United polishes off record Gündogan goal – Wolfsburg fast ahead against Barça in CL final
CIT-MUN | Record goal by Gündogan
Gündogan’s 1-0 is the fastest goal in an FA Cup final ever. The German volleyed in a hit after 12 seconds.
The old record stood until Saturday afternoon in the name of Louis Saha, who opened the scoring on behalf of Everton after 25 seconds against Chelsea in 2009. Everton lost that final 2-1.
CIT-MUN | 24′ Rashford header
United is trying to get dangerous, but it’s not really flowing yet. Just now Rashford was able to head, but his effort was rather lousy.
However, Ten Hag’s team’s field play now looks a little better than in the first ten minutes.
BAR-WOL | 20′ Stroot has things well in hand
Tommy Stroot, Wolfsburg’s coach, looks thick with satisfaction. Wolfsburg is ahead and can now make Barça come out ahead.
Wolfsburg defender Hendrichs picked up yellow, by the way, and must be careful.
CIT-MUN | The Lineups
City and United’s lineups are known. Erik ten Hag keeps Dutchmen Tyrell Malacia and Wout Weghorst on the bench.
Antony is injured and is not in Manchester United’s matchday squad. Nathan Aké is on the bench at City.
Janssen, Roord and Wilms basic in CL final
Jill Roord, Dominique Janssen and Lynn Wilms will start in VfL Wolfsburg’s starting lineup during the Champions League final on Saturday. The three Oranje internationals have been regulars in coach Tommy Stroot’s team this season.
Wilms is at right back in the sold-out Philips Stadium against FC Barcelona. Janssen is in the center of defense and Roord plays soccer in midfield.
Wolfsburg last won the Champions League in 2014. The German Cup winner, who had to leave the title to Bayern Munich this season, was in the final three more times after that. In both 2016, 2018 and 2020, Olympique Lyon were too strong in the final match.
Special ‘Barça mom’ in Eindhoven
In the center of Eindhoven, an 85-year-old supporter of the FC Barcelona women’s team talks about her love for the club. Her shirt reads ‘Barça-oma’ and she has painted her nails red-blue.
“I travel along as if I were 20,” she says. “Last night I couldn’t sleep from the excitement.”
‘Barça mom’ in Eindhoven: ‘I travel with the supporters as if I were twenty’
Former Twente coach Stroot goes for CL win with Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg coach Tommy Stroot worked at FC Twente between 2016 and 2020. There he was extremely successful and forced a move to the German top.
Former Orange international Kiki van Es played under Stroot at Twente and was impressed by his style, she said after his move to Wolfsburg. “He interferes with everything, but it’s good that he’s like that,” van Es said. “He is very present, even during a match. In a positive way and that’s very nice.”
“I really saw that he has developed himself. That’s nice. He has his own vision and he knows what he wants to project on the field.”
Below, Stroot talks about his expectations for the final:
Wolfsburg coach Stroot hopes for stunt in CL final: ‘Rightful that we are here’
Van de Sanden and Mead look forward to CL final: ‘Oh, these are really nice matches’
Dutch international Shanice van de Sanden has won the Champions League three times. Now she is just a spectator in Eindhoven, where FC Barcelona and VfL Wolfsburg are competing. She has already texted her Oranje teammates with good luck wishes.
Beth Mead of the England team expects a wonderful final, where Barça’s positional play and Wolfsburg’s physical soccer will clash.
Van de Sanden and Mead look forward to CL final: ‘Ooh, these are really beautiful matches’
Janssen: ‘Nice not to be the favorite for once’
That Wolfsburg will go into the Champions League final against FC Barcelona in Eindhoven as the underdog does not bother Oranje international Dominique Janssen at all.
Indeed, it is refreshing at times. “We are actually always the favorite, so I sometimes find it nice not to be,” he said.
Janssen saw Wolfsburg grow: ‘Final two years back an extra, now the goal’
Wiegman sees Barcelona as favorites
England national coach Sarina Wiegman will soon be an attentive spectator at the Philips Stadium. At Barcelona, she will see her internationals Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh at work.
“I expect Barcelona to be more on the ball, that they will be the superior side,” Wiegman indicated.
“I think it will be a match of a very high level. Wolfsburg is a top club in Germany and Barcelona has been dominating at home and in Europe for a long time,” she notes.
Wiegman on final: ‘I expect Barcelona to be on top’
Will Ten Hag turn his sufficiency into a big enough one?
Erik ten Hag deserves a sufficient in his first season as Manchester United coach, he agrees. “I think we have done very well. Especially if you see where this club comes from and if you see the development of our team.”
Last season United finished sixth, well behind the rest. Under the Dutch manager, the team qualified for the Champions League via third place and won the League Cup.
Ten Hag can still turn his sufficiency into a thick enough one. After all, dessert still awaits. Again at Wembley. This time the final of the FA Cup, that much more important cup tournament in England.
“I have experienced enough cup finals as a player and as a coach,” Ten Hag begins. “In the Netherlands we have the Kuip, a special place. But yes… Wembley, pff. I think Wembley might be the best stadium in the world. To be in the final there again, then, is great.”
Roord, Janssen and Wilms play Champions League final
Jill Roord, Dominique Janssen and Lynn Wilms will be in the final of the Champions League this afternoon (4 p.m.). The three internationals of Oranje will take on FC Barcelona in Eindhoven with VfL Wolfsburg. The Philips stadium is sold out with 34,120 tickets sold.
Wolfsburg last won the Champions League in 2014. The German Cup winner, who had to leave the title to Bayern Munich this season, was in the final three more times after that. In both 2016, 2018 and 2020, Olympique Lyon were too strong in the final match.
No Dutch players are under contract at FC Barcelona anymore. The Catalans have recently regained star player Alèxia Putellas, who has returned from injury.
