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Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Man Utd in May 2017


Fatigue is setting in...another two injuries during this game, Bailly and Luke Shaw. The Utd's back line is now down to bare bones. They laboured over relegation threatened Swansea at Old Trafford. This is their 10th home draw of the season...a record of sort. The chase for top 4 is getting tougher though Man City also drew and Arsenal lost later. 
On Thursday it is Europa League semi final against Celta in Spain

Man Utd 1  Swansea 1

Europa League Semi-final first leg
Marcus Rashford scored a stunning freekick goal to enable the Red Devils to leave Spain with an important away goal. It is now back to England for Sunday's clash with Arsenal in the PL.


Celta Vigo 0 Man Utd  1

The Red Devils unbeaten run since October last year ended at Emirates when Arsenal won 2-0. Mourinho's priority is on the Europa League semi-final on Thursday against Celta Vigo and his side showed their non-commitment to this game.

Arsenal 2  Man Utd 0

Europa League Semi final 2nd leg 11 May 2017
The Red Devils just edged out Celta Vigo by an aggregate of 2-1 to enter the final against a youthful Ajax Amsterdam. Fellaini gave them an early lead. However as usual, they could not kill off the opposition, allowing Celta to equalise on 85th. The last 5 minutes was highlighted with a double red card, one from each side. Eric Bailly will miss the final.

Man Utd 1  Celta Vigo 1

As Tottenham Hotspurs leaves their White Hart Lane for the last time to move to a new Stadium, the Red Devils' focus was definitely on the Europa League final in 2 weeks time. Jose Mourinho allowed his side to lose two matches in a row to give up the fight for a UCL place through the PL. Spurs meanwhile confirmed their 2nd place as Chelsea has already secured the title with two games to go, with a win over WBA on Friday.

Tottenham Hotspurs  2   Man Utd  1

This meaningless match ended goalless at St Mary. The only thing of note was Romero saving a Gabbiadini penalty. The Red Devils are saving themselves for the Europa League final. Fancy Mourinho playing the 'boys' in the last match against Crystal Palace before the final.

Southampton  0  Man Utd  0

Last week of season
As promised, Mourinho fielded his 'kids' in this inconsequential match against Palace at Old Trafford. and they did not disappoint though Allardyce fielded his full strength squad. He gave debuts to players like Joel Castro, Demetri Mitchell, Axel Tuanzebe, Josh Harrop, Angel Gomes. Scott McTominay also started. It was Harrop who shone with a classy goal from a Progba pass. Progba scored the second before substituted at half time to save him for Europa League final.
Final league standing
1. Chelsea
2. Tottenham Hotspurs
3. Man City
4. Liverpool
5. Arsenal
6. Man Utd
Arsene Wenger's Arsenal missed out an UCL spot for the first time in 20 years.

Man Utd  2  Crystal Palace  0

Europa League Final at Stockholm, Sweden 24 May 2017
So, Jose Mourinho's first season with the Red Devils is considered a success!!! Two Cups and the Community Shield would have shut up most critics.
The Devils did just enough to win 2-0 against a very young Ajax Amsterdam side and thus qualified for a spot in the UCL nest season. Paul Progba paid back a huge sum of his $89M fee with the opening goal. Man Utd thus became the fourth European team to have won all the major UEFA competitions, others being Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich.

Ajax  0    Man Utd  2

The 2016-17 season thus ended with only Chelsea vs Arsenal in the FA Cup final on Sunday

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