On Wednesday, the UEFA Europa League final will be played at the Stockholm "Friends" arena, with "Manchester United" and Amsterdam's "Ajax" clubs competing.
Here are some of the most interesting match facts:
- This will be the first time since 2002 that a Dutch team has reached the UEFA Cup/Europa League final. Back then, Rotterdam's "Feyenoord" was successful. "Man Utd" will be the third representative from the Premier League in the last five years to compete in decisive matches (2013 "Chelsea", 2016 "Liverpool").
- "Ajax" has played four times in European tournaments with the "red devils" and the teams shared two wins. The clubs competed in the 1976/77 UEFA Cup and the 2011/12 Europa League Last 32 stage.
- This will be the third time that English and Dutch teams will play in the final of a European tournament ("Tottenham" - "Feyenoord" in 1974, "Ipswich" - AZ in 1981, both UEFA Cup finals).
- "Ajax" succeeded in reaching its first European final since the 1995/96 season, when it competed in the decisive Champions League match against Turin's "Juventus."
- This final will be held exactly 22 years after the Amsterdam team won their last European trophies, defeating "Milan" in the Champions League final. Justin Kluivert's father Patrick and Daley Blind's father Danny played in that match.
- "Ajax" has played quite successfully in European finals - eight matches and six trophies. "Man Utd" statistics: six finals and four trophies. Both English defeats were to the "Barcelona" club in 2009 and 2011.
- "Man Utd" has reached the Europa League (UEFA Cup) final for the first time in the club's history.
- In the tournament, Mourinho's disciples have not experienced defeat in over 10 matches (7 wins, 3 draws) and have conceded just 4 goals.
