So, I finally brought myself to write about this match. As a Manchester United fan, it hurts me to see us lose the final of the Europa League in such a way. It was a shameful performance and everyone should take the stick for their part in it.
I am trying to be objective while not allowing the pain of the loss to cloud my judgement and I decided not to write about the match until today. I am pained beyond words and there is no one that could say Villarreal were done any favours. They fully deserved it especially winning their first trophy in their history against Manchester United. It's a double celebration for them.
United went into the match as a favourite. Not to underestimate Villarreal but everyone expected United to win the match but Villarreal fans and players held that touch of hope and took the game to United. Manchester United controlled the game but they were clueless as to how to break the defence. They were all bark and no bite. Villarreal were patient and worked themselves to perfection.
They took the lead from an indirect freekick after catching United's defence napping and just when you expected, Edison Cavani gave United a lifeline and hope. Marcus Rashford was terrible throughout the match but you can expect it because he had been playing with injury way before now but still, this is a final, no player should require extra motivation to play at their best and win a trophy after being this close.
United fumbled and were unable to add another goal. Villarreal threatened on the break a few times but the game dragged into extra time and eventually, penalties. It was a long one as you would expect both teams to have rehearsed for such. David De Gea was given a list to follow through with and two out of the list would have been saved if he followed through with it but he ditched it seeing the first 3 takers didn't place their balls as written on the list.
The time came for him to score having exhausted all the 10 takers and he fumbled. His shot was so tame and uninteresting. Rulli saved it and became the hero for Villarreal. What a moment in history for them and what a moment to hand their heads for Manchester United.
A lot of people blamed De Gea for the tamed shot and rightly so. I know he wasn't trained to be a penalty taker just as the other goalkeeper who still converted his own chance, but at least he was trained to save penalties but he still faltered. He had always been known to be a horrible penalty saver. In 26 penalties he had been faced with, he had saved none. Not even one and I begin to wonder if he was ever right to have been selected for the shootout.
McTominay played his heart out and I can't fault Cavani too much too but this team didn't show the desire to win that game. Maybe they were too confident in their ability to come from behind every time but this time, they failed at it.
Congratulations to Villarreal. Manchester United would have to sort out their summer signings early so they can mount a serious title challenge if they ever want to be taken seriously.
It was a mixed season for them as they would have gotten their hands on 2 titles at least before they were knocked out by eventual winners of the FA Cup, Leicester City and now, Villarreal. A terrible home run also cost them a serious title challenge that saw City wrap up the title with few games to spare.
Now, they need to conduct a serious summer buying with notable targets being Sancho, Grealish and a defensive cover to partner with Harry Maguire.
Image Source:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-sitting-on-stadium-seats-3991976/
