It hurts

By Chris O'Brien
May 28 2021

It was heartbreak for Manchester United as the 2020/2021 season ended with a Europa League final loss in Poland in an agonising penalty shoot-out.

The Yellow Submarine of Spain - Villarreal - lifted the trophy after 120 minutes, and 20 penalty kicks, couldn't separate the two sides.

Every outfield player converted from the spot after a frustrating 1-1 draw in Gdansk - the difference then came as the goalkeepers stepped up. Geronimo Rulli scored, David De Gea didn't, and the trophy goes back to Spain.

Those two kicks - from Ruli and De Gea - hurt, and feel so important and worryingly poigniant beyond this match. After a season where United finished a strong second and went unbeaten away from home in the entire league campaign, Europa League glory would have been a pivotal moment and bred optimism for further progress.

Yet defeat - and the manner of it - has led to an outpouring of negativity and an inquest as to whether this United squad is good enough to win trophies; as the silverware dearth at Old Trafford clocks up to four years. With Liverpool likely to be a different proposition next term, and Chelsea improving, suddenly matching this season's achievements in 2021/22 feels a stretch.

At ManUtdWeb Towers, we have passionately defended Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's record and management style - and will continue to do so. He has been appallingly treated and has achieved very good things at the club, and deserves the backing of the board to strengthen the squad he has built under often difficult circumstances.

He has also fostered a positive, honest culture, and has bolstered the attachment many supporters feel with the team after difficult spells under David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho. Despite all three winning trophies (just the Community Shield from Moyes), it has felt far more "United" under Ole.

But game management in Gdansk seemed far from ideal. United didn't make a single subtituion until the 100th minute - and it was the more dangerous and lively Mason Greenwood, not the wholly ineffective Marcus Rashford, who made way. Yet Rash had a bitterly disappointing night - and an early switch for the pacey Daniel James in the second-half could have helped United find a conclusive second goal.

Though the four substitutions in the dying minutes must surely have been with the more confident spot takers in mind, the withdrawawl of recognised taker Paul Pogba was a head scratcher.

Hindsight is all well and good - though clearly there is an argument to be made that De Gea should have made way for Dean Henderson in those closing moments of extra-time. He has a far better record than the Spaniard at stopping spot-kicks. De Gea has now conceded 36 in a row; Hendo has saved eight from 17. It's hard to choose between the two of them - but the Englishman's recent form from spot kicks speaks for itself.

The game was disappointing - though United really should have won it; dominating after half-time but lacking perhaps the confidence to really take the game to their opponents, who finished sixth this season in Spain.

United started the game brightly, but were fading as Villarreal scored on 29 minutes. It was poor defensively and again highlighted the gaping hole which the commanding Harry Maguire leaves at the back. Dani Parejo's floating free-kick met Gerard Moreno, who too easily outmuscled Victor Lindelof and flicked home.

The Red Devils equaliser came on 55 minutes, with a poachers effort from talisman frontman Edinson Cavani. The Uruguyan bagged a 17th and final goal of the campaign as he poked home from close range; but United - despite controlling possession - couldn't break down Villarreal as they sat deep and, despite some flashes in the first half of extra time, often seemed content for penalty kicks that proved conclusive in their favour. 

Solskjaer is still widely anticipated to pen a new contract in the coming weeks - though his negotiating hand has clearly been weakened somewhat by this defeat. and even a three-year deal will not stop the media's relentless scrutiny and questioning of his managerial ability. He doesn't deserve the treatment he gets - but it will be magnified after this.

Ole understands the club, has overseen consistent improvements and has built a culture fans can relate to. But ultimately he will be judged on winning things - and this, 22 years after his most famous night at the Nou Camp, and on Sir Matt Busby's birthday, should have been written in the stars. It wasn't. It's difficult to take, and it is painful.

United need a big summer - and most fans will point to a centre-half, right-winger and centre forward being key signings. Additional reinforcements in the middle of the park may help too - but many fans are sceptical as to whether the likes of Raphaël Varane, Jordan Sancho, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland will be genuine transfer targets, and follow goalkeeper Tom Heaton through the Old Trafford entrance door this summer.