Technical report 2016/17 (right) takes on Marouane Felliani during the final in Stockholm

Contents

Overview

Introduction Road to The final: United Stockholm complete the set

Mourinho’s Results masterclass

Analysis

Talking points Technical topics Path to goal

Goals of the Squad of the season season

Statistics

Passing Possession Disciplinary

Goal attempts Keeping the lead Team profiles INTRODUCTION

Group A Group B

Fenerbahçe SK FC Zorya APOEL FC Olympiacos FC BSC Young Boys FC Astana United FC Luhansk

Group C Group D

AS RSC 1. FSV Mainz 05 Gabala SC FC Zenit AZ Maccabi Dundalk FC Saint-Étienne Anderlecht Tel-Aviv FC Food for thought Group E Group F UEFA’s Technical Observers Group discuss the trends, tactics and talking points from the 2016/17 season to AS Roma FC Astra FC Viktoria FK Austria Wien KRC Genk Athletic Club SK Rapid Wien US Sassuolo provide insight and inspire debate among Europe’s coaches Giurgiu Plzeň Calcio Group G Group H

This review of the 2016/17 UEFA Europa José Mourinho, with whom they both worked hopefully provide coaches across the League season offers a record of a at FC Internazionale Milano. continent with food for thought and fuel campaign that spanned 205 matches from There were also important contributions further debate. It will be made available to AFC Ajax RC Celta R. Standard Panathinaikos FC FC Shakhtar KAA Gent SC Braga Konyaspor the start of the group stage in September to from Mixu Paatelainen, the former Finland members of the coaching family throughout de Vigo de Liège the final at the on 24 May. national coach, and , Sport Europe and, hopefully, will help development It is a report providing useful factual and Director of the Polish FA. coaches stay aware of the evolving styles and Group I Group J statistical information on the eighth season The end product is a report that will approaches at the elite end of the club game. of the UEFA Europa League in its present format but which, moreover, seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the action on the UEFA’s Technical Observers Group in Stockholm were (from field through the analysis and interpretations left to right) , Dejan Stanković, , Sir Alex Ferguson, Stefan Majewski and Mixu Paatelainen of the Technical Observers Group. This small FC Schalke 04 FC Krasnodar FC Salzburg OGC Nice ACF Fiorentina PAOK FC Qarabağ FK FC Slovan group of coaches gave their input on every Liberec match played from the round of 16 onwards, providing a platform on which UEFA’s Group K Group L technical team could build their discussions when they met together in Stockholm on the morning after the final between AFC Ajax and Manchester United FC. Ioan Lupescu, UEFA’s Technical Director, chaired this review panel as they reflected on AC Sparta Hapoel Southampton FC FC Internazionale Osmanlıspor Villarreal CF FC Zürich FC Steaua the tactical approaches and trends witnessed Praha Beer-Sheva FC Milano Bucureşti and there were fascinating insights from some impressive coaching figures. Sir Alex Ferguson drew on his vast knowledge and Clubs joined from the UEFA Champions League experience of European club competition – and, of course, of this season’s UEFA Europa League winners, United. Cristian Chivu, meanwhile, shed light on the workings of his former club Ajax and – together with UEFA football development adviser Dejan Stanković FC København Olympique Tottenham Beşiktaş JK FC Rostov VfL Borussia Legia Warszawa PFC Ludogorets Lyonnais Hotspur FC Mönchengladbach Razgrad – provided some reflections on winning coach

4 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 5 SEASON OVERVIEW

Group stage

While Manchester United began their campaign with a stumble, falling 1-0 at Feyenoord, their fellow finalists Ajax Road to negotiated the group stage in more surefooted fashion as one of four unbeaten teams along with Roma, Saint-Étienne and Shakhtar Donetsk. It was Shakhtar who led the way, winning all six games and amassing 21 goals in Group H with the help of back-to- Stockholm back 5-0 and 5-3 victories over Gent. The group phase had begun with a bang for Shakhtar’s previous coach, Mircea Two of European football’s most famous and Lucescu, now in charge of Zenit, who trailed successful sides emerged from a field of 56 3-0 at Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC after 76 minutes – and ended up 4-3 winners. At this stage clubs across 24 countries to reach the final there were 48 teams from 21 countries involved and an undoubted strength of the Manchester United’s crowd for the UEFA Europa League is the opportunity for matchday three win over Fenerbahçe clubs with little European experience to test was a record for the UEFA Europa themselves against some of the continent’s League group stage. big names. Of this year’s greenhorns, Italy’s Sassuolo caused the biggest stir with a 3-0 matchday one win over Athletic Club before slipping to the foot of their section. A more familiar Italian face, Francesco Totti, made headlines when, two days after turning 40, he played a part in three of Zlatan Ibrahimović became the third player Roma’s four goals against Astra on matchday after and John Carew to have two; his 100th UEFA club competition scored for seven clubs in UEFA competition appearance followed against Austria with United’s winner against Zorya Luhansk. Wien. Meanwhile, another experienced player, , struck a record 39th European goal for Manchester United in their 4-0 win over Feyenoord. That José Mourinho’s men finished second in Group A was no real setback given that only two of the 12 group winners – Ajax and became the first player to score Schalke – would still be involved when the five times in a UEFA Europa League fixture in quarter-finals came round. Athletic’s 5-3 victory over Genk.

Virgil van Dijk opens the scoring Shakhtar powered through the group for Southampton against Inter stage without dropping a point

6 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 7 SEASON OVERVIEW

Round of 32 kick starts Gladbach’s sensational comeback at The UEFA Europa League trophy had ended That left Celta Vigo to fly the flag with a Fiorentina from the spot in Spain in four of the previous five seasons cliff-hanger comeback against Shakhtar, “Tottenham A tournament-record crowd saw yet with holders Sevilla now competing in the team of the group stage. Beaten 1-0 in Tottenham eliminated by Gent at the UEFA Champions League, the Spanish Spain, Celta received a lifeline with a 91st- suffered . stranglehold was further weakened by minute Iago Aspas penalty in before defeats for Athletic and Villarreal as the adding a second goal in extra time. a surprise knockout phase began. In a competition that is a test of Athletic succumbed to APOEL at their endurance as well as skill, Shakhtar were reverse fortress-like home in , the GSP one of seven group winners to tumble at Stadium, where the Cypriot side – boosted this hurdle. Fenerbahçe, Osmanlıspor and against Gent, by two away goals, one superbly taken Sparta Praha suffered the same fate – Only five of the 12 group winners survived by George Efrem – overturned a 3-2 first- losing to Krasnodar, Olympiacos and Rostov one of a trio the round of 32 – Ajax, APOEL, Genk, leg loss with a 2-0 win. As for Villarreal, respectively – while St-Étienne’s unbeaten Roma and Schalke. semi-finalists in 2016, they had no answer run before Christmas counted for nothing of Belgian to an Edin Džeko-inspired Roma, who seized against Manchester United (0-4 agg) in a control with a 4-0 success in the first leg contest pitting United’s against triumphs” at El Madrigal. his brother Florentin.

Gladbach’s Lars Stindl, Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimović, ’s and ’s own goal pulled Gent level Roma’s Edin Džeko all hit hat-tricks. at Wembley

St-Étienne’s great rivals Lyon, by contrast, recorded an emphatic 11-2 aggregate victory over AZ Alkmaar on their introduction from the UEFA Champions League. Four other new arrivals advanced too – Beşiktaş, København, Rostov and a Borussia Mönchengladbach side who pulled off a sensational comeback against Fiorentina. Already 1-0 down from the first leg, they conceded twice more in the first half in Florence, yet Lars Stindl’s 12-minute hat-trick either side of the interval turned the tie on its head and Gladbach ran out 4-2 winners on a night their followers are unlikely to forget. Florentin keeps a close There was less to remember for some of with Genk defeating Astra Giurgiu (3-2 eye on his younger brother the other sides coming in from the UEFA agg) and, most dramatically, Anderlecht Paul during United’s visit to Champions League. Legia Warszawa lost to upsetting Group D winners Zenit. The St-Étienne Ajax and Ludogorets to fellow newcomers Russian team had appeared on the brink København, while Tottenham suffered a of a famous victory, having scored three surprise 3-2 aggregate reverse against Gent goals to undo a 2-0 first-leg loss, but Isaac for whom Jérémy Perbet scored in both legs. Kiese Thelin’s 90th-minute header edged This was one of a trio of Belgian triumphs, Anderlecht through on away goals.

8 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 9 SEASON OVERVIEW

Schalke got the better of Gladbach in Celta’s Danish the all-German round of 16 tie Pione Sisto

Anderlecht ace (right) on the ball against APOEL

Round of 16

An all- tie was among the stage – pulled a goal back, ’s Celta’s third successive away victory – “Comeback appetising contests in the round of 16 – penalty save from Perbet and Mbwana 2-0 at Krasnodar – ended the hopes of the and the comeback kings of the last round, Samatta’s second goal of the night left Gent other Russian side in the competition (4-1 Mönchengladbach, now found the boot on with a mission impossible in the second leg. agg) and took them through to their first kings Gladbach Anderlecht advanced to their first European the other foot against Schalke. After a 1-1 In the glamour tie of the round, Olympique quarter-final since 2001. As for Anderlecht, quarter-final in 20 years. found the boot draw in Gelsenkirchen, Gladbach took a 2-0 Lyonnais shrugged off a 2-1 half-time they had not been to the last eight since half-time lead in the return, with the help of deficit to win the first leg against Roma 4-2. 1997 but secured their place thanks to a 2-0 on the other a fine Mahmoud Dahoud strike, but Schalke The Giallorossi were left ruing late goals aggregate success against APOEL. Nicolae came back to draw 2-2 – scoring through conceded to Nabil Fekir and Alexandre Stanciu’s first-leg goal in ended foot against driving force and Nabil Lacazette in France when they finished a APOEL’s 33-game unbeaten home run in Bentaleb’s spot kick – and so advanced on goal short in the second leg, which they won all competitions before Frank Acheampong away goals. 2-1 (agg 4-5). finished the job in . Schalke” had not scored in Europe for There was another tie involving Of the two eventual finalists, both Ajax and In Piraeus, finally, Olympiacos had the seven years when he struck twice for Beşiktaş compatriot clubs in though the Manchester United earned narrow victories fillip of a terrific opening goal by Esteban against Olympiacos. outcome was effectively decided after in the last 16. The club overturned a Cambiasso against Beşiktaş but ran out the first leg as Genk won 5-2 at Gent en 2-1 first-leg deficit when beating København of steam in an eventual 1-1 first-leg draw, route to a 6-3 aggregate success. Albert 2-0 in through Bernard Traoré and before they were then overpowered 4-1 in Stuivenberg’s team led 4-1 at half-time in ’s penalty. United needed a where Ryan Babel’s double strike Ghent and though Kalifa Coulibaly – source 70th-minute goal to see them past brought his first European goals since of some spectacular strikes in the group Rostov at after a 1-1 draw in Russia. August 2010.

10 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 11 SEASON OVERVIEW

Quarter-finals Celta forward celebrates his goal in the first leg against Genk It was on an earlier evening in this 2016/17 campaign that Zlatan Ibrahimović claimed he was “like Indiana Jones”. Sadly for him, the quest – or perhaps that should be ‘last crusade’ – for a final appearance in Stockholm came to an end on the night of Manchester United’s quarter-final second leg against Anderlecht as he ruptured a cruciate ligament. Marcos Rojo had already suffered an identical injury yet United dug deep and resisted the challenge of an enterprising Anderlecht side as teenager ’s extra-time strike secured a 2-1 home victory, and 3-2 triumph overall. There was also extra time in Gelsenkirchen where Schalke scored twice to cancel out Ajax’s 2-0 first-leg lead – and added a third goal in the 101st minute against opponents missing the red-carded Joël Veltman. Yet Ajax’s ten men somehow summoned goals from and Amin Younes to snatch a 4-3 aggregate victory. Lyon and Beşiktaş produced even more drama as their tie went to penalties. After trading 2-1 home wins – in Lyon’s case, thanks to two late goals – it was the side who prevailed 7-6 in the ensuing Istanbul shoot-out, skipper Maxime Gonalons converting the winning kick. ’s Celta were the only team who did not need extra time, a goal in each leg from Pione Sisto helping them overcome Genk 4-3 on aggregate.

Number of goals scored after the 80-minute mark in the quarter-finals.

Ajax matchwinner Amin Younes drives forward against Schalke (top); Lyon rush to congratulate skipper Maxime Gonalons whose decisive spot-kick ended Beşiktaş’s challenge (above)

Penalties saved in the shoot-out against Beşiktaş by Lyon’s , who ended the season with the most saves of any goalkeeper.

12 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 13 SEASON OVERVIEW

Jesse Lingard (right) congratulates on his second leg goal against Celta that earned United’s place in the final Semi-finals

Ajax won through to their first European final Lacazette (two) and , but it since 1996 thanks to an electrifying home was not enough. first-leg display against Lyon. The 4-1 victory There was a tense finish to the other semi- was their seventh in a row in the competition final as Manchester United, already ahead at an increasingly raucous Amsterdam against first-time semi-finalist Celta through ArenA and none was more compelling as Marcus Rashford’s first-leg free-kick, doubled they took a huge step towards the final their aggregate lead at Old Trafford thanks with goals from Bertrand Traoré (two), Amin to a Marouane Fellaini header. Yet Facundo Younes and Kasper Dolberg, answered only Roncaglia pulled a goal back in the 85th by ’s superb, but solitary, minute, home defender Eric Bailly was sent strike. To Lyon’s credit they fought back at off and the Spaniards would have snatched home, where after an early Dolberg goal, victory had striker John Guidetti not missed they rallied to win 3-1 through Alexandre an open goal with the game’s very last kick.

Ajax’s bursts through on goal in the semi-final first leg against Lyon

14 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 15 THE FINAL

Henrikh Mkhitaryan turns away after scoring United’s second

United complete the set Paul Pogba and got the goals to clinch the one European club trophy that had eluded the English side

European final on an early summer’s evening brings a particular tingle of anticipation, and A for anybody surveying the two ends of the Friends Arena in the lead-up to kick-off on 24 May 2017, that feeling was impossible to ignore. This was a UEFA Europa League final that paired together two of European football’s great names, Ajax and Manchester United – both clubs with proud histories including four and three European Cups respectively, and both now brimming with motivation to put another continental prize on the honours board. In the North Stand, the Dutch supporters, chorusing loudly one of their favourite anthems – the popular André Hazes song Leef – were hoping to see an exciting new generation of talents gain tangible reward for their efforts in reaching the club’s first European final in 21 years. The South Stand opposite was awash with red, white and black tricolours, each flag carrying a different place name to reflect the mass diaspora of United followers. They would have planned their trips hoping to see their team become the fifth club with a full set of European trophies. Now, though, they had another, sterner, preoccupation. Back at home Mancunians were still coming to terms with a terror attack in their city two nights earlier that had claimed 22 lives. A long, red banner stood out for its poignant message: “Manchester – a City United – pray for Manchester” and after the teams had taken the field, with each player wearing a black armband, there was a period of silence in memory of those lives lost. It ended with a defiant chorus of “Manchester, Manchester” from the United fans.

