Friday, June 9, 2023

West Ham Captures Europa Conference League Title

West Ham are Europa Conference League champions after a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina on Wednesday. Jarrod Bowen’s 90th minute breakaway goal clinched the hardware after Lucas Paqueta pierced the Fiorentina defense with a seeing eye pass in a singular moment of brilliance for the Hammers.

The high line which characterizes the Fiorentina style proved their downfall in the end. West Ham spent much of the match sitting deep and waited the entirety of regulation time for exactly the type of opportunity Paqueta and Bowen capitalized on. The first West Ham goal was provided on a 62nd minute Said Benrahma penalty kick after a Fiorentina hand ball. The West Ham lead then held up for just five minutes before Fiorentina knotted matters. Both clubs then seemed content to play for extra time and potential penalties until the West Ham winner materialized out of nowhere.

A physical match saw Fiorentina striker Luka Jovic suffer a broken nose and the match had to be stopped for a period after projectiles from the stands drew blood from the head of Fiorentina teammate Cristiano Biraghi. The Italian defender had a rough day as it was his handball which handed West Ham its first goal. Emotions were high in Prague with 22 fans arrested after an attack on West Ham supporters by Fiorentina Ultras the night before. An ugly Premier League season, where the club flirted with relegation, and any ugliness in Prague pale in comparison, however, to the euphoria felt by Hammers supporters who get to celebrate the club’s first major Cup since a 1980 FA Cup title and a first European Cup title since 1965. With their victory on Wednesday, West Ham also automatically qualifies for next season’s Europa League.

No one is perhaps happier than David Moyes who West Ham ownership stood behind as 8 of the other 9 bottom half teams in the Premier League sacked managers this season. Moyes has now qualified the Hammers for a third straight season of European football. Sadly for West Ham fans, West Ham Chairman David Sullivan has confirmed the expected departure of West Ham midfielder Declan Rice this summer. Arsenal and both Manchester clubs have been rumored to be among the clubs interested to acquire the England international. Rice was released by Chelsea as a youngster as just one more future star such as Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah which Chelsea notoriously let get away. The midfielder would then progress though West Ham’s academy and become one of the league’s best midfielders and a foundational player for the national team. While he will be sorely missed by West Ham fans, there is no better exit than one in which your last act involves a raised trophy.

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Monday, June 5, 2023

FA Cup Final: Two Down, One To Go For Manchester City

Manchester City took the next step to a historic Treble by defeating rival Manchester United 2-1 in the FA Cup final. Ilkay Gundogan got things started quickly for Manchester City by establishing a Cup record with a goal just 13 seconds into the match. The Manchester City captain wasn’t done, however, as he would strike again in the 51st minute to deliver the winner. Gundogan has been rumored to be departing City, but he clearly remains a big match presence for the Citizens. The lightning quick first goal was a thing of beauty with Gundogan taking his chance on the volley and bending the ball perfectly past flat footed Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea.

Manchester United would get a lifeline in the 31st minute when a Jack Grealish handball led to a successful Bruno Fernandes penalty take. Knotted at the break, Gundogan would step forward just six minutes into the second half with his second goal. The winning shot was more opportunistic than skillful as Gundogan seemingly mis-hit a ball that traveled through Manchester United defenders and bounced twice in front of De Gea who once again was beaten. De Gea’s place in Manchester United’s future remains a debate as mistakes have become an increasing part of his game. The goalkeeper’s weakness in distributing the ball was also highlighted by comparison with the far more effective Manchester City’s goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. Whereas more than fifty percent of De Gea’s kicks would result in Manchester City possession, his counterpart continually triggered the Manchester City attack.

