12/03/2017 MOTD2 Extra

Welcome to Match of the Day 2 Extra on live BBC Two

Joining me today, former Everton midfielder Leon Osman,

Hull defender Alex Bruce, who's currently on loan at Wigan,

and James Ducker, who's the Telegraph's

Good afternoon to you all. If you want to get involved, we would love

to hear from you. Use the hashtag, #bbcfootball,

on social media Yesterday's Emirates FA Cup

quarter-final goals as 5-star Gunners book

their place at Wembley. Manchester City join

them in the semi-finals with a comfortable win

at Middlesbrough. A huge result for Hull City

in their Premier League relegation battle,

beating Swansea City. And a Josh King hat-trick

puts Bournemouth six points clear The Sun says Chelsea

are interested in Manchester The Sunday People claims the Arsenal

players are shunning Alexis Sanchez and that Wayne Rooney's

England days are numbered. Arsenal's board have told

Arsene Wenger to make a decision on his future during

the international break That's where we will. Four is we

talk Arsene Wenger and Arsenal. We'll keep you updated

with the Old Firm Derby. But we start with the goals

from the Emirates. COMMENTATOR: Than an halt -- Petr

Cech saves, but only just. Ozil, picks out Mustafi. Little lob.

Touched on, Giroud. Coming back for Walcott. Theo Walcott! Arsenal have

the lead on the stroke of half-time. Lincoln City's first half endeavours

under. Giroud has pulled away from his

marker. There he is. Miskick from Theo Walcott. Bellerin going with

Sanchez. Giroud! 2-0! Well worked by Arsenal. They cut through Lincoln

City, and they head into the FA Cup semifinals barring a miracle

comeback. Sanchez to Gibbs. It's in. Arsenal

have a third. And the scoreline suddenly looks a lot more knobs

sided. -- lopsided. Away from Wood. Alexis Sanchez.

Brilliantly placed for an Arsenal fourth. They put Lincoln City to the

sword in the end. Poorly placed, back to Alexis

Sanchez. They are out on their feet, Lincoln. At the far post, or walked

into the back of the net for an Arsenal fifth. Aaron Ramsey

completes the victory. How good was it for your players to

play with that with and fluency in the second-half? As it does help to

build confidence. We have been short of confidence, because we had some

disappointing results recently. In the second half, when the confidence

was there, you can see the quality came back into our game. Our game is

about that. Much has been spoken about Alexis Sanchez and what has

been going on with him in the last few weeks. He played 100% today, no

one could question his attitude at all. No, people talk, and talk, and

talk, but it does not mean they talk the truth. But we have to deal with

that. Performing on the football pitch, that people talk, show what

we are about, playing with quality and commitment. That is what Alexis

can do. For you, it has been a tough week or one in your career? I don't

know. I always, when I have a problem, I try to sort it out. I am

competitive, I am always focused on solving the problems I face, and in

our job, when you sold one out, you have straightaway another one.

Sometimes the size of the problem is bigger, sometimes a bit smaller.

STUDIO: Let us know whether you think Arsene Wenger should stay or

go, should he leave Arsenal? Get in touch. Alex, looking at Daniel's

comments already, he says that Wenger should leave. What is your

view? Arsenal fans have got to be careful what they wish for. How many

times in the past have we seen managers leave and people can't

replace them. Manchester United struggled to replace Alex Ferguson

after all those years. People need to pay Arsene Wenger more respect

and what he has done for the club. I wouldn't like to be the man that has

to fill his boots, that is sure. It is a difficult one. Looking across

the City, looking at Chelsea, Mourinho leaving, the Messiah at

Stamford Bridge, Conte comes in and day are going to win the Premier

League, in my opinion. They might look at that and think they have to

make a change as well. It will be interesting to see what happens in

the summer. But for me, I wouldn't like to be the man that fills his

boots. Back to Wenger in a moment, but there has been a goal in the Old

Firm derby. Ian Turner. It has gone to Celtic. It has been an even start

to the game, but Stuart Armstrong has broken the deadlock. Cutting in

from the left, a low, left foot shot, beating Wes Foderingham in the

goal. 1-0 after 35 minutes gone. Leon, good afternoon to you. It is

difficult for Arsene Wenger because they put five past Lincoln City,

they are in the FA Cup semifinal, but fans on social media and on the

radio last night saying the time is up and he has to go. Yeah, you know,

it is a difficult situation. They have come up against a very strong

Bayern Munich team in the Champions League. They have gone out, albeit a

lot worse than you would have expected. He is through in the cup.