16 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 17 THE FINAL

Instead it was at the other end, in the 18th bodies – had not been swift enough and player catching the eye was Fellaini. Mixu minute, that the breakthrough arrived. It was the troubles of ’s team deepened Paatelainen, one of UEFA’s technical a goal precipitated by an elementary error within three minutes of the restart. From observers, praised the Belgian midfielder’s by Jairo Riedewald, the Ajax left-back taking Romero’s free-kick upfield, Fellaini flicked on impact, saying: “Fellaini wins so many a throw-in down by the corner flag. He threw and Sánchez ended up conceding the corner tackles and he wins everything in the air. the ball infield, straight on to the head of that brought the second goal. He’s long and gangly but is so effective.” Mata, and the punishment was swift. Mata Chris Smalling beat Kasper Dolberg Illustrations of his impact were not hard exchanged passes with Rashford then found to Mata’s delivery and nodded the ball to find. In one sequence he earned a yellow Fellaini, who laid the ball square to Pogba. down into the turf. As it bounced back up, card by halting the breaking Schöne, then, a With Veltman drawn right by Mkhitaryan’s Mkhitaryan pounced. He may have had his moment later, gathered a high ball and held run, there was a pocket of space for Pogba back to goal but the Armenian got his right off two players with his giant frame as he to exploit and he did just that, taking one boot to the ball, hooking it behind him and knitted the play higher up the pitch. touch with his right foot and then unleashing into the net. United were in control, though one player a shot with his left that struck the shin of A wonderfully instinctive strike, it was in red and white, Ziyech, kept seeking a Davinson Sánchez and changed course. his sixth in the competition though he was spark for his team. The Moroccan played a Onana was already set in one direction of only there thanks to the advice of Herrera. fine ball over United’s back line for Younes travel – to his left – and could not readjust, “I should have been around the [edge but, unfortunately for the winger, his waving an arm in vain at the ball as it flew of the] box,” Mkhitaryan explained later, momentum was away from goal and when past him. “but as I had a yellow card Ander Herrera he turned back, he found Valencia, United’s For Pogba, who had recently lost his father, said it would be better if I got involved Mr Consistent, blocking his path. When it was an emotional moment as he pointed an in the corner, and stayed in front of the Ziyech tried again, it was Darmian in the index finger to the heavens. From Mourinho, goalkeeper.” Wise advice. way, yet he persisted and forced a corner by contrast, there was not even a flicker of If Herrera would end the evening with out of Pogba. Sir Alex hailed the Ajax man’s a smile as he remained in his seat. After all, the man of the match award, another efforts, saying: “It looked a lost cause, but he United still had a job to do. In the 24th minute, they nearly had a second goal. Fellaini held off Schöne and sprayed a crossfield pass to , who accelerated into space down the Ajax left, speeding outside Riedewald and powering in a shot that Onana beat away at his near post. This was a rare examination for these young Ajax players, but in the case of centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, he was coming Paul Pogba fires in United’s opening goal up with virtually all the right answers. At the age of 17 years and 285 days, De Ligt was making history as the youngest player to appear in a European final. The teenager, a couple of misplaced passes aside, was showing uncommon composure. From the first whistle, José Mourinho’s range too, seeking out Marcus Rashford with When Rashford ran at him just after the team offered a clear message of their own. balls for the pacy youngster to chase down “In the first 20 half-hour, De Ligt simply stood his ground, With the third touch of the final, United’s the channels. When one such break on the waited calmly for the striker to arrive and then Ajax old boy, , directed an angled left brought a throw-in, Pogba was involved minutes United stuck out a strong leg to dispossess him. He ball to the head of Marouane Fellaini in again as he flicked the ball on to Mata who showed he could play too when, collecting a opposition territory. Immediately, Ajax’s delivered a fast cross that Fellaini, flying in just played pass from Riedewald inside United territory, defenders were under pressure. Ander at the near post, missed by millimetres. he drifted past Fellaini, looking anything but a Herrera made an interception, Juan Mata Sir Alex Ferguson, watching the final as long balls to rookie centre-back. For this reason Mourinho, supplied a cross and Andre Onana, the Ajax a member of UEFA’s Technical Observers as he later revealed, had instructed his players goalkeeper, collided with Joël Veltman as he Group, noted the impact of United’s put the Ajax to deny De Ligt the ball as much as possible sought to clear. The ball landed at the feet of aggressive start. “In the first 20 minutes and force his partner, Sánchez, to make the Paul Pogba and he placed a volley narrowly they just played long balls to put the Ajax defenders play instead. wide. The clock showed just 25 seconds. defenders under pressure and it worked.” United’s own defenders were displaying The early pattern was set: United If United’s early control was a concern for under pressure all of their experience. Traoré might have would get the ball forward quickly, press Ajax, their supporters did not show it as they evaded Fellaini and Pogba on a surge into high up the pitch and do their utmost to outsang their English counterparts. Yet on and it worked” the box but when he took on Blind, the unsettle an Ajax side with an average age the pitch, their side’s first significant spell of defender read his intentions and poked the of just 22 years and 282 days – a record possession brought a sign of things to come: said Majewski. “Ajax didn’t have any way to ball away. The noise levels at the Ajax end for a European final. Mata and Henrikh United simply retreated into their own half, get between the lines.” rose once more, but Traoré was frustrated Mkhitaryan – together – chased down denying them any space to exploit. Leading Space was minimal but to Amin Younes’s again when, entering the box on a one- Hakim Ziyech by the corner flag and Pogba this effort, according to UEFA technical credit, he was able to sidestep Herrera in two with , Matteo Darmian soon made his powerful presence felt too. observer Stefan Majewski, was Herrera, a one action and pull the ball back to Bertrand showed his intelligence by getting his body Chris Smalling (12) headed the ball He showed his strength as he stayed on perpetual-motion protective shield for his Traoré who unleashed the first Ajax shot of between player and ball. into the path of Henrikh Mkhitaryan his feet, despite feeling the force of Lasse centre-backs. “He was always in front of the the evening, albeit one lacking the venom to In brief, for all of Ajax’s first-half possession to double United’s lead Schöne’s shoulder, and found his passing defensive line, closing the gaps very quickly,” worry . (66 per cent) their movement – of ball and

18 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 19 THE FINAL

Ander Herrera on the “Herrera was ball for United always in front of the defensive line, closing the gaps very quickly”

Coaches José Mourinho and Peter Bosz players in the wall and his sinking shoulders suggested he knew it would not be their night. By now United’s first substitute, Jesse Lingard, had joined the fray as a replacement for Mkhitaryan and his first touch, a cute flick, sent Pogba breaking upfield. The Frenchman continued his progress via a one-two with Rashford but then went shoulder to shoulder with Sánchez in the box and hit the floor. Mourinho’s pleading arms at pitchside told you his verdict but Sánchez had showed great power to match his opponent and play continued. It was not the only time Sánchez saved his side. He had already recovered brilliantly United celebrate their triumph to thwart Rashford as the pair sprinted to the Ajax goal and, in the 87th minute, the Colombian did the same to deny Lingard. After the winger broke clear from inside his own half, the Ajax centre-back found an extra gear to close the ground and shrug Lingard off the ball as he entered the box. Ajax Manchester United A United victory had long felt inevitable 0-2 and only in the closing minutes did Ajax threaten Romero’s goal again. The Argentinian made an easy save from , after the substitute Wednesday 24 May 2017, Friends Arena, Stockholm Match statistics was the one who kept driving forward and Neres in the 62nd minute, it changed little as had stepped inside Smalling. And when Goals he rarely gave the ball away. I thought he Ajax carried on looking to snake their way finally Neres got behind United’s defence Ajax Manchester United was the one player in their team who had through the middle of the pitch, and hitting a from Ziyech’s pass and lobbed the ball over 0-1 Pogba 18, 0-2 Mkhitaryan 48 that same aggression as United.” blue brick wall in the process. Romero, the shot lacked power and Valencia 0 Goals 2 Ziyech was not the only Ajax player By contrast, United’s chance count was there to tidy up. Lineups Ajax Onana; Veltman, Sánchez, De Ligt, Riedewald (De Jong 82); praised by Sir Alex afterwards. De Ligt continued to climb. With 66 minutes played, By this point, United’s squad men were 67% Possession 33% Klaassen (C), Schöne (Van de Beek 70), Ziyech; Traoré, Dolberg underlined his preternatural authority by Fellaini won another of his 15 successful already on their feet in the technical area, (Neres 62), Younes blocking off Mata as the Spaniard entered aerial duels – a record for a UEFA Europa sharing hugs and slapping backs. The 17 Total attempts 6 Manchester United Romero; Valencia (C), Smalling, Blind, Darmian; the box on a one-two with Rashford. “For League game – then spun away from sight of four of them on crutches – Zlatan Herrera; Mata (Rooney 90), Fellaini, Pogba, Mkhitaryan (Lingard 74); 3 On target 4 a 17-year-old to play in a final with that Klaassen and spread play out to the right. Ibrahimović, , and Rashford (Martial 84) composure and defensive quality, he was Seconds later he was in the penalty box, Marcos Rojo – highlighted the toll taken by a 5 Corners 2 outstanding,” Sir Alex said. getting his head to a fabulous Pogba cross long campaign. Yet Mourinho had managed Yellow cards 565 Passes completed 192 And yet as the same observer also noted but directing the ball too close to Onana. his resources impressively, and he did so Ajax Veltman 58, Younes 64, Riedewald 78 of Ajax, they simply “didn’t get enough men When Ajax did get a rare glimmer of hope, right down to his final substitution, sending Manchester United Mkhitaryan 31, Fellaini 52, Mata 78 88% Passing accuracy 70% into the box” at the other end. Although Bosz it was because of Mkhitaryan’s handball in on his club’s soon-to-depart captain, Wayne removed the starved-of-service Dolberg, the D outside United’s box. Ziyech, however, Rooney, so he could be the one to lift the Referee Damir Skomina () 107.4km Distance covered 104.9km his club’s leading scorer, and sent on David drove his free-kick straight at one of his own trophy when the celebrations began. Attendance 46,961

20 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 21 THE WINNING COACH

s a member of FC Internazionale attire for this showpiece event screamed Milano’s UEFA Champions League- ‘strictly business’. Where the Ajax manager, A winning team in 2010, Dejan Peter Bosz, and his staff donned matching Stanković has first-hand experience of how blue suits with white shirts, grey cardigans José Mourinho approaches the big occasion. and ties, Mourinho was dressed as for an “For him there are no finals – there’s only ordinary fixture in a lightweight, grey hooded Mourinho’s winning football matches,” Stanković said coat worn over a navy zip-neck sweater. during the meeting of UEFA’s Technical Perhaps a defining image of him during the Observers Group on the morning after the game came as he stood in his technical area UEFA Europa League final. “I observed Ajax squeezing the air as if playing an imaginary twice this year and saw a lot of quality accordion – a message to his team to stay players, a lot of talent, but not a lot of compact. There was another when Jesse masterclass experience. José really read the game in Lingard went to ground in the Ajax penalty the right way.” box in the closing minutes and Mourinho It was a point reiterated by Sir Alex could be seen screaming at the substitute to Ferguson, a man who led Manchester United get back into a position to defend. to five European finals. “José knew exactly Mourinho may demand plenty from his After highlighting Ajax’s weaknesses, how they were going to operate and set players, but there is a carrot as well as a his stall out to make it difficult for them by stick, according to Cristian Chivu, a team- José Mourinho plotted a path to victory playing the long balls and putting them mate of Stanković in that 2009/10 Inter under pressure to keep turning them back team. There was certainly warmth in the way that his players followed to perfection towards their goal,” he said. “There was a that Mourinho grabbed a bottle and sprayed change in tactics from José. Throughout water into the mouth of Marouane Fellaini the season they’ve had a lot of possession during a second-half break in play. and played a lot of good football but they Chivu added that he saw echoes in identified one or two weaknesses, including United’s display of the approach taken to a lack of experience.” Inter’s UEFA Champions League final success The reward for this change of approach against FC Bayern München. “I had déjà was a fourth major European trophy for vu,” he said. “I was seeing the same game a coach unbeaten in continental finals, that we’d played against Bayern with very as Mourinho added the 2016/17 UEFA good organisation, a very determined team Europa League to his UEFA Cup and UEFA with a lot of aggression who were very Champions League triumphs with FC Porto strong defensively, with two lines playing and the aforementioned UEFA Champions men against men in the middle. He wants League success with Inter. In the process to win games and win trophies.” Mourinho the 54-year-old became the third man – himself would surely concur. “For me,” the after Sir Alex and Sir Matt Busby – to claim Portuguese said, “beauty is not giving your European silverware with United. Moreover, opponent what they want.” he became the third coach to have won Just what the resulting triumph meant more than one major UEFA club competition to Mourinho was clear to see. He had not twice apiece, along with the Italian Nereo had it easy during his first season at Old Rocco and Sir Alex again. Trafford, with United finishing sixth in the If hindsight told us Mourinho would come . Yet this was a second cup up with a perfect plan, the man himself had final victory – after the capture of the English offered a hint when it was put to him in a pre- League Cup in February – and it meant UEFA match interview that “Ajax are going to press Champions League qualification. Hence his hard”. Mourinho’s response suggested an vigorous on-field celebrations. His team of underlying confidence that Ajax would not be assistants formed a circle and threw him up able to play their usual game: “I don’t know if in the air. Mourinho then stood alone in front they are able to do what they want to do.” of the United supporters, both arms held out By then Mourinho had watched Ajax eight to take in the acclaim. times and, seeing how well they won the ball Significantly, there was also a solitary high up the pitch, decided on a strategy of index finger raised to the stands. It called to bypassing that area of the field. “If the ball’s mind the song, ‘This Is The One’, they play not there, what are they going to press?” he at Old Trafford to herald United’s entry into explained when discussing his approach to a the arena, by the Manchester band The class of international postgraduate students Stone Roses. When it comes to European on a High Performance Football Coaching finals, Mourinho might have a point about his course at the University of in June. specialness. As he said afterwards: “There It meant a pragmatic approach from his are lots of poets in football but poets, they United side, and even Mourinho’s choice of don’t win many titles.”

22 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 23 RESULTS Group stage

Thirteen clubs made their group stage Jan Sýkora’s (above, in white) opening goal Wayne Rooney became Manchester United’s debuts, with Dundalk (above) becoming the of the group stage – for Slovan Liberec at record scorer in Europe when he struck his APOEL’s Pieros Sotiriou celebrates first Irish club to win a group stage game Qarabağ – came after 10.69 seconds, the 39th goal in a victory against Feyenoord on his goal against Olympiacos when they beat Maccabi Tel-Aviv 1-0. quickest ever UEFA Europa League goal. matchday five.

September 2016 December 2016

Group stage

Group A P W D L GD Pts Group B P W D L GD Pts Group C P W D L GD Pts Group G P W D L GD Pts Group H P W D L GD Pts Group I P W D L GD Pts Fenerbahçe SK 6 4 1 1 2 13 APOEL FC 6 4 0 2 2 12 AS Saint-Étienne 6 3 3 0 3 12 AFC Ajax 6 4 2 0 5 14 FC Shakhtar Donetsk 6 6 0 0 16 18 FC Schalke 04 6 5 0 1 6 15 Manchester United FC 6 4 0 2 8 12 Olympiacos FC 6 2 2 2 1 8 RSC Anderlecht 6 3 2 1 8 11 RC Celta de Vigo 6 2 3 1 3 9 KAA Gent 6 2 2 2 -4 8 FC Krasnodar 6 2 1 3 0 7 Feyenoord 6 2 1 3 -4 7 BSC Young Boys 6 2 2 2 3 8 1. FSV Mainz 05 6 2 3 1 -2 9 R. Standard de Liège 6 1 4 1 2 7 SC Braga 6 1 3 2 -2 6 FC Salzburg 6 2 1 3 0 7 FC Zorya Luhansk 6 0 2 4 -6 2 FC Astana 6 1 2 3 -6 5 Gabala SC 6 0 0 6 -9 0 Panathinaikos FC 6 0 1 5 -10 1 Konyaspor 6 0 1 5 -10 1 OGC Nice 6 2 0 4 -6 6

