Manchester United host Celta Vigo tomorrow night in their UEFA Europa League semi-final tie. Midfielder-forward Wayne Rooney and Manager Jose Mourinho met the media a few hours ago for their pre-match preview press conference.
(We’ll have the link to the injury report/odds and preview and MUFC starting XI prediction up shortly). Here’s the video below via YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzscn5s2Bfk
A slew of topics were covered in this session including the motivation and determination to reach the Europa League’s final match, the FIFA inquiry into the Paul Pogba deal, the fact that United have put all their eggs in one basket now to get back into UEFA Champions League, the importance of a strong Old Trafford home crowd, and much much more.
One of the highlights of this session was Mourinho making it clear that if they’re left out for Europe’s top tournament next year, it’s because their absence would be deserved.
“If we don’t qualify for the Champions League, it is because we are not good enough,” Mourinho told this news conference.
“For the prestige and the finance, Champions League is Champions League. For myself and the players, Champions League is Champions League. If you are not there, it is because you are not good enough. If we do not go to the final, if we play in the Europa League next season, it is because we are not good enough.”
“If we win, then it means we are strong enough to go to the final. The Champions League is the competition we want to be in. I want to focus on where we are. Nobody has more motivation than I have to try to win.”
Odds via Sky Bet:
United- 6/11, Draw- 33/10, Celta Vigo 13/2
Prediction: United 2, Celta Vigo 0
With a 1-0 advantage coming home, I fully expect United to get the result that they need and move on to the Europa final on May 24th. The finale will be in Stockholm, with Ajax almost certainly the opponent.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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