Thursday’s latest stories from the world of football in ESPN FC’s What’s Trending …
MAN UNITED: Jose Mourinho says Manchester United were made to pay for not capitalising on a “perfect” first-half performance after Basel scored a late winner at St Jakob-Park but refused to blame Daley Blind for his role in the Swiss side’s winner.
– Zlatan Ibrahimovic became the first player to represent seven different clubs in the Champions League when he came on against Basel.
– Rio Ferdinand accused Manchester United of “lacking professionalism” as they slumped to a 1-0 loss at Basel in the Champions League.
– Juan Mata has told ESPN FC he is open to prolonging his stay at Old Trafford.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Here’s what the teams need to do to seal progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League with one game left to play.
– With the penultimate matches in the group stage over, John Brewin picks the best Champions League XI — with Neymar in after his super performance.
– Igor Akinfeev kept his first Champions League clean sheet in more than 11 years as CSKA Moscow beat Benfica 2-0 on Wednesday.
BAYERN MUNICH: Bayern supporters protested Anderlecht’s ticket prices by launching bundles of fake money on the pitch during their side’s 2-1 Champions League win at the Constant Vanden Stock stadium on Wednesday.
– Jupp Heynckes paid tribute to in-form goalkeeper Sven Ulreich’s performance, but bemoaned injuries to Thiago Alcantara and Arjen Robben in Wednesday’s 2-1 win at Anderlecht.
– Here’s five memorable meetings to whet the appetite before Saturday’s true Klassiker between Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach.
BARCELONA: Ernesto Valverde said he left Lionel Messi on the bench against Juventus to give him a breather as Barcelona booked their place in the Champions League knockout rounds on Wednesday.
WATCH: Why Barcelona are taking Valencia so seriously
REAL MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo accused the media of twisting his words and declined to be interviewed after scoring twice to set yet another record in Tuesday’s 6-0 Champions League Group H win at Apoel Nicosia.
– For most of the past decade, the Premier League’s best have left for Real Madrid and Barcelona. Are Philippe Coutinho and Eden Hazard next in line?
WATCH: Sid Lowe says Real Madrid aren’t done yet
CHELSEA: Antonio Conte revealed his mind had already turned to devising a tactical game plan to face Liverpool after watching Chelsea demolish 10-man Qarabag 4-0 in Baku to book their place in the Champions League knockout stage.
LIVERPOOL: Steven Gerrard says that he has been pleased with the return of the “magnificent” Rhian Brewster after his heroics on the international stage.
– The visit of Chelsea will tell us plenty about Liverpool’s progress under Jurgen Klopp and whether it is in danger of slipping into reverse, writes Mark Ogden.
MAN CITY: Yaya Toure says manager Pep Guardiola will not allow Manchester City to be complacent after he tore into his players in the dressing room following the 1-0 victory over Feyenoord on Tuesday.
WATCH: Who’s better: PSG or Manchester City?
PSG: Unai Emery was delighted by his players’ recovery from Celtic’s opener as they set a new record for the number of goals scored in the Champions League group stage in a 7-1 win on Wednesday.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers claims their 7-1 Champions League defeat by PSG brought more encouragement than their seven-goal thrashing by Barcelona last season.
– Celtic’s Moussa Dembele said the Champions League encounter with PSG had been “good for two minutes” as his side were thrashed 7-1.
– Transfer Talk: PSG keen on adding Alexis Sanchez, loaning Julian Draxler to Liverpool
ARSENAL: Danny Welbeck is set to make his first start in five weeks when Arsenal play Cologne on Thursday, with Arsene Wenger confident the injury-prone forward can still make England’s World Cup squad.
WATCH: Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will mix youth and experience in the Europa League
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