Date Home Score Away Date Home Score Away Date Home Score Away Date Home Score Away Date Home Score Away Date Home Score Away 15/09 Feyenoord 1-0 Man. United 15/09 APOEL 2-1 Astana 15/09 Anderlecht 3-1 Gabala 15/09 Standard Liège 1-1 Celta 15/09 Braga 1-1 Gent 15/09 Salzburg 0-1 Krasnodar 15/09 Zorya 1-1 Fenerbahçe 15/09 Young Boys 0-1 Olympiacos 15/09 Mainz 1-1 St-Étienne 15/09 Panathinaikos 1-2 Ajax 15/09 Konyaspor 0-1 Shakhtar Donetsk 15/09 Nice 0-1 Schalke 29/09 Fenerbahçe 1-0 Feyenoord 29/09 Astana 0-0 Young Boys 29/09 Gabala 2-3 Mainz 29/09 Celta 2-0 Panathinaikos 29/09 Gent 2-0 Konyaspor 29/09 Krasnodar 5-2 Nice 29/09 Man. United 1-0 Zorya 29/09 Olympiacos 0-1 APOEL 29/09 St-Étienne 1-1 Anderlecht 29/09 Ajax 1-0 Standard Liège 29/09 Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Braga 29/09 Schalke 3-1 Salzburg 20/10 Man. United 4-1 Fenerbahçe 20/10 Olympiacos 4-1 Astana 20/10 St-Étienne 1-0 Gabala 20/10 Standard Liège 2-2 Panathinaikos 20/10 Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 Gent 20/10 Salzburg 0-1 Nice 20/10 Feyenoord 1-0 Zorya 20/10 Young Boys 3-1 APOEL 20/10 Mainz 1-1 Anderlecht 20/10 Celta 2-2 Ajax 20/10 Konyaspor 1-1 Braga 20/10 Krasnodar 0-1 Schalke 03/11 Fenerbahçe 2-1 Man. United 03/11 Astana 1-1 Olympiacos 03/11 Gabala 1-2 St-Étienne 03/11 Panathinaikos 0-3 Standard Liège 03/11 Gent 3-5 Shakhtar Donetsk 03/11 Nice 0-2 Salzburg 03/11 Zorya 1-1 Feyenoord 03/11 APOEL 1-0 Young Boys 03/11 Anderlecht 6-1 Mainz 03/11 Ajax 3-2 Celta 03/11 Braga 3-1 Konyaspor 03/11 Schalke 2-0 Krasnodar 24/11 Fenerbahçe 2-0 Zorya 24/11 Astana 2-1 APOEL 24/11 Gabala 1-3 Anderlecht 24/11 Ajax 2-0 Panathinaikos 24/11 Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0 Konyaspor 24/11 Schalke 2-0 Nice 24/11 Man. United 4-0 Feyenoord 24/11 Olympiacos 1-1 Young Boys 24/11 St-Étienne 0-0 Mainz 24/11 Celta 1-1 Standard Liège 24/11 Gent 2-2 Braga 24/11 Krasnodar 1-1 Salzburg 08/12 Feyenoord 0-1 Fenerbahçe 08/12 APOEL 2-0 Olympiacos 08/12 Anderlecht 2-3 St-Étienne 08/12 Panathinaikos 0-2 Celta 08/12 Konyaspor 0-1 Gent 08/12 Nice 2-1 Krasnodar 08/12 Zorya 0-2 Man. United 08/12 Young Boys 3-0 Astana 08/12 Mainz 2-0 Gabala 08/12 Standard Liège 1-1 Ajax 08/12 Braga 2-4 Shakhtar Donetsk 08/12 Salzburg 2-0 Schalke

Group D P W D L GD Pts Group E P W D L GD Pts Group F P W D L GD Pts Group J P W D L GD Pts Group K P W D L GD Pts Group L P W D L GD Pts FC Zenit 6 5 0 1 9 15 AS Roma 6 3 3 0 9 12 KRC Genk 6 4 0 2 4 12 ACF Fiorentina 6 4 1 1 9 13 AC Sparta Praha 6 4 0 2 2 12 Osmanlıspor 6 3 1 2 3 10 AZ Alkmaar 6 2 2 2 -4 8 FC Astra Giurgiu 6 2 2 2 -3 8 Athletic Club 6 3 1 2 -1 10 PAOK FC 6 3 1 2 1 10 Hapoel Beer-Sheva FC 6 2 2 2 0 8 Villarreal CF 6 2 3 1 1 9 Maccabi Tel-Aviv 6 2 1 3 -2 7 FC Viktoria Plzeň 6 1 3 2 -3 6 SK Rapid Wien 6 1 3 2 -1 6 Qarabağ FK 6 2 1 3 -5 7 Southampton FC 6 2 2 2 2 8 FC Zürich 6 1 3 2 -2 6 Dundalk FC 6 1 1 4 -3 4 FK Austria Wien 6 1 2 3 -3 5 US Sassuolo Calcio 6 1 2 3 -2 5 FC Slovan Liberec 6 1 1 4 -5 4 FC Internazionale Milano 6 2 0 4 -4 6 FC Steaua Bucureşti 6 1 3 2 -2 6

Date Home Score Away Date Home Score Away Date Home Score Away Date Home Score Away Date Home Score Away Date Home Score Away 15/09 AZ 1-1 Dundalk 15/09 Plzeň 1-1 Roma 15/09 Sassuolo 3-0 Athletic 15/09 Qarabağ 2-2 Liberec 15/09 Internazionale 0-2 H. Beer-Sheva 15/09 Villarreal 2-1 Zürich 15/09 M. Tel-Aviv 3-4 Zenit 15/09 Astra 2-3 Austria Wien 15/09 Rapid Wien 3-2 Genk 15/09 PAOK 0-0 Fiorentina 15/09 Southampton 3-0 Sparta Praha 15/09 Osmanlıspor 2-0 Steaua 29/09 Dundalk 1-0 M. Tel-Aviv 29/09 Roma 4-0 Astra 29/09 Athletic 1-0 Rapid Wien 29/09 Fiorentina 5-1 Qarabağ 29/09 H. Beer-Sheva 0-0 Southampton 29/09 Steaua 1-1 Villarreal 29/09 Zenit 5-0 AZ 29/09 Austria Wien 0-0 Plzeň 29/09 Genk 3-1 Sassuolo 29/09 Liberec 1-2 PAOK 29/09 Sparta Praha 3-1 Internazionale 29/09 Zürich 2-1 Osmanlıspor 20/10 AZ 1-2 M. Tel-Aviv 20/10 Roma 3-3 Austria Wien 20/10 Genk 2-0 Athletic 20/10 Liberec 1-3 Fiorentina 20/10 Internazionale 1-0 Southampton 20/10 Steaua 1-1 Zürich 20/10 Dundalk 1-2 Zenit 20/10 Plzeň 1-2 Astra 20/10 Rapid Wien 1-1 Sassuolo 20/10 Qarabağ 2-0 PAOK 20/10 H. Beer-Sheva 0-1 Sparta Praha 20/10 Osmanlıspor 2-2 Villarreal 03/11 M. Tel-Aviv 0-0 AZ 03/11 Astra 1-1 Plzeň 03/11 Athletic 5-3 Genk 03/11 Fiorentina 3-0 Liberec 03/11 Southampton 2-1 Internazionale 03/11 Zürich 0-0 Steaua 03/11 Zenit 2-1 Dundalk 03/11 Austria Wien 2-4 Roma 03/11 Sassuolo 2-2 Rapid Wien 03/11 PAOK 0-1 Qarabağ 03/11 Sparta Praha 2-0 H. Beer-Sheva 03/11 Villarreal 1-2 Osmanlıspor 24/11 Zenit 2-0 M. Tel-Aviv 24/11 Austria Wien 1-2 Astra 24/11 Genk 1-0 Rapid Wien 24/11 Fiorentina 2-3 PAOK 24/11 Sparta Praha 1-0 Southampton 24/11 Zürich 1-1 Villarreal 24/11 Dundalk 0-1 AZ 24/11 Roma 4-1 Plzeň 24/11 Athletic 3-2 Sassuolo 24/11 Liberec 3-0 Qarabağ 24/11 H. Beer-Sheva 3-2 Internazionale 24/11 Steaua 2-1 Osmanlıspor 08/12 M. Tel-Aviv 2-1 Dundalk 08/12 Astra 0-0 Roma 08/12 Rapid Wien 1-1 Athletic 08/12 Qarabağ 1-2 Fiorentina 08/12 Southampton 1-1 H. Beer-Sheva 08/12 Osmanlıspor 2-0 Zürich 08/12 AZ 3-2 Zenit 08/12 Plzeň 3-2 Austria Wien 09/12 Sassuolo 0-2 Genk 08/12 PAOK 2-0 Liberec 08/12 Internazionale 2-1 Sparta Praha 08/12 Villarreal 2-1 Steaua

24 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 25 RESULTS Knockout stage

Francesco Totti made his 103rd and final Lyon became the first team to score seven Paul Pogba and Amin Younes were the UEFA club competition appearance for Roma times in a UEFA Europa League game (group only two players to appear in each of their in their second leg against Lyon, just six stage to final), when they beat AZ Alkmaar 7-1 respective team’s matches from the group Ajax and Manchester United months shy of his 41st birthday. in the second leg of their round of 32 tie. stage to the final. line up ahead of the final

FebruaryFebruary 2017 2017 MarchMarch 2017 2017 April 2017 May 2017

Round of 32 16, 22 and 23 February Round of 16 9 and 16 March Quarter-finals 13 and 20 April Semi-finals 3, 4 and 11 May

Krasnodar 1 - 0 Fenerbahçe Astra 2 - 2 Genk København 2 - 1 Ajax Lyon 2 - 1 Beşiktaş Celta 3 - 2 Genk Ajax 4 - 1 Lyon Fenerbahçe 1 - 1 Krasnodar Genk 1 - 0 Astra Ajax 2 - 0 København Beşiktaş 2 - 1 Lyon Genk 1 - 1 Celta Lyon 3 - 1 Ajax

Krasnodar win 2-1 on aggregate Genk win 3-2 on aggregate Ajax win 3-2 on aggregate Aggregate 3-3; Lyon win 7-6 on penalties Celta win 4-3 on aggregate Ajax win 5-4 on aggregate

AZ 1 - 4 Lyon PAOK 0 - 3 Schalke Rostov 1 - 1 Man. United Ajax 2 - 0 Schalke Anderlecht 1 - 1 Man. United Celta 0 - 1 Man. United Lyon 7 - 1 AZ Schalke 1 - 1 PAOK Man. United 1 - 0 Rostov Schalke 3 - 2 Ajax Man. United 2 - 1 Anderlecht Man. United 1 - 1 Celta

Lyon win 11-2 on aggregate Schalke win 4-1 on aggregate Man. United win 2-1 on aggregate Ajax win 4-3 on aggregate after extra time Man. United win 3-2 on aggregate after extra time Man. United win 2-1 on aggregate

Mönchengladbach 0 - 1 Fiorentina H. Beer-Sheva 1 - 3 Beşiktaş APOEL 0 - 1 Anderlecht Fiorentina 2 - 4 Mönchengladbach Beşiktaş 2 - 1 H. Beer-Sheva Anderlecht 1 - 0 APOEL

Mönchengladbach win 4-3 on aggregate Beşiktaş win 5-2 on aggregate Anderlecht win 2-0 on aggregate

Rostov 4 - 0 Sparta Praha Villarreal 0 - 4 Roma Gent 2 - 5 Genk 24 May Sparta Praha 1 - 1 Rostov Roma 0 - 1 Villarreal Genk 1 - 1 Gent Final

Rostov win 5-1 on aggregate Roma win 4-1 on aggregate Genk win 6-3 on aggregate

Gent 1 - 0 Tottenham Man. United 3 - 0 St-Étienne Olympiacos 1 - 1 Beşiktaş Tottenham 2 - 2 Gent St-Étienne 0 - 1 Man. United Beşiktaş 4 - 1 Olympiacos

Gent win 3-2 on aggregate Man. United win 4-0 on aggregate Beşiktaş win 5-2 on aggregate

Olympiacos 0 - 0 Osmanlıspor Anderlecht 2 - 0 Zenit Lyon 4 - 2 Roma Osmanlıspor 0 - 3 Olympiacos Zenit 3 - 1 Anderlecht Roma 2 - 1 Lyon

Olympiacos win 3-0 on aggregate Aggregate 3-3; Anderlecht win on away goals Lyon win 5-4 on aggregate

Celta 0 - 1 Shakhtar Donetsk Legia 0 - 0 Ajax Schalke 1 - 1 Mönchengladbach Shakhtar Donetsk 0 - 2 Celta Ajax 1 - 0 Legia Mönchengladbach 2 - 2 Schalke

Celta win 2-1 on aggregate after extra time Ajax win 1-0 on aggregate Aggregate 3-3; Schalke win on away goals Ajax Manchester United Ludogorets 1 - 2 København Athletic 3 - 2 APOEL Celta 2 - 1 Krasnodar 0-2 København 0 - 0 Ludogorets APOEL 2 - 0 Athletic Krasnodar 0 - 2 Celta

København win 2-1 on aggregate APOEL win 4-3 on aggregate Celta win 4-1 on aggregate

26 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 27 ANALYSIS

Talking points Youth versus experience and tactical pragmatism versus faith in a single philosophy were debated when UEFA’s technical observers met after the final Smile for the camera – Ajax enjoy their emphatic home win against Lyon

Ajax’s new era One talented generation looked on as the in Stockholm, the connection between two The lure of the club evidently remains patterns that they recognise, and they do it next put Ajax back on Europe’s centre stage different eras was clear to see. intact, bringing back men of the calibre of with their eyes closed. “I’ve always said It was worthy of comment, moreover, Van der Sar, Overmars and Bergkamp to “We have to give credit to them, because “The name Ajax is back on the lips of given that the increased concentration help write this new chapter. “It’s a tradition they always had the courage to play with that for a young football fans.” So said , the of wealth in Europe’s bigger leagues has they’ve kept,” added Cristian Chivu, drawing the young guys,” added Chivu, though he goalkeeper of Ajax’s 1995 UEFA Champions made it ever harder for clubs from a smaller on his insider knowledge as a young player noted that their success in 2016/17 will player, the best League-winning team, on the day of the nation like the to compete for at Ajax from 1999 to 2003. “I’ve always said bring another challenge – keeping enough UEFA Europa League final. Van der Sar, back continental prizes. Not since Feyenoord’s that for a young player, the best club to learn members of their promising young team club to learn to at the club as general manager, had played 2002 UEFA Cup triumph had an Eredivisie to be a professional player at is Ajax. Every together to enable them to build on this his part in building a new Ajax side capable side appeared in a European final, yet Ajax time I watch an Ajax game I recognise what achievement. Coach Peter Bosz and captain be a professional of reaching a continental final alongside his ended that wait and did so by sticking to we always did in training and what they Davy Klaassen were among those to depart old team-mates, and Dennis the same principles with which the club always do in the youth sectors as all the in the month that followed the final, though at is Ajax” Bergkamp, contributing as technical director built its name in the days of kids are doing the same as the first team. In Chivu reflected that this was a fact of life for and assistant coach respectively. With and , who laid the foundations this way a young player knows exactly what the Amsterdam club. “The policy of the club , 18-year-old son of their 1995 for the hat-trick of European Cups won he has to do. It’s the same system they’ve is that: raising young players and selling matchwinner on the bench between 1971 and 1973. always used, with only four or five attacking them,” he said.

