Ange Postecoglou told his critics they will "have to put up with me for just a little bit longer" after Tottenham Hotspur sealed a Europa League semifinal spot with a 1-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.

Dominic Solanke's 43rd minute penalty, after James Maddison had been floored by Eintracht goalkeeper Kauã Santos, secured Tottenham's win that completed a 2-1 quarterfinal aggregate victory against the Bundesliga side.

Spurs will face Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt in the semifinals in May.

With Spurs having lost seven of their last 12 games ahead of the Frankfurt clash, Postecoglou's position as coach had become increasingly tenuous, with some reports suggesting he could lose his job if the team were eliminated by Eintracht.

But the former Australia coach issued a defiant riposte after taking Spurs closer to the first trophy since 2008.

"Unfortunately, you guys are going to have to put up with me for just a little bit longer," Postecoglou said in his post-match press conference. "I'm delighted with many things. I'm super proud of the lads -- away from home in a quarterfinal against a very good side. We needed to score tonight and show the quality we have and to a man, they were outstanding in such a big game. We've earned the right to be in the semi.

"I'm the same manager today that I was yesterday, so if anyone thinks I'm a better coach, I don't care. It doesn't affect what I do. Do the players believe in me and do the staff believe in me, that's all that matters.

"The players and staff have just been outstanding. I'm the frontman, but they take responsibility through my decisions and I've never felt they have ever doubted what we've been doing.

"After a season like ours, it would be very easy for the players and staff to leave me in a pretty vulnerable place by splintering, but I've never felt that."

After a season of injuries to key players, many of them long-term, Postecoglou has rarely been able to field his strongest team.

But in Deutsche Bank Park, Spurs were almost at full strength, with only captain Son Heung-Min and defender Radu Dragusin unavailable due to injury.

And Postecoglou said that the performance of his team proved what Spurs have been missing for much of this season.

"From our perspective, we've had a difficult season," Postecoglou said. "There's some reasoning behind that, but it was pretty evident tonight, with our strongest team out there, that some of the things we suffered this year we wouldn't have.

"[Guglielmo] Vicario, [Sergio] Romero, [Micky] Van de Ven, [Rodrigo] Bentancur, Solanke -- we missed all these guys this year, and others. We know we can be a team that is pretty compelling against anybody when we have everyone available.

"That's what gave me heart all along, that when we got some players back, I really believed we could achieve.

"But we can't get too far ahead of ourselves. We are in the semi and we will have a difficult opponent."

Postecoglou, meanwhile, said that Maddison did not suffer a serious injury in the collision with Santos, which led to the England midfielder having to leave the pitch moments later.

"Maddison is fine," Postecoglou said. "He showed unbelievable courage in that moment, he put his body on the line. He' s sore, but he helped us progress to the semi, so I hope that makes him feel better.

"I'm surprised it wasn't a red card. I thought it was a clear penalty, I'm not sure why we needed VAR to decide that."

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot believes extending the contracts of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah is reflective of the "amazing ambitions" the club has going forward.

Liverpool confirmed on Thursday that Van Dijk had signed a new two-year contract at Anfield, ending months of speculation over his future.

Negotiations had been taking place for several months, with Salah also having signed a new deal last week.

"It tells you that we want to keep our best players, the players that have played a great season for so many years in a row now," Slot said on Friday.

"That we are able to keep them when they are free agents tells you about the amazing ambitions we have for the coming years. Virgil is so important to us. He's a great personality and a great player."

Van Dijk has made more than 300 appearances for Liverpool during his seven years at the club, winning seven major honours including the Premier League and the Champions League.

The 33-year-old has started every league game for Slot's side this season to put them on the brink of winning Liverpool's 20th league title, and Slot admitted it is hard to overstate the impact he has had at Anfield.

"It's almost difficult to describe because you know how important he is when you see him play," Slot said. "Everybody has given him compliments over the years about how good he is as a defender.

"I mostly watch football looking at ball possession and he's so good at bringing the ball out from the back. And then the leader he is, in and around the training centre, I haven't worked with a player like him in terms of his leadership and the energy he brings to the team in every training centre."

While Salah and Van Dijk have both committed to new deals, defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is yet to sign a new contract, and a source has told ESPN Real Madrid are "very confident" of signing him on a free transfer this summer.

MANCHESTER, England -- Ruben Amorim said he watched Manchester United's 1999 documentary for "inspiration" before his team fought back from the brink of Europa League elimination to record a stunning victory over Lyon.

United booked their place in the semifinals after scoring three times in seven minutes at the end of extra time on a chaotic night at Old Trafford.

Amorim's team led 2-0, where pegged back at 2-2, went 4-2 down despite playing against 10 men following Corentin Tolisso's dismissal and then somehow clawed their way back to win 5-4 on the night and 7-6 on aggregate.

