Saiyed Karim
It wasn’t so long ago that Manchester United were on the verge of setting themselves up for a final fixture in the Europa League against Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan, a squad studded with former United stars.
Instead Solskjær’s team slipped at the final hurdle to a Sevilla side that has made this competition their own over recent years. Many balk at the stature, even the relevance of Europe’s second tier for competition, but fixtures against teams like AC Milan prove exactly why it’s a competition worthy of United’s attention.
The sleeping giants of European glitterati have fallen by the wayside in recent years but should prove to be Solskjær’s toughest task yet in Europe.
Four semis but no final thrust
AC Milan have underperformed in recent years but the pressure on Solskjær to see off major names in Europe is now well and truly on. True, the lost semi final against Sevilla was certainly the bigger game at the time, but given the compounding nature of United’s overall performance in cup competitions, making it all the way this season is pivotal.
Under Solskjær United have so far fallen at the semi final stage on four occasions, making a final fixture a seemingly insurmountable objective. The Reds succumbed to semi final exits in all three cup competitions last season (FA Cup, League Cup & Europa League), as well as a semi final defeat to Manchester City most recently this campaign.
United need to overcome this major hurdle in Milan if they are to build on a side packed with effective talent but that has that crucial, critical winning mentality.
Playing favourites
A number of top Australian bookmakers are currently backing both United and Milan amongst the top favourites to lift this year’s trophy in a tie that is perhaps more reminiscent of Champions League campaigns of yore, the Europa League organisers will be irritated these two names have been drawn out of the pot this early on.
Both sides have seen their odds spike since the draw came out. Manchester United remain current favourites, priced at around 5.0 alongside other English counterparts, while Italian sides Milan and Roma are priced fairly equally around 10.0.
Betway are currently offering high odds across the board on Europa League fixtures and outright markets, available globally.
Injuries weigh heavier on United’s side
Both sides are currently bearing the brunt of a season gone mad with the flurry of fixtures coming thick and fast in a season truncated by last year’s late start and a delayed Euro 2020.
Star striker and former Red, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is out of contention for Milan but it is currently United who are feeling the strain of injury woes on their squad. Key playmakers such as Paul Pogba and an emerging Donny van de Beek are sidelined, while attacking asset Edinson Cavani is looking likely to miss the Milan game after failing to make the squad for the Manchester derby.
Milan are reborn under Pioli
Pioli has taken his Milan side to the top of Serie A for the first time in years this season, only to be usurped by an incessant Inter side in recent weeks. Piolo, initially drafted in for a season to try and turn things around at the Rossoneri saw off hopeful Ralf Rangnick with a two year contract extension and has since set to work re-invigorating the fallen giant.
Despite meeting on 11 previous occasions in competitive competition, this latest meeting breaks new ground being the first tie in Europa League. Milan and United having previously met on every occasion in the Champions League and formerly the Europa League.
With both sides occupying second place in their respective domestic leagues they will have to have one eye on affairs at home but don’t be surprised if they go all out in their search for European silverware.
