Man Utd set for Charlton tribute & Champions League build-up

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Before planned tributes to the late Sir Bobby Charlton.at Manchester United's Champions League clash with FC Copenhagen this evening BBC Radio Manchester's Joe McGrath paid his own.

He said on the Devils' Advocate podcast: "The Munich Air disaster was his determination to be the best, and he was. I don't think I could have done what he did mentally, get over something like that and really flourish and make the ones he lost proud of him. The story is something that Hollywood writers wouldn't dream of making up.

"He was just phenomenal when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net. It wasn't easy back then, the balls were rock solid and the way he could strike the ball is phenomenal.

"There was such celebration around Messi winning the World Cup last year because the world of football thought he'd ticked all the boxes. Those boxes have been ticked already by Sir Bobby Charlton. There is no question that he's got to be the greatest ever."

Listen to the Devils' Advocate's full tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton here

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Some key stats to digest before tonight's match at Old Trafford.

• Rasmus Hojlund has scored in both of his Champions League appearances for Manchester United, netting three goals in the process. If he finds the net in this game, he will become the first player to score in his first three games for the Red Devils in the European Cup or Champions League since John Connelly in 1965 (3).
• This is the first time Manchester United have begun a European Cup or Champions League campaign with two defeats (v Bayern Munich and Galatasaray). They have lost their last three games in the competition, and have never lost four in a row.
• Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has lost his last three matches in the Champions League (one with Ajax, two with Man Utd) – his longest losing run in the competition across the 34 games he’s taken charge of.
• FC Copenhagen's first ever Champions League win was against Manchester United, a 1-0 home victory in November 2006. However, they've never won (D1 L3) or scored a goal (9 conceded) in four away games against English sides in the competition.

Chris Sutton told the Monday Night Club that Manchester United are “carrying too many players”.

The Red Devils won their second Premier League match in a row by beating Sheffield United, but the former Blackburn striker was critical, singling Marcus Rashford out for scrutiny.

Listen to the Monday Night Club here

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta clearly saw something that made him replace Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya as his first-choice goalkeeper. The problem is Raya has not convinced and now looks a nervous keeper, as he certainly did at Chelsea on Saturday, when he was caught badly out of position for Mykhailo Mudryk's goal then almost gave another away by passing the ball straight to Cole Palmer.

He has not looked an upgrade on Ramsdale yet, but it seems certain Arteta will stick with him. He needs Raya to find his form quickly as Ramsdale is a real favourite with Arsenal fans, but managers can be stubborn and it would be a bit of a climbdown to revert back so quickly.

The other question is how long Ramsdale will remain content to be second choice? Not that long you would suspect.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

A few interesting stands to pore over before Arsenal's Champions League clash away to Sevilla this evening.

• This will be just the second time that Mikel Arteta has managed a game played in his native Spain, with the previous one coming in Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at Villarreal in April 2021 in the Europa League. He is winless in two games against Spanish sides whilst in charge of the Gunners (D1 L1 vs. Villarreal).
• Sevilla won their only previous home game against Arsenal, beating them 3-1 in the 2007-08 Champions League group stage. Arsenal have won just three of their 17 away games against Spanish sides in all competitions (D3 L11).
• Sevilla have only lost three of their 10 home matches against English sides in European competition (W5 D2), most recently a 3-0 victory against Manchester United in last season’s Europa League quarter-final second leg.
• Gabriel Jesus has scored in both of Arsenal’s games in the Champions League this season (two goals), and could become just the second player to score in his first three games for the club in the competition, after Marouane Chamakh in 2010-11.

SMS Message: Spurs fan here. Great win last night. It's a wonderful feeling being top. Our aim still has to be top 4 this season. Would be a great achievement given it is a new coach, we lost Kane and we've had injuries (like Bentancur). from Tom, London

Spurs fan here. Great win last night. It's a wonderful feeling being top. Our aim still has to be top 4 this season. Would be a great achievement given it is a new coach, we lost Kane and we've had injuries (like Bentancur).

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

If scoring goals means as much to Erling Haaland as it clearly showed when he put Manchester City 2-0 up against Brighton then I think their recent difficult period may be over.

The Norway striker seems to have recovered his appetite for goals again with a glimpse of the kind of ruthlessness that has made him one of the most feared strikers in the world.

