Europa League

SO who is Manchester United’s number one then?That was the question asked by Old Trafford legend Paul Scholes when the team-sheet dropped last night.
David De Gea started in goal for Man Utd against GranadaCredit: Getty
But with Dean Henderson on the bench it is still unclear who is United’s No 1Credit: Getty
And it would have been echoed by thousands of Red Devils fans around the world.
Most importantly, does Ole Gunnar Solskjaer know for sure who he wants in goal for the biggest games?
On Sunday evening, it looked as though Dean Henderson’s long wait to be first choice with his boyhood club was finally over.
Having played the last six matches before the international break, he then got the nod against Brighton.
And normally the goalie who plays in the Premier League would be viewed as the owner of the shirt.
But four days later, when the team was named for this game in Andalucia, it was David De Gea who got the nod.
Logic would dictate that this is the bigger game in terms of salvaging United’s season.
Barring a dramatic slump, they will finish in the top four to seal a return to the Champions League next season. They will surely end up second or third next month.
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And they need a miracle if they are to catch runaway leaders Manchester City, who are 14 points clear at the top.
So the Europa League is United’s one realistic chance of ending their four year wait for a major trophy.
In terms of outfield players, it looked like the strongest available side had been selected by Solskjaer against the unfancied Spaniards.
And – somewhat puzzlingly – De Gea was back in goal.
The United boss says he has two number ones and that he’s going to find matches for each of them.
But his former team-mate Scholes didn’t pull any punches by saying he is ‘clearly wrong’ to think like that.
The ex-England international recalled the six years United spent around the Millennium trying to settle on the right man between the sticks.
He probably still shudders when he thinks of Fabien Barthez, Mark Bosnich, Roy Carroll, Tim Howard Andy Goram, Paul Rachubka, and Massimo Taibi among others.
‘ALWAYS AWKWARD’
He said: “I think it’s always awkward when you’re trying to keep two goalkeepers happy.
“I was in a team that tried to replace Peter Schmeichel for years. It wasn’t until we got Edwin van der Sar, five or six years later, until it seemed to settle down again.”
Solskjaer was in that team too, of course – yet he seems to be making hard work of making the decision.
He put De Gea back in goal in his homeland and starting a game for United for the first time in almost six weeks.
Last month he became a father for the first time and was handed extended leave by his manager to go and make the most of it.
He was given more time off than he needed – or wanted – but Henderson had been told he would get the six games leading up to the international break.
When he got a seventh, on Sunday, it looked like De Gea’s decade as first choice could be over.
Yet some – Scholes included – believe Henderson has not yet done enough to justify his promotion.
‘COULD’VE BEEN MID-TABLE WITHOUT HIM’
It was a gentle way for De Gea to ease himself back into it in the Estadio de Los Carmenes despite the efforts of the spirited hosts.
He was given a scare when on loan Manchester City man Yangel Herrera cracked a shot against the outside of the post.
And he got down well to save as Kenedy – who is still on the books at Chelsea – fired a textbook volley from the edge of the box.
Early in the second half he had to get his positioning spot on to keep out another effort from the Brazilian – but all in all it was a quiet night.
He has not been perfect over the last 12 months but Scholes believes it is too early to dump him on the bench.
The former Oldham boss said: “You have to say, David is a quality keeper, the service he’s given to United, what he did for four or five years when United were really struggling.
“They could’ve been a mid-table team without him, he’s lost a bit of form and a bit of confidence, but I wouldn’t write him off.”
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Streaker delays Man Utd’s Europa League clash with Granada despite being held behind closed doors More

MANCHESTER UNITED’s behind-closed-doors win in Spain was somehow held up by a STREAKER.No fans were allowed in for the Europa League quarter-final first leg against Granada on Thursday night – a game United won 2-0 thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes.
A streaker held up Manchester United’s win over GranadaCredit: Getty
He somehow made it onto the pitch despite fans not being allowed in the stadiumCredit: Rex
And took a fall before being caught by Spanish policeCredit: Rex
But that didn’t stop one fan from getting into the Estadio Municipal Nuevo Los Carmenes.
And he ran right across the middle of the pitch early on, causing a delay in the last-eight tie.
But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were only briefly held up as Spanish police moved in to escort the man away.
Thursday’s match was one of the biggest in Granada’s history.
And their fans gathered on the streets to welcome their team before the game with the stadium still closed.
United boss Solskjaer fielded a strong side featuring Harry Maguire, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford.
And Rashford opened the scoring for United, latching onto a pinpoint long-range pass from Victor Lindelof to race through on goal and slot home.
A spirited Granada side were in the tie throughout – and United were only allowed to breathe a little easier when Bruno Fernandes scored a second late on.
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Police swarm on the streaker and remove him from the pitchCredit: Rex
He slotted home a 90th-minute penalty – to make it 11/12 successful spot-kicks for the season.
Speaking after the win, Solskjaer said: “It was not a perfect night. We got three yellow cards and three suspensions. 2-0 is very good result.
“We know how difficult it is to come to Spain. We’ve got to play well to get a result.
“They [Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes] have been exceptional, so important for us.

