Ajax - Man Utd | EL Final Build-up Thread

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Atletico are pretty much the only team that can out-Mourinho a Mourinho team.

It's an impressive record though.

Think it's half of his cup final have gone to extra time too. He drags teams into deep water with his defensive tactics sponging up their attacking pressure while we conserve energy then hit them on the break or with a set piece.

I'm ludicrously confident he has a plan for the predictably attacking Ajax side that are great to watch for the neutral but also very tactically naive and exposed. If it takes bringing them to extra time then we'll be ready.
 
Think it's half of his cup final have gone to extra time too. He drags teams into deep water with his defensive tactics sponging up their attacking pressure while we conserve energy then hit them on the break or with a set piece.

I'm ludicrously confident he has a plan for the predictably attacking Ajax side that are great to watch for the neutral but also very tactically naive and exposed. If it takes bringing them to extra time then we'll be ready.
We don't have the players to sit back and absorb pressure all day long. We have a defence that crumble under pressure, especially without Bailly. And we don't have the attack to play effectively on the counter either, don't remember outscoring an opponent once playing like that all season. Think our best bet will be to go toe to toe with Ajax.
 
Can you believe that there is stupid United fans on Facebook that actually think Ibra will be fit to play in this game. :wenger:

He was never injured, Jose mind games. Scenes when he walks out in the final with the captains armband on in his hometown.
 
Think it's half of his cup final have gone to extra time too. He drags teams into deep water with his defensive tactics sponging up their attacking pressure while we conserve energy then hit them on the break or with a set piece.

I'm ludicrously confident he has a plan for the predictably attacking Ajax side that are great to watch for the neutral but also very tactically naive and exposed. If it takes bringing them to extra time then we'll be ready.


One major X-Factor in this upcoming EL Cup final game is Jose Mourinho.

It is a lot easier beating Jose at the semi final stage because his whole career has shown that once he gets his team to the final, he hardly ever loses no matter which team he meets. I don't think this is a coincidence. A final game plays right into four of the most outstanding features of Mourinho:

- His knack for very detailed preparation

- His low risk approach to big games

- His sense for the big ocassion

- His insatiable desire to win silverware

I think he has won about 11 out of 12 cup finals or some insane record like that.

The problem this time around is that this period is all still part of a bad patch in his career. He has been hit hard and has lost more games in the last 18 months than he has in his entire career. He has looked unsure at times and he certainly doesn't seem to have a lot of confidence in his team hence the ultra conservative approach even against 'smaller' teams in the last few months.

Basically, if there is a best time to meet Jose in a cup final, it's now. United was just about fortunate against Southampton.

The question is: is this Jose's come back period? If it is, Ajax should be very worried. If it is not, get ready for a very rough ride.
 
He was never injured, Jose mind games. Scenes when he walks out in the final with the captains armband on in his hometown.
Zlatan is from Malmö, not Stockholm.
 
One major X-Factor in this upcoming EL Cup final game is Jose Mourinho.

It is a lot easier beating Jose at the semi final stage because his whole career has shown that once he gets his team to the final, he hardly ever loses no matter which team he meets. I don't think this is a coincidence. A final game plays right into four of the most outstanding features of Mourinho:

- His knack for very detailed preparation

- His low risk approach to big games

- His sense for the big ocassion

- His insatiable desire to win silverware

I think he has won about 11 out of 12 cup finals or some insane record like that.

The problem this time around is that this period is all still part of a bad patch in his career. He has been hit hard and has lost more games in the last 18 months than he has in his entire career. He has looked unsure at times and he certainly doesn't seem to have a lot of confidence in his team hence the ultra conservative approach even against 'smaller' teams in the last few months.

Basically, if there is a best time to meet Jose in a cup final, it's now. United was just about fortunate against Southampton.

The question is: is this Jose's come back period? If it is, Ajax should be very worried. If it is not, get ready for a very rough ride.

Good post.

I can see the comeback happening as we speak. He's already won 1 cup, in a European final for the first time since he was in charge of Inter Milan, the promise of a large transfer kitty in his second season at United to improve one or two glaringly obvious issues with the squad, I can see huge promise in this next 12 months, starting with next Wednesday.
 
Good post.

I can see the comeback happening as we speak. He's already won 1 cup, in a European final for the first time since he was in charge of Inter Milan, the promise of a large transfer kitty in his second season at United to improve one or two glaringly obvious issues with the squad, I can see huge promise in this next 12 months, starting with next Wednesday.


I think you're right considering the results so far.
 
