Manchester United finished another season without a trophy after losing to Villarreal in the Europa League final on Wednesday night after an incredible penalty shootout. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has yet to win a trophy since taking over as United manager two and a half years ago, as his team struggled to make possession count and find a way beyond its La Liga rivals.
Following poor United defense from a free-kick, Gerard Moreno gave his team the lead, before Edinson Cavani capitalized on a wayward ball to bring Solskjaer's side level after the break. The game was finally decided by a prolonged penalty shootout in which every single participant took a penalty kick, with goalie David de Gea being the only player who failed to score. Every year we see a new champion in the Europa League and in todays football news we are here with another winner of yet another season of European Competition. Unai Emery was successful to bring the first major trophy in Villarreal's history.
- Line up for Manchester United:
Goalkeeper: De Gea.
Defenders: Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, Baily, Luke Shaw.
Midfielders: Pogba, McTominay, Bruno Fernandes
Forwards: Greenwood, Cavani, Rashford.
Manager: Ole Gunner
- Line up for Villarreal:
Goalkeeper: G. Rulli.
Defenders: Foyth, Albiol, P. Torres, Pedraza.
Midfielders: Yeremi Pino, Capoue, Parejo, Trigueros.
Forwards: G. Moreno, Bacca
Manager: Unai Emery
Full match analysis by inevitable football:
On May 26, they were a goal behind after an abysmal first half in a European final. Manchester United replacements defined that day in 1999, and they did it again in 2021. For all the wrong reasons, to be sure.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's changes as a manager in a European final were underwhelming for a man who was an inspired replacement as a player.
Marcus Rashford's behavior was so outrageous that the stadium announcer declared that he will be replaced with Daniel James. It was, however, Paul Pogba. Juan Mata almost didn't make the penalty shootout because Solskjaer struggled with his changes.
Due to Solskjaer's tenacity, it is unlikely that he considered replacing David de Gea, who has failed to save any of the previous 21 penalties he has faced, discounting shootouts. De Gea was the only United player to be stopped by Sergio Asenjo in a never-ending sudden death match.
But, in the end, it is the underdog with just their passion to their name that triumphs in Gdansk, guided by the ruler of Europa League victory. All night long, Poland's streets will be flooded with Yellow Submarines. Villarreal has won the Europa League, and the continent will be singing their praises for the next several days as they finally joined the ranks of the greats. As the Red Devils debrief on the journey home, the what-ifs and maybes will plague them, with an empty seat gathering dust where they had intended to strap in some long-awaited trophy.
In the end, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's strategy worked to a degree. Villarreal's slower, scrappier invitation, though, was too difficult to ignore when it counted most - and David De Gea's dreadful penalty record came back to haunt them.
Villarreal (11) 1-1 FT (10) Manchester United
If any further proof were required that Manchester United must be held to a higher standard, Solskjaer recently told BT Sport that he does not believe this to be a successful campaign, when asked: "No.
On BT Sport, Solskjaer praises the victors today, admitting that he knows when he's been defeated, but also admits that his team failed to take advantage of opportunities to put the game to rest.
"They made it tough for us, they blocked the gaps," he continues. "We had the majority of possession, and they did a good job of defending. We didn't generate nearly enough major opportunities."
"Now isn't the time to point fingers at what I would have done differently, but if you don't walk out with a trophy, you haven't done everything correctly."
The Villarreal celebrations are still occurring late into the night in Gdansk, but Raul Albiol has managed to mention some things, largely to concede that it has been extended since he's had a spot-kick.
"I haven't shot a penalty since I used to be a youngster!" he boasts, which is perhaps a prevarication, but who can blame him when he's on cloud nine?
"It's a big prize, and we're ecstatic to possess won," he says. "Not only do the players deserve it, but so do the physios, the complete coaching team, and our president, who was unable to attend."
The Yellow Submarine is up next, and nearly every player kisses the prize as they pass it. Juan Foyth gives it a massive smooth, still wound up from his earlier hit. Last are Mario Gaspar and Raul Albiol. They gather around the trophy, pass it to the rest of their team, and lift it aloft! Fans of Villarreal, saviour this moment – it's been a long time coming!
Villarreal would still be in European play next season even if they lost tonight, having clinched a place in the first-ever Europa Conference League with a seventh-place finish in La Liga. Instead, they'll be rubbing shoulders with the big boys. The Yellow Submarine is on their way to the Champions League, where a repeat with Manchester United isn't completely ruled out. There's a solid case to be made that neither team was good enough on the night, but the reality of the matter is that Manchester United's trophy drought continues under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Red Devils are in a state of despair. This season, they finished second in both the Premier League and the Europa League. They came in as favorites and left empty-handed after being shut down for the night. The excellent seasons of Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani, among other players of this United team, have come to an end with nothing to show for it.
In short, it's been an amazing night for football fans giving an end to yet another European Final. Now, it's time to get excited for the upcoming Champions League match on Saturday. Share your thoughts in the comment section and have a nice day.
If you have any doubts, please let me know.