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Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Four things learned from the Conference League final: Maresca and Palmer have answered their critics
Enzo Maresca has answered his critics once and for all The Chelsea coach has never quite shaken off his critics this season in a campaign that has seen as many lows as highs; but they will surely leave him alone now. Having dramatically clinched a Champions League place on the final day of the Premier League season he now has European silverware to put in the trophy cabinet at Stamford Bridge – achieved in front of watching co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali. Even at half-time, with Chelsea trailing 1-0, the social media doubters were shouting loudly, wondering if the Blues manager had chosen the wrong starting line-up, not least his decision to play Malo Gusto, a full-back, in a holding midfield role. That was certainly not a successful move, with Gusto giving away the ball to hand Real Betis the opening goal. But Maresca's second-half substitutions, including hooking Gusto at half-time and bringing on club captain Reece James instead, followed by Levi Colwill and Jadon Sancho, changed the game in a remarkable comeback. It was Sancho who scored a stunning third in a 4-1 victory – after Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson had turned things around - and suddenly a miserable night became a memorable one as Moises Caicedo finished the job. Maresca can surely now rest easy. He'll be at Stamford Bridge next season – and Chelsea won't be back in the Conference League for a long time. Cole Palmer has proved some doubters wrong, too Palmer has had a remarkable season when you look at his overall stats, but a long period without a goal as Chelsea briefly lost their way in the Premier League sowed seeds of doubt for some pundits. There were concerns at half-time in Poland, too, after an anonymous opening 45 minutes. But then the former Manchester City man reminded us how good he is. Two stunning assists inside five minutes completely turned the game on its head – and reinstated Palmer as a football genius. That's how quickly football changes. Chelsea have a very unusual record – which may never be equalled Chelsea have become the first club to win all four major UEFA club competitions – the Champions League, Europa League, Cup Winners Cup and Conference League – and that's an achievement that may never be matched. Especially given the Cup Winners Cup is no more. Questions over the stature of the Conference League have been asked all season, especially with Chelsea often playing a second-string team in the competition. But winning it is an achievement. Chelsea have won seven of their eight major European finals – and they now they head to the FIFA Club World Cup. Isco reminded us that it's not only about youth It wasn't Real Betis' day in the end, but veteran Isco stood out in Poland at the age of 33, including providing an extremely clever pass to set up Abde's opening goal. Isco played the number 10 role to perfection, was the best player on the pitch for long periods – and was a joy to watch. There's a reason for that, of course. This is a player who knows how to win a trophy at the highest level. This was his ninth European final, having won five Champions League titles with Real between 2013 and 2022 and three European Super Cups. He has finally tasted defeat, but he didn't deserve it.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Europa League final: Ruben Amorim hoping to follow Man Utd icons' blueprint for Premier League domination
MANCHESTER UNITED will be hoping that winning a European trophy can be the springboard to long-term success — just as it was for them 34 years ago. It may only have been the Cup Winners' Cup but the players who beat Barcelona on a famous night in Rotterdam in 1991 earned their place in club folklore. 6 6 6 6 And it was an important step towards creating the glittering era which followed for two decades under Sir Alex Ferguson. They backed that success up with two more pots the following season and then, in 1993, ended their 26-year wait to be crowned top-flight champions. With United now searching for another piece of Uefa silverware in the Europa League final against Tottenham on Wednesday night, nostalgia has been in the air around Old Trafford. The club recently produced a replica of the iconic white kit worn on that rainy night in the Feyenoord Stadium. They even got two of their final heroes — Bryan Robson and Mark Hughes — to model it alongside current stars Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte. MUTV made a documentary called Rotterdam Revisited to remember that special night, too. Long-serving defender Denis Irwin, 59, told the show: 'We were growing as a team but that trophy played a huge part. 'As a team and a club we were moving in the right direction. 'The following year we won the League Cup and Super Cup and the year after that, we finally won the Premier League.' Legendary ex-skipper Robbo, 68, added: 'For me, the only thing that bettered that Cup Winners' Cup success was 1992-93 when we won the league title. 