Europa League

MANCHESTER UNITED landed a dream draw against Spanish newcomers Granada in the Europa League while Arsenal face Slavia Prague.And the Prem giants are in opposite sides of the draw – keeping alive the prospect of an all-English final in Gdansk on May 26.

Manchester United’s Paul Pogba celebrates his winner against AC Milan in the last roundCredit: Reuters
Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s side saw off AC Milan thanks to Paul Pogba’s winner to book their place in the last eight – and they were rewarded with a match-up against Granada who are enjoying their first ever European campaign.
Pogba came off the bench at half-time and it took just three minutes for the Frenchman to mark his comeback from a thigh problem with a crucial goal.
United held on to secure a 2-1 victory on aggregate after Simon Kjaer’s stoppage-time equaliser at Old Trafford had kept the tie in the balance.
Mikel Arteta’s men scraped through despite losing 1-0 to Olympiacos in the last 16 second leg at the Emirates.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returned to the side after being axed for rocking up late to the North London derby.
But the Gabonese star’s wasteful finishing was partly to blame for defeat on the night as Youssef El-Arabi netted a 51st minute winner.
Arteta’s side went through 3-2 on aggregate courtesy of the 3-1 triumph in the first leg – gaining revenge after they were dumped out by their Greek opponents last season.
The Gunners will face Rangers’ conquerors Slavia Prague in the last eight.
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EUROPA LEAGUE DRAW IN FULLQUARTER-FINALS
Granada vs Manchester United
Arsenal vs Slavia Prague
Ajax vs Roma
Dinamo Zagreb vs Villarreal
*To be played April 8 and April 15
SEMI-FINALS
Granada or Manchester United vs Ajax or Roma
Dinamo Zagreb or Villarreal vs Arsenal or Slavia Prague
*To be played April 29 and May 6
FINAL
*To be played May 26 in Gdansk

Steven Gerrard’s newly-crowned Scottish champs were dumped out by their Czech opponents after a 2-0 defeat on the night saw them go down 3-1 on aggregate.
The game at Ibrox was marred by huge controversy as the Gers finished the game with nine men and Rangers ace Glen Kamara claimed he was racially abused by an opponent during a heated flare-up.
United face a tricky tie against Ajax or Roma if they make it to the semi-finals.

Solskjaer’s side crashed out in the last four against eventual winners Sevilla in the same stage of the competition last year.
And in the last quarter-final tie, Dinamo Zagreb – fresh from ending Spurs’ hopes in the tournament – will face Villarreal.
The winner of that game will face Arsenal if Arteta’s men can get past Slavia Prague.

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Paul Pogba’s return is a huge boost to the team after AC Milan victory More

DONNY VAN DE BEEK poured cold water on suggestions he is unhappy at Manchester United with his passionate celebration during the Red Devils’ win at AC Milan.The Dutchman has struggled for game time under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Donny Van de Beek celebrated Paul Pogba’s winner at AC Milan wildly
Reports have suggested Van de Beek is looking to quit Old Trafford over a lack of game timeCredit: Getty
He joined United from Ajax in a £39million move at the end of last season.
But the 23-year-old has played just 26 times in all competitions since the transfer.
Reports in recent days suggested the Holland international wants to quit Old Trafford already because of a lack of game time.
Dutch legend Ronald de Boer also confirmed the midfielder is ‘not happy’ with the amount of time he has spent out of the team and the squad.
But the Ajax youth coach added he is certain Van de Beek is willing to stay and fight for his place.
And judging by the 17-cap star’s reaction to Paul Pogba’s winner in Italy on Thursday, former Barcelona ace De Boer is right.
Pogba replaced injured Marcus Rashford at half-time with the score at 0-0 on the night and 1-1 on aggregate.
The World Cup winner had an almost instant impact and put his team 1-0 up (2-1 agg) with a clever close range finish.
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And the goal triggered jubilant scenes on the sidelines.
Pogba ran over to the area United’s subs – including Van de Beek – were warming up and was quickly mobbed by his on-field team-mates.
And footage showed Van de Beek wanting to get involved. 
He ran down the steps from the bench with his arms aloft to join his team-mates.
And the sight will surely be comforting for any Red Devils fans worried he is about to leave.
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Paul Pogba’s return is a huge boost to the team after AC Milan victory More

