Talking Points: United In Europa League Final

Manchester United earned a 2-1 aggregate win over Celta Vigo on Thursday night to set up a tantalising Europa League final against AFC Ajax on 24 May. Here are six talking points that stemmed from a tense evening at Old Trafford...

1: ‘TWO MONSTER CLUBS’
That is how Jose Mourinho described the upcoming collision with Ajax at Sweden’s Friends Arena, where the Europa League trophy and a place in next season’s Champions League group stage will be up for grabs. The historic Dutch club overcame Olympique Lyonnais in their semi-final tie, winning 5-4 on aggregate, but only after suffering a dramatic 3-1 defeat in the second leg in France. Ajax will notably be the home team later this month, as decided by a UEFA draw, which means United are likely to wear blue. 

2: ERIC BAILLY IS SUSPENDED
That is the only negative aspect to arise from Thursday's game, after the in-form Ivorian was shown a straight red card following a clash with former Manchester City striker John Guidetti. That led to visiting goalscorer Facundo Roncaglia also being dismissed for seemingly striking Bailly in the resulting melee. With Marcos Rojo injured, it seemingly leaves just three centre-backs Daley Blind, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones to compete for two starting places in the final.

3: AJAX ALSO SAW RED
On the subject of suspensions, Bailly is not the only player who will miss out. Ajax will be without experienced defender Nick Viergever after he was shown a red card for two bookable offences. That is most certainly a blow for the Amsterdam club, whose squad is highly talented but extremely youthful.  

4: A MAN FOR THE BIG OCCASION
Marouane Fellaini's back-post header was impressively his third goal in a semi-final for United, having previously netted in the last-four stage of the Emirates FA Cup against Everton and the EFL Cup versus Hull City. Meanwhile, you may be interested to learn the Belgian's effort was the Reds' 100th strike in all competitions this season. 

5: REUNIONS FOR DUTCH REDS
Daley Blind joined United from Ajax in 2015 and the Dutchman spoke about a potential meeting with his former club in a pre-match interview with the official matchday programme United Review. “It would be great and, of course, there would be special feelings to face Ajax,” Blind told us. Reds legend Edwin van der Sar would also join the reunion, as a director at the Amsterdam club.