It was drama to match United's victory in the 1999 Champions League final when Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored twice in stoppage time against Bayern Munich to seal the treble.

"I was watching the 1999 documentary to have some inspiration for these moments," Amorim told TNT Sports.

"It was a great night. The team were tired, 4-2 down with one more player, we think it's over, but here it's never over.

"Here everything is possible, you feel the environment."

United's fight back in extra time started with a Bruno Fernandes penalty. Kobbie Mainoo came off the bench to make it 4-4 on the night before Harry Maguire's header in stoppage time in extra time sealed a memorable European night at Old Trafford.

"The sounds of the stadium was the best ever," said Amorim.

"Some people collect shirts, scarves, but I want to keep that sound, it's the best sound in the world.

"I feel for the people who had to leave at 4-2 because of the traffic, they will be gutted.

"We know we are underperforming and deserve all the critics, but we have time to make something special of this season."

Manchester United will step up their interest in Southampton midfielder Tyler Dibling if Ruben Amorim's team secure Champions League qualification by winning this season's Europa League, sources have told ESPN.

Dibling, 19, has emerged as one of the most sought-after youngsters in the Premier League this season, despite playing in a Saints team that is on course to eclipse Derby County's record of 11 points to become the worst team statistically in the top-flight since the Premier League began in 1992-93.

Reports have said that Southampton will hold out for a 100 million ($125m) transfer fee for Dibling, who is also attracting interest from Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.

The England under-21 international has made rapid progress at St Mary's since being handed his first professional contract by United technical director Jason Wilcox during his stint as Southampton's director of football in 2022.

Sources have said that Southampton's 100m figure is an unlikely valuation, especially with their relegation to the EFL Championship already confirmed, but United's interest depends on the club boosting their financial situation by qualifying for the Champions League via the Europa League.

United face Athletic Club in the semifinal next month after a dramatic 7-6 aggregate quarterfinal win against Lyon on Thursday.

ESPN reported earlier this month that United will prioritise the signing of a centre-forward this summer with Ipswich striker Liam Delap their prime target.

United also want to bolster their midfield options in the summer regardless of whether they qualify for the Champions League, but sources have said that essential targets in attack and midfield would take priority over a move for Dibling if United fail to qualify for European football next season.

However, with Champions League qualification worth at least 80m to United, the club's ability to compete in the transfer market would be significantly boosted if they win the Europa League on May 21.

BOULDER, Colo. -- Deion Sanders offered a way to soothe any hard feelings over the recent announcement that Colorado's dynamic tandem Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders skipped the line to have their jersey numbers retired this weekend.

Hugs and handshakes for all.

"Can we start off with me just shaking everyone's hand that played here before, just give them a hug?" the Colorado coach said after practice Thursday as the Buffaloes prepared for their spring game on Saturday. "They've got to come back for that, right? Let's start with that. ... That's what I want to do."

The Buffaloes ruffled some feathers of past players and graduates when they announced that Hunter's No. 12 and Sanders' No. 2 would be retired before the spring game. They're only the fifth and sixth players in Colorado's 135-year history to receive that honor.

Some view it as a quick turnaround with their careers just ending. There are also numerous big names in Buffaloes lore that remain in line, including from the 1990 national championship squad.

Chad Brown, a Buffaloes Hall of Fame linebacker, posted on social media: "If the players from the National Champ team have not received such an honor, by default, this action dismisses, diminishes & for a new generation of CU fans erases their greatness. I would never minimize the impact of #2 or #12, they are amazing players. But this timing is poor."

The decision to retire numbers is based on the discretion of the Colorado athletic administration and the current head coach.

"Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders are both great Buffs and exceptional talents who have been tremendous representatives of our program and of our university and led our team back to national prominence," said athletic director Rick George, who was the assistant athletic director for football operations when the program won its only national title. "Recognizing the accomplishments of a Heisman Trophy winner and record-setting quarterback who ushered in this new era of CU football now does not detract from accomplishments of the past. Rather, it adds to the rich legacy of CU football that has been passed down over the years by everyone who has worn a CU uniform."

Hunter, who played both wide receiver and cornerback, is coming off a Heisman Trophy campaign. Sanders broke many of the program's passing records and won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award that's handed to college football's top QB. Both are expected to be high selections at next week's NFL draft.

Deion Sanders defended his son's inclusion Thursday.

"We're talking about Shedeur. We ain't talking about nobody else," the coach/father said. "If his last name wasn't Sanders, we wouldn't have this discussion."

Tyler Polumbus, a standout offensive lineman for the Buffaloes, posted on social media: "The vitriol from former players regarding CU retiring #2 is loud. I think most (including myself) believe he deserves the honor... eventually... Bypassing the line, bypassing #2 Deon Figures doesn't make sense. Soo many all time greats that deserve the honor and have waited their turn. Why so fast? Zero waiting period? Feels like the first blunder of the Coach Prime era that has upset alumni."

