OTB Football
FOOTBAL DAILY: Keane and O'Neill avoid Euro reunion, UCL draw, Grealish out for the season and are Liverpool set to dip into the transfer market?
30 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Rugby. Did he need minutes? No, he played the last two games. He played a long shift in Bayern. He did not need minutes. And this is not being wise after the event. I didn't want to tempt faith when the team was landed on Friday. I saw the three minutes. And then I remember looking at the first couple of minutes. Why is he? The bloody old weather pitchers. Part of me hates them.
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Hello and welcome to Friday's Football Daily. I'm Phil Egan. Coming up today, we'll hear from Celtic boss Martin O'Neill after his side booked their place in the playoff round of the Europa League. Arna Slott gives an injury update on Jeremy Frimpong. It looks like the season could be over for Jack Grealish and could a Brazilian superstar have ended up at Rangers?
But first to events in Europe last night and Celtic secured a place in the knockout playoff phase of the Europa League with a 4-2 win at home to Utrecht. Boss Martin O'Neill says their effort has paid off.
You'd have got long odds about us qualifying after about four games or something like this here, but great credit to the players, genuinely great credit to them. They worked tirelessly, and they have done.
Celtic's reward for that win is a tie with Stuttgart in the play-off round. So Martin O'Neill won't go up against Robbie Keane on his Ferencváros side. Ferencváros will play Bulgarian out for Ludo Goretz. Ferencváros were beaten 4-0 by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground last night. Forest will play Fenerbahce in the play-off round next month.
And Forest boss Sean Dyche was pleased with many elements of last night's performance.
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Chapter 2: What did Martin O'Neill say about Celtic's Europa League progress?
Tonight was, I think, a reminder that there's quality here. And that teamship, that's important. You know, Maka gets his goal, the first one over to celebrate was Morgan. That shows the teamship, the connection in the group. And that's important when we've got so many games. And I like that aspect to it. Not just some of the quality moments, but that feel of the group.
Aston Villa produced a thrilling comeback from two goals down to win 3-2 at home to Orby Salzburg. Villa were already into the last 16. The only downside was an injury to Oli Watkins in the first half. Boss Unai Emery is pleased with their second place finish in the league phase.
We are in the top eight. We are as well Newcastle have been drawn against Carabagh in the play-off round of the Champions League.
The second leg of that tie will be held at St James' Park. Real Madrid have been paired with Jose Mourinho's Benfica, who beat Real 4-2 on Wednesday night to take the last place in the play-off round and goal difference. Holder's PSG will face fellow French side Monaco. Bodo Glimt have been paired with last season's beaten finalist Inter.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe hasn't ruled out captain Bruno Guimaraes for tomorrow night's game against Liverpool the Brazilian missed last weekend's defeat to Aston Villa due to an ankle injury he was an unused sub in Paris for their draw with PSG on Wednesday night Howe is hoping Guimaraes can play at Anfield
I'd say he did really well to be with us in Paris. And I think that's more down to the fact that he was desperate to be there and support the players. He trained with us yesterday, but that was more of a test. So let's see how he is today. This will be the day really where we decide.
Liverpool boss Sarnath Slott says Jeremy Frimpong's groin injury isn't as bad as first feared, but he'll still be out for a few weeks. Meanwhile, Ibrahima Kanate will return for the Newcastle game tomorrow. after he missed recent matches due to the death of his father. Slots hoping to build on their 6-0 win over Carabag on Wednesday night.
We are fully aware of the fact that one win isn't enough at this club. So the next one is coming fast with Newcastle. And I think that's a bigger, I'm 100% sure that that game is a bigger challenge than the one we faced Wednesday night.
This Monday sees the first episode of Richie McCormack's new off-the-ball original football podcast series, Sliding Doors, a six-part series telling the stories of the most bizarre football transfers that look set to happen but didn't.
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Chapter 3: How did Nottingham Forest perform against Ferencváros?
Now, if you look at the modern day Rangers, you kind of think, there's no way they could financially compete financially. They were double contracting at the time, weren't they? They had an obscene amount of talent within their squad. So I think that summer, the likes of Jörg Alberts came on board, but they'd already signed, obviously, Paul Gascoigne, Brian Laudrup.
