TEARS OF TRIUMPH FOR JOSE
United clinch Europa glory... and a place in Champions League
The index finger said it all. No 1, Jose Mourinho, seemed to be saying, and with some feeling, too. Still No 1. And while Zinedine Zidane may beg to differ, and Massimiliano Allegri at Juventus, or even Antonio Conte for that matter, what is indisputable is that, on this occasion at least, Mourinho got it all right on the night.
The mood, the strategy, the selections, the plan. Mourinho said the europa League represented Manchester United’s safest route to europe’s biggest tournament next season, and he was vindicated here in Stockholm.
This was as straightforward as any european fixture has been for United all season; more comfortable than many trophies in their glorious history. Mourinho’s team were assured and much superior to a callow Ajax; they were two goals clear after 48 minutes and in control long before that.
The fear, that the emotion of a traumatic week for the city might overwhelm United’s players, did not materialise. They did the job of professionals, exercising their physical superiority over an Ajax team that looked younger than their years, if that was indeed possible. In doing so, they became the fifth Premier League team to enter the Champions League next season, qualifiers permitting.
It is a great achievement for a competition often depicted as inferior. Yet United have deserved this, slogging their way across europe. They are worthy champions, and worthy winners on the night.
The europa League — and its various predecessors — is the only major competition the club had not won and Mourinho took great pleasure completing that circle. he tried to plant a flag on the pitch, but settled for planting the trophy and posing for a defiant portrait instead. his son, Jose Jnr, exploded out of the crowd and bowled him over in celebration. After so many scowls of late, he looked genuinely happy.
his team will benefit from this experience, too. They have the potential to be a force in europe next season, led by a manager who is still the best at setting up for an individual game. That is what he did here. Ajax are a fine young side; but this was a schooling from an old master. Mourinho has now played 14 finals and won 12 of them. Considering that Jurgen Klopp is still waiting for his first victory in similar conditions it is an incredible record.
And this has been a good season, all things considered. Whatever disappointments there have been in the league will be forgotten now. The challenge for Mourinho was to return United to the Champions League and he did it; and nobody said he could not nominate the route.
he has won two trophies — he will say three, because he includes the Community Shield — and that is an impressive strike rate, too. It looks like the start of something good, have no doubt of that.
It was not just his judgment on the strength of the europa League that was vindicated, either. his calls on personnel produced hit after hit.
Paul Pogba, his big-ticket summer signing, has come off in the second half of this campaign. he scored the first, and has gradually improved. he will be good next season, just wait.
Marouane Fellaini, another controversial selection at times, was excellent, playing in a very advanced role that caused Ajax no end of problems at the back.
Chris Smalling, in for the suspended eric Bailly and preferred to Phil Jones, was excellent and won everything in the air.
henrikh Mkhitaryan scored a vital second goal three minutes into the second half, when just about every professional analyst was calling for his withdrawal at half-time.
In goal, Sergio Romero did not put a foot wrong, proving Mourinho was right to keep faith with him ahead of David de Gea. Not that he was greatly tested, mind you. When Ajax striker Kasper Dolberg kicked off for the restart after United’s opening goal in the 18th minute, it was the first time he had touched the ball all game.
Mourinho even did the noble thing and introduced Wayne Rooney with two minutes remaining, in what may be his farewell United appearance. he took the armband and lifted the trophy. If it is his end in a United shirt, it was a fitting one.
Ultimately, the youth of the Ajax group told. They looked smaller than United, not just physically but in presence, too. They got muscled off the ball, they lost out in the air, they were eased into touch or simply hassled into error. It was boys against men. United looked like they knew how to win a major football match, Ajax as if they were still waiting for that lesson. Maybe next term.
It helped that United were, quite literally, bigger. Ajax do not possess physical specimens like Pogba or Fellaini. Bertrand Traore was closest to it, but he is on loan from Chelsea and surely not for much longer. he was the one player capable of troubling United, but was too often isolated.
The game was only 30 seconds old when Ajax showed the first sign of nerves. Goalkeeper Andre Onana made a hash of a simple ball into the box, colliding with team-mate Joel Veltman. Pogba tried his luck from the edge of the area, amid the confusion, but missed. Onana never looked wholly comfortable after that, although chances were few.
Indeed, Ajax were coming into it just a little when United scored. It was a goal that came with a giant dollop of good fortune. United had possession around the Ajax box but to little effect, Fellaini finally pushing the ball to Pogba, for a shot. he tried one, not his best, but it struck the inside of Davinson Sanchez’s leg and completely wrong-footed Onana. The
goalkeeper always looks bad in these situations and some will feel Onana should d have reacted quicker, but thehe change in trajectory went against all his expectations. He was left grasping at air, Unitedit off celebrating a handy break.
On the bench, Mourinho suppressed his joy. As his staff leapt up, he stayed seated, eventually raising his eyes to the heavens. Whether in relief or something more spiritual, who knows? It has been a difficult week for his club, and his adopted city. The fans sensed that, too. They sang about Manchester as much as they ever did United, acknowledging that this was bigger than just their club. If Ajax hoped tto regroup aafter half-time that plan was scuppered just three minutes into the second half. Daley Blind took a corner, Smalling headed on, and Mkhitaryan flicked it in with his back to goal. He has scored 11 goals for United all season, six in this competition. He clearly likes the Europa League and so did United. They appeared entirely at home here, despite the pressure, and for all the yearning. Ultimately, It was a very Mourinho- like performance. Professionalism, not raw emotion, won the night.