Muhren: Reds favourites

Ex-United and Ajax star Arnold Muhren spoke exclusively to ManUtd.com and United Review ahead of the Europa League tie between the famous clubs.. After years of playing in the Champions League and not meeting, now the teams play in the Europe League… It was a big blow that United didn’t go through in the Champions League, and it was the same for Ajax because Lyon beat [Dinamo] Zagreb 7-1 and took the knockout round place. This is a game that would have been fitting for the Champions League. How have Ajax been performing? Everyone expected them to do well this season because they bought one or two good players, but unfortunately there are a lot of players injured at the moment. I think that only at the beginning of the season was coach [Frank] de Boer able to play with his strongest side. And the injuries have been to good players like [Gregory] van der Wiel, the right full-back, and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, a striker from Iceland who did very well at AZ Alkmaar. But I understand that United have been unlucky as well with [Nemanja] Vidic, Darren Fletcher and Tom Cleverley missing for a long time. To still be competing for the league title with Manchester City despite all the injuries says a lot, I think. What have you made of United this season? City have spent so much money, and yet still United are up there with them despite Are you looking forward to the two games between United and Ajax? I’ll be there because Ajax have invited me as their guest of honour, both at the home game in Amsterdam and the away match in Manchester. So I’ll be in Manchester for two days, watching first City against Porto and then United against Ajax. How do you see the two legs going? Obviously United are the favourites, there’s no doubt about that, but I hope they are going to be very good games so the crowds can see two of Europe’s most attacking sides showing what they can do. Ajax are struggling a little bit in the Dutch league and it’s going to be very difficult for them to win it. So people here were very happy to be drawn against such a big team like United. It’s going to be good for the youngsters in the side to get experience against one of Europe’s best. If Manchester go through then it will be no surprise in Holland, people just want Ajax to do well in the two games. A lot will depend on whether Ajax can get some players back on the pitch for the two matches. Both sides like to play attacking football, but in two different styles. United play with two up front and Ajax like to play with three forwards – so that is going to be interesting to watch. Ajax are playing against a world-class team with world-class players in it, while they is still trying to build a team made up of Dutch players coming through their youth team. I think it will take time for Ajax to get to the top again in Europe.for another one or two years to get more experience. He’s playing in the Danish national team and has good vision and technique, and I think he’s one of the better players in Europe at his age. He’s doing well and is one United fans should look out for. Which of the United players will the Ajax supporters be most worried about? I think they’ll be looking forward to seeing Wayne Rooney. No doubt. Javier Hernandez is another that has done very well – he’s a goalscorer. It’s great to see Paul Scholes back again in the team. I still watch United on TV whenever I can and also the highlights of games on the Internet if not. Overall this United team is a very good one and I think the Dutch people are looking forward to seeing those big names come to Holland. There’s a lot of excitement. Look out for more from Muhren in United Review, the official programme for the home leg.