MANCHESTER, England -- Three quick thoughts from Manchester United's 1-1
Europa League semifinal second-leg draw with Celta Vigo at Old Trafford
on Thursday, which sees the English side advance to the final 2-1 on
aggregate.
Man United pay heavy price to reach Europa League final
The good news for Manchester United is that they are one win away from qualifying for the Champions League, but their progression to the Europa League final came at a heavy price against Celta Vigo.
United, who progressed 2-1 on aggregate, were seconds from being knocked out when John Guidetti missed an easy chance for the Spanish side in the final minute of stoppage time, but by that point, both teams had been reduced to 10 men following red cards for Eric Bailly and Facundo Roncaglia after a late clash.
Bailly's dismissal, for lashing out at Guidetti, means he will miss the final against Ajax in Stockholm, denying United their best defender in a game they must win to qualify for next season's Champions League. With Marcos Rojo already out because of a cruciate ligament injury, Bailly's absence will leave a huge hole in United's back four.
Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, both subjected to stinging criticism from Jose Mourinho in recent weeks, will battle it out for the right to partner Daley Blind against his former club.
But on a night when United did their best to sabotage their own hopes of reaching the final, the loss of Bailly was perhaps a case of Mourinho's team getting off lightly.
You do not have to be spectacular when winning semifinals, you just need to win them, and United will face Ajax in the Europa League final after just about getting the job done. A narrow win in Spain last Thursday followed by this laboured 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, was enough to carry United over the line, but they were far from convincing.
Ajax are vulnerable at the back and without a win on the road in Europe for six games, but United are also there for the taking. It promises to be a nervy night in Stockholm.
Man United pay heavy price to reach Europa League final
The good news for Manchester United is that they are one win away from qualifying for the Champions League, but their progression to the Europa League final came at a heavy price against Celta Vigo.
United, who progressed 2-1 on aggregate, were seconds from being knocked out when John Guidetti missed an easy chance for the Spanish side in the final minute of stoppage time, but by that point, both teams had been reduced to 10 men following red cards for Eric Bailly and Facundo Roncaglia after a late clash.
Bailly's dismissal, for lashing out at Guidetti, means he will miss the final against Ajax in Stockholm, denying United their best defender in a game they must win to qualify for next season's Champions League. With Marcos Rojo already out because of a cruciate ligament injury, Bailly's absence will leave a huge hole in United's back four.
Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, both subjected to stinging criticism from Jose Mourinho in recent weeks, will battle it out for the right to partner Daley Blind against his former club.
But on a night when United did their best to sabotage their own hopes of reaching the final, the loss of Bailly was perhaps a case of Mourinho's team getting off lightly.
You do not have to be spectacular when winning semifinals, you just need to win them, and United will face Ajax in the Europa League final after just about getting the job done. A narrow win in Spain last Thursday followed by this laboured 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, was enough to carry United over the line, but they were far from convincing.
Ajax are vulnerable at the back and without a win on the road in Europe for six games, but United are also there for the taking. It promises to be a nervy night in Stockholm.
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