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Manchester United v Ajax – how they measure up


Manchester United face Ajax in a mouth-watering Europa League final in Stockholm on May 24.
Both sides edged through thrilling semi-final second legs, with Jose Mourinho’s men overcoming unfancied Celta Vigo as the Dutch giants dug deep to sneak past Lyon.
Here, Press Association Sport assesses the relative strengths and weaknesses of these historic European sides.

STAR PLAYER

A serious knee injury has denied Swedish top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic the chance to win the Europa League on home soil. It has left a large void that Marcus Rashford has done well to fill, playing an integral role in both matches against Celta Vigo having fired United through the quarter-final against Anderlecht with a fine, extra-time strike. Still only 19, the forward’s finishing is as impressive as his movement and composure.
Rashford is one of several key players for United and Ajax are another team built on collective effort. What the Dutch side lack in experience they make up for in talent and youthful exuberance. Kasper Dolberg, Ajax’s own 19-year-old front man, has flourished this season, while Bertrand Traore, Hakim Ziyech and Amin Younes are other attackers to have impressed. Davy Klaasen is Ajax’s captain, while Justin Kluivert – son of Patrick – and Matthijs de Ligt are talented teenagers.

ROAD TO THE FINAL

Getting to the Europa League final is a slog for any team. United finished second to Fenerbahce after winning in Ukraine against Zorya in the final group match, but St Etienne in the round of 32 was relatively straightforward. Rostov, one of the sides that dropped out of the Champions League, were also comfortably overcome, although it took extra-time to overcome Anderlecht at the quarter-final juncture. The semi-finals were not much easier as Celta pushed until the last on Thursday.
Celta finished second to Dutch giants Ajax in Group G. Having edged past Legia Warsaw and FC Copenhagen – two sides that had been in the Champions League group stage – Peter Bosz’s men beat Schalke 4-3 on aggregate after extra-time to reach the semi-finals. Ajax sent ripples around European football by thrashing Lyon 4-1 on home turf, but had to dig deep to keep the French side to a 3-1 win on Thursday.

DOMESTIC FORM

Another post-Sir Alex Ferguson season, another campaign of frustration. United cannot finish lower than sixth but would have been so much higher had they shown a cutting edge during a 25-match unbeaten league run punctuated by draws. Mourinho has openly conceded the Europa League is their best chance of Champions League qualification.
Ajax have just one more match of the Eredivisie season remaining. If Bosz’s men win at Willem II on Sunday and leaders Feyenoord falter at home to Heracles, the Amsterdam side will win the league. Just a point separates the rivals heading into the final matches of the campaign.

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