28 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 29 ANALYSIS

Plan A all the way? Tactical flexibility versus strict adherence to a preferred style proved fertile ground for debate

It was little surprise to hear José Mourinho’s pointed comments after the final about “poets” given that the Portuguese is the ultimate pragmatist, a master at devising a strategy to stop the opposition and a coach operating at the other end of the spectrum to Ajax – a club committed to a particular philosophy. This latter approach has its pros and cons as the UEFA Europa League final highlighted and it led to a debate among UEFA’s technical observers about the need for a back-up plan. Cristian Chivu said his old club could have varied their approach and “maybe put some pressure on the line of defence by playing Ajax coach Peter Bosz some long balls”. Sir Alex Ferguson recalled another instance where he saw a Dutch team persist with their game plan and end Alex. “That is the Dutch nature. Back in the playing the way Dutch teams play, kept up vanquished – namely the UEFA EURO European Championship in 2000, when playing the short passes.” In short, no Plan 2000 semi-final between the Netherlands they played Italy in the semi-final, Italy had B, though Ioan Lupescu said there was also and Italy. “At 2-0 down, you would think a man sent off early on and they played with something to applaud in their adherence Ajax would maybe have got the ball into the ten men and Holland did not change their to a specific style. “It’s nice to see that they penalty box but they crossed the ball maybe system. They never put on an extra striker, have a philosophy and they go to the wall once or twice in the whole game,” said Sir they never filled the penalty box – they kept with this philosophy,” he said. Seventeen-year-old Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt (left) impressed as much with his maturity as with his defending United’s full set European glory coupled with a UEFA The kids are all right Champions League place doubled the cause for celebration Ajax showed the upside – and downside – of putting faith in youth “If you haven’t got the “A European trophy!” was Ander Herrera’s declaration of delight at winning the UEFA Ajax’s policy of blooding young talent led experience of these Europa League. It was not just any trophy to the club setting a record for the youngest either, but the only one hitherto missing from starting XI in a UEFA club competition final matches before you tend United’s collection – and their success in – an average age of 22 years and 282 days. Stockholm meant they joined Ajax, Bayern Yet if the upside of youth was evident on to be a little bit tentative” München, Chelsea and Juventus in an their road to the final – when energy and exclusive club of sides who have won the enthusiasm melded with their impressive three major continental prizes. United may technical ability – there is a downside have a long and rich history in the European too which was evident in the gulf between Cup but as their group-stage record their home and away performances in given that the Dutch side will face serious Europa League, the youngest winning team fixture of 73,063 for their game against the competition. tests “only six or seven” times a season in the was Porto (average: 25.4 years) in 2011 while Fenerbahçe illustrated, Old Trafford showed In Amsterdam they won all seven Eredivisie. “You could see in the final, they the oldest was Chelsea FC (27.45) in 2013. “If an impressive appetite for its ‘little brother’ matches; on the road, however, they did were not able to read some situations, not you want to win a big competition, this is the too – and so did Mourinho’s players, judging not win once and suffered successive having the knowledge and understanding of average required,” said Ioan Lupescu. by Herrera’s joy at winning a trophy that had defeats at København, Schalke and Lyon the difficulties your opponent can put you Hence, for Ajax, the harsh lesson received eluded him in the final with Athletic Club in in the knockout rounds. Cristian Chivu saw in in that situation. They didn’t know how to at the Friends Arena on what it takes to win 2012. According to Sir Alex Ferguson, there in their away displays “a shy team with no react as in Holland they dominate the game. a football match. As Mixu Paatelainen said: was another factor involved in United’s experience” and this was writ large in the You need the experience of those games to “When you look at the duels, the tackles, hungry pursuit of the trophy – namely, the Stockholm final. A case in point was the know how to deal with it.” the headers, Manchester United won the prize of UEFA Champions League entry that elementary error made by Jairo Riedewald By contrast with Ajax, Manchester vast majority of them and that’s a big part of has been awarded the UEFA Europa League before Paul Pogba’s opening goal, as Chivu United’s starting XI in Stockholm had an football. Experience is a big thing, and how winners since 2015. Sir Alex suggested this noted: “The first goal from a throw-in, average age of 27.1 years while this year’s comfortable you feel on a big occasion like reward has enhanced the appeal of the instead of playing a long ball along the line, UEFA Champions League winners Real this, and if you haven’t got the experience of José Mourinho enjoys the UEFA Europa League. “You see the intensity they put the ball in the middle.” had an average of 28. Looking back these matches before you tend to be a little moment with United’s fans of the games,” he said. “Getting to the For Chivu, Ajax’s naivety is understandable over the eight years of the revamped UEFA bit tentative.” Champions League is the be all and end all.”

30 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 31 ANALYSIS

Ricardo Quaresma provided important width for Beşiktaş Technical topics Set plays, quick transitions, the diagonal pass and attacking full-backs all came under the UEFA observers’ microscope in Stockholm

Importance of set plays Lyon’s Mathieu Valbuena Should more time be dedicated to fine- (right) was singled out for his crossing ability tuning set pieces?

If the final offered a reminder of the importance of set pieces – the first goal followed an erroneous Ajax throw-in, the second a United corner – there were other examples. The round of 16 tie between Lyon and Roma produced five goals from set-play situations, scored either directly from deliveries into the box or from second-chance crosses as the attacking side recycled the danger. The crossing ability of Lyon’s Mathieu Valbuena and Roma’s Daniele De Rossi stood out in those instances, though according to UEFA’s technical observers, teams generally could be doing more to threaten from these positions. For instance, from the round of 16 onwards there was only one headed Danger on the diagonal goal scored direct from a corner into the box – by Genk’s Omar Colley against Gent. a set play – and nor had he seen teams Chivu, a former centre-half, Receiving the ball out wide creates space take the full-back on and create a penetration from midfield on a diagonal ball Facundo Roncaglia’s headed equaliser “trying to overload an area, or [produce] a added that he saw some teams paying for a dart at the defence goalscoring chance.” is very useful,” he said of the first. “I would for Celta Vigo in their semi-final second really well-worked short corner-kick either”. more attention to set pieces than others. If it served Beşiktaş well, other teams have thought Ajax in the second half would leg at Old Trafford came after a short For Sir Alex Ferguson, there was a “Some coaches take advantage of the tall One feature of Beşiktaş’s attacking were equally likely to hit diagonal passes to have done that but they didn’t.” corner to Théo Bongonda who then positive to be found in the lack of holding players they have – maybe good central approach during their run to the quarter- their full-backs according to Chivu. “Most The other is the diagonal to the centre- swung the ball in. by defenders in the penalty area during the defenders or brave players who know how finals was the use of crossfield passes to of the wide players prefer to cut inside the forward. “It really depends on the type of UEFA observer Mixu Paatelainen said: final. “In the final on the corner-kicks and to attack the space by timing their jump. their Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma. field lately, and to find spaces between the striker you have,” said Sir Alex. “If you’re “Not too much imagination is being used, free-kicks, there was no blocking, no pulling But I think they should do more. Today He would hug the right touchline in the style midfield line of the opponent,” he said. “In building from one side and you’ve got a which for me is quite surprising, because jerseys,” he reflected. “Hopefully this was every team is well organised and knows of an out-and-out winger and run at his order to use that ball, in my opinion or Sergio Agüero, then you’ll the matches are so tight. Maybe when it an example of the way the game should how to play defensively so set plays are full-back from there. Mixu Paatelainen saw you should have wide players that stay use it. The good strikers can do that, comes to European matches there’s not be played.” such key moments that can decide a game the logic in this ploy, saying: “The tendency wide, or you should have backs that are because they’ve got enough speed to enough time for them to rehearse and Cristian Chivu suggested the presence in any moment. As a defender it’s not easy to defend these days is with a very narrow very offensive.” threaten the defenders.” general play takes priority.” of the extra match officials watching the as you have to move a split-second after back four, so there’s not many penetrating Sir Alex Ferguson noted that there were Paatelainen noted that he had seen penalty box was a deterrent. “Now you the opponent – you have to wait for his runs through the middle. So Quaresma, two types of diagonal pass – each requiring few examples of blocks – when attacking have six referees and if you pull or hold a movement and to watch him and to watch when he holds his width, gets that diagonal a specific type of player for a team to players obstruct the path of a defender at player, it’s easy to give away a penalty.” where the ball is coming from.” pass and he’s a good dribbler who can profit. “If you’ve got two wide players, then

32 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 33 ANALYSIS

Fast forward Back to front United wing-back Antonio Quick transitions and the long ball are forward, instead of taking their time. It’s not Valencia captained Today ’s full-backs continue to play United in the final back in vogue a new trend that teams are so compact and key attacking roles so organised, that’s nothing new – but I think In the chain of cause and effect, each new the onus now in football, for success, is ‘What One continued trend in the European club football fashion is a response to what went happens when you win the ball? Can you game is the prevalence of attacking full- before – hence the switch from tiki-taka to gain territory and get men forward quickly?’” backs and there were notable examples fast transitions. UEFA’s technical observers’ The final itself offered an extreme example. once again in the 2016/17 UEFA Europa in-depth analysis of the UEFA Europa As Ajax struggled to dent United’s defence League campaign. Antonio Valencia had an League from the round of 16 onwards with their slow build-up, United profited from outstanding year with Manchester United, confirmed that this latter strategy remains hitting long balls to the distinctive head of though the eventual winners suffered at very much en vogue – and one such Marouane Fellaini. Paatelainen speculated the hands of opposition full-backs too example was the breakaway goal scored that we may see more teams take a direct when drawing away games at Rostov and by Juan Mata in Manchester United’s home route. “Possibly there will be an increase of Anderlecht after equalising goals set up victory over Rostov in the last 16. When the long balls in the future, because if you just by full-backs Timofei Kalachev and Ivan Spaniard first collected a stray pass inside pass it short or pass it sideways, teams will Obradović respectively. Together with his own half the clock said 69:46. As his final throw themselves into their compact unit, Valencia, Lyon’s Jérémy Morel was the touch directed the ball toward the Rostov and it’s very difficult to break that.” other full-back included in the UEFA Europa net – concluding a nine-touch, three-man Whether any of this is new, though, is a League squad of the season, while UEFA move – it said 69:56. moot point. Fashion – as with history – has observer Stefan Majewski cited the impact Reflecting on the evidence of the matches a tendency to repeat itself. “Is this modern of the two young full-backs at Genk, Jere he witnessed, Mixu Paatelainen said: “What football or not?” Ioan Lupescu asked. “I think Uronen and Timoty Castagne, each of I’ve seen is that teams have that fast this used to be there 20, 30 years ago too – whom illustrated his offensive contribution transition when they win the ball and pass it defending and counterattacking.” by scoring away from home in the knockout rounds. Majewski said: “In almost every match, one of the best players on the pitch was a wing-back – it was always them Juan Mata’s counterattacking goal against Rostov was one who made the decisive moves, like scoring of the best of the season goals or giving assists from the wings with crosses. With Genk, for example, it was both wing-backs.” It was the same at København, whose tall striker looked to his full-backs and to supply crosses.

“In almost every match, one of the best players on the pitch was a wing-back – it was always them who made the decisive moves”

34 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 35 ANALYSIS

Kasper Dolberg struck six times for Ajax

The number of long-range goals from open play from the last 32 onwards. Two of the best came from Lyon’s and Alexandre Lazazette in the same last-16 game against Roma.

There were 18 goals following an incisive ball Goals from open play that penetrated the defence – be it centrally or down the side of the defence – to send Crosses played an important part in the clubs’ attacking repertoires in the knockout an attacking player breaking into space stage, judging from the fact 44 goals came from this source – in other words, over a third behind. An excellent example was Borussia of the total of open-play goals (34.38%). There were also 11 goals following cut-backs, so Mönchengladbach’s Lars Stindl’s pass for emphasising further the importance of good wing play. Jonas Hofmann to score against Schalke.

Zlatan Ibrahimović’s free-kick Path to goal deflected in off the St-Étienne wall There were four goals scored from direct free-kicks in the knockout stage, two of Crosses and cut-backs were once them by Genk players – Alejandro Pozuelo again a significant weapon in beating Fiorentina’s Federico and Ruslan Malinovskiy – together with Bernardeschi scored a brilliant Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimović and free-kick against Gladbach the defensive block Fiorentina’s .

total of 565 goals were scored in each half was actually the middle section. the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League However, if we include the goals scored in When the goals were scored A from the opening night of the added time to those struck in the 76-90 (full season) group stage to the final in Stockholm. This minutes period, the combined total of 125 There was the exact same number of goals represented a rise of 29 from the 2015/16 accounts for 22.12% of all goals. Of the five scored from corners as in the previous First half 255 Goals from set plays total and an average of 2.76 per match – goals scored in extra time, four arrived in season, 16, though as a percentage of the set- the second-highest rate since the revamped the second period when players are at their 1-15 minutes 76 Of the 168 goals scored in the UEFA Europa League knockout rounds, 128 came from open play total they dropped from 47% to 40%. competition’s launch in 2009/10 (surpassed most fatigued. 16-30 minutes 87 play and 40 – or 23.81% of the total – from set plays. only by the 585 scored in 2011/12). The scoring analysis in this review is The second half of matches again based on the 168 goals registered during 31-45 minutes 76 produced more goals than the first – 305 to the knockout rounds, all of which were 45+ minutes 16 255 – while the most fertile time for goals in watched by UEFA’s technical observers. Goals per knockout round Goals per UEFA Europa League season Second half 305 Round Set play Open play Total Season Goals Matches Average 46-60 minutes 76 Round of 32 20 63 83 2016/17 565 205 2.76 61-75 minutes 104 Round of 16 11 35 46 2015/16 536 205 2.61 75-90 minutes 101 Quarter-finals 4 21 25 2014/15 548 205 2.67 90+ minutes 24 It ain’t over till it’s Anderlecht Thirty goals came from headers Semi-finals 4 8 12 2013/14 475 205 2.32 over: 40 goals, or were late-goal (17.87% of the knockout stage total), Extra time 5 Final 1 1 2 2012/13 521 205 2.54 7.1% of the overall specialists with with 17 of this number coming from 91-105 minutes 1 2011/12 585 205 2.85 total, came in added seven scored crosses from open play. This does Total 40 128 168 time at the end of from the 86th not include crosses put back in 106-120 minutes 4 2010/11 551 205 2.69 the two halves. minute onwards. when a corner was half-cleared 2009/10 547 205 2.67 and the danger recycled. Total 565

36 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 37 ANALYSIS

Leon Bailey (right) celebrates his goal of the season against Rapid Goals of the season Top ten goals Leon Bailey’s strike took top spot for Genk while Rapid Wien 3-2 Genk Kalifa Coulibaly featured twice in the top ten Group F

The UEFA Technical Observers Group had If that was a team goal, ’s Grünwald’s precise long pass in his Corentin Tolisso the task of selecting a top ten from among effort for Fenerbahçe against Manchester crosshairs as it dropped over his shoulder Lyon 4-2 Roma the 565 goals scored in the 2016/17 UEFA United was all about the individual – a and produced a left-foot lob over the Round of 16, first leg Europa League. Their first choice came wonderfully acrobatic overhead kick – and goalkeeper. “It’s a hard shot to take,” said Sir from Genk forward Leon Bailey who, from so too the one dead-ball strike on this short Alex Ferguson, yet he took it perfectly. a square pass, swept the ball high into the list: a 25-metre free-kick of terrific precision Lyon’s Lacazette, finally, might have Edin Džeko Rapid Wien net from distance – a strike from Fiorentina’s Federico Bernardeschi at featured more than once in the top ten Villarreal 0-4 Roma singled out by UEFA’s technical observers Mönchengladbach. given his cute lobbed finish at Beşiktaş in Round of 32, first leg for the “high degree of difficulty of execution The only player to feature twice in the the quarter-finals; instead it was his fiercely in this exceptional first-time strike that was top ten was Kalifa Coulibaly of Gent. The arrowed drive from the edge of the box into both from distance and on the run”. Malian showed impressive imagination and the top corner of Roma’s net that made the Lyon’s Corentin Tolisso ranked second for a athleticism to cushion a ball on his chest final cut. Moussa Sow goal against AS Roma in the round of 16 that and guide an overhead volley into the Braga Fenerbahçe 2-1 Manchester Utd highlighted his club’s brilliant combination goal in the group stage. Against Konyaspor Visit UEFA.com to see all the goals Group A play around the box, as a flurry of passes a fortnight later he delivered another high- between him and ended class strike, controlling a long pass and in with a powerful strike from 20 metres. one smooth move swivelling and volleying Federico Bernardeschi Edin Džeko scored a competition joint-best low into the net from the edge of the box. “There was a Mönchengladbach 0-1 Fiorentina eight goals for Roma and his close-range Beñat Etxebarria featured for his first- Round of 32, first leg effort at Villarreal in the round of 32 was time strike for Athletic Club against Rapid high degree of deemed his best as it concluded a ten-man Wien, a powerful half-volley as he reacted passing move that carried the ball from one swiftly to a loose ball. Austria Wien’s Kevin difficulty in this box to the other without an opposition player Friesenbichler, meanwhile, made his mark Kalifa Coulibaly getting a touch. UEFA’s technical observer on his very first appearance in the group exceptional Gent 2-2 Braga praised it for the “excellent build-up capped stage of a UEFA club competition with a Group H by a brilliantly composed feint and finish”. first-time volley at Astra. He kept Alexander first-time strike”

Kalifa Coulibaly Gent’s Kalifa Coulibaly scores an Corentin Tolisso (right) and Alexandre Lacazette Konyaspor 0-1 Gent overhead kick against Braga combined brilliantly against Roma Group H

Beñat Etxebarria Athletic Club 1-0 Rapid Wien Group F

Kevin Friesenbichler Astra 2-3 Austria Wien Group E

Alexandre Lacazette Lyon 4-2 Roma Round of 16, first leg

38 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 39 ANALYSIS

One of the tasks of the UEFA Technical Runners-up Ajax were represented by Observers Group, meeting in Stockholm three players, including teenage centre- on the morning after Manchester back Matthijs de Ligt, who caught the eye United’s triumph, was to select their in the final with a sense of composure far Squad of UEFA Europa League squad of the season ahead of his 17 years. – and not surprisingly, the winning club Of the beaten semi-finalists, meanwhile, featured prominently. there were three players from Celta Vigo, The technical observers chose players including midfielder Pablo Hernández who the season who had made significant contributions played so well when the Spanish side nearly over the entire course of the campaign and pulled off an improbable comeback at Old United’s quality across the pitch meant that Trafford. A trio from eight of their players were chosen in the 18- were also on the list, including the six-goal From defence to attack, Manchester United man squad. This number includes the two centre-forward Alexandre Lacazette. players whom Sir Alex Ferguson described The fifth and final club represented players dominated the 2016/17 selection as United’s best defenders of the campaign, was Anderlecht in the form of young Daley Blind and Antonio Valencia, along with midfielder Youri Tielemans, a pivotal figure their man of the match in the final, Spanish in the Belgian club’s longest run in Europe midfielder Ander Herrera. in 20 years.

