VS
Datum: Sreda, 24.5. ob 20:45h
Prenos: Kanal A (začetek 20:30)
Prizorišče: The Friends Arena, Stockholm
Forma:
Ajax: WWLWL
United: DWDWD
Zadnji obračuni:
Manchester United 1 : 2 Ajax
Ajax 0 : 2 Manchester United
Manchester United 2 : 0 Ajax
Ajax 1 : 0 Manchester United
Zadnje novice:
Pri nas ne bo Baillyja zaradi rdečega kartona, Shaw, Rojo, Zlatan pa so poškodovani. Pri Nizozemcih ne bo Viergeverja, ki je podobno prejel rdeči karton v polfinalu.
Sodnik: Damir Skomina
Statistike in podatki:
How did Ajax reach Stockholm? The Dutch outfit entered the competition at the group stage after losing their Champions League qualification play-off 5-2 on aggregate to FC Rostov, who later dropped into the Europa League themselves and were defeated by United in the Round of 16. Ajax finished top of Group G, which contained another of the Reds’ later opponents, Celta Vigo, before securing narrow aggregate victories in the knockout rounds over Legia Warsaw (1-0), FC Copenhagen (3-2), Schalke (4-3) and Lyon (5-4) to make it through to Wednesday’s showpiece.
Their league season finished a while ago, didn’t it? Yes, Peter Bosz’s side finished second in the Eredivisie, a point behind Feyenoord, after a 3-1 final-day win at Willem II on 14 May. They’ve not played since but Bosz turned down the chance of a friendly match at the weekend, insisting training was enough to maintain rhythm for a side who have themselves played 56 games this term.
Who are their danger men? Attacking midfielder Davy Klaasen has been in prolific form this season, with 18 goals in all competitions, while 19-year-old Danish forward Kasper Dolberg has plundered 22 goals, including home and away strikes in the semi-final against Lyon. Ajax’s young side are full of attacking verve, boasting more attempts on goal (225) and on target (95) than any other team in the Europa League this season.
Hit me with some more facts and stats… Ajax have scored 24 goals to United’s 23 en route to the final, but have conceded 15 goals to United’s eight and they are without a victory in their last six European games away from the Amsterdam ArenA. Wednesday’s game, in which United are the 'away' team and will play in blue, comes 22 years to the day since Ajax won the European Cup under Louis van Gaal.
This will be the first time since 2002 that a Dutch club has reached a UEFA Cup/Europa League final (Feyenoord); Manchester United are the third English side in five seasons to reach the final (Chelsea in 2013 & Liverpool in 2016).
o Ajax and Manchester United have met four times before in European competition sharing two wins apiece (two games in the first round of the 1976/77 UEFA Cup and two legs in the round of 32 during the 2011/12 Europa League campaign).
o This will be the third meeting between English and Dutch sides in a European final (also Spurs v Feyenoord in 1974 and Ipswich v AZ in 1981, both in the UEFA Cup).
o Ajax are in their first European final since their penalty shootout defeat to Juventus during the 1995/96 Champions League campaign.
o The Europa League final will be played exactly 22 years after Ajax claimed their last European trophy by beating Milan in the 1995 Champions League final; that game featured Justin Kluivert's father, Patrick, and Daley Blind's father, Danny.
o The Dutch club have lifted the trophy in six of their last eight major European finals whilst the Red Devils have won four of their six; those two defeats coming in the most recent appearances however (2008/09 & 2010/11 Champions League finals versus Barcelona).
o Manchester United have reached the final of the Europa League/UEFA Cup for the first time in their history.
o The Red Devils have gone 10 matches unbeaten in this competition (W7 D3); conceding just four goals in that time.
o This game will be the 56th official game for Ajax this season, a new club record for the Amsterdam side.
o Ajax have lost two of their last three Europa League outings; letting in seven goals across that period.
o Ajax have lost three of their last four matches played in the UEFA Cup/Europa League against English opposition (W1) whilst United have lost two of their last three in this competition versus Dutch clubs (W1).
Moje dva centa:
Dosti ni za dodati. 64., tudi zadnja in najpomembnejša tekma sezone. (V sezoni 08/09 smo recimo odigrali 66 tekem in v finalu izgubili proti Barceloni). Tekma, kjer velja le zmaga in upam, da jih je Mou dobro naspidiral. Nevtralci bodo ziher držali za Ajax, ki goji napadalen nogomet, v nasprotju z defenzivnim Mourinjevim pristopom. Ekipi sta relativno spočiti, utrujenost ne sme biti več izgovor. Samo ena stvar mora biti v naših glavah:
Ne razumem, zakaj nekateri podcenjevalno vrednotijo finale in potencialno lovoriko. Smo v položaju, ki je takšen kakršen je in to moramo sprejeti. In ravno zato bi bila ta lovorika zlata vredna. Lovorik se v tem trenutku pa res ne smemo braniti, sploh če je evropska in prinaša CL. To bi bil dodaten boost za naslednjo sezono.
