Im feeling extremely nervous about this final. Its not necessarily rational but I feel like our preparation for it, in terms of resting all these players, could end up being counterproductive. I understand why we are doing it, with Ajax having so much time to rest before the game. So with all our players being rested, in theory that makes us even. But it feels like having a couple of weeks to focus completely on this one game, on the training pitch, is better preparation than losing a whole load of games consecutively, with different players being played and rested at different times. I worry we have lost our focus now and it will be hard to switch it back on, while Ajax have had no distractions and could completely focus on this game.
Ajax - Man Utd | EL Final Build-up Thread
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Jose will have it drummed in to the players heads that anything but a victory in this game is simple unacceptable. I'm sure they will make all the necessary preperations in order to achieve just that.
If they fail to keep themselves focused for a couple of weeks, then I seriously doubt their professionalism
My point being its the 9th year. To burrow a quote "its our year" surely.
I hope you are right. But Ajax will also be completely up for this game. Anyway, like I said, its more about nerves than a rational assessment of the likely outcome.Jose will have it drummed in to the players heads that anything but a victory in this game is simple unacceptable. I'm sure they will make all the necessary preperations in order to achieve just that.
If they fail to keep themselves focused for a couple of weeks, then I seriously doubt their professionalism
I suppose we start as favourites but only slightly, I'd say. No idea how good Ajax are but seeing how we suffer under pressure means it is by no means guaranteed that we'll win. Celta shot out of the blocks and pressed us continually, in the end they had over 70% possession and created a lot of chances. The Spanish league is very strong so hopefully this match will prove easier. How important is Rashford for this game, what would happen if he missed the final because of injury, do you think ?
Hope tells me that this will be Pogba's day.
Hope tells me that this will be Pogba's day.
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I think it will very heavily depend who will score the first Goal. This is always important but in this game it might be especially crucial.
In case we will able to score they might get nervous and open up so that we can put in 1 or 2 Goals on the Counter. That would be classic Mourinho.
Experience and more individual class is on our side.
It would be a good day for Mkhi or Martial to Show us some of the Magic we would like to see from them.
In case we will able to score they might get nervous and open up so that we can put in 1 or 2 Goals on the Counter. That would be classic Mourinho.
Experience and more individual class is on our side.
It would be a good day for Mkhi or Martial to Show us some of the Magic we would like to see from them.
If Mourinho would just stop it with excuses in the build up and be more positive we might just be okay. The negativity from the manager is unreal and won't help the players.
I agree with you Bloedrood, they did look to have created the better chances - however I stand by the fact that had Lyon put a couple of their chances away it could have been a totally different game, and I think the 2nd leg supports that there wasn't actually much, if anything, between the two teams
I can only call it as I saw it - both teams were cutting through each other at will. Now, in the PL, you would expect to come up against better attacking forces than Lyon and Ajax, and my point is, if you are that open it won't take long before you come unstuck. Monaco have been admirable this year, but as soon as they came up against a genuinely solid and well-organised side they were well and truly dispatched.
Being organised to score but not being able to defend is not being fecking organised, it's called being imbalanced
But we are not as well organised and solid as Juventus is right now, so Ajax, with its very positive offensive mind in the game would have a better chance to win.
The only way out would be to force a physical challenge from the midfield to the opposition defence, and that is not guaranteed to work.
However, if it does, then, United could have some chances to convert.
Then comes the conversion rate cause usually, by scaring the opponent with a very high conversion rate, we force their defensive shape... but if they have the feeling they can get a result, they will challenge more the ball, and win duels and second balls, so they would be the ones having some chances to score.
You need to have some pride in the game and our players have lost both pride and confidence.
Exactly. I'd even argue if they try that they will play right into our hands. We haven't been the best attacking unit this season, but even our players will still ruthlessly exploit a team that's defensively all over the place.
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Just came across this vid. Although it's United orientated, I, first and foremost an Ajax-fan, enjoyed it and got pumped up for the final. It's from a Man United channel, so some of you might have seen it already, but I can't remember seeing it in this thread.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4bKw5vVl8Q
If someone could convert it into the actual clip instead of the link, that would be nice (I don't have the rights, 'cause of lack of likes).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4bKw5vVl8Q
If someone could convert it into the actual clip instead of the link, that would be nice (I don't have the rights, 'cause of lack of likes).
No, not really, after about 10 minutes Ajax was playing with Lyon in the first half, it must have been painful to watch for the home crowd and the Lyon players got frustrated. Ajax got a bit overconfident minutes before halftime, but Lyon was very lucky to score two just before half time.
Especially in attacking sense. I respect the PL because it's very hard to win it, but that's not the same as good football. That often shows when a PL club with all the money in the world is playing a Spanish, Italian or even Swiss or Belgian team.
If I read one more "we have better players it's an easy win" comment I'm going to lose my shit.
We had better players than a feck load of teams this year, teams worse than ajax and failed to win.
It's going to be a tough game and hopefully a good final
We had better players than a feck load of teams this year, teams worse than ajax and failed to win.
It's going to be a tough game and hopefully a good final
If City and Dortmund arent well organised sides, then there are few well organised sides in the Prem I can tell you, Chelsea and Spurs and that's it.
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Any chance Rojo could be back by then?
Our team appear to all be playing themselves out of the eleven for the final. Right now it is Romero, Valencia, Herrera, Fellaini, Pogba, Rashford and five random dudes. Some genuinely anonymous performances in the last month.
Thanks @Vito Corleone!
It felt like a lifetime between 1999 and 2008, but 2008 feels like only a couple of years ago.
We wearing blue or new black?
No Fellaini? Rooney in midfield it is
Romero
Valencia Smalling Blind Darmian
Herrera Carrick Pogba
Lingard Rashford Mkhitaryan
Obviously Jones the other possibility but Smalling has history with blind so he might go with that. Martial if he has a good final game might start ahead of Lingard, though I doubt it.Valencia Smalling Blind Darmian
Herrera Carrick Pogba
Lingard Rashford Mkhitaryan
Incredible you don't get why.
If we somehow manage to win this cup I reckon it will be on Pens.
Not letting Southampton score has made me more confident of a win.
Sticking with 2-0 United.
Sticking with 2-0 United.
Blind?
Where the feck are our goals going to come from?
Not sure on Blind, but Lingard too. Rooney could sneak in ahead of Mata, Martial and Mkhi for that third attacking spot at this rate. All three were dreadful.
Can't judge on these past two games, there's nothing to play for and most players are conserving energy and trying not to get injured. It means nothing.
Blind has been pretty good imo.
Maybe Ajax will help us out with a few OGs?
Blind would be in my XI every week, but not sure the manager will pick him.
No other option. If we go with Smalling and Jones it will be fun as hell.
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