He is still in contention for the top four. From that point of view,

he is doing the job he has done every year, but it is getting to the

stage where Arsenal fans want more. They want to be challenging for the

title again. They need to be winning trophies and competing in the

Champions League. Arsenal fans are demanding more. I also think Arsene

Wenger's demeanour in general seems flat and a bit deflated of late.

When any manager gets to that stage, it is may be time to move on. James,

John Richardson, back page of the Sunday Mirror, apparently the board

have told him he has to make his mind up in the international break.

There is a time pressure for Arsenal, if Wenger decides this will

be his final season, then they need to be able to move and react quite

quickly. It is a big decision. It will be a big decision for them, who

they get to replace. The change brought about if Wenger goes from

the club is huge. We mentioned United before. We saw one guy being

there the 26 years, and the people at the club was huge. It will be the

same at Arsenal. That club is modelled to Wenger. Everything that

happens there has gone through him. He is omnipresent, and he controls

everything. They will want some time to be able to plot their next path

if he does decide to go. It is very interesting, it does look like he

will make his own decision, Wenger. They have been clear in the past

that Wenger will pick his moment ago. Should it be his decision? I

don't think so. At any other football club around the land, the

chairman and the board have their say. It is, but I believe the

Arsenal board are showing some respect Arsene Wenger. They saying,

we are not going to sack you, we are not prepared to do that after the

service you provided to the club. We would like it to be your decision to

move on. They are showing him the respect, and hope what they consider

is the right decision. What do you think the players want, Alex?

Whether we like it or not, we have seen what goes on at other clubs,

player power exists, we know it is exists. In the dressing room, people

will want him to stay, and some will want him to leave. Once that play

every week will him to stay. That is what it is like image dressing room.

Players there will be happy, but it will be a mixed bag. There will be

an obvious divide. Especially the players not playing. But you get to

the point where players like Alexis Sanchez, I think they want more.

They want to be competing at the top. It gets to a point where they

are thinking, Arsene Wenger doesn't seem to be the man to do it. They

will want to bring in better players. There is such uncertainty

about Arsenal at the minute. Back in my time, I have played for managers,

David Moyes left of his own will, Roberto Martinez was under a cloud,

and ended up getting the sack. For the period before that, there was

such uncertainty for the players of being there next year. What was

going to happen? Are we looking to strengthen the team? Will I fit in

with the new manager? So much is going on that there is such big

uncertainty and you don't know where the club is going. What is it like

listening to the same voice, you had David Moyes for so long at that

club, sometimes does it get to a point where players need to be

reinvigorated and tested? I think they probably do. It depends on the

type of manager you have got. I have got to be honest, David Moyes is the

type that is in your face. If he feels that you are not doing it, he

will demand it from you. For everything I hear about Arsene

Wenger in Arsenal's dressing room, he is quiet and lets people get on

with things. That type of manager will be more susceptible to the

lethargy that comes with uncertainty of not knowing who the new manager

is coming in. An interesting piece in the Sunday Times survey by

Jonathan North Croft. If you take a look at this, it is basically about

the young talent that Arsene Wenger brought to the club. People like

Aaron Ramsey, Karl Jenkins, and Jack Wilshere, James, and a suggestion

from here that there are questions about whether he can get the best

out of the British talent. The players that have been written about

today, can they improve? You mentioned Gibbs and Walcott as well,

can't you. Wilshere is a difficult one. They look to him as the one

with the talent that they thought would become the creative fulcrum of

their midfield 47-8 years. -- the 7-8 years. He has massively been

debilitated by injuries. Some of the other players, have they actually

have the quality and the skill set to get Arsenal to the level that

they want to? I would maybe argue not in the case of Jenkinson and

Kieran Gibbs. You mean, initially? They have definitely been good

Arsenal squad players, but are they actually good enough to win games,

dictate that team? We have seen some English players down the years that

have been the driving forces in their side. Walcott, you know, he

has flattered to deceive at times. There have been moments where you

have thought he is turning a corner and the penny is dropping, but he

falls short. Aaron Ramsey, very gifted, but hasn't really, sort of,

dominated in a way that they would have hoped. That has been the issue.

