
OneFootball
Phil Costa·26 May 2021
Our 3️⃣ points as Villarreal STUN Manchester United to make history

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Phil Costa·26 May 2021
Villarreal have won the first European trophy in their 98-year history after beating Manchester United in dramatic circumstances.
David de Gea missed the decisive penalty after both goalkeepers were called on from 12 yards, with the scores level after 120 minutes.
Here are three points we took from the game …
As Omar stated so eloquently on The Wire, “you come at the king, you best not miss” and boy did Manchester United miss.
Unai Emery has now won four UEFA Cup/Europa League trophies – more than any other manager – and you cannot question his record in this competition.
They rode their luck at times against Arsenal, and similarly in Gdansk against Manchester United, but what a way to silence your critics after his difficult spell in English football.
This performance was the definition of leaving everything on the pitch and when you score all 11 penalties, then you deservedly take the trophy.
After their defeat tonight, United have now gone four seasons without a trophy and questions should be asked of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Having finally broken his semi-final hoodoo (four defeats) and getting to the final, the Old Trafford club fell short again and this unwanted record should be facing scrutiny.
Yes, they dominated possession on the night, but structurally they felt unbalanced all night and the lack of substitutions? Why not gamble with Amad Diallo or Donny van de Beek?
Solskjaer is still a young manager and lessons will be learned, but how many lessons need to be learned before something changes.
In what will be wholly unsurprising news for United fans – the goal they conceded came from another set piece.
According to Opta, that’s now the 15th goal they have conceded from set pieces this season across all competitions and that isn’t down to the absence of Harry Maguire.
It’s a clear weakness for this side that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has failed to address and it cost them. Is it organisation, concentration, could it even be an issue of bravery?
Either way, it’s an issue that needs to be solved ahead of next season because their Achilles heel keeps rupturing.