Solskjaer praises Brandon Williams and Belgrade fans after away Europa League win at Partizan

Record ID: 1438431

  • Title: Solskjaer praises Brandon Williams and Belgrade fans after away Europa League win at Partizan
  • Date: 24th October 2019
  • Summary: BELGRADE, SERBIA (OCTOBER 24, 2019) (REUTERS) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERA (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, SAYING: "For me, Brandon (Williams) was man of the match. He's been fantastic the few games he's played and the boy has no fear. He's brave as a lion and he got us the win." JOURNALIST TYPING ON LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, SAYING: "We need to learn when to get the second, when to get the third (goal). And I thought today we had loads of opportunities to make sure we were in a conformable lead, but we didn't play that pass forward. But Brandon, absolutely great attitude, the boy is gonna be a top, top player." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, SAYING: "The crowd was unbelievable. I think the crowd should be very proud of their team, the team should be very proud of their crowd. 'Cause it was an excellent atmosphere. You know what we talked about before the game -- Wow. The fans were great." CAMERAS PARTIZAN BELGRADE MANAGER, SAVO MILOSEVIC, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) PARTIZAN BELGRADE MANAGER, SAVO MILOSEVIC, SAYING: "I'm glad the ambience was as it was, because we showed Europe and the world that we can be civilized, that we can organize and play in a phenomenal ambience and to really show, because we claim it all the time, that we are a great club. Tonight, I can really be proud of my boys and all these people who came here." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 7th November 2019 21:32
  • Keywords: Europa League Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Manchester United Savo Milosevic Partizan Belgrade Anthony Martial Brandon Williams UEFA racism
  • Location: BELGRADE, SERBIA
  • City: BELGRADE, SERBIA
  • Country: Serbia
  • Topics: Soccer,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA001B2GJPKV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Manchester United ground out a 1-0 win at Partizan Belgrade in a tense Europa League Group L clash on Thursday (October 24) as Anthony Martial's 43rd-minute penalty put his side in a commanding position to reach the knockout stages.
    The match was played under tight security amid fears of crowd trouble but it produced a cracking atmosphere as Partizan coach Savo Milosevic's appeals to home fans to refrain from offensive chants proved successful.
    United top the group on seven points from three games, two ahead of Dutch side AZ Alkmaar who thrashed Kazakhstan's Astana 6-0 at home. Partizan have four points and Astana none.
    United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was delighted with United's first away win in 12 games in all competitions and their first away goal since August, but pointed out the performance left a lot to be desired.
    Solskjaer also singled out 19-year old left back Brandon Williams and praised the home fans, who generated an electrifying atmosphere in the cauldron of Partizan's stadium.
    The first two chances fell to United as Williams glanced a close-range header wide at the far post after Juan Mata floated in a free kick before Jesse Lingard hit the post as he picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area.
    Partizan striker Umar Sadiq rattled the woodwork with a fierce shot from 25 metres and Japanese winger Takuma Asano fired just wide as the home side came to life, only to fall behind just before halftime.
    Williams was fouled by Nemanja Miletic as he raced down the left flank and Martial coolly converted the spot-kick when he sent Partizan keeper Vladimir Stojkovic the wrong way.
    Partizan came out with renewed purpose after the break and Bebras Natcho fired inches wide from a free kick before Seydouba Soumah forced a good save from Sergio Romero following a dazzling solo run through the middle.
    The home side had two penalty claims waved away by Spanish referee Xavier Fernandez midway through the second half and United were forced to defend in numbers as Partizan threw men forward in search of an equaliser.
    Roared on by their fervent fans, the Serbian side launched a late onslaught and Romero rescued United in the 83rd minute when he kept out Asano's close-range header with a superb reflex save.
    Four minutes from time, Natcho shot narrowly over the bar from 20 metres as the decibel levels in the terraces reached fever pitch and United held on desperately in stoppage time to delight around 2,000 away fans in the Serbian capital.
    Milosevic said he was overwhelmed by a 10-minute standing ovation Partizan received from their fans after the final whistle.
    (Production: Branko Filipovic, Boki Babic)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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