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OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER POSITIVE ABOUT MAGUIRE’S FITNESS FOR EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists both he and Harry Maguire are “positive” that the Manchester United captain will be fit to lead his side out for the Europa League final.

United face Villarreal in Gdansk next week looking to win the competition for the second time in four years.

Maguire has been a mainstay of the United side since moving from Leicester but suffered an ankle injury in last week’s win at Aston Villa and faces a race against time to be fit for the final – but Solskjaer plans to give his skipper as long as possible.

“He’s making progress, but we’ve consciously taken the route of not testing him out too early, too quickly, because we don’t want to aggravate something,” Solskjaer said.

“Harry wants this so much, so he doesn’t want to take any risks either.

“When I spoke to him this morning, he was quite positive. But, naturally, the day after it happened we were all down.

“But we saw early on or decided we have to focus, have to be positive and think that you’re going to make it until you have to say ‘no’. I’ve always been an optimist, so we’re positive.”

With Champions League football already assured for next season through the Premier League, the Red Devils can play without the burden of needing to beat their LaLiga rivals to return to Europe’s top table.

But Solskjaer will be aiming to mastermind a victory in Poland and land his first piece of silverware as United boss.

To do that he will strive to pick his strongest side – whether Maguire makes it or not – admitting he will take a leaf out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s book and have individual conversations with those players who do not make the cut.

Solskjaer famously came off the bench and scored the last-gasp winner in the Champions League final win over Bayern Munich in 1999 to complete the Treble for United and pinpointed another moment when Ferguson made special dispensation to talk to his players.

“It’s always difficult and the human side is you want everyone to get this experience,” he said, when asked if he faced some difficult conversations with his squad.

“Then you have to pick XI. That’s just the nature of the job that you have to make some tough decisions and stand by them.

“There are a couple of games left for me to finalise what the XI in the final will be.

“You’ll have to sit down, of course, individually, and I remember Sir Alex sat me down, he came to my hotel room to explain why I didn’t play the semi-final against Bayer Leverkusen and we sat there for 45 minutes. We had a good conversation and I still felt I had a contribution to make and that I was important in his team.

“All my players know they have been important this season. We couldn’t get to a final and second place in the league without everyone’s contribution every day. They’ve been competitive but very supportive as well.”

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RANGERS FINISH SCOTTISH LEAGUE UNBEATEN WITH 102 POINTS

Steven Gerrard’s Rangers side became only the second team to win the Scottish Premiership and go a full season without losing a game after the champions beat Aberdeen 4-0 at home on the final day on Saturday.

Rangers won all 19 of their home games at Ibrox and equalled the league record of 26 clean sheets in the campaign. They also set a record by conceding only 13 goals in their 32 wins and six draws.

Celtic, the first side to go unbeaten in the 2016-17 season, finished 25 points behind Rangers, who sealed the title in March to deny their archrivals a 10th straight title.

“It feels good, it’s been a while since I’ve had the smell of champagne … I’m actually enjoying it,” Gerrard told Sky Sports after he was soaked in champagne by Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos.

“I was asked to come here at a really difficult time … It was about having a vision, having the right people in the right places, the right support from the board. We fought every day for three years to get to this point.”

Although fans are not allowed inside the stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions, many gathered outside with banners and blue flares to celebrate their “Invincibles” campaign.

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BUNDESLIGA: ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI EQUALS GERD MUELLER’S LEAGUE GOAL RECORD

Robert Lewandowski equalled Gerd Mueller’s 49-year-old scoring record as the Bayern Munich striker netted his 40th Bundesliga goal of the season in a 2-2 draw at Freiburg on Saturday.

Lewandowski equalled Mueller’s tally, scored over 34 games in 1971/72, in just 28 league fixtures this term. “It’s a huge honour for me and for the modern history of the Bundesliga,” Lewandowski told Sky. Lewandowski converted a penalty for the champions after 26 minutes to match Mueller’s milestone.

As part of his penalty celebrations, the Poland striker lifted his match shirt to reveal a picture of Gerd Mueller over the text “4ever Gerd”.

“I would never have thought that this would happen. What Gerd Mueller did is incredible. Sharing the record with him makes me very, very proud,” Lewandowski added.