Have they been quite good enough to start with to get Arsenal to wear

they want to? Maybe they have had some of the from players coming in,

if they had been of a better quality, bringing different

attribute to the team. You might have seen those players kick off.

Only Arsene Wenger knows how they are performing in training, only

Arsene Wenger knows whether he sees whether they are capable of getting

through all the games, but I just feel that to get the best out of

these young players from 21-24, they need to play every week. There is a

rotation that goes on at Arsenal that they never get a head of steam

up. Wilshere in and out of the team, picking up injuries.

Oxlade-Chamberlain can never find a position, he picks up injuries

because he is in and out of the team. On the flip side, Aaron Ramsey

had a whole season in the team and was arguably Player of the Season

because he played regularly. Since then, there is so much rotation at

Arsenal that you can't get a set team. There is so much choice that

he wants to keep them all happy, and you suffer for it. Being brutal and

if we are honest, and Arsenal fans won't want to hear this as well,

Alex, if you look at the quality of European football we have seen, the

magnificent game midweek, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Arsenal

were few million eight, and it shouldn't happen to them. It comes

down to the squad that Arsene Wenger has assembled, it is not good enough

to compete at the top level. You could say that, and the result

against Bayern Munich, 10-2, it is a very bad result. We all know that.

The players have is bonded in the right way yesterday. I know they

were playing Lincoln, no disrespect to them, to win 5-0 will give them

confidence. But when you compete with Bayern Munich, Barcelona, where

Arsenal fans want to get to, they are a million miles off at the

minute. To compete with those players, you have to spend the

money. I know he has spent money, and when you spend it, you have to

buy the right players. Are they top, top European players? They have not

shown it. What might they have spent a lot of money. They have got to do

better. Recruitment has got to be better. A lot of England's top clubs

would struggle against Bayern Munich. I don't think that is

necessarily... Manchester City would be beaten 10- to? I am sure they

wouldn't be, but as we have seen all teams have struggled in the

Champions League in recent years -- 10-2. The difference is, certainly

in the Premier League, they look well short of Chelsea, and even

Spurs at times. So the jump to Bayern Munich, that ilk of team, it

is getting greater. The great frustration for Arsenal fans is, it

is not that they have been miles and miles away, they always seem to be

perennially 2-3 players short. They are just not resilient enough,

they seem flimsy when the going gets tough. They are not physically

dominating to grind a result out. Chelsea can accommodate a physically

dominant. Look back years ago when Arsene Wenger and his team were

dominating, Vieira, Adams, they were big guys. I don't see Arsenal having

that. If you are ever stuck in a bar with

Martin, he will say he would look around at dressing room and he would

see Vieira, at Old Trafford, he would think, we are winning because

we have a team of battlers are really hard men.

I was fortunate to play against the Arsenal team. People think Vieira

was a powerhouse, Tony Adams. But you looked at Pires, they were

monsters. Over Miles. Not in size but they had the blend.

Perez, the flair player, 6-foot three inches, strong, physically

built. Arsene Wenger's teams have come so far away from that. When the

going gets tough, if they don't play well and dominate, they don't win

games. You can turn up, Ozil, Number ten. Arsenal have two or three, you

can outplay the bottom clubs but go to Chelsea, there are too many

players not doing enough work. Great discussion, Wenger, in or out?

We don't know. You are saying out? You don't know. Respectfully out,

well said. Half term -- Half-time at the Old

Firm clash. The opening 25 minutes, Rangers

started really well, Waghorn should have given them the lead. Craig

Gordon said that, it was vital. Stuart Armstrong fired in from 20

yards. Rangers did not sustain further damage to give them the

chance to regroup at the break. 60,000 at the east end of Glasgow.

Thank you. From 1:30pm on BBC One,

the FA Cup quarterfinal Eilidh Barbour's already

in position at White Hart Lane. The stage is set for the penultimate

game of this FA Cup quarterfinal weekend, sure to be a tasty one.

Spurs might be for dictators above, but Neil Harris and his side are on

a 17 match unbeaten run which includes knocking out three

Premiership sides. I am joined by Michael Dawson, former Spurs

captain, and Teddy Sheringham who played with both sides. Millwall say

they fear no one, had difficult will they be?

