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DPA
Berlin
Before the kick-off of the Europa League semi-finals first leg on Thursday, Manchester United and Arsenal have been in the spotlight - off the field, for the attempt to join other 10 European top clubs and create their own Super League.
The project crumbled around 48 hours after the official announcement and the teams involved must now focus on securing the best possible finale to the season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has once again led United to a Europa League semi-final after losing the chance to play in the final last season with a 4-2 aggregate defeat to Sevilla.
“We’re going into it hoping to get to the final. If we can finish the season with a trophy, that’d be great,” manager Solskjaer said.
Blocking their way to the final in Gdansk, Poland on May 26 is Italian side Roma. If United have been imperious in the competition, Roma have shown they can also get the job done.
“It feels like a proper European tie because Roma are a club with lots of history. We’ve done well against Italian sides,” Solskjaer analyzed before the Old Trafford tie.
Roma striker Edin Dzeko said they know United’s strength and that they’re “certainly favourites, but the very fact that we’ve got to the semi-finals gives us the right to believe.”
Arsenal’s involvement in the Super League has been a highlight in a poor season so far. Their FA Cup campaign ended prematurely in the third round after a defeat to Southampton, while they sit only 10th in the Premier League.
They’re nine points off West Ham, who currently have the last Europa League spot, and are unlikely to continental competition next season unless they lift this trophy.
“I think we are such a great team. We need to not make silly mistakes. We have a great chance of making the final,” Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka said.
In their attempt to save the season, Arsenal will travel to Spain and meet former coach Unai Emery, who now leads opponents Villarreal.
His time at Arsenal ended in “unwanted circumstances,” he told UEFA.com, but adding “we experienced great moments together on the pitch.” “I will have to put aside my feelings for Arsenal. I want to win for myself and for Villarreal,” Emery said.
Emery, who’s a three-time Europa League winner with Sevilla, will hope to become the first coach to lift the trophy four times as he currently shares the best mark with Italian legend Giovanni Trapattoni.
“We’ll approach it with humility, pride and responsibility. This is a chance to establish Villarreal on the top rung of European football,” he said.
Berlin
Before the kick-off of the Europa League semi-finals first leg on Thursday, Manchester United and Arsenal have been in the spotlight - off the field, for the attempt to join other 10 European top clubs and create their own Super League.
The project crumbled around 48 hours after the official announcement and the teams involved must now focus on securing the best possible finale to the season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has once again led United to a Europa League semi-final after losing the chance to play in the final last season with a 4-2 aggregate defeat to Sevilla.
“We’re going into it hoping to get to the final. If we can finish the season with a trophy, that’d be great,” manager Solskjaer said.
Blocking their way to the final in Gdansk, Poland on May 26 is Italian side Roma. If United have been imperious in the competition, Roma have shown they can also get the job done.
“It feels like a proper European tie because Roma are a club with lots of history. We’ve done well against Italian sides,” Solskjaer analyzed before the Old Trafford tie.
Roma striker Edin Dzeko said they know United’s strength and that they’re “certainly favourites, but the very fact that we’ve got to the semi-finals gives us the right to believe.”
Arsenal’s involvement in the Super League has been a highlight in a poor season so far. Their FA Cup campaign ended prematurely in the third round after a defeat to Southampton, while they sit only 10th in the Premier League.
They’re nine points off West Ham, who currently have the last Europa League spot, and are unlikely to continental competition next season unless they lift this trophy.
“I think we are such a great team. We need to not make silly mistakes. We have a great chance of making the final,” Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka said.
In their attempt to save the season, Arsenal will travel to Spain and meet former coach Unai Emery, who now leads opponents Villarreal.
His time at Arsenal ended in “unwanted circumstances,” he told UEFA.com, but adding “we experienced great moments together on the pitch.” “I will have to put aside my feelings for Arsenal. I want to win for myself and for Villarreal,” Emery said.
Emery, who’s a three-time Europa League winner with Sevilla, will hope to become the first coach to lift the trophy four times as he currently shares the best mark with Italian legend Giovanni Trapattoni.
“We’ll approach it with humility, pride and responsibility. This is a chance to establish Villarreal on the top rung of European football,” he said.