That will be De Ligt, the CB talent only 17 years old. Also played from the start against Lyon and Schalke. Sometimes a bit too much enthousiasm what results in free kicks or penalty's but also plays with loads of confidence and really had Lacazette in his pocket in the 4-1 home win..

He was impressive

Though to be fair

Lacazette was injured and only came off the bench for the last 15 mins or so
 
There's really so much riding on this final.. I haven't felt so anxious about a game for years (08 & 99). I was nervous before last seasons FA Cup final because we hadn't won it for so long but this is on another level:

CL football, a better transfer window in the summer because of CL qualification, a chance to win the only trophy we haven't won, the teams confidence going forward (and Mourinho's). This could be the stepping stone for something much greater to come, feels like this game will either make or break us going forward for the next few seasons.
 
I'm worried that without Zlatan we're going to be toothless upfront, he carried us against Southampton in the League Cup final.

For the sake of my heart, I would love an incredibly one sided final but I get the feeling this is going to be an absolute slog-fest. 1-0 and not a great performance. The last time I felt this nervous/excited about a cup final was probably 2012 Champions League final against Barcelona. This is a big one that we can't even begin contemplating losing for the impact it will have on the coming season(s).
 
I watched highlights of the Ajax-Lyon 1st leg and it really was like a basketball match. That game could have ended 6-1 to either side or 7-7 it was unlike anything you would see in the PL

I would be amazed if Jose isn't relishing the prospect of meeting a side who put very little emphasis on organisation and defence

Let's not forget, whilst they undoubtedly have some good young players we have kept clean sheets this season against City, Spurs and Liverpool so all this talk of us somehow being vulnerable at the back doesn't really stand up and you would fancy us to score a couple
 
I watched highlights of the Ajax-Lyon 1st leg and it really was like a basketball match. That game could have ended 6-1 to either side or 7-7 it was unlike anything you would see in the PL

It was a very open game but Ajax had like twice as many chances and shots on goal as Lyon did, so they deserved the win.
 
Do ajax play the same way in each match? Any ajax fans who can enlighten us about their playing style...
 
Do ajax play the same way in each match? Any ajax fans who can enlighten us about their playing style...

Wouldn't call myself a fan but I'm Dutch so. But yeah, they play the same, their intent is always the same. Always 4-3-3. They want to put the other team under pressure, recover the ball fast and high up the pitch. They like to play a good passing game, build up from the back if possible. At least this is what their intention is, against strong opposition they struggle to keep possession but they'll still try to pressure high up the pitch if possible and try to recover the ball quickly. Even though they struggle to keep possession for long they still tend to create many chances, their attacks can be very quick. But besides Dolberg and Klaassen usually none of their other players are really efficient with converting those chances. What ends up happening usually is the team gets stretched out over the pitch, alot of space inbetween lines, and a very open game as a result. And they have alot of fight in them, this is the main difference for me with Ajax last year and the years before under Frank De Boer, which was more lethargic.
 
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Wouldn't call myself a fan but I'm Dutch so. But yeah, they play the same, their intent is always the same. Always 4-3-3. They want to put the other team under pressure, recover the ball fast and high up the pitch. They like to play a good passing game, build up from the back if possible. At least this is what their intention is, against strong opposition they struggle to keep possession but they'll still try to pressure high up the pitch if possible and try to recover the ball quickly. Even though they struggle to keep possession for long they still tend to create many chances, their attacks can be very quick. What ends up happening usually is the team gets stretched out over the pitch, alot of space inbetween lines, and a very open game as a result. And they have alot of fight in them, this is the main difference for me with Ajax last year and the years before under Frank De Boer, which was more lethargic.

Cheers.
 
Wouldn't call myself a fan but I'm Dutch so. But yeah, they play the same, their intent is always the same. Always 4-3-3. They want to put the other team under pressure, recover the ball fast and high up the pitch. They like to play a good passing game, build up from the back if possible. At least this is what their intention is, against strong opposition they struggle to keep possession but they'll still try to pressure high up the pitch if possible and try to recover the ball quickly. Even though they struggle to keep possession for long they still tend to create many chances, their attacks can be very quick. But besides Dolberg and Klaassen usually none of their other players are really efficient with converting those chances. What ends up happening usually is the team gets stretched out over the pitch, alot of space inbetween lines, and a very open game as a result. And they have alot of fight in them, this is the main difference for me with Ajax last year and the years before under Frank De Boer, which was more lethargic.

Our defence will struggle with their pace, especially Blind if he plays. We are going to make defensive mistakes at the start of the game or Jose will tell the team to play defensively and we will struggle to score whenever we get the ball. People here are underestimating Ajax and the way they play. Jose might have made a big mistake by letting go of top four.
 