Really difficult. I have seen them a couple of times this year, really

impressed with Neal Harris, a real unity. They will come here today and

enjoy the day. Michael, I think Mauricio Pochettino

underestimated lower League opponents last time, you must be

expecting a strong Spurs side today. The FA Cup can have upsets, and it

was nearly with Wickham. Millwall, but they have done in the League and

FA Cup is impressive. Harry Kane, a lot said about how

well he has been playing recently. What was he like to play alongside?

He is a finisher. Teddy was a finisher. And probably watches him

with pleasure. If he gets half a sniff, as with

Everton, it ends up at the back of the net. Another two hat-tricks in

the past few weeks. He cut his teeth at Millwall, what

is it like come up against a team you have played for?

We had Harry speak in the week about his affection for Millwall. It is a

good ground for any young player. They put you to the sword as fans.

If you come through, you have half a chance of building your character

and becoming a footballer which is what Harry did at Millwall and is

proving to go on to bigger and better things with Spurs.

Neal Harris, you played with him at Millwall, what has he brought to the

club, not just results, but a sense of unity in the community.

I didn't actually play with Neal. He played in an era at the old Den, you

get a feeling of how things are amongst the supporters. He has

brought that along as a player and a coach and manager. He knows all

about Millwall and the feeling at the club. It is special. They will

be a formidable team to play against. A big ask for Tottenham.

Millwall will enjoy themselves. Prediction, Michael?

3-1, Spurs. A little closer, maybe 2-1, Spurs.

Thank you very much, all looking very sharp.

I am used to seeing him in a tracksuit!

Mauricio Pochettino has done a great job, they have to win a trophy.

You look at Spurs, they have developed well under Mauricio

Pochettino. They nearly won the title last season, got close this

season, they need that first piece of silverware to develop the club.

Jose Mourinho likes to do it, at Chelsea, at Manchester United.

I feel that is where Spurs are. Millwall will have something to say.

Are you a romantic for the FA Cup, do you want the four big boys in?

It has been terrific, the FA Cup, the upsets this year, getting to the

quarterfinals. Millwall, there will be something quite exciting for the

big boys in the semifinal. When you get to that stage, he would like to

see ultra competitive games and perhaps a really good final. It is a

big ask on their hands, Millwall. You like the romance up until the

quarterfinal point. But if you are tuning in to watch it, a top

Premiership team against a championships team which has

happened on occasion, it is an anti-climax.

We got there as well! Hull City almost beat Arsenal.

Do you fancy Millwall to swing a surprise?

Not funny. It will be a good tie, a Derby down there Tottenham will be

too strong. Lots of FA Cup action. And a big day

in the Premiership, three fixtures, what a win for Hull City?

Exactly what we needed. In recent weeks they haven't picked up too

many points. It was a must win game. They came up with the goods.

Did you play alongside Lou Massey at Everton?

I have to be honest, Nouiasse. You have seen how Roberto Martinez

treated him and Ronald Koeman. It is great to see him having gone to

Holland and found his feet and scoring goals.

He has obviously been frustrated at Everton. The games I have seen him,

he has been a handful. He gave an interview where he said

he had no idea why he was frozen out. He has gone to Hull City. He

has been fired up by the experience at Goodison.

There is back. He is working with a very able coach. Look at Silva

coming in. I thought the likes of Snodgrass were going because they

wanted to get rid of some big earners and get money in, in

anticipation of the Premiership. Silva said that is not the case. He

wanted to build his team. I have watched them quite a bit

recently. They look so well drilled as a team. Actually very fluid going

forward. Supporting the attack pretty well. Before it was an issue

getting the best out of Tom Huddlestone. There has always been

an abundance of talent. But doing it on a consistent basis has been

difficult. He looks like a manager who believes, and playing much, very

much to his strength. I fancy them to stay up.

Sometimes, you are always, no matter how good a player you are, if you

don't fit in with the management style, you have no chance. I don't

think this was the player they thought they were getting. Hull are

now getting the best out of him. Man City, is Aguero a Pep Guardiola

player. There is talking the men be there next season. He has brought

Jesus into gently push Aguero away. Maybe he doesn't super-team.

This can happen. Alex, I talked to you in December about Hull City. You

are on loan at Wigan. Hull City is your parent club. He said there was

confident they could get out of trouble.

