Unai Emery targets vindication against Arsenal
Unai Emery’s coaching reputation was shaken after a dismal end with Arsenal but he has proven himself again with Villarreal and now his former club stand in the way of him and the final of the Europa League, a competition he knows better than anyone.
After consistent success with Valencia, Sevilla and Paris St Germain, Emery was headhunted to coach Arsenal in 2018 and lead the team into the future after 22 years under Arsene Wenger.
He oversaw the club’s best ever start to a season and took them to the Europa League final but lost it 4-1 to Chelsea while also narrowly missing out on the top four after a dismal end to the campaign.
Things got worse in his second season as Arsenal endured their worst run in 30 years. By the end of November he was out the door, later complaining the players were no longer committed and saying “the club left me alone”.
Current coach Mikel Arteta said Emery helped advise him on making the switch from Manchester City assistant to Arsenal boss and praised the impact his predecessor had.
After almost a year away from football, Emery returned to Spain with Villarreal.
He has done remarkably well yet again in Europe’s second competition, with Villarreal winning 11 of their 12 games while remaining unbeaten, although his return to Spain has not all been plain sailing.
“Arsenal’s history is renowned throughout the world. I am lucky enough to have coached over there, although it ended in unwanted circumstances,” Emery told Uefa.com this week.
“I want to win for myself and for Villarreal. I have that competitive instinct, that responsibility I owe the club and everyone I represent with my decisions. I did that proudly when I was at Arsenal, now I’ll do that at Villarreal.”
Credit: supersport.com
Solskjaer set to end semis hoodoo against familiar foes
Having steered his side to four semifinals, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is yet to progress further than the last four in any cup competition as Manchester United manager, with his latest chance to end that hoodoo against a team he knows well.
Domestic progress has been made, with United in a strong position to finish second in the Premier League, however, the trophy cabinet remains empty.
What is more frustrating for fans desperate for the club to clinch their first piece of silverware since the 2017 Europa League under Jose Mourinho is United keep getting so close.
Victory over Granada has given Solskjaer a fifth opportunity to go all the way to the final, with AS Roma the latest to try prolong the Norwegian’s agony.
But clashes with Roma elicit fond European memories for Solskjaer, as the Italian side were his last opponent as a player in Europe for United.
Solskjaer retired from playing at the end of that campaign, and began his career in coaching with United’s academy a year later.
Now, as his third season as United coach nears its end, the transition period is over and a prolonged trophy drought will not be tolerated.
Roma were comfortable in the Serie A top four at the turn of the year, but a run of one win in their last seven league matches means they have dropped to seventh, with pressure mounting on coach Paulo Fonseca.
United have hit good form at the right time, losing only one of their last 21 matches in all competitions.
Credit: supersport.com
Real Madrid’s Marcelo to miss Chelsea trip due to election duties
Real Madrid defender Marcelo could miss the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at Chelsea because he has been called up to monitor a polling station during local elections.
The elections for the Madrid assembly take place on Tuesday, 4 May.
Real, who were held 1-1 at home in the first leg, play the second leg at Stamford Bridge on the following day.
The Spanish club are “analysing the situation” to see if “any regulation will let him travel with the team”.
The Brazil left-back started in Tuesday’s game, which saw Chelsea come away with an away goal in a deserved draw against the 13-time European champions.
Unless Marcelo is excused from his election-day duties, he will not be permitted to travel with the team the day before the game.
Spanish newspaper El Mundo report the club had appealed to the Electoral Commission, but the request was denied.
All Spaniards on the electoral register can be called up to work at polling stations and are paid 65 euros (£56), needing mitigating circumstances to be excused.
Marcelo, 32, was granted Spanish citizenship in 2011.
Credit: bbc.com
The post Today’s UEFA Europa League Semi-finals appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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