'Of course it was the biggest game I played in. Right from 1990, winning the FA Cup, we were growing all the time and the confidence was there and by 1993-94 we did the Double.' Fast forward almost 3½ decades and Ruben Amorim's men hope to follow in their footsteps. Like Sparky and Co, they can build on winning the FA Cup last season with another trophy. Even the most ardent United fan would struggle to believe the current crop will match up by winning the Prem title in the next couple of years. But Europa glory would be a vital step forward — earning a lucrative place in next season's Champions League, as well as a third trophy in three seasons. Yet should they fail, there will be no European football next season — and that would be tough for United fans to swallow. One thing that made the 1991 triumph so special was they had spent five years out of Uefa competition, due to a ban on English clubs after the Heysel disaster. Fergie's men breezed past Hungarians Pecsi Munkas in the first round, then eased through against Wrexham. They drew the first leg of their quarter-final against Montpellier 1-1 before Clayton Blackmore's free-kick helped them win 2-0 in France. A 3-1 victory at Legia Warsaw made the semi-final second leg something of a formality and ensured they booked a place in the final against Barcelona. Even back then, the Catalan giants had an aura about them but Fergie's preparations had been sketchy to say the least. Virtually the only thing he said to his players was they had to stop Ronald Koeman — and he deployed Brian McClair to keep tabs on the Dutchman. Irwin said: 'The prep work back then was totally different. You wouldn't know much about the opposition before you went out and played against them.' Robson recalled: 'The only thing the boss really said about them was 'Koeman'. Because he starts everything off and the keeper passes to him.' The tactics worked as the first half was largely forgettable. Midway through the second half, Robson's free-kick was nodded goalwards by Steve Bruce but Hughes nipped in to tap over the line and take the glory. 6 The United skipper, 64, said: 'It was going right in the corner — but then an inch outside of the line, Sparky scored it.' Bruce, United's top scorer that season, added: 'Everyone leapt on me and not Sparky, so you know who scored it. It would have been my 20th of the season — as a centre-half!' There was no doubt who got the second a few minutes later as Hughes latched on to a Robson pass, went round the keeper and thumped in from a narrow angle. It was a sweet moment for Sparky — who had been shown the door by Barca a couple of years earlier. Johan Cruyff's men pulled a goal back through Koeman and came within a whisker of taking it to extra-time. But United held on to claim a precious first European trophy in 23 years. Jubilant supporters were singing in the rain long into the night, belting out the James classic Sit Down, as well as Monty Python's Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. It has been hard to see any kind of bright side at times this season at Old Trafford. But on Wednesday night United face fellow Prem strugglers Spurs in Bilbao. So, they can still end a troubled campaign with a big prize — and that could be the start of something much bigger. Just ask the Class of 91.
The Irish Sun
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Europa League final: Ruben Amorim hoping to follow Man Utd icons' blueprint for Premier League domination
MANCHESTER UNITED will be hoping that winning a European trophy can be the springboard to long-term success — just as it was for them 34 years ago. It may only have been the Cup Winners' Cup but the players who beat Barcelona on a famous night in Rotterdam in 1991 earned their place in club folklore. Advertisement 6 Two-goal hero Mark Hughes (centre) celebrates with the trophy and team mates Mike Phelan (left) and Steve Bruce (right) after the 1991 European Cup Winners Cup Final Credit: Getty 6 Hughes beats the Barcelona goalkeeper Carles Busquets to score his second goal Credit: PA:Press Association 6 Alex Ferguson with the Cup Winners Cup - his second trophy as United manager Credit: Rex 6 United launches a commemorative shirt and tracksuit, modelled by current stars Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes Credit: MUFC And it was an important step towards creating the glittering era which followed for two decades under Sir Alex Ferguson. They backed that success up with two more pots the following season and then, in 1993, ended their 26-year wait to be crowned top-flight champions. With The club recently produced Advertisement READ MORE IN MAN UTD They even got two of their final heroes — Bryan Robson and Mark Hughes — to model it alongside current stars Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte. MUTV made a documentary called Rotterdam Revisited to remember that special night, too. Long-serving defender Denis Irwin, 59, told the show: 'We were growing as a team but that trophy played a huge part. 'As a team and a club we were moving in the right direction. Advertisement Most read in Football Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford 'The following year we won the League Cup and Super Cup and the year after that, we finally won the Premier League.' Legendary ex-skipper Robbo, 68, added: 'For me, the only thing that bettered that Cup Winners' Cup success was 1992-93 when we won the league title. How Europa League final will be decided - four key Man Utd vs Tottenham tactical battles 'Of course it was the biggest game I played in. Right from 1990, winning the FA Cup, we were growing all the time and the confidence was there and by 1993-94 we did the Double.' Advertisement Fast forward almost 3½ decades and Like Sparky and Co, they can build on winning the FA Cup last season with another trophy. Even the most ardent United fan would struggle to believe the current crop will match up by winning the Prem title in the next couple of years. But Europa glory would be a vital step forward — earning a lucrative place in next season's Champions League, as well as a third trophy in three seasons. Advertisement Yet should they fail, there will be no European football next season — and that would be tough for United fans to swallow. One thing that made the 1991 triumph so special was they had spent five years out of Uefa competition, due to a ban on English clubs after the Heysel disaster. Fergie's men breezed past Hungarians Pecsi Munkas in the first round, then eased through against Wrexham. The only thing that bettered that Cup Winners' Cup success was 1992-93 when we won the league title BRYAN ROBSON They drew the first leg of their quarter-final