Goalkeepers Defenders Forwards

Sergio Sergio Eric Gustavo Jérémy Matthijs Daley Antonio Pablo Ander Paul Youri Corentin Henrikh Amin Zlatan Alexandre Bertrand Álvarez Romero Bailly Cabral Morel de Ligt Blind Valencia Hernández Herrera Pogba Tielemans Tolisso Mkhitaryan Younes Ibrahimović Lacazette Traoré

Celta Vigo Manchester Manchester Celta Vigo Lyon Ajax Manchester Manchester Celta Vigo Manchester Manchester Anderlecht Lyon Manchester Ajax Manchester Lyon Ajax United United United United United United United United

40 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 41 STATISTICS

Strength in Passing For the fourth year running, Fiorentina and Tottenham featured in the top ten passing teams, and were How the last 16 compared numbers joined by winners Manchester United, though pass completion was no guarantee of success. Nice, the Team Attempted passes Completion rate team with the highest rate overall (92%), did not make per match The key facts and figures from the it out of the group stage. Roma 556 89% 2016/17 campaign, from passing and Manchester United 524 85% possession to goals and cards Schalke 452 89% Top ten teams (overall) Mönchengladbach 445 86%

Team Attempted passes Completion rate Ajax 445 84% per match Celta 441 83% Ludogorets 563 88% Lyon 438 83% Roma 556 89% Gent 432 88% Manchester United 524 85% Beşiktaş 427 86% Zenit 517 91% Krasnodar 421 84% Fiorentina 504 90% Genk 398 82% Shakhtar 490 90% Olympiacos 363 84% Qarabağ 483 88% Rostov 359 75% Tottenham 472 86% Anderlecht 345 81% Villarreal 467 87% København 303 77% Southampton 464 89% APOEL 266 84%

Roma and Schalke had the highest Only two of the top ten actually Just as in 2015/16, Azerbaijan’s Qarabağ pass completion rate out of the last made it to the last 16 or beyond. were in the top ten for attempted passes 16 teams (89%). but failed to qualify from their group.

Ludogorets recorded the highest average for both attempted Manchester United’s average number of attempted passes for the passes (563) and possession (61%) but played only two games season contrasted dramatically with their figures for the final – 276 against a København side who took a more direct approach passes completed and 70% completion rate. German rivals Schalke and Gladbach were both with a tall target man. among the top four highest passers per match

42 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 43 STATISTICS

Disciplinary The average number of yellow cards per game in the 2016/17 campaign, up from 4.2 last year. There were 901 yellow cards issued over the 205 matches of the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League – 36 more than in the previous season. There were also 48 red cards shown, the same number as 2015/16. If Ajax ended with the most red cards with four, Inter and Panathinaikos each amassed three reds from just six matches played. With 48 yellows, Ajax collected the most cards of that colour too, including seven for defender Joël Veltman. This was double the 24 of fellow finalists United. Eric Bailly of Manchester United was the only player to receive more than one red card, and he missed the final owing to Zlatan Ibrahimović listens to his second sending-off. Yet, overall, he his instructions committed only 11 fouls in 11 appearances.

APOEL’s Pieros Sotiriou was the player with most fouls to his name, 34 from 755 Athletic enjoyed a season-high 69% possession at home to APOEL minutes played (one every 22.21 minutes). He collected four yellow cards.

Ajax committed the most fouls as a team Possession but they also played the most matches, their 251 fouls over 15 games translating Only four of the ten teams who had most possession in the 2016/17 Athletic posted the highest possession to 16.73 per match. Among the last 16, a UEFA Europa League reached the last 16 of the competition. It is figure of any team in the knockout stage at powerful København side registered the another illustration that possession is no guarantee of success – a point Fouls and cards (round of 16 teams) home to APOEL. most fouls per match (19.75) and Borussia underlined in the final when Manchester United had 33% of the ball. Team Matches Fouls Fouls Yellow Red Mönchengladbach the least (11.75). Across commited suffered cards cards the whole competition it was Zürich, with 129 from six group fixtures, who earned the Ajax 15 251 219 48 4 Average possession (overall) highest rate (21.5 per match) of all. Manchester United 15 193 190 24 2

Team Average possession per match Ajax’s possession rate in the final was their Schalke 12 190 154 27 1 highest in 15 matches played. Ludogorets 61% Celta 14 182 210 27 2 Zenit 60% Krasnodar 10 178 147 27 3 Athletic 60% APOEL 10 173 157 26 2 Celta midfielder Pablo Hernández received more fouls than any other player. His team- Anderlecht 12 165 159 29 0 Tottenham 60% mate Pione Sisto was fouled 24 times – the Southampton 56% Gent 10 161 119 14 1 third-highest tally. Manchester United had the lowest Manchester United* 55% Genk 12 144 150 17 0 average possession of the three Ajax* 55% English participants. Roma 10 132 164 19 1 Roma* 55% Olympiacos 10 129 143 21 1 Shakhtar Donetsk 55% Lyon 8 121 136 19 0 Gent* 54% Beşiktaş 6 82 88 9 1 Junior Kabananga of Astana was caught offside an unsurpassed 18 times in 496 Qarabağ 54% København 4 79 50 12 1 minutes on the pitch (once every 26.6 Maccabi Tel-Aviv 54% Percentage of knockout-stage matches won Rostov 4 61 54 8 0 minutes). There were players who recorded by the team with more possession compared a higher rate, notably Osmanlıspor’s Cheick Mönchengladbach 4 47 45 9 0 Mainz 54% with 31.15% for the team with less. Diabaté (once every 13.7 minutes). *Reached last 16 or beyond

44 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 45 STATISTICS

Goal attempts With their world-class attacking talents, Manchester United ended the campaign Goal attempts (Round of 16 teams) as the competition’s 25-goal top scorers – though they had to share that accolade Team Matches Total Ave attempts Goals Ave attempts with quarter-finalists Genk who proved the attempts per match per goal most efficient team in front of goal, scoring Ajax 15 242 16.13 24 10.08 their 25 goals from 151 attempts, or a goal every 6.04 attempts. Roma’s position as Manchester United 15 214 14.27 25 8.56 the second-most-efficient finishers owed Schalke 12 178 14.83 19 9.36 something to the predatory powers of Edin Džeko, the 2016/17 eight-goal joint-top Anderlecht 12 168 14 23 7.3 scorer, alongside Zenit’s Giuliano. Celta 14 165 11.79 21 7.85 Roma 10 151 15.1 24 6.29 Genk 12 151 12.58 25 6.04 Top scorers (overall) Lyon 8 147 18.38 23 6.39 Olympiacos 10 139 13.9 12 11.58 Player Team Goals Gent 10 115 11.5 15 7.66 Giuliano Zenit 8 Krasnodar 10 101 10.1 11 9.18 Edin Džeko Roma 8 APOEL 10 95 9.5 12 7.91 Aritz Aduriz Athletic 7 Beşiktaş 6 93 15.5 13 7.16 Alexandre Lacazette Lyon 6 Mönchengladbach 4 45 11.25 7 6.42 Henrikh Mkhitaryan Man. United 6 Rostov 4 43 10.75 6 7.16 Kasper Dolberg Ajax 6 København 4 40 10 4 10

Zenit’s Brazilian forward Giuliano in action against Dundalk

Edin Džeko was joint-top scorer with eight goals

Athletic striker Aritz Aduriz featured among the leading marksmen The group-stage top scorers, Shakhtar Donetsk, struck 22 times in for the second year running with the help of five goals in a single their eight games before going out – a scoring rate of 2.75 goals per group-stage fixture against Genk. Not bad for a 36-year-old. game that was surpassed only by Lyon (2.88 per match).

Lyon were the team with the highest average for attempts per Ajax had the most attempts on target of any club in the match, helped by a hungry forward in Alexandre Lacazette. competition. Overall, though, they needed 10.08 attempts for Of the 11 players to score five goals or more in the 2016/17 every goal scored and of the last 16 clubs, only Olympiacos were campaign, he alone participated from just February onwards. less economical with their finishing (11.58 attempts per goal).

46 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 47 STATISTICS

Gladbach’s thrilling come-from-behind win at Fiorentina was one of only six successful fight-backs all season

Of the 18 finals in which a goal has been scored since the competition’s switch to a single-match final in 1998, the team conceding first has lifted the trophy only three times (a 16.66% success rate). In this sense, the 2017 final – in which Manchester United scored early to gain a grip they never looked like easing – was a return to type after Sevilla’s comeback victories against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Liverpool in the previous two seasons.

Lyon overturned deficits to win their home matches against both Beşiktaş in the quarter- finals and Ajax in the semi-finals.

There were only two goalless draws in the 61 games played in the knockout rounds.

Just as in the previous season, there were only six matches in the knockout Keeping stage where a team came from behind to win after conceding first.

the lead 2016/17 comeback victories There are few cast-iron guarantees in football but for any team taking the lead Athletic 3-2 APOEL, Round of 32 first leg The statistics suggest that the first in a UEFA Europa League fixture, their odds of finishing victorious – or at least Fiorentina 2-4 Mönchengladbach, avoiding defeat – certainly shortened massively. Of the 59 matches in the Round of 32 second leg goal carries real weight on UEFA knockout rounds that produced goals, the team scoring first won 40 of them (a Roma 2-1 Lyon, Round of 16 second leg 67.79% success rate) and avoided defeat 53 times (89.83%). Celta 3-2 Genk, Quarter-final first leg Europa League nights Of the exceptions, the outstanding example was the comeback produced by Lyon 2-1 Beşiktaş, Quarter-final first leg Mönchengladbach in their round of 32 tie against Fiorentina when, already 1-0 Lyon 3-1 Ajax, Semi-final second leg down from the first leg, they conceded twice more in the first half in Florence only to hit back with four goals of their own. Ironically Gladbach then went out in the next round after losing a 2-0 lead in a home draw with Schalke and these were the only two matches where any team recovered from two goals behind.

48 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 49 Coach Coach AFC AJAX Peter Bosz RSC ANDERLECHT René Weiler Born: 21/11/1963, Born: 13/09/1973, Netherlands Apeldoorn (NED) Belgium Winterthur (SUI) Nationality: Dutch Nationality: Swiss Matches in UEFA Europa Matches in UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup:* 15 League/UEFA Cup:* 12 Matches in European Matches in European club competition:** 23 club competition:** 16 Head coach: Head coach: From 24/05/2016 to 06/06/2017 Since 16/06/2016

*Group stage AJAXto final **Including qualifying *Group stage ANDERLECHTto final **Including qualifying 88 88 88 88 Team shape Team shape

25 91 11 9 18 11 94 31 22 10

20 32

26 3 37 12 36 5 5 4

24 30

Group stage Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group stage Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final PAN STA CEL CEL PAN STA LEG LEG KOB KOB SCH SCH LYO LYO MUN GAB STE MAI MAI GAB STE ZEN ZEN APO APO MUN MUN W 1-2 W 1-0 D 2-2 W 3-2 W 2-0 D 1-1 D 0-0 W 1-0 L 2-1 W 2-0 W 2-0 L 3-2* W 4-1 L 3-1 L 0-2 W 3-1 D 1-1 D 1-1 W 6-1 W 1-3 L 2-3 W 2-0 L 3-1* W 0-1 W 1-0 D 1-1 L 2-1*

Dark green = home, light green = away; orange = final; see page 5 for full club names *After extra time Dark green = home, light green = away; see page 5 for full club names *Won on away goals *After extra time App Mins G A Team statistics App Mins G A Team statistics Goalkeepers Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards Goalkeepers Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards 24 Andre Onana 14 1290 1 5 450 28 48 4 25 29 0 33 Diederik Boer 1 90 24 242 98 23 Frank Boeckx 1 90 23 168 65 (16.1 per match) (6.5 per match) Sent off: Joël 30 Martínez Ruben 6 570 (1 own goal) (14 per match) (5.4 per match) Defenders Time scored Veltman, Nick Time scored 7 Viergever, Kenny 5 5 2 8 578 1 Tete, Hakim Ziyech Defenders 4 4 5 5 3 3 Joël Veltman 10 794 4 3 4 360 2 1 2 4 Jairo Riedewald 7 560 1 0 0 0 0 4 Serigne Mbodji 7 660 0 0 0 0 5 Davinson Sánchez 12 1110 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 5 Uroš Spajić 9 840 1 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 (Minutes) (Minutes) 16 Heiko Westermann 2 94 12 Dennis Appiah 4 390 26 Nick Viergever 11 924 2 Substitutions 38/45 (Including two double substitutions) 14 Bram Nuytinck 8 636 1 Substitutions 36/36 (Including two double substitutions) 35 3 270 0 1 0 1 1 15 20 0 0 0 37 Ivan Obradović 6 570 1 0 1 0 0 8 14 12 1 0 0 36 Matthijs de Ligt 9 795 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 41 Emmanuel Adjey Sowah 4 352 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 (Minutes) (Minutes) Midfielders Midfielders 6 1 13 Averages Key features 7 Andy Najar 5 390 Averages Key features 7 2 95 1 Possession • 1-4-3-3 8 Stéphane Badji 5 214 Possession • 1-4-3-3 55% Max. 67% v Manchester United (final) • Compact team, good in 46% Max. 61% v Gabala (h) • Defend with high line; forwards 8 7 499 Min. 43% v Lyon (a) possession with good balance 17 6 150 1 2 Min. 33% v Zenit (h) press high, then drop to keep 10 Davy Klaassen 13 1199 2 2 between lines 22 Idrissa Doumbia 1 1 compact shape. Passes attempted Passes attempted 11 Amin Younes 15 1287 4 3 • Constant pressure in middle line, 31 Youri Tielemans 11 947 3 • Attacking full-backs e.g. 445 Max. 642 v Manchester United (final) especially in home matches 345 Max. 477 v St-Étienne (a) Obradović cross for first-leg goal Min. 311 v Lyon (a) Min. 241 v Zenit (h) 17 Václav Černý 1 90 • Energy and enthusiasm of 32 12 1110 1 v Man United 20 Lasse Schöne 12 854 1 Passing accuracy youthful squad 73 Nicolae Stanciu 12 871 4 3 Passing accuracy • Dendoncker the midfield pivot, 21 4 48 84% Max. 93% v Legia (h) • Composure on ball of centre-backs 94 11 674 1 4 81% Max. 88% v Gabala (a) with other two midfielders Min. 72% v Lyon (a) Sánchez and De Ligt Min. 73% v APOEL (a) pushing forward 22 Hakim Ziyech 13 998 2 4 • Holding midfielder (Schöne/Van Forwards • Players with excellent technique, 27 4 283 de Beek) helping block central comfortable in possession when Player statistics 9 Hamdi Harbaoui 2 31 Player statistics 30 Donny van de Beek 10 545 1 path to goal under pressure • Good box-to-box midfielders; 10 Massimo Bruno 9 263 2 • Excellent reading of the game 34 3 178 Shots T OT G Shots T OT G Klaassen’s well-timed runs; 11 Alexandru Chipciu 10 666 1 3 in midfield (Tielemans, Stanciu) 1 Bertrand Traoré 28 18 4 1 Nicolae Stanciu 33 12 4 Forwards Ziyech’s drive and power 18 Frank Acheampong 12 911 3 3 • Fine passing game, with good 2 Hakim Ziyech 27 13 2 • Classic Dutch attacking 2 Sofiane Hanni 15 7 1 links between the lines 9 Bertrand Traoré 13 1106 4 4 24 Isaac Kiese Thelin 6 332 1 3 Amin Younes 20 16 4 formation with two wingers 3 Łukasz Teodorczyk 14 10 5 • Direct on counterattack with 19 Mateo Cassierra 5 221 and central striker 49 Jorn Vancamp 1 60 defence-splitting vertical pass T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals 25 Kasper Dolberg 13 933 6 • Traoré attacking threat from 91 Łukasz Teodorczyk 11 673 5 1 or solo runs Passes A C % right with speed and 1v1 ability Passes A C % • Well organised in defensive set- 44 Pelle Clement 1 28 • Dolberg linking well with wide pieces; aerial power in both boxes 45 Justin Kluivert 6 176 1 1 Davinson Sánchez 614 548 89 men and attacking midfielders 1 Leander Dendoncker 488 430 88 • Good attitude, winning mentality, 77 David Neres 4 59 2 Lasse Schöne 509 453 89 2 Youri Tielemans 417 348 83 strong team spirit 3 Nick Viergever 483 409 85 3 Frank Acheampong 327 272 83 • Strong target man with goal No unused substitutes Unused substitutes: Wout Faes, Nathan Kabasele, Mile Svilar threat in Teodorczyk App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed

