BHOYS ARE CRUSHED BUT IT’LL BE PAIN FOR DANES
CELTIC fans will be thinking about what might have been as they watch Copenhagen slug it out with Manchester United for a Europa League semi-final slot tonight.
The Danes followed up that victory over the Hoops by thumping Istanbul Basaksehir 3-0 last week to reach the last eight.
Their reward is a one-off glamour tie with the Old Trafford giants in Cologne as the tournament heads into sudden death.
But the Copenhagen fairytale should end here, with Stale Solbakken’s side as big as 12/1 with William Hill to win in 90 minutes and 8/1 at Bet365 to qualify.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men offer no value at 1/9
Danes have drawn just two blanks in 13 matches.
Bruno Fernandes is always worth backing for a goal as he takes United’s penalties and he’s 6/5 with Paddy Power to net here.
Rangers would also have landed a glamour tie with Inter Milan had they managed to see off Leverkusen last week.
The Germans are 13/5 at Betfred to claim another win but my money is on the Italians to finish the job inside 90 minutes at 11/10 with Sportingbet.
Leverkusen have looked suspect in the air so try backing a header to be scored at 23/20 with William Hill.
And Romelu Lukaku is the man most likely to dominate aerially and the big Belgian frontman is a decent 7/5 with Sportingbet in the anytime scorer market. Super Single Man United win and BTTS (21/10, Betway) Anytime scorer double Bruno Fernandes and Romelu Lukaku (34/10, Sportingbet)
Manchester United to win, both teams to score and over 10.5 match corners pays 13-2 with McBookie.
United take on Copenhagen tonight for a place in the semi-finals with boss Solskajer admitting Europe’s second-tier competition has allowed him to develop his squad.
Solskjaer has given debuts to youngsters including defender Brandon Williams and striker Mason Greenwood, both of whom forced their way to the status of automatic picks.
Had United been in the Champions League this season, Solskajer said he would not have been able to give Williams, 19, and Greenwood, 18, as much playing time as this season.
That’s why Solskjaer, below, believes the Europa League has been the ideal stage, with the Reds back in the Champions League next season after finishing third in the Premier League.
He said: “We went into this season knowing the Europa League was a great chance to get a trophy, to go far in a tournament and bring on a few youngsters. It was perfect for us.
“If we were in the Champions League this season, I wouldn’t have had a chance to play Brandon as much as we have, Mason and some of the young kids that have started out on
fantastic careers.
“The Europa League has been about that as well, keeping the squad together, a group working together, and giving people chances.
“Brandon is next to me now and he’s going to play a quarter-final in the Europa League, a great achievement.
“We have developed through the season, with a squad that’s been working together. “There were a few changes in the January window that made us stronger but the teamwork we’ve done, with more and more principles in the group, is more natural and we’ve found good form. We’ve got good players and also players back from injury.”
After giving his B-team a run-out in the 2-1 second leg last-16 win over LASK last week, 7-1 on aggregate, Solskajer’s established stars will return tonight.
Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Greenwood all return for a game United expect and are expected to win, to set up a semi-final with Wolves or Sevilla on Sunday.
Greenwood, 15 and sitting on the sofa when United won the Europa League in 2017, is relishing the chance to lift the trophy himself.
He said: “I was at home watching it with my parents and we celebrated when we won. To have the chance to play in it myself and win it myself – I can make that dream come true.”