against Montpellier 1-1 before Clayton Blackmore's free-kick helped them win 2-0 in France. Advertisement A 3-1 victory at Legia Warsaw made the semi-final second leg something of a formality and ensured they booked a place in the final against Barcelona. Even back then, the Catalan giants had an aura about them but Fergie's preparations had been sketchy to say the least. Virtually the only thing he said to his players was they had to stop Ronald Koeman — and he deployed Brian McClair to keep tabs on the Dutchman. Irwin said: 'The prep work back then was totally different. You wouldn't know much about the opposition before you went out and played against them.' Advertisement Robson recalled: 'The only thing the boss really said about them was 'Koeman'. Because he starts everything off and the keeper passes to him.' The tactics worked as the first half was largely forgettable. Midway through the second half, Robson's free-kick was nodded goalwards by Steve Bruce but Hughes nipped in to tap over the line and take the glory. 6 Advertisement The United skipper, 64, said: 'It was going right in the corner — but then an inch outside of the line, Sparky scored it.' Bruce, United's top scorer that season, added: 'Everyone leapt on me and not Sparky, so you know who scored it. It would have been my 20th of the season — as a centre-half!' There was no doubt who got the second a few minutes later as Hughes latched on to a Robson pass, went round the keeper and thumped in from a narrow angle. It was a sweet moment for Sparky — who had been shown the door by Barca a couple of years earlier. Advertisement Johan Cruyff's men pulled a goal back through Koeman and came within a whisker of taking it to extra-time. UNITED'S ROUTE TO 1991 FINAL RED DEVILS got through four rounds on way to Rotterdam Round 1 - Pesci Munkas (Hungary) W 3-0 on agg Round 2 - Wrexham (Wales) W 5-0 on agg Qtr-final - Montpellier (France) W 3-1 on agg Semi-final - Legia Warsaw (Poland) W 4-2 on agg But United held on to claim a precious first European trophy in 23 years. Jubilant supporters were singing in the rain long into the night, belting out the James classic Sit Down, as well as Monty Python's Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. It has been hard to see any kind of bright side at times this season at Old Trafford. Advertisement But on Wednesday night United face fellow Prem strugglers Spurs in Bilbao. So, they can still end a troubled campaign with a big prize — and that could be the start of something much bigger. Just ask the Class of 91. 6 Advertisement Man Utd vs Spurs - Europa League final:
Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
Ten memorable European ties between English opponents
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur meet in the Europa League final on Wednesday in the latest all-English clash to grace the European stage. Here, Bill Edgar looks back at previous matches gone by. Tottenham had become the first English winners of a European trophy the previous season, lifting the Cup Winners' Cup, and here they played in the first meeting in European competition between two English sides — the same pair who will meet in this week's Europa League final. The first leg, postponed for a week because of fog, drew 57,000 to White Hart Lane and was decided by late goals from Dave Mackay and Terry Dyson. But Mackay broke his leg six minutes into the second match, reducing his team to ten men
Scottish Sun
24-04-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Former European semi-finalists declared bankrupt and immediately thrown out of league
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GERMAN club has been declared bankrupt, with all players released immediately. Fourth-tier side KFC Uerdingen will no longer be able to finish the 2024/25 season. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 KFC Uerdingen will no longer be able to complete the remainder of the season after being declared bankrupcy Credit: Getty On Tuesday, an insolvency administrator ordered the immediate suspension of play. Thomas Ellrich declared that operations must be ceased so that players can apply for benefits. The administrator said: "At the same time, all players have been released from their duties as of today so they can apply for appropriate benefits from the employment agency. "Therefore, there will be no further matches until the end of the season." READ MORE IN FOOTBALL TUNNEL VISION Bizarre £1.5bn plan to replace iconic stadium by burying it UNDERGROUND The non-profit status of Uerdingen was revoked by tax authorities "some time ago" unbeknownst to the administrators. Club officials have therefore been unable to pay staff and players. They also cannot accept volunteers. Ellrich continued: "The revocation of non-profit status means that fewer, if any, donations of money and goods can be expected in the future. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "Furthermore, it would make employing volunteers considerably more difficult. "The significant funds recently provided by supporters have since been exhausted, and no new payments are expected." Angry Premier League flop says 'I'll probably get biggest fine in Bundesliga history' as he swears in live TV interview As a result of the bankruptcy, KFC Uerdingen has been immediately relegated from the Regionalliga. However, the club plan to take legal action. KFC consultant Mehmet Eser was left shocked by the decision and told German outlet Kicker: "After the team learned that the season was being suspended, the players agreed to forgo their salaries until the end of the season and play for KFC Uerdingen for free." Eser has also agreed to personally cover the cost of every league match until the end of the season. Uerdingen formerly played in the Bundesliga and enjoyed plenty of success in the 1980s. The German minnows reached the Cup Winners Cup semi-final in 1986, where they faced Atletico Madrid.
