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EUROPA League

Man United ‘can beat anyone’ after landing Barcelona scalp, says ten Hag

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Manchester United should fear no one in their quest to win four trophies, said manager Erik ten Hag after beating Barcelona 2-1 on Thursday to progress to the last 16 of the Europa League 4-3 on aggregate.

Robert Lewandowski’s early penalty had given Barca the perfect start at Old Trafford.

But the La Liga leaders – who dropped down to this competition from the Champions League – were again undone on the European stage as Fred equalised early in the second period before Antony clinched the win.

“It was a magnificent night. I think it is brilliant when you can beat Barcelona, eight points ahead of Real Madrid in La Liga,” said ten Hag, who has remarkably transformed United’s fortunes in his first season in charge.

“This is another step because when you beat Barcelona, your belief can be really strong because you are then able to beat anyone.”

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The fact that two of the continent’s giants were clashing at this early stage of Europe’s second-tier competition was evidence that both have fallen on harder times in recent years.

But United are riding the crest of a wave as they remain in the hunt for trophies on four fronts.

The Red Devils could end a six-year wait for silverware when they face Newcastle in the League Cup final on Sunday. They are third in the Premier League, and also have an FA Cup fifth-round clash with West Ham to come.

“I think we have some great personalities in this team,” added ten Hag.

“Everyone has such a strong belief in this team, you can see it. With the subs they bring energy and quality, they bring a different dynamic in games.”

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But the reality that United’s reward on Thursday is merely a place in the last 16 of the Europa League shows there remains a long way to go to rediscover their past glories on the continental stage.

However, momentum is building under ten Hag. For a long time since former manager Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013, Old Trafford lost its aura as an intimidating destination for visiting sides.

But no one is looking forward to a trip to the Theatre of Dreams with United now unbeaten in 18 games in all competitions at home.

Barcelona joined the list of big names – Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City – beaten on United’s home soil in recent months.

Embarrassing defeats to Brighton and Brentford to begin ten Hag’s time in charge are now also a distant memory.

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“You need a strategy to build it but also results to get that strong belief,” said ten Hag on how he has lifted United out of the mire of a miserable 2021-22 season when they finished sixth in the Premier League.

Buoyed not only by results on the pitch, but the potential departure of unpopular owners the Glazer family, the United fanbase is jubilant.

“The fans have been with us in the toughest moments,” said United’s captain for the night Bruno Fernandes.

“This season we have been really good because they are always behind us. You can feel between them and us there is something special, Old Trafford was bouncing, that is why we got the result.”

This was almost certainly United’s finest night in continental competition since eliminating Paris Saint-Germain from the Champions League last 16 in a dramatic night at the Parc des Princes four years ago.

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The wait for such a European night under the lights at Old Trafford goes even further back to when Barcelona were beaten in the semi-finals of the 2008 Champions League.

“You can see what it means for the players. We haven’t seen that for such a long time,” said former United midfielder Paul Scholes, who scored the winner in the 1-0 victory that night.

“To see the passion that these guys have for Manchester United is just fantastic, especially the reaction to the crowd.”

Ten Hag is hoping this is just the start on United’s road back to competing at the highest level in Europe.

“We have the potential to beat the big teams,” he added.

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“We have beaten City, Arsenal, Liverpool. If we show discipline and team spirit this team can do a lot.”

AFP/ Reuters

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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EUROPA League

Ten Hag urges ‘mad’ Man United to take out frustration on Porto

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Europa League - Manchester United Press Conference - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - October 2, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag during a press conference Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra 

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.

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“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

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Man Utd take their domestic woes to  international scene

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Europa League - Manchester United v FC Twente - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - September 25, 2024 Manchester United's Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire in action with FC Twente's Michel Vlap and Max Bruns Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

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.

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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.

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-Reuters

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EUROPA League

Ajax and Panathinaikos set UEFA record with 34 penalty kicks

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Ajax players cheer after winning the penalty shootout (13-12) during the 3rd qualifying round UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Panathinaikos at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on August 15, 2024 in Amsterdam. - Credit: Olaf Kraak / ANP -

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.

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“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

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