This has been Manchester United’s worst season in England’s top division since relegation in 1974, but joy and drama have prevailed in an exciting Uefa Europa League run as United face Tottenham Hotspur in Wednesday’s final in Bilbao.
It’s a huge game for both clubs, a chance of a trophy and qualification for next season’s Champions League.
There have been individuals who deserve credit from this otherwise misfiring team. Bruno Fernandes has again been by far the best player, but of the signings made in time for this season, Noussair Mazraoui, 27, is the one who has most impressed.
The Netherlands-born Moroccan came from Bayern Munich – and has been the most consistent defender this season too.
If Mazraoui starts as expected, it will be his 56th club game of the season a big step up given he averaged 27 at Bayern and 32 per campaign once he had established himself at Ajax before that.
He’s only been booked three times in all those games this term and played all 120 minutes in the FA Cup matches against Arsenal and Fulham.
Multiple insiders on the football side at United say Mazraoui is the best signing United have made for years. There are several reasons for this.
Mazraoui is technically secure on the ball with both feet, he dribbles well out of pressure, and his game understanding has impressed teammates and coaches. United knew they were getting a good player, but have been surprised at how agile and aggressive Mazraoui has been, how strong he is.
He is also versatile and can play right-back, full-back and central-defender. He’s a full-back that both cuts inside and plays midfield – both high and low.
Like a modern-day Denis Irwin, United’s legendary full-back, Mazraoui is consistent week after week, with 7 and 8/10 performances. He is quiet, popular among his teammates, respectful and unassuming. His teammates trust him with the ball and know that he’ll be calm when they pass to him under pressure.
“When you consider that he’s played for Ajax and Bayern Munich, there’s no ego at all with him,” one source told The National. “We’ve been crying out for players like that.
“As a player he’s extremely technical and that’s one reason why he’s been used as a forward by Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim.
“He’s top under pressure which is a big attribute to have when you consider the number of teams that both press aggressively and man to man.
“When you press man to man, you’re only as good as your weakest presser but it’s never Nous. He’s conscientious, he’s a good athlete.”
A devout Muslim, Mazraoui played games every three days and trained every day while fasting during Ramadan. He never complained, he never does. He simply does what is asked of him at a club where he’s desperate to do well and add to the four domestic titles he won in the Netherlands (three) and Germany.
Mazraoui has played most of his games as a right-back, with Diogo Dalot on the opposite side, though he’s been as adept playing there or in the right central defensive role in coach Amorim’s favoured 3-5-2 formation.
Considering how many games he’s played, Mazraoui has not made many mistakes and continues to be steady, a link player who pops up with the odd attacking moment – like when he hit the crossbar with a beautiful strike from distance the last time United played in Bilbao.
It was hardly likely to go in: he hasn’t scored for two years. Earlier in the game, he played a wonderful ball which led to a United penalty and towards the Europa League final in the same city.
Mazraoui has played 90 minutes in 10 of the club’s 14 unbeaten Europa League games on the way to Bilbao.
Chris Blackhurst: Glazers’ grip on struggling Manchester United remains strong despite fans’ loathing
He had to leave Old Trafford at half-time during the Lyon quarter-final second leg to attend to a personal issue when United were leading 2-0: Lyon then scored four goals before United’s most dramatic comeback in years and a 5-4 win after extra time.
This has been a problem season for United, but Mazraoui hasn’t been one of them – an example of positive recruitment at a club which has signed too many players who haven’t worked out in the last decade.
United have been burnt buying talents from big clubs including Bayern Munich but Mazraoui has bucked the trend.
Ten Hag was the man who pushed hardest to sign him and while some of the other signings on the Dutchman’s watch failed, Mazraoui has justified the confidence shown in him.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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WHEN TO GO:
September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.
WHERE TO STAY:
Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
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