JOSE WINS JACKPOT
THE biggest gamble of Jose Mourinho’s managerial career finally paid off.
The Portuguese put everything – Manchester United’s season and his reputation – on the Europa League and it came up trumps on an emotional night in Stockholm.
The importance of winning the trophy cannot be underestimated as it was United’s own tribute after the terror attacks in Manchester.
And in football terms anything other than lifting the trophy would have been deemed failure, which is not a word which enters into Mourinho’s vocabulary, let alone his mindset.
The Manchester United boss now finishes the season with two pieces of silverware, the Europa League will sit alongside the League Cup in the Old Trafford trophy cabinet.
Far more importantly it also provides a route back into the Champions League and now resting players and giving up on the top four to concentrate on the Europa League has reaped rewards. We still expect Manchester United to be title challengers rather than also-rans who finish in sixth place, especially with Mourinho in charge.
But Mourinho has at least bought himself some time and credit in the bank to build a new empire and era of success at Old Trafford.
The foundations without doubt will be laid around Paul Pogba who has endured a turbulent season himself both on and off the pitch.
But last night United’s world-record £89million midfielder showed his worth by delivering a midfield masterclass, scoring and then paying his own tribute by pointing to the heavens in memory of his late father Fassou Antoine who died earlier this month.
The whole occasion was wrapped up in emotion and United showed great maturity not to be distracted by the terror within their own city.
That is where big players and experience is so important – and it was United’s extra European pedigree which really told on the pitch. It was men against boys at times.
Ajax had plenty of possession but rarely laid a glove on United and it was Pogba more than anyone else who stood out in midfield, his power and strength intimidating Ajax’s football purists.
Straight from the off United looked far too good for Ajax. Pogba powerful, Marouane Fellaini menacing and Marcus Rashford with pace to burn up front.
Ajax could barely get out of their own half in the first 10 minutes and that set the tone. United went ahead after 18 minutes as their big-game pedigree swept the Dutch team aside. Rashford and Juan Mata combined down the right, Fellaini’s pass found Pogba on the edge of the box and the France midfielder worked himself half a yard of space to line up a shot.
Pogba’s powerful drive deflected off Davinson Sanchez. It wrong-footed Ajax keeper Andre Onana and flew into the net to the delight of the travelling United fans down the other end.
Mourinho sat on the bench, rooted to his seat showing no emotion while the rest of his backroom staff leapt up to celebrate.
After the terror in Manchester this week it is difficult to be too critical or judgmental of anyone’s emotions. But Mourinho is a complex character, we’re never quite sure how he will react and could start a row in an empty room.
But the goal relaxed United, they were in control and comfortable in defence. Just three minutes after the restart United got their second. Mata’s corner was headed on by Chris Smalling and
then Henrikh Mkhitaryan hooked home from close range.
Mkhitaryan can be such a deeply frustrating player, he fades in and out, but moments like those remind everyone of his quality.
Ajax did their best in the second half to find a way back but United stood firm, with Sergio Romero equal to their efforts.
Mourinho went crazy towards the end after substitute Jesse Lingard went clean through but could not finish. Even two goals up and cruising, Mourinho is never happy. That is the perfectionist in the Special One’s make-up.
There was even room for some sentimentality. Mourinho sent on Wayne Rooney as a last-minute substitute. If this proves to be his farewell then it was a moment to treasure.
But the celebrations at the final whistle told everything about the importance of victory for Manchester, the future for United and Mourinho who finishes the season as a winner again.
They celebrated as you would expect cup final winners to celebrate.
Some pounded the crests on their hearts, some looked to a clear night sky. Some embraced, some roared with such euphoria, they looked almost angry. Some stood silent for a moment, taking in the enormity of it.
Don’t for one minute forget this was something Manchester United should be doing. Winning trophies, making sure of a place on Europe’s grandest stage.
Don’t for one minute believe they will not have relished this for what it was. A professional job, a medal to parade, a boost to careers.
Don’t for one minute think this was not the sheer thrill of winning a big football match. It was all of those yet it was more.
The pounding of the crests, the heavenward looks, the embraces, the roars, the silences, they were all charged with the feeling of representing their city.
Here in the Friends Arena, the outpouring of emotion on the final whistle – from the stands, the pitch, the ex-United players in the seats and media gantries – felt different.
It was a bit like a weight of responsibility had been fulfilled. In many ways, this was a cup final win like many others, certainly like many others in Mourinho’s career. In many ways this was the usual tale of one team’s joy, one team’s despair.
Yet in a way no one could ever wish for, in a way no one wants to ever imagine again, this was special.