14 Established 1961 Sports Thursday, May 6, 2021 Villarreal stand in way of Arsenal vs Man Utd Europa League showdown LONDON: Arsenal’s season appeared to be end- Arteta said that match was the perfect preparation ing with a whimper when they were reduced to 10 for the Villarreal game tonight. “Yes, because we men after falling 2-0 behind against Villarreal in had a strong and a very convincing performance,” last week’s first leg of their Europa League semi- he said. “We scored two goals, we kept a clean final. Instead, a precious away goal gave them sheet, won the points, and had some really strong hope they can finish an inconsistent campaign on individual performances too. “The only downside a high by setting up a showdown in the Polish city is the one with David (Luiz, who was injured dur- of Gdansk against Manchester United. ing the game) because we know how important he Arsenal are ninth in the Premier League table is to us. I think we lost him today.” and are unlikely to qualify for Europe next year Standing in Arsenal’s way is their former boss via that route but winning the Europa League and Europa League specialist Unai Emery, who would give them a ticket back to the Champions won the trophy three years in a row from 2014 League. Mikel Arteta’s side won the FA Cup last when he was in charge of Sevilla and also took season but have failed to build on that triumph Arsenal to the 2019 final. Villarreal, who have nev- and are on course for a fifth consecutive finish er reached the final of the Champions League or outside the top four in the English top flight. Europa League, have put together a promotional The Spanish manager spoke last month of his video ahead of the clash against Arsenal starring belief that Arsenal — Champions League regulars Pau Torres, with the message: “Let’s flip the under former boss Arsene Wenger — have a script... It’s our time.” “responsibility” to deliver European football for next season. Their hopes hung by a thread when United romp Dani Ceballos was sent off with just over half an While Arsenal and Villarreal fans face a nervy hour to go in Spain last week after goals from night, Manchester United are virtually assured of Manu Trigueros and Raul Albiol had put the home a place in the final of a competition they won in side 2-0 up. 2017 after hammering Roma 6-2 in the first leg. VILA-REAL: Arsenal’s Brazilian striker Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal’s Brazilian defender David Luiz, But Nicolas Pepe stepped up to score from the United were in trouble when they were trailing 2-1 Villarreal’s Spanish forward Gerard Moreno and Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka hug after penalty spot to make the score 2-1 and give at Old Trafford last week but blitzed the Italians in the Europa League semi-final first leg football match between Villarreal and Arsenal at the Arsenal genuine hope they can reach a second the second half, with standout performances from Ceramica stadium in Vila-real on April 29, 2021. —AFP Europa League final in three years. Captain Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returned to the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said after the game that scoresheet for the first time since early March in the job was not yet done but he is on the brink tions after Sunday’s match against Liverpool was years would not magically ease the festering Arsenal’s 2-0 win against Newcastle on Sunday. of ending his semi-final hoodoo and reaching a postponed following a pitch invasion at Old tensions at the club but it would add gloss to a The 31-year-old has recovered after contracting final for the first time as United boss. The Trafford as part of a protest against United’s season in which they are likely to finish second malaria while on international duty with Gabon. Norwegian will hope there will be no distrac- owners, the Glazer family. A first trophy in four in the Premier League. —AFP Mourinho’s imminent arrival with the same kind of City’s Pep Guardiola have News in brief No longer the special hyperbole that greeted his decision to join reaped the rewards of Tottenham in 2019. “When Jose became available, connecting with their Flick favorite as Germany’s coach one, Mourinho heads to we immediately jumped at the chance to speak with players on a personal lev- one of the greatest managers of all time,” Pinto said. el, the acerbic Mourinho BERLIN: Outgoing Bayern Munich trainer Hansi Flick Roma in search of revival Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was no less suffered 10 league is the hot favorite to become Germany’s next head gushing two years ago, but his praise ended up defeats in a single cam- coach after receiving the backing of Oliver Bierhoff, LONDON: For over a decade, hiring Jose Mourinho being laced with irony. “In Jose we have one of the paign for the first time who will ultimately decide Joachim Loew’s replace- was a guarantee of instant success, but the new most successful managers in football. We believe he this season. ment, in a podcast yesterday. Flick, Loew’s assistant Roma manager’s decline has been so steep that he will bring energy and belief to the dressing room,” Mourinho hopes a coach when Germany won the 2014 World Cup, has heads to Italy facing a last chance to salvage his Levy said just 17 months before sacking the return to Italy can revive told Bayern he wants to leave at the end of the season tarnished reputation. Portuguese coach. his career in the same despite winning seven titles in the last 18 months. Mourinho agreed a three-year contract with way he rejuvenated Inter Jose Mourinho Loew will step down after 15 years in charge of Roma on Tuesday and will replace their current Out of touch Milan from 2008 to 2010. Germany after the Euro 2020 finals and last week the boss Paulo Fonseca at the end of this season. The Mourinho’s ability to get into the minds of his He won the Italian title twice and was named FIFA’s German FA (DFB) said they want to speak to Flick 58-year-old was ranked among the world’s top players, cajoling them to reach new heights, was world coach of the year in 2010 after landing a about taking over. Flick was Loew’s assistant coach managers after winning the Champions League at unparalleled during his golden spells at Porto, Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia treble. with Germany from 2006 until 2014, when he then Porto and Inter Milan, while enjoying domestic glo- Chelsea and Inter Milan. But he has looked increas- However, Mourinho will inherit an ageing Roma became sports director of the German FA until ry with Chelsea and Real Madrid. ingly out of touch with a younger generation of team, whose flaws were laid bare in last week’s 6-2 January 2017. —AFP But Mourinho’s midas touch has faded in recent players less responsive to his tough love approach defeat at Manchester United in the Europa League years and his last three jobs all ended in the sack at and bored by his rigid tactics. semi-final first leg. Edin Dzeko, Pedro, Henrikh Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham. He left Evidence of Mourinho’s steep decline was given Mkhitaryan and Chris Smalling are over 30 and Tottenham in April without winning a trophy during a high-definition gloss when Amazon’s All or Mourinho might struggle to lead Roma to Infantino urges restraint his reign for the first time since departing Uniao de Nothing documentary series went behind the Champions League qualification, let alone challenge Leiria in 2002. Once hailed as a serial winner, scenes in his first season at Tottenham. Dele Alli and champions Inter. LAUSANNE: FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he Mourinho finds himself reduced to working for seri- Danny Rose felt the lash of Mourinho’s tongue on Tottenham, with a new stadium and Harry Kane is not in favor of sanctions against the 12 clubs that al underachievers. Like Tottenham — last crowned camera, with Gareth Bale and Toby Alderweireld and Son Heung-min on the roster, were a far more tried to launch a European Super League. He said that English champions in 1961 — Roma, currently lan- publicly criticized by the manager this season. attractive proposition but Mourinho couldn’t end while sanctions should come “first and foremost” from guishing in seventh place in Serie A, fit that descrip- Boasting that his coaching methods were “sec- their trophy drought. Mourinho poked fun at himself national football bodies, followed by UEFA and finally tion perfectly. The Giallorossi won the last of their ond to nobody in the world” and saying “same in a recent TV advert when he admitted it “isn’t FIFA, he said “I always prefer dialogue to conflict, three Serie A titles in 2001 and their only European coach, different players” after one defeat, Mourinho easy being special”. But the self-appointed ‘special even in the most delicate situations”. He urged “listen- Cup final appearance ended in defeat against blamed everyone but himself as Tottenham slid one’ hasn’t lived up to that brash boast for some ing to everyone” to understand “how we have come to Liverpool 37 years ago. down the Premier League table. while and few expect his fortunes to change in this point”.