Chapter 718: Leaving the Suspense Until the End
Thanks to Bruno's goal and assist, Manchester United managed to stage a 2-1 comeback victory over Ajax at home. This not only prevented United from extending their winless streak at home to three matches but also gave them the upper hand in the two-legged Champions League semifinal.
Conceding a late-game reversal left Erik ten Hag visibly dissatisfied post-match, as he turned his frustration toward the referee.
The Ajax coach claimed that the referee missed a penalty call that could have allowed Ajax to extend their lead and possibly crush United's hopes. Instead, the referee awarded only a free kick outside the box.
José Mourinho wasted no time in dismissing Ten Hag's complaints, calling them absurd.
"I don't understand why he's asking for a penalty that never existed," Mourinho said. "Kanté's foul was clearly outside the box, and awarding a free kick was the correct decision."
The clash between the two managers continued off the pitch, as Ten Hag argued that Ajax had been the better team and deserved at least a draw, if not the victory. Mourinho countered by asserting that United dominated both possession and shot attempts, justifying their win.
In truth, the match statistics painted a different picture. United had 12 shots compared to Ajax's 9, but both sides struggled to create clear chances. United managed only three shots on target, while Ajax had two—a testament to how effectively both teams neutralized each other with tactical precision.
Mourinho vs. Ten Hag: The Battle of Words
Ten Hag highlighted the importance of Hakim Ziyech, praising the Moroccan playmaker's key role in creating opportunities for Ajax. Mourinho, however, credited Bruno Fernandes as the decisive factor for United.
"In Bruno's eyes, I saw determination, passion, and an unrelenting desire to defend our Champions League title," Mourinho remarked.
He also expressed confidence that United would secure a victory in Amsterdam:
"I have no doubt about Ajax's strength. They are formidable contenders for a spot in the final. But Manchester United has been flawless on the road this season. At the Johan Cruyff Arena, victory will be ours!"
Mourinho reminded everyone of United's perfect away record in the Champions League, having defeated teams like Lyon, Hoffenheim, and Shakhtar Donetsk, as well as dismantling Barcelona at the Camp Nou. He declared Ajax as their next target.
In contrast, Ten Hag remained hopeful, stating that Ajax would play more aggressively and ambitiously in the return leg.
"Back at home, we will push harder and take more initiative. I firmly believe that we will win and secure our place in Madrid!"
The post-match war of words between the two managers quickly became a focal point for global football media.
Media Divides
Predictably, British media backed Manchester United to reach the final, while Dutch media championed Ajax, arguing that a 2-1 away loss left the tie wide open. Despite Ajax's struggles at home earlier in the tournament, Dutch commentators believed the team could deliver when it mattered most.
The war of words between the two nations' media outlets intensified. Both sides cherry-picked favorable evidence to bolster their arguments, while rumors and speculation about the teams dominated headlines.
One rumor suggested that Manchester United had already booked a hotel near the Johan Cruyff Arena for their post-match celebrations. Whether true or not, it only added fuel to the media frenzy.
Liverpool vs. Tottenham
In the other Champions League semifinal, Tottenham Hotspur shocked Liverpool with a dominant 3-0 victory at home. The result led most media outlets to proclaim Tottenham as virtual finalists, predicting their historic first Champions League final appearance.
Even The Liverpool Echo expressed doubt about the Reds' chances, criticizing Jürgen Klopp's decision to field a full-strength squad in their weekend thrashing of Huddersfield Town.
While the 5-0 victory helped Liverpool recover some ground in the Premier League's goal difference race, it took a toll on player fitness and contributed to their collapse at Wembley.
Making matters worse, the league win over Huddersfield did little to change Liverpool's position in the title race. They remained one point behind Manchester United, whose remaining fixtures against relegated Huddersfield and Cardiff City seemed like guaranteed victories.
Barring a major upset, Manchester United appeared destined to lift the Premier League trophy. As a result, Liverpool's decision to prioritize the league over the Champions League seemed to have backfired spectacularly, potentially leaving them empty-handed this season.
May 5: Premier League Round 37 - Manchester United vs. Huddersfield Town
In the 37th round of the Premier League, Manchester United faced off against already-relegated Huddersfield Town at their home ground.
