TROPHY BITTER
Greenwood hopes that new United signings will end the four years of hurt with no Old Trafford silverware
MASON GREENWOOD says Manchester United must end their trophy drought next season.
Their Europa League final penalty shootout defeat to Villarreal (above right) means Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has yet to lift any silverware since taking charge.
The last United manager to do so was Jose Mourinho, when a 2-0 win over Ajax in Stockholm in the 2017 final clinched the Europa League.
The barren run is the club’s longest since 1990, when Sir Alex Ferguson’s first success as Reds boss – the FA Cup – ended a five-year wait.
And ahead of the new campaign, United and England striker Greenwood, who missed Euro 2020 through injury, said finding a solution to the trophy drought must be the priority for Solskjaer (right) and his players.
“We need to win trophies and that’s our aim at the end of the season,” Greenwood said.
“Like last season, we missed out slightly, but hopefully next season will be a lot better.”
United begin their preseason campaign tomorrow with a visit to Derby County, managed by the Reds’ alltime leading scorer Wayne Rooney, who bagged 253 goals in 13 years at Old Trafford.
Greenwood idolised Rooney as he came through the youth system and said the former United skipper is the one player who could help
him develop as a striker.
“He’s done it all and is the leading scorer,” said the 19-year-old.
“I’d probably just ask him, like not how he played, because you can watch how he played, but any tips on how you can get in between defenders and how you can anticipate the game a bit more.
“Obviously, he scored hundreds and hundreds of goals for United. That would be the little question I would ask him.”
United are pushing ahead with their efforts to sign Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, but are still some way from finalising a deal.
Madrid want close to £60million, despite the France World Cup winner (above right) having a year left on his contract, while United are understood to be willing to pay £40m.
No fee has been discussed with Madrid, although negotiations are ongoing with Varane’s representatives over personal terms and length of any contract. United have also been linked with a move for England and Atletico Madrid defender Kieran Trippier, who is keen on a return to the Premier League following spells at Burnley and Tottenham.
Trippier is in the final year of his contract with Atletico, who are under pressure to sell to avoid him leaving for nothing in 12 months’ time, but a right-back is not a priority for United.
They have already agreed a fee of £73m with Borussia Dortmund for England winger Jadon Sancho (above middle), with central defence – in the form of Varane – the next area they are looking to strengthen.