One week tonight... I'm nervous as hell. Such an important match for us.
 
Our defence will struggle with their pace, especially Blind if he plays. We are going to make defensive mistakes at the start of the game or Jose will tell the team to play defensively and we will struggle to score whenever we get the ball. People here are underestimating Ajax and the way they play. Jose might have made a big mistake by letting go of top four.

Surely playing Ajax on a neutral ground is a more favourable ask, than beating Spurs at WHL on it's final day? 2-1 flattered us really.

The Ajax game is completely different, it's a final and being such a young team the occasion could easily get to them.
 
Nervous but really excited for this game, it can't come soon enough.

I've been trying my best to find a ticket or two for the match but it's like banging my head against a brick wall.

Anyone able to help or point me in the right direction?

Cheers.
 
I watched highlights of the Ajax-Lyon 1st leg and it really was like a basketball match. That game could have ended 6-1 to either side or 7-7 it was unlike anything you would see in the PL

I would be amazed if Jose isn't relishing the prospect of meeting a side who put very little emphasis on organisation and defence
They are better organized than any PL side, they are just not primarily organized not to concede, but organized to score. That might be an idea for PL clubs who just found at that unbeaten runs with lots of draws don't bring much points and good forwards miss half chances too.
 
They are better organized than any PL side, they are just not primarily organized not to concede, but organized to score. That might be an idea for PL clubs who just found at that unbeaten runs with lots of draws don't bring much points and good forwards miss half chances too.
Your comments seem harsh sometimes but are mostly true, PL fans talking about organisation, but they are then again less organised than Italian and Spanish teams.
 
He was impressive

Though to be fair

Lacazette was injured and only came off the bench for the last 15 mins or so

Lacazette was fit but not fit enough to play 90 minutes. They thought they could win without him and fielded him to at least score another away goal which luckily he didn't.
 
Surely playing Ajax on a neutral ground is a more favourable ask, than beating Spurs at WHL on it's final day? 2-1 flattered us really.

The Ajax game is completely different, it's a final and being such a young team the occasion could easily get to them.

I wasn't talking only about the Spurs match. They could play fearless football cause they are young. Our team has generally struggled against teams with pace, we struggled against Celta. IMO we will struggle against Ajax defensively.
 
This simply is a game where if our defence is good and everyone does their jobs we'll win.

While we haven't been clinical, Ajax really, really can't defend. If we can soak their pressure we'll kill them off fairly easily IMO.
 
This simply is a game where if our defence is good and everyone does their jobs we'll win.

While we haven't been clinical, Ajax really, really can't defend. If we can soak their pressure we'll kill them off fairly easily IMO.
I also think so, but Bailly being out means our defense might not be so good.
 
I definetely know Ajax much better than you, and therefore I know there's a lot more to good football than signing the most expensive players. If you're getting wound up by exposure to knowledge beyond your reach, I can't help that.

This exposure to knowledge?

The lady who does the laundry at Ajax has more understanding of the positional game than Pogba.

@TheReligion @EyeInTheSky A lot of people tried to argue with him but it's useless as he's definitely a WUM.
 
I cant decide whether De Gea should play or not, on the one hand I think its our biggest game so we should play our best players. On the other I feel it'd be harsh on Romero.
 
I cant decide whether De Gea should play or not, on the one hand I think its our biggest game so we should play our best players. On the other I feel it'd be harsh on Romero.

Don't worry, Jose decided it for you. It will be Romero.
 
Think it's half of his cup final have gone to extra time too. He drags teams into deep water with his defensive tactics sponging up their attacking pressure while we conserve energy then hit them on the break or with a set piece.

I'm ludicrously confident he has a plan for the predictably attacking Ajax side that are great to watch for the neutral but also very tactically naive and exposed. If it takes bringing them to extra time then we'll be ready.

I don't see where your confidence comes from. Atleast this young Ajax team has the "b*lls" to go all out and trust in their ability to overcome the opposition. We on the other hand need a galactico team to compete in what I consider to be a 3rd rate competition.
If they attack us the way Swansea/Celta did, we are in for conceding, then on it just depends on if we concede first.
Then again, I have been totally "disheartened" by our play and tactics, so not planning on watching the game live, probably better if someone more "neutral" or "positive" engaged in this conversion.
 
After 10 years UEFA competitions will return to on-pitch trophy presentations. I was not a fan of those in-stand presentations, hated them.
 
If it wasn't for this final the season would be a disaster. A win is the only chance we have of averting an outrage.
 
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