13/03/2016 MOTD2 Extra

Good afternoon, welcome to MotD2 on BBC Two,

Joining me today: Mark Lawrenson, John Hartson and the Sunday Times'

Use the hashtag #BBCFootball on social media or text

Coming up, Diego Costa and Chelsea are dumped out

Rafa Benitez takes charge at Newcastle.

Bournemouth edge closer to safety after a third win in two weeks.

And, are Manchester City now out of the title race?

Virtually all of the Sunday papers focusing on the Diego Costa

sending-off. We will talk about Rafa Benitez and

his release clause later that we have to start with the cup tie last

night. Everton are through to

the semifinals of the FA Cup for the first time since 2012

after a 2-0 win over Chelsea. Well done, and lots of cat and

mouse, the game came to life in the last ten minutes but you are through

to the semifinals. It is a fantastic feeling, more than anything is the

atmosphere that was created. One of those that you will take every

single one of us to create a special memory. I think the goal from Roman

is one of the great goals we will see in the FA Cup. -- Romelu Lukaku.

Two team is very similar in terms of the way we are, technically. I

thought we looked a team that were hurting from the weekend and that

reaction and character and responsibility, wanting to get rid

of the pain we had against West Ham really made us perform to high

standards. From the first second to the last it was an incredible

performance, and we had many good performances this season. And

hopefully we want to celebrate with the fans and enjoy the atmosphere

with them. You ask my question, he is great to interview. Very

comprehensive answer. Let me ask, there are plenty of positives from

the Everton point of view. Absolutely, really good win, into

the semifinal. Good performance as Roberto said, perfect reaction from

losing late in the game to West Ham in the league. Lukaku, another two

goals, an unplayable when he is on song. All in all a fantastic fourth

formers. What they need, those performances where they are home

against the lesser teams. They have struggled at home as everybody

knows. The atmosphere came through on telly, it rocks at Goodison Park

and that will be one of the problems they will have to look after if they

move. Up until that three weeks ago, if you looked at Everton you go,

Wigan but with better place. Insofar as they cannot really defend which

is why they are conceding. They have some outstanding players. They

should be much further up the league. It was interesting you

mention the atmosphere. The fans have not really been behind them but

there was something about the performance yesterday, no matter how

much Martinez tries to change Everton it is when they go back to

their basic they can beat anyone. If they can carry that on to the cup

semifinal. When Joe Royle was manager, it was dogs of war. It was

a bit like that yesterday with some skill. It is also down to the

players to inspire other fans. It always amuses me when people within

football clubs suggest that the atmosphere created by fans affect

the players. Since he arrived Roberto Martinez has been trying to

put in a more patient build-up. That does not necessarily go down with

the public, they want higher tempo and the passion. They are not fans

that are easily impressed. You are not going to get them just behind

you automatically. When we look at Romelu Lukaku and we see some of the

goals he scored including last night, which was brilliant, is there

still, this is not actually criticising him, he is still young.

But for all his good performances are you still looking for more

consistency? I think you are always looking for more goals from your

strikers. Into the 20s now, his hold-up play and linkup play has

improved. The goal last week when Lennon played him in and he held it

up and followed the run. He is a beast, six foot four, great in the

air. Left foot, right foot yesterday. For me you are always

looking to improve, yes. When Everton bring in new players it is

getting to know the new players but no complaints. I think he has

improved. I do not want to sell the place for them but all of the big

teams are looking at him. Chelsea did not want him. He has scored 25

goals this season, the first to do that for Everton since Gary Lineker.

But he does switch off and the crowd see that. That might be the next

step if he wants to play for a big club. He is unstoppable in spells.

His positives outweigh his negatives certainly. Do you think if Everton

win the cup that stops the doubt, the rumours that would swirl around

Roberto Martinez because of the new investment? It would not totally

satisfied the supporters but it would be enough, they are a bit

staffed of success. But the bottom line is next year has to be better.

Phil says his job was on the line last night and that lost Commons has

prevailed. Why has it taken so long to set the team up properly? -- at

last common-sense prevailed. This board Gareth Barry Ryan

-- this morning Gareth Barry has privately refuted the allegations he

was bitten by Diego Costa last night. Also a Chelsea statement last

night denied that. Mark? I do not think he bit him. If he is a

pantomime villain. It is virtually every week. It is nothing new. The

clever thing to play against and is not to be antagonised, just laugh at

him. Motioning to bite, that is what people are saying, rather than

actually biting. But motioning to is different to what we have seen

before? That is the only way he will get done, if the FA say he has

motioned to do it. He has not actually sank his teeth. Gareth

Barry does brilliant for him. You can see by his reaction, look at the

World Cup, Suarez and Chiellini, he almost went crazy because he felt

it. Gareth Barry hardly flinched. It is there, it does not look great but

I agree with Mark, he does not actually take the fight. The other

thing is the referee is right there with the linesman. The issue to

yellow cards, the referee clearly saw it not as violent conduct.

