UNITED GET THE JOB DONE
Pressure was on Manchester United to win the Europa League and secure their Champions League berth for the next season and that’s what they did as they stifled a young Ajax side to win the title. With the Red Devils doing enough to record a victory, HT looks at the talking points:
BIG RELIEF
As a manager who once looked down on the Europa League, for Jose Mourinho winning the second tier of European football became a primary target. With Man United struggling to churn out results in the Premier League, Mourinho wrote off his team’s chances of finishing in the top-four and make it to the Champions League.
His gamble paid off with a victory over Ajax. For now, the Portuguese can celebrate their success but with United gearing up for another summer of big ticket buys, the expectations will multiply next season.
AJAX KEPT AT BAY
United’s big-name players like Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini and Daley Blind delivered when it mattered.
For most of the match United sat back, with Ajax moving the ball around nicely at times. But they had absolutely no penetrative edge and so United were more than content to let them make square passes without ever truly threatening. In the end, United were simply too shrewd and pragmatic for their opponents.
LACK OF QUALITY
Manchester United enjoyed just 32 per cent possession against a team like Ajax, who have an average age of 22. While Mourinho would defend it by saying that it was necessary to qualify for the Champions League, United fans would expect more dazzling displays and champagne moments next season. Crippled by injuries, United played some uninspiring football throughout the season. While on most occasions they parked the bus to churn out results, going forward they will have to be more assertive.