Manchester United Pay Tribute To Bombing Victims After Europa League Victory

Manchester United are hoping to end José Mourinho’s first season at the club on a high note, by adding a second trophy in Wednesday’s Europa League final clash against Ajax.

“There is now no specific intelligence which might suggest that any of the UEFA Europa League final activities in Stockholm may be the target of attacks”, read the statement. “We were always confident that we would win”, said George Malloy, a 69-year-old from Dublin. It’s a pity we can not fly with the happiness we always have before a big game. “But there is a shadow hanging over this final”.

Despite being the most friendly, upbeat named stadium around, a Manchester chief Superintendent John O’Haire thought there will be plenty of hooliganism going on – and that was before the May 22 terrorism attack at Ariana Grande’s concert at Manchester Arena.

In the aftermath of the attack, Mourinho issued a statement saying “we can not take out of our minds and our hearts the victims and their families”.

United captain Wayne Rooney described the news as “devastating”, while executive vice-chaiman Ed Woodward said everyone at the club was “numb”.

I think that few people expected to see Ajax in the finals.

“Children were the people attacked and targeted”.

Schoof stressed no extra security measures were taken in Amsterdam following the attack, but he pressed people “to be alert, keep an eye on things and report any suspect behaviour immediately”.

“Mkhitaryan’s taken the man away, it’s left that space for Pogba”.

The much awaited Europa Cup final match comes up this evening with former champions of European football, Manchester United ready to put in all as the only hope of playing in the Europe elite competition, UEFA Champions League with Ajax as the stumbling block to that dream. Mourinho’s tactics will be to sit back and be tight, and that will suit Ajax for their pressing game but if you have two or three players who are really fast like Rashford and Martial? Ajax Amsterdam did win the UEFA Cup back in 1992.

Pogba has often been criticised this season for his level of performances and that could quickly be forgotten if he can help deliver United their second trophy this season.

United now join champions Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City in next season’s Champions League group stages, which will earn them about £50m in revenue.

“The young players are blessed because a lot of those players are still working at Ajax”, he explained.

Not to be deterred, Ajax continued to work the ball as well as could be expected given the poor pitch condition, and Traore nearly wriggled his way in on goal, but for an excellent last ditch tackle from Daley Blind.