Whether there is even the facility to punish him. I do not think so.

Chelsea said Diego spoke to officials after the game and expect

results over his reaction that led to the red card but also very clear

he did not bite Gareth Barry. I am assuming that if he is saying he

didn't and if Gareth Barry is saying he was not bitten, then the two

people involved are singing from the same hymn sheet. I think the debate

just moves on, is Diego Costa worth the bother. The Chelsea as much as

anything. He has had this great run under Hiddink and he has done that

while behaving themselves. He is one of those players where the idea that

having an edge helps does not apply to him. All it does is get him off

the pitch and distraction. Nicholas says Costa is not worth the fleeting

moments, he is a disgrace to football. That incident masked the

Chelsea performance. Woeful defending, no heart, lack of

passion. And Danny says, I hope everybody Chelsea finally comes to

rumours that the manager was never the problem. -- finally response to

rumours. How do players go from winning the Premier League to

struggling the next year? It is always very difficult to win

consecutively but a loss of form, not from two or three, but apart

from Willian, he is the only one you could abstain. The loss of form has

been frightening from everybody else.

Leicester play Newcastle in Rafa Benitez's first game in charge.

He spoke for the first time yesterday as Newcastle manager.

Some people can see this like it especially, but it is normal, trying

to do my best, to stay in the Premier League. If there is a

compromise for the future it is because I'm convinced we will do

well. I want to stay here and start winning from Monday. I'm here

because I believe we can do it. We have enough quality. We need to give

confidence to the first to organise the team in the way we want to do

things. Again I would say the atmosphere, the fans, everybody in

the City is helping. I have some experience because I'm getting

older. At the end it is more or less the same. Obviously some people say

it is not the same. You have to approach the game, you have to

analyse things and be sure that everybody here everything. Then the

responsibility of someone that wants to win a trophy and does not want to

make mistakes is more or less responsible to have someone that

does not want to make a mistake because they can be relegated. I

think in terms of the approach it has to be similar. Rafa Benitez

talking to the press yesterday. Some of your messages straightaway.

Rafa is exactly what we needed, tactically brewing, born winner.

Will not take any rubbish. Barry says, not sure which Newcastle games

he has watched a convincing. -- tactically brilliant. Do you think

he can keep them up? No. I do not think so. He is good enough.

Tactically he is very shrewd. He is a top manager. They have an

appallingly unbalanced squad but I think he can sort it out in the

short term. He has to win against Sunderland. The fixtures are not the

worst. He has been there before. When you say he is tactically

competent, have they looked tactically incompetent this season?

Do you think tactics has been the problem? Well... It has been the

players first of all. But they have changed tactics. Watching McLaren it

was not sure who he really wanted to be playing. What you will get from

Rafa is something quite clear. And you look at the players they signed

in the window, certainly Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend, they

are not crackers. You are in that position -- they are not scrappers.

You just have to get your team over the line. You are fighting for your

footballing life will stop I seriously think they do not have the

players. John Carver was on this programme and what he said about

Coloccini, and he managed him. He must have found that difficult to

say, Fabiola is not a leader, he just concentrates on his own game.

Ranks for that, captain. I think the next three games in particular.

Leicester on Monday, the big on next Sunday and then the big one again

against Norwich. You only have to finish above Norwich. Because I do

not think of to Swansea, 33 points, they will get another win,

Bournemouth have got one to 38. They are both fine. It is Sunderland,

Newcastle or Norwich. They have to finish above Sunderland as well.

That game in a couple of weeks away and Norwich is as big as any other

fixture. Rafa Benitez has been at Real

Madrid, has won the Champions League at Liverpool, he will not feel

frightened by those fixtures. You might look at the DVD of Newcastle

playing this season and feel very frightened(!) if we were constantly

told, Steve McClaren a great coach but not a great manager, does... Is

one of Rafa Benitez's qualities man management, because arguably. No,

no, no. He is not a man manager. Under Steve McClaren we were told

that the man management needs to be present. There is a lot of players

who will start regularly but are not good enough for the Premier League.