50 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 51 Coach Coach APOEL FC Thomas Christiansen BEŞIKTAŞ JK Şenol Güneş Born: 11/03/1973, Born: 01/06/1952, Cyprus Hadsund (DEN) Turkey Trabzon (TUR) Nationality: Danish Nationality: Turkish Matches in UEFA Europa Matches in UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup:* 10 League/UEFA Cup:* 27 Matches in European Matches in European club competition:** 18 club competition:** 54 Head coach: Head coach: From 01/06/2016 to 25/05/2017 Since 11/06/2015

*Group stage APOELto final **Including qualifying *Group stage BESIKTASto final **Including qualifying 88 88 88 88 Team shape Team shape

20 23 9

7 70 49 94 7

16 26 13 15

3 21 3 77 23 30 6 30

99 1

Group stage Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group stage (UEFA Champions League) Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final AST O LY YBO YBO AST O LY ATH ATH AND AND BEN DYN NAP NAP BEN DYN HAP HAP O LY O LY LYO LYO W 2-1 W 0-1 L 3-1 W 1-0 L 2-1 W 2-0 L 3-2 W 2-0 L 0-1 L 1-0 D 1-1 D 1-1 W 2-3 D 1-1 D 3-3 L 6-0 W 1-3 W 2-1 D 1-1 W 4-1 L 2-1 W 2-1*

Dark green = home, light green = away; see page 5 for full club names Dark green = home, light green = away; see page 5 for full club names *Lost 7-6 on pens App Mins G A Team statistics App Mins G A Team statistics Goalkeeper Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards Goalkeeper Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards 99 10 900 1 Fabri 6 570 23 26 2 19 9 1 Defenders 12 95 28 Defenders 13 93 34 (1 own goal) (9.5 per match) (2.8 per match) Sent off: (1 own goal) (15.5 per match) (5.7 per match) Sent off: Vincent 3 Roberto Lago 7 590 2 Time scored Pieros Sotiriou, 2 Matej Mitrović 4 364 Time scored Aboubakar 3 Iñaki Astiz 5 Carlão 6 500 3 Adriano 4 347 1 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 11 Nektarios Alexandrou 1 90 1 6 Duško Tošić 6 570 1 1 1 1 21 Zhivko Milanov 10 900 1 0 0 0 0 30 Marcelo 5 360 0 0 0 23 Iñaki Astiz 8 454 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 32 Andreas Beck 2 133 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 (Minutes) (Minutes) 30 Giorgos Merkis 7 580 33 Atınç Nukan 1 90 44 Nicholas Ioannou 4 360 Substitutions 30/30 (No double substitutions) 77 Gökhan Gönül 5 480 Substitutions 18/18 (No double substitutions) 90 Cédric Yambéré 2 123 0 0 2 0 7 12 9 0 0 0 Midfielders 0 0 0 1 1 5 6 3 1 1 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 Midfielders (Minutes) 7 Ricardo Quaresma 5 441 1 (Minutes) 4 Kostakis Artymatas 4 188 13 5 480 1 6 3 143 Averages Key features 15 Oguzhan Özyakup 5 290 1 Averages Key features 7 George Efrem 9 611 3 1 Possession • 1-4-2-3-1 at home; also played 18 5 168 Possession • 1-4-2-3-1, switching to 1-4-3-3 47% Max. 69% v Astana (h) 1-4-4-2 away from home 52% Max. 65% v Olympiacos (a) when attacking 8 Andrea Orlandi 2 79 Min. 31% v Athletic (a) • Compact defence, with deep block 20 5 244 Min. 43% v Lyon (a) • Defend as compact unit, with 10 Facundo Bertoglio 7 353 • Influential goalkeeper (Waterman) 80 Gökhan Inler 5 97 high line Passes attempted Passes attempted 16 Vinicius 8 706 1 2 good with his feet 94 Talisca 6 496 2 4 • Two holding midfielders; take turns 266 Max. 465 v Astana (h) • Aerial power in defence and 427 Max. 584 v Olympiacos (a) pushing forward to support attack Min. 139 v Athletic (h) Min. 242 v Lyon (a) 26 Nuno Morais 10 810 1 decent organisation at set-pieces Forwards • Strong, powerful, experienced 46 Stathis Aloneftis 4 208 1 • Centre-backs seek out striker team, able to draw on power Passing accuracy 9 4 200 3 Passing accuracy 77 Vander 7 242 84% Max. 90% v Astana (h) & Young Boys (h) and wingers with longer, 86% Max. 90% v Olympiacos (a) of home crowd Min. 75% v Anderlecht (h) diagonal passes 17 Ömer Şişmanoğlu 1 1 Min. 78% v Lyon (a) • Use of high press; instant pressure 88 Renan Bressan 2 71 • Midfield pressing; effort to win 23 6 322 3 1 after losing ball Forwards back possession immediately 49 Ryan Babel 6 570 3 •  Talisca bringing high Player statistics ball is lost Player statistics technical ability, skills, 9 Igor De Camargo 8 321 2 1 Shots T OT G • European experience of Shots T OT G goal threat 17 David Barral 3 228 Nuno Morais, veteran of UEFA • Attacking full-back Adriano 1 Pieros Sotiriou 14 4 3 1 Talisca 24 7 2 20 Pieros Sotiriou 10 755 3 1 Champions League games bringing width, supply of crosses 2 George Efrem 13 7 3 • Strong, athletic, hard-working 2 Ricardo Quaresma 13 5 0 down left 70 Yannis Gianniotas 10 606 2 3 Yannis Gianniotas 12 6 2 players with good spirit 3 Cenk Tosun 9 8 3 • Direct running of Babel, coming • Use of split strikers with De inside, freeing up space for T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals Camargo dropping deep T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals full-back Passes A C % • Some difficulty in transition from Passes A C % • Winger Quaresma good crossing attack to defence; source of and dribbling, wide players 1 Vinicius 289 241 83 goals conceded 1 Duško Tošić 260 223 86 changing sides an outlet on right 2 Boy Waterman 269 230 86 2 Atiba Hutchinson 250 232 93 for game-opening diagonal passes 3 Zhivko Milanov 241 211 88 3 Marcelo 225 204 91 • Aerial strength in both boxes Unused substitutes: Christoforou Kypros, Urku Pardo, Mário Sérgio Unused substitutes: Fatih Aksoy, , Tolga Zengin at set-plays; free-kick specialists App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed in team

52 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 53 Coach Coach RC CELTA DE VIGO Eduardo Berizzo KRC GENK Albert Stuivenberg Born: 13/11/1969, Cruz Alta (ARG) Born: 05/08/1970, Spain Nationality: Argentinian Belgium (NED) Matches in UEFA Europa Nationality: Dutch League/UEFA Cup:* 14 Matches in UEFA Europa Matches in European League/UEFA Cup:* 6 club competition:** 14 Matches in European Head coach: club competition:** 6 From 20/05/2014 Head coach: to 22/05/2017 Since 27/12/2016 *Group stage to final **Including qualifying *Group stage to final **Including qualifying 88 88 88 88 Team shape Team shape

9 77 11 10 14 19 24 18 8 18 27 6 19 2 21 41 24 22 4 2

1 70

Group stage Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group stage Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final STA PAN AJA AJA STA PAN SHA SHA KRA KRA GNK GNK MUN MUN MUN RAP SAS ATH ATH RAP SAS AST AST GNT GNT CEL CEL D 1-1 W 2-0 D 2-2 L 3-2 D 1-1 W 0-2 L 0-1 W 0-2* W 2-1 W 0-2 W 3-2 D 1-1 L 0-1 D 1-1 L 0-2 L 3-2 W 3-1 W 2-0 L 5-3 W 1-0 W 0-2 D 2-2 W 1-0 W 2-5 D 1-1 L 3-2 D 1-1

Dark green = home, light green = away; see page 5 for full club names *After extra time Dark green = home, light green = away; see page 5 for full club names App Mins G A Team statistics App Mins G A Team statistics Goalkeepers Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards Goalkeepers Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards 1 Sergio Álvarez 10 930 1 5 450 25 27 2 26 17 0 13 Rubén Blanco 4 360 21 165 60 30 Nordin Jackers 1 90 25 151 60 (11.79 per match) (4.3 per match) Sent off: 70 Mathew Ryan 6 540 (12.58 per match) (5 per match) Defenders Time scored Iago Aspas, Time scored Facundo Roncaglia 2 Mallo 12 1110 1 2 9 Defenders 6 5 5 4 3 Andreu Fontàs 8 750 1 2 Jakub Brabec 11 981 1 3 3 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 4 David Costas 1 90 1 0 0 3 Bojan Nastić 4 345 0 0 0 19 Jonny 12 1102 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 4 Omar Colley 11 990 1 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 (Minutes) (Minutes) 20 Sergi Gómez 5 279 5 Sandy Walsh 4 285 21 Carles Planas 2 180 Substitutions 38/42 (No double substitutions) 6 Sebastien Dewaest 3 189 Substitutions 36/36 (Including three double substitutions) 22 Gustavo Cabral 12 1110 1 0 0 1 1 4 13 18 1 0 0 21 Jere Uronen 7 621 1 0 0 0 2 1 10 22 1 0 0 24 Facundo Roncaglia 9 605 1 1 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 32 Christophe Janssens 1 9 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 (Minutes) (Minutes) Midfielders 41 Timoty Castagne 10 900 2 5 Marcelo Díaz 5 359 Averages Key features Midfielders Averages Key features 6 Nemanja Radoja 12 980 Possession • 1-4-3-3 8 Bennard Kumordzi 4 74 Possession • 1-4-2-3-1 52% Max. 61% v Manchester United (a) • Disciplined, well organised 49% Max. 59% v Astra (a) • Technically strong, homegrown 7 Théo Bongonda 6 308 1 Min. 44% v Krasnodar (a) defence with strong centre-backs 9 Jean-Paul Boëtius 6 232 1 2 Min. 41% v Gent (a) talents (Schrijvers, Heynen, 8 Pablo Hernández 12 1092 (Cabral, Roncaglia) 18 Ruslan Malinovskiy 5 423 1 1 Castagne, Trossard) Passes attempted Passes attempted 11 Pione Sisto 13 947 2 • Assured build-up from the 19 12 617 2 2 • Patient build-up starting 441 Max. 600 v Krasnodar (h) back and through midfield 398 Max. 571 v Astra (a) with Colley at back Min. 265 v Ajax (a) Min. 288 v Athletic (h) 12 6 98 1 • Full-backs move inside to 20 Paolo Sabak 1 1 • Attacking full-backs (Uronen, 14 Fabián Orellana 2 109 2 Passing accuracy add numbers to midfield when 22 6 328 1 Passing accuracy Castaigne) with crossing 83% Max. 90% v Panathinaikos (h & a) team attack 82% Max. 91% v Astra (a) ability and goal threat 15 Álvaro Lemos 3 207 1 & Manchester United (a) 24 Alejandro Pozuelo 11 928 1 4 • Dynamic, aggressive midfielders Min. 73% v Gent (a) • Rapid transition from defence Min. 75% v Krasnodar (a) 16 Jozabed 8 197 1 with excellent passing game 25 6 540 2 to attack, such as Uronen 17 Naranjo 2 131 (Hernández, Radoja) 27 Sander Berge 6 476 goal v Gent Player statistics Player statistics 18 14 826 2 1 • Width and attacking intent 28 Brian Heynen 7 290 1 • European know-how of from right-back Mallo long-serving Buffel 23 Josep Señé 3 233 Shots T OT G Shots T OT G • Strong individual technique; Forwards • Attempts to press in midfield 1 Iago Aspas 22 16 5 1 Leon Bailey 22 14 4 Forwards quick combinations and 7 6 352 2 1 and win ball back immediately 2 John Guidetti 19 8 4 clever movement 2 18 7 2 • Passing game features clever 9 John Guidetti 13 1016 4 2 10 Tino-Sven Sušić 5 341 1 1 3 Pione Sisto 17 7 2 • Dangerous on attacking set- 3 12 7 3 combinations and well-timed 10 Iago Aspas 12 865 5 2 pieces (Wass strike v Krasnodar) 14 Leandro Trossard 12 506 3 1 final passes T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals 25 Giuseppe Rossi 7 307 1 • Team spirit and positive 31 Leon Bailey 6 531 4 2 • Influential individuals Passes A C % mentality bringing a goal in Passes A C % (playmaker Pozuelo and pacy, every away game 77 Mbwana Samatta 12 846 2 1 goalscoring winger Bailey) 1 Pablo Hernández 637 544 85 • Threat of Sisto with dribbling skills 1 Alejandro Pozuelo 479 421 88 • Aerial power in attack of 2 Mallo 560 452 81 2 Omar Colley 427 354 83 target man Samatta 3 Jonny 555 471 85 3 Timoty Castagne 402 327 81 Unused substitutes: Pape Cheikh, Ivan Villar Unused substitutes: Dries Wouters, Pierre Desiré Zebli App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed

54 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 55 Coach Coach KAA GENT FC KØBENHAVN Ståle Solbakken Born: 16/02/1964, Born: 27/02/1968, Belgium (BEL) Denmark Kongsvinger (NOR) Nationality: Belgian Nationality: Norwegian Matches in UEFA Europa Matches in UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup:* 10 League/UEFA Cup:* 32 Matches in European Matches in European club competition:** 24 club competition:** 94 Head coach: Head coach: Since 01/07/2014 Since 21/08/2013

*Group stage KAAto GENTfinal **Including qualifying *Group stage to final **Including qualifying 88 88 88 88 Team shape Team shape

7 11 19 77 27

24 6 88 33 15 44 19 32

3 5 25 22 13 55 4

91 31

Group stage Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group stage (UEFA Champions League) Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final BRA KON SHA SHA BRA KON TOT TOT GNK GNK POR BRU LEI LEI POR BRU LUD LUD AJA AJA D 1-1 W 2-0 L 5-0 L 3-5 D 2-2 W 0-1 W 1-0 D 2-2 L 2-5 D 1-1 D 1-1 W 4-0 L 1-0 D 0-0 D 0-0 W 0-2 W 1-2 D 0-0 W 2-1 L 2-0

