United eye last-four berth
… as Slavia Prague target Gunners for Europa semis’ spot
MANCHESTER UNITED are huge favourites to reach the semifinals of the Europa League following their simple win over Granada in Spain last week, which should put an end to the surprise package’s first ever season of European football.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are safely tucked in the Champions League places behind Premier League leaders Manchester City and looked in rude health in sweeping past Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 at the weekend.
The Red Devils are certain to be without three important players as Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay will all serve one-match suspensions after receiving yellow cards in the first leg last week.
Alex Telles is expected to come in for Shaw at leftback while Axel Tuanzebe may have to partner Victor Lindelof in the middle of defence in Maguire’s absence as two other centrebacks are also set to miss the game.
With Anthony Martial expected to miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury, it means Solskjaer could be without a total of seven players for tomorrow match.
Mikel Arteta meanwhile insists he has not contemplated Arsenal failing to qualify for Europe next season and urged his big-game players to create the “magic moments” necessary to keep their Europa League dream alive.
Arsenal head into tomorrow’s quarterfinal, second leg against Slavia Prague knowing they have to score at least once after drawing the first game 1-1 at Emirates Stadium.
“In big games, big players have to step in and create the magic moments. You need that. Let’s hope we can have them.
“Someone has to create when the team needs those moments. We’ve had moments in the season when it has been the senior players and other moments when it has been the young players. It doesn’t really matter.”
The other two quarterfinals will see Roma host Ajax at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome and Villareal take on Dinamo Zagreb.
Gerard Moreno is having the season of his life as Villarreal gun for their first ever major trophy, a Europa League triumph that would continue three-time winner Unai Emery’s strong record in the competition.
Spain forward Moreno is set to record a career-best tally after scoring 24 times in all competitions this season, including the only goal in Zagreb last week which gave the La Liga outfit an away goal and a great chance of reaching the last four.
Ajax may be four-time European champions and one of the most exciting sides of recent seasons but it is Roma who have the advantage going into the second leg of their tie.
Italy’s last remaining representative in Europe came away from the Johan Cruyff Arena with a thrilling come-from-behind 2-1 win after being under the cosh for much of the match and are close to a likely last-four clash with Man United after reaching the semis of the Champions League in 2018. – AFP