The fixture was briefly halted after Lewandowski scored as his Bayern team-mates formed a guard-of-honour on the side of the pitch which the smiling 32-year-old ran through.

Freiburg drew level almost immediately when Manuel Gulde headed in at the near post from a corner on 29 minutes after slipping his marker.

Bayern, who were crowned German champions last weekend for the ninth season in a row, upped the tempo after the break.

Serge Gnabry had a goal disallowed six minutes into the second-half after the VAR spotted he was offside in tapping home a Leroy Sane cross.

However, the Bavarians kept up the pressure and when David Alaba’s long-range pass found Thomas Mueller in the area just moments later, he squared for Sane who hit home on 53 minutes.

Freiburg had their chances to equalise as second-half replacements Lucas Hoeler and Janik Haberer both went close before Christian Guenter brought the sides level nine minutes from time.

Lewandowski can still break Mueller’s record as Bayern have one match left of the campaign at home to Augsburg next Saturday.

He squandered a late chance to score “at least one more goal. You don’t break records like that so quickly,” added Lewandowski.

The former Borussia Dortmund forward, who has scored 47 goals in 39 games in all competitions this season, is also set to be crowned the Bundesliga’s top-scorer for the sixth time in eight years.

“Robert Lewandowski has broken Gerd Mueller’s historic mark, but you don’t score goals alone,” said Bayern coach Hansi Flick.

“You need players who serve him passes. That’s why I have to give the team a huge compliment.”

Lewandowski tally this season includes four hat-tricks as well as a four-goal haul in Bayern’s nervy 4-3 home win against Hertha Berlin last October.

“It’s crazy. It’s normal for Lewandowski to score, but this is something else,” said Bayern forward Thomas Mueller.

“But he’s only human, you saw that when it came to the 41st goal,” Mueller joked after Lewandowski’s late miss.
Elsewhere, bottom side Schalke, who are already relegated, pulled off a stunning 4-3 home win over Eintracht Frankfurt, who remain outside the Champions League places in fifth.

US striker Matthew Hoppe, 20, scored what proved to be the decisive goal to seal the win for Schalke which could have profound implications in the top four.

Both Borussia Dortmund, who are fourth before their away match at Mainz, and third-placed Wolfsburg, who travel to RB Leipzig, can secure Champions League qualification with away wins on Sunday.

At the foot of the table, Werder Bremen’s 2-0 defeat at Augsburg pushed them into the bottom three, just above second-from-bottom Cologne who were held to a goalless draw at Hertha Berlin

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LEICESTER CITY BEAT CHELSEA TO WIN MAIDEN FA CUP TROPHY

Leicester City won their first ever FA Cup with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea thanks to a stunning goal from Youri Tielemans on Saturday at Wembley.

The midfielder produced a fantastic goal in the second half to earn Leicester a historic victory.

The win also sees Brendan Rodgers earn his first ever major trophy in English football.

The result sees Chelsea lose back-to-back FA Cup finals after suffering defeat at the hands of Arsenal last season.

Thomas Tuchel’s side will have another chance to collect silverware when they meet Manchester City in the Champions League final later this month.

Wembley hosted close to 20,000 people for the final which is the largest attendance at a football ground since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

It was a very cagey start to the match with the first chance coming after 24 minutes when Mason Mount’s strike outside of the area was deflected wide.

Chelsea had another opportunity to open the scoring moments later but Timo Werner flicked off the ball away from the Cesar Azpilicueta who was free for a tap-in.

Leicester suffered a blow just after the half an hour mark when Jonny Evans had to be brought off with an injury, and was replaced by Marc Albrighton.

Leicester’s best chance came when Tielemans produced a lofted pass to Jamie Vardy who headed wide before the break. The first half ended without a single attempt on target from both sides.

It was another slow start to the half but the game was brought to life after 63 minutes when Tielemans scored with a stunning long-range effort.

Chelsea introduced Christian Pulisic and Ben Chilwell after the goal and the latter came close to an equaliser after 77 minutes but his header was denied by a great Kasper Schmeichel save.

Schmeichel made an even better stop with four minutes remaining when he denied a Mount volley from inside the box.

