All posts tagged: europa league

Manchester boss Ruben Amorim after beating Bilbao in Europa League semi-final

Manchester boss Ruben Amorim after beating Bilbao in Europa League semi-final

Published by Webster

Manchester United thrashed Athletic Bilbao 4-1 at Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday to set up a final clash against another Premier League club, Tottenham Hotspur, in the Europa League. For Man Utd or Tottenham, a miserable campaign will end in Europa League glory. Despite both teams languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League, the Champions League is now just one game away. However, United manager Ruben Amorim believes nothing less than a silverware matters for them, “If we don’t win the final, it means nothing for us,” said Amorim after the match. “It’s hard to describe what it’s like to be manager of this club. You want to give them (the fans) something, because we’ve been so disappointing in the Premier League.” United came back 1-0 behind at halftime against Bilbao, with Mason Mount coming off the bench to score twice after the break. Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund were also on target. They beat Bilbao 7-1 on aggregate, while Tottenham won 2-0 away at Bodø/Glimt to seal a 5-1 aggregate victory. Story continues …

Soccer-They’ll say we’re not worthy, who cares, says Postecoglou after Tottenham reach Europa League final | Football News

Soccer-They’ll say we’re not worthy, who cares, says Postecoglou after Tottenham reach Europa League final | Football News

Published by Parlour News

BODO, Norway, – Ange Postecoglou says a Europa League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United would upset a lot of people but the tough-talking Australian could not care less on Thursday after guiding his side into the May 21 showdown. HT Image Tottenham produced a gritty display to beat Bodo/Glimt 2-0 inside the Arctic Circle for a 5-1 aggregate triumph in the semi-final and the north London club are now one win away from salvaging a troubled season with a first trophy since 2008. Despite Tottenham being 16th and Manchester United 15th in the Premier League standings, the winner in Bilbao will be rewarded with a spot in next season’s Champions League. Postecoglou hit back at former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on Wednesday after the Frenchman insisted it was wrong for the Europa League winners to gain entry to the Champions League. When the subject was raised again after Thursday’s composed victory in the Aspmyra Stadium, the 59-year-old was primed. “It’s going to upset a lot of people isn’t it! The debate’s now raging, …

‘Winger’ Harry Maguire the hero as Manchester United beat Athletic Club 3-0 in Europa League semifinal 1st leg

‘Winger’ Harry Maguire the hero as Manchester United beat Athletic Club 3-0 in Europa League semifinal 1st leg

Published by Webster

Harry Maguire once again found himself in the headlines, but this time for the right reasons as Manchester United secured a commanding 3-0 first-leg win over Athletic Club in their Europa League semi-final 1st leg. Stationed unusually high up the pitch, the 32-year-old defender drifted onto the right wing in the 30th minute, chopped inside with surprising flair, and whipped in a teasing cross that eventually found its way to Casemiro via Manuel Ugarte’s flick. The Brazilian made no mistake, heading United into the lead and triggering stunned admiration across the dressing room and the dugout. United captain Bruno Fernandes could hardly believe what he had witnessed. Story continues below this ad “I said it straight away: what a winger,” he said. “I don’t think even he thought he had that in his locker. No one was expecting that, I don’t think even the opposition was expecting that.” Maguire, who had scored the dramatic winner in United’s quarter-final second leg against Lyon, took the moment in stride. “It was nice to do a bit of …

Sometimes it’s just a misunderstanding: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on Nemanja Matic-Andre Onana spat | Football News

Sometimes it’s just a misunderstanding: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on Nemanja Matic-Andre Onana spat | Football News

Published by Webster

With Manchester United’s Andre Onana and Lyon’s Nemanja Matic going back and forth over the goalie’s comments on “how United is “way better” than Lyon with the Serbian midfielder branding the Cameroonian shot-stopper ‘the worst goalkeeper in United’s history’, the Red Devils coach Ruben Amorim said that it was just a case of misunderstanding “If you see the full quote of Andre Onana, it’s quite different. The first sentence is Lyon is a very, very good team, so I think sometimes the players or coaches don’t listen to the full quotes. Sometimes it’s just a misunderstanding and I know Matic also. He’s a great guy. It is going to be a normal game,” Amorim said on the eve of the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinal between Manchester United and Lyon. “Again, if you look at the quotes, you cannot see disrespect there. Just respect but trying to give confidence and to show confidence in his team, especially in this year. “So, everybody can talk bad things about Manchester United. Sometimes our group as …

Nemanja Matic calls Andre Onana ‘one of the worst goalkeepers’ in Manchester United’s history

Nemanja Matic calls Andre Onana ‘one of the worst goalkeepers’ in Manchester United’s history

Published by Webster

Former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has branded current United goalkeeper Andre Onana “one of the worst goalkeepers” in the English club’s history ahead of the Europa League match between Matic’s current team Lyon and United. Matic was responding to comments from Onana about how United is “way better” than Lyon. “I respect everyone but to say that you need to give an answer. If you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United history, you need to take care what you are talking about,” the 36-year-old Matic said. He had played for United from 2017-22 and left the 20-time English champions before Onana arrived from Inter Milan in 2023. “If David De Gea, Peter Schmeichel, (Edwin) van der Sar said that, I would question myself,” Matic added when asked about Onana’s comments. “But if you are one of statistically the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s modern history, then he needs to show that before he says. We will see.” Story continues below this ad Onana has now responded to the comments on his …