TOTTENHAM captain Hugo Lloris was left raging as he labelled his side a ‘disgrace’ following their remarkable Europa League exit against Dinamo Zagreb.The Spurs keeper watched on as the Croatian side sensationally fought back from a two-goal first leg deficit to win 3-2 on aggregate.
Lloris was left fuming after Spurs were dumped out of EuropeCredit: Reuters
“It’s just a disgrace. I hope everyone in the changing room feels responsible.”Hugo Lloris didn’t hold back following Tottenham’s Europa League exit.#UEL pic.twitter.com/dl7JZYS8am— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 18, 2021

And Lloris, 34, pulled no punches in slamming his teammates after the match.
He said: “I think we are all more than disappointed, it is just a disgrace.
“I just hope everyone in the changing room feels responsible for the situation because it’s a disgrace.
“The taste of the defeat tonight is more than painful and we are all responsible for that.
“The accumulation, obviously we are a club full of ambition, I just think the team at the moment is a reflection of what is going on in the club.
“We have a lack of basics, lack of fundamental, all our performances is a relation of that. Mentally we should be stronger, more competitive. Today, I didn’t feel that on the field.”
Lloris added: “When you are not ready at this level, you pay.
“It doesn’t matter who is the opponent, there is quality everywhere in Europe and if you don’t respect the opponent they can punish you and that’s what happened today.
“I think the full credit belongs to the opponent as well because they play the game full of belief but the blame is on, all the team, all the club.
“The way we play is just not enough. One thing is to come in front of the camera to say ‘I’m ambitious’, the other thing is to show every day in training sessions, is to show every time on the pitch you cannot let it down if you play or don’t play.”
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Lloris was given little chance in all three of Mislav Orsic’s hat-trick goals in the second leg loss.
Spurs’ only hopes of silverware this season are in the Carabao Cup where they face Manchester City in next month’s final.
Lloris continued: “To behave as a team is the most difficult thing in football.
“Whatever is the decision of the manager you have to follow the way of the team.
“If you follow the team only when you are in the starting 11 that causes big problem for the team because you pay.
“In one moment you are going to pay in your season and I think today is the consequence of that.
“We had a great moment in the past because we could trust the togetherness in the team, today I’m not sure about that.
Huge Lloris pulled no punches in his post-match interviewCredit: BT Sport
You 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 to listen to his Jose Mourinho interview 😳He wears his heart on his sleeve as he looks at a horrible night for the club… pic.twitter.com/Wwi2THhPBH— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 18, 2021

“I think there was still the belief that we could score one goal because one goal would have changed the dynamic of the game. I think the message from the manager was clear, to attack the game and score one goal as soon as we can to make the game easier but it happened the opposite.
“Dinamo started to believe again and you know if you don’t kill the opponent they are going to come.
“They score an amazing goal and then the game was open, we never felt on the pitch that the game was under control and that we were the dominant team, we were far from that.
“What is more painful is that we came here without the desire to kill the game, when you are a competitor you cannot behave like that. As I say, it is a disgrace from us and we can only say sorry to the fans.”

Lloris’ comments echoed those of boss Jose Mourinho, who paid his respects to Zagreb after the game by visiting their dressing room and giving them a round of applause.
Speaking about his own team, he said: “Football is not just about having players that think they have more quality than others. The basics of football goes beyond that. It’s attitude and they beat us on that.
“Before the game I told my players of a bad attitude and it happened. I believed the players only realised the game was in risk when they scored the second goal.
“I feel sorry for my team – I belong to that team – did not bring the basics of football but the basics of life, which is to respect our jobs and to give everything.”
Watch classy Jose Mourinho applaud Dinamo Zagreb heroes in their dressing room immediately after Tottenham humiliation More

SLAVIA PRAGUE’s chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik has denied Ondrej Kudela racially abused Rangers star Glen Kamara – and claims the defender was ‘physically attacked’.The Czech player provoked a furious reaction from the Rangers ace after whispering something in his ear during Thursday’s Europa League clash.
Rangers star Glen Kamara reacts furiously to Slavia Prague’s Ondrej KudelaCredit: Getty
Slavia se kategoricky ohrazuje proti tomu, ze hrac Ondrej Kudela jakkoliv rasisticky urazil hrace soupere. Sokuje nas, ze po zapase doslo k fyzickemu napadeni naseho hrace. Na zadost Slavie pripad resi mistni policie. Prejeme si podrobne vysetrovani cele situace ze strany UEFA.— Jaroslav Tvrdik (@JaroslavTvrdik) March 18, 2021

