The most pessimistic will have immediately rewound the tape until April 2007, when Totti and his companions left Old Trafford with one of the worst results in the history of the club. But this team seems to have something special inside when they hear the music of Europe, and then for a moment the bad thoughts go away. Roma will challenge Manchester United in the Europa League semifinal: the first leg will be played in England on 29 April at 21, the return home to the Olympic stadium on 6 May. A double opportunity to hit a European final that has been missing since 1991: it was the then Uefa Cup and the final with Inter. But first you have to jump high to overcome the United obstacle.
How Manchester United plays
Solskjaer’s United started the season in the Champions League, but finished third in the group with Psg and Leipzig. In Europe he never lost: he eliminated Real Sociedad in the round of 32, Milan in the round of 16 with a draw and a win (1-1 at Old Trafford and 1-0 at San Siro) and lastly Granada in the quarterfinals. De Gea has been in goal for years, the starting defense is with Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof and Shaw (among the best of the season). But if the rearguard is the weak point (even if in England he has the fourth best defense with 34 goals conceded, four fewer than Roma in Serie A), from midfield up there is plenty of talent.
Pogba and Matic are the medians in the two-man midfield (but Fred also plays, long chased by Fonseca), then Greenwood, the baby phenomenon of 2001 together with the three stars Bruno Fernandes, Rashford and Cavani. Solskjaer has often changed choices in the middle and front, being able to rotate many (from van de Beek to James or Mata): this was the strength of the Red Devils, second in the Premier League behind the unattainable City. Domination or counterattack: the coach has often adapted to his opponent, and this ability has allowed United to achieve one of the best seasons in recent years. In the Europa League they know how to win: they triumphed in the 2017 final with Ajax. The decisive players? Mkhitaryan and Smalling, who will meet again as ex.
The precedents between Roma and United
Rome and Manchester United have crossed paths six times, always in the Champions League: in 2007 the Giallorossi won the first leg 2-1 at the Olimpico and then lost 7-1 in the return leg to the quarter-finals. The following year four matches in one season: first in the groups (1-0 at Old Trafford, 1-1 at the Olimpico) and then again in the quarter-finals. In that case, Roma lost the first leg to the Olimpico 2-0. On the way back, the penalty missed by De Rossi who would have reopened the match and the qualification speech. Eventually it ended 1-0 for the Manchester team.
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