Is there still that feeling? They have been in that relegation

battle before. They have experience with Dawson, Davies, McGuire. That

will stand them in good stead. Middlesbrough haven't really

experienced it. They have just been away to a training camp in Portugal

working hard. I have seen the preparation and organisation. The

way he started as manager has been very good.

Marco Silvestri the ground sharing with Hull FC, the Rugby League side,

it is impossible. They played at the KCOM on Friday, then Premiership

football, hardly ideal, the next day.

The pitch will get cut up terribly. I was in Russia with United last

week, the pitch was diabolical. It can get cut up quickly. Wigan

have had those battles, rugby and football being played on it.

For markers of them that will be frustrating. He will want everything

he can -- Marco Silva. It depends who you are playing.

Playing Man City. Swansea. Sometimes it will super-team. It could make it

more difficult. Let us talk about Swansea City.

Given the result yesterday. It has died them straight back into it. One

moment they are thinking a couple of results we might be out of the

relegation worries around Easter. Suddenly they are back in it.

The run Swansea had over recent weeks, many thought that is it.

It was a must win as Alex said for Hull yesterday and they got that.

Now Swansea amongst other teams are back in there. I watched a bit of

the game yesterday. When Llorente went off, they had a few injuries.

In the first half they controlled proceedings.

Then they fell to pieces. When you take your main goal threat

out of the team, the opposition get a boost. When they saw the Venter

go, the lads would have had a boost. They have teams in and around them

to play so there is hope for Swansea.

They are better equipped to get out of it?

Hull and Swansea of the form teams at the bottom. They had a difficult

one fixtures. Their promises even in defeat against the big boys says a

lot about where they are going. Look at Crystal and Middlesbrough,

they have really difficult run-ins. Whole, Swansea have a favourable set

of fixtures to come. They have momentum and form and looked like

they have belief. They look like they can score goals. I expect both

to steer clear. It will be close. Who is going down? Palace might call

with Middlesbrough. So Sam is not going to keep them on? We will have

two C. -- we will have to see. The other side maybe don't have the same

pace and quality that Palace and Sam have at their disposal? Absolutely.

As Sam went into the Crystal Palace dressing room, he rubbed his hands

together and thought it was brewing. He has never joined a team at the

bottom of such talent. But you can't get the talent to work as hard as it

needs to come and get them to perform, then you will be in

trouble. Hard-working teams will always outperform. They have

something like five of the top six to come. And all of the teams at the

top are fighting. That is a good point. It is really competitive up

there. That is the problem. If it was a different run in four Palace,

you would always back Sam Allardyce to get them out. That might well end

up being the case, but he has a tough task on his hands. Palace fans

switching off now, well done, James. Here's a question for you, Alex and

Leon, Josh King, he scores but missed a penalty, then gets another

penalty, then Benik Afobe gets the next, and misses. As a player, would

you take the next penalty? I would be halfway down the tunnel, to be

honest. I would run as far away from the penalty as I could. I was

hopeless at penalties! I was fortunate to have someone like

Leighton Baines, who was unbelievably good at taking

penalties. He was very confident stepping up. Some players would like

to argue over it. Some players are confident. But ultimately, stepping

up to put the ball on the spot, he has got to be confident. We had

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the studio yesterday. He was

disappointed. He said, if you are the penalty taker and you have

missed one but scored, you should be taking the second penalty. It would

be hats off to anyone that has missed one to show character to take

one again. It is a problem for Bournemouth, because they were two

dire penalties, missing the target with the first one. It would be nice

for him to take it again, but I am sure Afobe... I was told off by

Geneva Hasselbaink for saying it was a rubbish penalty. He said it was a

good save by the goalkeeper. Where do you sit on that? -- Jimmy Floyd

Hasselbaink. Now the goalkeepers are turning off! If it is going in the

corner and it is safe, it is a good save. It was a poor penalty and an

OK say. With regards to penalties, what usually happens is, you have a

guy on penalties, and a guy jumping on the bit to take a penalty. The

rule is, if you miss one, I am on them. He scored from the penalties

but against United in a previous week. Watching Josh King, his

reaction after missing that penalty. He ended up scoring a hat-trick, he

didn't let the penalty miss go to his head at all. Actually, his

response and his reaction was outstanding. In that sense, seeing

that resilient streak he has, I was a bit surprised he didn't step up

and take it, because I don't think he is a player that shies away.