City face BSC Young Boys in the Champions League in midweek and it is a chance for him to add to his goal tally. I'm convinced that Haaland needs the constant flow of goals and without them he's like a fish out of water.

You can see who else made my Team of the Week here...

Unai Emery has delivered some fantastic moments in his relatively short time at Aston Villa so far.

But why has he faced some negative moments on his journey to Villa Park?

"I do believe he belongs to the top," says Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

Listen to Monday Night Club here

Your dedicated Aston Villa page

The European Court of Justice will deliver its final verdict on the validity of the European Super League on 21 December.

The ECJ heard the case last year and its Advocate General delivered his non-binding assessment on 15 December.

A final outcome was expected from the ECJ’s 15-strong Grand Chamber in the spring but this did not materialise.

Real Madrid and Barcelona remain the only committed members to the Super League project, with Juventus, the third member remaining after 12 of the initial 15 backed out within 72 hours of its launch in April 2021, also signalling their intention to quit.

The arguments surround the rights of rival organisations to European governing body UEFA to launch competitions, with participation allowed without the threat of expulsion from existing ones, which is currently the case.

In his view, Advocate General Athanasios Rantos, said current sporting rules imposed by UEFA, and world governing body FIFA, were "compatible with EU competition law".

Danny Harvey: Best goal celebration for me was Ian Wright and Neil Ruddock mimicking Paul Alcock and Paolo Di Canio, following Di Canio’s sending off for shoving the ref a couple of days earlier… very funny.

NKR: Best goal celebration must be Temuri Ketsbaia kicking hoardings after scoring winner for Newcastle against Bolton in 1998 - he just went mad..

New York Times Journalist Rory Smith says it's good that players are still able to have some "agency" when it comes to transfers.

His comments follow the notion Chelsea attempted to sell Conor Gallagher in the summer.

Smith told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club: "He stayed, gritted his teeth and thought 'I am going to win my place, be crucial to this team and do whatever the manager wants me to do so that I can play'. He’s done that brilliantly.

"He's one of their players of the season, it's been an up and down season too so far, but he’s been one of their standout players."

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Visit our dedicated Chelsea page

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Paris St-Germain's dominance of French football and push for European success has been powered by the huge financial force of Qatar Sports Investments, the state-backed vehicle which took over the club in 2011.

Though QSI's stewardship of the perennial Ligue 1 leaders has drawn plenty of attention, the group's significant stake in another Champions League competitor is less widely acknowledged.

Last year QSI bought a 21.67% stake in Braga, the three-time Portuguese Cup winners who are competing with Real Madrid and Napoli for a place in the last 16 this season.

Earlier this month that stake increased to 29.6% following the acquisition of stakes from several minority stakeholders in the Primera Liga side.

With the PSG project having proven increasingly difficult recently - star players Lionel Messi and Neymar have departed, new manager Luis Enrique is enduring an underwhelming start to the league season, and that long-wished-for Champions League crown is still elusive - some may view the Braga project as QSI's second shot at European domination.

But the truth about their intentions in Portugal is very different, according to Portuguese football experts.

Full story...

Age:29 Country: Sweden

Club: Barcelona Position: Forward/full-back

Fridolina Rolfo is used to starring on the biggest stages and she did so once again in May, scoring the winner as Barcelona came from 2-0 down to beat Wolfsburg 3-2 and win the Champions League in Eindhoven.

It was third time lucky for the Swede - who returned to the starting line-up after a five-week absence through injury - after she previously found herself on the losing side in the European showpiece for both Barca and former club Wolfsburg.

The Swedish forward is versatile, with Barcelona deploying her in a defensive role last season, her work helping the side to storm to a La Liga triumph, finishing 10 points clear of runners-up Real Madrid.

And when Sweden faced a penalty shootout against reigning champions the USA in the last 16 of the World Cup, she stood up to take the first kick as they earned a victory that ensured an early exit for one of the favourites.

Sweden lost to eventual winners Spain in the semis, but Rolfo took home a bronze medal and scored three goals across the tournament, including in the third-place play-off as they triumphed over co-hosts Australia.

