By Samindra Kunti in Stockholm
May 24 – Amid heightened security in the Swedish capital the Europa League final between Manchester United and Ajax may have lost some of its lustre, but the stakes remain high for Jose Mourinho’s team with a season-defining Champions League ticket on offer.
As Ajax manager Peter Bosz addressed the media at Solna’s Friends Arena he first issued a statement in Dutch. The 53-year-old coach believes that the ‘glow’ has been taken off what should have been a celebration of football in Wednesday’s Europa League final against Manchester United after a suicide bomber killed 22 people at the Manchester Arena on Monday night.
“What happened in Manchester is something that we all feel at Ajax,” said Bosz. “On behalf of the players and the staff, we at Ajax would like to express sympathy with the victims who unfortunately fell yesterday.”
“The feeling that prevails is that the final doesn’t have the glow it should have,” continued Bosz. “Tomorrow evening should be a football feast, but because of events in Manchester, we’re all affected, particularly as we’re playing against Manchester. It’s horrible. My heartfelt sympathies.”
José Mourinho cancelled his pre-match press conference. The statement from the Portuguese coach explained his decision to excuse himself from media obligations because of “the effect this has had on everyone here at the club and within our city.”
The United players held their own minute’s silence at their Carrington training ground, standing in a circle with their heads bowed. In Stockholm, they limited themselves to a pitch inspection. UEFA confirmed that a minute’s silence will be observed prior to the kick-off. In a mark of respect to the victims of the Manchester terrorist attack, the opening ceremony, which will feature Swedish star artists Axwell ^ Ingrosso, will be reduced.
Security has been tightened in the Swedish capital as both sets of fans are set to takeover Stockholm. Ajax and Manchester United were allocated 10,000 tickets each as finalists, but the number of English fans may well top 20,000. Swedish police are prepared for possible confrontations, but didn’t disclose any details about their deployment – Ajax have a notorious hooligan element. On the eve of a 2012 Europa League at Old Trafford 76 Ajax fans were arrested.
Last night UEFA said in a statement that ‘there is currently no specific intelligence which might suggest that any of the UEFA Europa League final activities in Stockholm may be the target of attacks.”
In spite of the subdued build-up the spotlight will be firmly on Stockholm with the final set to be broadcast in more than 100 territories to an estimated global audience of 180 million as Manchester United seek to salvage a disappointing Premier League season by winning the Europa League and gaining a ticket to next year’s Champions League.
The financial implications are huge for Manchester. First, there is the prize money related to the final. Manchester United stand to pocket €14.7 million if they beat Ajax. Mourinho’s team have so far amassed €8.2 million in prize money in the Europa League. The winner of the Europa League final will be rewarded with €6.5 million. The loser picks up the runners-up prize of €3.5 million.
Manchester United’s players will be a staggering €44 million better off if they win. The club applies an unusual policy that most United players will receive a 25% pay rise to their basic salary if they reach Europe’s prime club competition. United’s players are automatically docked 25% of their salaries if the team fails to qualify for the Champions League. Failure to beat Ajax would result in the club being hit by a €22.5 million penalty in their sponsorship deal with Adidas, who require United to play in the Champions League.
Man Utd start as favourites for the match, despite having played 63 games in all competitions this season.
“I think we only have a chance to beat Manchester if we play our own game. We have developed a way of playing this season that I always call the Ajax way of playing,” he said.
Ajax have had more attempts on goal (225) and attempts on target (95) than any other team in this season’s tournament and Bosz’s young team also have the benefit of some of Ajax’s 1995 Champions League-winning side being on the management or coaching staff.
As if the task wasn’t hard enough on the pitch, United fans and officials say the game is secondary to the pain being felt in the city since Monday’s Manchester Arena attack.
“I think what happened really put things into perspective,” United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward told MUTV. “Words don’t really do justice for how we all feel. We’re numb. Success tonight is nothing compared to the pain and suffering back home.”
Former United defender Phil Neville, who is in Stockholm working for the BBC, said the club’s home-grown players will find it particularly “difficult”.
“Players like Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard – they’ve been brought up in this city. Paul Pogba was brought up in the city from the age of 14. They will find it difficult. From what would be the biggest games of their careers… it doesn’t feel important.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1714342981labto1714342981ofdlr1714342981owedi1714342981sni@i1714342981tnuk.1714342981ardni1714342981mas1714342981