“It was a very good run by Rashford, takes the ball fantastically. Bruno is so confident on penalties even though the keeper almost saved it.
“Same as always [attitude for next week]. We want to win every game. It’s still a young team, a learning team.
“We have to improve all the time.
“Football catches you so quickly if you rest. We can’t have any other approach.”
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Solskjaer says Man Utd striker Marcus Rashford in doubt for Granada match More

ARSENAL’s Europa League ambitions are hanging in the balance after conceding a disastrous stoppage-time equaliser.Mikel Arteta thought his team had grabbed a crucial late lifeline when substitute Nicolas Pepe forced an 86th-minute breakthrough.
Slavia Prague stunned Arsenal with a late equaliser in their Europa League quarter-final first legCredit: Getty
Tomas Holes bundled in a late corner to score a crucial 93rd-minute goalCredit: Reuters
Arsenal were frustrated and face a huge task in next week’s second legCredit: Getty
But Arsenal’s record signing undid all his good work when he failed to clear a last-gasp Slavia corner to allow defender Tomas Holes to head in at the back post.
It was an absolute sickener for Arteta, who had been hoping that the backlash from Saturday’s Liverpool humiliation would be “the big punch in the face” that his team required.
But it wasn’t until he sent on Pepe and skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as late subs that he got the response he had been looking for.
The £130 million duo could have had few complaints about being benched following their recent half-hearted efforts.
And Aubameyang didn’t help his cause when he missed an absolute sitter within seconds of replacing Alex Lacazette.
But with time running out, Aubameyang pounced on Granit Xhaka’s long boot up the field to set up Pepe for a cool as you like finish into the far corner.
That should have been enough to leave the Gunners with a crucial advantage going into next week’s quarter-final second leg.
But now they have it all to do if they are going to survive in the competition which represents their last realistic chance of qualifying for Europe again next season.
Having already taken care of Leicester and Rangers in the previous rounds, Slavia arrived in North London confident that they didn’t have too much to fear from the tenth best team in England.
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Nicolas Pepe scored what looked to be the winner in the 86th minute before a dramatic injury-time equaliserCredit: The Sun
Nicolas Pepe celebrates his 86th-minute strike that looked like being Arsenal’s winnerCredit: The Sun
They are currently 14 points clear at the top of the Czech League and haven’t lost domestically in a 37-game run stretching all the way back to March of last year.
It is all a far cry from their only previous trip to the Emirates, when they hammered 7-0 in a Champions League group game back in October 2007.
Yet it wasn’t all straightforward for the Czech Champions, who were without all four of their recognised central defenders.
Among those absenstees was the veteran Ondrej Kudela, serving a provisional ban while Uefa investigates claims that he racially abused Rangers’ Glen Kamara last month.
Slavia have vehemently denied that accusation but didn’t exactly help themselves when their players failed to join Arsenal in taking a knee before kick-off.
At least they were able to welcome back goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar, playing his first game since his skull was fractured by Kemar Roofe’s head-high challenge during that stormy Ibrox encounter.
Kolar was wearing both a face mask and helmet to protect his injury yet showed no fear when he dashed out to prevent Lacazette from reaching Bukayo Saka’s early through ball.
Alexandre Lacazette reacts to a missed chance at the EmiratesCredit: The Sun
Arsenal struggled to find a breakthrough in their Europa League quarter-final first legCredit: AP
Mikel Arteta cut a frustrated figure for most of the nightCredit: The Sun
In fact it was Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno who had more to worry about during the opening exchanges when the dangerous Lukas Provod belted a vicious first time effort just over from the edge of the area.
Arsenal’s first attempt on goal didn’t arrive until the 25th minute, a tame header from Gabriel which was easily dealt with by Kolar.
And that inability to trouble their opponents’ makeshift defence was clearly getting to Arteta as he tried to elicit a response from his team.
They should have been ahead on the half hour when Rob Holding stepped out of defence to play Saka in on goal with a delicious pass.
But with only the keeper to beat and Slavia looking in vain for a linesman’s flag, the teenaged England star rolled his shot wide of the far post.
Holding tried to take matters into his own hands with a looping header from Cedric’s cross which forced a first save of the night from Kolar, arching backwards to tip the ball to safety from under his crossbar.
And Willian almost broke the deadlock with a 47th minute free-kick which struck the outside of the post after Saka had been dragged down on the edge of the area.
With Kieran Tierney ruled out by a knee injury for at least the next four weeks, Saka appeared to be the obvious candidate to deputise at left-back.

But Arteta clearly believes the youngster offers far too much going forward even if his final ball still occasionally lets him down.
Arsenal thought they had finally found a breakthrough when Lacazette muscled Oscar Dorley off the ball on the halfway line to give himself a clear run on goal.
But with an absolute eternity to weigh up his options, the striker fired against the bar with Emile Smith Rowe unable to connect with the rebound.
It was typical of Arsenal’s lack of killer instinct and now that carelessness could come back to haunt them next week.
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