- Title: Fans gather in Stockholm for Europa League final
- Date: 24th May 2017
- Summary: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (MAY 24, 2017) (REUTERS) HORSE MOUNTED POLICE POLICE VAN, PEOPLE WALKING UP STAIRS FANS WALKING UP STAIRS TO ARENA POLICE HELICOPTER VARIOUS OF HEAVILY ARMED POLICE OUTSIDE ADJACENT SHOPPING MALL FANS ARRIVING STREET BY STADIUM WITH FANS AND POLICE POLICE VANS, SMOKE FROM FLARE EXTERIOR OF STADIUM BANNERS WITH TEAM LOGOS AJAX AND MANCHESTER UNITED LOGOS POLICE AND HEAVILY ARMED POLICE HEAVILY ARMED POLICE FANS STANDING ON RESTAURANT BALCONY MANCHESTER UNITED FANS FROM MANCHESTER, TOM STOCKTON AND MATT WILLIAMS SITTING ON STAIRS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED FANS FROM MANCHESTER, MATT WILLIAMS AND TOM STOCKTON, SAYING: MATT WILLIAMS: "I think it's going to be quite tight. I think it's going to be a draw and then go to extra time." TOM STOCKTON: "Exactly the same with me. 1-1, extra time, United win it 2-1 in extra time." VARIOUS OF SOCCER SUPPORTERS SEATED IN RESTAURANT (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED FANS FROM MANCHESTER, MATT WILLIAMS AND TOM STOCKTON, SAYING: MATT WILLIAMS: "I think you go when there's a busy event but you just have to try and switch off and enjoy what you're there for." TOM STOCKTON: To be honest with you I don't think you can go anywhere in the world where there is not some sort of security issue going on sort of thing, so." VARIOUS OF POLICE ON ARENA ROOF VARIOUS OF AJAX SUPPORTERS AJAX SUPPORTERS FERDINAND STOKER, JOACHIM STOKER AND MIKAEL ROMIJN HOLDING AJAX FLAG AJAX FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) AJAX SUPPORTERS FERDINAND STOKER, JOACHIM STOKER AND MIKAEL ROMIJN, SAYING: JOACHIM STOKER: "We will win, obviously. We are quite certain of that." MIKAEL ROMIJN: "2-1" FERDINAND STOKER: "2-1. It's going to be 2-1." JOACHIM STOKER: "It's been 20 years for us before we came back in the finals so this must be our night." FERDINAND STOKER: "I think after 90 minutes it will be 1-1 and then we win with 2-1." VARIOUS OF MANCHESTER UNITED SUPPORTER WITH WAYNE ROONEY SHIRT AND SPECIAL UNITED HAIRDO (SOUNDBITE) (English) AJAX SUPPORTER JOACHIM STOKER, SAYING: "No, I think we should unite with all the Manchester supporters before the game and as soon as the whistle blows we are opponents again but first we join together and sing for all the victims and things that happened because we're definitely hurt by it." POLICE OFFICER ON ROOF LOOKING THROUGH BINOCULARS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED SUPPORTER HASSAN MURAD FROM STOCKHOLM, SAYING: "Next year Champions League. It doesn't matter if we lose or if we win today because next year we take Champions League also. Promise me because we have (Marcus) Rashford." MANCHESTER UNITED FAN WITH ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC SHIRT (SOUNDBITE) (English) AJAX FAN ERIK SCHEVERS, SAYING: "I think our youngsters will make it. I think it will be 2-0." VARIOUS OF POLICE OUTSIDE ARENA
- Embargoed: 7th June 2017 18:33
- Keywords: police security Sweden Stockholm fans Europa League Manchester United
- Location: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
- City: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
- Country: Sweden
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016I79EFB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Amid heavy security, fans arrived to the Friends Arena in Stockholm on Wednesday (May 24) to see former European champions Ajax and Manchester United meet in the final of Europe's second-tier club competition with the English side hoping to secure Champions League qualification by lifting a trophy they have never won.
Enjoying the sunshine outside the stadium, fans said they would not let concerns over security dampen their mood.
"I think you go when there's a busy event but you just have to try and switch off and enjoy what you're there for," said Matt Williams from Manchester where a suicide attack on Monday (May 22) claimed 22 lives.
UEFA announced that the game would be preceded by a minute's silence for the victims and that the planned opening ceremony would be scaled back.
"I think we should unite with all the Manchester supporters before the game and as soon as the whistle blows we are opponents again but first we join together and sing for all the victims and things that happened because we're definitely hurt by it," said Ajax fan Joachim Stoker. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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