Huddersfield, who had secured the last spot in the league standings early, had only managed 3 wins, 6 draws, and 28 losses in 36 matches, with just 15 points to their name. They trailed 19th-place Fulham by 11 points, firmly cementing their relegation status.
Despite winning the first leg of the Champions League semifinal against Ajax and having a five-day gap between matches, José Mourinho opted for heavy rotation once again. However, Bruno Fernandes retained his spot in the starting lineup.
Manchester United lined up in a 4-3-3 formation but struggled to perform well in the first half. After adjustments at halftime, Bruno took on more responsibilities in the attack, stretching Huddersfield's defensive line.
First, Bruno delivered a pinpoint cross from the left, allowing McTominay to head the ball to Greenwood, who scored the opener.Later, Bruno crossed from the right, and McTominay volleyed home from 19 yards out.
Although Huddersfield managed to pull one back in the 77th minute, United secured a 2-1 victory, maintaining their points advantage over Liverpool and Manchester City.
Liverpool and Manchester Keep the Pressure On
Liverpool had played their match against Newcastle United a day earlier.
Perhaps shaken by their 0-3 loss in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal, Klopp seemingly shifted focus to the league. Despite having less than three days to recover, Liverpool fielded their strongest XI at St. James' Park.
After a grueling 90 minutes, Liverpool edged Newcastle 3-2, temporarily climbing to the top of the table. However, this advantage lasted less than a day, as Manchester United's victory over Huddersfield restored their lead.
The intense title race continued as Manchester City hosted Leicester City in the final match of the round. City narrowly defeated Leicester 1-0, climbing to 93 points and maintaining pressure on both United and Liverpool.
This ensured that the Premier League title race would be decided on the final day.
May 7: Champions League Semifinal, Second Leg - Liverpool vs. Tottenham
The first second-leg semifinal of the Champions League was held at Anfield on May 7.
Having suffered a 0-3 loss in the first leg away to Tottenham, Liverpool faced near-impossible odds of overturning the deficit. Yet, true to their reputation as a miraculous team, the Reds delivered one of the most astonishing comebacks in Champions League history.
In front of a 50,000-strong Anfield crowd, Liverpool rewrote the narrative, crafting their own "Anfield Miracle" akin to their legendary Istanbul triumph 14 years ago.
Key Moments:
1st Minute: Mane cut into the left side of the box and passed to Shaqiri, whose 12-yard shot was blocked by Danny Rose just before Henderson could reach it.7th Minute: A miscalculated header by Rose allowed Mane to set up Henderson, whose shot was parried by Lloris. Origi pounced on the rebound to score, making it 1-0.54th Minute: Substitute Wijnaldum, replacing the injured Robertson, capitalized on Arnold's cross from the right to make it 2-0. The aggregate score now stood at 2-3.56th Minute: Shaqiri's pinpoint cross found Wijnaldum again, who headed it into the net, leveling the aggregate score at 3-3.79th Minute: In a moment of quick thinking, Alexander-Arnold exploited Tottenham's disorganized defense during a corner kick. His cross found Origi, who volleyed it into the top corner to make it 4-0, sending Liverpool into the final with a 4-3 aggregate victory.
Liverpool's Stunning Comeback
Despite missing key players and fielding a patched-up squad, Liverpool pulled off an extraordinary turnaround, securing their ninth Champions League final appearance.
This shocking result sent ripples throughout the footballing world, revitalizing Liverpool's confidence in their pursuit of a Premier League and Champions League double. However, their hopes still hinged on several factors:
In the Premier League: Liverpool would need Manchester United to falter in the final round of fixtures to have a chance at claiming the league title.In the Champions League: Ideally, Ajax would overturn their first-leg loss to Manchester United and reach the final.
If Ajax failed to advance, Liverpool would likely face Manchester United in the final. While that scenario would deny Liverpool the easier path, defeating their arch-rivals in a European final would be an immensely satisfying alternative.
That said, there was always the possibility that Liverpool could fall to United, cementing their rivals' claim as England's undisputed greatest club.
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