Man Utd dedicate Europa League win to terror victims

Man Utd survive thrilling finale to make Europa League final

12 May

Manchester United 1 Celta Vigo 1 [United win 2-1 on aggregate]

It wasn't pretty and it wasn't persuasive, but it was edge-of-the-seat stuff as Manchester United survived a chaotic final ten minutes at Old Trafford to book a place in the Europa League final.

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But their interest in the tournament almost came to a dramatic end in the sixth minute of injury time when - after a late Celta equaliser, a mass brawl and two red cards - former Man City John Guidetti somehow fluffed a chance in front of an open goal

His airshot was the final action of the game and the tense 1-1 draw at Old Trafford was enough to take United through to the final against Ajax in Stockholm on 24 May 24, courtesy of their 1-0 first-leg victory.

Mourinho said the game was the biggest in United's history, but the performance wasn't much to write home about. It was also one marred by a brawl late-on that resulted in red cards for United's Eric Bailly and Vigo's Facundo Roncaglia, which rules the defender out of the final.

The home side started well with Marouane Fellaini heading Marcus Rashford's cross into the net on 17 minutes, but as has been the case throughout the season United failed to convert their dominance into goals. When Roncaglia scored for Celta Vigo on 85 minutes it set up a nerve-shredding finale at Old Trafford, and one that could have ended disastrously for the hosts if Guidetti hadn't wasted a glorious opportunity at the death for the Spaniards.

United manager Jose Mourinho recognised it had been another unconvincing performance from his side but nonetheless he hailed their fortitude. "When the game was difficult, when they were better than us and we were in trouble and not playing well, it was that mentality, that desire, that togetherness that made the boys fight until the end," he said.

Admitting that his first season in charge at Old Trafford has been "difficult", Mourinho said: "If we manage to win the Europa League it will be amazing… the final means an opportunity to win a trophy, to be back in the Champions League, and to end the season in the perfect way because it is the last match of the season."

Between now and the final, however, United have three league games while their opponents, Ajax, can enjoy a lengthy rest after the Dutch league concludes this weekend. With United currently sixth in the Premier League, and unlikely to finish in the top four, Mourinho said he will field weakened line-ups, especially in their final league match against Crystal Palace, as he eyes a Europa League victory and a place in next season's Champions League. "Ajax's league finishes Sunday, they have 12 days to prepare," said Mourinho. "We have three games and three days. Hopefully Palace have nothing to play for because I will make a lot of changes."

Mourinho has won the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan but the Special One dismissed suggestions that the Europa League was an irrelevance. "It's the second trophy of course in Europe and it's an important trophy," he said. "It gives you the European Super Cup to play for in August so it's a big, big match for us in Stockholm. I am more than happy if we win the Europa League."

Rashford unpicks the lock as Man Utd target Europa League

5 May

Celta Vigo 0 Manchester United 1

A stunning second-half free-kick from Marcus Rashford gave United the advantage over their Spanish opponents after the first-leg of their Europa League semi-final.

And while United boss Jose Mourinho has focused all his resources on this competition as his best chance of Champions League qualification, this match was an illustration of why Europe's second string competition still struggles to make much of an impression on the public.

A United side who have struggled for goals all season against a Celta Vigo outfit who lie 11th in La Liga didn't promise a classic encounter and so it proved. But will United care? It was job done for them as they took control of the tie and moved a step closer to the final and the opportunity to qualify for next season's Champions League.

"I am very pleased with the performance but not with the result," said Jose Mourinho. "At half-time we should have had three, or at least two goals… we tried to win the match but we missed chances. We played well, we were compact against a team who are difficult to play against."

It's been the story of United's season, their inability to find the back of the net, and on Thursday night it required a wonderful set-piece strike from Rashford to break the deadlock midway through the second-half. From the right of the penalty area, the England striker whipped the ball over the Celta wall and past the despairing dive of Sergio Alvarez.

It was tough luck on the home keeper, who had kept his side very much in contention in the first-half with three fine saves, including one magnificent stop from Rashford.But the 19-year-old's goal should be enough to see United progress to the final and a clash with either Lyon or Ajax in Stockholm on 24 May.

"We played well enough to have the tie closed, but we have to go and play at Old Trafford," said Mourinho. "Let's hope Old Trafford wants us to win because when Old Trafford wants it, we win."

Describing Rashford as a player "who is in love with football", Mourinho said of his goal-scorer: "He is a kid who stays after training for half an hour more to practice taking free-kicks and waits for the opportunity. It is his mentality. He works and works and works. He is very mature so let's forget the age because what matters is not the age, but the quality."

Man Utd put eggs in one basket ahead of Celta Vigo clash

04 May

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is "throwing in the towel in the race for the top four" and "staking everything on Europa League glory", as his injury-ravaged squad prepare to face Celta Vigo in the first leg of their semi-final, reports James Ducker of the Daily Telegraph.

After spending "months fighting fatigue on two fronts", the Old Trafford boss will focus his resources on Europe rather than the Premier League for the final few games of the campaign in his search for a route into next season's Champions League.

It is a "startling admission" from a club the size of United, says Ducker, and there are good reasons for Mourinho not to put all his eggs in one basket.

Celta Vigo have beaten both Barcelona and Real Madrid this season, so getting the better of them in Europe will not be simple.

Meanwhile, "Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are available again after injury, Eric Bailly is fit despite Sunday's scare in the 1-1 draw at home to Swansea City and United trail Manchester City, in fourth, by just a point".

However, with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Timothy Fosu-Mensah out for the season, Marouane Fellaini currently banned and the returning players short of fitness, there is no doubt that United are "patched up and hobbling towards the finish line", says Paul Hirst of The Times. "Mourinho, quite sensibly, is playing the percentages."

That, though, means playing a weakened team against Arsenal on Sunday, adds the journalist.

"Mourinho's pristine record against Arsene Wenger is a source of pride for the Manchester United manager, who has never lost to the Frenchman in 15 competitive fixtures, but the Portuguese is ready to put that on the line."

Unless, of course, he is trying to lure his Gunners counterpart into a false sense of security.

The pair have a fractious history, but with neither involved in the contest for the title, Wenger even hinted that his feud with Mourinho would one day come to an end.

Not everyone is convinced, says Amy Lawrence of The Guardian: "These are strange times for two Premier League managerial symbols, who will meet at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in a relatively modest contest between the division's fifth- and sixth-placed teams but it would be overstating it to suggest they are ready to share much empathy just yet.