You are based here and you cover Manchester City and Manchester

United, how much of Josh King had you seen at United? He made a couple

of substitute appearances in the first team. I saw him a bit in the

reserves. He was 14 when he came from Norway. He was well thought of.

A tidy player, certainly when he moved to Blackburn, a lot of people

thought, United have a good player in the making there. It didn't quite

work out for him. You are starting to see in the past two seasons at

Bournemouth, he is delivering on that promise. You almost forget, we

said it off air, he is Norwegian. It looks like he has been here forever,

classically English, strong centre forward. He has a good touch. You

are starting to see he has an eye for goal as well. For him having

that confidence, playing regularly, it has maybe brought him up to

another level. Is he a top striker? I think he is some way off that yet.

But he has been key for Bournemouth this year. The first time ever,

Eddie Howe celebrating with a player getting the winning goal, the first

time you see Eddie Howe unruffled. He is so calm in front of camera. A

lot of that is down to getting three points, because he knows he is in a

battle. But also, he has been publicly critical of the FA, saying

that five matches is harsh on Tyrone Mings, does he have a point, Alex?

He does a little bit. Only Tyrone Mings knows if he meant it or not.

If he did, in five games is probably fair. It shows how much pressure are

on these games. As you say, Eddie Howe is normally a cool customer. He

was doing a Jose Sa the touchline yesterday. It obviously meant a lot

to get the three points. The draw last week, the Bournemouth lads have

taken confident out of that. The Tyrone Mings incident and the

aftermath, is that something, James, that you think might be able to

galvanise the club and the togetherness in the dressing room in

a relegation battle? To a degree, possibly. I think there is more a

sense of injustice on Bournemouth's part. I think they genuinely feel he

has been harshly treated, it is that more than anything else that might

galvanise them. I was slaughtered on social media last week for

suggesting it was far from clear cut that Tyrone Mings meant it. I think

if you see before he surveys the wreckage in front of him, he looks

at Rooney and Ibrahimovic, puts his hand, and make a big leap. He is not

looking anywhere, he is not looking at Ibrahimovic. He is looking ahead

and to the side. I think, clearly, obviously, it looked bad, but I was

surprised that the FA came down so heavily, because I didn't think it

was that clear cut. Are you saying three and three would have been

fairer? That would have been fairer. Ibrahimovic has clearly

intentionally elbowed him. There are a lot of pros that have argued

otherwise and said that he knows what he is doing. Having looked

closely at his body language, his line of sight, what he was doing

when he made the jump, I am far from convinced that it was deliberate. It

was a shame it resulted in that because it was a good, old-fashioned

scrap. They both gave each other a little bit. They came out after the

game and said they enjoyed the physical battle. For that to happen,

it put a damper on on the afternoon. Your opinion, Leon? I think it was

dangerous. I don't know if he meant it, like Alex said, only he will

know. If you can see someone is lying on the floor and his head is

down. You have got to avoid it. Make sure you jump ten yards further or

landowner backside or something. You can't have a chance of standing on

someone's head. In my opinion, it was dangerous and deserved a ban. Do

you think five is justified? No, three would have been fine, but once

you start appealing things, it is always going to be made even bigger.

It was dangerous play, clearly, that's why he has got it. It is the

extra two matches because they thought it was intentional, I would

argue that. Let's go back to White Hart Lane, a cracking quarterfinal

coming up on BBC One, Tottenham against Millwall. Here is the team

is. A shrunk Tottenham team to reach the

semifinals for the first time in five years. Four changes from the

3-2 win against Everton last weekend, trivia in at right back the

Kyle Walker, Winks comes in for Dembele, who is not on the bench.

There are two changes for Millwall, unbeaten in their last 17 games, a

big blow for their goalkeeper Jordan Aja who started his career at top

them, but he is not fit today. Tom King continues between the sticks.

Morrison starts with Gregory, and Jed Wallace on loan from

Wolverhampton comes on. Millwall have blocked out three Premier

League teams so far on their own patch, can they repeat the triggered

White Hart Lane? Don't forget to join Gary Lineker and the team 1:30.

Plain sailing for Manchester City yesterday in the FA Cup quarterfinal

at the Riverside. COMMENTATOR: Toure looking for

Zabaleta, who is free. Surely in the end it's got to go in. It does from

David Silva. A disastrous start for Middlesbrough, just past the two

minute mile. Manchester City already in front.