Read Fridolina Rolfo's full profile

Age: 32 Country: Germany

Club: Wolfsburg Position: Forward

Alexandra Popp has long been one of the women's game's most clinical forwards but, surprisingly, the accolade of topping the scoring charts in Germany's top flight - the Frauen-Bundesliga - eluded her, until last season.

Popp has had a career blighted by injury but bounced back in fine form after she was cruelly ruled out of the Euro 2022 final - and her performances as a striker at the Euros saw her retain that position at club level.

Her 16 goals led Wolfsburg to finishing just two points behind Bayern Munich on the final day of the league season, while she lifted the German Cup for the 10th time with the She-Wolves. The Germany captain also scored in the Champions League final, although her side ended up losing 3-2 to Barcelona.

The vastly experienced Popp took part in her third World Cup in the summer and while Germany - one of the initial favourites - were knocked out in the group stages that didn't prevent her being able to display her trademark abilities in the box.

Her four goals - just one fewer than Golden Boot winner Hinata Miyazawa - was a particularly impressive feat given she only played three matches.

Read Alexandra Popp's full profile

Age:30 Country: Australia

Club: Chelsea Position: Forward

Sam Kerr once again provided the firepower as Chelsea's maintained their dominance of English women's football.

She scored 29 goals in 38 games in all competitions as she continued her knack for finding the net at crucial times to help her side win another Women's Super League and FA Cup double.

The Australian was the deciding factor as the Blues beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final, her goal the only difference in that match and and she has now scored in the past three FA Cup finals.

However, her World Cup didn't quite go to plan. She was billed as the face of the tournament, but had to watch from the sidelines until the quarter-finals because of injury.

She still managed to make her mark in the semi-finals with a stunning equaliser against England, and, although it wasn't enough to prevent her country's exit, it earned Kerr a Puskas award nomination - an award which recognises the best finish in world football.

Other awards which came her way this year included being named the Football Writers' Association Women's footballer of the year for the second year running, being among the Professional Footballers' Association's team of the season, and being nominated for the Fifa Best awards.

Read Sam Kerr's full profile

Age: 30 Country: England

Club: Manchester United Position: Goalkeeper

In 2019 the closest Earps could come to a Lionesses place was sitting on the bench as England's third-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup.

Now, however, she's become a name synonymous with the Lionesses' success and has cemented her spot as one of the game's greatest goalkeepers.

After being handed her Lionesses chance by manager Sarina Wiegman she helped guide them to last year's Euro 2022 victory and was ever-present as her side reached the World Cup final this time round, saving a penalty in the defeat by Spain.

The last season was another important chapter in Earps' career and her shot-stopping abilities helped Manchester United finish third in the Women's Super League and a spot in the FA Cup final.

A stellar 2022-23 resulted in her being named Fifa Best women's goalkeeper and England women's player of the year, receiving the WSL and Fifa golden gloves, and being selected in the PFA's WSL team of the year.

Read Mary Earps' full profile

Age: 25 Country: Spain

Club: Barcelona Position: Midfielder

It would have been difficult for last season to have gone any better for Bonmati.

With Barcelona she won the Primera Division - Spain's top flight - and the Champions League, and at the World Cup she played a starring role in Spain's victory.

Bonmati has now become a two-time European champion at club level, dictating play from midfield with her trademark slick passing.

It was a spectacular season for the Spanish playmaker with the Catalan giants and therefore no surprise that she won the accolade of Uefa women's player of the year.

But it was for her country where Bonmati's excellence made her a global superstar, with the 25-year-old integral to Spain's World Cup triumph - scoring three goals and being named player of the tournament.

Former greats of the game - including those who were involved in the dominant Spanish men's team that won the 2010 World Cup and 2008 and 2012 Euros - have compared her with a great from that era in Andres Iniesta.

Read Aitana Bonmati's full profile

Voting for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2023 is now open.

Fans from across the world can vote for their favourite from the five-player shortlist of Aitana Bonmati, Mary Earps, Sam Kerr, Alexandra Popp and Fridolina Rolfo.

We'll have more on this, or there's all the info here.

There should have been no red cards in Saturday's Merseyside derby.

That's the view of The New York Times' Rory Smith.

The debate from the weekend's controversial fixture continued on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"At some point we are going to have to talk about how now suddenly every foul is a yellow card," says Smith.

Listen to Monday Night Club here

Your dedicated Everton page