Chilwell thought he had grabbed late equaliser but it was ruled out for offside and Leicester held on for the win.

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SUPER SUB RODRIGO GETS A BRACE IN LEEDS WIN AT BURNLEY

Leeds turned on the style in the second half as they swept to a 4-0 win over Burnley to strengthen their grip on a top-half place in the Premier League.

After Mateusz Klich gave Marcelo Bielsa’s side the lead on the stroke of half-time, Leeds punished Burnley after the break as Jack Harrison added a second before claiming the two assists when Rodrigo came off the bench to score a brace.

It was the sort of stuff which illustrated why Leeds’ return to the top flight this season has been so welcomed, and gave them a four-point cushion over 11th-placed Aston Villa before Dean Smith’s side head to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Burnley included three former Leeds players – Chris Wood, Charlie Taylor, and Bailey Peacock-Farrell – in their starting 11, but had little to compare with the flair running through this current side as they struggled to keep up after the break.

Buoyed by Monday’s win at Fulham which ensured another season of top-flight football at Turf Moor, Sean Dyche’s side began brightly as Dwight McNeil and Matej Vydra threatened.

But as Leeds grew into the game there only looked like one winner as Peacock-Farrell – back in the starting line-up due to a knee problem for England’s Nick Pope – found himself on the end of another heavy score line.

The Northern Ireland goalkeeper has now conceded 14 times in his four Premier League appearances this season, but he received little help from those in front of him this time.

Leeds had already passed up golden opportunities for Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas before getting their first a minute before the break. Klich strode forward on a counter-attack and, when afforded time and space, the Polish midfielder picked his spot and bent the ball inside the post.

Burnley started the second half brightly too, with Ashley Westwood flashing a volley wide after the ball say up invitingly, but they were 2-0 down before the hour mark as Harrison got a touch to flick Ezgjan Alioski’s low shot into the net.

Moments before the goal, Patrick Bamford – he of an ill-fated loan spell to Turf Moor in 2016 – was replaced by Rodrigo, and the Spain forward would go close to a hat-trick.

James Tarkowski had already made one goal-saving challenge to prevent Luke Ayling’s cross from reaching the 30-year-old in front of goal before he got his first in the 76th minute.

His first touch from Harrison’s pass carried him beyond Tarkowski and Ben Mee before a delightful flick lifted the ball over the advancing Peacock-Farrell.

Burnley were still reeling from that when Leeds carved them open again, Phillips’ superb pass finding Harrison who in turn fed Rodrigo, with the forward rounding the goalkeeper before slotting home.

There was one more opportunity for a hat-trick late on but ex-Leeds left-back Taylor, making his 100th Premier League appearance for Burnley, did enough to turn Rodrigo’s shot wide – with VAR checking for use of a hand in the process but deciding there should be no penalty.

Burnley had already suffered enough.

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NATHAN TELLA SCORES FIRST SOUTHAMPTON GOAL IN WIN OVER FULHAM

Nathan Tella scored his first goal for Southampton in the 3-1 win over already-relegated Fulham in the Premier League.

The 21-year-old came off the bench to net Saints’ second while Fulham’s consolation came from 18-year-old Fabio Carvalho, his maiden goal for the Cottagers.

Southampton took the lead in the first half when Che Adams scored from a James Ward-Prowse free-kick.

Tella then slotted home a second moments after coming onto the field on the hour mark.

Just as Southampton looked to be cruising towards all three points Carvalho pulled one back for Fulham with a well-struck shot off the underside of the bar.

Less than 10 minutes later, however, substitute Theo Walcott restored Saints’ two-goal advantage with a clinical finish.

With Fulham’s fate already sealed for the season, boss Scott Parker decided to give some of the players who had not featured significantly this season a chance, including a maiden senior start for teenager Carvalho.

However, despite the pressure being off the Cottagers, many of the same problems remained, especially the issues in the final third – they only managed three shots on target during the match.

Joachim Andersen was called into action in the 16th minute, to clear the ball away from close to the goal line to prevent Liverpool loanee Takumi Minamino tapping in the opener.

After a scrappy opening period, Southampton took the lead with the first shot on target of the match when Adams fired home from a James Ward-Prowse free-kick.