In a decision that could have been later questioned if things went differently, City Manager Pep Guardiola decided to stick with Ortega who had played in the earlier Cup rounds and leave regular starting goalkeeper Ederson on the bench. Guardiola was rewarded with a confident performance from Ortega who remained unflustered after having little chance on Fernandes’s penalty. Both Manchester City goals were, of course, assisted by the Premier League leader in assists this season, Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian dominated midfield play, where Manchester United midfielders Christian Eriksen and Fred labored throughout the match. Beyond the Fernandes penalty goal, there was little to excite Manchester United supporters. Marcus Rashford was no factor and Jaden Sancho, once a Manchester City phenom, continued to burnish his reputation as a bust for the Red Devils. Perhaps the lone bright spot for Manchester United was the play of 18-year-old substitute Alejandro Garnacho who replaced Sancho in the 62nd minute. His second half introduction injected some energy into an otherwise listless attack which was without injured players Antony Martial and Antony.

Despite an underwhelming performance on Saturday, there should be no shame for a Manchester United side which lost narrowly to what is likely the best club in the world at the moment. Manchester City are just better and now turn their sights on Inter Milan next weekend. Manchester United, meanwhile, heads home after reaching two finals this year, winning one, and securing Champions League football for next season. Importantly, the club may have found its manager for the long term as Eric ten Hag has put his stamp on the club in a successful maiden Premier League season. Ten Hag now needs backing in the transfer window for Manchester United to realistically challenge a club like Manchester City. 

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Friday, June 2, 2023

FA Cup Final: The Ultimate Manchester Derby

Crosstown rivals Manchester City and Manchester United will meet in an FA Cup Final for the first time on Saturday. It is, in fact, the first time that a Manchester derby will be contested in any major final. Both clubs are seeking to build on successful seasons with a second title. Favorite Manchester City won the Premier League for a third consecutive season and its fifth title in the last six years. Manchester United won the EFL Carabao Cup while finishing third in the league standings.

Manchester City, of course, has the small matter of  a Champions League final just a week after Saturday’s appointment at Wembley. The only club to have accomplished the Treble of winning the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in one season is Manchester United (1998/99). The Red Devils will be anxious to keep it that way while securing their own brace of current season titles on Saturday. The task won’t be easy. Erling Haaland established a new Premier League record with 36 goals and has scored 52 times in his 51 appearances for Manchester City across all competitions. Often setting up those Haaland goals is Kevin De Bruyne who became the fourth player in Premier League history to reach 100 careers assists with his league leading 16 this season. The talent doesn’t stop with that dynamic duo, however, as Manager Pep Guardiola can reach deep into his bench for players who would start for most any other club. The aspiring European champions scored the most and allowed the joint fewest goals in the Premier League this season.

Rival Manchester United can also be celebrated for a strong season in Manager Eric ten Hag’s Premier League debut. Ten Hag brushed aside early season wobbles and the unfortunate Cristiano Ronaldo saga to lead the Red Devils back into the top four and put another trophy on the shelf. Four wins to close the season defused any threat from Liverpool to bump the Red Devils from Champions League qualification. Marcus Rashford scored 17 league goals for Manchester United and will need to deliver a performance on Saturday. Striker Anthony Martial and winger Antony are both expected to be sidelined for Saturday’s match, limiting ten Hag’s options in attack for a side which scored 36 fewer goals this season than Saturday’s opponent. The Red Devils were successful in the last meeting between the two clubs, prevailing 2-1 in January as Haaland was kept off the scoresheet and largely nullified while Rashford and Bruno Fernandes found the net for United. The January victory avenged a 6-3 October thumping by the Citizens. Manchester United will be appearing in the FA Cup final for the 21st time, joining Arsenal for the highest number of such appearances. The Red Devils ticket to this final was provided by a successful penalty shootout against Brighton in the semifinal.

Manchester City arrives by virtue of a Riyad Mahrez hat trick which defeated recently promoted Sheffield United 3-0. A rail strike scheduled for Saturday has authorities urging fans of the two clubs to take differing designated routes from Manchester to London as an expected crowd of almost 90,000 converges on Wembley. 

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