Sanders said his son and Hunter are looking forward.

"These guys are thinking about the draft, man," Deion Sanders said. "We're thankful that Buff Nation has been gracious. They've been wonderful. I feel like we have the best fan base ever -- ever, especially over the last two years. I can't comment before because I wasn't here."

Hunter and Shedeur Sanders join the company of quarterback/halfback Byron White (No. 24), guard/linebacker Joe Romig (No. 67), quarterback/tailback Bobby Anderson (No. 11 ) and the late tailback Rashaan Salaam (No. 19).

Over his playing days, Deion Sanders noted he's been a part of several jersey retirement ceremonies and it's never been a sore subject.

"This is the first time I ever seen it sore," he said. "I don't know if you know it, but I think every jersey I darn near played in is retired. So I'm pretty familiar with this. It's never been sore."

PHOENIX -- Suns owner Mat Ishbia was sitting in his usual spot courtside back in January when he came to a startling yet unmistakable conclusion.

He had a strong dislike for the high-priced basketball product his leadership had put on the court.

Sure, there were some talented players on the team like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but there was no joy. There was no passion. There was no identity.

And he was the man responsible for it.

"Embarrassing season, right?" Ishbia said. "Disappointing. Awful. I watch every game like all you guys do and no one's proud of it, no one's happy with it, from me, to the front office, to the coaches and players, to the marketing executives to the security guards.

"It was a failure."

Ishbia's candid remarks came in a news conference Thursday following arguably the most disappointing season in the franchise's history, which dates to 1968. The Suns had a star-studded roster that included the All-Star trio of Durant, Booker and Beal, yet finished with a 36-46 record and missed the postseason.

Even more than the losing, Ishbia was most disappointed in the team's effort. The Suns were one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA and often got blown out by the league's elite.

"I want to put a team out there on the court that everyone is proud of," Ishbia said. "It has to have an identity -- an identity similar to Phoenix. Some grit, some determination, some work ethic, some grind, some joy. We just haven't had that."

Ishbia and the Suns have already made one big change, firing coach Mike Budenholzer just hours after Sunday's season-ending loss to the Sacramento Kings. It figures to be one of several seismic changes for a team that has nosedived since Ishbia bought the franchise for roughly $4 billion in 2023.

The confident 45-year-old admits he didn't do a good job of setting the team's on-court foundation two years ago, approving moves that sometimes seemed like the Suns were building a fantasy basketball team instead of one trying to win games in real life.

Ishbia was a 5-foot-10 walk-on at Michigan State in college, playing a minor role in helping the Spartans win the 2000 national championship. He said the lessons he learned under legendary Tom Izzo need to better translate to what he's doing with the Suns.

"I'm no talent, all heart, that's my life," Ishbia said. "I will just outwork everyone. I'm going to have a coach, a front office and players that the Phoenix community will love."

Now comes the hard part -- actually making it happen.

Two of the Suns' lead front office personnel -- CEO Josh Bartelstein and general manager James Jones -- were at Thursday's news conference, suggesting they'll have at least some sort of role with the franchise going forward. Ishbia has also been adamant that the Suns won't be trading Booker, a four-time All-Star who has spent all 10 of his NBA seasons in the desert.

"He's the franchise player, he's done amazing things," Ishbia said. "I speak with him and we're very aligned with what we want to do. His mission and my mission are very similar -- let's bring a championship to Phoenix."

Otherwise, anything seems possible.

The 36-year-old Durant is under contract for next season, but also represents the one valuable trade chip the Suns could deal. The 15-time All-Star just finished another phenomenal year, averaging 26.6 points, and would be an attractive addition for a contender.

The situation for the 31-year-old Beal is much different. The three-time All-Star has two more years on a contract that pays him more than $50 million annually, but his production last season didn't come close to matching that salary. Unloading him figures to be tricky.

Before those decisions are made, the Suns have to find a coach, which will be their fourth in four seasons.

After two years of winning press conferences, Ishbia is ready to start winning games.

"We've got to get the next hire right," Ishbia said. "And we will."

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant sat out Thursday's practice and will be a game-time decision for Friday night's play-in game against the Dallas Mavericks that will determine the Western Conference's 8-seed.

Morant injured his right ankle in Tuesday's play-in loss to the Golden State Warriors when he stepped on Buddy Hield's foot and was fouled by Quinten Post with 4:25 left in the third quarter. He limped off but got up and finished a three-point play. Morant then went to the bench nursing the ankle, before returning early in the fourth quarter. He finished with 22 points.

Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that Morant had experienced significant swelling in the ankle and has been undergoing around-the-clock treatment since he was hurt.

