Football: United, City face uphill task

PARIS: Manchester giants United and City face a battle to stay in the Europa League as both clubs seek to overcome deficits heading into the second-legs of their third-round clashes tonight. After crashing out of the Champions League, United were labelled favourites for Europe’s second-tier competition - a label that was checked when Athletic Bilbao romped to a 3-2 win at Old Trafford. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson conceded that the demands of challenging on two fronts could ultimately undo his team’s European ambitions. “Maybe we’re finding it difficult to marry the Premier League and Europa League together,” said Ferguson. City, meanwhile, seek to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Sporting Lisbon.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2012.