Carvalho had the chance to level the scores when he fed by Ivan Cavaleiro but he was unable to get power on the shot which was straight at Alex McCarthy.

Early in the second half, Oriol Romeu forced Alphonse Areola into a diving save with his legs to prevent the home side doubling their advantage.

Moments later Southampton found their second, substitute Tella tapping the ball into the net just minutes after coming onto the field.

Stuart Armstrong drove forward before finding Walker-Peters who played in the final ball for the youngster to score his first Southampton goal.

Not to be outdone by Tella’s first goal, Fulham teenager Carvalho pulled one back for Parker’s side in the 75th minute.

The teenager timed his run behind the backline, before being played in by Bobby Decordova-Reid and firing the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.

However, a goal from Walcott soon restored Southampton’s two-goal lead, with his deflected shot going past Areola, with Tella turning provider for his fellow substitute.

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SWEDEN STRIKER, ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC TO MISS EURO 2020 DUE TO KNEE INJURY

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been ruled out of Euro 2020 due to a knee injury, the Swedish Football Association has announced.

The 39-year-old sustained the problem during AC Milan’s 3-0 win at Juventus last week and faced a race against time to recover his fitness.

The SFA wrote on Twitter: “Today, Zlatan has informed [coach] Janne Andersson that his injury will stop him from participating in the European Championship this summer.”

The striker retired from international duty in 2016 but made a surprise return in March in the 1-0 win over Georgia.

In doing so he became the oldest player to represent his country, eclipsing the previous record of 38 years and 59 days held by goalkeeper Thomas Ravelli.

Commenting on his decision to reverse his retirement decision at the time, Ibrahimovic told reporters: “I can still do those movements, that ninja stuff. I still have it in me, even if I’m 39.”

Ibrahimovic limped off in the 64th minute of his side’s victory last Sunday, but had raised hopes of being fit for the Euros after subsequent scans revealed only a strain.

Sweden play their first match of the tournament against Spain in Seville on June 14, before also facing Slovakia and Poland in Group E.

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KLOPP TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH MANE AFTER HANDSHAKE SNUB

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said he will speak to Sadio Mane to address the forward’s handshake snub following Thursday’s 4-2 win at Manchester United in which the player was dropped to the substitutes’ bench.

Mane was a 74th-minute substitute for Diogo Jota, who scored Liverpool’s opening goal at Old Trafford after being selected ahead of the former Southampton player.

Television cameras showed Mane rejecting a handshake from Klopp as the teams walked off the pitch at the end of the game, but despite admitting that it was an emotional reaction from the Senegal international, Klopp said he will not take issue with Mane.

“You cannot make a bigger story of it than it is,” Klopp told a news conference on Friday. “Football is an emotional game and everybody expects us to control our emotions, always.

“But it doesn’t always work out like that. It happened to me as a player, happened to other players when I was their coach.

“We have had, so far, no real chance to talk about it, but we will and there will be nothing left from it and everything will be fine.

“Do we want these things to happen? No. But it’s not the first time in my life and I’m afraid to say it, it probably won’t be the last time. So that’s it.”

Klopp said that his relationship with Mane has been built on respect, so one incident will not impact on that.

“If somebody shows me respect five million times, and one time not, what is more important?” Klopp added.

“The world is in a situation where you then make this one time bigger than necessary. That’s unfortunately the case.

“I am completely relaxed about it. If you had seen me as a player, what I did out of emotion, it was insane. And I am a completely normal guy.

“It happened to me, but there is nothing else — we will talk about it, it will be sorted and that’s all.”

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Man United lose to Leicester to hand Premier League title to Man City

A thumping header from Caglar Soyuncu gave Leicester all three points after Mason Greenwood had cancelled out Luke Thomas’s opener for the visitors.

A weakened Manchester United were beaten 2-1 at home by Leicester City on Tuesday, ending Manchester City’s wait to be crowned Premier League champions.

A thumping header from Caglar Soyuncu gave Leicester all three points after Mason Greenwood had cancelled out Luke Thomas’s opener for the visitors.

The result left Manchester City 10 points clear of United with just three games left for both teams, wrapping up a third Premier League title in five seasons under Pep Guardiola. read more

United, who face Liverpool on Thursday, their third game in five days, made 10 changes to their side who won at Aston Villa on Sunday with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer throwing in several young players.

