s win at Manchester City.

    “Marcus didn’t train today, is probably out for tomorrow and also a doubt for West Ham at the weekend," confirmed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

  4. 'He probably wishes he had played more often'

    Man Utd v AC Milan (Thurs, 17:55 GMT)

    Simon Stone

    BBC Sport

    Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said a decision over Edinson Cavani’s future will not be made until the end of the season.

    Cavani joined United on a one-year contract in October.

    The deal has the option of a second season but Cavani’s father has cast doubt over whether the contract will be extended.

    He says his son has been upset at the treatment he received from the FA over the three-match ban he received for a social media post that referred to skin colour.

    “Edinson is proud to play for Manchester United and no decision been made for next season,” said Solskjaer.

    “I cannot comment on what has been said, I can only say we are very pleased with Edinson. He probably wishes he had played more often but the aim now is to get him playing as much as possible until the end of the season, then he will make a decision.”

    Cavani is amongst a number of United players unlikely to be involved in tomorrow’s Europa League last-16 tie with AC Milan at Old Trafford.

  5. 'We want to win the Europa League'

    Man Utd v AC Milan (Thurs, 17:55 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Those comments were echoed by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who says last season's semi-final defeat by Sevilla was "tough".

    "For a team, when you win a trophy it does something to you," said Solskjaer.

    "We want to win the Europa League and last season's defeat in the semi-final was tough."

  6. 'We want to win them all'

    Man Utd v AC Milan (Thurs, 17:55 GMT)

    Manchester United

    Like Tottenham, Manchester United are also in three competitions and captain Harry Maguire says the club "want to win them all".

    "When you play for this club you are expected to win trophies and not just matches," said Maguire.

    "We're in three competitions and we want to go as far as we can in them all."

  7. OGS and Harry Maguire on media duties

    Man Utd v AC Milan (Thurs, 17:55GMT)

    Simon Stone

    BBC Sport

    Harry Maguire is joining Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Manchester United media duties today.

    Sadly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not fit enough to return to Old Trafford with AC Milan but it should be a decent game.

    In 2007, these two clubs played in a Champions League semi-final so there is plenty of history.

  8. Jose signs off, Ole up next...

    That's all from the Spurs boss. We'll be hearing from his former club next...

    Ole
  9. 'Equally strong'

    Tottenham v Dinamo Zagreb (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Tottenham, who are five points outside of the top four in the Premier League, are also in a Carabao Cup final.

    Jose Mourinho's side are also in the last 16 of the Europa League but the manager says the club are not going to "prioritise competitions".

    “I am not thinking about the Arsenal match [on Sunday]," said Mourinho.

    "I am thinking about his one. We will make changes the same way we made changes between the Fulham and the Crystal Palace match.

    "The team is playing well and the team is winning, so you could say no changes, but we change. We won't play with the same team that played against Palace but the team will be equally strong.”

  10. 'I would like him to play 90 minutes in every game'

    Tottenham v Dinamo Zagreb (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Gareth Bale has enjoyed an upturn in form in recent weeks, scoring five goals in his last four games, and manager Jose Mourinho says they are both deciding how to manage his progress.

    "I want to keep the momentum going but I need to manage him," said Mourinho.

    "The communication is very good and I think he trusts me. In this moment we are deciding together what to do.

    "He's playing very well. The relationship with him is very good I think and, of course, I would like him to play 90 minutes in every game, but he can't."

  11. 'Was that an advantage?'

    Tottenham v Dinamo Zagreb (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Tottenham face rivals Arsenal in the north London derby on Sunday, and Jose Mourinho has been dismissing claims that his side have an advantage because they face Zagreb at home on Thursday, while Arsenal have to travel to Olympiakos on the same day.

    "On 6 December we played Arsenal [2-0 win] in our stadium," said Mourinho.

    "On 3 December they played at home against Rapid Vienna, at the same time we were playing on the ice in Linz with a late flight back. Was that an advantage to Arsenal?"

  12. 'He's had to stop what he is doing'

    Tottenham v Dinamo Zagreb (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has almost a full squad to choose from against Dinamo Zagreb, with only the injured Giovani Lo Celso and the ineligible Joe Rodon unavailable.

    "Gio [Lo Celso] is not ready but it's nothing to do with his previous important injury, from which he's totally recovered," said Mourinho.

    "With his accumulation of work he's got a bit of back pain and he's had to stop what he's doing, so not for this match.

    "Apart from that, Joe Rodon, who is not registered, but everyone is available.

    Am I going to repeat the team that played against Crystal Palace? No."

  13. Jose incoming...

    Tottenham v Dinamo Zagreb (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)

    Now then, time to hear from Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho ahead of his side's Europa League tie with Dinamo Zagreb...

  14. Tough crowd

    Porto were the surprise winners of their Champions League tie with Italian giants Juventus last night, but manager Sergio Conceicao faced a wall of silence in the post-match news conference.

    It's all a bit awks if you ask me, but judge for yourself...

    Video content

    Video caption: Shortest press conference ever?! No questions for Porto boss Conceicao
  15. Is Cavani unhappy at Old Trafford?

    Man Utd v AC Milan (Thurs, 17:55 GMT)

    Staying with Man Utd for the moment now...

    Striker Edinson Cavani "does not feel comfortable" and could move back to his native South America, his father said.

    The Uruguay international, 34, joined United on a free transfer last October on an initial one-year deal having left Paris St-Germain.

    He has scored seven goals in 25 appearances this season.

    "There is a 60% chance that Edinson will come to South America," Luis Cavani told the TyC Sports network.

    However, on Tuesday night Cavani posted a photo on his Instagram account of him playing for United with the caption "proud to wear this shirt".

    Edinson Cavani
  16. Fletcher made technical director at Man Utd

    Man Utd v AC Milan (Thurs, 17:55 GMT)

    As promised, we'll be hearing from Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ahead of his side's tie with Italian giants AC Milan shortly.

    But the club have already been busy this afternoon with the announcement that former midfielder Darren Fletcher will become the club's first technical director.

    John Murtough, who joined when David Moyes' was manager in 2013 - becomes football director, with Matt Judge director of football negotiations.

    Read more here.

    Darren Fletcher
  17. Sky Blues heading home

    Before we left you earlier on, there was some huge breaking news from the Midlands.

    Coventry City will play their home matches back at the Ricoh Arena next season after signing a 10-year contract with owners Wasps RFC.

    City have been playing their home matches at Birmingham's St Andrew's since August 2019, which is where they will continue to play for the remainder of the current campaign.

    It's great news for the club and the people of Coventry!

    View more on twitter
  18. We go again

    Welcome back to our afternoon coverage of Europa League news conferences.

    We'll be hearing from Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shortly, so stay tuned for updates...

  19. Back in a tick...

    That's all from Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, and it's actually time for us to take a little break as well.

    We'll be back later this afternoon to hear from Messrs Solskjaer and Mourinho ahead of their Europa League involvement.

    See you in a tick...

  20. 'Very popular'

    Olympiakos v Arsenal (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)

    Arsenal

    Arsenal will face their former defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos when they host Olympiakos, but manager Mikel Arteta says the 32-year-old remains "very popular" in north London.

    "Papa is such a good character and a very popular player here," said Arteta. "He was liked and loved by everybody and it was a pleasure to work with him.

    "He’s such a pro and he knows what we try to do, but there isn’t a magic formula and I’m sure he will try to do his best. We will do the same."