Manchester United: Europa League
PLAYER RATINGS: Ajax 0 - 2 Manchester United
Here are the player ratings for Thursday's Europa League clash in Holland between Dutch giants Ajax and Manchester United. Lets get to it!
A score of 1 being the lowest (Stewart Downing standard), 10 being the highest (Messi like) A score of 6 will be standard, 7 is solid, a very good game will get an 8, 9 is good for outstanding and 10 is unplayable. 10's will be very rare. Not only will they have to play the game of their life, but it will usually come against a team of good quality or in a big match (Finals, championship deciding game's etc.)
David De Gea - good performance for the third game running. Never looked troubled, made some good saves, one very good one in the first half stretching to his right. He will have stiffer tests, as European competition is not really the place to test a young goalkeeper's ability to command his box and keepers are protected a lot more (too much in my opinion) in Europe and in internationals. Still, a further confidence boost and a good showing. 7.5/10
Phil Jones - Fitted in like a velvet glove after his return from injury. Steamed up the right side like we are used to seeing from him and delivered some tasty crosses. Tidy in his distribution as well. Solid. 7/10
Jonny Evans - Brilliant. Defended very nicely with one header in the first half where he climbed so high to reach it. But recently he has been igniting attacks from the back and he once again showed his ability to do this. It really is something he has added to his game and he does it very well and with ease as well. Shows such composure on the ball in tricky positions. 8/10
Rio Ferdinand - Another good performance for the United back line. Never really troubled but dealt with anything that came his way. Maybe a little lucky not to concede a penalty at the death of the first half. 7/10
Fabio - Much better than what we have been seeing from our "first choice" left back. Defended well with good tackles and interceptions and bombed forward with intent and regularity. Will have stiffer tests though, but this performance will give Sir Alex Ferguson options if Patrice Evra continues his poor form. 7.5/10
POST MATCH REACTION: Ajax 0 - 2 Manchester United
A pleasing performance. If you win by two goals and keep a clean sheet in a European two legged tie, away from home, you're always going to be happy. A goal each for Ashley Young and Javier Hernandez (Chicharito)and a good performance (Especially second half) put Manchester United firmly in the driving seat and I for one cannot see any way back for Ajax based on that performance.
A goalless first half was contested at a decent pace and both teams had their chances. David De Gea made a couple of great stops in the United goal while Hernandez was causing the Dutch team's defense endless problems with his intelligent movement.
Not sure what Sir Alex Ferguson said in the dressing room, but we really turned it up in the second half. We passed the ball very well, the returning Phil Jones was endlessly charging down the right flank and the breakthrough came when Nani crossed the ball (Maybe the only decent thing he did all game) and found Ashley Young on the left hand side of the box (Via a deflection.) The England winger stepped inside and fired his shot low and hard through the legs of the Keeper.
LIVE THREAD: Ajax vs. Manchester United | Europa League -- Round of 32 (1st Leg)
Europa League draw: Manchester United to face Ajax
Following the draw for the UEFA Champions League in Nyon, the draw for the Europa League's Round of 32 occurred and it revealed that Manchester United will face Ajax. Quite obviously, many United supporters don't have much interest in the Europa League and it remains to be seen how seriously manager Sir Alex Ferguson treats the competition. However, the draw with Ajax is intriguing. First of all, it's a club with a proud history. In addition, they have an intriguing 19-year-old midfielder by the name of Christian Eriksen -- a player who is believed to be on the transfer radar of many of the big clubs around Europe, including United's. Furthermore, this means a trip to Amsterdam for United's traveling supporters....
The first round of the knockout stages are set to occur during the week of February 16-23. Here is the full draw:
* Manchester United vs. Ajax
* FC Porto vs. Manchester City
* Lokomotiv Moscow vs. Athletic Bilbao
* SV Salzburg vs. FC Metalist Kharkiv
* Stoke City vs. Valencia
* FK Rubin Kazan vs. Olympiakos
* AZ Alkmaar vs. Anderlecht
* Lazio vs. Atletico Madrid
* Steaua Bucharest vs. Twente Enschede
* Viktoria Pizen vs. Schalke 04
* Wisla Krakow vs. Standard Liege
* Braga vs. Besiktas
* Udinese vs. PAOK Salonika
* Trabzonspor vs. PSV Eindhoven
* Hannover 96 vs. Club Brugge
* Legia Warsaw vs. Sporting Lisbon
Europa League Draw: Manchester United can be paired with one of 15 sides
While most of the world's attention will surely be on the UEFA Champions League draw, the Europa League draw will be occurring as well at around the same time (approximately 12:00pm GMT, 7:00am EST) in Nyon, Switzerland. Thursday saw the last of the group stage matches in the Europa League and now Manchester United could potentially draw one of 15 clubs for the Round of 32 knockout stage:
* Trabzonspor (Turkey)
* Ajax (Holland)
* FC Porto (Portugal)
* Viktoria Pizen (Czech Republic)
* Hannover 96 (Germany)
* Legia Warsaw (Poland)
* Lazio (Italy)
* Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)
* Steaua Bucharest (Romania)
* Wisla Krakow (Poland)
* Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia)
* Rubin Kazan (Russia)
* AZ Alkmaar (Holland)
* SC Braga (Portugal)
* Udinese (Italy)

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