I agree that his trick will be to try and persuade better quality players to join the club.

Of course if they are in the champions league that will be a lot easier

Its true, Van Gaal doesn't instil the same spirit in United and its hard not to like Klopp. Van Gaal gives us more "is he dead?" from the dugout than "Never say die".

That said it comes down to results. At half time Liverpool fans weren't happy and things weren't quite so magnificent. No amount of animation or lack of from the dugout changes that but the difference is Klopp looks like a man who can make things better for his club and players whereas Van Gaal is demonstrating that he is making things worse.

Yes, being in the Champions League is understandably important, but I also think the chance to play in the sort of atmosphere Klopp's Liverpool enjoyed last night at Anfield would draw a hell of lot of quality players. Those players last night will cherish that experience for the rest of their lives and I doubt the fact it was the Europa and not the Champions League will take away any of the pleasure, not for the players and not for the fans.

You are absolutely right about results. Undoubtedly United fans would forgive Van Gaal for serving up a weekly congealed, uncreative unmemorable mess as long as they were winning, but the boos rang out as soon as the results didn't come, as there is absolutely nothing else left to dwell on. Nothing at all.

In my view United have paid a heavy price for not appointing Mourinho when he was the standout, obvious man for the job. I said this three years ago and my United supporter friends all gave me the 'Mourinho's personality doesn't fit United, Moyes is the man' line ... it was rubbish then and it is now.

San Siro is such a dump of a stadium for the final

It's all about Wages. While a small amount may care about CL football or things predominantly its a wages issue. Pay the wages, players will come.

The draw was never going to be 1030 I suppose

Not sure what it's like now, but I went a few years ago. It was damn impressive. Steep stands at the top and the iconic spiralling walkways in the corners

This guy has gone from gianni's assistant to the main man I assume

City at home for first leg against real

Agreed. If the football is dire then you have to have results. Poor football and poor results will see you out of a job pretty damn quickly - or at least it should.

If Van Gaal had done the same thing, got the same results and accidentally developed the same young players but he had done it playing open expansive football I suspect attitudes would be very different, for a while at least.

Athletic Madrid home to Bayern then

Would take Real over the other two if I was City

Agree an open tie gives them a chance but you would still have to fancy real

Difficult for City but as I said the other day they have a 1 in 4 chance of winning the whole thing. Can't rule them out (although City V Munich in the final would be tasty especially with pep on his way)

Great draw, with the Madrid teams kept apart. If City can keep Ronaldo quiet, by no means an easy task, they have a very good chance against a Real defense as suspect as their own.

Atletico will have noted how the other dominant Bundesliga side this season (and there is not much between them) fared last night at Anfield. As long as Atletico have their main players fit and available I fancy them to beat Bayern. In fact, I fancy them against any team at the moment.

Am v City and I'll have a clear favourite. City v Bayern or AM v RM will be entertaining for obvious reasons. Please not Bayern v Real though, yawn.

I don't see the relevance.

Villarreal v Liverpool second leg at home suspect they will be okay will that.

I will predict a Sevilla v Liverpool final

Wanted to avoid Villarreal. They are having a great season.

I suppose they are in with a good chance of top 4 when I saw Sevilla live against real Sociedad two weeks they were terrible, the extra time last time the weren great either.

I still think they will knock out shaktar .

Basle seems a small ground for the final

I love the San Siro, it's immediately distinctive which is becoming less so as new venues are built to similar designs. No idea what it's like close up mind you, old Wembley was revered but when I went I thought it was a right tip.

Only been to old Wembley twice but I agree it was a bit of a dump. San Siro is aging but I suspect they don't have the money to improve it.

Cardiff next year for the final

We were right near the front too so it was those perch seats without any back to them, which was fine if it wasn't a school trip and we were all made to go in an hour before kick-off. Our poor spines.

We were mid way up the tier above the standing area behind the goal. At half time we couldn't get back to out backless seat as everyone was standing on the steps so we sat at the front of that tier with out legs dangling over the side!