The result was also a huge boost to Leicester’s goal of a top-four finish and a place in next season’s Champions League — Brendan Rodgers’ side are on 66 points with two games remaining — eight ahead of fifth placed West Ham United who have a game in hand.

Old Trafford was surrounded by heavy security after violent protests forced the postponement of last week’s scheduled match against Liverpool but the game took place without incident.

Social media posts suggested fan groups had chosen to wait until Thursday’s rearranged game with Liverpool to make their next show of opposition to the club’s American owners.

With the injured United skipper Harry Maguire watching from the stands with a protective boot on his left leg, youngsters such as Anthony Elanga and Amad Diallo were given a chance to impress Solskjaer.

Leicester grabbed a 10th-minute lead with a superbly taken first Premier League goal from 19-year-old left back Thomas who volleyed in a deep Youri Tielemans cross from a tight angle.

United struck back five minutes later with two of their teenagers combining as Diallo found Greenwood and the forward’s excellent touch allowed him to find space for a low drive into the far corner.

Leicester threatened after the break with David De Gea doing well to deny Kelechi Iheanacho at close range but the decisive goal was a simple affair in the 66th minute as Soyuncu powered home a header from a Marc Albrighton corner.

“It was a huge step (towards the Champions League). I am so proud of the team,” said Rodgers, whose side face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

“The players have definitely overachieved with all the big teams around. Now we can really enjoy the final at the weekend.”

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LIVERPOOL RENEW TOP FOUR HOPES WITH MASSIVE WIN AGAINST MANCHESTER UNITED

Jurgen Klopp tasted victory at Old Trafford for the first time as Liverpool breathed new life into their top-four push with a thrilling 4-2 win in the rearranged fixture against Manchester United.

After anti-Glazer protestors got into the ground and onto the pitch 11 days ago, further demonstrations could not stop Thursday’s Premier League fixture going ahead in Old Trafford’s final match behind closed doors.

United missed this chance to all but end Liverpool’s Champions League qualification hopes as their fourth match in eight days ended in a first home loss to their bitter rivals since 2014.

Stand-in skipper Bruno Fernandes’ deflected effort had got Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side off to a dream start, only for Diogo Jota to level with a smart flick after a penalty decision was overturned.

The equaliser came from a corner and United’s soft underbelly from set-pieces was again exposed in first-half stoppage time, with Roberto Firmino heading home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s excellent free-kick.

Liverpool pulled further ahead 72 seconds after half-time as a comedy of errors at the back ended with Firmino turning home his second of the evening.

United looked punch-drunk but eventually rallied as Marcus Rashford reduced the deficit, before Nat Phillips – who had deflected home Fernandes’ opener – cleared a Mason Greenwood attempt off the line.

Mohamed Salah ensured United would lose their sixth home league game of the season, racing through at the death as Liverpool moved into fifth and four points behind Chelsea with a game in hand.

It was an exhilarating match that followed a disrupted build-up, with United players arriving at the ground early in the afternoon to avoid protestors as executive boxes were turned into rest areas.

Liverpool stayed in a city centre hotel and saw a club-branded bus blocked in by cars, but players were not onboard and arrived through a back entrance as demonstrators descended on the main entrance.

The noise of a police helicopter reverberated around the heavily-guarded ground as the match got under way, with Edinson Cavani – among 10 changes – wasting a glorious fifth-minute chance after an Alisson Becker error.

But United continued strongly and opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Paul Pogba swept a ball out to the right and Rashford played into Aaron Wan-Bissaka, whose cutback found Fernandes and his shot went in off Phillips.

Liverpool dug deep after that shaky start and Dean Henderson thwarted Jota, before referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot following a hefty Eric Bailly challenge on Phillips.

But the video assistant referee intervened, and the decision was overturned after Anthony Taylor looked at the pitchside monitor.

Pogba headed just wide at the other end but Liverpool were looking sharp and Jota saw a stinging strike tipped over, with United failing to clear their lines from the resulting corner.

Salah’s initial effort was blocked and Phillips kept it alive, before sending a low effort back towards goal as Jota smartly flicked home.