Leadbetter's corner, and they haven't! Claudio Bravo almost

conceding. Here's the second one. Just over.

Here goes de Bruyne. He's got Sterling away to his right. He's

seen him. Raheem Sterling looking for Aguero. Middlesbrough survive

yet again. Silva, well worked. Sane in full

stride. In towards Aguero... Finally! The scoreline has a more

realistic look about it. Sergio Aguero, four in four in the FA Cup.

STUDIO: If we are honest, it was all too easy for Manchester City

yesterday, but what they need given the huge week they have. A big

testing week, Monaco in the Champions League, it is finely

balanced, Guardiola says that if they do not score, they will go out.

A big week for them. Particularly after the disappointing result

against Stoke three, drawing 0-0, that was a cakewalk for them

yesterday, evidence yet again of how exhilarating they can be going

forward. Talking of cakes, I never thought I would say it on live

television, you saw Ibrahimovic in a cafe be was eating a cake? No, he is

a bit healthy. Were you eating a cake? I was. That is the difference

between me and Zlatan! He is a beast of a man, I have never seen such a

big, physical presence. He walked in, and you hear people say he is a

big lad. It is Chelsea against Manchester United in the FA Cup as

well live on BBC One tomorrow evening. That is your Sunday and

Monday plan for you. Graeme Souness says

in the Sunday Times that "with Ibrahimovic suspended United

have little or no chance That is what Graeme Souness says,

agree or disagree? Agree, if I am honest. He has been such a

figurehead for them this season. Scoring probably 40% of all of their

goals. He is also assisting them, he is a big physical presence up there.

I think they will really miss him. With Chelsea being social at home, I

can't see anything except a Chelsea win. Little or no chance, James? I

think there is a chance. The issue is for me, less Ibrahimovic being

out, and more fatigue, this will be United's, they have had 45 games

this season, it will be their 46. Chelsea have had 43. Majesty night

it had been to Russia playing on a god awful pitch -- Manchester United

have been to Russia. 5-6 players will come into the team that didn't

feature. They have shown signs in the last few games in the second

half of looking battle weary. I think that will tell tomorrow night.

Particularly when you look at how formidable and aggressive and

strong, Chelsea are, that will be a problem. If they are that reliant on

Zlatan, a number of United fans want Antoine Griezmann. He gave an

interview in the week saying that he is happy in Spain. It shocked a lot

of people. The fans hoping he would come to United. Will it materialise?

It doesn't necessarily mean a great deal. I expect he will move to Old

Trafford in the summer. Clearly, with the big deals, there are always

convocation is an things can change. It looks nailed on in April... They

need to get the Champions League, that has got to be a guarantee,

surely? Not necessarily. It wasn't a factor for Paul Pogba and

Ibrahimovic coming. The framework of a deal is in place with the player.

The problem with a lot of deals is the negotiations with transfers, but

he already has a clause in his contract, if activated, Atletico

Madrid can do nothing about now. There are lots of complexities. It

is complex to invoke clauses, but if they want, he is therefore ?85

million, and there is nothing Atletico can do about it. It is

likely to go semi-only will leave in the summer. He'd of the

extraordinary step of reducing the length of his contract, so he is now

a free agent. There is talk of him going to Italy. That could change.

But if he goes, maybe is it the start of the break-up of that sad,

Diego Godin is a bit older now. I think Antoine Griezmann will go. Is

it possible he will stay in Spain for another year? Yes, but he is 25

and that is a good age to move. Ibrahimovic will stay, I expect. He

will give them another matchwinner, it will give them a game changer

that they need. From a Chelsea perspective, hard to

be at Stamford Bridge? The Arsenal team, Chelsea are the

opposite. They have such a strong spine, physical players and they

have proved this year they don't get beaten. They have a never say die

attitude. It will be a great game tomorrow night. Man United have

improved in recent months. Jose has put his stamp on the game. I would

like to see Wayne Rooney given a chance if he is fit. It is a great

occasion for him to show what he can do.

Really enjoyed your company today, thank your very much this afternoon.

Chelsea v Manchester United is live on BBC One and

You can watch Spurs v Millwall shortly.

And don't forget MOTD2 tonight with highlights

They're calling it an entertainment extravaganza

audience fun and frolics and outrageous shenanigans.