And are not bothered what happens to Newcastle United, they are on a

contract, they go to the championship, they probably do not

have a clause where they lose money. They have the balance wrong. They

had success selling foreign players, flipping them, making them better

players, buying them for low money, selling them for big-money, you

cannot do it for ever and it has come back to bite them. If you

cannot get by that crowd, the noise they create, they get behind their

players. Fantastic place to play football. St James' Park. It is a

shocking thing, isn't it, if you cannot get motivated, if you are not

bothered. Perhaps bothered is the wrong word... Just not putting it

in. They have got Steve McClaren the sack. The other thing, John is

right, great place to play, although want to do, the punters, they just

want to be entertained. Rob says, it is bizarre that Newcastle have

someone of his calibre, great opportunity, they could do a

Leicester City next season. He's not the only one saying that! If he

keeps them up, yes, it is a big if, but they have won the lottery with

Rafa Benitez if he keeps them up because he is a serious football

manager who can build a club, I do not think they have had that kind of

figure for a long time. If you keep someone up, it is loaves and fishes.

Yes! Biblical reference on a Sunday, well timed! LAUGHTER

Moving on to talking about Bournemouth, you could argue that

one of the people who has contributed to Steve McClaren

leaving this job is Charlie Daniels, who has weaved his way through the

Newcastle team to score Bournemouth's final goal at St

James' Park last week. He joins us now. That afternoon! I know that

footballers do not like to talk about opposition side that much, but

you had a game plan to get the crowd against the Newcastle side last

week, you knew that if you started quickly, the atmosphere would turn.

Were you surprised, being on the pitch, how much it turned? Our game

plan was to go there and dominate the ball, get the crowd frustrated,

and turn it hostile against their own team. I thought we done that. We

had a lot of pressure in the first 15, 20 minutes, after we scored, we

began to dominate. The crowd went against them, that is what you want

as an away team. Ten points out of the last 12, great run, what do you

put it down to? Hard work, you see us in training every day, working

hard. Every game is a different game plan, that we work towards. For that

week. A bit of self belief, as well, a bit of confidence goes a long way.

How long, for you, personally, do you think it took you to get self

belief, playing in the Premier League. I don't know, really, I

would like to think that from the first whistle, really. As soon as we

started, the first home game, against Aston Villa, I like to think

my performances have been good. That they have been up to scratch. From

every game, keep going forward, building the confidence up a little

more. You and cook and Frances, and Elphick, all of you were at

Bournemouth from League 1. -- Cook. I know that there had been injuries

this season, and the back four has been shuffled. -- Francis. But do

you think that stepping up into the championship and then into the

Premier League, do you think actually you have not found it as

big a step because you are confident as a unit? Yes, as I say, we have

had a settled back four. Adam Smith has come in, need has done very

well. Each of us know each other's roles, and we know where everyone

else will be. It does help in that way. And if we can keep consistent,

then it is going to be a great success. The club have spent, they

have been quite canny in the players that they have brought in. You have

to be, the higher you go, the more you need specialist players, game

changers. The gaffer has brought in some very good players, who have

scored some important goals. You will not tell me now, because it is

not mathematical, that you are safe. No, not yet, we are not safe yet. I

thought that would be the case! We wish you well for the rest of the

season. If it were not for Leicester, their manager would get

column inches, really. He has done a fantastic job. The great thing about

it, he has not changed the way they have played at all, it has really

been refreshing. You can throw a view in there who would get more

recognition, Watford... West Ham... From where they are from, the start

of the season we all thought Bournemouth would get relegated. Did

we not? Well, no, well, not everybody! Always a bit cautious

about the teams that come up. They have a threat in Josh King

laptop. They try to win games, it is great to see. -- Josh King up top.

Should be mentioned as well, they have spent nearly ?50 million on

players. There is a balance there. It is time to drop the plucky brave

named that the BBC gives them, it is as if they still have a lot of the

League 1 players, who have been with them, like Charlie, but they have

added to it with the ?50 million they have spent. They have the

combination absolutely right, a great advert for stability but also

adding a little bit, Max Gradel, Benik Afobe, Max Gradel has barely

been available, and Tyrone Mings, as well. Comparing them to Norwich,

Newcastle, Sunderland, even Swansea, they have changed a lot this season,

searching for answers. Eddie Howe, from the moment he got into the

Premier League, it has looked like he knew what he wanted, the team he

wanted them how he wanted to play, the strength they have, how they

would work them, and that that would be enough. This is the lowest number

of endless managers there has ever been in the English top flight, only

three left, what he is great. Tottenham... Tottenham put five past

them, and they just did the change, didn't make any difference, they did

not change. Energy and pressing, it is what Leicester and Spurs have

done, it is what has worked in the Premier League this season. Why is

it all right for Bournemouth not to change when they 25s but Roberto

Martinez gets hammered for not changing and doing the same thing.