Dark green = home, light green = away; see page 5 for full club names Dark green = home, light green = away; see page 5 for full club names App Mins G A Team statistics App Mins G A Team statistics Goalkeepers Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards Goalkeeper Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards 1 Jacob Rinne 5 450 31 Robin Olsen 4 360 25 14 1 19 12 1 20 Yannick Thoelen 1 90 15 115 39 Defenders 4 40 14 91 Lovre Kalinić 4 360 (1 own goal) (11.5 per match) (3.9 per match) Sent off: (1 own goal) (10 per match) (3.5 per match) Sent off: Time scored Anderson Esiti 2 Tom Høgli 1 1 Ján Greguš 4 Defenders 3 3 3 Ludwig Augustinsson 4 360 Time scored 4 Samuel Gigot 4 360 2 2 2 1 1 1 5 Erik Johansson 4 360 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 Ofir Davidzada 2 22 0 0 0 20 2 46 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 13 Stefan Mitrović 9 810 2 22 Peter Ankersen 4 360 1 (Minutes) (Minutes) 21 Nana Asare 6 530 1 25 Mathias Jørgensen 4 270 1 23 Lasse Nielsen 4 360 Substitutions 27/30 (Including two double substitutions) 26 1 45 Substitutions 10/12 (Including one double substitution) 29 Thibault De Smet 1 90 0 0 1 4 1 14 7 0 0 0 Midfielders 0 0 0 1 1 4 4 0 0 0 32 9 734 1 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 (Minutes) 6 3 270 1 (Minutes) 55 Rami Gershon 8 640 7 Benjamin Verbič 1 33 Midfielders Averages Key features 16 Ján Greguš 2 76 Averages Key features 8 Thomas Matton 4 201 Possession • 1-3-4-3; also used 1-4-4-2 17 Kasper Kusk 2 37 Possession • 1-4-4-2 54% • Deep defensive block with 39% • Line up in three clear lines, with 10 Renato Neto 6 519 1 2 Max. 70% v Braga (h) Max. 43% v Ajax (a) Min. 34% v Tottenham (a) three centre-backs 24 Youssef Toutouh 4 347 1 Min. 36% v Ajax (h) players keeping defined positions 15 Kenneth Saief 9 724 1 1 • Mitrović provides leadership in 35 Aboubakar Keita 1 66 • Hard-working, well-organised, Passes attempted Passes attempted 17 Hannes Van der Bruggen 3 244 back line; brings ball forward 88 Uroš Matić 4 360 physically strong team 432 Max. 547 v Konyaspor (a) • Solidarity, resilience, ability to 303 Max. 339 v Ludogorets (a) • Defend with a deep block; 19 Brecht Dejaegere 7 368 Min. 218 v Tottenham (a) Min. 278 v Ludogorets (h) dig in for result v Tottenham Forwards compact and disciplined 33 Louis Verstraete 3 107 1 • Midfield players pressing high • Composure and leadership Passing accuracy 11 Andreas Cornelius 4 360 1 Passing accuracy 40 Rabiu Ibrahim 3 161 88% Max. 93% v Braga (a) up pitch 77% Max. 81% v Ludogorets (h) from centre-back Johansson • Good passing game; game- 19 4 304 • Full-backs Ankersen and 44 Anderson Esiti 9 568 Min. 75% v Tottenham (a) Min. 74% v Ajax (a) opening passes and well-timed 23 Andrija Pavlović 3 56 Augustinsson provide attacking 77 Danijel Milicevic 8 614 3 2 final balls 33 3 250 1 1 width, crosses into box Player statistics • Strong in the air in both boxes; Player statistics • Rapid transitions from attack Forwards Shots T OT G danger at set-pieces Shots T OT G to defence, and vice versa 7 Kalifa Coulibaly 10 657 4 1 • Players with pace, athleticism; • Danger from set-plays with 1 Kalifa Coulibaly 23 7 4 1 Andreas Cornelius 9 3 1 18 Samuel Kalu 3 196 1 1 attacking power in 1v1 (Saief) aerial power 2 Jérémy Perbet 16 11 3 • Milicevic prominent in playmaker 2 Youssef Toutouh 5 2 1 • Tall striker Cornelius gives 24 Jérémy Perbet 10 475 3 3 Danijel Milicevic 11 5 3 role off main striker; absence v 3 Federico Santander 4 2 0 goalkeeper option to play long 27 8 530 1 Genk sorely felt 3 Uroš Matić 4 2 0 • Cornelius stays up pitch while 88 Dieumerci Ndongala 2 85 T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals • Central attacking threat and second striker Santander Passes A C % aerial power of four-goal Coulibaly T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals assists with build-up 1 Stefan Mitrović 504 464 92 Passes A C % 2 Nana Asare 347 317 91 1 Erik Johansson 128 105 82 Unused substitutes: Yassine Abdelali, Andreas Burssens, Siebe Horemans, Elton Kabangu, Emir Kujović, Jérémy Taravel, 3 Kenneth Saief 330 285 86 Unused substitutes: , Mikael Antonsson, 2 Ludwig Augustinsson 119 96 81 Walen Julian Kristoffersen 3 Uroš Matić 118 99 84 App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed

56 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 57 Coach Coach FC KRASNODAR Igor Shalimov OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS Bruno Génésio Born: 02/02/1969, (RUS) Born: 01/09/1966, Russia Nationality: Russian France Lyon (FRA) Matches in UEFA Europa Nationality: French League/UEFA Cup:* 9 Matches in UEFA Europa Matches in European League/UEFA Cup:* 8 club competition:** 9 Matches in European Head coach: club competition:** 14 Since 03/10/2016 Head coach: (appointed caretaker 13/09/2016) Since 24/12/2015

*Group stage KRASNODARto final **Including qualifying *Group stage LYOto N final **Including qualifying 88 88 88 88 Team shape Team shape

90 10

16 11 33 28 18 27

77 8 8 21 98 4 15 13 6 3 5 3

1 1

Group stage Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group stage (UEFA Champions League) Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final SAL NIC SCH SCH SAL NIC FEN FEN CEL CEL DZG SEV JUV JUV DZG SEV AZ AZ ROM ROM BES BES AJA AJA MUN W 0-1 W 5-2 L 0-1 L 2-0 D 1-1 L 2-1 W 1-0 D 1-1 L 2-1 L 0-2 W 3-0 L 1-0 L 0-1 D 1-1 W 0-1 D 0-0 W 1-4 W 7-1 W 4-2 L 2-1 W 2-1 L 2-1* L 4-1 W 3-1 L 0-2

Dark green = home, light green = away; see page 5 for full club names Dark green = home, light green = away; see page 5 for full club names *Won 6-7 on penalties App Mins G A Team statistics App Mins G A Team statistics Goalkeepers Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards Goalkeeper Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards 1 Stanislav Kritsyuk 8 720 1 Anthony Lopes 8 750 25 27 3 20 19 0 88 Andrei Sinitsin 2 180 11 101 39 Defenders 23 147 61 (10.1 per match) (3.9 per match) Sent off: (18.4 per match) (7.6 per match) Defenders Time scored Charles Kaboré, 2 Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa 2 102 Time scored Andreas Granqvist, 6 3 Naldo 9 810 3 3 300 4 Sergei Petrov 3 4 Aleksandr Martynovich 5 450 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 4 Emanuel Mammana 4 329 0 0 6 Andreas Granqvist 9 781 0 0 0 5 8 750 3 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 12 Cristian Ramirez 3 270 13 7 541 2 (Minutes) (Minutes) 17 Vitali Kaleshin 6 326 1 15 Jérémy Morel 6 556 1 55 Artur Jędrzejczyk 5 435 2 Substitutions 26/30 (No double substitutions) 20 Rafael 6 300 1 Substitutions 22/24 (Including one double substitution) 98 Sergei Petrov 4 341 1 1 0 1 6 14 3 0 0 0 31 3 106 0 0 0 1 4 7 8 1 0 1 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 Midfielders (Minutes) Midfielders (Minutes) 2 Marat Izmailov 2 45 8 Corentin Tolisso 8 669 2 1 5 Dmitri Torbinski 4 252 Averages Key features 11 Rachid Ghezzal 6 278 1 2 Averages Key features 7 Pavel Mamaev 3 76 Possession • 1-4-3-3; also 1-4-2-3-1 moving 12 2 113 1 Possession • 1-4-2-3-1, changing to 1-3-4-3 49% to 1-4-1-4-1 when defending 51% when attacking 8 Yuri Gazinski 9 589 1 Max. 58% v Nice (a) Max. 57% v Besiktas (h) & Ajax (h) Min. 40% v Fenerbahce (a) & Celta (a) • Defending with deep block; good 14 Sergi Darder 2 1 74 1 1 Min. 37% v Roma (a) • Strong goalkeeper Lopes good 10 Odil Akhmedov 6 437 discipline and organisation 21 Maxime Gonalons 6 570 1 in 1v1s, covering behind high line Passes attempted Passes attempted 11 Vyacheslav Podberezkin 8 481 • Long passes from goalkeeper 25 2 33 1 of defence 421 Max. 577 v Nice (a) and defender, looking for second 438 Max. 609 v AZ (h) • Deep defensive block; defenders 15 Ilya Zhigulev 1 83 Min. 297 v Fenerbahce (a) Min. 307 v Roma (a) balls in opposition half 28 Mathieu Valbuena 6 557 1 2 disciplined and well organised; 16 Viktor Claesson 4 330 2 Passing accuracy • Strong in air when attacking and 29 Lucas Tousart 7 596 1 1 Passing accuracy aerial power at the back 21 Ricardo Laborde 9 262 1 84% Max. 92% v Nice (a) defending set-pieces (Granqvist) 83% Max. 90% v AZ (h) • Dead-ball specialists; Diakhaby • Gazinski the pivot in middle, Forwards threat at offensive set plays 22 Joãozinho 7 537 3 1 Min. 73% v Fenerbahce (a) Min. 75% v Roma (a) giving other midfielders licence 10 Alexandre Lacazette 8 537 6 1 • Attacking full-backs (Morel); 33 Mauricio Pereyra 6 340 to push on 18 Nabil Fekir 8 518 4 4 wide forwards moving inside 38 Kouassi Eboué 6 460 1 Player statistics • Athletic players with hard-working Player statistics to free up space 27 8 474 1 77 Charles Kaboré 9 716 Shots T OT G approach Shots T OT G • Hard-working, athletic players with • Counterattacking threat, with fast evident determination, team spirit 1 Fedor Smolov 16 8 4 1 Nabil Fekir 22 14 4 Forwards transitions from attack to defence • Valbuena vital source of 2 Joãozinho 14 7 3 • Decent passing game, with good 2 Alexandre Lacazette 17 10 6 composure, ability in 1v1s 9 Ari 2 151 2 3 Odil Akhmedov 11 8 0 links between the lines 3 Mouctar Diakhaby 11 7 3 and game-opening passes 14 Wanderson 4 297 2 • Wanderson linking up well with • Counterattacking quality, with 90 Fedor Smolov 6 479 4 T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals deeper attackers T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals rapid transitions from defence Passes A C % • Stature, dribbling and scoring Passes A C % to attack ability of four-goal striker Smolov • Excellent combination play 1 Charles Kaboré 412 358 87 1 Corentin Tolisso 431 371 86 around box; quick passing 2 Andreas Granqvist 370 333 90 2 Mathieu Valbuena 299 261 87 and penetrating runs Unused substitutes: Denis Adamov, Daniil Fomin, Leo Goglichidze, 3 Naldo 363 325 90 3 Maxime Gonalons 284 261 92 • Scoring threat of six-goal Aleksei Tataev, Dmitri Vorobyev Unused substitute: Mathieu Gorgelin Lacazette App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed

58 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 59 Coach Coach MANCHESTER UNITED FC José Mourinho VfL BORUSSIA Born: 26/01/1963, Born: 12/09/1964, England Setúbal (POR) MÖNCHENGLADBACH Castrop-Rauxel (GER) Nationality: Portuguese Nationality: German Matches in UEFA Europa Matches in UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup:* 28 League/UEFA Cup:* 4 Matches in European Matches in European club competition:** 157 club competition:** 4 Head coach: Head coach: Since 27/05/2016 Since 22/12/2016 André Schubert was in charge *GroupMANCHESTER stage to UNITED final **Including qualifying *Group stage to final **Including qualifying from matchday one to six 88 88 88 88 Team shape Team shape

19 11 13

22 8 19 7 6 27 8 6

21 36 25 17 24 17 3 4 3

20 1

Group stage Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group stage (UEFA Champions League) Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final FEY ZOR FEN FEN FEY ZOR STE STE ROS ROS AND AND CEL CEL AJA MC BAR CEL CEL MC BAR FIO FIO SCH SCH L 1-0 W 1-0 W 4-1 L 2-1 W 4-0 W 0-2 W 3-0 W 0-1 D 1-1 W 1-0 D 1-1 W 2-1* W 0-1 D 1-1 W 2-0 L 4-0 L 1-2 W 0-2 D 1-1 D 1-1 L 4-0 L 0-1 W 2-4 D 1-1 D 2-2*

Dark green = home, light green = away; orange = final; see page 5 for full club names *After extra time Dark green = home, light green = away; see page 5 for full club names *Lost on away goals App Mins G A Team statistics App Mins G A Team statistics Goalkeepers Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards Goalkeeper Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards 1 3 270 1 Yann Sommer 4 360 26 24 2 19 9 0 20 Sergio Romero 12 1110 25 214 80 Defenders 7 45 16 (1 own goal) (14.27 per match) (5.3 per match) Sent off: (11.2 per match) (4 per match) Defenders Time scored Eric Bailly x2 2 Timothée Kolodziejczak 1 90 Time scored 6 3 Eric Bailly 12 991 5 3 3 270 2 3 3 3 3 4 Phil Jones 3 206 2 4 4 360 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 Marcos Rojo 10 724 0 5 3 145 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 12 Chris Smalling 10 677 1 14 Nico Schulz 1 6 (Minutes) (Minutes) 17 Daley Blind 11 971 17 Oscar Wendt 4 360 23 Luke Shaw 4 390 Substitutions 44/45 (Including three double substitutions and one triple substitution) 24 Tony Jantschke 4 334 Substitutions 12/12 (Including one double substitution) 24 Timothy Fosu-Mensah 4 95 0 3 0 4 2 20 12 3 0 0 Midfielders 0 2 0 1 0 3 6 0 0 0 25 Antonio Valencia 9 751 1 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 (Minutes) 6 Christoph Kramer 3 225 (Minutes) 36 Matteo Darmian 7 630 7 Patrick Herrmann 4 268 Midfielders Averages Key features 8 Mahmoud Dahoud 4 350 1 Averages Key features 6 Paul Pogba 15 1263 3 1 Possession • 1-4-2-3-1; also played 1-3-4-3, 10 2 117 Possession • 1-4-2-3-1; also played 1-4-4-2 55% 1-3-5-2 49% and 1-4-3-3 8 Juan Mata 10 721 2 1 Max. 67% v Rostov (h) & Zorya (h) Max. 58% v Fiorentina (h) Min. 33% v Ajax (final) • Strong goalkeeper Romero 13 Lars Stindl 3 270 3 1 Min. 45% v Schalke (h) • Experienced goalkeeper in 14 Jesse Lingard 10 526 2 1 making crucial saves and 19 Fabian Johnson 4 175 Sommer, good with feet Passes attempted Passes attempted 16 7 466 covering space behind defence 23 Jonas Hofmann 3 231 1 2 • High defensive line with keeper 524 Max. 719 v Anderlecht (a) • Compact defence, with added 445 Max. 566 v Fiorentina (h) covering space behind 18 Ashley Young 7 331 Min. 276 v Ajax (final) Min. 354 v Schalke (h) protection from holding 27 Julian Korb 1 13 • Well organised at defensive 21 Ander Herrera 9 810 1 Passing accuracy midfielder Herrera 28 André Hahn 3 45 Passing accuracy set-pieces 22 Henrikh Mkhitaryan 11 817 6 85% Max. 94% v Feyenoord (a) & Fenerbahce (h) • Good defensive organisation; 86% Max. 90% v Fiorentina (h) • Good counterattacking game composure and experience Forwards with swift transitions from 27 Marouane Fellaini 11 722 1 2 Min. 70% v Ajax (final) & Rostov (a) Min. 81% v Schalke (h) of key individuals (Blind) 9 Josip Drmic 3 172 1 defence to attack 28 Morgan Schneiderlin 2 135 • Pogba dropping deep to 11 2 169 • Varied approach; constructive 31 1 28 Player statistics start build-up Player statistics build-up from back and also Shots T OT G • Width from direct running of Shots T OT G changes of direction/pace Forwards powerful attacking full-back • Influential captain Stindl; source 1 Paul Pogba 35 12 3 1 Lars Stindl 6 4 3 7 3 59 Valencia of goals and assists 2 Zlatan Ibrahimović 26 12 5 • Good crossing and aerial threat 2 Josip Drmic 6 2 0 • Dahoud a key figure in midfield 9 Zlatan Ibrahimović 11 897 5 4 3 Henrikh Mkhitaryan 17 10 6 with tall players like Fellaini 3 Jannik Vestergaard 4 1 0 with close control, dribbling, 10 Wayne Rooney 7 359 2 3 • Rapid transitions to attack; 3 Mahmoud Dahoud 4 1 1 reading of game 11 10 484 1 T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals goals followed quick balls behind • Game-opening diagonal passes; defence for wingers to chase T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals defence-splitting balls e.g. Stindl 19 Marcus Rashford 11 767 2 4 Passes A C % • Players with pace, dribbling in 1st leg v Schalke Passes A C % 1 Paul Pogba 990 863 87 skills, strong in one v one, • Pivotal figure of striker Raffael, 2 Ander Herrera 643 583 91 e.g. Mkhitaryan 1 Jannik Vestergaard 240 213 89 able to hold up ball in attack 3 Eric Bailly 541 508 94 • Influential Ibrahimović, scoring 2 Mahmoud Dahoud 207 190 92 Unused substitute: Sam Johnstone goals and linking play Unused substitutes: Nico Elvedi, Tobias Sippel, 3 Christoph Kramer 166 151 91 App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed

60 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 61 Coach Coach OLYMPIACOS FC Vasilis Vouzas AS ROMA Born: 23/03/1966, Mouzaki (GRE) Born: 07/03/1959, Certaldo (ITA) Greece Nationality: Greek Italy Nationality: Italian Matches in UEFA Europa Matches in UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup:* 2 League/UEFA Cup:* 37 Matches in European Matches in European club competition:** 2 club competition:** 108 Head coach: Head coach: From 06/03/2017 From 14/01/2016 to 23/03/2017 to 30/05/2017 Paolo Bento was in charge from *Group stage OLYMPIACOSto final **Including qualifying matchday one to eight *Group stage ASto ROMA final **Including qualifying 88 88 88 88 Team shape Team shape

17 9

4 11 92 7 18

4 19 33 16 6 13

22 77 45 3 2 20 44

31 19

Group stage Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group stage Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final YBO APO AST AST YBO APO OSM OSM BES BES PLZ AST AUS AUS PLZ AST VIL VIL LYO LYO W 0-1 L 0-1 W 4-1 D 1-1 D 1-1 L 2-0 D 0-0 W 0-3 D 1-1 L 4-1 D 1-1 W 4-0 D 3-3 W 2-4 W 4-1 D 0-0 W 0-4 L 0-1 L 4-2 W 2-1

Dark green = home, light green = away; see page 5 for full club names Dark green = home, light green = away; see page 5 for full club names App Mins G A Team statistics App Mins G A Team statistics Goalkeeper Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards Goalkeeper Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards 31 Nicola Leali 10 900 19 Becker 10 900 24 21 1 23 19 1 Defenders 12 139 50 Defenders 24 151 63 (13.9 per match) (5 per match) Sent off: (3 own goals) (15.1 per match) (6.3 per match) Sent off: 3 Alberto Botía 8 694 1 Time scored Bruno Viana 2 Antonio Rüdiger 5 376 1 Time scored Antonio Rüdiger 6 Manuel da Costa 8 656 5 3 Juan 8 649 1 5 4 5 14 Omar Elabdellaoui 1 90 3 3 3 2 2 2 13 Bruno Peres 9 74 6 1 1 1 0 0 0 22 Aly Cissokho 4 360 1 0 0 0 0 0 15 2 180 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 24 Alberto de la Bella 3 256 17 Moustapha Seck 1 90 (Minutes) (Minutes) 36 Bruno Viana 5 253 20 8 636 2 45 Panagiotis Retsos 7 630 Substitutions 28/30 (No double substitutions) 21 Mário Rui 2 166 Substitutions 29/30 (Including one double substitution) 77 Diogo Figueiras 9 810 1 0 0 0 0 1 12 13 2 0 0 33 5 373 1 0 0 0 1 3 11 13 1 0 0 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 44 7 586 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 Midfielders (Minutes) (Minutes) 4 Alaixys Romao 7 285 91 Riccardo Marchizza 1 1 5 Luka Milivojević 4 343 1 Averages Key features Midfielders Averages Key features 7 8 629 1 1 Possession • 1-4-2-3-1, morphing to 4-4-2 4 10 692 1 1 Possession • 1-3-4-2-1 53% when defending 55% • Deep defensive block; disciplined, 8 2 101 Max. 64% v Astana (h) Max. 67% v Astra (h) Min. 35% v Besiktas (h) • Compact defence with back 5 8 549 Min. 43% v Villarreal (h) well-organised defence 10 Alejandro Domínguez 1 14 four starting position 35m from 6 7 588 2 • Wing-backs (Bruno Peres, Mário Passes attempted Passes attempted 11 4 180 their goal 7 6 401 Rui, Emerson Palmieri) help give 363 Max. 476 v APOEL (h) • Experience of captain 556 Max. 834 v Astra (h) numerical superiority in middle 18 Tarik Elyounoussi 9 646 3 1 Min. 265 v Osmanlıspor (a) Min. 454 v Villarreal (h) Cambiasso, keeping ball well, 8 7 400 1 3 of pitch in possession 19 Esteban Cambiasso 6 405 2 Passing accuracy supporting central defenders 16 Daniele De Rossi 6 429 1 2 Passing accuracy • De Rossi lynchpin in midfield 28 André Martins 10 560 84% Max. 95% v Astana (h) • Patient build-up, albeit pressed 24 3 122 1 89% Max. 92% v Astra (h) starting build-up from in front into longer balls v Beşiktaş of defence 32 Thanasis Androutsos 4 140 1 Min. 73% v Besiktas (h) Min. 85% v Villarreal (a) • Use of diagonal passes from 30 Gerson 6 267 1 • Strootman box-to-box midfielder, 52 Giorgos Manthatis 8 278 1 central defenders to wide Forwards able to break into opposition area 92 Sebá 9 754 3 1 Player statistics players and full-backs Player statistics • Two attacking players – Salah, 9 Edin Džeko 8 524 8 1 Shots T OT G • High press, with instant pressing Shots T OT G Nainggolan – operating behind Forwards after losing possession 10 Francesco Totti 6 384 5 main striker 1 Tarik Elyounoussi 16 11 3 1 Edin Džeko 27 15 8 9 Óscar Cardozo 5 276 1 • Full-backs push forward to 11 Mohamed Salah 6 373 2 1 • Patient build-up combined 2 Sebá 15 8 3 provide width and crosses 2 Mohamed Salah 17 10 2 with balls behind defence for 17 Karim Ansarifard 4 273 2 1 92 8 461 2 3 Kostas Fortounis 13 4 1 • Wide players switching flanks, 3 Radja Nainggolan 13 5 1 pacy Salah 99 Ideye Brown 4 352 1 moving inside to find pockets • Mental and physical strengths T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals of space T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals – composure, experience; Passes A C % • Target striker able to receive Passes A C % athleticism, speed ball, linking play (first Brown, • Aerial strength employed 1 Manuel da Costa 366 299 82 then Ansarifard) 1 Leandro Paredes 566 530 94 in offensive set plays 2 André Martins 335 301 90 • Fortounis in playmaker role 2 Kevin Strootman 537 485 90 • Powerful target man in Unused substitutes: Lefteris Choutesiotis, , 3 Alberto Botía 322 286 89 behind forward line Unused substitutes: Filippo Franchi, Davide Frattesi, Lorenzo Grossi, 3 Bruno Peres 389 338 87 eight-goal Džeko Dimitris Nikolaou, Juan Carlos Paredes, Eros De Santis, Wojciech Szczęsny App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed

62 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 63 Coach Coach FC ROSTOV Ivan Daniliants FC SCHALKE 04 Markus Weinzierl Born: 20/02/1953, Ashgabat (TKM) Born: 28/12/1974, Straubing (GER) Russia Nationality: Austrian Germany Nationality: German Matches in UEFA Europa Matches in UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup:* 4 League/UEFA Cup:* 19 Matches in European Matches in European club competition:** 10 club competition:** 19 Head coach: Head coach: From 09/09/2016 From 02/06/2016 to 01/06/2017 to 09/06/2017

*Group stage ROSTOVto final **Including qualifying *Group stageSCHALKE to final **Including qualifying 88 88 88 88 Team shape Team shape

7 11 19 7 89 6 10 21 84 16 8 17 30 2

4 23 31 29 4 44

77 1

Group stage (UEFA Champions League) Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final Group stage Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final BAY PSV ATL ATL BAY PSV SPA SPA MUN MUN NIC SAL KRA KRA NIC SAL PAO PAO MGB MGB AJA AJA L 5-0 D 2-2 L 0-1 L 2-1 W 3-2 D 0-0 W 4-0 D 1-1 D 1-1 L 1-0 W 0-1 W 3-1 W 0-1 W 2-0 W 2-0 L 2-0 W 0-3 D 1-1 D 1-1 D 2-2* L 2-0 W 3-2*

Dark green = home, light green = away; see page 5 for full club names Dark green = home, light green = away; see page 5 for full club names *Won on away goals *After extra time App Mins G A Team statistics App Mins G A Team statistics Goalkeeper Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards Goalkeepers Players used Goals scored Attempts On target Cards 77 Nikita Medvedev 4 360 1 Ralf Fährmann 11 1020 17 8 0 30 27 1 34 Fabian Giefer 1 90 Defenders 6 43 19 19 178 74 (10.7 per match) (4.7 per match) (1 own goal) (14.8 per match) (6.2 per match) Sent off: 4 Vladimir Granat 3 178 Time scored Defenders Time scored Bernard Tekpetey 5 Denis Terentyev 3 182 3 Júnior Caiçara 4 360 1 5 5 2 2 3 3 23 Miha Mevlja 4 360 1 4 Benedikt Höwedes 11 1020 1 2 2 1 1 1 30 Fedor Kudryashov 4 360 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Sead Kolašinac 8 582 2 0 0 0 0 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 1-15 16-30 31-45 45+ 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 14 Abdul 6 439 1 44 César Navas 4 360 (Minutes) (Minutes) 20 Thilo Kehrer 8 502 Midfielders Substitutions 11/12 (Including one double substitution) 22 Atsuto Uchida 1 7 Substitutions 35/36 (No double substitutions) 2 Timofei Kalachev 4 270 2 24 1 18 8 Igor Kireev 1 9 0 1 0 2 0 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 8 8 13 2 0 1 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 27 Sascha Riether 3 285 1-15 16-30 31-45 Half-time 46-60 61-75 76-90 90+ 91-105 106-120 16 Christian Noboa 4 360 1 (Minutes) 29 Naldo 7 612 1 (Minutes) 19 Khoren Bayramyan 1 81 31 Matija Nastasić 10 930 28 Andrei Prepeliţă 3 131 Averages Key features Averages Key features Midfielders 84 Aleksandr Gatskan 4 225 Possession • 1-5-3-2 Possession • 1-3-5-2; also played 1-4-2-3-1 • Good team organisation with 2 5 460 1 and 1-4-4-2 89 Aleksandr Erokhin 4 353 42% Max. 57% v Sparta Praha (h) 53% Max. 64% v Salzburg (a) Min. 33% v Manchester United (a) players staying in formation, 5 Johannes Geis 5 351 Min. 44% v Krasnodar (a) • Influential, shot-stopping Forwards very compact 7 9 647 1 1 goalkeeper in Fährmann Passes attempted • Disciplined defensive block Passes attempted • Leadership of experienced 7 Dmitri Poloz 4 344 2 1 359 Max. 520 v Sparta Praha (h) sitting deep, close to 16m line 8 Leon Goretzka 9 667 3 1 452 Max. 531 v PAOK (a) Höwedes, organising defence Min. 295 v Sparta Praha (a) Min. 328 v Krasnodar (h) 11 Aleksandr Bukharov 4 215 1 1 • Strong defensive set-up with 10 9 666 2 • Variety in passing with game- 20 Sardar Azmoun 4 145 1 Passing accuracy support from three midfielders 13 Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting 5 344 2 Passing accuracy opening diagonal or vertical • Good teamwork; aggressive passes in build-up 33 Marko Dević 2 27 75% Max. 83% v Sparta Praha (h) 15 5 450 1 89% Max. 93% v Nice (a) Min. 68% v Manchester United (h) on the ball Min. 78% v Ajax (a) • Strong on counterattack with fast • Press opposition to allow little 17 Benjamin Stambouli 11 659 defence-to-attack transitions space between lines 18 Sidney Sam 1 15 • Notable attacking contribution Player statistics • Attacking wing-backs (Kalachev) 21 Alessandro Schöpf 10 486 1 Player statistics from left-back Kolašinac Shots T OT G provide regular supply of balls 32 Bernard Tekpetey 1 90 Shots T OT G • Goretzka drives team on from to striker midfield; strong technique, 1 Christian Noboa 9 7 1 • Technical player with eye for Forwards 1 Leon Goretzka 21 13 3 links well with forwards 2 Dmitri Poloz 5 3 2 pass in Noboa 9 Franco Di Santo 2 96 2 Yevhen Konoplyanka 11 7 2 • Dead-ball threat with set-piece 3 Aleksandr Bukharov 3 0 1 • Varied approach: some short 3 Max Meyer 10 6 1 specialists passes in build-up, also medium 11 Yevhen Konoplyanka 8 363 2 1 • Speedy winger Choupo-Moting, T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals or long ball to front; good links 16 2 103 T = Total shots; OT = On target; G = Goals dangerous in 1v1s Passes A C % between lines 19 Guido Burgstaller 5 468 3 1 Passes A C % • Hard-working central striker • Striker Bukharov a target for 25 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 5 195 1 Burgstaller; helps back defensively 1 César Navas 184 149 81 goalkeeper’s long kicks; aim 1 Benedikt Höwedes 600 553 92 2 Christian Noboa 159 114 72 to win second balls 33 3 107 2 Matija Nastasić 549 514 94 3 Miha Mevlja 158 135 85 36 Breel Embolo 2 180 1 3 Nabil Bentaleb 428 366 86 Unused substitutes: Moussa Doumbia, Evgeni Goshev Unused substitute: Thilo Kehrer, Phil Neumann, Alexander Nübel App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed App = Appearances; Mins = Minutes played; G = Goals; A = Assists A = Passes attempted; C = Passes completed

64 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17 65 Editorial Ioan Lupescu, Simon Hart, David Gough

UEFA technical observers Christian Chivu, Sir Alex Ferguson, Stefan Majewski, Mixu Paatelainen, Dejan Stanković

Managing editor Michael Harrold

Design James Willsher, Daniel Nutter, Tom Radford

Production Rob Esteva, Patrick Hart, Rebecca Hopkins, Conrad Leach, Andy Lockwood, Anthony Naughton, Luke Nicoli

Photography Getty Images, UEFA

Translation Doris Egger, Zouhair El Fehri, Alexandra Gigant, François Jamme, Patrick Pfister, Cécile Pierreclos, Christian Pöpplen, Florian Simmen, Anna Simon, Sandra Wisniewski, Frédéric Wyler

Administration/coordination Emily Meikle, Aleksandra Sersniova, Stéphanie Tétaz Roll of honour Designed and produced by TwelfthMan on behalf of UEFA 2017 Manchester United FC UEFA 2017. All rights reserved. The UEFA word, the UEFA Europa 2016 Sevilla FC League logo and trophy are protected by trade marks and/or 2015 Sevilla FC ©copyright of UEFA. No use for commercial purposes may be made of 2014 Sevilla FC such trade marks. 2013 Chelsea FC 2012 Club Atlético de Madrid 2011 FC Porto 2010 Club Atlético de Madrid 2009 FC Shakhtar Donetsk 2008 FC Zenit 2007 Sevilla FC 2006 Sevilla FC 2005 PFC CSKA Moskva 2004 Valencia CF 2003 FC Porto 2002 Feyenoord 2001 Liverpool FC 2000 Galatasaray AŞ 1999 Parma FC 1998 FC Internazionale Milano 1997 FC Schalke 04 1996 FC Bayern München 1995 Parma FC 1994 FC Internazionale Milano 1993 Juventus 1992 AFC Ajax 1991 FC Internazionale Milano 1990 Juventus 1989 SSC Napoli 1988 1987 IFK Göteborg 1986 Real Madrid CF 1985 Real Madrid CF 1984 Tottenham Hotspur FC 1983 RSC Anderlecht 1982 IFK Göteborg 1981 Ipswich Town FC 1980 Eintracht 1979 VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach 1978 PSV Eindhoven 1977 Juventus 1976 Liverpool FC 1975 VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach 1974 Feyenoord 1973 Liverpool FC 1972 Tottenham Hotspur FC

66 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE TECHNICAL REPORT 2016/17