They had a really, really good squad. Unfortunately, they couldn't get it done in Europe, which is why the Ronaldo story came to the fore, and which is why Dave Murray, who was the chairman at the time, had the phenomenal idea of potentially signing Ronaldo, offering him...
the moon, the stars and everything that is above Glasgow and saying that he wouldn't even have to play in the Scottish Premiership of a Saturday. Just for European games? They would be maintaining Ronaldo purely for European games and this is 100% verifiable that this was something that had been proposed.
If you want to hear episode one of Sliding Doors, you can do so this Monday in your OTB football podcast feed for free. Everton boss David Moyes says Jack Grealish will probably need surgery on a foot fracture, which would rule him out for the rest of the season. The England international has been on loan from Manchester City this season. Moyes says it's a tough one to take.
Really disappointing for the player, but as for the club and for all of us here, because he's such an important part. He's a big character, a big experience for us, and no, we'll miss him. He's done a lot of really good things for us.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he's begging the Premier League to follow the Champions League in increasing the size of matchday squads. Midfielder Christian Norgard is one of the players struggling to be involved regularly in the domestic league, and Arteta says he has to leave two or three players out every match.
I cannot change that. These are the rules. Hopefully, the Premier League next season, instead of 18 outfield players, it will do 20 because it's much better to manage the squad, to maintain the value of the players, to maintain the mental health of the players because nobody wants to get out of the squad.
Brighton boss Fabian Herzler has no intention of losing midfielder Yassin Ayari before Monday's transfer deadline. The club rejected a £20m bid from Nottingham Forest for the Sweden international yesterday. Herzler expects him to stay.
I'm not taking part in these kind of speculations, so I really enjoy working with Yacine and he really enjoys working with us. I think he made a great development so far and he's a bright player.
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Chapter 4: What was Aston Villa's comeback story in their latest match?
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santos says new signing Adama Traore can make a real difference in their fight against relegation. The winger's been reunited with his former Wolves manager after completing a move from Fulham. Traore is expected to make his debut when West Ham take on Chelsea tomorrow.
I know him very well. I worked with him many, many years and I know him. That's why I say that he's unique. There are not many players with his ability on 1v1 situations. There are not many players with this speed, with this pace, and I think he's going to give us many, many things that we need.
Leeds boss Daniel Farkas says the club knows exactly what he thinks they need to do in the January transfer window. The Premier League strugglers have reportedly been interested in a move for Wolves striker Jorgen Strand-Larsen, but Farkas says it doesn't make sense to say publicly where they need to strengthen.
If I would tell you right now we need another number eight, for example, use this example because we don't need a number eight. But if I mention this, then also a potential club where we are in negotiations also knows this and it means the price goes up.
Burnley manager Scott Parker says he's thrilled to bring in James Ward-Prowse. The midfielder arrives on loan from West Ham until the end of the season. Parker believes Ward-Prowse's experience and leadership will be crucial in their fight for survival.
We've seen James play numerous games in the Premier League, brings a know-how and has been at the level professional-wise as well in terms of what he represents and what he stands for. I think he'll be a very good addition for us really, so we're pleased with that signing.
One player who Owen Elding won't be lining up alongside at Hibs is Kieran Bowie. Elding confirmed his move from Sligo on Thursday, but Hibs starting centre-forward looks set for a move. The Scottish international hopes a strong end to the season and Serie A will secure him a place in the Scotland squad for the World Cup. He's flying to Italy for a medical with Verona ahead of completing the move.
Bowie says it's a tactical decision to follow many other Scots to play in Italy's top flight.
It's a top league, isn't it? And everyone wants to do as best they can. And yeah, I mean, obviously, well, with the Cup coming up, I've spoken about that a lot over the last couple of months, and that's the idea.
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Chapter 5: What are the latest injury updates for Jeremie Frimpong and Ibrahima Konaté?
Ronaldo's shot. Picked that out. What a hat trick.
Episode one of this podcast series focuses on Ronaldo and a move to Glasgow Rangers. Subscribe now in your OTB football podcast feed to not miss an episode of this six-part series coming to you live each and every Monday.