He may not have the squad to change Bournemouth, he has got to keep

going with what he has got. -- when they concede two fives.

Another one of those season defining weeks for Arsenal, you could argue

that Arsene Wenger has gone with the strongest possible line-up, apart

maybe from Calum Chambers at right back in place of Hector Bellerin,

three changes from the 4-0 victory at Hull in the replay on Tuesday

that got them here. Flamini is out, Francisco Klang, Nin, and mesoderm

is ill and Sanchez come in for the walk to. -- Theo Walcott. -- Mathieu

Flamini is out, Francisco Klang comes in. Craig Cathcart is fit. And

to changes in midfield. Baroni comes in. 8325 Watford fans here to cheer

them on. -- Francis Coquelin. That team selection, strong as they

possibly can be, they do play Barcelona on Wednesday night, do you

think they think that one has gone? Escom and Barcelona played

yesterday, they have already got a game. That has well and truly gone.

And it is the only competition he can win, for me. They will not win

the league. Those fine is five words which follow Arsenal around, they

always let you down, it is much and it has happened. -- those famous

five words. -- it is March and it has happened. John Hartson,

they have had a players-only meeting after their recent run of poor form.

He said, "We know as a unit it has been tough

and we all had a good chat amongst us behind closed doors.

It was a meeting to express how everyone is feeling and it worked."

only the results are going to say whether it was worth it or not. The

players getting together to sort it out without the manager, what do you

think? Depends upon the meeting. If the players recognise they are not

doing as well as they can... They have put in the effort but I think

that is not a bad thing, the players can get together. It is today, the

performance, the reaction, that everybody will judge them on. I

would rather they were steaming into each other at half-time. That is a

major problem now. I know it is a little bit old school, but it is a

major problem, you have got to sort, somebody in the dressing room, John

Terry has done it at Chelsea, sort out the dressing room, sort out

people. Sometimes you have got to tell them the future and it is not

particularly good, it is the way of the world. It is a little bit late,

the reaction to adversity by the Arsenal is always too late, they

came off against Spurs the other day, saying they had fantastic

character, 2-2, but seeing out the game at 1-0, that would have been

character. Winning the reactor -- winning the FA Cup will be reacting

too late to later the season. No side has won the cup three times in

a row for 130 years. It would be historic but this season it is not

good enough, last couple of seasons it showed progress but this is the

season that progress was meant to be winning the title. Their best chance

of winning the league was this season. Possibly, but looking at the

season that Leicester City have had, they have come from nowhere. In

terms of Manchester United having a poor season, Chelsea, Liverpool...

Manchester City... I thought that Manchester City were a shoo-in for

the title. Eight away goals in the Premier League in the last 12 games.

They have only won two of the last ten away games! I have thrown away

the FA Cup. They are going to get through in the Champions League,

they will beat Dynamo Kyiv, that puts them in the quarterfinal, but

in terms of the league, especially after the first five or six games

where they were absolutely untouchable, to have dropped in

terms of their standards and their performances, so much in recent

weeks, they have lost the big games at home, they lost against Leicester

and Spurs. I think there supporters will really be frustrated. One more

on the Arsenal and Watford game, before going back to Manchester

City, the last few games I have watched, Watford have been very

difficult for the opposition to break down, whether that is

Manchester United, at Old Trafford, Leicester City, at vicarage Road.

They seem to have changed it with Etienne Capoue out wide, that has

strengthened them even more. I think that they have been very good in

those games, Troy Deeney has been excellent but body in a gala has

been the problem, they have lost 1-0 twice, in games where they have had

the better, they have that foundation. If DNA gala can begin

scoring again, then they have had the chances. But if they score first

against Arsenal today, and they have a real problem breaking them down.

