The stage is set for the final of the 2016/17 uefa europa league final, second tier competition of european elite. venue for this one is the friends arena in stockholm, sweden.
There will be nothing friendly about the encounter though, as alot is at stake as two european giants clash. it is holland in one corner and england on the other, as ajax amsterdam take of the red devils of manchester.
The competition that kicked off on the 15th of september, 2016 reaches its climax on the 24th of may, 2017, kick-off time is 7:45pm GMT.
The winner of the encounter gets a spot in the group stages of the uefa champions league. dutch side ajax amsterdam already through to the uefa champions league by virtue of finishing second on the dutch eredivise table, manchester united on the other hand coached by the self acclaimed special one jose mourinho finished a disappointing sixth on the EPL table, hence their only route into europe’s leading competition is by winning the final.
Manchester United knocked-out spanish side celta vigo to make it to the final in stockholm, while ajax had to brush aside french outfit olympique lyonnais in the semif-final.
Four time uefa champions league winner ajax amsterdam came second in the eredivise, just a single point behind eventual winners feryernoord. they also failed to lift the dutch cup tagged KNVB BEKER, the last chance of winning a silverware this season lies solely in winning the europa league, a competition they previously won in the 1991/92 season. ajax have been break-taking this season, with their free-flowing attacking football with a squad bursting with youth. a player that has caught the eye this season is chelsea loanee bertrand traore alongside sweed teenager kasper dolberg. the youngster who has been compared to sweden legend zlatan ibrahimovich is a player to look out for. the dutch side is coached by former netherland player peter bosz
Manchester united has yet again failed to qualify for the champions league after finishing a disappointing sixth in the EPL, despite hiring portuguese tactician Jose mourinho, and signing the most expensive player in world football in paul pogba. mourinho has already brought silverware to the red devils this season, defeating english side southampton in the EFL Cup final. manchester united trying hard to return among european elites and have a route back by winning the europa league. the three time uefa champions league winners manchester united are yet to win the europa league, winning the trophy will complete their trophy cabinet.
both coaches took charge of their respectively sides in 2016, mourinho replacing louis van gaal at the helm of manchester united, van gaal himself was a former ajax coach, peter bosz on the other hand replaced dutch coach frank de boer.
Head to head between manchester united and ajax in european competition is 2-2. mourinho the red devils gaffer on the other hand has won all six meetings against ajax amsterdam albeit as a real madrid manager.
Both sides have a man suspended for this tie as ivorian defender eric bailly was sent off in the second leg of the semi-final against celta vigo and the dutch side will be without Nick Viergever who was sent off in the semi-final match against olympique lyon.
Manchester united will be without of number of key players, top on that list is top scorer zlatan ibrahimovich who got injured in the quarter final encounter with anderlecht of belgium. other players out for the english team include marcos rojo, luke shaw and former england international ashley young are long term absentees, while felliani and chris smalling are doubts for this one. mourinho can welcome back paul pogba who was given permission to leave the club after the death of his father earlier this month. mourinho has promised argentine goalkeeper he would get to retain his starting berth in the red devils line up in the final. ajax have no new injury news
Possible starting eleven for both sides
Manchester united possible eleven:
Gk: sergio romero; Defenders: antonio valencia, phil jones, daley blind, darmain matteo; midfielders: paul pogba, ander herrera, Henrik Mkhitaryan, Jesse Lingard, Marouane Fellaini, striker: Marcus Rashford
Ajax amsterdam possible eleven:
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