Mission accomplished for Man United and Chelsea
RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT
VIDEO SHOWS: MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, LEICESTER CITY MANAGER, BRENDAN RODGERS AND CHELSEA MANAGER, FRANK LAMPARD SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCES FOLLOWING THE LAST MATCHES OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON, STILL PHOTOGRAPHS FROM LEICESTER CITY V MANCHESTER UNITED AND CHELSEA V WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
SHOWS:
LEICESTER CITY V. MANCHESTER UNITED
LEICESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 26, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEICESTER CITY MANAGER, BRENDAN RODGERS, SAYING:
"That's also why this team has done so well. The quality at the top end of this league is at a really, really high level. And we have competed with that even though we're short of that. So, that's a great testament to the players and how well they've done over the course of this season. To be coming into this game and be competing with that level. But it is, it's about quality. And like you say, you lose the ball and then all of a sudden, one pass the speed takes him away and - yeah. I'd be interested to know if we would have gotten the penalty. You know, Johnny's (Evans) got a touch on the ball and doesn't lose contact. But yeah, it could easily not have been."
LEICESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 26, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES VIA ACTION IMAGES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)
2. STILL PHOTO OF MANCHESTER UNITED'S MARCUS RASHFORD SHOOTING ON GOAL
LEICESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 26, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, SAYING:
"I did have a chat with everyone this morning on no matter what happened today, we've come so far as a team. We're building a culture. And I'm very proud of all their efforts and please with their efforts. To win this game was massive mentally for them as well after losing two semi-finals this year."
LEICESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 26, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES VIA ACTION IMAGES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)
4. STILL PHOTO OF LEICESTER CITY'S JOHNNY EVANS BEING SHOWN RED CARD
LEICESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 26, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, SAYING:
"The season, next season with Champions League instead of Europa League will be different because we want to move up the league table. So, we can't take our eye off the league and rest players in Europa players. So, there will be more demands on the players. We'll have to work hard over the summer. Of course, we've got Europe, that will be a foundation as well. Next season will be even more testing and challenging for them. If you play the top teams in Champions League, you've got to get used to playing 45 - 50 games for this club every the season - if we are to be successful."
LEICESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 26, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES VIA ACTION IMAGES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)
6. STILL PHOTO OF MANCHESTER UNITED'S BRUNO FERNANDES IN ACTION WITH LEICESTER CITY'S JAMES JUSTIN
LEICESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 26, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER, OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, ON CHALLENGING MANAGERS JUERGEN KLOPP AND PEP GUARDIOLA IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE, SAYING:
"Yeah, it's a massive challenge, but I'm not the one to answer that. I believe in what I do. I believe in what I have been doing and - We all have different ideas of management and how we go about things and I do it my way. And I think that's the only way I can do it. I have a fantastic staff. The players have bought into this. The personalities out there have taken on board what we've been doing. So, I'm not going to say I'm not the man. Of course, because I'm in the job. So, I believe in what I'm doing."
LEICESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 26, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES VIA ACTION IMAGES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)
8. STILL PHOTO OF FERNANDES SCORING OFF PENALTY
9. STILL PHOTO OF MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYERS CELEBRATING WIN ON PITCH
CHELSEA V. WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 26, 2020) (CHELSEA TV HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)
10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, FRANK LAMPARD, SAYING:
"It's always a team effort, a collective effort of staff and players and I have to say that I'm proud. I always put little small brackets around that, because it's Chelsea and we want to be challenging for titles and league titles, but we're not at that position now. I knew that going into the start of the year. I knew that to compete against, not just Liverpool and (Manchester) City, but Manchester United. To complete against Wolves who were there thereabouts last year. To compete against Tottenham and Arsenal who've spent north of 100 million (pounds) and have built really strong teams already. It was going to be tough for us. And the lads have competed. They've competed. We've been inconsistent at times; we'll be honest and humble about that. We need to improve going forward, but at the moment tonight, we should be happy, I think, with what we've achieved."
LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 26, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)
11. STILL PHOTO OF CHELSEA'S MASON MOUNT IN ACTION WITH WOLVERHAMPTON'S DIOGO JOTA
12. STILL PHOTO OF CHELSEA'S KURT ZOUMA IN ACTION WITH WOLVERHAMPTON'S PEDRO NETO
LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 26, 2020) (CHELSEA TV HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)
13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, FRANK LAMPARD, ON IF QUALIFYING FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WILL MAKE RECRUITMENT EASIER, SAYING:
"Yeah, in brutal honesty, I would say yes. Not to say exactly where that will go, because that's not a conversation for today off the back of the game straight away. We know and I answered questions about it before the game that the economics of the Champions League are big. We know that. We know the prestige top players want to play in the Champions League. The top players who are here already and the young players want to play in the Champions League. To get too far ahead of ourselves and concern about what it might mean from the outside is not a question for today. It's a question for the players that produced today. That can improve any way. We can all improve, myself included. That's what football is all about. But yeah, if we're looking to recruit in certain areas then I think it may help. But those are conversations for after Arsenal. After Bayern Munich, to see how we go. Because now we've had a good year, we want to be better for next year. So, we'll try to better ourselves in any way possible."
LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 26, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)
14. STILL PHOTO OF MOUNT SCORING SIDE'S FIRST GOAL
15. STILL PHOTO OF CHELSEA'S OLIVIER GIROUD, SCORING THEIR SECOND GOAL
16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, FRANK LAMPARD, ON TIM WERNER WATCHING FROM THE STANDS, SAYING:
"Yeah, he (Timo Werner) was here today. So, I hope he would have seen a team play with a lot of spirit, a lot of professionalism. We saw out our job today which had the potential to be a very difficult game, finishing in the top four. And he would have seen, maybe, a moment like what Mason Mount did to break the deadlock, which is a problem we've had the season. We've controlled a lot of games at home, not scored and maybe conceded. So, we have things we want to improve on. But hopefully he's seen that we have talent in the squad. A real resilience and strong unity within the group and then he can bring his talents to that. So, hopefully it was a nice first viewing for him and we'll look forward to having him next season."
LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 26, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)
17. STILL PHOTO OF TIMO WERNER WATCHING
18. STILL PHOTO OF CHELSEA PLAYERS CELEBRATING AFTER GOAL
STORY: Manchester United and Chelsea secured places in the Champions League with wins on the final day of the Premier League season while Watford and Bournemouth were relegated along with bottom club Norwich City.
Aston Villa survived the drop thanks to a 1-1 draw at West Ham United which moved them to 35 points, one more than Bournemouth, who go down despite a 3-1 win at Everton, and Watford who lost 3-2 at Arsenal.
A penalty from Bruno Fernandes and late goal from Jesse Lingard gave United a 2-0 win at Leicester City, who missed out on the Champions League by finishing fifth and will have to settle for a spot in the Europa League.
Chelsea ended fourth after a 2-0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers thanks to goals from Mason Mount and Olivier Giroud.
Jose Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur, who drew 1-1 at Crystal Palace, are also in the Europa League after finishing sixth.
It was a nervous display from United against an injury-ravaged Leicester but they ended the campaign unbeaten in 14 Premier League games and with their mission of regaining a place in the Champions League accomplished.
Draws against Southampton and West Ham had left United needing at least a point at the King Power stadium and while they again looked tired in a nervous display, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer's side got the job done.
Fernandes, who was central to United's rise in the second half of the season, put United ahead in the 71st minute after Anthony Martial was brought down in the box.
Chelsea also needed just a point at Stamford Bridge to guarantee a place in Europe's top club competition and a wonderful free kick from Mount and confident finish from Giroud put them two goals up by the break -- a lead Wolves never threatened to damage.
(Production: Kurt Michael Hall)