-- Odion Ighalo. Manchester City were at Norwich yesterday, finished

goalless, here is Joe Hart. Really frustrating afternoon for Manchester

City. Yes, I cannot see us getting too much air time tonight from that

game. It was an OK performance, we did not give any chances but we did

not create many. You have got to give Norwich a lot of credit, made

it difficult all over the pitch. Good for them but I am not bothered

about Norwich City, it is about our own performance. It is a good

performance and result for them, but it is no good for us. Do you feel it

has made it more difficult for you, it is still achievable

mathematically, but it is a big gap. We will have to rely upon a crazy

season getting even more crazy. But we are still in it and we will never

give up. Jonathan, everybody is talking about this title challenge,

should they be looking over their shoulder? They have played the same

number of games as West Ham and Manchester United, two clear of West

Ham, four clear of Manchester United. West Ham in particular, Alex

Ferguson said this week, he thinks West Ham United could pip them to

the top four. It is as if they have just decided to coast, and

concentrate on the Champions League, which is a dangerous game for them.

They are not good enough, particularly away from home, to rely

upon that. Liverpool will be only four points behind if they win their

game in hand. Member when they won at Chelsea and Manchester City and

people thought they were going to win the league! A little bit of

caution! -- remember when. has been that type of season where I

would not this rise if Arsenal or Manchester City dropped out, it has

been that kind of season. And West Ham, the run they are on, West Ham

have nine out of the last ten. Who is it going to be? I Spurs have

enough points. I think Spurs will be fine. They have a chance of winning

it. Why are City so inconsistent? Good question. The key players are

the ones they have had for five years, Yaya Toure still wins games

for them even though there is a lot of things he does not do for any

more. They have lacked the quality of work to make up for those older

players. They are relying on moments of magic from him and Silva.

Fernandinho Jesus Navas. Raheem Sterling will never understand

again, loads of ability. Can that understanding be coached? A little

bit. I don't think he will ever understand it. That's what I'm

saying, can he be coached? I do not think he realises how he does what

he does, it is purely instinctive. Wilfried Bony has not done it,

nowhere near. Too much reliance on Aguero to get the goals. He is a

world-class striker. Lacklustre in front of goal, when they get in and

around the box. Fantastic on the eye but just the final pass that will

create has not been there. It will be a tough job for Guardiola.

Apparently City are just playing like they are fed up with

Pellegrini. Pellegrini has failed, spending so much money and

struggling against Norwich. Daniel says they need to focus on making

the top four. Waiting for the quickest ever resignation in

history. If the big players, Yaya Toure in particular, David Silva got

some stick after yesterday. If they do not produce then they get the

stick as opposed to maybe the players on the periphery who do not

deliver at all. Players like Samir Nasri who is nowhere near any more

but still earning wages. Really poor recruitment policy in the last five

years. One of the things Guardiola is to give them is a style of play

and identity. For all of the money they spent they never came up with

that. Kevin De Bruyne is a big miss. It is football, you have to manage

those injuries. They should be top of the league. With Norwich holding

out, you still do not give them any hope? They have got hope, yes. I

think Sunderland have got a bit of fight. It is a battle. This will be

two from those three. When was the last time Norwich on in the league.

They were good yesterday. Solid, but goals are the problem again. Goals

have been the problem since they came into the Premier League. The

4pm game in the FA Cup is Manchester United against West Ham. You have

spoken to Dimitri Payet this week. He talked about Ronaldinho, the

scenes himself as a player who goes and puts on a show and tries to

entertain. He has been one of the finds of the Premier League the

season. Along with Mahrez. He was relishing the thought of going to

Old Trafford because he missed out in the league when he was injured.

He does not fear a stadium like that as a reason to be scared. If you

look at West Ham they can fight as well as play football. They are big

and strong and athletic. They love to tackle. Very much like their

manager in many ways. But Payet, one of the top five in the country this

season, certainly. At Blackburn the other week, all right, his second

goal was against ten men but even so his free kick, he is one of those

players who gets you off your seat. What has he done now? He is that

good. They should be relishing this. Of course they should. They are

having a fantastic time. In great form. I do not think they would be

favourites today at Old Trafford. Are you just going on history for

that? I probably am, Mark. Won't they be short of a centre-back.

Winston Reid is 50 slash 50. The likes of Noble, Obiang, Antonio. --

50-50. They do work in midfield for Payet to go and get the ball where

he likes to get it and go for. You take his defence for responsible it

is out. Great, why burden him? Exactly. He has been outstanding.

