Football
ESPN staff 7y

Europa League final has lost its 'glow' after attack - Ajax coach Peter Bosz

STOCKHOLM -- Ajax manager Peter Bosz says the Europa League final has lost its "glow" after the attack in Manchester.

The game in Sweden between Manchester United and Ajax will go ahead despite the deadly incident at the Manchester Arena on Monday night.

But Bosz said the match, which will start with a minute's silence before kickoff, cannot now be the "football feast" it was supposed to be.

"I'd like to say something about what happened in Manchester," he said ahead of a news conference at the Friends Arena on Tuesday. "I'd like to say it in Dutch to find the right words.

"What happened in Manchester is something that we all feel at Ajax. On behalf of the players and the staff, we at Ajax would like to express sympathy with the victims who unfortunately fell yesterday.

"The feeling that prevails is that the final doesn't have the glow it should have.

"Tomorrow evening should be a football feast, but because of events in Manchester, we're all affected, particularly as we're playing against Manchester. It's horrible. My heartfelt sympathies."

Jose Mourinho cancelled his prematch news conference ahead of the game and United have called off a planned event for club staff to watch the game in Manchester on Wednesday.

Stockholm security was already intensified for the match against Ajax following a deadly truck attack in the Swedish capital last month. But UEFA also said it has "no specific intelligence" that the final featuring Manchester United will be a target.

Bosz stopped short of saying the match could have been postponed.

"That's not up to us. I'm just a coach. Other people have to decide that," he said. "I'm here for the game. It's terrible what happened there. But it's for other people to decide that."

The incident on Monday happened after Ariana Grande had performed at the arena in Manchester city centre, just a week after the American singer had hosted two concerts in Amsterdam.

"We talked about this of course," said Bosz. "Her name is Ariana Grande. I think about 10 days ago, two weeks ago, she was in Amsterdam and the wives of the players went to her concert with their children. If it can happen in Manchester, it can happen anywhere."

Ajax midfielder Lasse Schone said the attack "was terrible for us as well."

"It's devastating. As the coach just said, Ariana Grande performed in Amsterdam two weeks ago. My wife and my child were there. It's so close. It's terrible, it's horrible," he said.

"Our sympathies go out to the victims' friends and families. It takes away some of the sparkle of what will happen."

^ Back to Top ^