There would not be a repeat of the drama 22 years ago to the day when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer won the European Cup for Manchester United.
The luck he enjoyed as a player against Bayern Munich deserted him in his first final as United manager, Villarreal claiming the Europa League 11-10 on penalties.
Don’t be fooled by the score. The 120 minutes that preceded it were in sympathy with weather. Appearing in their first European final, Villarreal took the lead against the run of play in the first half and though United equalised in the second, held out with some ease to take the game to extra time and ultimately to a triumphant shootout.
After all 20 penalties were netted by the outfield players responsibility fell to the goalkeepers. Up first, Rulli found the top corner. In reply David De Gea found Rulli’s outstretched left hand. Game over.
United can have few complaints. In dominating for long periods they demonstrated not strength but weakness, revealing just how lacking they are in the finer points of the game. When it came down to it, United’s marquee names could not make a difference, in particular Marcus Rashford, MBE, whose form on the pitch continues its negative spiral.
The night seemed made for the men of England’s north, a soft rain coating Gdansk in the colours of Manchester. United were the marque draw in this contest, up against a provincial opponent from the Valencia hinterland. If this was to be about the restatement of values, Villarreal offered United as good a chance as they might hope to make a statement and give Solskjaer a first trophy as manager.
This final was nine months and 203 matches in the making. Villarreal had played in 14 of those to get here. The Europa League final was never the ambition when United were beating PSG in Paris and putting five past RB Leipzig in the Champions League group stage. Ultimately they were not good enough to take advantage of that fast start, and failed here for much the same reason against a club appearing in their first European final.
Solskjaer estimates he is three players short of challenging Manchester City for the big prizes at home and abroad. That looked like a conservative estimate on the Baltic shore. Like many a world championship bout the opening exchanges were cagey, both teams throwing out jabs without conviction.
Villarreal had only to shed their deference to put the heat on United. That moment came in the 30th minute, Gerard Moreno stealing in behind Victor Lindelof to convert Parejo’s free-kick after a foul by Edinson Cavani. The goal was scruffy and against the run of play and played bang into the hands of a team comfortable keeping the game under lock and key.
United continued to have the ball but not the imagination to breach the yellow wall. With half time beckoning Rashford suddenly erupted, breaking into the box with an extravagant piece of skill. Mason Greenwood skipped past his fullback but neither incursions troubled the keeper.
Until that point Rashford had been a problem for United, his first touch poor and his confidence draining with every bungled contact. This has been a worrying feature in recent weeks, perhaps as consequence of his compromised selection on the right. Back on the left this should have been his night. It was anything but and when the halftime whistle blew Rashford left the pitch a chastened figure.
Having conceded only two goals on the road on the way to the final it was clear Villarreal knew how to defend their box. It would take more urgency from United or a stroke of luck to budge Emery’s well-drilled outfit.
Ten minutes into the second half fortune paid out by presenting Cavani with the kind of opportunity that has shaped his career. First to a loose ball in the box after a corner won by McTominay, Cavani put his laces through it to bring United level.
It was now up to United to make their reputation and mystique tell. This was the time to live up their name and the demands made of them by the Solskjaer’s bold Fred-free selection. Paul Pogba probed intelligently. Bruno Fernandes troubled with his movement. Momentum had shifted with the goal. The game was moving into what felt like a decisive phase. This was the moment for United to pin Villarreal to the floor.
Rashford summed up his night with an appalling miss, failing to convert a sumptuous cross from Fernandes in the 70th minute. Rashford’s features buckled in sympathy with fans pulling out their hair as the ball bobbled wide of the post. There would not be a better opportunity in normal time.
Extra time passed without incident to set up a finale extraordinary for the composure and nerve of the penalty takers from both sides. Villarreal won the toss and went first. They were never behind in the tie and deservedly went through the competition unbeaten to give Emery his fourth Europa League success as a coach. Take that Arsenal. Take that United. Take that England.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3wCxk3I
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