Everybody has looked at Antonio. And everybody went, I do not think he

can do it. He has a goal in him as well. In big games. Stan Collymore

has written today, not on United player would make it into the Bilic

team. Goalkeeper? But look at the West Ham team and it is full of the

type of clothes that Manchester United used to be about. Lanzini is

the Manchester United typo, Payet. A loss of identity from a United. I do

not think West Ham would trade. As well as the flair players as you say

they have those players who can fight and put their foot in as well

which Manchester United always had. In this phase of the season where

everybody is talking about leadership, you spoke about the

dressing room at half-time, you could throw the same accusation and

the Manchester United dressing room. As has been thrown at Arsenal and

various other clubs. Absolutely. But don't get me started on Manchester

United. It is the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Football has moved on massively. He is yesterday's man. I do not mean

he's going to lose his job, he has always been yesterday's man.

Managing from a different era. The captain 's armband has gone from

small into character Mata. Are any of them leaders? -- Smalling,

Carrick, Mata. I do not know them personally. You look at Martial,

Ratchford, Depay, they are not leaders. Chris Smalling, England

centre-half. He has had a good season. I thought the emergence of

the kids was a last chance for van Gaal. They offered him maybe an

unlikely get out of that look at what has happened at Ratchford -- to

Ratchford already. His head looked full of instructions at Anfield on

Thursday. He already looks short of confidence. It is a fact that

players seem to get worse under van Gaal rather than better is one of

the reason is you might think it does not work. Could he go this week

with West Ham, Liverpool, Manchester City. If he loses all of them,

possibly. I do not see him. Honestly I think he is yesterday's man. Why

would they get rid of him this week, what is the point? Because the

atmosphere could become so poisonous depending on how they go. If they

lose, they won't get in the top four, out of the cup. I would think,

just give him until the end of the season. Just drifting. I would put

Ryan Giggs in there. Laurel Browne got a mention this week. -- Laurent

Blanc. Gary says it is a fantastic time to the West Ham supporter on

text. A good time to be going north? Good luck with that one. You would

be there by Tuesday. Every Silva lining has a cloud at the moment.

Quickly, let's touch on the Championship.

Strange situation at Middlesbrough, assistant Steve Agnew will take

charge of their match against Charlton this afternoon.

It's being reported that manager Aitor Karanka

has had a big falling out with his players

Could they sort this out? It sounds bad. He has missed training for four

days and this is the crucial time in the season. Of situation. I question

Karanka because whatever his problems are this is where he needs

to fight. If not for the club then for himself. It is very odd to

desert it. The whole thing is bizarre. When you look at the bottom

of the Premier League and you talk about the pressure of staying in

maybe we are seeing in recent months the same at the top of the

Championship. They are not out of it. That is why it is bizarre.

Burnley and Hull, they have their managers from last season and

everything is stable. Derby and Middlesbrough trying to get into the

promised land. Middlesbrough bottled it in the final last year. They did

not turn up. They have invested a lot in the squad. They bought Jordan

Rhodes. There is an expectoration likely for them to go up which is

why deserting at this button and there is an expectation. It'll be

interesting to see his reasons. Second in the Championship. What

morale must be like in the dressing room. For him to walk out of it.

Obviously a problem with the players. It will be interesting to

actually see what comes out. Looking at it a different way, they will be

on massive money if they get promotion. No one is going to toss

it away, you would think. We're not talking about a soap opera club,

this is Middlesbrough. A good owner, the dressing room that you do not

hear tales from. Did Spurs need to rest so many

players against Borussia Dortmund with only Villa

to worry about this weekend? I was surprised. Not really. I think

the Premier League is a priority. It is within their grasp to catch

Leicester. Even though Leicester are going ready well. I think the

priority is the Premier League. Rest eight few players. Borussia Dortmund

is a tough game anyway away from home. They need a big performance

after the North London derby as well? It was a sporting decision,

better chance of getting in the Champions League via the Premier

League rather than going and winning the Rafa league. But they do need a

performance. -- winning the Europa League. It is they work so hard

together. Villa did the same. Pochettino has always taken it

seriously which is perhaps why it surprised people. I think

essentially we know they need back-up for Harry Kane and Delhi

Alli was injured. That is who he had to rest. -- Dele Alli. The defeat

even with a second string, that is interesting. With the guys they have

rested coming back today, they will be fresh. You have to go with Spurs.

Villa only started playing when they were 4-0 down last week. You know

what, forget it. Thank you very much everybody.

Commentary of both FA Cup games on 5 Live today.

Arsenal at Watford in about half an hour,

Manchester United against West Ham at 4pm.

I'll be back tonight on BBC One for Match

of the Day 2 for both of today's Premier League games.