Follow all the action as Manchester United host Roma in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is still bidding to win his first silverware as United head coach, having lost his last four semi-final appearances since taking charge at Old Trafford. His side are primed to break that curse, though, with victories against Granada, AC Milan and Real Sociedad in the knockout stages making United favourites to lift the trophy in Gdansk next month. “It will be a dream come true the day I can lift a trophy for this club as a manager, of course,” Solskjaer said. “For this team and myself, our ambition this season is to finish with lifting a trophy and being able to celebrate. I know how much that can mean for a group moving forward.”
United lost momentum at the weekend, held to a drab 0-0 draw by Leeds, although there was little to play for with Manchester City on the brink of sealing the Premier League title. For Roma, whose squad features former United players Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the situation domestically has been of far greater concern, with defeat by Cagliari leaving the club languishing in seventh in the Serie A table. Follow all the action live below:
Shaking off the semi-final curse
Michael Jones29 April 2021 19:12
Semi-final struggles
This is a big tie for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United. The Red Devils have lost all four semi-finals they have played in under the former United player in the last 18 months. Another defeat in a semi-final would raise serious questions about Solskjaer’s ability to win trophies for Manchester United. Will they shake their semi-final curse this evening?
Michael Jones29 April 2021 19:09
Roma’s road to the semi-final
Roma progressed to the knockout stages after coming top of Group A, their only defeat coming in a dead rubber against CSKA Sofia on the last matchday. In the knockout stages the Italian side have seen off Braga (5-1 on aggregate), Shakhtar Donetsk (5-1 on aggregate) and Ajax (3-2 on aggregate). They are now just two games away from their first European final in 30 years with only Manchester United in their way.
Michael Jones29 April 2021 19:02
Roma’s coach, Paulo Fonseca, on tonight’s game
Michael Jones29 April 2021 18:56
Team news
Man Utd XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred, Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Pogba, Cavani
Roma XI: Pau Lopez, Ibanez, Cristante, Smalling, Spinazzola, Veretout, Diawara, Karsdorp, Mkhitaryan, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Dzeko
Michael Jones29 April 2021 18:48
A dream come true for Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke about his desire to win trophies as the manager of Manchester United and how his side is hoping to end the season on a high. He said:
Michael Jones29 April 2021 18:43
Man Utd’s route to the semi-finals
Manchester United dropped out of the Champions League at the group stage but have been in serious form since joining the Europa League. They’ve won all three of their away games scoring seven goals and not conceding once. They dispatched Spanish sides Real Sociedad and Granada, both 4-0 on aggregate, and Italy’s AC Milan to reach this stage of the competition.
Michael Jones29 April 2021 18:40
Manchester United – Early team news
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be without forward Anthony Martial who is still nursing an injury and long-term absentee, defender Phil Jones, is also out for United. The good news for Solskjaer is that Eric Bailly – who recently signed a new deal – could make his first appearance in six weeks.
Michael Jones29 April 2021 18:33
UNITED HOST ROMA IN SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage as Manchester United host Roma in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final at Old Trafford.
Michael Jones29 April 2021 14:43