United and Tottenham seek Europa League last 16 spots

Manchester United and Tottenham are among the sides aiming to ensure direct passage to the Europa League last 16 in Thursday’s league phase finale with nine places in the knockout stages up for grabs.

The struggling English giants are labouring in the bottom half of the Premier League table but do sit in the top eight of the Europa League.

Only the top eight progress automatically into the last 16, while ninth to 24th have to endure the rigours of a two-legged play-off round next month.

United boss Ruben Amorim is desperate to have two free midweeks for extra time on the training field to try and imbed his ideas after a turbulent first two months in charge.

The Red Devils have played 17 games in 64 days since Amorim took charge for the first time.

United have found Europe’s second-tier competition much easier to negotiate than domestic duties with four consecutive wins meaning they just need a point away to FCSB.

The Romanian champions, though, can also secure a top-eight finish should they pull off a famous victory.

“We have to surpass ourselves, but we have done this before many times, so we will do it again,” said FCSB striker Florin Tanase.

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes Marcus Rashford has no future at the club after manager Amorim said he would rather have his goalkeeping coach in his matchday squad.

Rashford has not played for United since Dec.12, with Amorim leaving him out of the squad for every game since apart from one, in which he was an unused substitute.

When quizzed on why he had not included Rashford for Sunday’s 1-0 at Fulham, Amorim pointed to the England international’s effort in training with a stinging reference to Jorge Vital, United’s 63-year-old goalkeeping coach.

“The reason is the training, what I think a footballer should do in training, in life and every day... I will put (in) Vital before I put (in) a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day,” said Amorim in the latest of a series of bombastic remarks since he took charge in November.

Ferdinand said he would be embarrassed by such a statement. “If I was that player that the manager said that about... embarrassment,” he said on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.

“We all have days off or moments when we’re not performing well, lacking confidence, but effort isn’t really one of the things I would want to be hearing a manager say is lacking in my makeup.

“That’s a damning comment, because I think he knows what the reaction is after that comment. He’s not saying that without thinking, ‘Where does this go after?’ There’s really no way back for Marcus after that, I don’t think, with that type of comment.”

Rashford said in December he was “ready for a new challenge” but he is stuck in limbo with one week of the January transfer window to go.

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou is clinging to his job by a thread after a disastrous run of six Premier League defeats in seven games plunged Tottenham into a relegation battle.

A mounting injury list has been a major factor in their troubles and victory over Elfsborg in north London could buy Postecoglou time to get some of his star names back for the last 16 in March.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have been handed a boost with the return of centre back Micky van de Ven in training after the Dutchman recovered from a hamstring injury, the Premier League club said.

The 23-year-old Netherlands international was out of action since picking up the injury in Spurs’ 4-3 home loss in the London derby against Chelsea early in December.

Roma, Porto in danger: Table-toppers Lazio are the only side to have guaranteed a place in the last 16. Anderlecht, Athletic Bilbao, Eintracht Frankfurt, Galatasaray, Lyon, United, Tottenham, FCSB, AZ Alkmaar, Bodo/Glimt, Olympiacos, Rangers, Union Saint-Gilloise and Viktoria Plzen are all assured of at least a place in the play-off round.

However, there are big names at risk of crashing out before the knockout stages.

Two-time European champions Porto sit outside the top 24 ahead of their clash with Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, which will be held in Belgrade.

Italian giants Roma are also at risk as they are 21st in the table and face a tough task against second-placed Frankfurt.

Agencies