‘Sometimes he needs to trust his teammates’: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on Bruno Fernandes | Football News

‘Sometimes he needs to trust his teammates’: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on Bruno Fernandes | Football News

Published by Webster

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim lauded captain Bruno Fernandes after the Portuguese midfielder netted a hattrick against Real Sociedad to propel the club to the last 8 of the Europa League. However, Amorim also said that Bruno needed to trust his teammates a little bit more on the field. “When we need it, (Fernandes) is always there,” Amorim said. “He can bring the ball forward. He can score goals. He is a perfect captain for our team and we need to help him win titles.” “We know that sometimes he is frustrated. We know he wants to win so badly and when things are not going well, he is changing position and going after the ball. Sometimes he needs to trust his teammates,” he added. Story continues below this ad United, who drew the first leg against Sociedad last week, went a goal down after 10 minutes when Matthijs de Ligt fouled Mikel Oyarzabal and Oyarzabal converted from the spot. However, the hosts levelled six minutes later with a penalty scored by Fernandes after Igor …

‘This club is all about winning’: Bruno Fernandes after netting hattrick in Manchester United’s Europa win over Real Sociedad | Football News

‘This club is all about winning’: Bruno Fernandes after netting hattrick in Manchester United’s Europa win over Real Sociedad | Football News

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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes who netted a hattrick on Thursday night against Real Sociedad, said that the club was all about winning. “This club is all about winning,” Fernandes told TNT Sports. Confidence is a big thing in football and at this club even more because you know how much you are on the eyes of everyone so you need to perform at the highest level,” he added. United, who drew the first leg against Sociedad last week, went a goal down after 10 minutes when Matthijs de Ligt fouled Mikel Oyarzabal and Oyarzabal converted from the spot. However, the hosts levelled six minutes later with a penalty scored by Fernandes after Igor Zubeldia had fouled Rasmus Hojlund. Another spot-kick gave United the lead five minutes after the interval after Aritz Elustondo was adjudged to have fouled Patrick Dorgu and Fernandes again made no mistake. Sociedad were reduced to 10 men when Jon Aramburu fouled Joshua Zirkzee and Fernandes completed his hat-trick before Diogo Dalot wrapped up a 5-2 aggregate victory for the English …

Focus is to change his mind: Ruben Amorim on Manchester United co-owner’s recent criticism of select players | Football News

Focus is to change his mind: Ruben Amorim on Manchester United co-owner’s recent criticism of select players | Football News

Published by Webster

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said that the team will be focusing on changing the mind of co-owner Jim Ratcliffe who in a recent interview had criticized some players of the current squad, saying they were not good enough and were overpaid. “If we’re being honest, in this moment everybody — me, all the players — we are underperforming this season. We can always change that, so I include myself in that part of ‘underperforming’,” Amorim told reporters. “You are talking about players like Casemiro, for example, that won everything (with Real Madrid) and we know that these kind of players can play so much better. So that is the focus and he was honest on that. The focus is to change his mind and to change all the people’s minds,” he added. Story continues below this ad Ratcliffe, however, had showered Amorim with praise saying that the Portuguese was “outstanding young manager” who would be at the club for a long time. “It’s a little bit the character, we are quite similar. I always …

‘I will not have the time that Arteta had’: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim | Football News

‘I will not have the time that Arteta had’: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim | Football News

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Ahead of his team’s match against Arsenal, Manchester United manager Ruben said that he would not have as much time to change the club’s fortunes like which was afforded to Mikel Arteta after the Spaniard joined the London club in 2019. Arteta, who has transformed the Gunners into a squad which is capable of a title challenge, just has a FA Cup in his trophy cabinet. “I will not have the time that Arteta had. I feel that [Arsenal] is a different club,” Amorim said. “It is a different club, in that aspect, the way how Arteta dealt with that [the issues] is an inspiration for everybody,” he added. Arsenal are currently placed second in the Premier League table with a gap of 13 points with leaders Liverpool. The Gunner, however have a game in hand. United, meanwhile, are 14th. Story continues below this ad In Arsenal’s last match which was in the Champions League, they took a massive step toward a quarterfinal spot with a 7-1 win at PSV Eindhoven. It was the biggest …

Manchester United open to cash in on Marcus Rashford for right price: Report | Football News

Manchester United open to cash in on Marcus Rashford for right price: Report | Football News

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Manchester United are open to sell striker Marcus Rashford in January’s transfer window, provided the club gets fair offers for the English striker. The 27-year-old has been with the club since the age of seven, playing for the Red Devils Academy and then coming into the first team in 2016. Rashford, who was once considered to be one of the brightest talents in England, has often been termed inconsistent, scoring 30 goals in 2022/23 season and then returning with just 8 in the 2023/24 season. This season he has just 7 goals in all competitions with his most recent strikes coming against Everton. According to the report, one of the main reasons for this sudden transfer call is because owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to put the financial position of the club in a better position. Also, if reports are to be believed, the club is concerned about the striker’s ‘lifestyle choices’. This stems from an incident at a drink-fuelled night in Belfast in January which led to Rashford being fined two weeks’ wages after …