EUROPA League
Europa Cup: Man. U Banks on Mourinho Cup Magic
The stakes have become higher for Manchester United and Ajax Amsterdam as they both seek to win the Europa Cup as a short court to next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Both lost out on Sunday in their respective domestic leagues to get qualifying slots for Champions League.
Winning the Europa Cup has become very import for both. Manchester United have the right man in their corner when it comes to winning cup finals.
He heads into the Europa League final with a career cup record of 13 out which he won 11.
He started his reputation in European football by guiding Porto to 3-2 success against Celtic in the 2003 UEFA Cup final.
Also in 2003 his Porto won the Portuguese Cup final, defeating his former club, Leiria. He however lost the cup final in 2004 to Benfica. That was the first of two finals he ever lost.
He signed off at Porto with a stunning 3-0 against Monaco in the 2004 UEFA Champions League final.
He signed off at Porto with a stunning 3-0 against Monaco in the 2004 UEFA Champions League final.
He picked up a trophy in his first season with Chelsea, defeating Liverpool 3-2 in the 2005 League Cup final.
With Chelsea, Mourinho again won the League Cup, beating Arsenal 2-1.
Mourinho and Chelsea also won the FA Cup, beating Manchester United (his current club) 1-0.
In 2010, Mourinho won the Coppa Italia with Inter Milan as part of domestic double.
Also in 2010, Mourinho won the UEFA Champions League, beating Bayern Munich.
Mourinho moved to Real Madrid and won trophy in his first season in 2011 – the Copa Del Rey in the encounter with FC Barcelona.
Mourinho suffered his second cup final defeat as Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid came from a goal down to be Mourinho’s Real Madrid 2-1 in 2013 Copa Del Rey.
Mourinho first trophy in his second spell at Chelsea was the 2015 League Cup after a 2-0 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur.
Mourinho became the first Manchester United manager to win a major trophy in debut season beating Southampton 3-2 in the League Cup.
EUROPA League
Ten Hag urges ‘mad’ Man United to take out frustration on Porto
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag called on his players to use the frustration from their humbling defeat by Tottenham Hotspur as motivation to beat Porto in the Europa League on Thursday.
Following the 3-0 home loss to Spurs on Sunday, Ten Hag admitted his team’s mood could have been more positive.
“We are mad, mad with ourselves, especially when you lose a game like Sunday… but you have to deal with it. We are mad, and from the madness we have to get motivation,” Ten Hag told reporters on Wednesday.
“Always, when we are not winning we are disappointed and we are also mad with ourselves.”
United are 13th in the Premier League table and following a 1-1 draw with Dutch side Twente Enschede in the first Europa League match, Ten Hag said speculation about his job was inevitable.
“This club wants to be back on top and it’s a long-term target. We talk every day. Every day we evaluate and review the process and where necessary we make our decisions,” he said
“Everyone has to take responsibility and that starts with me as the manager. But on the pitch we have leadership skills and they have to stand up.
“Every game for us is important and every opponent is 100% motivated. We have to be ready to compete and fight with them.”
The Dutchman said midfielder Mason Mount, who was not part of the squad that travelled to Porto, was dealing with two injury issues and that defender Luke Shaw should return to action following the October international break.
-Reuters
EUROPA League
Man Utd take their domestic woes to international scene
Manchester United began their Europa League campaign with a 1-1 draw after they were held by FC Twente at a rainy Old Trafford on Wednesday, with a goal from Christian Eriksen being cancelled out by Dutch striker Sam Lammers.
The first half was a lively affair, with Twente’s Lammers making an early attempt that trickled past the post.
Eriksen put United ahead 10 minutes before the break, delivering a powerful curling shot into the top corner from inside the box.
Twente equalised in the 68th minute when Lammers produced a powerful finish past United keeper Andre Onana at the near post.
Joshua Zirkzee tried to get United in front again minutes later with a shot from an acute angle but were denied by a save from Twente keeper Lars Unnerstall.
Bruno Fernandes came close to scoring for United in the final minutes with a curling shot toward the top corner, but the hosts struggled to break through Twente’s deep-lying defence, which seemed content to secure the away draw.
DIA DOUBLE FOR LAZIO
Boulaye Dia scored a double and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru added another in the first half to hand Lazio a comprehensive 3-0 win against Dynamo Kyiv in Hamburg.
Nice and Real Sociedad played out a 1-1 draw. Ander Barrenetxea put the Basque side ahead before Pablo Rosario scored the equaliser for Nice.
Elsewhere, Turkish champions Galatasaray claimed a 3-1 home win over Greece’s PAOK thanks to Abdul Rahman Baba’s own goal and strikes from Yunus Akgun and Mauro Icardi. Giannis Konstantelias scored for the visitors.
In an early match, Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt secured a 3-2 home victory against FC Porto thanks to a brace from Jens Petter Hauge, despite going down to 10 men in the 51st minute.
-Reuters
EUROPA League
Ajax and Panathinaikos set UEFA record with 34 penalty kicks
It took Ajax 34 penalties to beat Panathinaikos 13-12 in a marathon shootout on Thursday, setting a UEFA competition record after their Europa League third qualifying round tie ended 1-1 over two legs and extra time.
Ajax, who won 1-0 at Panathinaikos last week, conceded in the 89th minute in Amsterdam, leading to the shootout that broke the previous record of 32 attempts at the European U-21 Championship semi-final in 2007 where Netherlands beat England 13-12.
The world record for the longest shootout was set in May when Israeli third-tier clubs SC Dimona and Shimshon Tel Aviv took 56 penalties to resolve their semi-final promotion playoff tie.
Ajax keeper Remko Pasveer made five saves and scored on his own attempt to help the hosts win the shootout as Dutch international Brian Brobbey missed two penalties.
“Five is quite a lot, yes. I save a penalty every now and then, but I don’t think you often experience something as crazy as this,” Pasveer said.
“Every time I thought we would do it. Brobbey behind the ball, we will do it. But he missed, while he always scores during training.”
Defender Anton Gaaei ultimately delivered the winning penalty for Ajax. The Eredivisie club will now face Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok in the playoff round later this month.
-Reuters
-
International Football6 days ago
Why FIFA banned Samuel Eto’o
-
AFCON1 day ago
Eguavoen unfolds Super Eagles’ squad for back-to-back duel with Libya
-
CAF Super Cup1 week ago
Ahly and Zamalek set for epic CAF Super Cup showdown in Riyadh
-
International Football2 days ago
Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad
-
Nigerian Football6 days ago
There are paedophiles among Nigerian coaches, former Super Eagles player alleges
-
Nigerian Football1 week ago
Former NFF Protocol officer, Akpenpuun now Comptroller in Nigeria Immigration Services
-
AFCON2 days ago
Libyans jubilate over Osimhen’s injury
-
Nigerian Football1 week ago
Half-time reflection of Gusau’s tenure at Nigeria Football Federation