The Scottish champions’ boss Steven Gerrard later revealed Kamara told him he’d been subjected to racial abuse by the 33-year-old.
However, speaking on behalf of the Czech club, Slavia chief Tvrdik has now vehemently denied Kudela did any such thing.
And he even claimed the player was physically attacked after the game before police stepped in.
He tweeted: “Slavia categorically opposes the fact that the player Ondrej Kudela racially insulted the players’ opponents in any way.
“Our player was physically attacked after the match.
“At the request of Slavia, the case was resolved by the local police.
“We would like to see a detailed investigation of the whole situation by Uefa.”
However, an Ibrox source hit back at Tvrdik’s sensational claim and said: “That’s utter nonsense.
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Slavia Prague chief Jaroslav Tvrdik, right, denied Rangers’ claimsCredit: Alamy
“The only person attacked at Ibrox tonight was Glen Kamara. Slavia Prague are trying to play the victims.”
Police Scotland were also unaware of any assault taking place at Ibrox following Rangers’ 2-0 defeat to Slavia Prague.
Speaking after the Europa League game, Gerrard insisted he backed Kamara completely over the allegations.
And he hit out at Slavia officials over claims the Ibrox club were liars.
He said: “This situation is over to Uefa now. I just hope it doesn’t get brushed under the carpet.
“I feel angry. It’s difficult to describe how I feel now because I know Glen and I trust him 100 per cent. It’s extremely disappointing. 
“There is too much of it happening around football. 
“The Slavia player has caused this and he has also caused a situation like this to escalate even further because straight away you get the fans joining in and the racism grows and grows. 

“Something needs to happen quickly. That is above me. But 100 per cent I stand beside Glen Kamara, whatever happens going forward.
“The disappointing thing for me is there is people trying to defend the opposition player.
“Their people, trying to defend it, trying to defend him, calling us liars. 
“That’s for other people to deal with all I say now is that I stand by Glen Kamara 100 per cent.”
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Rangers fans set off fireworks outside Slavia Prague’s Glasgow hotel ahead of Europa League tie More

TOTTENHAM boss Jose Mourinho sportingly applauded the Dinamo Zagreb players in their dressing room after their sensational Europa League comeback on Thursday.The Croatian side fought back from two goals down after the first leg as Mislav Orsic scored a remarkable hat-trick to stun Spurs and move into the quarter-finals.
Mourinho shook hands with a number of Zagreb players after Spurs’ defeat last nightCredit: Getty
He then visited the Zagreb dressing room after the gameCredit: BT Sport
Spurs were dumped out of the Europa League in quite incredible circumstancesCredit: Getty
And while Mourinho was left paralysed with shock at his side’s performance, he still had the grace to go to the Zagreb players and pay his respects.
In response to Mourinho’s gesture, one fan said: “Class from Jose need more of this in the modern game.”
And another added: “Jose mourinho take a bow.”
The Spurs boss appeared to be in disbelief at what he had just seen after Spurs were dumped out of the Europa League in extra time.
And the Portuguese coach did not hide his feelings after the game as he gave an honest assessment of his players’ performance.
He said: “Football is not just about having players that think they have more quality than others.
“The basics of football goes beyond that. It’s attitude and they beat us on that.
“Before the game I told my players of a bad attitude and it happened.
“I believed the players only realised the game was in risk when they scored the second goal.
“I feel sorry for my team – I belong to that team – did not bring the basics of football but the basics of life, which is to respect our jobs and to give everything.”

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Mourinho’s future at Spurs has been called into question after their dismal showing in Europe.
The Lilywhites manager is now the favourite to be the next Premier League manager to be sacked.

Tottenham look set to miss out on Champions League qualification following their defeat to Dinamo Zagreb as their only chance now is to finish in the top four, which they currently sit six points adrift of.

Jose Mourinho admits the attitude of Spurs players is cause for concern after devastating defeat to Zagreb More