"My feel with him is he'll do absolutely everything in order to play," Memphis interim coach Tuomas Iisalo told reporters Thursday. "If he's physically able to do it, he will do it. It's a legitimate game-time decision."

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- When Lakers star Luka Doncic recently returned to Dallas and was honored by his former team with a tribute video, he acknowledged there was one clip that struck him the most: his game-winning 3 over Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in last year's Western Conference finals.

Doncic will open his first playoff series with the Lakers on Saturday against the Wolves in Game 1 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) and said he would welcome the 7-foot-1 Gobert trying to guard him again.

"Since I came to the league, I like to play pick-and-roll," Doncic said Thursday in his first comments about L.A.'s first-round series. "I like to get a center on me."

Lakers coach JJ Redick said Gobert's status as a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year only makes Doncic relish it more when the Minnesota big man is switched onto him.

"He thinks that there's not a person in the world that can guard him," Redick said of Doncic. "So I think he takes that seriously, that matchup in particular."

Redick and the Lakers have been intentional about taking all of the Wolves seriously as they use this week to prepare for the playoffs.

On Tuesday, the team gathered to watch the Golden State Warriors-Memphis Grizzlies play-in tournament game at Cosm Los Angeles, an immersive theater. Before that game, Lakers players received an earful from their coach.

"JJ turned into a motivational speaker," Lakers guard Austin Reaves said. "I asked him how many times he rehearsed it. He said zero. He was speaking from the heart."

Asked about Redick's message, Lakers reserve Gabe Vincent said everyone must be ready to increase their intensity.

"It's that time of year to take things to another level, and I think he just made it very clear the importance of that," Vincent said.

Redick was clearly speaking the same language as Doncic, whose 30.9-point career scoring average in the postseason is second only to Michael Jordan's 33.5.

"I like big games," Doncic said. "Playoffs is a fun time. Everybody plays 100%. It's just fun to be out there."

Though Doncic has changed teams since last spring, he acknowledged the Wolves' changes in trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, while still being led by their own scoring machine in Anthony Edwards.

"Obviously they added two guys that can really play and they have Ant," Doncic said. "They have a lot of guys that can play, a lot of guys that can guard. So they're very, very interesting."

They're also hardly the type of underdog one would expect from a typical No. 3 vs. No. 6 matchup in the first round.

Minnesota went 17-4 over its last 21 games to finish with 49 wins, just one fewer than L.A. And now the Lakers will attempt to beat the Wolves four times in a seven-game series.

But Doncic says he believes the Lakers have the right team to advance past them and beyond.

"I think we have a great team," Doncic said. "We have guys that are willing to go to war. Everybody's staying together. The chemistry is high. I think we do, for sure, have a chance [to win the championship]."

Texas Rangers left-hander Patrick Corbin earned his first win of the season Wednesday night, but it was a start he nearly wasn't able to make.

Corbin and the Rangers believe the culprit was "venom" from an apparent bite on his foot two days before his start that made it difficult to walk.

"They said something bit me, but I still don't know what it was," Corbin told reporters Thursday. "I've never had anything like that. It was super weird."

Hours before Corbin allowed one run in 5 innings in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said it was "50/50" whether he would pitch because of the condition of his ankle.

Corbin said swelling had developed around a visible bite mark on his foot by Wednesday morning, but that it was "tolerable" after he had his ankle wrapped.

"It was really bad in the morning," Corbin said. "Just a really swollen foot. ... I wasn't sure if I was going to throw that morning. My wife was really concerned. I came in early [Wednesday] to get some treatment going and [went] from there."

Corbin said he still felt soreness in the ankle Thursday but was confident he wouldn't need to miss time.

"I was fortunate to get through yesterday," Corbin said. "I have some time to recover and be good to go."

Corbin, a two-time All-Star entering his 13th season, joined the Rangers on a one-year deal in March. He is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. was ejected from the New York Yankees' 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night then appeared to violate Major League Baseball's social media policy when he posted in-game criticism online.

Chisholm was ejected in the seventh inning by plate umpire John Bacon for arguing after a called third strike on a full-count pitch from Mason Montgomery that appeared low, his fifth career ejection and first with the Yankees.

He posted on his X account, "Not even ... close!!!!!" then deleted the post.

MLB regulations ban the use of electronic devices during games. The social media policy prohibits "displaying or transmitting content that questions the impartiality of or otherwise denigrates a major league umpire."

"I didn't think before I had anything that I said was ejectable but after probably," Chisholm said. "I'm a competitor, so when I go out there and I feel like I'm right and you're saying something to me that I think doesn't make sense, I'm going to get fired up and be upset.

"I lost my emotions. I lost my cool," he added. "I got to be better than that. ... I'm definitely mad at myself for losing my cool."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.